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IMG_0410-1, originally uploaded by gina.banina.

So I evidently let Christmas and New Year’s Eve pass without a post for either. My muse has run away for warmer shores it seems.

I have spent the majority of my time obsessed with scrapbooking and cardmaking. Much has contributed to total exhaustion besides.

Patiently I await longer daylight hours, warmer temperatures, and energy & inspiration to dedicate to all of my creative ventures, equally.

This is absolutely heartbreaking. If you have any money at all to donate, even $25, please please do. If you have any time to donate to the WWF, please do. This is urgent. The polar bear is now an endangered species. I never thought I would see this in my lifetime.

In the past several months I have become a bit of a domestic goddess.  Yes, I do believe I have earned that title.  I have baked chocolate chip-banana bread, from-scratch cheesecake, pumpkin bread, and peanut butter cookies.  I have made apple cider, quesadillas, mashed sweet potatoes, and more.  I have thought up centerpieces and turned a patio into a quiet sanctuary.

I actually enjoy baking and cooking for the first time in my life.  I still don’t bake if it will be only me to enjoy the results; but it feels really good to share what I bake with others.  I cook for my beloved and me and have had no complaints and many compliments.

Becoming so domestic is very different from who I’ve been so far in my life.  I do understand anyone’s incredulity at this change.  I am simply evolving through positive & negative experiences, healthy & unhealthy friendships, and lessons learned.  I am really enjoying this calmer life and look forward to continuing along this path.

Incidentally:  A calmer life does not always mean a boring life.  *smile*

A dozen roses! , originally uploaded by gina.banina.

I didn’t do the obligatory birthday blog post this year, but I absolutely should have at least mentioned this:

He got me a dozen roses!!!

I am a very, very lucky girl.

“Middle Class Piggy”, originally uploaded by Dave Allen Photography.

In preparing for secret, secret plans (muahaha!) my honey and I have devised a competition to see who can spend less money over the coming months. This will be a challenge for me, because: 1) I live paycheck to paycheck as it now stands, 2) I have a Twizzlers addiction that is unsurpassed, and 3) I need caffeine (in the form of diet soda, thank you!) like I need air – neither can I go without for very long.

The competition began yesterday, December 1st, and so far so good for me. I have remembered to bring my lunch, purchased soda in 6-pack instead of fountain form, and have “just said no” to my Twizzler addiction. I miss Twizzlers already and it has only been 2 days since I last had them. This will be a difficult road ahead, with no Twizzlers in sight. Twizzlers are a superfluous expense, after all, or so people claim. Pfft. My honey has had no need to spend money yet, so of course he is winning by default currently. So not fair. (Heh).

(Update:  I have already broken down and bought a bag.  I was craving them so badly… At least I am forcing myself to save them until the weekend, right?)

This Thanksgiving I have much to be thankful for and perhaps the most I have had to be thankful for in my life thus far.  I am perhaps the happiest and healthiest I have ever been, I really do believe.

I have met a man, my one and only, who is an exceptionally positive influence and treats me incredibly well.  He sees and appreciates all aspects of me and reminds me daily that he cares about and wholly values me.  My one and only is an intelligent, strong, and interesting person.

I am, of course, very thankful for my Jasper, as I am thankful for him daily.  Jasper has been the one constant in my life over the past 7 ½ years.  He offers unconditional love, offers great affection, and brings absolute joy to my life.  Along with the gratitude I have for him, I am very thankful that he continues to be healthy and happy.

I am thankful too that I have remained alcohol-free – for the past 139 days in fact.  The decision to stop drinking was the best decision for me.  My life and my relationships are much better because I am now 100% alcohol-free.  I have a clearer mind, healthier body.  I enjoy markedly improved outlets for emotion and expression for sure.

For the increased creativity and channels for such creativity I am quite grateful.  Along with that, I am very thankful for having met an inspiring individual this year (she should know to whom I am referring and I do hope that she does).  I have much to learn from her still and am definitely look forward to it.

In the past several months I have learned much, but one of the greatest lessons has been gratitude.  The new positive mindset I possess brings me greater peace and a more beneficial mindset with which to handle the bumps on life’s journey.  I make every effort to write down my daily blessings, well, daily.  Even on seemingly bad days I can think of at least five or ten things positive in that day.  I was amazed when I realized that even bad days held good moments.

It had never occurred to me to be particularly thankful for having a job before; however, this year I am all too aware of how lucky I am to have a job.  I can count on two hands the number of friends I have had this year jobless.  In my field, I have witnessed what the 10.2% national rate of joblessness means, meeting many of those that embody this statistic.  It is nearly impossible in this economy to find a new one too.

This Thanksgiving I will keep a smile on my face and remember just how very blessed I am.

Facebook has been on my mind lately.  I wonder what it is that leads us to “friend” everyone we have ever known and sometimes those we do not know.  I have a “friends” list that includes 317 people.  I know nearly every individual in the list, sure, but I can count on one, maybe two, hands the number of people on the list with whom I stay in touch.

It boggles my mind what it is that draws us to read status updates and continue to add family, friends, or acquaintances when we do not have intentions, time, or energy to keep in touch via e-mail, mail, messaging, or phone, or in person (imagine that, interacting in person!).  We may now and again, at best, reply to someone’s status update on our “friends list” or write something on their “wall,” sure, but actually interact and keep on touch on a more than superficial level?

I understand that Facebook is a social networking site and networking means to stretch one’s circle; however, how many of us actually use it to network? Most use it, at least initially, to stay in touch with family and friends (from my experience).  In the end though most of us get lost in the never ending cycle of adding more and more acquaintances, friends, and family members, until we have more people on our “friends list” than we can ever hope to keep in touch with.  I am simply confounded by this Facebook phenomenon.

Day 160 – Make a wish!, originally uploaded by intanchly.

This weekend was the birthday of my one and only. For his birthday I made him from-scratch peanut butter cheesecake. The only cheesecake I’d ever made was a Jell-o brand cheesecake, so I was excited and nervous about this first-time endeavor. The birthday boy ate every morsel of his piece of cheesecake, so I guess I did pretty well. So far I can apparently do no wrong with my baking. :)

Being that both of us have injuries at present, the weekend was mostly spent inside and watching movies. We always watch movies I would never have picked on my own and most I have never heard of. I love it. This weekend, we watched a Bruce Campbell B-movie, a horror movie, and an odd, futuristic movie. It seems there’s little else to do when you’re both falling apart. Good thing we both love movies!

We did escape to the outdoors for a few hours Saturday evening. We spent time in nature, catching up with friends around bonfires and enjoying time with each other outside. Eventually my ankle began hurting quite a lot and we were exhausted, so we headed home. I am glad my one and only was able to get an outdoor escape this weekend.

So this coming weekend is my birthday. Plans are currently up in the air. All I know is that my guy and I will spend it together. I do have my birthday off from work. I took a vacation day. I hate working on my birthday and have done so for years now. I shall enjoy a three-day weekend, for sure… and we shall see what the weekend brings!

pretty pink tuesday, originally uploaded by patti | dearmissdoll.

“So is that what happens the closer we get to our birthdays? We fall apart?”

I asked my beloved this last night.   You see, my beloved’s birthday is coming up shortly and soon after it’ll be my own birthday. This week he developed a pinched nerve that makes it painful to sleep or walk. Yesterday it suddenly felt as if I’d sprained or twisted my ankle, but I’d done nothing to bring such pain on. Today his and my pain is worse.

Does this mean we’re getting old?