Last post of 2013

360 days til Christmas!

Well Christmas 2013 is over. Just like that. We wait all year for this day and poof!! We blink and the magic that is Christmas morning is gone, we’re packing up the tree and returning to the real world. Brian and I were spoiled rotten as usual. Lots of house goodies and clothes fill our office just begging to be put together or hung.

Brian outdid himself with the best Christmas gift I have ever received. Our vows, printed and hung in our entryway – a reminder of the promises we made in October. I may or may not have cried when I opened them, I’ll leave that to your imagination…

Our Vows

I set up a scavenger hunt for Brian for Christmas, only one box was under the tree this year for him and inside was the first blue which led him to these places for these gifts:





To start this hunt for number one 

we’ll begin in your favorite place 

this item is always cold inside and 

has items to stuff your face

Answer to the above clue:  Fridge

What he will find: Bowling Date

The speed of life has made this furniture 

just a thing of fables,

But there were times when families 

once ate around these tables. 

Answer to the above clue: Dining room Table

What he will find: Towson Tickets

It seems our clothes just keep returning

to this same ole machine.

At least they're better than the things 

the ancients used to clean. 

Answer to the above clue: Washing Machine

What he will find: St. Patrick's Movie Night

Sometimes it's fun to just relax 

alone amidst the bubbles,

Your wife enjoys many nights in this

to soothe away her troubles. 

Answer to the above clue: Bath Tub

What he will find: Home Spa Date

When guests are feeling less than fresh 

there's just one place to go

to wash and get all squeaky clean 

and scrub between each toe. 

Answer to the above clue: Guest Bath

What he will find: Bluecrabs Game

This room is for the guests to sleep 

when staying for the night. 

Let's hope the bed is comfortable

and sheets are clean and white. 

Answer to the above clue: Guest Room

What he will find: Kite Flying Date

Up and down, and up and down 

you climb these every day.

You've likely seen the clue on these, 

but passed it anyway. 

Answer to the above clue: Stairs

What he will find: Golf Date

This is where we dropped our junk

That we just couldn’t find a place

One item that we keep in here

Could help you win a race.

Answer to the above clue: Storage Room

What he will find: Dessert Date

Future nights will be spent by this

Stirrers and shakers galore

For now it’s just a dream of ours

To have one like the green door

Answer to the above clue: Bar Space

What he will find: Zoo Date

This box is mostly filled with things

that rarely bring you glee

Like bills, and junk, and other stuff

you'd rather never see. 

Answer to the above clue: Mailbox

What he will find: Champagne at Avenmar for anniversary with Cake top

When couples are well-organized 

they park the car in here. 

But otherwise it's full of junk 

and not one inch is clear. 

Answer to the above clue: Garage

What he will find: Bon Fire and Smores

The final date can be found here

I hope this wasn’t a Christmas bore

Your dad would never own this

He prefers Chevy over Ford

Answer to the above clue: Truck

What he will find: Game night with Poker setup

Confused

It was fun to follow him around, and particularly hilarious watching him have a fight with our guest bathroom shower curtain which he got stuck in.

The struggle was real

Champagne breakfast followed and just like that, onto planning New Years.

Waffles and Champagne

This year we are braving a house party. 28 or so people have RSVP’d. I’ve made food and drinks. But what I am most excited for is ringing in the New Year with most of my favorite people with me. 2013 was by far the best, most memorable and amazing year of my life so far… there is no better way to say farewell to it other than with those people who have made it so very special.

2014

Since my last post I’ve had one enjoyable happy hour, one car accident, two work parties, and a partridge in a pair tree.

You did read that correctly – my Liberty was less than reliable in the freezing rain and we went off the road. She is in the shop for the second and hopefully last time. Wish our bank account luck.

This week is bound to be one for the books.

Christmas on Wednesday and next week we head into a new year.

2014 resolutions are as follows:

Get healthy - Not lose weight, or run so and so distance…. Just healthy

Travel more - More specifically – Vegas, CA, and New York this year.

Take more “me” time - Walks alone, reading time and pampering myself

Finish school

Give back more

Spend more quality time with my husband and our families - Especially with my Grandmother and his Pop

Countless house projects - Painting, basement bathroom, fence, patio, bar, wall art

 

My 2013 resolution was to make it to the alter without driving each other nuts, we barely made it. (Insert sarcasm here)

 

Anchors resolution is to have no more accidents in the house and to have more walks with Mommy. (She told me that, I promise)

 

I read a disturbing fact today – 59% of pets that are given as Christmas presents this holiday will be dumped within the first year. This hits especially close to home for me this Christmas. If I lived in my dream land, not only would I be a princess, but I would have a humongous home – filled with strays, where they would have a warm bed and food in their bowls every day.

 

This rings into my 2014 resolution of giving back more – I want to find a way to help animals this year, I’m not sure how, but I will find a way. 

Giving back

This weekend, to sum it up in one word, was productive.

Our to-do list has gotten much shorter. Brian and my father in law hung all of our blinds so we are now able to be nudists if we chose. Hooray.

We finally organized the tornado that was our home office paperwork.

Hung our Christmas Garland.

Made homemade pizza and quesadillas.

Finished buying and wrapping all of our Christmas gifts.

And even made some time to catch up with some of our favorite people.

On Sunday, as I was picking up the last item on our list for Christmas, I noticed a man in front of me at the checkout line. He only had two items: toothpaste and deodorant. He was a middle aged black man with two backpacks – covered doodles and the word fly. I noticed the timid-ness in his voice and the slow in his speech. My heart sank. I began, as I always do, to overanalyze the man in front of me. What happened in his life to make him struggle, what did he do to deserve homelessness on the holidays?

I am not usually so into Christmas but this year I am enjoying it more than ever – with all of the blessings this past year offered, marriage and a new home, food in our bellies whenever we’re hungry, steaks in the freezer, new furniture and TVs. We are so blessed.

This man made me come to the harsh realization that a.) no matter what we have today, it can all be gone tomorrow and b.) we, as a family, are not doing enough to help our community. With all we have, what impact are we making on others’ lives?

As I began to check out the once sweet natured cashier became snappy and short with me. I could tell she thought my looks at him were of judgment, this woman didn’t know the impact the brief encounter had made on me. She looked at me, then at my ring and the 20 I handed her as if I had looked down upon this man and she was defending him. She didn’t realize the only person being judged there was me.

As I took my change and my bag from the woman, I noticed the man was struggling to get his cart and bags through the door – I held the door for him and he whispered, “Thank you, Ma’am, Merry Christmas”. How is it that someone with so little is doing more to help others than I am? This man helped me more than he will ever know.

As I drove away my thoughts raced… should I have given him money? Bought him lunch? Would he still be there if I turned around? Should I have paid for his two items? Would I have insulted him if I did? Would I be condoning someone who had done this to themselves if I did?

I don’t know about you, but my mind is my own worst enemy. By the time I pulled into the driveway tears were falling, I walked in, dropped off the groceries in the kitchen, found my husband and hugged him tight. That man could have been either of us.

I made the decision at that moment to find a way to give back. And I will. Stay tuned.

Christmas' past

We’ve dropped Anchor off to be fixed today, I needed a pick me up.

So, in the spirit of Christmas - I found this gem of a questionnaire here:http://www.itjblog.com/2011/11/christmas-questionnaire.html?m=1

 

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?  Hot cocoa. Milk chocolate with mini marshmallows, please.

Colored lights on tree/house or white? White. Always white. I love the clean simplicity of it, and also the way it looks like ice or stars. 

 

Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. If I want a kiss I just take one.

 

When do you put your decorations up? ASAMHWLM. That’s my version of ASAP – As soon as my husband will let me.

 

What is your favorite holiday dish? Sweet potato casserole and/or stuffed ham. 

 

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? We had the prettiest and most simple angle on top of our tree, every year we competed for who got to place it on top.  

 

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? This is one of those times when having an older sister was not all it’s cracked up to be. After she hinted to me that the big man was a hoax I bombarded my mom in the bathroom (HA! Had her cornered, she would have to tell the truth… the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help her Santa!). I asked if it was true, she asked what I thought and I told her I thought Justina was crazy and Santa was real – then I noticed the paper on the presents matched the paper my parents used and Santa’s handwriting looks suspiciously like my Mom’s. The jig was up.

 

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Every.Single.Year. 

 

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? My parents had TONS and I mean TONS of ornaments. Strings of bells. Popcorn strings. And previously mentioned the perfect angel. My tree is done simply, less is more method, with personal touches.  

 

Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it. After 2 or 3 good snowfalls though, I am over it. 

 

Do you remember your favorite gift? My sister and I both got boom-boxes one year, it was like a music-off in that joint. My sister and nirvana or whatever else she was into at that time, and me hitting baby one more time. I also remember the year we both got bikes – it’s almost a tease… bikes? In winter. Sure, I will stare at you for 4 months until it’s warm enough to actually ride.

 

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My mom’s chocolate pie.

 

What is your favorite holiday tradition? My favorite past tradition was Christmas mornings with my sister and parents, waking them up a zero dark thirty and waiting PAITENTALLY while they had their all too important coffee… suddenly my hatred for coffee makes perfect sense. Now, waking up with Brian – celebrating with our beautiful nieces and nephews.

 

Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Meh.

 

Favorite Christmas movie? How the Grinch stole Christmas.  

 

Saddest Christmas Song? Rudolph the red nose reindeer, though it ends positive… the bullying will really put a damper on your holiday cheer.

 

What is your favorite Christmas song? All I want for Christmas is you or Santa don’t be late.

 

What is your favorite tradition? 

Potty training - take 1.

Well the relaxing four day weekend Brian and I had planned was anything but relaxing. We were on the go from the second we got home. From Thanksgiving celebrations, catching up with old friends and bringing home a puppy our weeked was pure chaos. Oh, you caught that part, did you? Thought I could just slip it in there – yes, you read that correctly… a puppy.

Picture this: Standing around a bon fire, heated cornhole game in progress, the smell of roasting pig… here she comes, a puppy – starving, filthy and skittish towards men. We scooped her up and got her some food which she scarfed down in what seemed like no more than 3 seconds flat. As I began to make phone calls to find this sweet girl a home my husband asks me to talk about it first…. Here we go. Some discussion, training, and patience later – and without further adieu, meet Anchor.

We are still in the search of her owner, in case they are good people and not the monsters I’ve depicted them to be in my head. We are getting her checked for a microchip and scanned today and I believe Brian and I are both slightly hoping she is not microchiped – we have grown pretty fond of this sweet girl. She is playful, and cuddly, and a very fast learner. In the matter of 24 hours we have learned “sit”, “paw”, “come” and her name. Going up/down steps were a feat but with a few treats and lots of cheering (like we were watching our child learn to walk) she has mastered those bad boys. I am almost certain there will be a time we wish she hadn’t but until then, GO ANCHOR GO!

Potty training will be a work in progress but we are both happy to say she pooped and peed outside this morning! She seemed very skittish after going so we are assuming she was disciplined when she would potty inside rather than trained with positive reinforcement. She is slowly learning to trust us and in return is much more eager to let her little puppy guard down.

We think she is a mix of: Border collie or Australian Shepard, lab and boxer.

I don’t think we were quite ready for her, but she was ready for us – that’s for sure.

Wish us luck!