Been so incredibly busy at work. I stayed a little later than usual tonight. Missed yoga...but I really need to finish everything up. The year is winding down, and I'm taking off a full week this month. I think the only other time I ever took off a full week before was my honeymoon. I have to get it all done so I can go away with peace of mind and start 2011 off ahead of the game and not two steps behind. We have big plans at the office and we need to get all our ducks in a row so we can start the new year off on the offensive side. Look out world, here we come!!!

Now home on the couch watching Glee. Hope you all are enjoying your evening. Holidays are starting and this is an awesome time of year. I pray for everyones health and happiness. Love and hugs. May you all have a fabulous holiday season!

Prayers for Lauri's Dad Stanley. Get well soon.

Worked. Had A small matzo ball soup with some turkey for lunch. Went to Hot Yoga. Came home and made chicken with jalapeños for dinner. Watched Mike and Molly and then Hawaii 5-0 and Criminal Minds. I don't watch "The Event" anymore. It got on my nerves. We received our first Hanukkah gift tonight. Mitch's Aunt Sandy and Uncle Herb sent us a Harry and David Gift tower. Cookies, and candy and nuts and popcorn and pears. I nibbled a little too much. Probably need to bring it all to work. Too much temptation hanging around the house. I am weak. I can't believe Hanukkah starts already on Wednesday night. I have purchased 3 gifts, and need to get about a dozen more. Also Bossman's birthday is this month and coming up fast. Looks like Mo' shopping! Now if I only had Mo'Money!

Welcome Maddox Liam

Today was the Brit Milah of a beautiful little boy, Maddox (Simcha) Liam. Maddox is the son of this stunning young lady, Miss Erin Beth. Erin is the daughter of my friends, Donna and Cliff. Last year, Donna was diagnosed with breast cancer. The end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010 was a very difficult time for her and her family. But Donna's positive attitude would never let anything get her down! In a celebration of life, Donna and Cliff threw themselves a wonderful 50th birthday party at their club this summer. If you read the blog, you might remember the fun pictures I posted from that party! It was at that party that we learned that Erin was gonna have a baby! Now that Donna has recovered, there is so much to celebrate. ...and now he's here, their very own gift of life. Maddox.

Here's Maddox's Grandma. My friend since 1975, "Grandma" Donna Joy. Congratulations Grams!!!

Mazel Tov to the family!

My Hubs, "Grandpa" Cliffy & his bro, Uncle Brian.

Uncle Brian and his family. Spencer, Lisa and "Aunt" Ronda. Brian & Ronda are old high school friends of mine too.

Carrie is Donna's BFF. I forgot to take a picture of Carrie and her girls today. I thought I did, but I didn't (I'm a ditz)

...so I "borrowed" this picture of the little hottie to add to todays blog post. This is Carrie. We love her!!! :)

This is Ives and Nancy. Ira is from high school too. We met Nancy at Donna and Cliff's 50th party this summer. They are a great couple!

It was so great seeing everyone today. Like I always say, there's no friend like an old friend, and today Hubs and I shared the morning with a few old friends. There's nothing better than that...

Well, maybe the only thing as good as an old friend is ... L♥VE

Hubs worked this morning...Rita came. I puttered around all day. Played with my clothes. Talked on the phone. Mom, Gregory, Lauri.

Today is Lauri's 48th birthday. Happy birthday Lauri Beth!

May all your birthday wishes and dreams come true!

I have known Lauri since 1975. We lived together in college and stayed BFF's since then.

Shortly after Hubs got home from work, we went out together... to the stores. He didn't know what he was getting himself into. Poor guy!

We started off slowly. First we went to the dollar store, tailor, dry cleaners and Dunkin' Donuts. Had a large hazelnut, light and sweet, and an egg white flat bread.

At the dollar store we got a baking pan, body wash, frosting and chip clips.

After I fed my man his Dunkin', I dragged Hubs to Marshall's. He actually got a beautiful Cubavera shirt & linen pants for the cruise. He looks handsome in them.

Next door to Marshall's is Fox's. So we went. ...and I got a top.

After a long day shopping, we went to Stallone's for dinner. Yummy Italian fare. Molto buono!

Such a patient, sweet man I married. All day shopping, and he didn't complain once. What a prince.

So, I dragged him to Loehmann's.

Didn't sleep well last night. Tossed and turned then went out to the sofa, turned on DIY Network, watched some TV then slept late this morning. Hubs went to work early. I went out shopping about noon. He met me for lunch and he helped me shop a bit too. Then he went back to work and I left for more exploring. Came home and made some dinner. A yummy creation with orzo, leftover sausage I used to make the stuffing and some tomatoes. Made like a sausage stew thing with orzo. Hello. Delish and yummo. Then I did a mini fashion show and picked out a few outfits for Atlanta, (I'm going to a Bat Mitzvah there this weekend.) and also found some outfits for the cruise. Things are coming together. Now I'm watching a movie called "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas". It's about an 8 year old boy named Bruno, whose Father is a German soldier that runs a concentration camp. Bruno doesn't understand the war...but in his daily explorations and adventures, he wanders over to the camp and meets an 8 year old boy named Shmuel. It's a serious, sad, heavy movie, but one that is reminding me once again just how proud I am to be a Jew. Good Shabbos. Hope you enjoy the weekend.

Thanksgiving dinner at my Sister and BIL house tonight. Everything was perfect! Everyone cooked. Sissy made unreal soufflés, and award winning desserts. Andrea & Caryl made beets, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and a squash souffle. Shaldine made a beautiful fruit platter and brought the bird. A beautiful 24 pound turkey. I made my Dad's famous wild rice stuffing and some cranberry relish and Gma and Cousin Stacey brought wine. Everyone chipped in with the cooking. serving, and cleaning. Thank you Sistah and Bro for opening your home and hosting such a wonderful evening.

My little Sistah! Such a gourmand. What a hostess!

OK. Had to get the food pics outta the way first. You know how much I love the food! Here's a picture of the table and one of my Sissy's four beautiful centerpieces, with our Nana's tablecloth.

Now some pics of the peeps.

My Sissy with her MIL Shaldine and her SIL Andrea.

This is Andrea's Ma Caryl & Big neph.

Middle neph, BIL and Hubs.

Sissy's FIL Richard, with Sissy, Ma Caryl and Shaldine.

Me with BIL's bro, (Andrea's Hubby---Sissy's BIL) Scott.

These little ladies are my Hubs' cousin Stacey and Gma! Love them!

The Hostess and her right hand man....errrr, WOman.

And of course, what would Thanksgiving be without a football game/nap afterwards?

The holiday was so nice! Great food. Great friends.

All that was missing was Mr. Gorgeous and our parents, Les and Mel, who were up in NJ and Hubs' parents, Joanie and Dave, who are in Israel. You were very missed! Hope you enjoyed your holidays.

Today, as I ponder the meaning of this holiday and of all I am thankful for, many things come to mind, mostly you.

My family and friends. Thank you for being a part of my life.

I hope your day was blessed with many joys.

Got up at 10:00am. Didn't go to yoga at 9:15am or at 11:00am. :( Spoke to Sissy. She was cooking...so I got in the kitchen and got started. Diced and chopped. Sauteed and stirred. The house smelled delish! All I could think of was tomorrow night's Thanksgiving dinner. I couldn't wait! And luckily, I wouldn't have to! Showered, changed, got dressed. When Hubs got home from work we drove down to Pembroke Pines to enjoy a Pre-Thanksgiving celebration dinner at Shelly's house. Shelly and Connie are leaving for a 2 week trip to Tahoe in the morning, so we celebrated tonight! Shel is my old friend from High School. A few weeks back I wrote about our G-ddaughter Meagan, the little cutie that we went to Tampa to see perform her Senior Showcase. Remember? :) Meagan is Shelly's middle daughter. So tonight was a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with family and friends. Meagan was still up at school, so she could't be with us, but she called and we all sent love! Shelly's oldest daughter Tobi and her little daughter Hallee were there with their boyfriends, Andy and Steve. It was such a wonderful night. This is Shel and her bestie Heather. They met in nursing school and have been friends ever since.

These two hotties are Larry and Neil, Heath and Shel's fellas.

These are Larry's parents. Danny and Irene. They are the nicest people in the world!

Here's Connie and Hubs

Connie is Shelly's best, best, best friend.

She's been around long, long time.

We adore Connie. She's #1 in our book.

Here's Shelly's oldest daughter, Tobi, with Andy, her boyfriend on her left. Andy and Tobi are the cutest duo. They work together, they live together, sounds like they do everything together and really enjoy each others company. I think they are best friends, and that always makes the best relationships in my book. The couple to the right of Tobi is her boss and her bosses hubs.

This is Miss Hallister McAllister, (Hallee) Shelly's youngest, and her man Steve. Tonight was my first time meeting Steve. He's not only a cutie pie, but he seemed liked a really nice young man!

And this is Craig and Jo. Craig works with Shel and Jo has a beautiful daughter, Sydney, who does theater performances with a group down here called Lovewell. Shel and all her girls have been a huge part of Lovewell for years. They met Jo and her daughter there. Syd wasn't there tonight, she was working, but we met her in Tampa and she's a doll, just like her mama.

Now that you've met the people, how 'bout some food babeeeee?

Honey baked ham, apple pie, cranberry relish

Brownies

Sweet potato pie, green bean casserole, carrots, macaroni pie

Turkey, stuffing, red velvet cake

Now off to bed. More celebrating tomorrow.

Night all. Love and hugs.