Almost There...10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...Pucker Up!

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I lost my New Year's Kiss virginity in 2010/2011 & I was 25 years old. You can't count the kiss on the cheek or the hugs I received years past & I can't count the kiss after midnight I received from my Drummer Boy ex-boyfriend who purposely kissed me AFTER midnight because he was an asshole. I remember sitting next to that ex on a couch in the winter of 2008 at one of his friend's friend's couches in some Soho, NY apartment and he purposely kissed me the whole night but refused to give me a kiss on the stroke of midnight. I will never understand that guy, but luckily I never will have to figure him out. 

Craig on December 31, 2010 took me to a friend's party and held my hand ever so tightly as we watched Dick Clark finish the count down and gave a me a kiss I can still feel 2 years later. Mariah Carey afterwards belted out something on the TV but the fuzziness of my new love made me oblivious to everything for a few minutes after. Craig for 2011/2012 gave me a bubbly kiss after a sip of champagne that tinkled us both to the tips of our toes. A little while later that night I asked him "Why he loved me?" and he proceeded to give reason after reason after countless reason...It was the sweetest thing anyone ever said to me that I hugged him for several minutes after not wanting to let him go.  I hope he's always my New Year's kiss. 

There is something magical about the midnight of the New Year. A reset. I remember in 2000 people buying all the red tape for I can't remember what reason & stocking up on water because all the computers in the world were going to crash. I don't know why you needed water for this?!?! It didn't happen. On my MANY tag sale & estate sale runs I will glance upon a roll of red tape or a huge role of the gray tape and secretly wonder if these people holding the sale bought it way back when... 

This year it is just a new year...a new chance to try subtle changes for your life. I'm so excited for 2013 yet cautious. I wouldn't be human if I wasn't cautious for new beginnings. Hmmm...now that I have my New Year's eve kiss lined up what will my resolutions be...*Writing*

WHEN & WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE NEW YEAR'S EVE KISS? 

I'd love to hear...

Until Tomorrow...

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Nanoukiko & Triko - The Etsy Shop! =)

Handmade headbands from Nanoukiko & Triko Etsy Shop!

Today I'm going to take a lil break from the crazy drama of life and talk about the wonderful Etsy shop Nanoukiko & Triko that I'm happy to say I won a beautiful headband from a couple weeks ago. Melissa over at her awesome blog, So About What I said held a giveaway from the Esty shop Nanoukiko & Triko & I was the lucky winner! The shop is run by a woman named Natacha's and it is full of beautiful handmade scarves, hand bands, hats, AND she has gift sets perfect for the holidays and winter season! Please take a moment to check her out! 

I was so excited to see the little package in my mailbox...I guess my luck really is pointing up! =)

I love how she wrapped up the head-band! It was really pretty! The headband itself is so soft and it is made so well!

The first photo is of Natacha from her shop! The other photos is of me trying it on! I'm in love! It looks so pretty!

So if your looking for something to keep you warm &/or something beautiful give Natacha's shop a glance!

Happy Friday!

Little Relationship Milestones...

I know 500 Days of Summer isn't a love story but the picture was too perfect and cute not to use...

Over the past few days of my Christmas marathon, Craig and I had a few interesting conversations that has my lil heart all pitter pattering for the next few months. We just hit our 2 and a half year mark and this is honestly the healthiest and most successful relationship I’ve ever had. I can’t wait for the days where we see each other, we make each other laugh, he tells me he loves me every day, & we are truthfully best friends. Our lil relationship is everything I could ever want and didn’t know I wanted or needed. We’ve been mulling over those next steps for quite some time now but our two feet have been stuck on the ground. After this weekend, I think everything is finally going to start coming together…

“You know the next five years are going to fly by…”

“Oh, we can use that in the Condo…”

“Starting next year we should get the lil kids gifts…I think it’s time.”

“I think I’m going to leave my littler gifts here so I don’t have to re-move them back over here.”

“Since when do you not eat Spinach Stromboli?? Please take a piece, I need you to have your strength!”

All Said by Craig..Sometimes I’m on his wavelength but other times I’m not. I have no idea what the spinach comment meant, but it does give me an idea. I love how “Your” Condo, turned into “The” Condo. 

 As I watched him play with his lil cousins I was overcome by a feeling that he would be a great father one day. He doesn’t think he would be, but seeing him gently pick up a little tea cup yorkie puppy like it was made of glass, rough-housing w/ his 6 year old cousin, & offering to put together a lil toy castle for a friend's daughter I came to conclusion he is the One. I’ve subconsciously known it for a long time but this Christmas has cemented it for me and I can’t help but smile when I write this post. 

We are planning to FINALLY move in together in the next week or two…and hearing him make “future” plans 5 years in advance without skipping a beat to take in an anxious breath just took a whole load of stress off my plate. I always feel secure in my relationship but I’m a woman, I will ALWAYS freak out over every little detail until my face is blue. But he was pretty blunt in his lil comments and I’m just beaming with joy.

I’ve had a gut feeling that 2013 is going to be a weird year but now part of that has gone away, because I can’t wait to see what it will bring!!  

*Crossing my Fingers* 

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Stranded w/ Red Velvet Cake & 80's Music at a Farm

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Once in a blue Moon you get to be that unlucky person who is stuck smack dab in Mother Nature's path. Getting let out of work today at 3:30pm was just not early enough. I live on the far eastern border of New York and New Jersey and have about a 30 minute commute not in snow. Today Ole Winter Storm Euclid decided to be my worse enemy. I wouldn't say I live in a snow belt but I live on that fine line between Rain/Sleet & Snow in the wintery months. You really have to wait out every storm because the forecasters are never right. Today they were actually right and alas I was out driving trying to get home in the worst of the storm.

You know those cheesy Rom-Com movies where the girl is freaking out because she is losing control of her car because of a storm and then magically the hunk of the movie is suddenly there to save her? Well I've seen enough of them to realize Oh shit, I'm in trouble and if I go down this mountain my car is NOT going to stop and there are too many people on the road so I could hit someone and I'm not going to magically pull this off without any scrapes or bruises & prince charming is not coming.  I took one look at the road off the Garden State Parkway, freaked when I skidded to a stop after several failed tries on my brakes, and realized I was not getting home any time soon. Luckily I stopped at a this farm/deli/market place that was open. 

I skidded around some more, learned out that 2nd gear wasn't working and had to go into 3rd gear, learned that my car was not going to even attempt to reverse itself when I tried not to spin out, and somehow landed at this market. One of the scariest things in the world is driving in a snow storm. There are these moments of pure panic and literally you have to make a split decision without even a second to make it. 

Oddly I walked into the market and shouted, "I'm stranded! I can't get home it's too bad outside, are you guys still open?!" in a panic. Literally the few cashiers and patrons just blinked their eyes at me a few times. One lady said yes we are open and then they all continued on their ways. I was furious because I was like does anyone realize how seriously bad it is out there??!? I wandered around trying to calm my nerves and went and bought a piece of cake in the bakery. The lady who sold me the slice was chirpy and bright as if it was a sunny day. For a second I thought I was having a mental episode but I guess this how people react to things or they just had snow tires?!?! 

I peered out the window and it looked even worse with at least 4 inches of snow on the ground. Some people were shopping like nothing was happening outside. It was so odd. I sat and ate my cake, while listening to the loud speaker shout out, "Africa" by Toto & "Last Dance" by Donna Summers. I felt like I was in a zombie movie except I was the one going crazy and everyone was too calm. It was surreal...I called my Mom frantic and my dad and they told me it was going to switch to rain & to chill out and wait. An hour later after too many 80's songs I looked outside at the weather. It switched to rain and suddenly the roads were clearish. Well there was black top showing not the full slushy snow like before. I took the chance and got home safe and sound. 

My point of sharing my ridiculous snow story today is that there is no prize for getting home through snow or other tricks up mother nature's sleeve. If you have to wait an hour...wait that hour. If you don't feel safe in these wintery conditions or even other weather conflicts don't take the chance. STAY HOME! STAY AT YOUR JOB!! It's not worth making everyone panic and IT'S OKAY TO STOP...that's why there are hazard lights in a car. I don't know what would have happened if I had tried to go down the mountain. I think I made the right decision to turn off that road & wait. 

Please be careful this holiday season and the upcoming months wherever you live!!

{Back to our regular posting tomorrow...I had to share this it was really hard getting home...}

Merry Christmas To All & To All a Good-Night! =)

My Peppermint Meringues

Hey Everyone, I had to stop in on my 8 mini Christmas journey to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays...

My Boyfriend Craig and me - I think this is the best picture ever taken of us =)

The past few days have been filled with peppermint meringues (OMG, my new favorite Xmas treat, thank you my dear sweet KitchenAid for making the peaks!), flying wrapping paper from lil kids going crazy, the discovery a cake martini, meeting new friends, the realization that I really truly want to be a part of Craig's family one day, hugs & kisses, snowglobe snow(my term for flurries) on Saturday morning which brought on just the right touch of Christmas spirit, Bailey's Irish Cream hmmm, freak snow storm sheninigans and cookies galore! The best part about it all is that I'm not even close to being done this Christmas! I still got a few mini Christmases to go! Woohoo!

I'm front and center @ my Meet-up Group Cookie/White Elephant Exchange Party

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! 

Thank you for Reading Ergo...

Much Love & Happiness this Holiday Season!

-Love Chloe

Eight Little Christmases All in A Row!

Saturday DAY-TIME: 12/22/12 - Craig's Family Christmas 

Saturday NIGHT-TIME: 12/22/12 - My group of gal pals Cookie & White Elephant Exchange Party

Sunday DAY-TIME: 12/23/12 - Crag's Mom Friend's Christmas/Hannukah Party

Monday NIGHT-TIME: 12/24/12 - Church w/ Craig & his Mom and then we open presents togher

Tuesday Morning: 12/25/12 - Craig + Me's lil Christmas Morning Together to open our presents

Tuesday Brunch: 12/25/12 - My Mom is having brunch and more present giving and opening

Tuesday Afternoon: 12/25/12 - Christmas@ My Grandparents 

Tuesday Evening: 12/25/12 - Christmas@ My Aunts

Let's just say I invested in a case of Red Bull already! Somewhere amongst the Christmas mayhem Craig and I need to sit and watch "It's a Wonderful Life". I'm embarrassed to say I never have seen it. I know, I know...That's like almost sacrilegious. But we will make a little relationship time to watch it.

Tonight is cookie night...I'm so excited. I tried to make Peppermint Brownies but alas they did not come out good. I thought I could just put peppermint marshmallows into the brownie batter....NOPE! It does not work. The marshmallows I guess floated to the top and became a gooey mess that doesn't even taste like peppermint anymore. Yeah, with making cookies don't take the cheap fast way out...follow the recipes! =)

I am pretty happy that this year I won't have to sacrifice not going here or there because something bigger has been planned. It should all fall into place if I wear a watch for next few days and bring along an egg timer to remind me of when to switch! =)

Did your Holiday Schedule work out balanced this year? 

What day do you celebrate Christmas? 

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Pink Elephants on Parade - Hippety Hoppety! Last Minute Gifts!

Jonathan Adler Elephant Porcelain Salt & Pepper Shakers

Today is another "One of Those Days" were the pressure is hitting hard & I'm struggling to keep my A.D.H.D in check. But, my new desire to drink Green Tea in the morning is winning another day AND I found out my job has Green Tea in my lunch room for free. YEAH! The word "Free" is great motivator for me. lol.

Today however, I'm going to talk about elephants...Yes, Elephants. I have NO idea if this is just my family superstition or if it's buried on Wikipedia as a known superstition, but I follow the unsaid word that 

            "You are NOT supposed to buy yourself an elephant, you are ONLY 

supposed to receive it as a gift."  

I think the same thing goes for owls, but that could be my quirky overly superstitious family. My mother for years would tell me, "No No don't buy that...I'll get it now and you'll get it for Xmas or your birthday." I always thought this was weird, but never delved further. 

Is this a real tradition?? Have you guys ever heard of it???

The reason why I ask is that I was looking in Barnes & Noble over the weekend and spotted those cute lil elephant salt & pepper shakers on top by designer Jonathan Adler. You can check out his other adorable items HERE.

If you by any chance follow my elephant superstition too check these other cute things out for last minute gifts!! They are all on my Weekly Wishlist and maybe I'll get those salt shakers for Christmas! =) 

Jonathan Adler Whale Porcelain Salt & Pepper Shakers

Jonathan Adler Pink Elephant Presentation Book

Jonathan Adler Kitty Cat Salt & Pepper Shakers

Jonathan Adler Pink Elephant Folding Umbrella 

6 More Days until Christmas! AHHH!! =)

Cold Turkey Just Won’t Work...One Week Down

Starting Weight on 11/5/12: 175 lbs

Last Weeks Weight on 12/7/12: 178 lbs

Current Weight: Pending…

Alright, the New Year is coming up and the resolutions are forming. For the past 10 years I have said, “Lose those last 20 pounds” and guiltily this year I’m going to have to up that to, “Lose those last 30 pounds.” There is only one person to blame and that is myself. I know what I’ve done and what I probably will continue to do some days. But, I’ve recognized another problem I have with weight loss and that is starting January 1^st. It’s almost as if it’s doomed to fail if I start when everyone else is starting. I almost feel like I’m not doing it for myself, but because I HAVE to start whenever else is starting. Not this year, not 2013. 

When I start things cold turkey it fails. This year I’ve started a little bit earlier and started when I wanted to start. I saw this little 8 LB Kettle bell on the bottom shelf of Home Goods clearance for $12.99 and picked it up ready to begin. This was a week ago today and I’m already feeling different. I’ve mentioned the saying before that, “It takes 4 weeks for you to see a change, 8 weeks for others.” I’m going to debate that lil fact.

After 1 week:

1.       It was a birthday party at work on Friday and while eating I suddenly had to stop because I actually felt “Full”. This is a foreign concept to me and causes me to overeat. I actually had breakfast that day, but I didn’t finish all the food on my plate and I was content NOT to finish all the food…

2.       My pajama pants & underwear are looser.

3.  The cinch of my waist looks well more cinched. It’s making my hips look bigger, but it could just be an illusion. 

             4.  I feel less tired & for the past 3 days have not had the 3pm Crash where I’m searching for something sweet.  

   5.       I have a desire to actually drink Green Tea…That could just be stress & I don’t know if I will keep up with it.

6.       I’ve given up soda & am trying to drink only water.

Dieting is a struggle for the world, but taking those first steps in the right direction is the hardest part. I’ve resisted the cookies, candies, and chocolate covered apples so far this week and it’s only Monday, AHHH!!! But honestly it hasn’t been that hard. I ate some of an Edible Arrangement w/ Pineapple, Pears, and regular apples and it was more than sweet enough to satisfy.  I’ve been trying to work-out a bit right when I wake up. What’s great is that the weight loss infomercials are on so it gets me going…

It’s a process, but I’m not waiting any longer. If I feel this good or better after the next week, I’d feel amazing! =) 

Stay Tuned…

 Bridget Jones..

Oh Crap, I'm THAT Episode!! A "Girl's" Post

Had a friend who was a still a virgin after college at 23 – CHECK!

Had a friend who was free-spirited, talked with a bohemian accent even though she was from New Jersey, & was VERY liberal in her play-dates with men sort of speak – CHECK!

Had a friend who was terrified that her parents would cut her off financially because she was taking too long to “Find Herself” & if she kept dating a certain guy – CHECK!

My Boyfriend sleeps ALL OVER ME and I have to snudge him off as carefully as I can – CHECK!

Argued with a friend about whether or not she was a good friend or not & our friendship is still not repaired – CHECK!

Have a friend who can’t show her boyfriend the affection he deserves – CHECK!

Used to have a friends w/ benefits situation with a guy who was pretty much My Own Brown-Eyed Mr. Big AND yes he was kinky & I never knew what the fuck was going on w/ him until he threw me a text message in the middle of night to watch a B-rated horror movie and yeah, get reacquainted*Cough* – CHECK!

When I flipped on the Girl’s Season One DVD I had high expectations and honestly every single one of them was met. Lena Dunham quotes within the first few minutes of Girl’s that she wishes to be the voice of her generation or “A” generation…Um, yeah she pretty much summed it up the past 10 years of my life. I’m a year older than her and even though I do not live in the New York city, I’ve lived or known someone who has experienced the entire TV Show… I’m from Rockland County, NY and I can’t tell you how many of my friends drool over the city with expectations that go beyond the far reaches of reality. Regardless of NYC, in a girls' life events happen you can't control, Ergo you adapt. Plain and simple.

Besides the realistic plots, I have to give Lena Dunham a round of applause for going for her dream. I had a miserable day at work today and honestly I thought about her show and thought to myself, "You know what, if she can do it, I can do it." I don't want to be in a cubicle every day or at least when I leave my cubicle I want to do something else with my time that makes me happy. I have a zombie novel and short stories floating around in my head that NEED to come to light. I've started this blog & I already see my happiness coming forward from writing every day. I need to keep going, I need to find the courage to step out of the box & I need to be fearless when it comes to my dreams. Maybe I need to join a writer's group or read my stories out loud to an audience to get feedback like in the show...

I remember a friend of Craig's was watching Girl's because he was sick of being single and didn't know what girls wanted these days or how I thought about things. He said he saw it as an instruction manual to 20 something women. I saw him the other day and I said to him the show is a great glimpse into us womenfolk jokingly, but I made sure to tell him it's only a glimpse. I'm VERY curious on where this show will go as the ladies get older. I guess I could say that about any of my friends too. hehe. 

Have you seen Girl's Season 1? What did you think about it? 

Here and There & This and That...

On this cold rainy weekend before the full force of the last minute Christmas rush, I'm finishing Girls Season one & reflecting back on my quiet lil weekend. Craig is in Florida visiting his grandfather, my parents were busy working & Christmas shopping, my friends were living their dramas, so I had the weekend all to myself to kick back & relax. I didn't answer my phone, didn't make any plans outside my cozy lil condo, & let out a breath of fresh air. Sometimes you need to press Pause...and I was ever so lucky to do that this weekend... BUT it was an eventful lil weekend after all.

- I have discovered Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade...Yum!!

- I ran into one of my past Cupcake class students in the, no joke, baking aisle of the super market. "Ohh, my Cupcake Teacher, " I suddenly hear behind me. I turned and she had 4 red velvet cupcake mixes in her hand. She then continued, "Ohh, Yes it is you. Omg thank you so much for teaching me how to make cupcakes! I make a batch like every other week AND I'm making them for my husband's Xmas party! Thank you!" I have never run into student and her be so happy I taught her a hobby she never she knew she would like. My smile beamed from ear-to-ear and it really made me feel good about myself. =)

- I visited my grandfather in the VA today w/ my grandmother. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have been able to know my 4 grandparents in my life AND got to hear 3 of them say I love you to me today. Watching my grandparents together is like watching the Notebook. They've been married over 65 years and even w/ dementia my grandmother still jokes to him that he wouldn't give her his pencils back in the 1930's...It's crazy to think about it. They still love each other after all these years...<3 p="p">

- Craig is in Florida and yesterday he called me up to say Hi & noticed he sounded like he had food is in mouth. I asked him what and he said, "We passed a cupcake store and I missed you so much I had to go in and buy one. I miss my cupcake." Cheesy yes, but cute...

- I'm trying out peppermint marshmallow brownies...I'm a little apprehensive because literally I just peppermint marshmallows in a brownie mix. They are in the oven now filling my house with it's yummy aroma. Can't wait to try them! =)

- I bought an 8LB kettle bell over the weekend to try and do work-outs at home.  Well, I'm a little scared of it. So far I've dropped it three times and shock the whole condo building. I hope the guy downstairs wasn't home. I have high expectations for it...If all it does is tone my arms even a little bit I'd be happy. Here goes nothing!

- I actually found a REAL SIMPLE magazine coupon for a $1 the next issue in the normal coupons I get in my paper. I love that magazine and it's a usual item I always throw into my super market shopping cart when I see a new issue. I can't wait for the January issue to come out AND I'll save a buck too! Woohoo!!

Cheers to a new week, new possibilities, & new reasons to smile! New York may even see snow this week! An extra day off would definitely be nice! Until tomorrow! =)

To all those lost today...

My prayers and condolences to the families and friends of the tragedy that unfolded today... I can't imagine the heartbreak of the loss...Rest in peace...God bless these lil angels that were lost in Conneticut.

I Want To Be The Girl With The Most Cake...

Yesterday night was my last cupcake class, so I thought I would decorate a cake for my students. The class was originally supposed to be a cake decorating class, but after you decorate one cake...um what are you going to teach for the other 7 weeks?!?! Cupcakes are so much better to teach on,  and then you can incorporate the decorations onto the top of a cake like I did here. Remember the Christmas Tree Cupcakes? Well I improvised.

The stages of my cake...

What fascinates me about cakes is that it can look so messy & disorganized one minute and then with the right tools and patience it can look beautiful in another minute. I made a lemon curd filling for the center of the cake. I wish I could write that I used my handy dandy cake saw to make the layers but alas it broke last semester and I have not had a chance to replace it, which is why two identical cake pans are definitely better than one. I made two identical flat cakes and placed the lemon curd between them. It seems like it's a cheat way to make a layer cake BUT you don't have to worry about the crumbs of the cake going up into your filling that was left behind by the cake saw wire. 

I love making the little stars on top of the trees...I used Wilton Tip #21

I STILL could not get the "Christmas Red" really red, but at least it was deeper than the Santa hats!

I went a little too crazy w/ the sprinkles, but I still love my little cake. I'm more of a cupcake girl but once in a while a cake can be just as pretty! =)

FYI...my job from 8:45am - 12pm ate almost the entire cake. All that was left at the end of the day was the portion with the trees. I was pleasantly surprised. =)

People's reactions to me bringing in my cupcakes & cakes to work have been "Oh My God, my wife would never let me have a cupcake, thank you!!" or "My son loves the cupcakes that I bring home to him. He wanted me to tell you thank you" or "You Made this?? WOW!!". Other people are like "Why don't you work in a bakery??". I always answer, "Oh it's just hobby" but I'm really starting to think about branching out with what I know. Maybe teach more than just my little adult education class like a Wilton class at my local craft store on the weekends or something bigger...It's a thought...Hmmm...

ANY TIPS ON MAKING LAYERS IN A CAKE?? 

I'm all ears...

Title of the Post: "Doll Parts" by HOLE