My News Year's Resolutions: READ MORE BOOKS and gain a magical power

I'm not one to make resolutions for the near year. I'm already trying to drop a few pounds (I've lost 5 over the past few months) and I'm trying to swear less (this one isn't going so well...) but I've decided to set a reading challenge for 2015.

I'm going to read 40 books in 2015.

It's in BOLD so you know I'm serious. I was considering attempting to read 50 books but I think that might be a little much for me considering I didn't even read 20 books in 2014. As a book lover I'm ashamed to admit that.

The book I finished yesterday is my last book of 2014 and it was probably my favorite book of the year.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas.

Heir of Fire is the third book in the Throne of Glass series and unexpectedly my favorite in the series. New characters and story lines were introduced but the characters I loved from the previous two books were not forgotten. The world building in this series is fantastic. I wish I could come up with something like this. Sadly I am not so talented in the writing department so I'll just enjoy every moment of this series and wonder why I can't have fire powers.

Anyone else have any resolutions or challenges for 2015? Also, feel free to suggest books in the comments. I'll read almost anything.

Ghost hunting at the Omni Parker

Ok so we weren't really ghost hunting but I did keep my eyes peeled when I stayed at the Omni Parker House this weekend. It's supposedly one of the most haunted hotels in the North East.

Many famous people have stayed and worked at the hotel. Ho Chi Minh and Malcolm X both worked there. John Wilkes Booth stayed there not long before he assassinated Abraham Lincoln. JFK had his bachelor party there. There was the Saturday Club where writers, philosophers, scientists and historians gathered for dinner. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow were members of the Saturday Club. The hotel certainly has a rich history.

I love the feel of the Omni Parker. It feels like history. The lobby and elevators are beautiful.

The only ghost we saw was Casper because the movie happened to be on tv when we were drinking our champagne in the room. Probably for the best because I would have been freaked out if I actually saw a ghost.

I highly recommend renting a hotel room rather than exchanging gifts with your significant other. We already buy the things we want for ourselves so why not do something fun and different?

And all was quiet on Christmas Eve (hopefully)

The college students have returned home for the holidays and it's finally quiet in Allston. I'm going to savor every moment.

I'm working today. I usually end up working on Christmas Eve. It's a popular day to take off but our office is open so I volunteer as office tribute! We have a few people holding down the fort. Fingers crossed that there isn't a client crisis.

It's funny how Christmas changes the older you get. I sometimes wish I could have that I'm so giddy I can't sleep because I have butterflies in my stomach feeling on Christmas Eve again. I do enjoy opening gifts but I think Christmas is now more about the family and food. I mean I really love a big Christmas dinner.

At least I don't have that paranoia that I would catch Santa in the act and get in trouble. I don't know why I thought that but boy did that worry about that as a child. Oh yes I am still just as anxious as an adult just over different things.

I hope you have a stress free holiday full of food and family.

The internet in North Korea

I don't trust anything that comes out of North Korea. Apparently the five people with internet access in North Korea experienced a blackout and the U.S. is to blame. Maybe it's true, but keep in mind that anytime anything bad happens in North Korea it's not their "Dear Leader's" fault it's the United States' fault. Drought, famine, electricity being out, all of that is blamed on the U.S.

I'm trying to imagine what they would even be able to access on the internet in North Korea. There's probably like two sites that are allowed, so really I don't think they're missing much. I wonder if Kim Jong-Un has a blog?....

To the racist woman on the phone today

Why would anyone want to call you back after you say to our receptionist "well I know it wasn't you I spoke to because you have an accent. I spoke with a white woman like me."

Your lucky you claimed you had a head injury from an unfortunate accident with an animal years ago.

Have you seen Boston's Keytar Bear?

Boston is known for it's many entertaining buskers. One of the most beloved local buskers is Keytar Bear. I've heard of Keytar Bear but I've never been able to catch him out performing.

Recently Keytar Bear has been spotted in Brooklyn.


Let's hope Keytar Bear is just visiting. He has had it rough recently. Keytar Bear has been attacked and robbed multiple times in Boston. Seriously guys, just leave Keytar Bear alone.

Here's Keytar Bear playing a medley of songs nominated for song of the year at the Boston Music Awards.

This was the weekend of eating food as large as my face.

I have a few photos to share from my weekend adventures around Boston and Cambridge.

There's a giant Menorah in Copley Square. I love this area around the holidays. You have the Menorah, a Christmas tree and the Trinity Church all beautifully lit up.

Friday night I went to Yard House near Fenway and ate a chicken pot pie as big as my face. In fact it might have been bigger than my face.

It was delicious. I ate half of it before I had to throw in the towel. And yes I'm the asshole who used my flash but I just had to share how big this thing was.

Saturday night I went to the Plough and Stars in Cambridge. It's a tiny place but it has a nice cozy vibe. I like the red walls and the Plough and Stars behind the bar.

Here is where I had a giant serving of mac and cheese. Also the size of my face.

After dinner we headed next door to People's Republik. I would not describe the People's Republik as cozy unless you find a Russian Communist Themed bar comforting. I do enjoy the bar though. The propaganda posters and bombs are interesting for sure. I just wish it wasn't cash only.

Please say hello to the capitalist pig if you stop in.

It's a dental Christmas miracle

If you read my blog regularly you may recall this post about some expensive dental work I was having done. As it turns out insurance ended up covering all of it and then some. I have a $15.00 credit on my account. I don't know what my dentist did when they submitted the claim but I'm not going to ask any questions. Maybe I should have my dentist submit all my insurance claims.

I ate some candied nuts made by Derek's mother and the tooth passed the nut test.

Today I came home to a notice from UPS on my door. Someone sent me something. I'm dying to know what it is. As an adult I can decide to open before Christmas right?

I also received a Christmas card from my brother and his family. My mother is visiting them in Florida right now. I miss these cute little faces. Caroline is now 9 months old and Hunter will be 3 in January.

I think I better get Caroline some more headbands.

It's hard work raising money for dumb fashion ideas

Have you ever thought to yourself "hmmm I really want to wear a pair of overalls but they just don't fit my hipster aesthetic." Well luckily we have these three guys who worked very hard asking people for 25k to create "Rousers". Overalls for the urban man. Apparently regular overalls were too farm like.

According to their kickstarter they are "perfect for any occasion". May I suggest wearing them to your next job interview. I'm sure you'll get that job at Urban Outfitters wearing a pair of Rousers.

Read more via BDCwire

Bands and singers that most people like and I do not. A very important list.

Everyone has that band or singer that they just don't like but it seems that everyone else does. I thought I'd share my list of bands or singers I just don't care for despite being popular.

1. U2 - ok U2 you used to be kind of good. Your songs used to have a point. I will never forgive them for singing about a mole digging in a hole. There's a right way to do dumb lyrics (see Train) and a wrong way. Also, all your newer songs sound the same. I can't tell them apart. Bono, lose the sunglasses, you look like a fool, a FOOL I say.

2. The Foo Fighters - I think Dave Grohl is a nice guy. I've never met him but that's the impression that I get. I just can't like the Foo Fighters. Their songs are boring to me, very blah and generic. I feel bad for saying it because I like Dave Grohl but that's just the way it is.

3. Coldplay - I do like a few Coldplay songs it's just that I don't understand the hype. How are they as big as they are? Why does Chris Martin creep me out so much? I do not want to meet Chris Martin, I'd probably run away.

4. John Mayer - He sing talks. You see it's a trick to make you think he's singing but really he's talking softly. I hate it. I imagine he's very full of himself, flipping his hair and hitting on 21 year old girls telling each one that this song was about them *wink*. This is what I picture him doing in my head. Seems pretty accurate to me.

5. Beyoncé - I think I will get a lot of shit for this but bring it. I can't stand her singing voice. I can barely make it through any of her songs. Trust me I've tried because it seems like everyone LOVES Bey but I just can't get into her music.

Feel free to share your picks in the comments.

How many panties does it cost for dental work?

It's December which means some event will happen that will cost me a small fortune. Some years it's my car, some years it's my cat's teeth, this year it's my own teeth.

Dental insurance in the US is a joke. Your dental work costs $2,000.00 (for one tooth mind you) and insurance is like "hmmm well we can cover about $200.00 of that). Gee thanks! That's really swell guys. Who needs teeth anyways? I do have some money saved and there is always the option of selling my underwear online....This is what you've reduced me to Blue Cross. How many panties does it cost to pay for dental work?

I'm currently trying to eat less food which will hopefully help save my expensive teeth some wear and tear. Not eating all the things is hard. It's one of my favorite hobbies. I've been doing ok and trying my best to ignore being hungry. I'm not starving myself, I'm eating 3 meals a day and they are not celery sticks, I'm just used to eating way more than I should be. It has been getting a bit easier. Whenever I want to keep stuffing my face I remind myself how much better my reflux will be when I drop the weight.

Now I'd like to discuss how crappy the weather is out today. It's cold and rainy and I don't like it. The only positive about weather like this is that it makes me feel more creative. I have the urge to write more, to read more, to create more. I like writing random poems, really random poems. I haven't done that in a while.

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But then again so is your face

Pale and soggy, plastered with stringy hair

Get out of the rain

You're melting

And I'm afraid

The Pizza Underground at the Brighton Music Hall

Did you know Macaulay Culkin is in a band? Well he is and it's called the Pizza Underground. They sing Velvet Underground covers but change the lyrics to be about pizza.

There were some other musical acts. One of my favorites was the Candy Boys.

And this would be Macaulay and the lead singer of Har Mar Superstar. It was an interesting night for sure.

So I guess we all know what Macaulay Culkin is up to these days. Well worth the $15.00

I did it! No fried food for a month!

In the beginning of November I decided to do a no fried food challenge for the month of November.

I'm here to tell you I did it! I survived and it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I did have french fries last night to break my "fast". I'm going to try to keep the fried food to a minimum but I'm happy that I made it for the month. I think knowing that it was only for a month helped. I knew there was a french fry waiting for me at the end of the tunnel.

I think now I'm going to only allow myself one fried item a week. Once a week is cutting back from my normal intake of all time. Yes, it's bad, might as well face it I'm addicted to fries.

Updated to add (thanks to Joeh for pointing this out): My weight stayed about the same which I think is good considering Thanksgiving and not being as active as I should have been. I notice that not eating fried foods helps me not feel so gross after eating. No shock there. I'll try to update again in a month with how things are going. Can I limit myself or will I fall back into old ways?

Who doesn't love a good binge watch

I love tv. Give me a couch and some Netflix and I'm a happy girl. 

Season 3 of House of Cards is premiering on February 27th which is a Friday so I can binge watch all weekend. Bring on the Underwoods.

Speaking of binge watching, I've been missing Orange is the New Black but have found a new female prison drama to fill the void. I started watching Wentworth this weekend on Netflix and I'm already on season 2. Franky Doyle is pretty much my favorite character on tv right now. 

I also love Aussie accents. Maybe I can come down with that weird affliction where you start talking with a different accent? I think it's called foreign accent syndrome. That would be great.

Thank you Netflix. You are the best thing since sliced bread.