Happy New Year from Me!

For me (as I’m sure it is for most), the holidays are the most crazy time of year.  From Thanksgiving straight through New Year’s, it seems like you’re on a never-ending roller coaster of shopping, wrapping, cooking and visiting.  Now I’m not complaining…there’s something about all of the holiday cheer that just pulls me through it but sometimes, I wish that the holidays were about rest and relaxation rather than madness.   

This year it seemed like it was particularly maddening.  Although I took time off from my “big girl” job, I still had to be at the bar every day.  We’re opened 365 days a year so even on Christmas Eve and Christmas night, we were down there working away.  You may be surprised by this but, those are two of our busiest nights and they are actually pretty fun to work.  Then, I’m responsible for buying and getting the bar completely decorated for our huge New Year’s Eve party and this year, it was particularly important because not only were we ringing in 2012 but it was the bar’s five year anniversary.

Now I just have one more giant event to get through and that’s our staff holiday party which will be this coming Sunday.  I’m really looking forward to it because I feel like 2011 was a growing/changing year for us and I’m looking at 2012 as a fresh new start.  Honeslty, I’m just looking forward to life getting back to normal.  But, before we know it, the holiday season will be upon us again and we will all be consumed by it's crazyiness.  Why is it the older we get time just zips by? :)

Wishing you and your family a very happy and healthy 2012!

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EXHAUSTED...That's How I Feel!

This time of year is hard for everyone.  Not only do you have work and family obligations but the holidays are rapidly approaching which means, cooking, gift buying, decorating and just going here, there and everywhere.  It’s difficult and I honestly don’t know how we all do it!

The last week was completely exhausting for me.  It started off with a quick three-day trip to Philadelphia which did wrap up my travel season for my “big girl” job.  Thank goodness…I really don’t think I could get on one more airplane this year.  I got back to the ‘burgh and worked my Wednesday night and Thursday day shift at our bar.  Friday I managed to almost finish my Christmas shopping and then it was back to work at the bar for the weekend and let me tell you, this weekend was tough!  It was the first weekend, in almost five years of ownership, where I had a mental break from dealing with the type of people you have deal with in a bar.  I now know, and completely understand, why people in the service industry are slightly "off" from the rest of the population.

Friday night I had the most ridiculous customers...EVER!  We had DJs and the music was great but I was dealing with complete asses and/or amateurs.  One woman, who I absolutely cannot stand (I’m desperately trying to figure out a way to get her ban for life) actually tipped me with a plastic, 2006 Steelers football!  Really?!  I had another guy that was buying shot after shot and wouldn’t leave a tip at all and then, to top it all off, I had these amateurs that would come up to me and say “can you make me a shot that doesn’t taste like it has alcohol in it?”  Or the classic, “do you have any beer?”  Seriously…it was enough to make me pluck my eye lashes out one by one and with all the kids coming home from college this week for the Turkey Day holiday, I’m sure I have a week full of fun to look forward too!

Saturday was slightly better.  I of course was up at the crack of dawn but I did manage to get all of the gifts I bought the day before wrapped.  As for down at the bar on Saturday night, it too was slightly better.  The customers were far better than the previous night but we were insanely busy.  I spent most of the night running up and down two flights of stairs (I worked our second floor bar) to get more beer, juice, lemons and limes.  The only real perk was I got an amazing ass workout! J

Don’t get me wrong, I was happy we were busy and making money but I’m EXHAUSTED!  I’m tired of smiling and being nice.  I’m tired of drunk people acting like idiots.  I’m tired of working seven days a week.  I’m tired of cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping.  I’m tired of not getting enough sleep and I’m tired of feeling like a little, old lady when I'm only 33.  I just want to go home, put my jammies on, watch really bad reality TV (perhaps a little Housewives) while drinking hot chocolate spiked with a little something, something until I pass out!  Is that too much to ask for?  I know I probably sound like a whinning, complaining bitch, and I swear I'm not.  I also totally get the motto...Work hard now, play hard later.  Today, I just wish it was later!

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Remembering Our Troops Through the Holidays

There have been some recent holidays that have made us all think a bit more about our troops overseas and how they will be there for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's...whatever holiday it is that they celebrate. Election day always brings about talk of the troops overseas, who wants to bring them home, who wants to keep the war going, etc. Then came the Marine Corps 236th birthday. I had to tell my husband happy birthday because he also counts this as HIS birthday too and gets really excited! And then there was Veterans Day. A day to reflect on all of those who serve and who have served our country.

We have some tough fighters out there who won't get to be with their loved ones during the holidays. As a way to make them feel a bit more at home, we are sending cookie care packages at our "big girl" jobs. Hopefully the whole office participates, but of course the six of us are.

You can also join in on sending a couple dozen, fresh baked (and there are ways to keep them that way through shipping) to America's hereos overseas. I would like to provide you with some baking and shipping tips and if you need an address to send your baked goods to, please add a comment and I can provide you with an address.

COOKIES & ITEMS TO AVOID
~ Certain cookies ship better than others. It is recommended that you do not mail any type of delicate cookie, such as Madeleines, as they may crumble. Cookies with custard or custard-like fillings or toppings, including cheesecake, could spoil due to extreme heat during shipping. Also, any cookie that requires refrigeration is not a good candidate.
~ Avoid any strong scented cookies as the other cookies may pick up the scent and taste.
~ The following items are PROHIBITED: Illegal substances, alcoholic beverages and pork or pork by-products.

PACKING TIPS
~ Include the recipe for your cookies so that service members with food allergies can make an informed choice.-Don't pack crisp and soft cookies together. The moisture from the soft cookies will seep into the crisp cookies, making them lose their crunch.
~ You can place the cookies in a tin or in ziplock bags to be placed in cardboard boxes. The U.S. Postal Service provides free military kits that include boxes, tape, address labels and customs forms.
~ Pack cookies in layers with wax paper. Lay a sheet of wax paper on the top layer and place a slice of white bread, not homemade, in the container to keep the cookies fresh during shipping. The bread will absorb moisture.
~Don't overstuff your container or your cookies may be damaged. Likewise, don't under pack your container. The cookies should fit snugly.

There are many items you can include with your cookies to cushion the containers from shifting during shipping.
~ New socks, boxers, towels or other soft, practical items
~ Individually wrapped hard candy, such as jawbreakers, lollipops or butterscotches.
~ Newspapers, magazines or comic books

Please remember that even if you don't believe in what is going on overseas, there are men and women there fighting for your right to have that belief. If it were not for them, who knows what our country would be like today. Do not take the little things for granted, such as cookies during the holidays, and remember to think of those who won't be with their loved ones for the holidays.

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Love Em’ or Hate Em’ – We’ve All Got Em’!

Aunt Mable has had too much to drink. Cousin Sara won’t stop talking about her love life, in detail. Grandma Betty is criticizing left and right but trying to pass it along as compliments. Your sister-in-law thanks you for bringing the pie that is “almost as good as hers.” HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away and as families will soon gather around to celebrate the holiday, many people are bracing for the intense emotions of the holiday meal.

Think of your first holiday with your husband’s family. Do you remember feeling utterly disappointed with the food, thinking it was not quite as good as your family’s recipes? It just doesn’t taste anything like your family’s good cookin’. You were anxiously awaiting the stress-free, delicious holiday meal only to feel dissatisfied.

You quickly start thinking what you can use to bargain with your husband so that you can coax him into eating the next holiday meal with your family. Maybe Aunt Mable’s stained red wine teeth and drunken slurs aren’t so bad after all.

Luckily, I have no Aunt Mable, no cousin Sara, no grandma Betty and no sister-in-law making jabs at my pie skills. But, I would be lieng if I said that my family holiday meals are picture perfect. Sure, usually there are a few fights, some snippy remarks and complaints, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The delicious food I get to eat does not compare to anyone else’s. The car ride home is usually spent reflecting on the amusing occurrences that took place. For example, no one has the heart to tell my Aunt that we all secretly dislike her mashed potatoes that she thinks are “the BEST” and insists on making each, and every holiday. It is a running joke between me and my cousins.

Love ‘em, or hate ‘em – we’ve all got em, especially around the holidays. Good old relatives. They come in various shapes, sizes, delight and dread; each one playing a theatrical role in our life. This Thanksgiving, embrace all of the quirkiness your family has to offer. Be thankful for your version of grandma Betty and cousin Sara.

To bring you some Thanksgiving cheer, I share with you our Working Wives & Bachelorettes family Thanksgiving picture. We saved a seat for you!

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