Miss SugarCookie

This stream of consciousness is intended to be a realistic account of my goal to bake 52 batches of pure awesomeness, one delicious week at a time.

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-31: Ahhh... The Sweet Sound of Success...

I’ve sucessfully made it all the way to the end of 2014. I’ve previously stated that my intent is not to do any documented retrospective analysis over the second half of this year and I am sticking to that. I would, however, like to note that even though I was not able to successfully post every single day of 2014, I did end up posting 401 times. The last time I checked, 401 was greater than 365 so the lack of posting on any given day was more than made up for in posting two or three times on other days. I will take that win. 

I’m also sure that even though I won’t be blogging all the details, I will do some fair measure of thinking about this entire year as we gracefully close the door on it at enter into the next. It’s been an interesting and challenging experience and one that I will have to call my own for the rest of my days. I feel proud of accomplishing my goals and grateful to have the kind of life that allows me to pursue these goals and spend time doing things that I love. I’m also thankful for the opportunity to be able to write about all of my thoughts and feelings openly. Without this freedom of expression, I may be lost in this world. 

I’d also like to take this opportunity, one of the last of 2014, to express my thanks to all the people in my life. They may not even know about Miss SugarCookie, but that does not mean that they were not active contributing factors in the positive outcome of my year. And to those few that did know - I love you very much!

I have a friend who recently quit her job of 15 years to pour more effort into her own private practice and I conveyed to her that when a chapter of your life is ending, it can be bitter-sweet, but without that ending the next thing could not start and that the best is yet to come.

No matter where you are, No matter who you are, No matter what day it is, Whatever you want to do in life…Today is a good day to start!

Happy New Year, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-31: Time to Party On!...

🌀☀️🎉🎈🎤🍔🍸🍥🍒⭐️🎊👏💃🔮

😘😘😘 Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-30: The Beginning of the End...

Allow me a few moments, if you will, to become consumed by the fact that this chapter of my life is coming to an end. I’ve dedicated countless hours to thinking about and writing about all the things that have come to pass in the year 2014. I’d like to be granted the wish, for just a brief moment, of making this accomplishment the center of attention in life. Can we please toast to setting a goal, making a promise, and then following through (mostly) until the deed is done. I’m certainly proud of myself - is it too much to ask that I get some external recognition? Of course it is. And the reason is thus - nobody really knows Miss SugarCookie and nobody really cares. She’s just a faceless blogger among thousands who tirelessly pour their hearts out every day on the internet. I’ve never really been into self promotion and my attempts at bragging are only ever done in the company of my closest friends who, I trust, can take it as a joke. I can’t expect to have followers or people with which to interact to comment on what I have to say. I can’t expect to glean any insights into what people really thing aside from the random “likes” I get for my happy-hearted attempts at poetry (thanks to all of you who did that by the way!!!). No. When tomorrow is over, it will be as though Miss SugarCookie never existed and there’s not a soul out there who will care that the daily journal entries have stopped. Perhaps it is this bottle of Moscato I just drank writing now, but I’m just broken up inside about the way I feel. It’s about all the things I did not do or say or write. It’s about all the layers, upon layers, of complexity which never really got peeled back because of some unrealistic fear that people really were paying attention. There were times when I got close, you know, but was never able to pull the trigger. In the end there is celebration. There is relief. There is mourning. There is regret and there is joy. There is hope that the thing that lingers, Is one among those that are uplifting And not one that weighs us down. Cheers to All that (and a bag of chips), Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-29: I'll Get By With a Little Help...

From the Wordpress Daily Post Prompt. Several weeks back I did a whole week of truth or dare which basically meant that I would post either some truth about myself that would be just a wee bit revealing or take on the dare which was whatever Wordpress posted as the post-a-day daily prompt. The daily, weekly, and monthly wordpress challenges and hints are there to help give us writers a nudge when we are stuck and the words just don't want to come out and play. I have to admit, I've been feeling that a lot lately. I know it is incredibly boring to hash over the same things day after day, the way a true journal would look. Let's be fair, life is often not so interesting at all - it's mostly routine mixed with some emotional swings and at times, a dash of excitement. I've tried to make the most of this year and I feel like I was successful for the most part (and, of course, there were times like I was failing terribly). These last few weeks have been the most difficult. I have not had a lot of inspiration and really nothing more to say that I have not already said before. Today is a perfect example.  When this year is done (tick-tock, two days to go), I will retire Miss SugarCookie, but there will have to be something else to fill the void. I've already got a few ideas brewing, and they will more than likely involve the help, insight, and prompts offered by WP. Nothing quite so solid yet - more like the boiling water and jello powder being stirred up before being tossed into the refrigerator. Soon though, things will start to gel. Tomorrow is the last day of week 52 and I've really got nothing to say for myself in the way of my weekly goal, other than the fact that I really did not have one (again). Christmas is over and I have no excuses for not doing something super awesome - unless you count sleeping for like 14 hours in one night. Maybe sleeping should count. Bend and Snap, Miss SugarCookie 

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-28: T-Minus Four Days...

... Three actually because today is almost over. The year is almost over. This blog is almost over, and I have somewhat mixed feelings about it. I'm not surprised about that at all today because I've been having mixed feelings about everything all day long. Everything.  Last night I pretty much went to bed at about 6PM and woke up just before midnight, in time to write and post something for the day. After that, I went back to sleep and stayed in bed until 9AM, That's a long stretch to be in bed/sleeping. I spent almost the entire day today picking up and taking care of little things around the house and for all the effort I have about zero to show for it. The dishes aren't done, the Christmas decorations are still up, and only one load of laundry was started (and not finished).  I cancelled Sushi Sunday with my sister because I didn't feel much like being around a bunch of people or driving all the way downtown. So what did I do instead? I went to the nail salon where there are tons of people and I tried to tune out the world while I had a pedicure. Then I went to Target to return some stuff - one impulse sweater purchase from yesterday plus two Christmas gifts I decided not to give my kids. Then I stopped by Applebees so they could make my dinner so I didn't have to. I sat and ate alone in front of my computer screen. I had some shows I wanted to watch but but my wireless player was having issues with the network so things would not play on my TV.  That all sounds fantastic right?!  I should try to be more positive. I know things could be much worse and my life is pretty great, but I am in a funk today and just want the day to be over. Tomorrow I get to get up and go to work and Matt and I have a double date with Kevin and Christine, so there is that to look forward to. Sleep now - Tomorrow we Cheeseburger! Yes, I'll have fries with that, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-27: Strange Currents...

Today seemed like kind of a strange day. What started out as a normal Saturday (but felt not quite like a Saturday because I've already been off work for 3 days), at some point slipped sideways and fell into a category of no Saturday I've ever had before. I woke with my littles and cooked breakfast and then took Cooper off to wrestling practice. We ran errands and then I dropped the kids off at their dads house. After that I went to the gym and did what has now become my new normal routine. I still start and end in the sauna, because that is my favorite part, but instead of walking the treadmill I run for ten minutes and then walk the rest of a mile. After that I chose one machine or another and brave the land of the lifters to try and strengthen some muscle group. Generally after that I'm spent, but today I was not quite ready to leave and sat on a low riding cycle for a bit before heading back to the sauna again. Still sweaty from the sauna, I traveled across the stree to Super Target to see if there were any good after Christmas sales. I did not find much but I did pick up some cards that were 50% off. I also picked up a new sweater, but the jury is still out on wether or not I like it. I should have learned by now that buying discounted cloths in a store like that is not generally a good idea. But sometimes you never learn. This is about the time when things start to go sideways. I went home to shower and then with the promise of trying a new cheeseburger at a new place. It was mid afternoon when I finally arrived at Matt's house and we set out for the Night Owl, which just opened in the last couple of weeks. We got there before 4PM only to discover that on Saturday's they don't open until 4. It's so cold out, we waited in the car. Yes, I repeat - I waited in the car for in the cold just to try a new cheeseburger instead of going somewhere else. It was totally worth the wait. The cheeseburger was A-MAZING! Totally noteworthy and if I ever do another review/blog all about cheeseburgers, this one is definitely on the list.  We finished this late lunch/early dinner at 5 in the afternoon and thus still early in the day, but when we arrived back home, it was not long before I layed down in the bed, exhausted, and fell asleep. Intending to just take a quick nap, I awoke four hours later (past 10PM), do the dark and quiet of the time I should be going to bed.  So here I sit, at 11PM, wide awake and nothing more to do. I'm going to try and write a little bit more off line, and see if I can't lull myself back into a sleepy mood. I hope so. Before I sign off, one more other thing to note - I just realized today that the last week of the year is not really the last true week because the year is actually 52 weeks and one day. I'm not sure how that calendar fact slipped my numerical mind thus far, but now I have a decision to make. Either this week is counted as 8 days, or the 53rd week is a one day week... "Things that make me go Hmmmm". Stop, Hammer Time, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-26: Pick-Up Sticks...

It's been three days of festivities and now it's all done. Tonight after I tucked the kids in bed and kissed their little heads I went down stairs and flipped the switch to turn the Christmas lights off. Lights off outside (maybe now our neighbors across the street can sleep), and lights off on the tree. I'm back up in my room now and wondering how long it will be before I fall asleep.  All things considered, it was a very good Christmas. Time well spent with family and with friends. I had a few emotional moments, but things worked out. Wednesday came and went and now we are snug right into week 52. The final week of the year. I should have thought about how to go out with a Big Bang on this one, but like most weeks on this back half of the year, I did not.  After starting and stopping this sentance three times, it is pretty clear I have nothing else to say. So I'm going to quit here and spend my time thinking about what's next.  December, Decenber, Twenty Six Twenty Six for Pickup-Sticks 26 and 26 is Fifty Two 52 is the final week - WooHoo!! Grande Peppermint White Mocha with Whip, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-25: Christmas Magic...

Not too long ago the kids stopped believing So this year all that they will be receiving Are gifts from family and from each other Nothing from Santa for this sister and brother. The Polar Express has lost its rightful place As the movie of choice in the Christmas Eve space. Replaced by the lore of The Lord of the Rings Which brings different kinds of magical things. And then there's this doll, a cute little elf That has not moved an inch all month on her shelf In years past she was active night after night But this year the magic has vanished from sight. Then tonight I sat down after a long day of fun To reflect on this year which is now all but done And what do I spy perched low in our tree The elf sitting cross-legged a hand on one knee. Now I'm not a grinch and I have a big heart And I've done some magic, and I've played my part But I know I did not move her, not one single bit Someone else must have done it, I'm sure of it. So I ask my daughter and then turn to my son "The elf must have been moved by someone?" They shook their heads no and we then sat in wonder "If not you, or you, then there must be another." We sat in silence for several minutes and stared "It's the magic of Christmas" my daughter finally decleared This made my heart swell with joy and belief once more In the spirit of Christmas and all of its lore. Merry Merry Merry, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

Merry Christmas Eve. Love From, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-23: Ready, Set, Go...

Sometimes I wish life was a little simpler. I wish that Christmas was more about just spending long afternoons hanging around with loved ones doing absolutely nothing at all. Maybe playing games and having some good food. Instead its all about a marathon rush from Black Friday to the 24th of December to do all the things and buy all the things and then spend a sprint of two or three days where you have to rush from this house to that house and only spend enough time to say hi, gobble food, and open gifts. I'm quickly approaching "so over it".  I've long hated gift exchanges. I toil over what to get people because I really want to make them smile and give them something they really want, but it is an exercise in futility. All these people already have everything they need and want (within reason). It's so tough, and then in return I get giftcards or money or candy and socks. I have to feign being happy about this. I'm grateful, but it just puts an excamation point on the fact that "I" am also one of those people that already has everything and does not need anything (within reason). I just want to throw my hands up and say "enough already". We need to stop focusing on the gifts and focus more on each other.  This year my dads side of the family has done exactly that. The email came out shortly after Thanksgiving that no gifts will be exchanged this year and that they are only buying for kids under 15. Right on. I am looking forward to Christmas Day catching up with some of the people I never get to see, getting to spend time with some of the newer members of the family and indulging in some of the good food they always have. I don't want to have to rush, I want to take time.  It's not the same for my Mom's side. For that, I'm still doing the prep work and wrapping gifts that I have attempted to thoughtfully pick out for them (or in my moms case, just cash). We go there Christmas Eve for a festive feast of tacos and spanish rice. Who serves tacos on Christmas? I was asked to bring the dessert. Just ask me what themed treat I've chosen to lovingly prepare for the event and I will tell you ..."Pumpkin Pie!". And I'm not making a pumpkin pie, I'm picking that up at the grocery store.  That's not grinchy - it's efficient!  Ready, Set, Stop, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-21: Happy Winter Solstice...

It is going to be the longest night of the year, but that seems only fitting because today felt like the longest day of the year. Not a lot of sun (none actually), but I've been actively doing "stuff" for over 12 hours now. Breakfast, gym, errands, lunch, to my Dads for an Xmas gathering, home, dinner, wrapping, movie, and yet more Xmas card assembly (for those whose addresses are newly aquired), and I've just now sat down to write. Going to my Dad's in the middle of the day was a nice break, and I did get to just sit and chill for a while. Not smart on my part that I had not eaten though. The day got really long right about 3PM when that fact hit me bigtime. How is it I made two meals for my kids and did not think to have anything myself (aside from a peice of bacon and some OJ this AM)??! Anyway, things got much better again once I had a cheeseburger and Dr. Pepper. That gave me the energy to make it to the finish line today. But enough about the food situation, let's discuss week 21... Yes, I finished 57 cards so far (with a few addresses I'm still waiting on) and today I began wrapping presents. I really thought this year was a light year for gifts, but then I see the pile I have amassed and am not too excited about all the wrapping left to be done. Tonight I took care of my sisters gifts, and one for Matt but none for the kids so far. I started watching "Rise of the Guardians" when I was getting everything out, thinking that would be a nice thing to keep me entertained while I wrap, but it ended up being very distracting. About half way through I basically gave up trying to multi-task, and just plopped myslef on the couch under a blanket to finish the movie.  Tomorrow I'm going to start on the kids' things. This year Santa will not be leaving presents under the tree, but now I am kinda getting the convienience of all those unwrapped gifts every year. Maybe I will change my mind and Santa will decide to pay us a visit so that I can wrap less. That sounds lazy - perhaps it is just the tired talking. I also generally have that last minute panic that their gifts aren't even and I have not really done a tally of that to know for sure. I think I've spent more on Z, but her stuff was more expensive and Coop's was less expensive, but there are more things. It should not really matter anyway. Sometimes we worry about the silliest things. Christmas should be more about the spirit of good cheer and family time and less about gifts anyway. I need to figure out a better way to get that message across.  Dream Catcher, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-20: Gluten Free...

I played a gluten free game of Catan and discovered that's a sure fire way to come in last. Well played Settlers... Well played. Slow Clap Saturday, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-19: The Last Tiny Grains of Sand...

That's what these last 10 minutes of the day are. Sand slipping through the hourglass and when you watch it, it appears to fall faster than any movement in the early hours of the day. Some days you sit and stare at the clock and it barely seems that time is passing at all. Hours go by and yet the dial tells a different story. Now the time for this day is short, and I don't have enough left to go into great detail about all things SugarCookie. It's been a good day, and I will just have to leave it at that for now. The only thing that would make it even better is if I had my love here with me in my arms as I fall asleep. Sugarplum Fairy Godmothers, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-18: Mouthful of Christmas Cards...

 That is to say that I have completely bitten off more than I can chew. You know that moment - we've all experianced it. You take a bite of a big juicy cheeseburger and a fraction of a second later, you realize (albeit too late), that the bite you took is too big for your mouth. Probably you are sitting across the table from friends or family, which makes it even more awkward. You put your hand up in front of your face because you know there is no easy, polite way to get out of the situation. You know you have to open wide to chew and that its not going to be pretty. EIther that or you are at the risk of food coming back out. OK, that's probably graphic enough. The point is, at this moment I am metaphorically putting my hand up to try and keep these Christmas cards from spewing out all over the place. Let me break it down for you... I decided to do a more personal Card this year which got more and more fabulous the more I thought about what I wanted to do. What I ended up with was about a 10 step process, some of which had to be repeated 55 times (for the number of cards). 1. There are pictures to be selected.  4X6 so they fit inside a standard card and envelope. I spent about 2 hours sorting through pics and really never got past the iPhone pics to the ones I took with my camera. Loaded what I selected onto a thumb-drive but ended up uploading to Walgreens to order.  2. Printing -  4X6 so they fit inside a standard card and envelope. The upload and order process took at least an hour because I had to search for stupid deal codes so I could pay less than 12 cents a print. I always have extras printed for people who may want more than one (plus some for just me) and so I had 180 prints to do. None of the codes worked for my order so I ended up in a "chat room" with a support person who gave me a secret code for 10 cents a print. Score! 3. A blurb about the year to not only write, but format in word on pretty post-card size templates that have Christmas borders. First of all, I did not want an obnoxious Christmas letter - people hate those. So I wanted it to be short and simple. Tough for a verbose girl like me to skinny down an entire year into like 4 sentances. Plus, Word is so stupid. I don't work with templates a lot, but I wish the program would stop trying to read my mind and apply changes for me that I don't want. I probably spent two hours on that. 4. Cutting the printed text to fit the 4x6 notecards.  5. Cutting scrapbook thick paper also to roughly a little larger than 4x6  pics. The measurement here was the thing that took the longest, because to use the corner punch tool I have, the edges have to be about 1/4 inch larger all the way around than the pic.  6. Punching 4 corner holes on each notecard. 7. Addressing 55 envelopes including return address and spending time hunting down changed or unknown addresses.  8. Inserting printed photos into the notecards. 9. Selecting actual cards for each person on my list + which photo(s).  10. Glueing the text paper to the back of each notecard. 11. Putting the cards with the picture cards inside the envelopes + adding hand written notes to some. Sealing.  12. Adding Stamps. 13. Mailing. 14. Remembering people I forgot and doing some of this all over again (this has not happened yet, but it will). I'm so over chewing on this. Next year, I'm going to have everything printed and just be done. At least I am on target for my goal for this week - let's see if I can maintain that through the weekend. Not a Real Green Dress, That's Cruel, Miss SugarCookie  

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-17: Feels Like Friday...

But it’s only Wednesday.

My sleep schedule has been so off lately I’m turned around on that right now too. It’s dark so early (5PM now and dark already), and therefore it feels like it should be time to go to bed soon. The last two or three nights I’ve gone to bed really early. Yesterday morning I woke up at 5 and was up for the day. Last night I woke up at 11PM (after being asleep for 3 hours) and then was up until 1:30AM or so. Then woke up again for the day around 6:30.

Today I did not go into the office. I worked from home and then later from my favorite coffee shop. That’s probably the main reason it feels like a Friday, because I usually work from home on Fridays. But this Friday is our office Christmas party for which I have to go into the office so I swapped my “work from home” day for today.

It IS a Wednesday though, which means the start of a new SugarCookie week. This week is week 51 and as previously predicted, it will be all about Christmas. I started my cards in the middle of the night (between 1st sleep and 2nd sleep), and am having some pics printed at Walgreens as I type. Some years in the past I have done the printed card thing with pics and other times just cards and then the last couple years I do cards with regular 4x6 prints inside. This year I’m doing a whole scrapbook type thing with thick paper, punches, pics, and printed text. I bit off quite a bit to chew with all of it, but I’m all-in now, so not turning back.

I also have some more shopping to do and wrapping, but I’ve got the weekend for that, so I’m still not stressing. Everything will work out just fine.  Wow - I’d better get home soon so I can get to sleep so I can wake up by 10PM and get some more stuff done. Ha.

Home again-home again, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-16: One Thing at a Time...

I have not felt much like blogging these last couple of days. Saturday and Sunday I just got to the end of the day and had nothing left in me for it and Monday I was up early and went to bed super early (again) and flat out dropped it. I did briefly think about it when I laid down in the bed, but I think sleep came to take me away before any real desire could take hold and keep me awake. So now it’s 5:30 AM and I am up and at it. I figured that I might as well use this early time productively instead of continuing to lay around just thinking about it. It’s really getting close to Christmas now. We’re rolling into what is generally panic time for shopping and getting all the things done, but this year I feel no stress. I’ve only really got a few things to buy and gifts to wrap and even though I did not get my Christmas cards out to post yet, I know I will get there soon. I just have to do one thing at a time and it will all get done. I finished my week 50 project on Sunday and it took way longer than anticipated. I was hoping to wrap that up earlier in the week and then consider the Christmas cards the Five-O bonus, but alas, that was not the case. Never fear though, week 51 will be “All About that Christmas”. Time to Make the Doughnuts, Miss SugarCookie

[miss-sugarcookie]

2014-12-14: Hooray!...

I finished my weekly goal today and am rolling into the work-week with only a few things that feel like they have serious timelines. But really, how serious can one be about deadlines for Christmas cards??!... Too Done with Sunday to Care, Miss SugarCookie