Streamlined

I went to the gym yesterday after a 2 day break. I felt so guilty. In the evening M and I went to Ikea to check out their Xmas sale event and to have some Swedish meatballs. Do you know they've stopped serving it with boiled potatoes, they have mashed potatoes instead. They are becoming as streamlined as McDonald's. But you can't beat a yogurt ice cream for $1 or a hot dog for 50 cents.

I've decided to do a top sirloin roast for this evening's dinner, and I believe we have some sparkling wine to go with that. I'm not much of a drinker, but it is New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year when it comes, everyone! Let's hope for a good new decade, especially if the past one hasn't been so good for you. And good luck with those resolutions, I haven't really made any.

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Feng Shui Horoscope

I received this in an email and found it very entertaining!

Take just a couple of minutes to take this test & see what
happens! If you are honest this tells the truth -- it's pretty good.
Write your answers on a piece of paper, NO cheating!! The answers are at the bottom...

1. Which is your favorite color: red, black, blue, green, or yellow?
2. Your first initial?
3. Your month of birth?
4. Which color do you like more, black or white?
5 . Name of a person of the same sex as yours.
6. Your favorite number?
7. Do you like California or Florida more?
8. Do you like a lake or the ocean more?
9. Write down a wish. (a realistic one)

When you're done , scroll down. Don't cheat












Answers:
1. If you choose:
Red - You are alert and your life is full of love.
Black - you are conservative and aggressive.
Green - Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back
Blue - You are spontaneous and love kisses and affection from
the ones you love.
Yellow - You are a very happy person and give good advice to
those who are down.

2. If your initial is:
A-K - You have a lot of love and friendships in your life.
L-R - You try to enjoy your life to the maximum and your love
life is soon to blossom.
S-Z - You like to help others and your future love life looks
very good.

3. If you were born in:
JAN - MAR: The year will go very well for you and you will
discover that you fall in love with someone totally unexpected.
APR - JUN: You will have a strong love relationship that will
last forever.
JUL - SEP: You will have a great year and will experience a
major life-changing experience f or the good.
OCT - DEC: Your love life will be great, you will find your
soul mate.

4. If you chose...
Black: Your life will take on a different direction, it will
be the best thing for you, and you will be glad for the change.
White: You have a friend who completely confides in you and
would do anything for you, but you may not realize it.

5. This person should be your best friend.

6. This is how many close friends you will have in your
lifetime.

7. If you chose:
California : You like adventure.
Florida : You are a laid back person.

8. If you chose:
Lake : You are loyal to your friends and your lover and are
very reserved.
Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people

9. This wish will come true if you send this to 1 person in
one hour. Send it to ten people, and it will come true before your next
Birthday

Entertaining

The grocery stores were crowded yesterday although the road traffic seemed lighter. We had a light dusting of snow. For this evening's dinner, I'll be using this recipe from 'For the Love of Cooking' as we have some chicken lovers. I'll also be doing a boneless pork rib roast in a Jamaican jerk sauce. I decided to get a pre-made fruit tray and a pre-mixed green salad to lessen my stress. One of the families had to cancel at the last minute due to other priorities, things happen.

We will be entertaining again on New Year's Eve, we're having some more friends over for what should be a quiet, casual dinner. It's a busy week for entertaining.

Olympic Rings in Vancouver

My uncle sent me this beautiful photo of the Vancouver skyline with the Olympic rings


Yesterday K had 3 friends over for the evening, and one of them slept over. It was his friends from elementary school, so it was a sort of reunion. L and K's former piano teacher came over to wish us a Merry Christmas and brought some gifts. We were busy chatting and hardly noticed the 4 boys leaving out the front door. Then we realized we had no idea where they went and when they would be back. So upon their return an hour later we had to set the rules straight. It turns out they went tobogganing at the park. I just thought that if their parents called for any reason, I wouldn't be able to say where they were and they're still only 14 and it was dark outside. Then they started playing hide and seek in the basement and we heard lots of loud booming noises and could only hope nothing was broken. Never a dull moment. Things became quiet when they started to watch a movie.

We have 3 families coming for dinner tomorrow, so today is grocery shopping day. L is attending a party tonight.

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Christmas Recap

This is our gingerbread house all decorated. The jellybeans are really delicious.


Isn't this the cutest little bear, she brought a smile to my face when I first saw her. A friend gave it to me, filled with delicious Lindt chocolates.




It was mild and drizzling lightly yesterday afternoon, but I decided to go for a walk, umbrella in hand. I had my turkey fix on Christmas day and did have seconds. My mother-in-law loved the Masai Figurines we got her for Christmas. M and the kids gave me an Oliver and Bonacini restaurant gift certificate. L is very happy with her new hair straightener and K is busy playing his new Xbox wrestling game. We got M a new wallet with a change compartment.

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Precious

Well, Christmas Day went well, although it rained all day quite heavily. We are all breathing a sigh of relief because if it had been snow, it would have been very difficult to get around.

Here's a funny video of a kid going crazy over his Xbox 360 present.

L was telling me about this movie called 'Precious' that she saw recently. It's no Cinderella story. Imagine a horrific life that seems to just get worse through no fault of your own. And you keep going until it improves, although things will never be perfect.

On the lighter side, I've been making these low fat Pillsbury crescent rolls with a smear of light cream cheese and they are great for a quick breakfast. Just smear less than a teaspoon of your favourite cream cheese onto the croissants before rolling them up and bake. We like the 'light garlic' or 'light chive and onion' flavours.

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Thrilling

The gym was busy yesterday, and one of the regulars told me she will be in over Christmas. It seems the gym will be open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

We went to see 'The Jersey Boys' musical last night and enjoyed it very much. It's a life story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

L received scholarship offers from 2 of the universities she applied to. They are about her 5th and 6th choice universities. It's so thrilling, especially at this time of year.

We're going out to dinner with my sister's family tonight and we'll open some gifts and hopefully make some phone calls to family abroad.

Well, it's Christmas Day tomorrow, so I'll wish everyone a Merry Christmas and I plan to post again on the 26th!

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