2009 recap

January

• started attending group classes at the gym
• 1/15 Katherine, my God daughter celebrated her 2nd birthday
• spent my 29th birthday all by myself
• worked out 20 times
  

February

• sent to go see "Chicago"
• worked out 19 times
  

March

• Shaun visited
• Michelle visited
• went to albuquerque for Brisa's baby shower
  
• Went to visit Nikki in College Station and Austin, TX
• worked out 18 times
  

April

• Joshua John born
• Alycia's 1st birthday
• I got Lasik
• worked out 22 times
  

May

• did my 2nd 5k
• went to florida to visit Tina
• worked out 24 times
  

June

• saw a tornado
• Ilianna was born
• went to rhode island with my parents to visit my aunt, uncle, cousin and her family, including my God daughter Katherine
• worked out 20 times
  

July

• started dating P
• cousin cheryl came to visit
• worked out 19 times
  

August

• accomplished my new year's resolution
• celebrated Chloe's first birthday
• craziness at work
• worked out 22 times
  

September

• went to visit Brisa in charlotte, nc
• ended things with P
• worked out 12 times
  

October

• my mom came to visit
• did my 3rd 5k
• went home for Michelle's 30th birthday
• went to the balloon fiesta
• balloon boy
• worked out 20 times
  

November

• celebrated ginny's birthday
• kari came to visit
• celebrated thanksgiving with my parents in denver
• worked out 21 times
  

December

• went to white sands national monument
• went to Cheryl's graduation from NMSU in las cruces, nm
• spent the week of Christmas in albuquerque
• spent new year's eve all by myself
• worked out 18 times
  

i honestly don't know how to feel about this year. i suppose it was an ok year. although it depresses me to see that i spent two pretty big holiday's by myself. when i think about that, i can't help but ask myself "what is wrong with me?". but i feel so loved when i look back and see all of the friends and family members that traveled to come see me, when they didn't have to. i can definitely see why this time of year depresses some people, because it forces you to look at what you've done, and think about what you want to do in the future. i hope that this time next year i can celebrate 2010 with someone special, and start 2011 with a kiss.

Happy New Year, 2010!!!

Christmas Week Recap

Saturday December 19th

• Dinner at Papa Felipe's
• Quality time coloring Mom's hair

Sunday December 20th

• Day with Shaun
• Breakfast at Le Peep where we ran into an old party friend of ours
• Did errands, and last minute Christmas shopping
• Spent 3+ hours at the Owl Cafe where I got a peanut butter milkshake!, played lots and lots of rummy, ended by dinner
• Went to go see "Brothers"

Monday December 21st

• Went to the gym in the morning with Mom had breakfast at Flying Star Cafe, ran into an old friend from Kindergarten
• Hung out and spent the night at Kari's

Tuesday December 22nd

• Up at 4:45am to get to the gym when it opens at 5am! Did a crazy hard upper body workout with Kari and her friend
• Had a yummy breakfast at The Range Cafe
• Got my hair did!

Wednesday December 23rd

• Went to the gym in the morning with Mom
• Had lunch with Sarah at Cafe Trang
• Went to Kari's to help her do some baking

Thursday December 24th

• Went to the gym in the morning with Mom and met Michelle there
• Ran into an old HS friend at the gym
• Went to breakfast with Michelle at Vic's Daily Cafe
• Celebrated Christmas Eve dinner at Aunt Patti's
• Went to midnight mass at 9pm

mom and i on Christmas Eve

Friday December 25th

• Celebrated Christmas morning brunch at Aunt Deanna's
• Spent the afternoon with Michelle and her family, had dinner and played the card game Louie
• Watched "Up" and "Marley and Me" at home with Mom

mom, aunt deanna, aunt michelle, aunt patti, uncle billy, aunt kathleen on christmas day

Saturday December 26th

• Went to go see "Nine" with Mom, Aunt Kathleen, Aunt Patti, Aunt Michelle, and Cheryl
• Had the 4th Annual Girl Cousin Dinner at the Melting Pot with Nikki, Kari, and Cheryl
• Relaxed in Kari's hot tub

nikki, me, brad, kari, and cheryl

cheryl, me, nikki, and kari

riley and aidan

Sunday December 27th

• Had breakfast with Michelle at the Grove
• Packed and went to the airport

~something I love~ flashback edition

this blue dress. i got this dress back in high school, specifically for homecoming my junior year, which was the fall of 1996. i went on a double date with my friend angela. the second time i wore it was on a cruise in june 1998, pictured in the middle with my friend sarah. the third time was also on a cruise in january 2005. i didn't have the picture to scan but the last time i wore this dress was in october 2005 at a work event called Bravo!
needless to say out of all of my high school dance dresses this one has gotten the most wear. i love the color and the way it makes me feel. it fits perfectly and for me is very flattering.

Christmas past

below are some pictures of past Christmas'. enjoy!
Upper left: my cousin Nikki and I ~ Christmas 1993
Upper right: this is the first and only professional picture our entire family has taken.
Top to Bottom, Left to Right ~ Christmas 1990
Uncle Jeff, Aunt Patti
Uncle John, Aunt Margaret
Dad, Cousin Charlene
Mom, Me
Uncle Fred (R.I.P.), Grandpa Egan (R.I.P.)
Aunt Kathleen, Aunt Deanna, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Billy, Cousin Kari holding Cousin Kyle
(above Kari) Cousin Greg, Cousin Nikki
Cousin Cheryl, Cousin Brad
Middle left: me, Cheryl, Nikki ~ Christmas 1998
Middle right: Nikki, me, Uncle John, Kari, Greg, Larry holding 2month old Riley
Charlene, Kyle, mom, Aunt Michelle, Aunt Deanna, Mark (R.I.P.)
Aunt Patti, Aunt Kathleen, Uncle Fred (R.I.P.), Aunt Margaret, Uncle Billy
Uncle Jeff, Gary, Dad with Lady (R.I.P) in his lap. ~ Christmas 1996
Bottom: Nikki, Kari, me, Greg, Charlene ~ Christmas 2000

I'm relieved to report that I am not going to the gym tomorrow. From my family to you and yours I hope you have a
Very Blessed and Merry Christmas!!!

school days

time to go back to middle school and high school.
Top left: my parents and I, May 1998 at my high school graduation
Top right: me, my cousin Charlene, and my cousin Greg. Charlene is my cousin who lives in Rhode Island who flew out to surprise Greg and I for our big days!
Lower left: Sarah, me, and Michelle after our graduation ceremony. Seniors '98!!!
Lower right: so back in the day i used to play a lot of radio contests. this was probably my biggest win. tickets to go see the Goo Goo Dolls, plus meet and great passes! This is me and my cousin Nikki before the show!, November 1999.
Top left: my very loyal blogger friend Emily, May 1993. I don't remember what the "my little mermaid" theme was for, what I do know is that Emily looks super cute posing next to it!
Top middle: michelle and i getting ready to go to our 8th grade dance May 24, 1994
Top right: michelle and i in Red River, NM August 1995
Bottom left: michelle and i getting ready to go to Winter Ball February 3, 1996
Bottom middle: the group i went to London with, this is at Windsor Castle March 1997
(top): some girl Allan was flirting with, Allan(R.I.P.), Erin, Mrs. Stein, Anthony, me
(bottom): Kathleen, Andy
Bottom right: Winter Ball 1998 me, Sarah, and Michelle

back in the day

here are some super cute baby pictures of myself. i have to say i was one cute baby. i wanted to highlight my grandpa egan. i was very close to him growing up, he was so much fun to be around. he lived in Santa Fe and my mom and i would spend one weekend a month with him. he passed away when i was 11. but i'm happy to report that our relationship today is still very tight, and that we keep in touch quite frequently. ...he's very proud of me.

you can't really tell, but that first picture to the left is his caption of the photo to the right. like me, my grandpa egan documented things very well. plus he has the coolest handwriting ever.
All of the details below are what my grandpa egan personally wrote on the back of the above pictures, except for the last one.
Top row: "8/2/1980 Dad (Bill Egan), April, Mom"
my grandpa egan, me, and my great grandma egan, 6mos.
Middle left: "Dad and April May 1981"
my grandpa egan, and i, 16mos.
Middle right: "4/19/80 Grandpa Egan feeding April at Barbara & Meliton's"
my grandpa egan, and i, 3 mos.
Lower left: "6/25/81 Santa Clara Canyon, NM camping trip. Meliton, April, Barbara"
my parents and i, 5 mos.
Lower right: "Beginning Oct. 1980 8 1/2mos" (my Mom's caption)

daddy's little girl

i finally figured out how to use my parent's scanner. so since i am home this week and have access to it, i'm going to dedicate this week: blast from the past week, and share some of my childhood memories. enjoy!
i love my dad. we unfortunately don't have the close relationship that i have with my mom, but that definitely doesn't mean i love him any less. to treasure the relationship i do with him i thought i would share some pictures of the 2 of us.

Top: March or April 1981 - the kitchen cabinets are exactly the same!
Bottom Left: I'm guessing 1985 - my dad used to be an avid runner, and i used to help him do his stretches.
Bottom Right: August 2004 - at my cousin Nikki's Wedding in Albuquerque. I was a bridesmaid.

communication

so you know when you plan a day to the minute, and one thing goes wrong, and it just throws off your whole day? ...that's my day today. so in advance i do apologize because i'm going to go off a little bit of a rant here.
i'm flying home to Albuquerque this afternoon. my whole reasoning behind selecting the afternoon flight was so that i could go to my hydro water class this morning at the gym, and have a relaxed day and not be in such a rush to get to the airport like years in the past.
so i woke up this morning to go to my swim class (i woke up a especially early on friday so that i could shave my legs in preparation for this swim class{TMI, i know, but it's ok deal with it}) i arrive a little bit early, and i'm about to get into the water when a woman comes out of the aquatics office to tell me the class has been canceled and that it was posted on mylt.com. that sucks. seriously. i go back into the locker room tell the girls that i see regularly at this class the bad news.
now when i do this class on saturday mornings i obviously don't have my normal workout clothes because i workout in my swim suit. and after this class on saturday's i take a shower and get ready at the gym.
so i go home, change into workout clothes and go back to the gym. now i had an agenda for my day, so needless to say i only got in 35 minutes on the elliptical which to me barely even counts as a full workout. i left the gym, got ready at home, got a quick breakfast, mailed a return, stopped by the grocery store, and got my eye brows waxed.
i am now obviously home, finished packing in time to write this blog.
now lets get to the point. the point is, the gym should have better communicated with its members that this class was canceled. i don't check mylt.com everyday if hardly ever. now i understand you can't please everyone. but if a sign was posted at the front desk i would have known, i was at the gym wednesday, thursday, and friday. in this world where communication is as advanced as it is, sometimes i feel like we are going backwards. and times like this the original form of communication should have been used. the instructors could have made an announcement at the beginning of there classes, a sign could have been posted. simple things. with no advanced technology needed.
all in all of course it was fine. and i do love my gym. i am just frustrated that i only got in a 35 minute workout. but life will go on.

the second part

so the real reason for my trip to Southern NM was to attend my cousin's graduation from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. this occasion was the perfect reason to check out white sands, too!

if you look close enough Cheryl is receiving
her college degree in this pic!

proud Mama
my Aunt Deanna and Cousin Cheryl

cousins
Greg, Riley, Kari, Cheryl, Aidan, me, Brad

Congratulations Cheryl!
Welcome to adulthood.

all kinds of crazy

i'm pretty sure i should have asked first.
but this is my version of Emily's:
random thought thursday.
Thanks dude.

my mom had fresh cilantro,
for the first time.
last friday.
in las cruces, nm.

******

i love cheese.

******

things at work have been crazy.
it's all down hill from here.
until 1/4/10.

******

i really want a
new entertainment center.

******

nine.

******

i freak out a little bit every time
i go up an escalator.

******

i got new pictures of Katherine
yesterday.
i'm pretty sure she is the most
beautiful little girl ever.
seriously.

******

shh it's secret, but twice last week
i went 100mph.
don't tell anyone.

******

the countdown has
officially begun.

******

never had i ever

(view pictures from the bottom up)

This past weekend I was in Southern New Mexico for the very first time. I spent my first 22 years in NM, and never had I ever been to the Southern part of my home state. During this little road trip I spent an afternoon at White Sands National Monument. I took a ton of pictures. This place was beautiful. The weather was perfect and the silence was a great stress relief.

my mom making a sand angel

just as the sun was setting the mountains got a beautiful dose of color!

mom and i on our "sunset stroll"

the NM state flower is the yucca. yucca's were everywhere.
the jagged edge of the sand was from a sand storm.

our hand prints

the feet on the inside our my mom's (size 6) my feet are on the outside (size 9)

this place is a definite must see!

a Christmas funny

Weeweechu!

It's a romantic full moon, when Pedro said, "Hey, mamacita, let's do Weeweechu."

"Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!" said Rosita.

"Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love you and it's the perfect time," Pedro begged.

"But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon." replied Rosita.

"Please, corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me."

Rosita looked at Pedro and said, "OK, one time, we'll do Weeweechu."

Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....

"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas,
Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

new class

my usual wednesday work out is Soul Grooves. it's probably my favorite classes...although i love all of them for different reasons. well today the instructor for soul grooves was MIA so we had a different instructor who decided to do the class Latin Fusion. this class was alright. definitely not something i'll go to again. it didn't really get me moving. in fact i almost left the class, but decided just to finish it. i figure i would count it has a work out because i was moving for 60 minutes, and prior to the class i did some weights and some cardio.
that's all i really have to say, i figure this is better then: i went to the gym today. but really that's all i have to say.

White Chicken Chili by Carol M

a few months ago we had a potluck at work. we each were assigned to bring our best dish. i brought these, and a co-worker brought white chicken chili. this was something i had never even heard of. but boy oh boy is this good! with highs only in the teens lately this definitely has helped keep me warm. i hope you make it and warm up too!

What you will need:
1 1/2 cup diced cooked chicken, 4 cans Great Northern beans (do NOT drain juices),
2 cups chicken broth, 2 seeded jalapeno peppers (chopped),
1 can (4 ounce) chopped green chilies, 2 cups grated low-fat cheddar cheese,
6oz. low fat cream cheese (do not use non-fat or the texture will be lumpy)

cut up and cook your chicken. season with what you like.
i seasoned mine with salt, pepper, and chili powder.

in a large saucepan mix in the beans...

...green chilies, chopped jalapeno peppers...

...chicken, chicken broth, and bring to a boil.

Then add the cheese...mmm cheese...

...and cream cheese. Stir until melted.

turn down heat to medium.
once cheese has melted, reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
mmm tasty!

White Chicken Chili by Carol M
1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken
4 cans Great Norther beans (do not drain juices)
2 cups chicken broth
2 seeded jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 can (4 ounce) chopped green chilies
2 cups grated low-fat cheddar cheese
6oz. low fat-cream cheese (do not use non-fat or the texture will be lumpy)
(since i cook for 1 i cut the recipe in half, and it still makes a lot)

Cook diced chicken.
In a large saucepan, mix the beans, green chilies, chopped jalapeno peppers, chicken broth, and chicken cubes. bring to a boil. turn down heat to medium and add the shredded cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. once cheese has melted, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

fun (and very cold) outting

Chloe 16mos

last night i got a call from my friend Sarah inviting me to use their 1 unused ticket to Disney on Ice - Worlds of Fantasy! we arrived late and left early, but it was a lot of fun. Poor Chloe and Sarah are sick, but were in need of getting out of the house. we got to see majority of "the lion king" and part of "tinkerbell".

the weather in Denver has been super cold lately, and it seems like that will be the trend for the rest of the week. i feel like i've had a super long day. i woke up at 8:30am, and went to STRIKE! got ready at the gym, then met Sarah and her family at their house. we then headed down to the Pepsi Center for the show. then i did some grocery shopping before coming home. and now it is 6pm, and i feel like i'm ready for bed. it's been snowing on and off all day and i feel like my feet will never get warm. i hope you are staying nice and toasty!

the outside

Here are all of my outside Christmas decorations for your viewing enjoyment!

dMeet Moe, Curly, and Larry(my mom named them)
while my mom was here we were shopping at Costco and i saw these snowmen and had to have them. they are super cute, and their cute little bottom halves glow and change color at night! ...powered by the SUN! how freakin' cool is that?!

aren't they so cute?!

this is my front door.
wreath, snowmen stickers, and Christmas tree doormat.

sparkle wreath above my garage.

my bay window, with Santa stickers.

you can't see it but behind the window is the Christmas tree.

~something I love~

this necklace

these rings

this bracelet

i love red envelope. always full of fabulous pretty gift ideas. before i worked for qwest i was an assistant manager at the fine jewelry counter at Foley's (what is now Macy's). working there created my love for different kinds of jewelry. i really love different things, and the above pieces i think are so pretty.