A Very Saucy SITSmas!

Many of my favorite must read bloggers were discovered via The SITS girls over at The Secret Is In The Sauce - a network of fabulous female bloggers dedicated to supporting each other through comment recognition. If you haven't already, you should check out SITS and discover a pool of witty, talented, and dedicated female bloggers! Merry SITSmas to all of my SITS girls!!

Best Blog Find of 2009 {Kyla Roma}

Catch up on my best moments of 2009 starting here. Don't forget to check out Gwen Bell's Blog to join the challenge!

December 7 Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can't believe you didn't know about until this year.

Some weeks, my schedule is so hectic that I don't even sneak a peak at my Google Reader until the count is 1000+. It is those weeks I make it a point to scroll down to Kyla's blog, even if just for a brief escapist look at her incredibly inspiring life in the Canadian Prairies, before even considering reading anything else.

I had seen Kyla's name appear in the comment's section of some of the other blogs I regularly peruse; however, I never actually clicked over to her corner of the interwebs until she was the Featured Blogger on 20SB, and I haven't clicked back since.

Kyla Roma blogs some of the most honest, inspiring, and genuine posts I've read all year, and I can't believe it took me as long as it did to find such any incredibly relatable blog. It's finds like this that remind me there are people all over this world who come from different walks of life, but who think, feel, and live like me (or how I aspire to live!).

If you haven't already discovered this gem of a blog, I urge you to click over to Kyla Roma, and I promise you won't be sorry!!

Savoring Sunday: Baking Spirits Bright

After a particularly bleary day, nothing quite brightens the Christmas spirit like homemade sugar cookie dough and royal icing (Martha's recipe, of course) cut out and decorated with Boyfriend. This sugar-coma inducing endeavour will no doubt become a part of our beloved Christmas traditions, now that we're living together. Tomorrow night - trimming the tree!

And Since We've No Place To Go, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

Although I seem to be battling a bit of a cold/flu/throat irritation, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect morning to pick out my first real Christmas tree with Boyfriend. Growing up, my family always had an artificial tree, as Baby Sister Kelly couldn't have a real tree in the house without her asthma kicking in.

By the time I moved to Nashville, I was too poor to purchase decorations, or even a table top tree (this continued my first Christmas back in NY when I covered my walls in lights to make up for a lack of decor!!), until finally giving in and snagging a pre-lit artificial tree of my own for my apartment last year.

Now that we've moved in together in our own apartment, Boyfriend and I decided to start our own Christmas tradition with our first real cut Christmas tree. As we strapped the 8 foot Balsam Fir to my rugged Tucson, the first significant snowfall of the season danced its way onto my windshield (*a few rouge flurries fell two days ago for about 30 minutes, melting the moment they hit the ground. Today, it's STICKING!!).

Nothing puts me more in the Christmas spirit like a sweet smelling tree, and the sight of fresh fallen snow (though, I'll be happy to see the snow melt away just as soon as Christmas is over!).

What holiday traditions get you in the spirit?

After You

Catch up on my best moments of 2009 starting here. Don't forget to check out Gwen Bell's Blog to join the challenge!

December 4 Book. What book - fiction or non - touched you? Where were you when you read it? Have you bought and given away multiple copies?

After You, by Julie Buxbaum was undoubtedly the most intriguing novel I devoured in 2009. From the first moment I cracked the spine open and inhaled the captivating smell that only a good book can procure, I couldn't read fast enough.

Much like Buxbaum's first novel, The Opposite of Love (a novel which spoke to me during one of the most harrowing experiences of my life in a way that sometimes, only characters that were created by someone else, can), I found myself deeply invested in the lives of the main characters, and seduced by the progressing story lines. By the time I reached the final chapter, I was almost melancholy at the thought of leaving these characters behind. This was the type of novel that I had to digest before starting another (for fear that the next wouldn't live up to the unachievable standards set by Buxbaum). I am impatiently waiting for the next release from one of my favorite authors!

What was your favorite book of 2009?

I Live For Little {Restaurant} Moments

Catch up on my best moments of 2009 starting here. Don't forget to check out Gwen Bell's Blog to join the challenge!

December 2 Restaurant moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year. Who was there? What made it amazing? What taste stands out in your mind?

I don't consider myself much of a foodie (I consider myself more of a "sweetie" - as in, this girl LOVES anything having to do with sweets - from preparation to consumption...though, I digress), but every now and then I relish (oh yes, pun intended) the opportunity to treat my taste buds to a divine dining experience.

Never one to turn down a fabulous feast, I had a hard time narrowing down my favorite restaurant moment of 2009. There was something to be said about the intimacy of dining with Boyfriend over Surf & Turf Tempura Rolls at 677 Prime for our shared birthday dinners (courtesy of a gift card from The Boss - otherwise, our shallow pockets could barely have afforded a glass of water). But then of course, I couldn't forget the hilarious irony of a couple's dinner out with some of my favorite people and their significant others at a quaint Italian restaurant on a frostbitten winter evening. Something about good food, great company, and a vintage bottle of red turned an otherwise fickle Wednesday night in the dead of winter into an evening we all still reference to this day, with hopes of coordinating our schedules for another rendition before we're struck with this year's first snowfall.

Despite how deliciously satisfying the aforementioned moments remain in my memory, there is one restaurant experience that trumps all - Shadows On The Hudson. Touted as "Cosmopolitan Dining on the Hudson," this dining restaurant truly lived up to its cleverly crafted slogan. From the undeniably posh decor (including what Boyfriend refers to as the "Diddy Room" - an all white Winter themed room), to the stunning views of the setting sun on the Hudson river, everything about this restaurant transposed me to a euphoric state often reserved for those with an abundance of free time and wealth (something I have clearly been lacking in 2009!). I can still taste the remnants of the two Raspberry Mojave's that danced their way down my throat and solidified their place among the greatest tastes I've ever encountered. The true pièce de résistance came at the end of our meal when Boyfriend and I shared an amazingly decadent Bananas Foster (which I emulated in our own kitchen this past Saturday).

What was your favorite restaurant moment of 2009?

Best of 2009 Blog Challenge

Is it December already? I feel like the last time I really sat down and thought about my year was back in January, and that feels like minutes, not months ago.

After a pathetic run at NaBloPoMo this year, I decided to take part in the Best of 2009 Blog Challenge (if you're a member of 20 Something Bloggers, you've no doubt seen the post on their blog). Who doesn't love a good year in review with 200+ other bloggers discussing the same prompts that made their year!?

December 1 Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?

Jacksonville/Gainesville, Florida - 10/16/09-10/19/09. Just like everything else I attempt to carefully plan down to the last detail in my life, the Gator Getaway was anything but perfectly executed! What started as a long overdue vacation and seemingly perfect birthday gift for the Boyfriend quickly turned complicated as Boyfriend lost his job less than a week before we took off. With every last dollar allocated to some facet of our first vacation together (including Boyfriend's salary), pairing it down at the last minute became one of the biggest tests of my patience (and our relationship).

As stressful as the status of our finances was at the time of the trip (and directly following), there's no way I would have forgone the memories made for a little financial security. Given the chance, I'd take the exact same trip again, hiccups and all. That's the true testiment of the Best Trip of 2009!

It's Not Thanksgiving Without a Trip to the ER

Who needs turkey when you've got a tube of Insta-Glucose to satisfy your Thanksgiving taste buds?!?

Just as I have every Thanksgiving for the past 3 years that I've been back in New York (and countless others prior to moving to Nashville), I woke up early Thursday morning with every intention of delivering Thanksgiving dinners to those in need. It's become somewhat of a Thanksgiving tradition among myself, my Dad, and Baby Sister Kelly now that we've all gone our separate ways for the actual dinner (between new wives, boyfriends, fiances and life in general, one big happy Thanksgiving get together has been near impossible!).

True to form, the morning started with a bit of a hiccup, as I received a phone call from my Dad informing me that he and my sister had to turn around and head back home to pick up my sister's ID (the state troopers wouldn't allow her in the parking garage without proper ID). I patiently waited in the long line of volunteers and made small talk with a mother-daughter duo in front of me. We were discussing the wonders of Starbucks when my Dad and sister finally made it inside, IDs in hand.

As the talk shifted from coffee to Coach purses, I began to sweat and feel a bit dizzy, so I removed my down jacket and made a seat out of our tupperware container (to carry all of the meals). Not wanting to cause a scene, I told my family that I had to get to a bathroom soon, or there was a good chance the contents of my stomach would spoil the meals of all those in line. Keeping with the spirit of volunteering, my sister offered to take me to the bathroom and we were just out of line when I slurred the words, I can't see, Kelly. I can't see. With those words, my mouth went numb, my ears started ringing, and next thing I knew, I was down for the count.

Without missing a beat, Baby Sister Kelly came to my rescue with a move now dubbed the Swoop & Save, as she managed to stealthily catch my limp figure as I went down. Apparently, a heroic ginger man saw what was happening and slid his jacket in the exact spot my head was set to land on with alarming speed and amazing timing. As I opened my eyes, I saw Yukon Cornelius's twin (Thanks for your jacket-pillow!), and a state trooper named Dan.

"What's your name? Can you tell me how old you are? My name's Dan."

Jennifer. 27. What just happened?

So much for not wanting to cause a scene! A small assemblage of people surrounded me, as my Dad, sister and random strangers helped me outside to await the arrival of the ambulance. The next few minutes were a blur until suddenly, EMTs, state troopers and a faction of firemen surrounded me. I didn't register what was happening until I felt a prick on my left pointer finger as one of the EMTs attempted to test my bloodsugar levels.

"You're not a bleeder, huh?" he asked as he stuck my finger two more times resulting in a small dot of blood. "Blood sugar is at 62."

Is that bad? I managed to spit out, completely oblivious to the gawkers and gatherers.

"You don't want your sugar to dip below 80, so I'd say it's not good."

With that, I was suddenly presented with a royal feast of Insta-Glucose (the promise that "It tastes just like frosting" was clearly a farce, as all I could taste was a congregation of chemicals dancing on my taste buds) and two stale dinner roles.

Within minutes, the EMT performed another stick & prick to make sure my sugar levels were rising - now at 112, my sugar had nearly doubled, and yet I still found myself strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance. (My Dad and sister stayed behind making small talk with a handsome trooper who joked that I had no credibility with him as my syncopal event was probably a scam to get to the front of the line. Once he learned my last name - one shared by a famous relative who was a notorious bank robber in the Midwest back in the 30s - he joked that I must be the distraction as our other cohorts were probably off robbing a bank! At least everyone else was laughing...)

Can someone find my glasses? I can't see anything and I don't know where I'm going!

"You won't want to see what's about to happen," was clearly NOT the reassuring statement I was hoping to hear!!

A short ride, and a few more finger pricks later, I found myself in emergency room B29, the exact room I was in 5 years ago when I had a similar black out (right in the middle of Sunday service at my church. Remind me to take up bingo and find a board with B-29!). Within minutes, my dad and sister joined me, and we entertained the nurses (and of course, the doctor who tried to keep a straight face through our dialogue until finally joining in) and swapped stories of all the holidays one of our family members has spent in the hospital (Baby Sister Kelly was a sickly child and takes the title on that one). My Dad slyly reminded us, "It's not a competition you know!" as we joked about who's holiday hospital visits were more extreme.

Following a normal EKG, blood tests and a few more pricks to my tender fingers, we were discharged and free to go on our Thanksgiving way. Unfortunately, we never got to deliver the meals this year, but at least we were together. Here's hoping next year's Thanksgiving is just as exciting without landing anyone in the ER!

NaBloPoNO You Didn't!

As I sit here, attempting to type this post for the fourth time, I've come to realize that apparently, the universe did not want me to participate in NaBloPoMo this year (clearly, my family aren't the only ones who think I talk too much. My own laptop has defiantly silenced me for nearly two weeks!).

I'll keep this short for now, as I never know when my laptop will spaz out and turn black (just as I'm in the middle of a sentence that hasn't saved). By next week, I hope to have it fixed, and I'll do my best to catch up on all the posts missed from NaBloPoMo (oh yes, that's a promise!)!

Have a FESTIVE and Fabulous Thanksgiving :)

A Case of the Herp, and Why Everyone Should Own a Pet Carrier

What started with a slightly panicked phone call ultimately resulted in a pretty sick kitty and a shitty night (literally...but we'll get to that).

I was sitting at my desk this afternoon, going through paperwork and preparing for a meeting tomorrow, when my phone rang, and Boyfriend's picture popped up.

"Something's wrong with Bentley."

"What do you mean? What's wrong with him? Is he okay?"

"Well, his left eye is watering, and he just doesn't seem like himself."

"Is he okay right now, or do you think I should call the vet?"

This banter continued a few minutes more until I promptly decided to schedule an appointment with my extra grande cat's favorite vet tomorrow afternoon. If it had been anything serious, surely Boyfriend would have urged me to leave work and immediately head to the vet, right?

I counted the last few hours and impatiently waited to get home to my kitty. He was just as cuddly as ever when I walked in the door, so I assumed tomorrow's appointment would be fine. Bentley nuzzled against the back of my legs as I made stuffed-baked potatoes and swayed to the musical stylings of Michael Buble radio (my favorite Pandora station!). After two hours of baking, I sat down with my kitty in my lap to catch up on the rest of Grey's season two, when I noticed that my extra grande cat was not only sneezing, but now his breathing was short, shallow, and quick. Not wiling to take any chances (he is my baby, after all!), I scooped my kitty up in his favorite blanket (a green & holly print chenille blanket I bought the day before I adopted my kitty!) and drove the 30+ minutes to the 24 hour emergency pet hospital.

Tears streamed down my face as I sped through speed traps and traffic circles assuming the worst. My last trip to the 24 hour emergency pet hospital resulted in bringing a kitty in, and coming home empty handed (RIP Dexter), so clearly, I was wishing for every other outcome. Once inside, my fears were a bit calmed when the vet techs explained that Bentley's breathing seemed normal, but to hang tight and the doctor would be in. Soon, my sister arrived to keep me sane throughout the three hour visit, and we waited...and waited.

When the doctor finally saw us, she surprised my poor Bentley with a rectal probe and a herpes diagnosis. Go ahead, re-read that. My.cat.has.herpes. But it's not what you think. Herpes in felines affects the respiratory system, and presents the same symptoms as colds in humans, so there's no need for major concern (except the fact that he's a 15lb kitty and should ideally weigh 12lbs. That doesn't seem like much, but losing 3lbs when that's 1/5 of your total weight is quite a bit!).

My heart rate slowed significantly when I was told I could bring Bentley home with me right away and would just need to monitor him. I loaded Bentley and his blankie into my car and headed home. No less than five minutes into the ride, my lap got extremely hot, and suddenly all I could smell was ammonia. IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? Apparently, three hours in the confines of a sterile vet's office led Bentley to evacuate his bladder all over my lap as I still had at least 30 minutes to drive home. Things couldn't get any worse. And yet, they did.

Not only was I covered in my cat's ammonia-laced urine, but now Bentley decided to release his bowels, too (no doubt payback for the rectal thermometer). Not only does my cat have the herp, but now I've become a human litter box. Just as impatiently as I counted down the hours to get home to my sick kitty, I'm now counting down the hours until Pet Smart opens so I can purchase a Pet Carrier should the need to transport Bentley arise again in the future (shit on me once, shame on you. Shit on me twice-and you're going back to the shelter!! {of course, I don't mean that, but you know!})