Boston

Hey there!
I hope that you are all doing well.
I have been in Boston all week for our annual sales meeting.
It was a good meeting and I got some pretty big recognition that I wasn't expecting....which was nice.
I am kinda bummed tonight because I stayed an extra day to meet with some girlfriends from college.
It went from plural to singular because of a couple of things that have come up.  I am bummed because I was really looking forward to a good girls night with people.
My friend that was coming got sick yesterday.  She's feeling better today, but doesn't want to chance it, so she's coming in for a few hours but then is going to go home. I am glad that she is feeling better and glad that she's going to come in for a little while, but I hate spending the night alone in a hotel room.
But, I will get to see her for a little while, which is AWESOME because we have been trying to get together for months and haven't been able to make it happen.
It is COLD outside.  Not only are the temperatures cold but it is windy.  I think the wind chills have been in negative numbers so I didn't even get to go out and explore very much today.
While it's always nice to get away, it is equally as nice to go home and I really can't wait to see hubby. We haven't been apart for a while, so I have really missed him. It will be good to get home tomorrow.

So that's about it here.  I hope that you are all doing well. Hugs and love to you all!

Winter Wonderland

Hey!
I've missed you.
Honestly, there hasn't been a lot going on.
Hubby and I have been lazy on the weekends, enjoying each other's company, going to the movies and just trying to get organized.
Work has been work...we have our annual sales meeting next week in boston, so I will be out of town for a few days....always a good time.
I am getting together with several girlfriends from college next Friday night.  I can't wait to see them.  I can't believe how long it's been since we have all been together.
Hopefully we will be able to find a place for a nice dinner in Boston and then just hang out for the night.
Other than that, we are hunkered down and practically hibernating for the winter.  It is cold outside....we did get snow yesterday.
I don't know if I told you or not, but I got a new car right before the end of the year.  My old one was seven years old with 130K miles on it....so we decided to go see what kind of deal we could get.
Ended up with a brand new 2013 Jeep Compass.  It is a nice car, gets much better gas mileage and the payment was around what I was making before....it's nice to have a new car. It's a bit of a splurge, but we decided that it was time before the expensive repair bills started to roll in on the other one.

I have been debating on a blog post.  Some shit hit the fan over Christmas with my sister and part of me thinks that writing it might be cathartic.  Another part of me feels like if I write about it she has too much power.  Needless to say, we haven't spoken since then.  Family...gotta love them huh?

I hope that you are all well...I miss you and think of you often.  Hugs!

Expectations

Hello...anyone still out there??
I wouldn't blame you if you weren't...posts have been sporadic at best...
We traveled a lot over the holidays and it has been tough to get back into the swing of things.

The new year always brings new expectations...
The slate is wiped clean and you have the ability to make the year whatever you want...
So much is on facebook about how this is going to be "the best year ever".
Conversations are had about what we can do "differently" to make this year better.
Normally, I enter the new year with the expectation that this is going to be better than ever..
Things are going to be better..
I am going to be better.
This year, due to some residual stuff, I have decided to modify my expectations.
I have decided that it doesn't have to be "the best year ever".
My expectations for this year are that I notice more of the little moments because they are what add up to the memories of the year.
Although I don't make new year's resolutions specifically, I have made myself a few promises..
I will take an extra few minutes in the morning to fully wake up before I jump out of bed ....with the side benefit of snuggling five more minutes with my husband and kitties.
I will drive home, talk to my mother every night, and end the conversation with a smile.
I will leave work at the office...there will be no more frustration coming home with me.
I will spend time every week reconnecting with my friends...not just in hurried text messages, but actually having conversations.
I will expect things of myself and not of anyone else.
I will take long drives with my husband on the weekends with no distractions.
I will snuggle the kiddos when we get to see them.

I don't know if this will be the best  year ever---but all I do know that those little things that I have promised myself that I will do will bring me smiles through out the year.

I hope that you are all having a great start to the new year...sending hugs and love on the back of the winter air that is swirling tonight!

Happy New Year!!

well, we have finished a whirlwind of traveling, eating and lots of laughing...
holidays were great...
it is nice to be home finally...
Nice to be back in a routine
Nice to be spending time together, alone.
I hope that the holidays treated you all well...
I hope that the magic swirled around each of you and brought you the joy of the season.
More to come, once I get back into a routine...
hugs and lots of love to you all!!