Springing Forward

Friday night, I decided it was high time to treat myself to a new pair of shoes.  I'm really ready for Spring to finally get here, so I figured buying a pair of nude peep toe pumps with a little bow would bring it to me a little faster.  So far my hypothesis has yet to be proven, but I'm still holding out.  I may need add some variables (more fun springy shoes in various shades) in order to reach a valid conclusion.  Ahh, the labor I must endure in the name of research and warm weather.

Speaking of the scientific method, research, statistics, etc- Weight Watchers has a new points algorithm, based more on the structure of food and as far as I'm concerned more focused on the glycemic index.  I was volunteering at the American Heart Association's Heart Ball at the Ritz a few weeks ago and one of my fellow Junior Leaguers was telling me about it.  I was intrigued.  When one of my friends asked me to join with her two Friday's ago-I decided to give it a shot, and drug Josh along with me.  He's mostly just interested in meeting Jennifer Hudson, and I can't really blame him, but I doubt she will be showing up to our meeting anytime soon.  I have to say I am thrilled with the new Points Plus Structure, the system combined with the work I have been doing with my nutritionist for the past year is really clicking.  I lost 10 pounds my first week!  Woo Hoo!  Anyway, we went out to lunch after the meeting and this is what I had:
Apple and Butternut Squash Soup, Corn and Crab Salad and sauteed veggies-YUM YUM YUM.

Later that night I was off to Baltimore to see Bethenny Frankel at her Skinny Girl Night Out Tour.  It was so fun!

I was up before dawn to volunteer with the Phi Mu DC Alumnae Group at the St. Patrick's Day 8K.  I think all this craziness has messed up my internal clock.

I'm not going to lie, I haven't been able to get straight on springing forward just yet.  I am totally out of wack and keep falling asleep on the sofa and have no idea what clock is telling me the right time in the morning-ha!  I hope to get it straightened out and fix all the clocks in my house after Junior League tonight.

Have you been able to successfully Spring Forward?

Early to bed...

How does it always happen that when I have the most going on, and great things to share, I never have time to do it.  Actually the first week of the month is always a doozy for me, with DAR, Junior League, sorority advisers meeting and my monthly DC Gator Club board meeting.  I went for broke and scheduled a sorority alumnae committee meeting as well-which probably explains why I ended up in bed at 8:15 on a Friday night (or maybe it was the big ole drunken ribeye I had at happy hour turned dinner).

A low-key evening was just what I needed, I caught up with a few friends on the phone, a few shows on the dvr and now I'm watching a food network special  Gaida in Paradise: Santorini, which is getting me totally excited for our trip in a few months.  Santorini (and Mykanos and Athens) here we come! 

I've been so busy lately that I haven't even begun to plan our trip.  Well, the travel agent has booked all our flights and hotels-but the research and figuring out all the awesome things to do-half the fun is planning everything, and then picking out all my outfits!  Humm, I need to pencil in some time for that on my calendar-ha!
I am enjoying flipping through all the spring catalogs that are coming in the mail, can't wait to wear lots of dresses this spring, and pick up a few new items for our trip! 
Another thing I'm planning to enjoy ----sleeping in on Saturday morning!  I could and should be volunteering to prepare for the junior leagues annual thrift sale, Tossed and Found, where I have spent more early Saturday mornings than I care to remember over the past two months.  When sorting through other's donations, my favorite section to bring items to is bric-a-brac and sub section within bric-a-brac is fringed lamshades, like this one I told Josh I was going to bring home.

And after I sleep in?  I'm joining weight watcher then going to the chocolate lovers festival down the street-that's just the ridiculous way I roll.  Happy Weekend!

Black Friday

So I thought I'd share my Black Friday Facebook posts with my blog buddies.  Yes, we are those people who get up at 4:00 am or in this year's case 3:00 am, and brave the cold and frantic crowds.  Josh wears a Santa hat and I wear glittery reindeer antlers.  It's pretty awesome to watch the crazies and get the bargains.

This year we drug my bestie Jen along and initiated her into our black Friday society at 3:15 am.

When we were leaving her house she was like, "ok, I'll follow you in my car."  To which we replied there would be no need, we were in the Xterra and never in our wildest imaginations did Josh and I think we could fill it up-but fill it up we did.

8:01 am Picture and Status Update : Black Friday 4 hours and $2,000 in. 

 

Did I mention in addition to wearing reindeer antler's and singing Christmas carols, we also sing patriotic songs?  We do this 1.  Because I love singing Patriotic Songs and 2. we are supporting the American economy by dropping a few g's to kick off the Christmas shopping season.  It 's fun.

9:22 Picture and Status Update : 5.5 hours in - not too much room left in the car

 

I mean the amount of store's we hit was amazing-we planned, we plotted, we bought!

10:32 am Picture and Status Update: Santa's sleigh is full. Time to go home boys and girls!

We couldn't even see Jen on the way home, she had a 4x4 block of space around her face and that is all.  We did hear from behind the comforter that she had managed to fog up the 4x4 piece on window-tres impressive Jen.  I think after all we got, I officially have a new and pretty amazing Black Friday shopping partner!

Tonight at Junior League

Soo on Tuesday nights I volunteer with adults with mental disabilities as one of my Junior League placements.  Tonight's theme was focused on health and a yoga activity.  As I was leaving work in heels, hose and skirt, I realized that I left my yoga clothes at home-great.  Luckily I had to drive past the mall on my way to the church where our group meets, so I ran in grabbed a T and yoga pants in less than 10 minutes, and in true last minute fashion-changed in the car.

Oh yes, the yoga leader had an emergency and couldn't make it.  So the whole running in and out of the mall in the rain, and changing in the car-not even worth it.  Awesome!

At least I got to spend time with my favorite guys there who love to talk about their TV shows and crock-pot cooking.  I spent the entire evening talking about slow cooking recipes and various CW shows, then we ranked our favorite tv networks.  Unfortunately none of the guys watch Real Housewives of Atlanta or Beverly Hills-which I think are my favorite shows right now!

Oh and the focus on healthy lifestyles?  I was telling everyone at my table how to make cake and Oreo balls-hey, it's the holidays right?

Winter Coat

As the temperatures are quickly dropping, it's time for me to made a new addition to my winter wardrobe in the form of a new wool coat.  I already have a few nice coats, but I want a little contrast to the grey and black that I normally sport in the winter time.  I decided this year, a camel coat would be the perfect addition.  Then of course I see all these lovely winter white coats being worn around town and now I'm torn.  I've pulled a few coats that I think will work well for me.  So come on a virtual shopping trip and let me know which ones you like the best!?

All these coats are from http://www.chadwicks.com/ or http://www.avenue.com/.

New Arm Candy

I am putting my TAG Heuer on sabbatical for a while.

I'm on the search for a new watch.  It's not that I need a new watch, I need alarms to go off throughout the day so I will remember to eat lunch and snacks to keep my metabolism going.  Gone are the days of meeting friends everyday and going to luncheons throughout the week.  I miss those Outlook reminders.   Working solo, I get so into my tasks that I don't remember to eat lunch until about 3:30 in the afternoon, which makes for a hungry girl who doesn't make the best decisions.  Plus I am starting a new regimen that calls for me to eat something small every few hours, so I need a little help remembering to break away from my desk. 

So it summer, so I've decided a cute white watch is in order.  Of course I would like to have either this Toy or Michael Kors number wrapped around my wrist.

BUT - neither has alarms, darn!

So last night I bought this bad boy.

I'm not sold 100% on the Timex, so I am going to Macy's this afternoon to check out this little guy.

I've also set up my igoogle to have an alarm clock too, hopefully multiple alarms will help (maybe I need to use this strategy for getting out of bed in the morning, too).

It's the Holiday Season...

What a wonderful Thanksgiving 2009. We hosted 12 for our very first Thanksgiving - as a married couple anyway. Josh joked that not all newlyweds are able to use their full set of china the very first time they use it, but we did-in a big way!

We started baking on Wednesday and put the 28 pound turkey in the roaster at 6 o'clock a.m. on Thursday. We all had a wonderful time together, here are some pictures I borrowed from Gabby. I am hoping to upload all of my pictures this evening.

Of course in true Thompson fashion we are bouncing from one holiday to another-it has been a very busy few days! We are having a holiday party on the 12th and since we are headed to the SEC Championship this weekend - we have been busy busy busy! I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanksgiving Dinner for 12 - check

Black Friday Shopping - check

All the presents for my family planned & purchased - check

Christmas Decorations up - check

Holiday Party invitations sent - check

Holiday card picture with dog actually facing the camera-check

Holiday cards ordered - check

Ingredients for all cookie recipes for Holiday Party planned & purchased - check

Holiday cards and labels picked up - check

Make Mini Wedding Album for visit with Granny - check

Ingredients for extended family presents (peppermint bark & candied pecans) purchased - check

Cookie Dough for more than 500 cookies in the freezer for Holiday Party - check

Tonight-

Make peppermint bark and candied pecans for all Georgia relatives

Pack for SEC Championship Game in Atlanta

Upload & post Thanksgiving pictures

Thursday -

Gift wrapping class with Lacey at the Paper source

Wrap-up all the goodies to bring to family this weekend

Friday-

Off to Atlanta to watch the Gators win the SEC Championship Game!

Sunday Shopping and other happenings

Jen, Lacey and I went shopping on Sunday. We had a great time hitting up all the stores. I got an early start on a few holiday items from Crate & Barrel, and also stocked up on more fall goodies from Williams-Sonoma including the Spiced Pecan and Pumpkin Quick bread.

This will be a nice treat for Josh when he gets back from his business trip.

I am super excited that I entered and won my very first blogger give away from Mid-Atlantic Martha! She has a wonderful blog, I really enjoy all her home decorations and tablescapes.

On Wednesday I am looking forward to helping Jen and John celebrate their anniversary by babysitting Jack. I am pulling out the Dyson and mop this evening to make sure my floors are spotless for his crawling adventures!