Blue Monday

 
Last week I read online that today, January 23rd, is considered the most depressing day of the year, and hence dubbed Blue Monday.  This got me thinking about how January used to be such a busy month for me pre-baby, that I barely had time to look up, let alone be blue.  Working in finance, January was the month where business plans for the coming year were written, plans were made for the months ahead and RSP season kicked off.  There was never a dull moment.

Between work and the huge amount of post-Christmas sale shopping and fitness that I used to do in January, it pretty much made the month fly by.  I have to say that this is no longer the case...this month seems to be really dragging!!

So I thought that if today was supposed to be a blue day, why not fill it with fun things that would make us smile and bring us cheer, making it impossible to be unhappy.

So we had a cupcake party with yummy cupcakes, red velvet cupcakes to be exact.  It is hard to be blue when you are eating a cupcake, I have to say!  Syd and I set up our little party at her wee table in the kitchen and chatted and laughed while filling our faces.  At one point we were both licking the icing off the top of the cupcakes and leaving the bottoms behind...too funny!

And I cracked a bottle of wine that I had been saving for something special.  What's more special that a Monday on a cold, rainy January day with my girl?  Calls for a celebration, wouldn't you say?

Today also happens to be the Chinese New Year, which, in Vancouver, is a super big deal given the Asian population here.  So as a nod to our Chinese friends, I thought I'd teach Syd how to say Happy New Year in Mandarin.  "Gung Hey Fat Choy" and give her a little red envelope with some money in it seeing she loves money so much.  I'm happy to report that her piggy bank is bulging at the seams!  She happily ripped that envelope open and exclaimed "Money!", priceless!

The best part of today was that my new housekeeper, Jeanie, started and my house is clean....I mean really clean, gleaming toilets, freshly mopped floors, shiny glass and mirrors free of sticky hand prints.  I'm in heaven!  As I sat in the bath tonight with Syd, I looked around my freshly cleaned ensuite and exhaled a long and slow breath.  Back in front of the eight ball again, at least for the moment!

I spent the afternoon in my kitchen again today, made some amazing Honey Lime Enchiladas for dinner and some Applesauce Spice Muffins to use up a jar of open applesauce that I had in the fridge.  Both were delicious!  Click on the links for the recipes and whip up one or both of them on a cold winter's day!