Christmas Hangover // Thank you, 2013

Hello, all!

I hope everyone is recovering well from their Christmas hangovers.  I’m not talking about anything alcohol induced.  It’s that lethargic state the days immediately following Christmas when everyone lets out a collective sigh because the excitement is over but the last few drops of the Christmas spirit lingers in the air.

Maybe a bit dramatic but that’s always how I feel.
 

It was a fabulous Christmas for the Whitts filled with family and new memories.

I won’t bore you with all of our family pictures, (because like every year, there’s a ton) but I’ll share just a couple of my favorites from the holiday.

 

My parents have always done Christmas big.  We’re just Christmas people.  Dad always hands out the gifts and it’s unacceptable for anyone else to attempt to play Santa.  They spoiled Kaylen, Chris and I as usual.

Remember when I told you I almost bought a Thomas Kinkade canvas?  I opened my first gift from Chris and it was the painting of Cinderella’s castle I wanted!  I nearly cried.  I genuinely wasn’t expecting it, but the sweet boy remembered how much I wanted it.  Of course there were tears.  A few gifts later, it’s another Kinkade canvas, this time of a scene from Cinderella!  More tears.  I open a couple more and get to a gift from my parents (or “Santa” as the gift tag says).  It’s two more Kinkades.  This time The Lion King and, be still my beating heart, GONE WITH THE WIND.  THAT one will go in our living room.

Yes, I am now the proud owner of FOUR Thomas Kinkade canvases.  I have arrived.

 

My next favorite moment of the day was when this picture happened:

 

My parents surprised Chris with a huge framed picture of Florida’s football stadium, The Swamp.  I think he was shocked, what do you think?  I don't know who was more surprised, Chris or Nana.
 

That evening after we ate dinner with my family, we sat around the living room in front of the tree and Daddy read the Christmas Story.

It was overall just a really nice day.  I feel like I’ve been sounding like a Hallmark card lately but dang it I’m just so happy!  Like blissfully, incandescently, sitting on a white, fluffy cloud, happy.  I’m blessed with so much more than I deserve.  I sit and think "this can't be my life, this can't be all for me".  I can never thank God enough for the loved ones He put in my life.  2013 has been a truly awesome year for my family and 2014 is shaping up to be just as great.

PS.  No Ten on Tuesday tomorrow!  Party hardy into the new year and we'll start fresh next week!
 

My Cup Runneth Over // Thank you!

I had the BEST birthday weekend.  I was beyond spoiled Friday at work.  As soon as I came in my sweet office buddy had left a pair of fuzzy socks and an I Love Lucy magnet on my desk for me.
Word started spreading it was my big day and a few minutes later I was serenaded by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir a few coworkers.  When I checked my email, I found this little gem from Lauren:


This is why she's my friend.

If a handful of people knew it was my birthday, the secret was OUT when my mother, sister, and grandmother surprised me with balloons, roses, my favorite Dunkin drink and four dozen hot pink cupcakes.

I nearly cried when they walked in.  Later in the day I got a special delivery from ProFlowers.  The husband got me a gorgeous red and white bouquet in a peppermint striped vase with chocolates thrown in for good measure.  I'm not going to know what to do today at work when I'm not being showered the gifts and attention!
After work he took me to McAllisters and to see Catching Fire again.  I loved it just as much the second time.  Chris....not so much.

Saturday the whole family (David, Tracie, and babies included) took me to Joe's Italian.  Those boys just light up my life and I'm so glad they got to join the festivities.

When I got around to opening the gift from my parents, I was surprised when the decent sized box was mostly full of tissue paper.  I dug and dug and finally found the little black box.  Yall, inside was a pair of diamond stud earrings to replace the one I lost in Gatlinburg.  Cue the crying like an idiot.  I told you I got that pair for my 16th birthday and here I was getting a replacement pair 10 years later.  I can't even.

Thank you to everyone that took the time and wished me a happy birthday.  I am blessed beyond measure with more love from my friends and family than I deserve.  From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU.

I can't believe Christmas is two days away.  I have one gift wrapped.  One.  Don't forget there's no Ten on Tuesday link-up tomorrow!  Enjoy the day!  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday with family and friends and I hope you get EVERYTHING on your Christmas list!

Have a JOYFUL and BLESSED Christmas!

Age is Just a Number

Happy Birthday to me!  Not to toot my horn or anything.  ]Toot toot.]  I love that commercial.

I’m twenty-six today, which sounds a lot older than twenty-five.  Twenty-five is a nice number.  I’ve talked some this year about how I’m going to stop caring about age.  I’ve made improvements! 

About two years ago I was obsessed with age.  Like to the point where I cried watching The Help when the mother is talking about how her son died at the age of twenty-four and that’s the best part of a person’s life.  I couldn’t watch anymore of the movie after that.  [Note so self: watch the rest of that movie.]  I was thinking “…CRAP.  I’m twenty-four!  Does that mean the best years are almost over?!”

I prayed a lot asking God to help me get over this hang up and just enjoy life at whatever age He lets me get to.  I really feel like I’ve done just that.  My way of thinking now is that you’re only as old as you feel.  And I sure as heck don’t feel twenty-six.  I’ve decided I’m going to be a young whatever-age-I-happen-to-be.

I’m going to be forever young because...

I’ll never outgrow my black and pink Vans that I've had since I was 16.

I’ll always be mesmerized by twinkling lights.

My dad will always be the be all end all.

I'm always going to clap my hands together like a little girl when I get excited.

Candy will always be the way to my heart.

I'll never stop saying "DUDE".

I'll always giggle when someone says something sexual and they don't mean to.

I'm never going to stop rocking out in my car.

Forever 21 will always be my favorite (how ironic).

 

Eat some cake and have a FABULOUS weekend!

 

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut

I did something Friday at work that actually made me ask Chris "...am I stupid?". 

 

I work in a ghetto sketchy part of town and the store has several security cameras inside and out.  Even still there's been break-ins recently with all the craziness around Christmas.  Midday Friday I went to my car in the employee parking lot to put my check in the bank.  I hopped in and realized...the doors were already unlocked and I was POSITIVE I locked them that morning.  I got out and walked around to each door to see if anything was missing.  My rain boots I last saw in the back floorboard weren't there.  The CDs I have hidden under the seat were.  I honestly figured they would be safe because what street thug wants a bunch of Celine Dion and NOW That's What I Call Music CDs?  I went back in to Jeff (his office is connected to mine) and told him I thought my car might have been broken into.  I hung over his shoulder while he played the security footage back.  He sped it up and looked and looked and we saw nothing...

 

Until we saw a person in a dark jacket walk out of the alley, OPEN MY CAR DOOR, GET IN, GET OUT, WALK AROUND TO ALL THE OTHER DOORS and retreat back into the alley.  Jeff said "OMG did you see that?!"  He played it back and I yelled "son of& !%@$!  Someone broke into my freaking car!!  Jeff, what do I do?!  Are you going to call the cops?!"  I was livid.  Ready to go after somebody.

And Jeff said "that's YOU".  I didn't realize we had watched ALL the footage from that day and had made it back to five minutes before when I walked out to MY car.

I was ready to hunt down and kill someone that fit my description exactly.

 

 

And the cherry on top of this ridiculous cake.

After I calmed down and realized a stranger had in fact NOT been in my car I went back outside to go to the bank.  I had my unlock clicker in my right hand like I always do when walking to my car and instinctively hit the unlock button about fifteen away.  And then it hit me.  I unlocked the freaking doors and forgot within those fifteen feet.  For pity’s sake.

 

Moving on to a less stupid topic.

I’m stoked (yes, I still say “stoked”) for the weekend.  Tomorrow (my actual birthday) after work Chris is taking me to McAllister’s, my favie, and a movie.  I gave HIM the choice between Saving Mr. Banks and Catching Fire (again).  I know, how generous of me.  Saturday the whole family is taking me to Joe’s, our favorite little Italian mom and pop restaurant.  You KNOW there are pictures to come.  I may be a ditz but I’m a ditz with people that love her.

 

See you at 26!

 

PS.  The rain boots were in our bedroom.

 

Ten on Tuesday - A Night at the Theatre and The Great Debate Decided.

one. Hueytown now has a Heisman winner!  Congrats to Jameis!  We were in California Pizza Kitchen Saturday night when we watched the announcement.  We were so excited!

two. Sunday was a full day.  I went with the fam to the early service at church, to the Alabama Theatre to watch A Christmas Story and then to Ihop.  The Alabama is gorgeous and always leaves me captivated.

three.  I haven't heard anything from my girl T-Swift in a while.  Did she fall off the face of the earth?  One can only hope...

four. Yesterday at work, all I did was eat.  I made oatmeal for breakfast then someone brought in two cheeseballs.  Then a man brought in home made peanut butter candies.  THEN the co-owner made everyone turkey or ruben sandwiches.  THEN a box of Godiva chocolates from a vendor got passed around.  And lastly someone had some home made beef jerky in their locker.  God bless the holidays.

five. Remember I asked if Elf on the Shelf was cute or creepy?  This video shot by a creative parent seals the deal.  SUPER creepy.

six. The smartphone wins again.  I JUST finished my second book in 4 months.  I have got to MAKE myself put the phone down.

seven. Basically.

eight. I am so sleepy.  Is it bad that I'm looking forward to Christmas so I can get a few extra Z's?

nine. Ha.  Overall.

ten. No link up for the next TWO weeks (Christmas and New Years Eve!)  Holy crap.  2014 is two weeks away.

2013 Year in Review

I was really excited when Nicole announced her annual year in review link up.  Who amongst us doesn't love a good survey?  The link up is open until the last day of the year so you have plenty of time to think about your answers.

What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?
Lived in my own house.
Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any and I won't be making any this year.  I never keep the things.
Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes!  Tracie had baby Tyler in May!
Did anyone close to you die?
No.
What countries did you visit?
Haha.  The good ole' US of A.
What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?
A working dishwasher would be sweet.
What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory?
August 16th.  My last day at work with Pam and Lauren.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I don't know about "achievement" but I got lucky and got a great new job.
What was your biggest failure?
Eating more junk than I care to admit.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really an illness but at the beginning of the year I was still having bouts of vertigo.
What was the best thing you bought?
 My first smart phone!  A Galaxy and I LOVE it.
Whose behavior merited celebration?
 Not really behavior but we celebrated my parent's 29th anniversary in Gatlinburg.  That's something to celebrate!
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage!  After that probably food.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Tyler's birth, our trip to Gatlinburg, and seeing Catching Fire.
What song will always remind you of 2013?
Til We Grow Older by Imagine Dragons.  It's just so dang happy!  And that's been me this whole year!
Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder?
Infinitely happier.
Thinner or fatter?
Haha.  Next question.
Richer or poorer?
Richer.
What do you wish you’d done more of?
Reading!  The reading dropped way off when I got my smart phone.  Go figure.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Drinking caffeine.  I got it under control just a few weeks ago after a few days of massive headaches.
How will you be spending Christmas?
With immediate family at my parent's house.  How it always is and just how it should be.
Did you fall in love in 2013?
Been "in love" since 2002.
How many one-night stands?
Do what???
Who were your best friends?
Kaylen, Lauren, and Pam.
What thing did you do that was meaningful to others?
Put together a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child.  It's not too late to do one yourself!
What were your favorite TV programs?
Breaking Bad was our big show this year.  We also religiously watched The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy.
Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word and no.
What was the best book you read in 2013?
Silver Linings Playbook.  Having said that I was really disappointed with the movie.
What was your greatest musical discovery?
Imagine Dragons HANDS DOWN.
What did you want and get?
A pretty little table for the kitchen.
What did you want but did NOT get?
 A Thomas Kinkade painting.
What was your favorite film of this year?
 DEFINITELY Catching Fire!
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Haven't had it yet!  I'll be 26 (good grief) on December 20th.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not real sure.  It's been a great year.  Maybe two actual spare rooms.  They're both still full of boxes.  Haha.
What kept you sane?
Liquor.  Just kidding.  Pam and Lauren for most of the year.  Other than them, evenings on the couch with Chris.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
The Duchess of Cambridge and Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul.  Quite a combination.
What political issue stirred you the most?
The Trayvon Martin case and how people who knew NOTHING about the case jumped on the CONVICT ZIMMERMAN bandwagon.  The Syria debate.  Lastly and most recently the Obamacare debacle and how our brilliant Commander and Chief is trying to force something that is UNCONSTITUTIONAL on the American people.  See?  This is why I don't talk politics.  It makes me angry.
Who did you miss?
Maw.  Everyday.
Who was the best new person you met this year?
My new bosses and coworkers at the job.  All of them.
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.
You're as young as you feel.  I've decided that I'm going to stop worrying about age and just be young forever.

Quote that sums up your year:
The trick is to enjoy life.  Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead. -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

2013 was a really great year for me personally.  I don't know if 2014 can top it!  But I can think of a few ways it can try...

Link up with Nicole and kiss 2013 goodbye!

Ten on Tuesday - Girl's Weekend, Christmas Trees, and The Great Flood

one. I got almost all of my Christmas shopping done this weekend.  Yay me.  Sunday was a really great girls day with Mom and Kaylen.  Lunch, shopping, and Starbucks.  Perfect.

two. We FINALLY got the tree completely done.  Friday night we had plans to go out but I was feeling puny so Chris brought home food and we finished decorating.  It was my sweet husband's idea to get a picture of us putting the "our first Christmas in our new home" ornament on together.

three. I bought my first issue of Entertainment magazine because the cast of American Horror Story was on the cover and I think I might subscribe!  As much as I love movies and TV why not??

four.  It has done nothing but rain for about a week straight.  I am so. tired. of rain.

five. Did anyone watch Bonnie and Clyde??  We haven't watched last night's yet but we really enjoyed the first!  Chris doesn't know the story so the end should be fun.  I have to say though, Bonnie is not what I expected.  I picture her being more rough around the edges and not quite so pretty.

six. Hahaha!  Truth.

seven.  I am so depressed there's no Walking Dead to talk about.

eight. So Spencer and Heidi are trying for another fifteen minutes of fame with an E network special.  Give it up, baby.

nine. I think I need this shirt:

ten.  Aw...!  The episode of Saved by the Bell where Zack dates a homeless girl just came on and I have to go to work!  Hello, DVR!

Style Crush // Katy Perry

Happy Friday everyone!

Someone must have slipped me stupid pills yesterday because last night was not a good night for me.  I burned my hand with scalding hot water when I had the bowl of said water in my hands (with pot holders, ya know, so I didn't burn myself) and like an idiot tried to close the microwave door with my elbow.  Sloshing.  Burning.  Cursing.  More cursing than I care to admit.

Before that Chris and I tried to put lights on our still bare tree.  We circled the tree once and went to attach the second strand and realized we put the wrong end at the top so we couldn't connect the two.  We took them off and flipped sides and tried again.  Wrong again.  We figured we just weren't paying attention and just put the same end at the top.  When Dad came by to look at my hand HE and Chris put the first strand of lights on...for the third time.  When we went to attach the second strand we realized one end of the lights actually has a female AND a male end.  In other words,  it was probably right the very first time we did it. 
Whatever.  Lights are on.  Ornaments are tonight.

Moving on from that sad story...

I realized recently while flipping through a magazine that I have a serious style crush on Katy Perry.  Particularly her red carpet dresses.  I'm not huge on the smurf miniskirts or the cupcake bras.  But the girl knows how to pick a killer dress that flatters.  I like to think if I were rich and famous (you mean I'm not?!) these are the dresses I would choose to walk the red carpet in.  Colorful, feminine, unique, and always flattering.

And then the dress to end all dresses.  My favorite thing she's ever put on her body.  Pure, icy blue perfection.  I even love the matching hair.  If I had any hint of an excuse, I would wear this in a hot second:

I'd like to take the opportunity to mention that the stunning Katy and I have a few things in common: blue eyes, fair skin...and we both look RATCHET in the mornings with no make-up.

Is Ms. Perry's style right up your alley or just not your cup of tea?
Have a great weekend!

My Two Christmas Lists

Welp, that time of year is upon us.  The most magical and my personal favorite time.  The season of the mother of all holidays: Christmas time.

I’m so jealous of everyone’s cute Christmasy blog posts!  They’re showing their homes beautifully decorated.  They’re giving us amazingly sweet holiday recipes.  I’m neither a great decorator or a great cook.  No, I’m afraid I have nothing to offer you except….my Christmas list.

I’ve been good and broken my list into two categories for anyone looking to buy for me: The Might Actually Happen List and the Out of the Realm of Possibility List.

1. White Converses // 2. VC Fireside Long Jane Pajamas // 3. A pistol  [I work at a gun store and finally got bit by the gun bug] // 4. Small TV for the bedroom // 5. Pretty wallet // 6. Front screen door

That, if you couldn't tell was the Might Actually Happen List.  On to the next.

 

Out of the Realm of Possibility List:

-All inclusive trip to Disneyworld.  Stay at the Polynesian is a must

-Pet tiger

-A sunroom
-Charlie Hunnam
-A Thomas Kinkade painting that covers one wall
-An infinite Dunkin Donuts gift card

Merry Christmas indeed.
What's on your Christmas list this year?
 

Ten on Tuesday - Christmas Shopping, Spider Talk, and The Great Debate

one.  Wednesday night Kaylen and I went to see Catching Fire.  AMAZING.  If you enjoyed the first movie you will LOVE this one.  I fully intend on paying full price to see it again before it leaves theaters.

two. Saturday afternoon I STARTED Christmas shopping and got halfway done.  Woop woop!  I'm also kind of proud of myself because at checkout I googled promo codes and saved some mula.  Snip Snap App is my new best friend.

three.  That's what I'm saying.

four. WALKING DEAD SPOILERS! Holy freaking crap.  I'm happy and depressed at the same time.  Chris and I stood and cheered when the governor got the sword.  But Herschel!  I don't think Judith is dead.  This show has taught me that if there's no body, they're probably not dead.

five. Very sad about Paul Walker.  But some people always have to complain about something.  One of my favorite bloggers (a military wife to boot) took the words out of my mouth when she posted this editorial to her facebook.

six. This has been my argument all along.


source

seven. We put up our tree (put up not decorated) Sunday.  The kids weren't sure what to make of it.  We were sitting on the couch, heard a jungle bell and saw a pair of feet just drop from the tree.  This makes me very nervous to actually put ornaments on it.

eight. Did anyone else know that E has Saved by the Bell on in the morning??  I've been watching it for the past two weeks and it reminds me so much of elementary school.  Every morning I watched this and California Dreams.  Remember that show? 

nine. Dying over this:

ten. There's a great debate on facebook.  Elf on a Shelf: cute or creepy?

People You See on Facebook After the Iron Bowl

So the Iron Bowl was Saturday.  For my Alabama friends it goes without saying it's kind of a big deal.  For my blogger peeps that don't know what I'm talking about, go ahead and google that.  I'll wait.

Caught up?  Good.

After our devastating loss (and picking myself up off the floor) I told myself that I wasn't going to get on facebook for a week.  Yea, ok.  I went against my better judgement and scanned my news feed anyway.  Big mistake.  I realized that most people posting that night fell into four groups.
I'm not saying folks in these groups are wrong (ok, maybe one) but all is fair in love and college football.

The people in Group One are Alabama fans who congratulated Auburn and said they're now going to root for them to take it all home and keep the crystal ball in the state.

Group Two are those who imply you're a bad Christian if you get too excited over a football team.

Those in Group Three (while few and far between) don't care about football and want you to make sure you know it. 

Group Four is filled with fans of the eleven teams we beat this year and fans of other top five teams who are suddenly Auburn fans.

What group am I in?
I'm in the group that thinks it's wrong to judge someone's walk with God because they wear team colors, will sulk for a few days but eventually get over it, and will never ever root for Auburn.  Ever.
Roll Tide til I die.

Smoky Mountain Dreams - Our Trip to Gatlinburg

I told you I would post about our trip Monday but let’s be real.  We got home Sunday evening, unpacked, watched The Walking Dead and crashed.  I sat on the bed ready to cry because I wanted to go back so bad.  We had the BEST time, rain and all.  My parents booked us rooms (and pair for ours, thank you Mom and Dad) at the historic Gatlinburg Inn.  Walking in is like walking into a time capsule.  It’s so charming and full of character.  Clearly it’s been a while since the décor was updated but I absolutely loved it.  It’s the type of place where you’d expect to turn a corner and see a ghost.  It feels more like a bed and breakfast than a regular hotel.  It was homey and comfortable with REAL KEYS!  Who does that anymore?!  Obviously I can’t say enough about it and how much I loved it.

Fun Fact: the song "Rocky Top" was written in room 388 of THIS hotel, Vol fans.

We convoyed with Kaylen and Daniel on the way up and got there at about 11:30 Thursday night.  The next morning was perfect.  Cool and a little cloudy.  We walked to Breakfast at Pancake Pantry and then crammed in the car to drive to Cades Cove.  Cades Cove was beautiful as always and we saw 16 deer and a few turkey.  (Is the plural form of turkey still turkey?  Whatever.)  It started raining while we were there and didn’t stop for the next 24 hours.  That night we ate at The Peddler, a nice restaurant on the river.  Everyone at the table had steak and we split a chocolate brownie confection for dessert.

After dinner we loaded back up in the car and went to Pigeon Forge’s Hollywood Wax Museum.  Hilarity ensued:

That was just day one.  Moving on.  Saturday morning it was still misting so I bought a black beanie and looked like a small criminal.  Maybe a girl who shoplifts Essie nail polish, but not quite someone who robs banks.  We walked around town and shopped and sampled all the food.  It was perfection even if it was lightly drizzling.  We played the obligatory round of indoor putt-putt at the place that’s been there ever since I can remember.  After golfing (Dad won, followed by Kaylen and I in a tie, followed by Daniel then Chris in case you were wondering) it finally stopped raining and we went back to the room to freshen up.  

 

This is where the story takes a turn.  I took off my beanie in my parents room and my heart stopped when I realized I was missing an earring.  Missing a diamond stud earring that my parents got me for my 16^th birthday that has not left the second hole in my ear since I got pierced at 17.  PANIC.  We searched the room, searched the hallway, searched mine and Chris’s room, searched the elevator and searched the hotel lobby.  Nothing.  We walked back down to the golf place slowly scanning the sidewalk the entire time.  Dad walked through the entire 18 hole putt-putt course and I roamed through a couple of stores I had walked into.  Nothing.  It took everything I had not to cry and didn’t until Chris pulled me up off my hands and knees from the sidewalk and just hugged me.  It’s killing right this second knowing MY diamond earring is somewhere on that parkway as we speak.

 

Ugh.  Moving on from that sad detour.  Like I said, it quit raining during our round of golf.  Next was the chair lift.  We hit it right around sunset and it was gorgeous up top. 

After the chairlift was Bubba Gump Shrimp for dinner.  I had tilapia on top of spinach on top of mashed potatoes with a lobster butter sauce.  Just go ahead and kill me now.  After the sunset it got FRIGID in a hurry so Kaylen and I got coffee and we walked around for a little while longer before calling it quits.

 

The next morning it was gorgeous, because it naturally always is the day you leave.  We packed up and got ready to go, but not before Kaylen and I got a few last shots in the hotel.

I just couldn’t resist.

 

We ate our last breakfast (strawberry crepes for me) at Log Cabin and headed home.

Earring tragedy aside, it was a really great trip.  It’s my favorite place in the world and I’m so thankful I got to go and experience it with my nearest and dearest.  This Thanksgiving, that’s what I’m most thankful for.  A family that genuinely loves each other and likes doing things together.  

 

Have a WONDERUL Thanksgiving!