dino.

dino spill.

twenty ten.

happy new year!

i hope everyone has a night full of laughter and happiness. 

cheers to 

remembering the good

forgetting the bad

and the opportunity 

to make this year

even better than the last.

be safe. be happy.

 xoxo. (b)log.

christmas.

tonight mike and i are celebrating christmas.

i am so excited.

i love lunch.

in my dreams this really happens.

cant stop watching him dance.

feels like what?!

hello winter, youre finally here.

hide your small children.

saw this performed on jay leno last night- how absolutely terrifying is this song/performance/barry manilows face*?! i honestly was disturbed the entire time watching it.

and with the exception of all i want for christmas is you- there hasnt been a wondrous christmas song written in the past 20 years- so lets stick to remakes, k?

*kind of resembles clay aiken now. another creeper.
if i was invisible then i could just watch you in your room?
no thanks clay.

found: resolution.

its almost new years eve and ive been thinking alot about what my resolution is going to be. over the past few weeks ive read some articles on creating a resolution you can stick to and so far most say the following:

• focus on one resolution
• be able to state your resolution in three words
• create smaller, more definite goals... 
• ...reward yourself for achieving them!
• make others aware of your resolution

i threw around a few ideas and then i received my weekly mint.com email. what did it tell me? that over the past year i have been able to save $.01... ONE PENNY! awful. granted each month after bills i only have a few extra hundred dollars- but really? i couldnt even manage to save an entire dollar?! 

so here it is. my new years resolution:

• save more money (three words)
• sign up for 401k at work (check!)
  create an ing savings account by the end of january
  deposit half of my tax return in said savings account
  have $300 deposited from regular paychecks by june
• take a long weekend from work and go camping! (inexpensive and fun!)
• now everyone that reads (b)log is aware!

it doesnt seem like alot- but its doable. alot of the articles stated that the biggest problem people have is setting unrealistic or undefined goals. sure- if i get good at the saving money thing i can always exceed my goal (which is a good thing!) but within six months it is reasonable and achievable that i put away $50 a month (= to a few beers and a cab ride.) and thats about 30,000% more than what i have saved now. from a number standpoint- thats pretty darn good.

i would love love love to hear what your resolutions are! comment awayyy.

gimme gimme more.

ok- so some of you didnt like the first sex & the city movie. i get it. but i cannot get enough of s&tc.  i will continue watching until they are old and gray and in wheel chairs because:

a.) i am in love with sarah jessica parker. 

b.) i love carrie & big. (my life IS carrie and big. red balloons and all. ok i asked for the balloons. but still.)

c.) i love that you can watch each episode a million times and its still entertaining. ive seen the "you take a napa- you dont move to napa" episode about 500 times and i still get excited for them to slow dance and eat pizza. (how many shows can you say that about?)

so basically im really really really really excited. 

and i want carries white dress. 

and one of charlottes cupcakes. 

and for it to be may 28th.

jai ho!

whats better than a gltb flag football team dancing to jai ho around boston? the fact that mary kate works with one of them. LOVE it. if ellen wont come dance with them- i will.

bustys return to the bean.

so happy right now- everything i love is in one tiny cube in boston. 

(although for clarification- im not happy about the tiny part, but its home.)

the girls: pre-break in.

boo for people breaking into peoples cars. 

i love you mich!

alex james hendrix

heres mah brother jammin out after dinner.  i remember when he got his first guitar and i wanted to smash it into toothpicks. (like dreamt about it- tooth. picks.) he has improved- alot. we have no idea where he got this talent from. i, certainly, did not inherit this gene. i can play free fallin. and thats abouttt it.

*if you are a musical talent agent and would like to represent him- i can set up a meeting for a small cut. im thinking like... 38%.

...not too shabby for thirteen

not much has changed.

looking through old pictures with my family and realizing i have not changed much- still wearing bows, dresses, and stuffing my face with chocolate.

pink dress with white cats on it, pink hair bow, moonboots. love it.

rather stylish with that belt if you ask me.

christmas black and gold bow galore.

hair bow- check. chocolate- check. jelly glass- check.

a rare picture of me in a nonskirt pre-1996.

note: my toy chest was the same as the one of full house. oh, yeah.

me & my bff allie in matching ruffly pink & green swimsuits.

my first two piece- it was a big deal.

merry christmas (b)log!

(b)log just unwrapped its christmas present- a new digital camera!  picked up a pretty blue canon powershot today (had pink in hand- but thought of mike and switched for blue) at best buy who was having a $50 off sale on all canons. ive only had kodak digital cameras- but made the switch back to canon. so far so good!

new camera

present from alex- a mask of john lennon he made in art!

and of course- had to test it out on the polycat.

like the partridge family- but way cooler.

rocking out to lego: rockband (my christmas present to my brother) with the fam.

time to go show off my mad bass skillz to the who.

and then drug testing my brother.

tonsil mom.

my cousin olivia got her tonsils out last week (finally) and my aunt wanted to cheer her up.

janet jackson + red apron = great success.

after some begging i finally convinced her to let me post it... merry christmas (b)loggers!

i introduce to you: tonsil mom.

love you tet.

@bustycat.

bustdolph: the lost reindeer.

he was not very good at spreading christmas cheer (hed rather take a nap) and his pink nose unfortunately did not light the way as well as red- so he got the boot.

merry christmas eve!

love- bustdolph the pink nosed reincat.

well maybe just a half a drink more.

go busty go.

had to take the busty kibber back to the vet today to recheck his skin and update his vaccines. not only is his fur growing back (yay!) but he took all four shots like a champ and lost half a pound since his last visit! (the turkey was put on a diet- we are aiming for 14-15 lbs...) woo woo!

i couldnt wait until christmas to give busty his present- his very own boston brownstone! and he lives in the very desirable 1 cool place. hes got three floors, two windows, and a roof deck. talk about prime real estate...

now its time for bed- exhausted over here!  tomorrows a busy day with family- but i will post some pics of the oreo truffles in the morning. 

goodnight!

sweatpants needed.

said creampuffs. i ate two.

(ok, i ate three.)

off to lunch.

bakerella.

how cute are these cupcakes by bakerella?!

make sure to check out the recipe for her red velvet cake balls.

they look super simple and delic! i also had these oreo truffles posted on nonsociety: jordans blog at our office yankee swap and i highly recommend making them! they were a big hit and tasted amazing.

must be the holidays.

and all before 10am...

...not going to freak out...

...just not eating starting the 26th...

ok im going to eat. but no more bagels/cookies/holiday goodness! or else this will be me- minus the small child.

puff the magic dragon: round deux.

today is our group lunch at maggianos and i am so excited (and also not going to need to eat again until christmas.) last year after salads, pastas, chicken, cheese (etc, etc...) i still managed to stuff down a few of their homemade profiteroles (pastry shell filled with vanilla bean ice cream and topped with our own hot fudge and fresh whipped cream; dusted with cocoa powder and powdered sugar) which landed me the name puff. i plan on keeping that title this year.

ill try to snap a few pics of the food later! woo!

fiesta de mateo

last night we went to spats for trivia night to celebrate matt finishing school- yay! im usually pretty god awful at trivia, but last night i was on a roll (got us 20 points for knowing ted geisel was dr. seuss' real name- woo woo!)

loved the christmas version of freestylin with the roots last night. cant find a clip yet of them playing the nutcracker suite but it was awesome! so for now you get to watch dance you hat and gloves off: christmas edition.

sweat til you bleed.

happy 25th birthday to my oldest and dearest friend michelle! i hope you have an amazing day and i cant wait to see you (and celebrate) when im home this week! 

i can either buy you a drink or cross stitch you another "best friends" heart for your wall... 

. slapped face . talent show . lovestory notebook and pink glass . sleepover dance parties . skunk hats . beach nights . new years eve: church style . new years eve: italian club style . fox and the hound arooroo . uno dino chicken tenders . field hockey . brighton seshs . edward bloom . love . it . all .

five volcanos.

post nutcracker hit up zen sushi bar in beacon hill with the girls. for the price it is definitely a keeper! we all ordered miso soup, a volcano roll, and one extra (i got the alaskan: salmon, cucumber, avocado & scallions.)

i wish i had taken a picture of the volcano- but it was devoured before the thought of (b)loggage came to mind. t had talked up the roll before we got there so we all had to get one. (no, we havent all ordered- thats just for her. love it.) im not even certain what was in the roll- maybe crab, but it was topped with baked scallops, panko crumbs, and spicy mayo. yum, yum, YUM.

*

thanks lara!

arrived home to find a package from larabar with four free bars inside! they graciously sent them out for commenting on their blog- FAB! cannot wait to finally try the new pb&j flavor. 

sugar plum fairies.

seeing the nutcracker at the boston opera house with the girls!

good luck @jameswhiteside!

update: james ended up being THE nutcracker. fairfield sure knows how to crank out the talent. musicians, movie stars, nutcrackers... ffld loveee

totally would have joined in.

how did i miss this- i literally live less than a mile away...

(oh, and hot damn!)

filmed: .sdrawkcab

redic. no idea how they did that. bravo!

i want to make one like this.

7th floor lip dub?

lights flashing light lights lights...

please.

say.

yes.

loud breeding greek eaters.

mother, me & maia

"and my whole family is big and loud. and everybody is in each others lives and business. all the time! were always together, just eating, eating, eating... we fight and we laugh and yes, we roast lamb on a spit in the front yard. and where ever i go, what ever i do, they will always be there" (mbfgw) 

...and i love it

teta, me & maia

mother.

found this picture of my parents circa the early 90s * (i think) and decided to put me and my madre side by side. (the things you do when youre hopped up on cold medicine on a saturday night...)

pretty similar, eh? 

*i will also keep this picture as my rebuttal for the next time my parents say that i need to eat something. 

out of the woods.

cannot.believe.this.is.real

never had it bow good.

loving this skirt from modcloth.com. never been there before today but they have some really cute things (that wont break the bank.) will be investing in this one after my next paycheck.

hey, beantown.

* youre pretty

to: my jo-han-nana

merry christmas soul mate!

loveeee: b

(sorry im in pjs makupless and sporting a sweet hairdo... we are far enough in our relationship i dont have to get all gussied up for you anymore. see ya black&whites- hello true love.)

thats hot.

flashback.

bustys favorite past time- wrecking christmas trees. mike and i had to get plastic ornaments because crazy bustzilla used to bat them off and play with them. ah, memories

 

real meaning.

as mentioned before- a few of us at work signed up to buy present for children at the shelter doc volunteers for.  i picked mia- a newborn.  got her some cute lovebug footsie pjs, an "i love hugs" shirt with matching heart leggings, and the cutest little pink dress. as for accessories i got her some hairbows (duh) and a flower rattle. so adorable! and it feels great being able to help those in need around the holidays.

. merry christmas baby mia .

(ps- it was funny how we basically forced ourselves on these children.  mine is going to wear bows, teresas is wearing black pants and a blue shirt, and katherines little guy is wearing all sports apparel.)

so (b)e good for goodness sakes.

l-o-v-i-n-g my new santa headband!

gold star.

hooray! everyone had lots of fun at the yankee swap ive been organizing. we had delicious food (cupcakes, oreo cream cheese balls, apple crisp, cookies...) and lots of laughs. a perfect ending to the work week!

now off to target with katherine and t to get some presents to donate to the kids at the shelter the doctor volunteers at! tis the season.

talk to the moose.

i wont lie. i love this commerical. and if i was 7 again i would want to be in it. (i also would want to be the one in the striped tights- but i was definately the girl who screams. i was a wonderful child.)

ho ho ho: round 1.

yesterday was our company wide yankee swap. hysterical. i bought booze for both of the swaps (a bottle of prosecco for yesterday, mini grey goose for today) because you really cant go wrong with a delicious adult beverage.

the worst gift, hands down, was a box of fish oil pills. so glad i didnt get that one... i originally had the cutest little sledding & singing snowman but he got taken away (boo.) i ended up with two scratch offs (no go) and this golf drinking game.

depending on how many strokes it takes you to get the ball in the hole you do something different (1 stroke- make everyone drink, 2- assign a shot, etc... the more strokes the more you end up drinking) im sure it will be put to good use. (the sand is taped down for traveling purposes.)


but the doctor landed the sweetest gift of them all- a hunter green snuggie... hot cha cha!

really hoping i end up with t's brooklyn local 2 big guy this afternoon at swap numero dos. will keep you posted!

HOORAY FOR CHRISTMAS!

dumplin

last night i made some turkey dumplings- y.u.m. they are super easy to make- but i will warn you, they take awhile. (unless you have a small army helping you wrap them.)

b's turkey dumplins
(makes about 6- 300 calorie servings)

-1/2 lb ground turkey
-1 egg white
-1 tsp. soy sauce
-1/2 cup bread crumbs
-1/4 cup parm cheese
-1 package Nasoya round wonton wrappers
-scallions

step 1: its a meat-a-ball

-preheat oven to 350

-mix the turkey, egg white, soy sauce, bread crumbs and parm cheese together.

-measure out 1/2 tsp. of turkey mixture and roll into a little ball

-place on a greased cookie sheet (i usually line with tin foil)

-bake for 15 minutes

step 2: meatballs lookin mighty fine- now its dumplin wrappin time

-dip your finger in water and rub around the edge of wrapper

-place meatball in the center

-fold in half and press shut (i do little pleats/folds. you can just press hard though)

-repeat about 60 times...

-bring a pot of water to a boil

-drop a small batch (i do about 10) into the water and let cook for 3-4 minutes. remove with a slotted spoon.

(i like to eat mine with cut up scallions on top but you can dip them in soy sauce or whatever else youd like!)

go bubs go.

loving this show- boston love to the bubs!

kleenex & coughdrops.

boo being sick. and boo daytime basic cable. but considering i avoided the swine flu, im a-ok with a cold (just as long as it goes away soon...)

happy birthday jibby mcdink!

wishing a very happy birthday to teresa! you are an amazing 3D friend (i am so glad you didnt actually write me off when you heard my name was brittany lynn shelby... and that you like food as much as me... and dancing... and, well, just about everything else...) 

you're the strangest person I ever met, she said 

& I said you too & we decided 

we'd know each other a long time

.sp.