2013 Part Deuce

I was having technical  difficulties with Part 1, so I had to create a new post.  So, now that I've rapped up December for you...Let's talk about the new year.   Matt and I started off the year by cleaning out our garage!  I know...exciting right?  But for me there ain't no party like an organizing party cuz an organizing party don't stop!  It made me happpy! 

I decided against resolutions a long, long time ago.  I do have goals for 2013 though...One of which is writing more in my blog!  My other goals consist of reading more, trying new recipes, praying for others, no shopping for clothes for 6 months   (now that will be my biggest challenge), and traveling abroad in 2013! I'm excited to see what's in store for this year...and where the adventure takes me!

Happy New Years, ya'll!

 

2013!!

So, apparently I suck at any kind of photo/blogging challenges. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I embarked on that little challenge...considering December is a craycray month at work and by the time I get home all the energy is zapped out of me to post a blog much less take pictures and be all creative about it. I will post some hilights from the month though!

Mousse & our Christmas tree...this was also our Christmas card this year!  Mousse insisted I send out cards since it had been a while, and she also wrote one of her cute little Christmas letters.  She was a very festive puppy this year!

 

These were one of my Christmas crafts...I actually made them for Shrek's (aka Sheryl) boys to take to school for their Christmas party favors.  It's a bag of popcorn inside!

 

 This is not Christmas related in the least...but my good friend and fashion contributer, Girly Merly...is now Dr. Girly Merly.  That's right folks, she finished her PhD and graduated in December!  Congrats!

 Back to Christmas related schtuff...My favorite decor...My M&S bears!

 Christmas nails!

My other favorite Christmas decor...My mantle!

 

I baked sugar cookies on Christmas morning...gotta admit...they were Delish!

 

 I hosted Christmas lunch this year...I got to pull out my cute serving platters and it made me really happy to FINALLY get to use all my stuff!



Day 7-Snow

It's been abnormally warm this winter.  So, I had to go back in time to find a picture with some snow.  So I found pics from the Blizzard of 09...when I was pretty sure that I'd be spending Christmas Eve at the local mall...where my car slid into the parking lot and never left until three days later when we finally got it un-stuck.  It really wasn't the day to forget my coat at home.  But I survived...and the next day Christmas in the snow was a blast...especially for my pup!

Day 6-Stockings!

Stockings hung by the chimney with care...

I think Mousse is the only one on Santa's nice list because she's the only one who ever has anything in her stocking on Christmas morning...

Day 5- Santa

So considering that today is way back Wednesday, I tried to look through my huge picture box to find a particular picture that was taken when I was 5 years old of me and Santa.  I spent an hour sifting through that darn, endless box, but I couldn't find it.  Sorry to disappoint. 

So for today's "picture" challenge...there's no picture.  Instead I will describe it to you.  Lucky you..I have a photographic memory (no pun intended) when it comes to ridiculous, pointless information.  It was 1979...I was 5 and didn't quite believe in Santa...and truth be told, for some reason I was petrified of cameras.  So the though of sitting on some random old guy's lap and taking a picture was not something I was too excited about. 

I wore a white sweater with rust orange trim and matching rust orange elastic pants.  Rust orange? what were my parents thinking??  The Santa looked uber fake...I don't remember if he asked me what I wanted for Christmas...Most likely, if he did...I wouldn't have answered.  I was abnormally shy for most of my childhood.  Anyway, the picture is quite hilarious...Instead of crying on Santa's lap like most kids...or smiling big with Santa like normal kids...I sat there like a petrified statue.  And was never more releived when my parents came and got me off Santa's lap and I had escaped the jaws of death from that killer camera!

Day 4- Traditions

I'm definitely a traditional type when it comes to holidays.  I think I might have inherited that from my dad.  I'm noticing that this challenge is causing me to dig through some memories from my childhood...particularly of my dad...and I'm enjoying it!  I remember when I was little...we had one of those massive tv's that was encased in this wooden TV case which also had a record player in it.  My dad bought this record from...God knows where...and it was little kids and some strange little elf singing.  He used to play that record every Saturday until Christmas...and we both definitely got a kick out of it.  Once we moved to Oklahoma, he created another tradition for us...he'd tell us to pack some snacks and we'd drive to Ski Island (which seemed really far back then before I realized everything in Metro Okc is only 15 minutes away)...and we'd drive around and see the lights.

Now that my dad is gone...I have had to start my own traditions.  One is FUDGE!  I love to make fudge for friends and family because they love eating it! ;)  But Christmas would absolutely not be Christmas without Will Ferrel and my all time favorite movie...The Elf!

My family gets a little annoyed when I pull out the dvd since we've all seen it six million times.  But they know better than to argue with me.  It still makes me laugh every time!

Day 3- Gifts

It's only December 3rd, so I think it's a little early to be posting pictures of gifts.  Although my co-workers have been talking about shopping since mid-November, I refuse to even think about it until mid-December. 

But, I don't want to throw in the towel on the 25 day challenge just yet...so I will post a picture of a picture of a gift I purchased for myself!  My co-workers went to Walmart on black Friday and were nice enough to ask the rest of us (who were WORKING!!) if we wanted anything.  I requested a waffle maker.  They were only a mere 14.99...and I've wanted one forever, so I thought I'd treat myself!

As you can see...it's still in the box, but I do plan to test it out this weekend...I envision berries and whip cream on top of them as well!  I'll try to post a picture before I gobble it up!  Merry Christmas, me!

Day 2- Decorations

This is my first year with actual space to decorate for Christmas...so I'm very ill prepared since I didn't do any half price shopping last year.  Holiday decorating is one of my favorite things to do...and I could very well spend way too much on schtuff if I let myself.  So this year, I decided to get creative instead of buying...and then wait till after the season to go nuts for next year. 

This afternoon, I decided to get crafty with some extra ornaments I had left over from tree decorating.  I used invisible string and strung together snowflakes and glitterballs.  I hung them from light fixture in my dining area.  I think it turned out kind of cute...