Happy birthday to me

So, I am now officially 28. Doesn't feel any different than 27, except when I think about it means I'm one year closer to 30. But back to happy thoughts...

Here's what I got to do this birthday:

Wednesday night we went to Longhorn (since I had a Darden restaurants gift card I'd been meaning to use) and got some steaks and such to go so we could take them to Stone Mountain. We checked into the Evergreen Resort at Stone Mountain (Yay, free night from points) and laid out our spread. So much food. I had a really yummy sirloin that was parmesan crusted. Jeff had a filet and crab stuffed shrimp. I got to taste his, too. Delish!

Then we went down to the pool and even got to see some of the fireworks from the laser show. It was so relaxing, swimming around, looking up at the stars, and sitting in the hot tub while sipping on some yummy Strongbow.

We watched the college world series (Yay SEC/LSU!) and sat up talking about all kinds of random stuff. Such a fun night.

I woke up on my birthday overlooking a lake and ordered biscuits and gravy from room service. Yum! We then went out for a fun day at Stone Mountain Park. Even though the peddle boats were closed, we still got plenty in... putt-putt -- I even got a hole in one, 4-D movie, ride up to the top of the mountain (I know, slackers... we didn't walk it), Italian ice, and then the Skyhike.

Then we went downtown to stay (free voucher from Marriott!) and grabbed some yummy apps and drinks at Ray's in the City. Super nice and we had a free app coupon (thanks to the e-mail newsletter) and they gave me a free dessert for my birthday. Heather got to join us, too. So nice... great, fresh food and really nice server. Then headed back for a swim in the pool looking out over downtown and finally crashed from a busy day.

Lots of fun. I thoroughly enjoyed my birthday! Now, we'll celebrate with some friends and family on Saturday. Can't wait! Have a good weekend, everybody!

Almost 28.

So, another birthday is fast approaching. I think it's natural for a birthday to make you look at your life and assess things.

Where have you gone? Where are you now? Where do you want to go? How are you doing?

I started doing this tonight. Sitting. Looking out my backyard. I felt very proud of who I am. Of course, I have things to work on (Who doesn't?). But, I think I'm doing pretty well. I am so very lucky because I have an amazing support staff... family and friends who have helped make me the person I am today.

And here's what makes me so very happy... sitting in my backyard (it's newly fenced, now filled with lovely plants and flowers) with nothing to do. It's quiet and peaceful and this lovely Georgia pre-summer breeze makes it so nice.

I am very excited about my birthday coming up. Here are some fun things that will be included:
1. My sister will be back from Costa Rica.
2. I'll wake up on my birthday at a lovely Marriott resort at Stone Mountain. I want to do peddle boats (Jeff says they're called paddle boats, but I like my name for them). Then that night, I'll go out to dinner somewhere in Atlanta and stay downtown at the Marriott Marquis. Just fun to get a change of scenery. I might treat myself to a massage, too. We'll see how the budget looks for the month, but I'm hoping if I watch it carefully, they'll be room.
3. Then on Saturday, we'll have people over to the house to celebrate with friends and family.
4. Sunday will be a lazy day.
5. Even more exciting is just having a nice four day weekend to relax and do whatever I want (see above).

It's been a while....

So, I must admit I have been slacking on my blog. Just have been so busy. Plus have recently signed on to Twitter, so it's a lot of online upkeep -- between Facebook, Twitter and blogging.

Oh, and if you're on Twitter, find me and follow me. And I'll follow you back.
@ellenlynn

And I promise... weekly updates beginning this week!

New Year's to do's

I don't like New Year's Resolutions. Hardly anyone sticks to them. So I have created a list of New Year's to do's:

1. Eat healthier. I have begun a mission to eat less processed foods and more fresh, organic ones. It's really been a lot of fun. Since Teresa has been back from Costa Rica, she has lots of yummy recipes using fresh chicken, meat, fish, fruits and veggies now. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful Farmers Market about five minutes away from my house.

2. Work out more. In conjunction with the above because now that I have rounded my way in my late 20's closer to age 30. Thus, more fat. Primarily on the hips and thighs. Tried to buy a swimsuit recently and it made me angry. Really angry. Only problem is now that I'm older, I have to watch out for stuff like pulling a muscle in my lower back from kickboxing. Ouch.

3. Learn more. I have decided to go back to school to get my MBA. Getting a masters degree is something I've always wanted to do. It was between Masters in Communications and MBA and I finally decided on the latter. Now, I'm studying and doing practice tests. I hope to be able to apply to start in the fall ,but with application deadlines looming, I may have to put it off one more semester. We'll see on exacts, but at least I know it's going to happen.

4. Volunteer more. It always makes me feel so good when I see that I've helped someone less fortunate. I'm so blessed and so I should share with others what I can... just have to figure out exactly who to give my time to... there are so many worthy causes.

I'll keep you updated on them all! Hopefully the renaming of the list will lend it to more success :)

Christmas

So, I was just sitting here in the early morning quiet (with my sister back and a puppy, quiet is sometimes hard to come by) and thinking back on Christmas a few days earlier. I realized once again:

I'm lucky.

I have an amazing set of family and friends (the friends I don't get to see on Christmas, really, because there's not much time after the family stuff). My parents (all four) are amazing. I enjoy my time with them so much and lucky for me, I 1.) have all of them still here on this green Earth with me and 2.) they live no more than 30 minutes away. My siblings are great, too (all four). Each one is so unique and wonderful in their own way.

Spent the time between Christmas Eve and Christmas doing the following:

Christmas Eve, 2:45 PM

Left home with Emily, Kai, Azul, and Lauren and headed to All Saints in Dunwoody. You must get there early. We were stuck in the side bleachers for Children's Christmas Eve Mass. Yet another reminder that I'm not quite ready to have kids. Chaos. Shepards, angels, and a real live baby Jesus in the nativity scene. But so sweet to see all the little ones. And Kai looked mighty handsome in his little suit.

Christmas Eve, 7:00 PM

Giant meal #1 - Dinner with Dad, Amy, Lauren, Teresa, and Jeff. Amy makes the best roast beast ever! Homemade horseradish sauce, salad with pear and gorgonzola, and a chocolate cake as if we needed anything else to eat. Opened presents with them and watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation... it's a tradition, we must watch it every holiday season. Had a blast and slept like a baby.

Christmas Day, 10:00 AM

Went through our stockings at home - Teresa, Jeff, Miles, and me. Miles loved his toys and rawhide.

Christmas Day, 11:00 AM

Headed to mom's for Giant meal #2. Lots of family - Roses, Bowicks, etc. Yummy brunch, good conversation at the three tables and lots of wonderful gifts. Main entertainment was Kai on the drums. Best was him "drumming quietly." He did okay with it for a bit, but would gradually get louder and louder until someone like Grandma called him on it.

Christmas Day, 4:00 PM

Headed to Jeff's parents. Hung out, went through stockings, and ate giant meal #3. So tired by the end of the day. Day not over yet....

Christmas Day, 8:30 PM

Back home to open presents with David, Jeff and Teresa. Miles gave Jeff and David some good stuff (he's a good shopper!). So tired and full... slept like a baby again, til I woke up about 6:15 AM the next morning to go after Christmas shopping with the crazies.

Definitely some good times, good family, good food, good gifts, and good memories.

Nine days...

Nine days til what?  Why, it's the number of days I have left to work before I take a fabulous vacation.  What is just so fabulous about it, you ask?

1. My two favorite boys (Jeff and Miles) - 

We very rarely all get time together between busy work schedules and Miles' social calendar.  

2. The beach - 

No matter what the weather, there's something so relaxing about watching the waves and the sand in your toes.  Plus, this will be the pup's first trip to the beach.  He loved the lake, so I'm sure he'll love this, too.

3. Some family time - 

I'll get to meet some of Jeff's Michigan family that I haven't met yet.  We'll get to see the family that lives in Bluffton, too, which is always fun.

4. Turkey dinner -

It's just yummy... everything that goes with Thanksgiving dinner, especially all the ridiculously plentiful sides and casseroles and such.

5. Nothing else we have to do except enjoy 5 days off together at the beach with the pup and some family.

Can't wait!  Will of course post pictures once it's come and gone....

Thank You, Soldiers

Veterans Day is very special to me, particularly because I have so many people I love who have served in the military.  One of those who isn't with us any more here on this Earth, my grandfather, George Thatcher Brown, was a Colonel in the Army during Word War II.  He was at Pearl Harbor the day it was bombed and when he spoke about, he talked as if he didn't understand why everyone made such a big deal about him having been there.  He was one of the greatest!

That's what I think is so great about so many of the folks who have and still do serve our country -- they just do it.  They don't ask for praise, acknowledgment, or even thanks.  But, that's why I think it's so important to tell them THANK YOU.  Especially on days like today.

Two more of my favorite people in the world are Disabled American Veterans and I am grateful for them and all the men and women who serve and have served.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

By the way, take the time to visit this site: 

http://www.bigthankyouproject.com

It's a great way to take a second and tell some of these folks we appreciate them.