Hello, Goodbye.

Dear loyal readers, fellow bloggers and wonderful friends,

I must first thank you all kindly for an amazing year of blogging. When I challenged myself to Project(s) 2010, I didn't realize the immense joy my blog would bring me. I am proud to have accomplished a year's worth of substantial blogs. 

Up until now I feel like my blog has been an accurate reflection of myself: my opinions, likes, dislikes, frustrations and moments of overwhelming happiness. I've enjoyed being a part of the blogging community. Over the past couple of weeks I've desired a break from this part of my life. Not because I'm tired of blogs (actually, quite the contrary), but because I'm struggling with my own creativity and the limitations of blogging.

I would feel terrible if I just stopped blogging for a couple of weeks or months without a word of clarity. I'd also feel guilty if I kept my blog on a lifeline especially if I were writing half-hearted blogs. So, I'm saying goodbye for now.  I'm taking a sabbatical (if you will) to explore other facets of my creativity and curiosity.

I take a proud bow and say "Adieu" (for now).

Always,
  Shelly

Christmas Rewind

This photo basically sums up my Christmas.

New Year's Eve Rewind

All of my efforts that were poured into the planning of New Year's Eve was well worth it. Mayhaps the night didn't transpire as perfectly as I had hoped, but plans transformed into spontaneity which is always a tad more exciting.

New Year's Eve Morning:
Chores. Chores. Chores. I didn't realize that a full time job would be so much work. How does forty hours turn into five completely filled days? Forty hours also seems to equal an untidy Swearingen house. So, I carefully tore the house apart and began cleaning every nook and cranny.

New Year's Eve Afternoon:
After major grocery shopping, four loads of laundry and deep cleaning, I needed a reward. The reward? Shopping! I splurged on Revlon blush (a lovely lightly rosy colored cream blush). I've noticed that my shyness and insecurities can overpower my need for adventure, mostly when it comes to shopping. New Year's Eve was different. I desperately wanted a new dress. Lucky me! I found the perfect gorgeous BCBG dress. It feels like silk to my skin and while worn fills me confidence and beauty.

New Year's Eve Dinner:
We went with Indian food (my absolute favorite). The Indian food out here seems to be slightly better (only because the waiter has developed a little crush on me and showers me with lovely compliments upon every visit).

I nearly froze for this photo, but I wanted a clear shot of the dress.

Silly me.

New Year's Eve Evening:
Ted and I made our way down to Broadway at the Beach (the happenin' scene) where we met up with our friends for a drink. We cheered to the New Year and to friends (I with a sidecar in my hand) in a dinky little bar, but that didn't matter because we were in good company.

Me and darling Lera.

My shameless "couple" shot. 

New Year's Eve Night:

Ted and I went back home, drank champagne and kissed to the new year.

I hope you lovelies had a wonderful New Year's Eve as I did. Cheers to a happy and unwritten New Year!

Year's End

My darlings,

I am glad to announce that I am blogging from home on a wonky computer. Glad about the home part, not the wonky computer part.

I'd love to wish my friends, fellow bloggers and precious readers a Happy New Year's Eve. I'm sure I'll have a lengthly post about tonight's events or the promise of one, but until then please enjoy and celebrate the closing of a year's end and the anticipation of a new beginning. 

Always,

  Shelly, Ted, Chloe and Caswell 

P.S. Drink a glass of champagne if only for me.

P.S.S. Must remember the time change. I'm three hours ahead of the rest of the world (at the very least California).

How To Set Goals

Step One: Categories
My father always told me that when you make goals (especially ones starting in the new year), they should be broken down into four categories.

Physical - Physical health has to do with one's eating and fluid habits and exercise.
Mental - Mental goals pertains to exercising the mind. Getting the ole ticker working.
Financial - Financial goals are the easiest to set and the hardest to keep. This particular category deals with savings and items, like saving enough money to purchase a car or start a saving account.
Spiritual - Spiritual health has to do with one's self and the inner workings of what makes you actually you.

Step Two: Precision
 I believe in precision. When making goals, the second worst thing is to make them too general (the first being not working at them). Don't just say, "My mental goal is to read more books." It's too general. It's hard to start a goal like this. Instead make a list of the books you'd like to finish.

Step Three: Real
Make your goals real and solid. Write them down. It's important.

Step Four: Follow-up
Dedicate a time to follow-up with yourself. Maybe it's once a week or once a month. Last year I made the goal to blog 5 times a week and having the post floating out there in my blog (and re-reading it several times) reminded me of the goal I had made.

Bonus: Partnership
If you have a partner with similar goals to help you through the year/semester/month, then kudos to you!

Good luck with your goals! I'll reveal mine after New Year's Day.

Side note/Update: New Year's Eve plans are being cooked up and I like what I'm seeing!

Dear New Year,

I've always found the space between Christmas and New Year's rather odd. I'm torn in between my desire to celebrate the holidays with champagne, party poppers and late nights, and kicking the new year off right with early mornings, more exercise and less sugar.

I also think that New Year's Day is secondary to Christmas to all Americans (New Year's Eve is the biggest Russian holiday). The majority of December is caught up with mailing packages and cards, count-downs to the 25th and elaborate decorations. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around the stores have burst with Christmas flare. I've even found myself getting into lengthy discussions about Christmas trees and the proper Christmas breakfast. I guess I'll get to my point.

I'm ready to prepare for the New Year. I'm sick of it taking a back seat to Christmas. I don't want to make last minute goals, scurry around trying to find a decent New Year's Eve outfit or think of New Year's Day as a morning I can sleep in. I want to be prepared! I wanted to go out with a BANG and enter the New Year with a running start!

Who's with me?!

The Count Down: Today

Merry Christmas friends and fellow bloggers!
May everyone have a wonderful and splendid day!

Love,
   Shelly, Ted, Caswell and Chloe

The Count Down: Christmas Eve

Before Christmas To-Do List:
1. Shop for Ted's gift. Ted and I went shopping for each other last night at the same store.  It turned out to be such a fun activity, sneaking around the store and such trying to hide from one another.
2. Bake Christmas day treats (an assortment of chocolate shortbread, shortbread, chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars). All done very festively on Christmas Eve
3. Shop for kitty gifts. Wrapped and ready to go!
4. Play the Charlie Brown Christmas album non-stop.
5. Watch Christmas movies (non-stop).   Assorted movies with winter-y themes.
6. Pick out the perfect Christmas day outfit.  Silk black dress with black tights and black heels worn with a gray sweater and cinched with a black skinny belt.
7. Cross my fingers that my computer will be back by then. UGH!
8. Workout plenty (only to indulge more during Christmas feast). A long walk is due tonight! 

I'm stoked that tomorrow is Christmas! 

The Count Down: 2 Days

Two Days Before Christmas

'Twas two days before Christmas when all through the house

Every creature was stirring, even the mouse!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Swearingen would soon be there.

In preparations for Christmas that soon will be here,

the Swearingens braved the shops with hopeful cheer.

All bundled up and ready to go,

Ted and Shelly braved the winter-like snow.

With time-a-ticking and a-tocking away

The presents for each other must be bought today.

Being sneaky must be done as light as a fairy

Especially when the bed is shared with the beneficiary.

If all is accomplished with wonderous skill,

then tonight we'll go to bed happy as a pill.

Shelly will mutter before she turns off the light,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

The Count Down: 3 Days

Packages keep on arriving and they are getting bigger!  I almost opened one yesterday because I thought it was wrapped inside the parcel, but thankfully I stopped myself.

Our Christmas tree is looking sillier and sillier. The base of the tree is full of strange looking post office boxes and one wrapped gift. Note to self: Must get it together.

Before Christmas To-Do List:
1. Shop for Ted's gift. Will be done tonight.
2. Bake Christmas day treats (an assortment of chocolate shortbread, shortbread, chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars).
3. Shop for kitty gifts.
4. Play the Charlie Brown Christmas album non-stop. In progress.
5. Watch Christmas movies (non-stop).  I brought Just Friends to the office and have been playing in non-stop.
6. Pick out the perfect Christmas day outfit. I hope it's perfect.
7. Cross my fingers that my computer will be back by then.
8. Workout plenty (only to indulge more during Christmas feast).  Ted and I went on a 40 minute walk yesterday evening. Thankfully he is a fast walker and that I had to bump up my pace because of it.  
9. Purchase gifts for the neighbors.
10. Finish wrapping all Christmas gifts.

The Count Down: 4 Days

I've been a stickler about checking the mail lately, but it's been paying off. Two packages arrived yesterday! One from Ted's aunt and uncle who had visited on Thanksgiving. They sent us chocolate, Portuguese bread and gifts (which will not be opened until Christmas). The other package was from Ted's grandparents which was full of assorted sweets; walnut cookies, chocolate cranberry cookies, sugar cookies, peanut brittle and homemade chex mix.

My thoughts:
1. I feel blessed to have such a loving and caring family.
2. Must extend my walking time to indulge in received gifts.

Before Christmas To-Do List:

1. Shop for Ted's gift.

2. Bake Christmas day treats (an assortment of chocolate shortbread, shortbread, chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars).

3. Shop for kitty gifts.

4. Play the Charlie Brown Christmas album non-stop.

5. Watch Christmas movies (non-stop). We're currently playing The Christmas Story on repeat in the office.

6. Pick out the perfect Christmas day outfit. In progress.

7. Cross my fingers that my computer will be back by then.

8. Workout plenty (only to indulge more during Christmas feast). Walked yesterday in the 28 degree weather in a light sweater and workout pants. I'm glad I walked but nearly froze to death.

The Count Down: 5 Days

I must be growing up because it only occurred to me this morning that there's only 5 days until Christmas.

The child in me is smiling with excitement.

Before Christmas To-Do List:
1. Shop for Ted's gift.
2. Bake Christmas day treats (an assortment of chocolate shortbread, shortbread, chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars).  I'm working on my homemaker skills.
3. Shop for kitty gifts.
4. Play the Charlie Brown Christmas album non-stop.
5. Watch Christmas movies (non-stop).
6. Pick out the perfect Christmas day outfit.
7. Cross my fingers that my computer will be back by then.
8. Workout plenty (only to indulge more during Christmas feast).

I hope everyone else's 5 day countdown is less crazy than mine.

Same Old Song

Stupid computer.
Stupid computer doctor.
Stupid computer store.
Stupid computer keyboard.
Stupid computer screen.
Stupid computer keys "a" and "1".

I am heartbroken because I cannot blog properly.

Shopping High

I've never actually had a shopping high before until Saturday. 

Back in California I was in the habit of shopping once every other week. Even if it were a pair of earrings, speciality cooking shopping (preferably at Trader Joe's) or gift shopping. My pattern has change dramatically! It's been a long three months since my last consumer adventure. Why?! Well, the closest Trader Joe's is 4 hours away, thrift stores are hidden away and the closet mall is a 45 minute drive.

Saturday was like a gift from heaven.  We decided to go Christmas shopping at a department store.  The store was decked out in Christmas attire and playing joyous music. While we were shopping we discovered a huge sale taking place (I'm a sale shopper by nature). I went ballistic! I power walked the store, wide-eyed and amazed. I would've stomped on anyone in my way. I was The Queen of Shopping (for that moment). Afterwards, I scarfed down 6 pieces of dove chocolate and suffered from a consumer-sugar high (my eyes glazed over, overly-wide smile and hands were shaking). It was amazing.

Has anyone else ever had a shopping high?

P.S. My computer is still broken and I will update everyone on my coffee addiction as soon as possible.

An Addict

How do you know your a fully formed addict? Well.. you are reading the account of an addict at this very moment. I knew I was suffering from an addiction when I realized that I my brain could only focus on the object of my desire. Obtaining this substance clears my mind and makes my heart free. My entire day was arranged around the transaction and availability of this lusted material. My consumption was up to three even four times a day.


Moving to South Carolina slightly limited my intake, but I always tend to work around it. I somehow find the time, the money, the energy to obtain the fabric of my addiction.

Upon intake my spirit would calm, my heart would be satisfied and I could go throughout my day with functional normality.

What was my addiction?

Simply, coffee...

... and I quit.

Update at a later date.  

Hello Computer

My computer goes to the doctor to day. It is vital for my computer to be fixed.

Without a computer...
... I cannot blog properly.
... I cannot keep up with other's blogs (essential to my daily life).
... I lose my creative outlet.
... I miss my favorite youtubers.
... I haven't been able to watch the Finale of America's Next Top Model.
... I'm missing out on fb life.
... I cannot update my Netflix que.
... I have to sneak e-mailing into my work day.

By the way, this is a work blog written on my lunch break.

I've officially hit a new level of pathetic.

Let's Do The Charleston

As I promised yesterday, here is an update on our first South Carolinian adventure. Whereas we have explored the local area, Ted and I haven't ventured far at all. Charleston seemed like the perfect way to break ourselves in. We even had our own personal tour guides, Lera and Adam. Charleston is the South Carolinian equivalent to California's San Fransisco. Both are full of diverse culture, assorted eateries and lovely scenery.  Charleston reeks of southern history, some of the homes date back to the 1600s and is located close to the ocean.

Circular Church Graveyard established in 1681.

The Circular Congressional Church with beautiful red doors. 

I adore candid shots. Lera was making fun of Adam's old man-ness. 

We found cobblestone which immediately reminded me of Portugal. 

During the day we popped into an English pub for a pint of beer. Everyone teased me for ordering an amber beer while everyone else went for the dark and coffee-like beer. We ate on the water. I had a shrimp po-boy which was delicious. Somehow us girls forgot to take pictures halfway through the day. Mid-day we stopped into Whole Foods to buy tangerines and tea. The day ended with a two hour drive back listening to The National and Fleetwood Mac. 

Overall Charleston and married couples-ness was good times and hopefully will happen again too.

What did YOU do this weekend?

Where Have I Been?

Who knew my dream job would be so much work! I start at 8:30 in the morning and it's jam packed from start to finish. Between mailing patients flowers to inputting the doctor's notes to answering phone and e-mails, I rarely have a dull moment.

Sadly, I haven't gotten around to updating my blog as frequently as I like. Ted keeps on reminding me that new jobs are tough and difficult to build a routine.  I'm certain that as soon as I get into a Shelly Routine, my blog will be running as normal.  

To end on a positive note, Ted and I went to Charleston, SC for the first time. Charleston is the South Carolinian cultural equivalent to California's San Fransisco. Here's a little preview:

Shambles

When it rains, it pours.

The saying is true for my life at the moment.

1. My wedding ring needs to be fixed. A prong is out of place.
2. My computer is really moody. It only seems to be working ever 48 hours.  It has been added to my to-do list to be taken to the computer doctor.
3. Moody computer means my blog suffers. It's written in a panic these days. 
4. My dishwasher sounds a baby dinosaur when in cycle.
5. Broken dishwasher means dirty kitchen.
6. Sick husband. The flu, I think.
7. Sick kitty. Infected eye, I think.
8. Training at work and severely overwhelmed with the work load. Work isn't bad. I just have loads of it.
9. Saw pictures of my family in California and their Thanksgiving. I realized that my heart aches for them. 

Dear Life,
   Please let me live 'til the weekend!
Love,
   Shelly

Thanksgiving Rewind

The Thursday of Thanksgiving was spent in the quaint little restaurant intimately spent with our Aunt Janet and Uncle Steve (the two who were responsible for the linguica). I have always felt that Thanksgiving was lacking if you didn't indulge in leftovers. The week after turkey day should be spent eating turkey tacos, turkey soup and turkey casserole. So I decided to make a festive feast for two post holiday. 

Real Simple was my guide cooking the vast meal! It had wonderful tips, recipes and ideas. I don't know what I would have done without this magazine. 

Ted and I a rather strange because we enjoy canned cranberry sauce, but I couldn't help but purchase real cranberries. Not certain what to do with them, I made cranberry bars (instead of lemon bars). I had leftover berries and with that I made a cranberry and wine reduction sauce to top the little bars.  The romantic in me decided on hearts for the shape. 

Stay away from the cookies, Chloe!

As you can probably tell, I was ridiculously proud of my little dessert. 

 

 This is my Thanksgiving outfit. I'm really into wearing spring dresses in winter. In my mind it adds color to my life.

The Thanksgiving setup! I was pretty proud of this too, my table is dressed for Christmas though.  Overall I think my Thanksgiving in rewind was a success and now I've been enjoying turkey stew, turkey salad and turkey burritos.

Happy Thanksgiving from Chloe and me!