Christmas & Good Times with Family

The last few weeks home have been packed with things to do with family. One of them being a visit to the cemetery in New York on the way to see my Grandparents in Queens. We've (my mom and I) have been coming to see my grandma's (her mother whom I never had the opportunity to meet) grave. Over the years a few more people have died and were buried in this lot including my great grandmother Dee-Dee who died at 98 on Christmas day in 2001. Although I never really thought about it before I realized this year that after my mom is gone this will probably become my tradition. I don't know about other people but I find cemeteries very peaceful and even fun. I used to run around as a kid and play hide and seek. Bringing life to the dead...

 Below is a picture of our Christmas tree this year. We went to a tree farm in central Jersey near Princeton to cut our own tree. Its been a tradition to return to the same tree farm every year (with the exception of maybe one or two years) and more recently we've gotten into a habit of cutting our own. This year we brought Tom and Adam (Tom's son) along. Mom and I dressed the tree in ornaments Christmas Eve day while we watched Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer. That weekend we also put up the lights and garland on the front porch. Our home was finally looking appropriate. Everywhere you looked I could see the spirit of Christmas. 

Christmas Day was a nice quite time with Uncle Jack. We opened presents and cooked appetizers and dinner dishes all day. Dennis, my Mom's boyfriend, came to join us for dinner. The pot roast was perfect especially with Mom's special horseradish sauce! Afterwards we called my cousins in Georgia to check in (an annual tradition --call all the relatives on Christmas). It was great to play a joke on them using Dennis as an announcer for the Mets ticket office. Uncle Jack (major baseball fan) has a long track record joking with my cousins who are Braves fans.  

Me and my cat Jessica (18 yrs old)

Our dinner...yum

The next few days Uncle Jack stayed with us. I decided to check out and see what was going on in town. We ended up going to City Hall to finally see what Mom had been raving about. She had mentioned that there was a room in City Hall that was used in the movie Quiz Show. We also went to see the Colgate clock near the Hudson. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to see that since it started snowing and it was way to windy for me to volunteer walking around the boardwalk even with a crazy Uncle that would do anything (and loves the cold like me).

The last day Jack was here Mom took a half-day and we all went into the city for our traditional Christmas visit. We've gone into the city almost every Christmas most of the time with someone new to the area or here for a limited amount of time or someone who has never been to NYC. Note to anyone: Manhattan is magical during this time of year so don't wait, GO! We weren't as impressed by the tree this year (even though it's from NJ) but Saks' windows were a nice balance (compared to years past). We also went into the public library. My mom knows how much I LOVE libraries so she wanted to take me. I'm glad she did because I couldn't help but feel awe-struck as I walked into the building especially the study room. Of course all the scenes from movies and tv shows flooded my mind as I walked through (i.e. The Day After Tomorrow, Sex and the City, etc). I asked one of the librarians how many books the library carried and they said over 3,000,000 or probably more!! Knowing how amazed I was at all the visits to college campuses during my junior and senior years at high school I thought it was so sweet of my mom to think to do this.

Macy's windows - a history of Macy's

The public library

After Uncle Jack left early Friday morning Mom and I spent the rest of the time I was home together with the exception of a little holiday get-together on Saturday. We invited some family and friend over to have lunch and drinks and celebrate the New Year. It was so nice to finally meet some of our neighbors and to see Uncle Gerry, Aunt Mary and my cousin Kerry. Also thanks to my mom we played some Christmas games which was an interesting experience as you can imagine.

Sunday was a leisure day. Mom and I went to see Les Miserables. We both thought it was great, however, I was the most blown away by Russel Crowe's voice no matter WHAT the stupid critics say. I never thought he'd sound that great! Hugh Jackman on the other hand (especially an actor with theater experience) I wasn't as impressed, however, reminded of the actor who played Jean Valjean WOW it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. 

New Years Eve was just us. I originally had adventurous plans to go out in NYC with my friend Kristi who lives in DC, however, do to her cancelled flight back from Iowa over Christmas she couldn't miss more work. Mom and I did attempt to spend the night on the town but between the band, that was scheduled to play at the bar we went to, standing around instead of playing and mom being somewhat tired we decided to watch the ball drop at home. It was nice to just be together.

The Baking Monster

Over the past week and half since I've been home for Christmas break I embarked on my usual baking routine. However, this year was a little tiredsome and I don't have a reason why other than my brain hurts. This semester has been so trying and hard to get through that I almost forgot this time of "relaxation" would ever come. And now I start with baking a ton of cookies?? I mean I normally say "it's relaxing" but this year not so much. So to save myself from more pain I did some of the more easy cookies: poinsettas, snowflake sugar cookies, mexican wedding cookies, martha washington candies, triple chocolate cookies and peppermint swirls. For my own sweet tooth (since most of the batches were for others aka gifts) I made muddy buddies (or puppy chow as some like to call it).

 Triple Chocolate Cookies

 Martha Washington Candies

 MUDDY BUDDIES!!

 Peppermint swirls

 Mexican Wedding Cookies

Snowflake Sugar Cookies

 The work site

 Decore Avenue

While I worked myself to powder sugar I went back to my summer obsessions: Roswell & Lost. Yep I sat on the couch most of the first five-six days and did pretty much nothing but watch episode after episode. I figured since this is the last time I'll have to do this while I have the excuse that I'm in college and this is the life of a college student and get away with it...I'll do it. But eventually I did break out of my homebase to explore the world outside. However, I really don't appreciate Jersey drivers or any of the drivers around here anymore. You all are crazier than I ever remembered!

The other day I spent some time with some of my high school friends, Sammy and Ariella. It was nice to catch up and spend some time rehashing memories of the past. I even got the chance to wash a dog for the first time. I'm used to washing my cat but I knew a dog would be interesting to watch in a tub of water. Ariella is obsessed with her new baby Sir-Mix-Alot (name still in the works according to her nieces and mom).

Today mom and I went down to southern Tom's place in Edison to meet Adam, his son and go cut our Christmas trees at the Simson tree farm in Cranberry. We've been going to the same farm for our tree since I can remember. It was always so special and after Tom exposed us to the cut-your-own lot we've never gone back to the pre-cut lot except to perhaps get a glimpse of Santa (who in the last few years hasn't been around...sad day). Breakfast at the Skylark diner and off we went to the farm while snow flurries began to fall :) KEEP FALLING PLEASE!!!! We decided to get a semi-narrower 7 ft. tree this year while Tom and Adam picked a smaller tree. It was so nice to finally feel a chill in the air. I so miss the big snow storms and coldness of the winter air. Its been so extremely mild and WARM the last few years I can't stand it! What do I have to do, move to Maine or Alaska to get cold and snow??? Gosh. 

 Bangin Mexican BF sandwitch!!

 Tom and Adam

Tom's truck

Finals Week Craziness

 As tradition would call Elon's Luminary Celebration was held the Thursday, November 29th. It was a great way to divert my brain from all-things Senior Sem. I met up with Dionne and Lindsay to hang out a bit. It was pretty disappointing that Elon has not stayed cold as in years past. This year instead of feeling better with sips of hot cocoa I reeked at the thought. It was so warm! ICK

On Saturday night I went to my first and probably last :( Elon basketball game. If it weren't for Alice I probably would've never pushed myself to go but I'm so happy I did. I mean the EU fans can get  ridiculously annoying (yelling all sorts of ill-mannered stuff directed to the opposing team), however, I did have a good time watching the game. It encouraged me to keep on track with college bball and regular NBA games. *So happy the NY Knicks won against the Brooklyn Nets this past Tuesday evening 100-97 WOOT WOOT!!!

Phoenix Fanatics are pretty intense: exhibit the pic above of the three red suits

(check out the website HERE)

I was so happy when all of my classes were finally over on Tuesday, December 4th especially after what I thought was a horribly boring senior thesis presentation. Knowing this is my last year to do anything and everything I've ever wanted to do at Elon I decided to get all dressed up and go to President Leo Lambert's "house" for his Christmas shindig. However, having never done this before I was shocked (yet not too surprised once I thought about it) at how long the lines were to get on the shuttle buses to the Maynard House. We waited in line at Moseley for close to an hour. The time in between I saw some of my rugger buds come and go. A lot of people decided it wasn't worth waiting so long for food.

I'm glad I waited because it was an interesting experience. I absolutely loved the look of the Maynard House. It would remind you of a traditional New England brick home with a nicely landscaped back and front yards. They even have a gazebo in the back yard!! So quint and elegant inside. I mean you got to have some bucks to have an actual study in your house!


Wednesday was "Reading Day" aka go out the night before and get f@%#ed up. I did not go out but the next morning when my scum captain picked me up I thoroughly enjoyed the ride over to the new apts at College Station for the rugby exec elections. We picked up our back-line captain, Schmidty, at the baseball house and lo and behold she was wearing her outfit from the night before. It was so amusing watching the reactions as we walked into BGraham's apt.

My friends Dionne, Jamile and Lindsay

Afterwards I was prepping the whole afternoon for my dinner with a few friends: Alice, Hannah, Sarah and Rebekah. Crockpot beef stroganoff with egg noodles for dinner and Martha Washington Candies & PB Kiss cookies for dessert. It was so nice to relax a bit with friends I haven't had much time to see or hang out with the entire semester. We also played a few friendly rounds of Apples to Apples (one of my favorite games).

The last very fun thing I did during finals week was celebrate Courtney's 20th birthday at La Cocina in the dodgy side of Burlington. It was an experience to be had especially driving as the leader of the birthday caravan after a failed attempt to go to the La Cocina closest to campus. We ended up turning around and meeting the rest of the caravan at the second location. Can I just say how AWESOME chips and queso sauce is? Oh of course when you spill water in it...hehm Jamie. Oh and thanks Natie for the wonderful speech on Courtney's behalf. Hope it was fun for her!

Gobble Gobble Gobble

Okay I know this is super delayed....but better now than never right. So I spent Thanksgiving with my cousins on my Dad's side (the Valeros) in Charlotte with my mom. It was really nice to have my mom with me considering the last time I spend Thanksgiving in NC it was with Alice's family. I carried on one of her family's traditions: Martha Washington Candies. They were a huge hit this year at Linda's and I ended up sending Linda's daughter Jen (for her sister-in-law Drennan) the recipe for a holiday party. If you have no idea what I'm talking about check out the link! 

My rookie rugger Sharyn needed someone to house her hamster. When

her boyfriend came over a few days before the break to give 

me the hamster I had to test it's ball contraption. It was thoroughly amusing!!!

Before we went to Linda's for most of the break we connected with my good friend Hillary. We spent the day cruising around Charlotte: visited Discovery Place (discoveryplace.org/) which made me feel like a little kid :) ate a hearty lunch at the Diamond Diner (owners had a place around the corner that Guy Fieri visited on an episode of DDD) and had a relaxing tea-time at Amelie's French Bakery (OMFG baker's heaven) get this its open 24/7!!!! 

SO TASTY Macaroons 

Linda's beautiful home

Webster the dog

Thanksgiving feast...Thanks to Jen's husband Stephen

It was so great to hear all the Valero stories I've never heard before especially the one about Pater's (my great grandfather who died a few years ago at 106!!) great grandfather's affair with some forest mistress. Technically we're all bastards! haha gotta love this stuff...We also shared our traditions and had a blissful bonding experience. I was so happy to finally meet one of Debbie's children (Kim and her husband Johnny). I'm definitely planning a trip to FL very soon!!! Go Gaters! lol

One of the last days we were together we took the light rail into "uptown" (my equivalent of downtown) Charlotte. Since everyone was hungry with the exception of mom and I we decided to venture on our own. We went to the tourist office for a map then walked around on the historical tour. It was so nice to finally see the city other than a drive-by sighting in years past. Eventually we caved and went back towards the tourist office for coffee and a treat at Amelie's second location. It was the perfect day.

Our family

Lady Charlote (yea one t)

Amelie's second location

Ice skating outside the convention center

That night before Debbie, Kim and Johnny left for their trip back down to FL we went out to the xMAX speedway in Concord for the Christmas light show. Linda, Debbie, Mom and I literally drove on the speedway!!! It was the coolest set-up especially with little Bethlehem and fun holiday activities in the center of the track.  It was so magical despite the chillness on my bear toes -- yep I wore flip flops. womp womp. I didn't expect to walk outside...

Gobble Gobble...Appropriate 

Southern twist on Funnel Cake: Red Velvet flavor

Our last night in Charlotte we took Linda to the Christmas Spectacular hosted by the Piedmont Community College. It was such a treat especially the ballet dances from the Nutcracker and Hallelujah chorus. I started to feel nostagic thinking about Frances' H.S. performance last December. I wondered how her experience out in Irvine has been, remembering what it was like to be a freshman in college. (Frances and her mom Ellen are mutual friends of ours; went to the same church in Montclair, NJ) 

Could not have asked for a more relaxing and perfect Thanksgiving!

Fast Times at Elon University

Before the holiday.... I had a really lovely weekend hanging out with friends. Even during the week was pleasant when I had time to get away from the stress-filled bubble and go out somewhere. Jamile's final orchestra recital was on Tuesday, November 13th and boy was it a great way to end her journey. The program was very eclectic and I don't think I've ever seen the musicians move so much in between songs. Later informed at Chili's (after-party) that the conductor wanted to utilize the talent leaving and recognize those staying. Below are some snap shots of our mini celebration:

 Friday night I spent quietly indoors with my friends Brittany and Reene. We watched Kevin Little stand-up and played video games. It was nice for a change to have fun without getting wiped out (i.e. going clubbing or out "partying" around Elon...it takes work). I also was adventurous, bored and procrastinating so I figured why not make Sam's bean dip (yummy) and bake PB Kisses cookies :) Saturday night was Smurf's official 21st bday party. The week prior some of the ruggers surprised her with a fun night at the bowling alley on Church St. This was a Smurf themed party = everything blue! Long story short, Smurf is Lauren's nickname in rugby and when she had blue hair we started to call her Smurf. It was nice to hang out at a social for a change. Its one of the few I've gone to so I'm trying my best to get out more.

                                            Left to right: Dionne, Jamile, Lindsay & me

Also on Saturday in the afternoon I saw Beautiful Bodies, a production put up and organized by the senior acting majors. Rebekah, one of my Elon friends, played the quirky and semi-off woman in the play. In short its about six women friends who once roomed together in their younger years coming together for a baby shower where all the secrets and long-over-due stories come out. Its pretty weird knowing that that was the last show for the seniors. Wow how time flies.

  

 Smurf got Hypnotic for her bday bash

 Classic beer pong

Tipton and I lookin fab in blue

Song Obsession

So nothing really exciting has happened or is expected to happen this weekend other than a tie dying party at Schmidty's place earlier to today which was pretty sweet :) So I have decided to post lyrics to one of my favorite ilyAIMY songs off their A Gift for Saint Cecilia album entitled "Ask for Me":

If you go down to the bar cause you need a love song
I'll tell you I'm... the one you need to see.
So come into my corner, pop a quarter in my heart
And when you arrive be sure to ask for me.

You've been workin hard all day
And you need something to ease your mind.
Well honey I'm... singin till three.
When they say last call you don't have to go home.
I think I've got a song left in me.

Chorus:
So if you want me don't you dare let me go.
Don't make it harder than it has to be.
Cause I am your for the asking,
I am your for the asking,
I am yours...so come on and ask for me.
(Guitar solo)

Cause I've been broken hearted and I've been tired
But you've set me back on fire.
And I bet that you and I can find a melody.
Cause I've lost all that I've loved and if there is a God above
I can't ask for this but you could ask for me.

Chorus:

So if you want me don't you dare let me go.

Don't make it harder than it has to be.

Cause I am your for the asking, 

I am your for the asking,

I am yours...so come on and ask for me.

So come on and ask for me

So come on and ask for me

Come on baby

We only get what ask for and not what we deserve

We only get what ask for and not what we deserve

Oh we only get what ask for and not what we deserve,

No no

So you go down to the bar cause you need a love song

I'll tell you I'm... the only one you need.

Chorus:

So if you want me don't you dare let me go.

Don't make it harder than it has to be.

Cause I am your for the asking, 

I am your for the asking,

I am yours...ohhhh....so come on and ask for me.