Santa's little helper...

It’s official! I am truly one of Santa’s helpers. No, seriously, I am. I am literally helping Santa light up my town…and by that I don’t mean taking shots at the Dublin House and streaking down Monmouth Street. I will be one of 6 groups strategically [albeit secretly] placed around town to flip our perspective switches to make the town glow. Aohhhhh! Do you think this will automatically get me placed on the “nice” list this year?

Where is everyone gonna sit...

The way I see it - we can comfortably fit 14 people in our apartment. The more the merrier. 'Tis the holiday season, after all. But after telling 3M the list of everyone I invited during a party on Saturday night, he continues to ask "where are we gonna fit everyone?" Each time it's a little more curt. In fact, it's now getting to the point that now I am beginning to worry.

I figure people will be outside [please Jack Frost be on my side] and then you'll have those who like to wanderer and [thank god for French doors so] we can even open up the bedroom and have people migrate in there.

We'll be ok. And if all else fails we start the music every 10 minutes and have a collective game of musical chairs.

Weekend assignment...

I don't want to hear "the dog at my homework" or any other lame excuse. Do it. I did and I crack up watching everytime.

Check out ours here:

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Whoa Verizon lady...

I dialed up Verizon today just to inquire about different packages [i.e. - the DVR box, I prefer to pick and choose my battles and the one over the remote control is just one I don't choose to have anymore.]

The woman, Sylvia, sweet as can be, who was also my Verizon customer representative of the night went down the list of her required questions: name of person she's speaking with, if this was the same as the name on bill, state calling from, zip code, address on bill. Then, apparently, the bill was up on the screen. She said, again, "Ohh, so your name is this name - the name that's on the bill here?"

I don't know why but a pang of insecurity hit inside. I, the strong female I [think I] am quickly burst out, "well yes, um, you know - I'm not married yet, so I, um, prefer have my name on the bill. I always pay it on time anyways so it shouldn't matter either way."

To which she replied "Oh, Shannon, please...don't rush to get married. And really think about if you want kids. That's not something you want to rush into, either!"

Whoa, Sylvia.

Closer...and closer...

The commercials are beginning to run on television, malls are decorated with garland and ornaments, street lamp posts have the lit snowflakes attached....you know what that means?!?

ELF YOURSELF! ELF YOURSELF!

Three more days. I can hardly wait! It's THE must-do activity of the holiday season. It's so easy to complete and I guarantee you will laugh so hard your milk [from drinking while eating Christmas cookies, of course] will squirt out your nose.

This avatar-esque promotion is sponsored by Office Max. You can take a digital or scanned picture of anyone: yourself, your roommate/boyfriend/dog/boss [make sure he/she has a good sence of humor] and put it on the head(s) of these virtual elves that dance and play. It's one of those "had to be there" kind of things - so do this and you'll know exactly what I'm talkin 'bout.

Last weekend's challenge was to clip a Michael's coupon and this weekend's challenge is to elf yourself! You won't be sorry [make sure you do it on Sunday, though!].

Mindless Day...

On the go for the past three days straight - from networking event to panel discussion breakfast...I'm pooped! Can't wait for some mindless downtime catching up on some much needed blog-time. [Reading more-so than writing...]

In the meantime, if you are here searching for some great reading material check out my newest colleague, Carly and her blog. She provides some insight as a former Georgia Peach who up and left onto the Big Apple [good for her!].

Happy reading! You're gonna love it!


[This HiYa bunny is saying ByeYa - for now...]

Of friends and spices...

You know that murky wasteland of the twenty-somethings, where you are no longer talking around the boxed wine and cheetos of the state of drunkenness of the previous weekend and who's relationship is in turmoil but around the dinner table discussing the state of the economy and who's job is in jeopardy? Well, I'm wading it it...up too my neck in it, to be precise.

Last week we had a dinner party with three other couples. [..and actually, the setting was not-too-different than a junior high dance - boys on one side of the table and girls on the other.]

So dinner's going along just fine [T made some delish chicken parm] when all of a sudden, C called the conversation to a screeching halt. She couldn't believe the context.

Since you, of course, weren't there, here's a snippet of it:

T: I haven't really bought much baking supplies, like spices. I was thinking I could just get one of those rotating 30-in-one things, like in Bed Bath and Beyond, right?

S: Yeah, those would be ok...but sometimes I like to buy as I go along, because some of those spices I would never use.

M: But then how are you going to organize them?

S: Nah, I'm alright for now, if I get a surplus, they have those little in-cabinet shelves you can put in, too.

M: Actually, I like the shelves that you have to hammer into the door. Great space savers.

.....SCREEEECCCHHHH

So that was just a precusor to this totally fantastic website I found today, helping women enjoy dinner parties and cooking together everywhere: http://www.cookingwithfriendsclub.com/

The site is so creative, so well-organized! It celebrates camaraderie and cooking and...I just love it! I'm thinking about taking their "soup swap" idea and modifying it for the Holidays as a "cookie swap". How fun!