An awfully beautiful Christmas

I thought my title was compelling. Didn't you? Worked pretty hard on it. Awful and Beautiful don't commonly belong together. However, this is the perfect way to describe how the past few weeks of my life has been. I have moaned and groaned a lot this year, about not being able to hit up the Mexican home that I love so dearly with my family. This tradition is something I look forward to every year. I start making lists in July of things I want to do down there December, months before December I am scavenging the Internet to find more fun activities, or things to do there. Not only does my family go, but my ENTIRE family is down there. Seriously all the Loveless' and their friends, and their friends. Usually there is between 100- 200 people down there that are all for our reunion. It is out of control, and the most fun anyone has ever had. Guaranteed.

This year I wasn't going to experience any of that, I was going to have to see my family post pictures and tell stories for the rest of the year that I don't get to be a part of. It seriously broke my heart. The worst part was that during this holiday season where you have so much time off of work to spend with family, I didn't have my family. I couldn't call them, they couldn't email me. For the past 3 weeks, I have spoken to my momma 3 times, my dad and brothers only once.

Aside from this, I was also excited to be able to have a few days off work to be with Jared, and just do our thang. We did do a lot of things too. We started our own traditions, we hung out with great friends, drank lots of cocoa, and spent time with his family. It really was becoming a balance of sad and happy. I would be so happy, but then sad that I wasn't in Mexico doing what I have done every year for my whole life. It was seriously a tear of emotions.

With some friends at temple square

Christmas drew closer, and our presents under our tree in our wonderfully decorated house (we even had

 our kitchen cupboards hanging Christmas lights) grew larger. A feeling of Christmas jitters took over, I was so excited to open presents that Jared and I got for each other. We really spoiled each other this year. It's pretty much the only year we have been together that we've had extra cash flow around this time of year. We even went out and got Shia present, so she would have a few to open on Christmas. She loves opening presents.

Shia opening presents

Then something awful happened. My great grandma passed away on my mom's birthday. December 22nd. It was really hard to deal with this. I had such a hard time, because I was incredibly alone. I woke up upset, because I couldn't call my mom on her birthday, nor could I participate in going to Panama (restaurant in Mazatlan) that we go to each year for her birthday and get the french toast. Later that day I got a text letting me know my grandma was doing really poorly. She was extremely old, but that doesn't make it much easier to deal with. My real grandma passed on my mom's side when I was very young after losing a long battle to cancer. So my great grandma Grace was my maternal Grandma. I called her Grandma, and she came to graduations, birthdays, celebrations, and she was always there bring a grandma. During this time I had no way of getting ahold of my family. I was frantically emailing/ texting/ calling even though I knew that they'd only see any emails if they would get the patchy Internet to work. My grandma passed around 5pm, and I was devastated, but I also was so concerned that my mom would find out through Facebook if she happened to log on, before seeing my emails. That is what I couldn't stand to happen. I finally received a call from my mom around 11pm, and after I told her everything I knew. We both just cried on the phone. There was no way she could get back form the funeral. I had to handle that passing of my grandma without the shield of my parents. It was really hard. It is still really hard. My parents and family still aren't back in the US, but they are coming and I cannot wait to just see their cute faces.

Come Christmas Eve Jared and I went on and did his families traditions, went to Grandpa and Ma DeMann's for an Eve party with all the aunts and uncles and cousins. Even though it wasn't what I was used to, it was so wonderful to be surrounded by family again. We talked, joked, smirked and played games which seriously almost put out 5 eyes. PVC pipes and foam darts can be pretty dangerous. I found out some cousins are expecting and other are getting married. It is such a fun family to be part of. It helped ease some of the loss and pain that I was bundling up inside me. We cam home, and decided Shia, Jared and I could open presents, then we also gave our roommates their presents. Jared told me this story about how when the power would go out when he was little it was his favorite time. Everyone would light candles, and play games that they made up and you were forced to sit and talk and entertain one another by interacting. He wanted to kill the power in our house from the time we got home from the grandparents until we fell asleep to almost humble ourselves and so we'd spend time together. It was such a great idea. I was a little nervous thinking, what would we do without power! But we lit tons of candles. I think we had over 20 upstairs. We cheated a little because we muted the TV, but had it on the fireplace station, so that it helped set the mood. We talked about Christmas traditions, about my grandma grace, about Mexico, about growing up with all his siblings, and everything else you can think about and then we decided to read a book out loud to each other, and take turns reading. We read "My booky wook" by Russel Brand. It was the perfect Christmas Eve.

blow darts at chrsitmas eve

 Our roomies presents

 Justin, with the most awful face on, in front of our tree.

 Laughter opening his present.

 I was decorating Justin's dog, duke. Wearing the cutest scarf, my bff Ellen got me.

Jare on the Ever reading by candlelight.

Christmas was hard. We went over to Jared's families at 8am in our pajamas, and opened present with everyone and had a delicious breakfast. Once again it was nice to be with family, but it did make me miss mine. I imagined them on the beach doing the traditional Christmas Skits with the big potluck dinner, then after going boogie boarding together. Even though there is no snow here this year, it's still not the beach! After the DeManns, we came home. Our eyes were exhausted, but the sun wasn't all the way up yet, and so we decided to open our presents. Which was a blast. Jared was so stoked on all his presents, so was I. I am so lucky, because that kid can seriously pick out clothes that are cuter than I can. I am constantly wearing things he bought me and am always getting compliments. He even bought me shoes, what boy can pick out cute shoes? Jared! My favorite gift that I gave him was a carry on suitcase. Jared has a compulsive personality, where he gets something stuck in his head and can't stop thinking about it. For reasons unknown he has been obsessing over carry-ons. We don't go anywhere, but he wanted one so bad. I had been on many many MANY shopping adventures where we spend half and hour unzipping all the pockets and strolling them around the store. Probably pissing off tons of salesman, wasting their time. I found one that was reasonably priced, and had to get it for him. I don't know why he wanted it. I don't know when he will use it, but he looked as happy as a 5 year old girl, who just got a pony. After we opened presents, we decided it was due time for a nap. He strolled his new suitcase in, and set it right next to the bed, and seriously had his hand on it while we were napping. The kid is cute. It was a good gift, because after Christmas we decided to take a 4 vacation. Which Jared had planned and left it all as a surprise. That's the next post!

Our nephew colt giving me a present, and opening it for me, then doing the same for everyone else 

The mess at Jared's parents, notice also the fireplace channel.

Our mess after mine and Jareds christmas.

some presents on the counter

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and are ready for a new year! =)

Miss you already!

Miki

Christmas Carol

Everyone needs a little Christmas cheer to help bring in the season. Jared had emailed me one afternoon and asked if I would want to see a Christmas carol play with him. Of course I said yes. I had never seen it, but I always love the opportunity to go on dates with Jared. Especially when he dresses up. That man is so handsome.

We got there and apparently Jared had reserved our tickets a month in advance. Which meant we were able to get front row seats, this is incredible because my eyes are so bad. I seriously can't see the time if I am wearing a watch, that's how awful they are.

This play is INCREDIBLE. My heart melted, because the story is so sweet. Everyone is familiar with it, but this play transports you into the story. I would hope everyone can see it once this year. The emotions that come to you during this play are so amazing. You feel happy, sad, funny and just overall grateful. I walked out of Hale Center Theatre, so grateful for my life, my health, my marriage, family. It was a great experience.

Also as a note. Jared surprised me with that new sweater dress just so I could dress up for the play. He's awesome.

This is me letting you know we are on row one.

Vase Makeover

I love vases... mostly because I love sticks. I can only have sticks in my house when they are in a vase. Could you imagine walking into someones house and there are just sticks, like a bushel of sticks. That would crack me up, but also probably something I would do, and then Jared would help me realize that is not very awesome.

I originally got this idea from Mandi over at vintage revivals, her vase is a lot more technical than mine. But the basics came from her idea. Here is hers (Click the picture for the link).

Lately I have been lovin me some twine and burlap. I just love the natural scheme of it all, plus it goes well with blue and teal which I also want to paint everything right now. Anyway. I was decorating for Thanksgiving and decided on the colors brown, red and gold/yellow. I went to the DI and bought about 5 or 6 vases for about 3 dollars. I twined two of them. I sadly did not have a camera at this point in my life, so I just have after pictures. But I will explain the steps for you. It is pretty easy and not time consuming at all. Each vase took me about 20 minutes.

You need a glue gun, vase, and twine. 
Start by putting a ring of glue at the bottom of the vase, the glue will dry super fast so hurry and lay down your first ring of twine.

You want to wrap the twine really tight and just keep circling the vase. About every 10 wraps I would do a dab of glue (I only did a full ring at the bottom to create a "barrier" for the twine, the rest of the time I would just put a dab - it looks cleaner this way too). That's seriously all you do.

If you have a bottle neck vase then it's easier to start at the top, because around the neck it is hard go up, much easier to twine down. What do you think?

(I also made that frame, and it's one of my favorite decorations; so whimsical and fun)

wonderments

Do any of you feel like you life is better, when you come to your blog and people comment and post? I read tons of blogs that have like 6000000000 followers, and seriously like 70-200 comments on each post. I just wonder what draws people to those blogs. My blog is more of a fun blog that tells about my life, not teaching you anything. Except maybe how to be awesome. 

Anyway in a long drawn out way, I am asking you. What do you like about my blog? What would you like to see more of on here? When you blog raid me, do you like pictures? stories? gossip? music? 

Please tell me. Please! comment. even if i have never met you or barely talk in real life or if we're frenemies. Just please help me out. I beg of you.

Seasoned Season!

You know how in the summer there is so much going on? It seems like every night someone is calling, asking you to do something. Like boating, hikes, swimming, biking, going out to lunch, heading to the gateway, seriously so much goes on! As soon as Winter comes around and it comes to a dead halt! This year I decided any opportunity that presented itself, I would do. So Jared and I have only started our Winter fun, but so far we have..

We went to the Zoo Lights. If you haven't done this, you really need to! It is gorgeous, they did an excellent job this year. Plus if you get the plastic cup of hot chocolate, then it is free refills all night long! yum yummy!

I planned my work Christmas party. Here we all are holding our white elephant gifts.

We had fake Christmas with the Loveless family, since they left to Mexico on the 14th. Lucky villains. I am so extremely upset that I am not going this year. I like to reminisce on years past, like last year and the year before. Next year I vow to go! 

After all this craziness took place, we decided to have a puppy play date with our friends Chris and Ashley. They live out in Roy, so we take turns driving to one an other's house when we want to hang out. They just got a new puppy that is a pit bull/ terrier mix, and anyone who knows my puppy knows she just wants to play all the time. She never wears down! They said their pup was a good match for her. So we let them play and play and play! Eventually they wore down, and Shia decided to sleep under their Christmas tree.

Day in my life.

I haven't posted for a while, and I apologize. Things have been nutty in my life. Good nutty, but just chaotic. It is funny to me that during the times when life is so busy that I forget to document all the fun or weird things that happen during the busy periods. I tend to write a lot during those slow months.

Anyway. This is more of a storyboard post. I read on some blog that this girl took pictures throughout her day to describe her real day. I decided to mimic the idea. I totally spaced the blog, but when I find her post. I will link it up here...

I took so many pictures, but then decided I only like a few. (Most of my day is at work, and I took about 20 different angles of my desk... very interesting I know.)

At this point, everyone should be well aware, that I am overly obsessed with Shia. I wake up to this cute face every morning. She tries so hard to wake up, but usually end up falling back asleep. She army crawls across the whole bed without opening her eyes.

Jared and I usually share the bathroom trying to get ready in the morning. We both leave close to the same time. This picture is very inaccurate, because I am so grumpy in the mornings, but you can't help but to laugh when you're taking kissing pictures.

I then make the trek to work. It usually take about 30-35 minutes to get all the freakin way downtown. Here is my set up. I have it pretty good. I also did all the christmas decor around the office. It definitely helps keep our mood christmassy. I work from about 9-5:30 ish. Then I get stuck in traffic home, so my commute is about an hour. But it's not too bad unless I am sleepy. Then I am driving poorly with the radio blasting and cold air on trying to keep my eye balls open.

Jared is a hard worker, and usually gets home closer to 7. He makes some delicious frozen dinner. Which lately has been pot stickers. I love them..

Potsickers... yum. I am craving them right now.

This is wheaty, our roommates bulldog. Her and Shia are best friends. We are usually entertained by the two of them wrestling or biting each others cheeks for next few hours after dinner.

Prime example of Shia stealing Wheaty's toy and running down stairs.

Then around 10, we try and lay down to calm ourselves down. Jared usually plays guitar during this time for an hour or so. We watch all our recorded shows, and just hang out. I love this part of our night. When Shia is tried she is a huge cuddler, she loves snuggling'. I clearly take advantage of this time.

That's a day in my life. You should all do this, and leave me links. It would be fun to see what a day in your life is like!