Hey January, get out of my life!

Is the month of January every going to end? Now 22 days in, I feel like we are forever stuck in this black hole we call "the dead of winter." Crummy roads, snow drifts, bad winter drivers sans four-wheel drive capabilities, bad winter pick-up drivers on their cell phones, and now for the icing on our Baked Alaska (I mean Iowa) Cake-more ICE ICE ICE and I've got the elbow bruises to prove it.

I just heard on NPR that today has been named the most depressing day of the year. And who can blame them?? Scientists are saying that today's depression is the result of:

*Bad weather

*Christmas debt

*New Year's Resolutions gone belly up

*Trying to get back into a work routine

*Just being plain old lethargic

Check yes to all of the above.

Off the top of my head I can think of six friends who have birthdays today-that's amazing considering I have a difficult time just thinking of six friends off the top of my head! Feliz cumpleaños to them!

Yet, I thank God for these six friends because looking forward to their combined birthday parties all week is what's been keeping me from going off the deep end on the year's most depressing day. Thank you to my six friends!

This weekend, I'm getting a facial thanks to Carissa's generous Christmas gift card in Ames. I've never gotten a facial before so it will be interesting for both parties no doubt.

If you haven't checked out the Des Moines Botanical Center this winter you HAVE to go! It's an instant boost to your skin's moisture (and a much cheaper facial) plus it's a nice to escape to a domed-in tropical environment for a couple of hours. Also, they have what's called 'Botanical Blues' from 1-3pm on Sundays in January. Blues musicians play while you enjoy the greenery. :-)

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

-Cayla