Appropriate Indulgence

My week off for Christmas included the following...

Dec 20: champagne, wine, lots of tasty appetizers and great conversation shared with my new co-workers

Dec 21: dinner, drinks, gifts and so much to say with Nicole

Dec 22: sleeping late, Christmas church service and a long, luxurious dinner by the fire at a new restaurant with Lauren

Dec 23: sleeping late, starting on a well overdue scrapbooking project, Dallas Stars vs. the Canadiens hockey game, large beers and lots of laughs with hubby and Jenn, greeting the hockey players following the game

Dec 24: sleeping late, massage, yummy Thai lunch, purchasing a bag of books to read, "Opa!" fantastic Greek dinner, signature cocktails by the fire at home as I'm opening gifts and staying up late playing a board game with my hubby

Dec 25: sleeping real late, watching the original "Miracle on 34th Street" for the first time, spending time with family and sharing an overabundance of food

Dec 26: sleeping late, lazy time spent with Greg, reading a romance novel, working on a scrapbooking project

Dec 27: sleeping sort of late, a long brunch (3 hours!!) with Nicole, navigating the mall (BAD idea!), more scrapbooking, pizza and beer with hubby

Dec 28: sleeping real late, more scrapbooking, more reading, dinner, drinks and darts with hubby

Dec 29: sleeping late, more scrapbooking, chick flicks at home, drinks with a new friend

Dec 30: sleeping late, breakfast with a big group of friends, more scrapbooking (I think to myself, "Will this book EVER get completed?!"), football, jell-o shot making and poker at Dan's, pizza and beer, bubble bath and finishing the romance novel.

That brings me to today. As one can tell, the last eleven days have been filled with sleeping late, friends, food & drink, my two favorite hobbies, relaxation and more food & drink. If "dinner and drinks" was left off on any of the days above that is simply because I can't remember every meal we enjoyed, but believe me there was plenty enjoyed. I find these indulgences to be a proper finish to a year filled with indulgence, both good and bad.

Indulgence is defined in several ways:

1. something that somebody lets himself or herself or another person have, especially a luxury

2. a kind or tolerant attitude toward somebody

3. the act of gratifying or yielding to a wish

None of these definitions have a negative connotation to them yet so many times the word "indulgence" is associated with over doing something, like over-eating, over-drinking, over-shopping. I intend to continue my indulgences in 2008, but I will be sure that those indulgences are positive in nature and make me feel good as opposed to making me feel bad about myself (as in the over-eating or over-drinking). At the end of this long week off, I feel happy, a well-earned paunchy, very relaxed and certainly ready to ring in a new year of indulging in the journey with my spiritual self, friends, family, healthy fare and the fulfillment of dreams and goals. I wish you the same!

Canceling Christmas

In the spirit of "Christmas with the Krank's," that not-so-funny Tim Allen movie where he over does it with the spray tan in anticipation of a Christmas cruise he and his wife never get to enjoy because their daughter decides at the very last minute to come home for Christmas, I made a bold decision over the weekend. I canceled Christmas.

The original plan was for my grandparents and my mother to come to Dallas and stay with us. We would have dinner on Christmas Eve, probably attend a church service, and then open gifts on Christmas morning before heading out to Bedford to spend some time with Greg's family. Though I was looking forward to spending some time with my family for the holidays, I also know that a quiet Christmas at home alone with my husband is just what the doctor ordered. I asked my grandparents and my Mom if they wouldn't mind if we canceled our plans and they all seemed very understanding. I'm truly not trying to be all "bah-hum-bug!" or anything, I just feel a little overwhelmed and really want to focus on me and Greg.

I still have all the gifts wrapped and under the tree. I still exchanged presents with co-workers, friends and other family members. I will still enjoy drinking hot cider by the fire with my hubby next week, I just won't have to be running around the house all crazy hoping everyone is comfortable all the while only making myself uncomfortable. The few short days Greg and I have off from work together, I want to cherish and enjoy in as much peace and quiet as possible. I'm so glad my family members understand my need for that this year. I am also grateful to have been with them over the long weekend in Houston, which makes the decision so much easier.

All of that said, I am wishing all of you a happy, happy holiday filled with peace of mind, quiet, special moments with the ones you love and, most of all, joy in your heart. Remember, sometimes the very best gifts are the ones we give ourselves, but are also some of the toughest things to remember at this time of the year, like knowing when to say "no" and when to take time alone.

There's just so much I love about music. I have it on all day long - in my office, on my MP3, in my car. My husband accuses me of being into only the lyrics, but that's not the case at all. I have songs that I blast at full blown purely because of the beat. But I will admit that most songs, particularly country music songs, grab me because of the lyrics. Here, a few examples of my favorite awesome, put-a-smile-on-your-face lyrics:

"Settle for a Slow Down" - Dierks Bentley

I must look just like a fool here

in the middle of the road

standing there in your rearview

and getting soaked to the bone

this land is flat as it is mean

a man can see for a hundred miles

So I'm still praying I might see

the glow of a brake light.

But your wheels just turn,

down the road ahead

If it hurts at allyou aint showed it yet

I keep a lookin' for

the slightest sign that you might miss

what you left behind

I know there's nothing stopping you now

but I'd settle for a slowdown.

I held on longer than I should

Believing you might change your mind

And those bright lights of Hollywood

would fade in time.

But your wheels just turn

down the road ahead

If it hurts at all

you aint showed it yet

I keep a lookin' forthe slightest sign

that you might miss

what you left behind

I know there's nothing stopping you now

but I'd settle for a slowdown.

But your wheels just turn

down the road ahead

if it hurts at all

you ain't showed it yet

your just a tiny dot on that horizon line

come on tap those brakes

baby just one time

I know there's nothing stopping you now

Im not asking you to turn back around

I'd settle for a slowdown

come on just slow down

I'd settle for a slow down.

This song just makes me feel all warm and bubbly inside when I hear it. Lyrics, music, voice and all...

"Bubbly" - Colbie Caillat

I've been awake for a while now

You've got me feelin' like a child now

'Cause every time I see your bubbly face

I get the tingles in a silly place

It starts in my toes

And I crinkle my nose

Where ever it goes

I always know

That you make me smile

Please stay for a while now

Just take your time

Where ever you go

The rain is falling on my window pane

But we are hiding in a safer place

Under covers staying safe and warmY

ou give me feelings that I adore

You start in my toes

Make me crinkle my nose

Where ever it goes

I always know

That you make me smile

Please stay for a while now

Just take your time

Where ever you go

What am I gonna say

When you make me feel this way

I just mmmmm

Starts in my toes

Makes me crinkle my nose

Where ever it goes

I always know

That you make me smile

Please stay for a while now

Just take your time

Where ever you go

I've been asleep for a while nowY

ou tuck me in just like a child now

'Cause every time you hold me in your arms

I'm comfortable enough to feel your warmth

It starts in my soul

And I lose all control

When you kiss my nose

The feeling shows'cause you make me smile baby

Just take your time now

Holdin' me tight

Where ever where ever where ever you go

Where ever where ever where ever you go where ever you go

I always know

'Cause you make me smile

Even just for a while

Just a Few Things...

-One of my best friends and her husband are experiencing what none of us would ever want to experience: He needs major surgery and there is the potential for other scary medical news this week. We are hoping and praying that the patient pulls through with flying colors, that a benign "softball" is all we're looking at and that he'll be happy, healthy and cracking jokes about his "battle scar" before too long.

-I attended a farewell luncheon today that I was hesitant about going to because it was for a co-worker (who happens to be a close friend of mine) from Presbyterian, and I would be surrounded by ex-coworkers. Don't know why I was hesitant as they all seemed happy to see me and made me feel so welcome. I'm really glad I attended the luncheon.

-I was completely inspired by the spirit and dedication of my friends who ran a half marathon here in Dallas yesterday! I was also thrilled and proud of the excitment my friends displayed in cheering them on. It made me so happy to be a part of such a wonderful circle of friendship.

-I finished all of our Christmas shopping over the weekend. It took me a few clicks of the mouse to order most things on-line in addition to about five hours of shopping in the stores on Saturday. Whew...marathon shopping.

-I have also almost finished yet another semester of school. I completed the last of the papers and sent them out to my professor today, and all I have remaining is a final exam on Wednesday. I will greatly appreciate walking out of that test Wednesday night...D-O-N-E!!

-I think I am almost fully recovered from my traumatic facial experience last week. The memories of the pain are almost gone, replaced by memories of the wonderful massage I experienced that day, as well.

-I REALLY miss my friends that moved to Connecticutt!! I had a phone date with Jenn last Tuesday evening and we laughed and talked and when we hung-up all I could think was, "I wish we still lived in the same city." Some people move away and you miss seeing them, but it's not top of mind so much. That just isn't the case with Jenn and Mark. I find myself on random Saturdays thinking, "Hey! Let's call them up and go grab a beer." And then I remember that isn't possible...so sad. I guess it just goes to show how much I adore them that I can miss them so much.

Beauty comes as much from the mind as from the eye.
— Grey Livingston

As I reflect this week on beauty and the things we do for beauty, this quite resonates with me. I endured a pretty severe facial treatment on Tuesday that included about 20 minutes of "extractions," which is a really nice way of saying "excrutiating annihialation of one's face." I've had some issues with my skin for a while now due to those lovely hormones that women deal with. I put off going to see a professional for my issues thinking I could handle it on my own. When there seemed to be no improvement after using various soaps, washes, toners, masks and scrubs, I decided it was time to bring in the big guns. Well, the facial started out wonderfully. A massage here, a scrub there and some relaxing steam all over...but then came that scary magnifying glass with the bright light, a needle and two eager hands to attack my "imperfections." I have never felt pain like this before; I am not exaggerating. For about 20 full minutes, I would wringe my hands, grit my teeth and sometimes cry out in pain. When she was done, which seemed like an eternity from when she began, I was exhausted and my face felt mutilated. "Why did I do this to myself?!" I screamed in my mind. Surely there is a good reason.

It's now a little less than 48 hours later and my face is somewhat calm, but still looks and feels wretched in some areas. The estetician said it would be a good three days for the areas to clear up so I guess I'm hoping that by the weekend, I'll feel and look somewhat back to normal...or better.

Anyway, my point in relaying this horrific event is this: We put ourselves through such pain and anguish for the sake of beauty and yet I'm not even sure what beauty really is. I think what Livingston has to say about the subject is right on - we have to feel beautiful before we will look beautiful. And to be honest, after that facial I put myself through I feel a lot less beautiful now than I did when I walked in to my appointment that day, and I'm sure that's written all over this red, splotchy, raw face. The question is: Do we have to get to the "red, splotchy, raw place" in our lives before we can begin to feel beautiful again? I would hope not in most cases, but in my case, I sure hope so!