Surest way to get me crying...

Google's new Superbowl commercial made me cry in a room full of people last night...I wonder why?? Watch it for yourself here:

Snow in Chapel Hill

It started snowing last night and because I'm such a nerd (and a Floridian) I had to go and take pictures of it this morning. I probably didn't dress correctly in my pj bottoms and open-back slippers, but hey, I got the shots. Chapel Hill really is the most beautiful place I've ever lived. I love this city...

Enjoy the pictures!

My mansion (a.k.a. Cobb Residence Hall)

Dog biscuits or healthy treat?

I made some cookies last week using a recipe I found on the Web site www.eatingwell.com/. The recipe is supposed to be a healthy cookie alternative, using honey in place of sugar, whole wheat flour and tons of almonds to replace the fat usually provided by tons of butter. Needless to say, my husband was NOT a fan of these "healthy" cookies. In fact, he has now taken to calling them dog biscuits.

It got me wondering if there is such a thing as a healthy cookie? I mean, isn't it the point of a cookie to provide the eater with a moment of pure sugary/buttery pleasure? Sure you can probably scarf down 5 healthy cookies for every one unhealthy (but delicious) one, but what would be the point?

Anyway, I've redeemed myself from the dog biscuit incident by baking chocolate chip and almond cookies on Sunday. Eating one of those moist, buttery, surgary confections is enough to make me forget the "healthy" cookie altogether.

Oh, and if you want to try the recipe yourself, here's the link.

Prove me wrong: Share your healthy cookie recipe in the comments below!

Are New Year's resolutions worth the trouble?

I find myself asking that question as I think through what MY resolutions will be for 2010. I had so many in 2009 that did not get fulfilled that it really may be an exercise in futility. However, the more I think about it, the more I really do feel they do set the tone for the year - even if some resolutions never get accomplished, it's better to have some goals than none at all. It's hard to say what next week will throw at me, much less the entire year. For now, these are my resolutions for the year. Here's to 2010! (By the way, according to my husband - it's "twenty-ten" NOT "two-thousand and ten." Agree? Disagree? Comment below!)

1) Stop thinking about having kids - concentrate on paying off my credit card debt and saving for a house. I know I will have them eventually, but for now I have bigger fish to fry (sorry mom and mom B).
2) Pay off (at least some) credit card debt - this is a biggie.
3) Read one book per month. I am such a slow reader and have just joined a book circle (thanks, Candice) where we read one book a month. The first book I'm reading is my own choice, "To Kill a Mockingbird" which I read once before many years ago. It is such a treat to read it again.
4) Enjoy the outdoors more. Kayaking, hiking, etc. I know there has GOT to be ample opportunity for outdoor activities here.
5) Eat less crap food. I'm not just talking about eating less junk food, but also eating less food with ingredients I've never heard of or that are clearly not found in nature.
6) Talk to my brother more often. I was really bad about this in 2009. He's finally gotten out of his brooding, moody stage and has become human. Hurrah!
7) Stop feeling guilty. I'm not talking about feeling guilty about anything in particular...just the general guilt I feel for little things, like reading or watching a movie when I should have been doing the laundry or something more productive.
8) Be more fiscally responsible. I think this will always be on my list of resolutions...forever.
9) Take the next step, whatever that is, in my professional life. Since the job market is so crappy here, I'm seriously considering going back to school to get my masters degree - in Elementary Education. Yikes!
10) Appreciate my husband, family and friends every day. I think I do a good job of this already, but I never want to overlook this important goal.

Look ma' I can sew!

I just put the finishing touches on a Christmas stocking I've been sewing since October for my best friend's little girl. Mailing it out today, finally. It's one of those kits that comes with all the fabric, needles, thread, beads, etc. I think I may have been a little too ambitious, but hey, it's done and it looks so cute. Now, if I can just get it to her by Christmas!

Here are some pictures so that we can all bask in its beaded glory:

Pepsi vs. Coke

I've always preferred the flavor of Pepsi over Coke, but now I love Pepsi for an entirely different reason:

"Pepsi drops Super Bowl ads in favor of cause marketing"
December 17 2009

After 23 years of advertising during the Super Bowl, PepsiCo is pulling its beverage ads in favor of an upcoming cause marketing program, The Wall Street Journal reported. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola is continuing with its plans to advertise during the Super Bowl, with a spot rumored to be featuring the Simpsons.

Pepsi's new cause marketing program will let consumers choose community programs to receive grant money from the beverage company, which has set aside $20 million of its ad dollars for the program. It will also focus more on PR and online advertising.

The Journal reports:
"In 2010, each of our beverage brands has a strategy and marketing platform that will be less about a singular event," says Frank Cooper, senior vice president of PepsiCo Americas Beverages.

Pepsi's new tack is "not a condemnation of the Super Bowl," says its Mr. Cooper. It would be too hard to explain Pepsi's new marketing campaign in a 30-second TV spot, he adds.

It's a video posting kind of day...

I've been doing some research on the best blogs out there for "a blog on blogs" and I came across this video embedded on a blog called "Bad Astronomy." It's from CollegeHumor.com so you know it's probably got bad language...but dang it's funny!

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1797753