Happy New Year

The whole family is recovering from a nasty stomach flu, so things are going to continue to be quiet around here for a few more days.

Christmas and year end celebration recaps to come soon.

In the meantime I am wishing each of you a very happy (and safe) New Year! I hope your celebrations involve more bubbly beverages and less saltines and pedialyte!

Books, books, books

I am reading a new book!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin, so good.

Actually I have read several books since I last updated. That I can remember:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Crossed by Ally Condie (the second in a series, the first is Matched)

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

The Future of Us by Jay Asher

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Have I mentioned how much I love reading? I just got Mindy Kaling's book from my co-workers, so that is up next!

What are YOU reading? Any suggestions?

Tagged!

I was tagged by Mandy at A Sorta Fairytale and thought this would be fun... WARNING: there are a lot of numbers in this post! Look away if you hate numbers (weirdo).

Rules:

1. You must post these rules.

2. Each per­son must post 11 things about them­selves on their blog.

3. Answer the ques­tions the tag­ger set for you in their post, and cre­ate 11 new ques­tions for the peo­ple you tag to answer.

4. You have to choose 11 peo­ple to tag and link them on the post.

5. Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.

6. No tag backs.

7. No stuff in the tag­ging sec­tion about ‘you are tagged if you are read­ing this.’ You legit­i­mately have to tag 11 people.

11 things about me:

1. I shower every other day, preferably in the morning. If my hair is up...its a no shower day.

2. I am missing a tooth, the adult tooth just never grew in, so I have a dental implant.

3. If you go way back, I'm talking WAAAAAY back, I am a direct descendant of Pocahontas and John Rolfe's child Thomas Rolfe. I'm serious!

4. There are no ornaments on my tree this year. It is still pretty.

5. Sometimes when Lily is asleep, I still watch the Disney channel.

6. I really like to drink yogurt through a straw.

7. If I jump for long periods of time (jumproping, trampoline, general excitement) my back spasms and I can't breathe for a bit. That's bad right? It has been this way since elementary school.

8. I just sneezed and bit my tongue.

9. I want to put Lily's hair in a ponytail so bad, but then she cries because it is pulled too tight and I cry because she looks too grown up.

10. If I could do anything professionally and not worry about money (or my ability to actually get jobs in the field...) it would be dance.

11. I am seriously craving a beach right now. Forget Christmas, bring on the margaritas!

Mandy's Questions:

1. What was the best thing that happened to you this year? It's a secret!

2. What is your #1 pet peeve? People who cancel plans last minute. And also when in stops raining and the windshield wipers are still going.

3. What's your favorite place to vacation? I am aching to go back to Hawaii. I need some sun and sand.

4. Favorite place to eat? Right now I am loving this little place in Issaquah, The Boarding House, they have great salads.

5. Who truly inspires you both in your own life and someone you've never met? My parents inspire me every day, not only in how I want to be as a mom, but just as a person in general. There are a lot of bloggers (some I have met, some I have not) who inspire me to be artsy fartsy and try new things.

6. Best and worst movie you have ever seen? This is hard, right now I am loving Love, Actually! The worst movie... thats too hard, I like all movies :)

7. What is your guilty pleasure? Kardashians

8. Describe your dream home? Already decorated.

9. If you could switch places with any blogger friend for a day, who would it be? Probably Megan from Across the Pond so I could live in the UK, have a boyfriend with a sexy accent, oh and also be all neurosciency.

10. Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes.

11. If you could go back in time to witness any historical event, what would it be? Oh gosh, this one is hard too Mandy! Maybe this sounds lame, but I would love to go to the Olympics so a past one would be good so I could make sure to catch only amazing finishes.

My Questions for YOU:

1. What is the worst haircut you have ever had? (Bonus points if you include a picture.)

2. What one trait do you possess that you hope to pass onto your current/future child/children?

3. What trait do you pray every day your child/children do(es) not inherit?

4. Describe your favorite holiday tradition.

5. What one beauty product can you not live without?

6. Is there one book/movie/song etc. that has made an unexpected impact on your life? If so, what is it and how has it affected you?

7. What was the name of your favorite childhood stuffed animal/blankie?

8. What is your lucky number? Do you know why?

9. In one word, describe the meaning of life.

10. If someone gave you 1 million dollars (tax free!) what would you do with it? Be honest!

11. What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?

Ok, I am tagging (sorry if you have already been tagged by someone else but it is too hard to keep track of that)... Melanie, Libby, Gracie, Melissa, Becky, Megan, Megan, Meg, (I know!) Rachel, Emily, and Martha! (DO NOT feel obligated to do this if it isn't your thing, I just picked 11 ladies I like that I didn't know for sure had already done this.)

Oh, PS I'm too lazy to go tell each of you that you were tagged, so hopefully you will see this...

OK, I promise a very-much-belated-19-month-as-she-is-amost-20-months post coming soon{ish}.

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Oh Christmas Tree

We {finally} got a tree!

 {Cared less about the trees and more about the...mud puddles!}

 {Splish, splash, splosh.}

 {Found one!}

{And then came the lights...}

{Sugarplums.}

  Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with The Paper Mama, A Little King and I, 5 Minutes for Mom, Parenting By Dummies, Project Alicia, Supermom, And Then She Snapped, Live and Love Out Loud, Naptime Momtog, and Jenni from the Blog.

Steppin' Out Saturday: December 17, 2011

I actually stepped out this weekend! One of my favorite people turned 30 and we hit the town to celebrate. I even stayed up past 11, that is saying something.

{Dress//Target, Shoes//Ummmm Zappos? I don't remember what brand, Sequined jacket//Urban Outfitters (Thanks Mom!)}

It was so nice to feel like more than just a mom for a few hours. I needed that.

Linking up with Mandy at Harper's Happenings:

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: Santa!

{A quick trip to the north pole.}

 {heart}

 

{Comparison: last year and this year!}

 

 

 {Looks like she had a great time right? Looks can be deceiving...}

 {Santa got a kick out of it.}

  Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with The Paper Mama, A Little King and I, 5 Minutes for Mom, Parenting By Dummies, Project Alicia, Supermom, And Then She Snapped, Live and Love Out Loud, Naptime Momtog, and Jenni from the Blog.

Glitz and Glam

Hi all, I hope you had a lovely weekend. I am back from Colorado and very happy to see my girl (and Ryan). Fun post today, I am participating in the How the Glitz Stole Christmas swap! 

A few weeks ago I was reading all about the SoCal blogger meetup on Stephanie's blog and I remember seeing a picture of a girl I didn't know and wondering who she was with her cute glasses and all, but I couldn't link a name up with the pictures. Then low and behold I get my swap partner's email and blog address and who do I meet but Olivia! The very same cute girl in the aforementioned glasses. Fate, we were meant to be friends.

This swap had my name written all over it. The only rule: sparkles. I mean, really.

Lookie here what I received in the mail...

A sweet note pad for all the list making I should be doing, fancy bangles, and DISCO BALL ornaments. Amazing.

This was my first swap and I had so much fun. If they do it again next year I know you will all want to join.

Check out Miss Olivia's blog to see the shiny things I sent her!

Am I Weird?

Sometimes I like to listen to this song and imagine myself belting the heck out of it in front of everyone I have ever wanted to impress. Oh and my friends are my back-up singers. Do other people do this? I also choreograph dances to songs in my head. Both are excellent for long road trips.

Wordless{ish} Wednesday: All Wrapped Up

{Just wrapping up the cutest present for under our tree.}

Don't forget to go check out my 50 Days of DIY Christmas guest post over at The Paper Mama. it is up now!

 Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with The Paper Mama, A Little King and I, 5 Minutes for Mom, Parenting By Dummies, Project Alicia, Supermom, And Then She Snapped, Live and Love Out Loud, Naptime Momtog, and Jenni from the Blog.

True Confessions Tuesday: Late Thanksgiving Edition

True Confessions: I don't LOVE Thanksgiving food.

Please don't hate me, I know I'm an anomaly.  It isn't that I dislike turkey or gravy (actually I kinda hate gravy) but I just don't love it the way everyone else does. I think my main problem is this: I don't eat lunch because we are eating dinner at 2pm... then they put the appetizers out. I LOVE APPETIZERS. By the time dinner rolls around I already have one button undone on my pants. Every year.

Maybe I'll learn next year.

I know Thanksgiving was over a week ago, but I had a bit of a blogging hiatus and I have yet to post about it. We had 21 adults and 3 babies in my not-so-mansion. It was amazing. Please enjoy this photographic representation of our day (and disregard my terrible point-and-shoot camera...we are working on it.)

 {The day started with giant legos and spaceship jammies.)

 {My niece is taller than me.}

 {The young people table, the young-ish people table, and the old people table. Sorry I called you guys old people.}

 {Cousins.}

 {Why yes she does have a cold.}

 {Cute boots.}

We tried to get a picture of Nana with her great-grandbabies. Things started out civilized...

and then slowly...

we lost it.

I can't wait for next year. I'll eat less appetizers. Maybe.

I'm guest posting over at The Paper Mama today! Chelsey is doing a fantastic series on 50 Days of DIY Christmas and I was so excited that she asked me to be a part of it. Go check me out! (If it isn't up yet, check back later!)

*UPDATE* - Looks like my post has been moved to Wed, Dec. 7th. I'll let you know when it goes up, but in the meantime, go check out all of the other great ideas!

Long Time No See

It feels strange to have not posted here for almost a week. I have been sick and working full time this week so I have been going to bed shortly after Lily every night.

Friday afternoon my beautiful grandmother passed away at the age of 97. Even though she lived a long full life, that doesn't make things any less sad for those of us who have loved her. It is hard seeing my dad lose his mom. No matter how well you are prepared for the loss, it is still your mom. I can't even imagine.

We will be traveling to Colorado in a couple of weekends for the service. My first airplane ride without Lily since she was born. I am so thankful for my husband who doesn't hesitate to stay home with a 19 month old alone for the weekend. They are each others' biggest fans, they will have a blast.

My sister and I are going to be pall bearers at the funeral. My dad thinks Grandma would like that little nudge for womens' equality. I am so lucky to have known her for 29 years and to have had such a strong female role model (amongst many others) in my life.

Today also marks the second anniversary of the loss of Ryan's mom, Donita. It is such a tragedy that Lily will never know these two amazing women apart from the strong legacies they have passed down through their children.

Sorry if this is a bit of a melancholy post, but I am just in a sort of a strange place today. A lot of reflection, a lot of celebrating life and mourning loss. 

Thankful for those I love and those that love me back.

I'll be back soon.