Birthday Week Continues...

To preface this post, I have slept today for over 12 hours. I don't really remember the last time I felt the need to sleep so much but apparently, my body was telling me something. As I sit here writing this, I feel like I could go back to sleep! This is pretty sweet in my life because I have that crazy internal body alarm clock that wakes me up after sleeping for 6-7 hours. I have to thank my drug of course, Unisom, for making this moment possible today : ) Kristin...I know this would make you extremely proud of me!

Birthday weekend started out with a crazy end of the week Friday at work, a ferry boat ride over to Port Jefferson and a quick drive down Nicolls Rd to good old Bayport. But before I went home, I stopped @ my favorite liquor store to pick my sister up a bottle of Patron. Yes, I am a great sister but my sister really deserved this bottle. She got a promotion @ work to be in charge of closing her store at night as well as the director of merchandising. This is huge for my sister; who has battled her way up to this position and in my opinion, though she can be difficult, is something she deserves. Anyway, so I go into the liquor store, bring the bottle to the counter. Now I am dressed in fleece pants, zip up sweatshirt with my glasses on and my usual minimal make up look. I'm taking out my debit card and the man looks at me, "ID please." Ok fine, I know I don't look my age. "Miss, do you have a New York State ID." "No sir, I don't have live here anymore, I'm a resident of Connecticut." "Oh, Ok....hummmm." "Listen, my birthday was 2 days ago, I am 27 years old and the two rings on my left hand are real." "Haha, ok, have a good night." I got into the car and just laughed, mostly in disbelief that this guy wasn't going to sell to me. I still wish Brian owned that liquor store because I was buying there even before I was legal.
Anyway, my sister loved her bottle of tequila and I loved her presents. A planter with soil, seeds of flowers and some gloves for gardening. We went to Sonoma Grill for dinner as a family, which is always entertaining and full of laughs. I had a flirtini martini, which really helped put the weekend behind me. Saturday morning consisted of taxes and financial planning, which was pretty eye opening for me. He actually said that Matt and I are in a good position. I finally got myself into a Roth. I haven't been eligible for 401k at work because of when I was hired, which is really bogus but I'm eligible this July so I'll start contributing to that as well. We also did some bedroom furniture shopping at Stanley Furniture in Patchogue. We think we finally found one we like, The Hudson Street collection (visit www.stanleyfurniture.com) to comment. The cost of it makes me sick to my stomach; approximately $4000 for two side tables, two dressers and the bed. Yeah, spending alot of money is hard for me to do but I think the collection has alot of clean, classic lines though they consider it a contemporary collection. So now we just have to lay out the measurements, continue to look around because an investment like that, I want to be sure that this realy is the one...kinda like getting married!
After a full day in Bayport, we headed into Queens for Mexican night at Patrick and Kristin's. Lets just say that Patrick's skinny margaritas and Kristin's endless hours of preparation in the kitchen made for a great meal. We all played CLR and as usual, Matt and I never win and then we played Trivial Pursuit, the 90's edition. Jamie and I wish we had a video camera because Kristin was laying in the corner of the couch, with her cleavage popping out and with a few drinks in her, had no hesitation making comments; I know this is a very poor explanation but you had to be there to see it. At 12:30, Matt and I made our journey back to CT and slept until 10:30. Today is one of those days that getting out of bed just isn't going to happen and laying around napping is a priority!
I can say that my birthday week is not over yet because I have until Wednesday so some how I will make the celebration continue because just one day is just too short! But thank you to everyone who has contributed to my Birthday week so far!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yes, today is my birthday. Hallmark just forgot to put in on the holiday list of cards : ) As you can tell, I love my birthdays and birthdays in general. Today is an extra special birthday. I am up @ 5 Am getting ready to be @ work for 7; now usually I'd be leaving @ 3 but today, I get to work from 7 am - 7 pm; later to do paperwork. So basically my birthday will be spent with all my patients. Seems rather appropriate since I love most of them. Matt knew I would be DEAD when I got home tonight so I got early birthday presents last night and he did very well!
First, I got a mushy card, which I always love because no one says it better than Hallmark. In the card was a fake gift certificate for Ulta 3 to get a facial! Just what I wanted and really all I wanted. But as usual, Matt goes beyond the call of duty and gets something else. So out comes a super cute bag filled awkwardly with tissue paper (he's not really good with packaging items) In the bag was my first set of gardening tools and a pair of blue paisley gardening gloves! Now I can start to work in the garden, which isn't much right now but with some TLC, it will be beautiful if the steriod-using squirrels don't kill it first.
Now as a side note, Matt tells me he went to Macys to look at jewerly. Now I'm not a huge jewerly girl but a few weeks ago, we walked past the my birthday and I fell in love with this ring. It was breathtaking. Anyway, Matt went and looked at it this week....$700! Maybe my anniversary in 10 years : )
So please wish me a happy birthday and that my bosses patients and my patients are extra nice to me today so I can actually walk out of work in one piece tonight!

Matty and Coll's Domestic Bliss Getaway

Thank you Dustin for the title of this blog...

On Saturday, Matt and I had a gathering of friends at our house of a housewarming/Colleen's Birthday party! As usual, there were lots of familiar faces, drinks and food! I have to pat myself on the back for the menu: mozzarella, artichokes, red peppers and basil on a toothpick (so good!), marinated chicken, beef and shrimp on skewers with dipping sauces consisting of honey mustard, peanut sauce and a soy sauce mixture (again...delicious!) and some staples of mexican dip ( thanks to Sue and Erik) chips and pretzels. Everyone loved the food; Mike just wasn't thrilled with the honey mustard dip. I also made a huge pitcher of sangria which I thought was absolutely amazing! Matt got to use his grill and wears his Cubs apron while I got to use alot of dishes I haven't been able ot use. I also had a chance to see Dustin and Mike; two close friends of ours that live in NYC and Boston respectively and as usual, they are the life of the party. My girls from home, Kristin and Meghan, along with Brian (Meg's BF) came for a while. As usual, when I decide to do something, Kristin gets sick with an ear infection and stomach virus. She was a trooper and came with me to Stop n Shop to pick up the rest of the essentials including lemons, limes and tea to ease her stomach pain (which might I add worked very very well...YogiTea stomach ease works wonders...trust me!) Anyway, the night was everything I could hope for! Matt and I are getting a handle on this whole entertaining business and we are so excited to be able to get together our friends like this!

Next Party...the Pearsall/Costigan house in Forrest Hills for Mexican Night!
Next Party we host...Easter Saturday!

PS...pictures to follow : ) or please visit Dustin Ledda on FaceBook and view his pictures: )

The WAM effect

I had a patient recentlybring me in an article from the New Year Times in regards to the "WAM" effect, aka, What About Me effect. The article reflected on comments that were being sent into the paper in regards to the economic crisis, the bailout of bad mortgages and changes in the tax credit to first time homebuyers.

Now I have to say...I have every right to rant about this stuff. I was taught from an early age to be responsible with EVERYTHING...money, your life, your car, your friends, your family. Yes, the money thing again as usual! But over the course of the last 5 years, people bought houses they could not afford. Period. The end. There adjustable rate mortgage kicked in and they were crying that they couldn't make the payments. Cry me a river. Didn't you have all these details laid out to you? Didn't you get that piece of paper at your closing that broke down your monthly payments? Ok maybe you did, but maybe you didn't understand the paperwork. Or maybe you just decided not to have a lawyer at your closing to explain the details because you thought you could save yourself some cash. BAD IDEA! I know some of this stuff is out there but its been in articles that I've read and it really gets to me!

To go off this rant a little bit...I am a responsible person. I bought a house that Matt and I could afford, even if one of use lost our jobs. I pay my taxes every year. I pay my student loans, credit card bills, utilities and mortgage payments on time. I don't have a huge amount od credit card debt. I put a decent amount of money to the side to save. And if you do all these things, what do you get from the government? NOTHING! Why aren't good citizens rewarded for doing things the responsible way? To me, its like always doing something for the bad kid or not rewarding good work in school.

So Mr. President, if you want to make some other changes in policies, think about the people who are making positive contributions to society and give us a reward for doing something good!

Lets Talk About Sex!

I think I can officially talk about sex now without being out of context or shy about it, especially with this blog. I am an almost 27 years old married woman and yes, against the almight Catholic church, Matt and I had sex a long time before I had a ring on my finger or exchanged vows. So now that we've cleared the air with that, I can now discuss my current situation...

Last Wednesday, I had the "stomach bug." I was throwing up a majority of the early morning and passed out on the floor of the bathroom. I took a sick day and laided around a majority of the day, in my bed. I went to work for the rest of the week, still not feeling right. I felt nausous the rest of the week and really didn't have an appetite. So one of my patients called me on Friday and she asked me, "Colleen, I know you were on that tropical island the first week in January and we all know what happened. And you have felt sick for the last three days. Are you sure you're not pregnant.?" Though I didn't want to admit it, it was in the back of my mind.

I do take birth control, one to regluate my period and two, to reduce my chances of getting pregnant. On my trip to Queens last week, Kristin and I were talking about inconsistent the two of us are with taking it. Example #1: Matt found my pills on a Wednesday; packed was filled...he comes in the room and asked "Do you know what today is?" "Wednesday," I said. "According to your pills, its Sunday"...Big opps! So my inconsistency with the pill and not feeling too hot for a few days was making me nervous.

So this past weekend I was on Long Island for my grandparents 59th anniversary lunch at my house. I was in the bathroom and finally, my prayers above were answered. Aunt Flow had come to town! I let out a big Yes. I came out of the bathroom and my mom just stared at me;
" Is everything ok?"
"Matt and I thought we could have been expecting a little one but I just got my period," I said.
"I guess we should be celebrating."
"Yes, I would think so."

Please don't misinterrupt this excitement with the fact that we don't want kids. I really do want kids; 2 boys about 3 years apart and possibly with my first by the time I'm 29. These are dreams but not really realities. Kids take money and money isn't something we don't have on the side right now. 2006-2008 was dedicated to the wedding and then we bought the house so our savings has been minimal. Alot of people tell me you will never be financially ready to have children but for me, I feel the need to have some money on the side not just for the security of our kids but for security of Matt and I as well. I was always taught to put money on the side...save, save, save...pay yourself first. My father should be credited for drilling that into my head.

But to be completely honest, I am completely freaked, scared, terrified, horrified out about having children. I don't really have a reason for it; I've been searching for answers but they don't seem to come. I love kids; holding little babies and making funny noises, speaking in high pitched voices and playing peek-a-boo. Maybe someday I'll get over this fear. Maybe when there is a human life inside me my motherly instinct will kick in and the thought of being a parent will be settling, exciting and a whole journey of laugh, tears, achievements and being a kid again....

Until then, I will be sure to take my pill everyday : )

It's March!!!

In the Northeast today, we got hit with approximately a foot of snow; it was the biggest snow storm of the season. Right now, I'm so sick of snow but the best part...I got a snowday! Bad news...12 hour day @ work tomorrow (booooo!)

This unexpected day off gave me an opportunity to continue my painting. Since Saturday, I have been painting. Saturday night was the Bayport girls night down @ Kristin's in Forrest Hills. I got there early and helped paint her dining room. I did cause a slight mess when I dropped a gallon of paint on the floor. The color was a lovely shade of cranberry red and it was allllllll over her hardwoods. Thank god those are getting replaced. Sunday, I spent the day repainting the living room and hallway and now today, I was able to do all my cutting and trimming of moldings. So all and all, I think I put in about 13 hours of painting the last 3 days. As I was doing all this today, Matt was "working" aka sititng on his laptop on the couch, legs up with the Dog Whisperer in the background. The worst part...I kept bothering him! At least that's what he said. I will give him credit; he did get outside today to shovel and clean off the cars. I HATE cold weather so it's the one thing I really will not do! And the weather is frigid here today. Not the day to be outside.

But the absolute worst part of the snow is this...it's March. For those of you who don't know, March is my birthday month. And this does not fit into my birthday wishes. This year, I actually do have a list of things that I would like. Here's the small list:
1. A fabulous summer hat I saw @ the J. Crew outlet. I need something to keep my Irish skin covered when I start working in the garden or I go to the beach.
2. Bare Minerals make up. I never buy myself make up and I'm getting low.
3. Ugg boots. Matt doesn't like them, but I would realy like a pair.
4. Tools. I figured if I get some, Matt and I can start building some stuff in the house

That's about it right now. I know I'm going to be 27 years old, but birthdays are always my favorite. Special dinner, dessert and having friends and family around...it's the best! And now we are having a party on March 21st to bring our friends together again. Unfortunately, I can't have another wedding because that cost too much but to have everyone at my house...I LOVE IT! I'll keep you posted on my food choices as I make them!