Last of 2010 goals

Okay okay...I didn't do as well as I should have this month BUT that's what new years are for, right? New beginnings.  See below for the tally of my December goals.


~Home
*Decorate for the holidays (DONE! It was fun to decorate our first home together-see pictures for details!)

(This is part of our display-our little candles and snow globe, sitting snow man, and poinsettia)

(My little village! This is Der's favorite part-he got me the big tree last year to complete it! It's so sweet)

(This is the tree after it was decorated)

(Our stockings! The Snowman is Der, the Santa is mine, and the pup is [naturally] Tucker's. They were all stuffed to the brim this year! See this blog for details)

(Our tree with all of the gifts [and this is only 1 side of it]! We were fortunate enough to have almost everyone's stuff done by the season this year! Our budget was still small but time escaped me before I could get: Shelley, Andrew, Dylan, and finish Tressa's SO they will be getting theirs after the New Year.)

(Our tree Christmas evening after all [but my in-laws] gifts had been dispersed & opened.)

(A surprise to say the least! I got this amazing ornament from my awesome Aunt Susan-it says "The Raleys" and "Our First Christmas" on it with 2 little snowmen-1 being Der and 1 being me.  She even added a little pup with the name Tucker on it for us! My eyes swelled with tears when we got this in the mail-it was so sweet, unexpected, and personal. Thank you Aunt Susan!)

*Put up laundry when it's done (I hate putting up laundry) (FAIL-I've got a basket from 2 weeks ago still sitting in the hall with clean clothes....oops, lol!)
*Sand and prime table in bedroom (FAIL-I honestly just didn't feel like it any this week [I've been off] BUT in my defense I've been sick with sinus and cold crap for over a week so that's contributed...maybe on Sunday?)

~Health
*Clock at least 8 consecutive miles on the elliptical or treadmill (FAIL-I hardly went to the gym at all this month! And I feel like crap (both physically and due to guilt) BUT when I did go I was doing well on the treadmill with my new knee wrap! YAY!)
*Drink more water (Meh-I'll count this as a FAIL because I've been drinking more tea than water)
*Get knee brace and wear it when running (this should help me increase my endurance on the treadmill/concrete vs using the elliptical) (DONE! Yahoo!)
*Even during the break from work (and due to Christmas) work out in SOME way at least 3 days a week (this will be a tough one!) (FAIL-see health #1 for details. I was doing fine with the first few weeks of December actually-when I didn't go to the gym I did a workout video from home but then...I slacked and then got sick so no gym for me.)
*Walk Tucker every Sunday unless it's raining all day....(Okay: I was doing so good with this except this past Sunday because I forgot it was Sunday! Once I remembered it was like 10 at night so I did walk him first thing Monday morning...so I'm counting this still as a DONE.)
*Drink less coffee-less meaning no more than 4 times per week (this is less considering I drink it almost every day!) (DONE! I've felt better but it's been hard since it was so cold this month.  I substituted hot tea, water, and every once in a while hot cocoa and it worked fine! I may pull this one to January just because I can!)

~Fun
*Go Christmas shopping with Mom and Jen (Yeeee!! This has become a tradition and it's SO much fun!) (DONE! We always have such a great time! They come up here early on a Saturday or Sunday morning, we go to the mall, shop, then go to Steak N' Shake for lunch/early dinner, shop some more, then they head back home-a tradition I l.o.v.e. and want to continue! Here's a pic of me and my sister at Steak N' Shake):

*Finish shopping and wrap presents (well duh!) (DONE! It was a ton of fun this year!)
*Mail out holiday cards by December 17th (DONE! I hope some of you who read this received yours! See this blog if you didn't get to see it or didn't receive one)
*Celebrate early Christmas with Kelly, Wes, Tonya, and the boys (DONE! So much fun-I got 2 adorable headbands and some earrings from Kelly & Wes,and Tonya got me some comfy Christmas socks and an Elvis jukebox Salt and pepper shaker set! I collect salt and pepper shakers so it was very nice and so sweet to get these-now adding to my collection! We all had a nice time hanging out and just relaxing-something we all seemed to have needed)
*Buy a New Years dress (hopefully in a smaller size!) (FAIL-I honestly kind of forgot but after reading The Glamourist blog about them I wish I remembered sooner! Booooo...maybe next year? Or maybe in a few weeks I'll go get a new dress and Der can take me on a lovely date so I can wear it...yes-sounds good!)
*Celebrate Christmas with family (DONE! I'm waiting on my sister to upload the pictures so I can share.)
*Celebrate the New Year with friends (DONE! We're celebrating tonight and after this blog I need to get to cleaning!)
*Celebrate Elisa's Bday (DONE! It was fun and laid back-just like Elisa!)
*Celebrate Mom's Bday (DONE sorta...Mom was in Chatt when her birthday rolled around but when we came in for Christmas we gave her her gift (blueberry coffee) and hung out with her as late celebration + we both called her on her actual day to sing and tell her we love her)

~Books
*Finish "Picture of Dorian Gray" (DONE! Outside of a few monotonous chapters, it was a good book and I'm glad I read it.)
***POTENTIALLY start some reading on Graduate school books IF I get in...*** (This is neither a FAIL or DONE because: 1) I did get accepted into Graduate School for an MA in Sociology 2) I was accepted into the GA program [SUPER EXCITING NEWS]!! 3)I have yet to buy the books needed for my 2 classes (very expensive) but I plan on getting them once the semester starts and pouring over them my first weekend off from class.)
*Start "Hitchhikers Guide" Series (DONE! I am on Chapter 9 of "Hitchhikers" and am liking it thus far.)



And the tally is:               DONE=   14           FAIL=      6                 NEITHER=1


Wow! I thought I did much worse! But to be fair: the things I did fail are pretty important (health wise) so I need to step up my game on them come 2011. Yahoo-great job ME for December!


I'll have a few new things to add once 2011 rolls around-check back tomorrow to see!


Kisses.

It's Christmas time in the city!

Alright so I know Christmas is over (duh-it's now Tuesday!) but I am going to post about our Christmas day now. (Remember: all pictures are from my crappy cell phone)

Ready?

Okay so let me clarify that Der and I spent this Christmas (2010) together.  We did not travel, have guests over, nothing.  We decided (much to a few peoples dismay) to celebrate the holiday together, our first as husband and wife.  We stayed right here in the Boro with our pup and the snow and celebrated with our little family staying in robes and pjs all day long. It was nice.*  We (read: I) woke up around 7 something, checked my emails and facebook (guilty!), started some hot tea and coffee, plugged the tree in, and hung out a bit doing my weekend routine while I let Der get a few more hours of shut-eye (he is not chipper in the morning and don't think that for one minute Christmas would be an exception, lol).  Then I couldn't stand it any more so I made some delicious chocolate chip pancakes for us to eat while we opened our gifts!  I woke Der up to them and he actually was smiling =]

They were piping hot and sooooo yummy!

So I made him trek into the living room where our tree was on and our presents were glistening under it so wonderfully.  I was taking the pictures so there's only one of me (oops!-but it's probably a good thing since I never left my pjs, lol).

(I told you he wasn't a morning person!  But he (and apparently Tuck) enjoyed the pancakes)

He's digging in his stocking-he got some lottery scratch off tickets (family tradition), some candy and some Magic cards!

Here is Tuck with most of his loot from his stocking-one big bone, two small bones, a bag of tennis balls (his favorite!), a new collar, and a fluffy squeak toy-we think he really enjoyed all of his stuff!

Here is D with his big gift-an old school Nintendo game Cube!  Being a gamer, he collects both old games and particularly old game systems.  This year he got the Game Cube from me and a Sega Genesis from my sister!  It was totally worth seeing his smile for this gift and it wasn't at all expensive!  He also got a graphic tee and a book by Twain from me.

Now this sneaky little booger is clever.  He wrapped me a Christmas throw (I'm a blanket fan), got me candles and chocolate truffles and a gingerbread house making kit (both the truffles and gingerbread house are traditions for us) in my stocking.  It was awesome! BUT: I have something in the mail that should get here today and I have NO idea what it is! I told him I'd keep the Christmas decor up until it got here because he felt a little bad that I didn't have a lot to unwrap Christmas day (I totally don't care!) but I am a little excited to see what it could be! I honestly have no idea.  Sneaky sneaky....

Anyway-so after presents Der and Tuck were both worn out so they went to take a nap (I was tired too but the coffee and tea I drank didn't help).

I don't know if you can really see-but Tuck is here perched on Der's shoulder like a little bird-both snooooooozing away.  It was adorable and I couldn't resist!

One thing you need to understand is that my family has never had a Christmas dinner. We are so busy all day during Christmas and our whole family has a big party at the end of the day where everyone brings snacky foods and soft drinks that there has never been time for it.  But Der is used to a HUGE Christmas dinner.  His mother, being one of the best cooks I've ever met, makes t.o.n.s. of food, desserts, drinks, etc., for a late Christmas lunch or dinner that he was bummed I hadn't planned on doing a Christmas dinner for just us two.  When he finally divulged that it is a tradition in his family, one that he'd like to carry over when we have kids one day, I said alright and we went to the store a few days before to get our tiny feast.  I told him it's not an issue to have Christmas dinner but that I was not going to spend all day cooking-it ain't my style, lol.  And for years when we travel, I'll assure him we'll have a Christmas dinner when we return home (if one is not being prepared to wherever we're going).

So-when they got back up we started our little 3 pound Christmas turkey and I started to unpack our china that my mother got me for my Christmas present! Oh it's GORGEOUS!  

We now have 2 full sets of our china, silver, and crystal! I was so excited that 1) I got it for Christmas with help from my Aunt Lynn and moms help and 2) we were able to use it just in time for our very first Christmas dinner!  It was truly very personal and amazing.

Here's our table set for two with our fabulous place settings.

With the turkey cooking I set the table and then Der and I played Mario Party on the Game Cube-man it was so much fun! We had mimosas while we played (which I think are normally tasty) but they tasted pretty bad, lol.  

I don't know if it was the different OJ I bought or the fairly cheap champagne but they weren't that great...pretty though!

 Naturally, I won (haha!) but we both had a blast (from the past) playing and jokingly competing against one another. After the game we went in to the living room to watch a video my mom got me that was very reminiscent of my childhood.  Does anyone remember the Disney shorts of Bongo the Bear and Mickey and the Beanstalk-both put on a film called "Fun and Fancy Free"?

This movies was a faaaaaaavorite of mine as a child and my awesome mom got it for me this year! So special.  It was great snuggling on the couch with my new throw watching this movie with my boo and pup. 

After the movie was over we finished up the sides for dinner (mashed potatoes, peas, croissants) and started to eat! Our little turkey turned out wonderfully and while we were eating we were baking a cake for dessert!

We lit some candles for our centerpieces and had water and sparking grape juice in our glasses. It was very good and very intimate. Even little Tuck got his very own small Christmas feast!

Now, the Christmas cake isn't your typical Christmas cake: Der wanted the cake mix and frosting that had the built in sprinkles-I laughed because it was essentially a birthday cake that just happened to fall on Christmas...well-I bet Jesus would have liked it, lol!

I feel like I need to explain why it is so small-I was trying to flip the first pan over to cool before frosting...and of course, it wasn't wanting to flip so I shook and tried to (very carefully)get it out.  You know what's coming...it finally came out and crumbled beneath my fingers...I was a little miffed but Der just laughed and perfectly got the second pan flipped (jealous). So the above picture is the 1 pan cake being frosted by King Flipper while I humbly take the photo, lol.  Note to self: grease pan better next time.

After dinner we went in to the bedroom and lay around like lazies.  It was awesome.  I was tired (still getting over a sickness I contracted the Wednesday before the holiday) so me, Der, and Tuck went to snuggle in the bedroom (a random tradition we do when we're all fed well). This was when I realized that we hadn't taken any pictures of us for our first Christmas!

There we go-holiday love <3

And that, my friends, was the Raley's first Christmas, 2010.  It was laid back, comfortable, and special.  I'm glad it happened =]

Look for a few more blog updates later this week-2011 is coming to a close and I've got a few more details and stories to tell!

*I am used to a ton of hustle and bustle on Christmas day because my family usually wakes up around 8-9 and is going, going, going ALL day long with visits to other houses, food, gifts, travel, etc. Nice denotes we simply hung out, locked inside all day with the snow and one another-yes!

'Tis the Season

I can't believe Christmas is in 6 days!  We have everyone's presents (except for Shelley which we're getting after the New Year) and they're wrapped and lovely under our little tree!

See?!  And this is only 1/2 of of the tree!

I love the holiday season and I'm not just meaning Christmas.  I love the crisp air, the drinks, the FOOD, the togetherness and the smells.  I'd say from Thanksgiving through January 2nd is my favorite holiday season and NOT because there are 3 main holidays back to back but because most people are in amazing moods and everyone kind of takes a break from the monotony and negativity of the world.

We are having dinner with John and Elisa tonight and exchanging little gifts! Then Monday night (after Zumba and if it's not raining) Der and I are going to walk to square to check out the decor and lights. Then Tuesday we're celebrating with Tonya, Kelly, Wes, Andrew and Dylan.  Wednesday after work we're driving to Chattanooga for a few days then heading back to our Boro for Christmas! The Raley's first Christmas-gee, I love the way that sounds <3

Just remember to let the little things go, smile, laugh a lot, and remember to think of everyone else this season.

"Aha!" Part II

If you checked out my last blog you'll see I was going to try to progress my "Aha!" moment.

Well-I don't think I can really progress it since I have gone in and out with working out and eating healthy for years but I'll try...

~I read an article after I got married that said the average woman gains 20 lbs after the wedding (which is usually a good sign of happiness) and usually within the first year!  I thought "I don't want to be like that-I have absolutely no reason to gain that much weight-especially based on happiness-just because I am now "the Mrs."". 

~So-this summer Derrick and I made 2 new friends with whom we've hung out a lot and then late summer John suggested I go running with him one day when I mentioned I'd like to run a 1/2 marathon (13.1 miles).  So we did.  It was hot, I didn't get too far...but it was good for me.  So I kept it up until the knee started to suck.  Then on October 20th I signed up with Ramona to go to the gym and have been doing so ever since.  I try to do Zumba on Monday and Friday nights and other cardio (Elliptical and Treadmill) at least 2 other nights a week along side weights.

~The 1/2 marathon: 13.1 miles of hills, other runners, and intenseness that I hate, lol.  Let me be clear: I HATE RUNNING...so you may be thinking: "If the girl hates running, why sign up and train for 13.1 miles of it?! She's nuts!" Well-that's exactly right.  I hate running so I want to do something out of the park for it so I can mark it off of my "Bucket List".  I want to do something I absolutely dread and be proud of it with pictures and my number once complete.  I still have a while to go but I plan on doing a 1/2 marathon by the summer of 2011-maybe not in April when I had hoped but before the fall, damn it!

~I have set a very high goal for myself (loose 20 lbs by Jan 15) once I joined the gym to take it easy on my knee and to just plain kick my ass in gear ;even if I don't make it I know I feel better when I am taking care of myself, eating the right foods (for the most part) and drinking more water.  If I don't loose that 20 I'll keep going trying to reach it and once I do, I'll just keep myself fit!

I guess what I'm saying is: my "Aha!" moment came when I realized (one random day) that I have absolutely no reason not to take care of myself.  NONE.  I can't blame time, children, pain, or tiredness.  There's always time to throw in 30 minutes of crunches and push ups.  There's no children in the picture.  My knee is now being wrapped to help with the pressure and the Elliptical is wonderful for saving the pressure on it.  And I'm always tired so that doesn't really count, lol.  If I can schedule appointments to get my hair cut or make time to Christmas shop or take care of my clothes and teeth-then why can't I with the rest of me?  So I have started and don't plan on stopping.  I know life and plans will get in the way-which is good-but that's not an excuse to slack on my health.

I am constantly finding new "Aha!" moments and they make me smile.  I did very well on the treadmill last night and that made me smile.  I am going to sign up for a 5K at the end of January and that makes me smile.  A pair of old pants are fitting me now and 2 others are so close!  It's not even weight loss I'm so excited about-it's the fact that I am feeling wonderful.  That's the best benefit.

**But then there are days like this that make it soooooo hard!  It's okay though-I've done alright!**

(I only had 1-thankyouverymuch!)

Help keep the chin up-the holidays are hard; I'm still enjoying the goodies, sweets, and heavy-in-fat foods I'm just not eating a ton of it!

Love in all the right places,

J

My "Aha!" Moment

I can honestly say I've had a few "Aha!" moments when it's come to my lifestyle and my health.  I can't pinpoint it exactly but I think I want to try...at least to account for the few times I have had them...this link is what made me think of it in the first place and now I am damn curious as to my progression in to what I am now seeing as a real (mostly) healthy lifestyle with working out and eating habits to match.

Follow along and I'll explain what I mean once I understand it.

**But I will confess-I am having Taco Bell tonight...and it's going to be delicious!  Groceries are being bought Saturday so veggies and the yummy (and healthy!) like will be coming to the Raley's near you.**

Fashion Tips

I, by no stretch of the imagination, consider myself a fashion guru or even an attempted expert. But-I do observe things (it's the Sociologist in me) and fashion and the like tend to be something I both enjoy and like to take notes on.  The following tips are things I find to work well for me and have later found to be true for others. I won't claim magazine or internet sites as my sources (though I wish I could!) because again, it's mostly based on my observations.
1) How to pick your color

**Have you ever noticed that when you wear that certain shirt how you always get compliments? Or awkward glances? Well-this is a great and easy way to determine what your color is. Pick out a shirt you haven't worn in a while or be so bold and buy a new blouse in a color you never would. If you're getting a lot of compliments or stares ask yourself (or even those so kind to give you the compliment) what makes this shirt complementary-is it how the color works so well with your skin tone and hair color? Is it the neck line? Is it the fit or line? Color is the quickest thing people are usually attracted towards when looking at clothes-details seem to swiftly follow suit. So if you notice that every time you wear a red blouse (regardless of cut and neckline) and that cute guy in marketing smiles at you or you get envious glances from your co-workers, think that red may be your color. Obviously, compliments are not the way we want to run our lives but they help in making us stand out even when we know we're fabulous.
**Also check out pictures of celebrities-it sounds kind of high school but with the fashion experts and the oh-so-ever-changing style of the famous, colors that are complimentary to certain hair colors, skin tones, and eye color are key in making their look and trends spot on.
**With how the texture and shade of both our hair and skin wax and wane, make sure you alter a little or you'll be just plain boring. If you're already changing your hair color-why not change into a hue that you've never worn before? Magenta? Or Navy? Olive Green? You'll be surprised at how well you can rock these colors with the simple tweak of your own person (think hair and skin) if you so choose. You don't want to be plain; our fashion is an outward expression of the story we're telling within ourselves. What better way to shout your inward story outwards than with a new color?! (I did this when the mustard color trend was in and I now own a fabulous sweater making my outward self a bit (more!) unique and funky).

(I have found that depending on what the season is and (now) what color my hair-this effects what my color is. But after many trial and errors (along with pasty white skin and a few changes in hair) I have found that my color is purple; NOT lavender but purple. Regardless of the line, details, or make-up I am wearing I always feel confident, pretty and classy in a shade of purple and continue to receive compliments when I wear it.)

2) How to choose your line for your size

**This may sound a little creepy but I found that the best way to find what is a good line or shape on you is to try on wedding dresses. NO-you probably don't wear such fabulous and whimsical outfits on the daily basis but the basics of lines are the same throughout and if you can pull of a wedding dress with a certain line I personally feel that you should be able to pull off the same line in a simple sun dress or tunic top. If it weird’s you out to go to a wedding boutique just to find out a good line for your shape, research it! Wedding magazines and design classes (at particular schools/campus') are amazing and cheap ways to do the same thing without the awkward "No ma'am-I am not getting married anytime soon...just trying to see if this princess style is really me" convo.

(The wedding dress I chose was something I hadn't thought about but ended up being a.m.a.z.i.n.g! It was an empire/sheath style dress-this hides my belly and makes my boobs look big, lol (2 things I like to hide/bring out when I am feeling sassy). I have found that my prom dresses from the past and other styles of dresses and tops I go for are also similar in this aspect-I've found my line!)

 

3) How to choose the right "IT" dress

**Okay-so if you (like me) are in the search for a newer (and smaller! YIPEE!) dress to bring in 2011 you may feel like you have no where to start. Well, these simple tricks are a great way to determine what makes something "IT" for you.

             ~Are you comfortable showing leg? This sounds silly but most dresses, especially in our day and age, are not the ball gown length. So, if you think your legs are "hideous" or "too white" then maybe rethink the dress idea or if you're still so gung-ho on the idea, get a pair of sparkly leggings to hide them. (And girls, I DOUBT your legs are hideous or white).
            ~What's your line? (See 2) for helping with this) Most dresses (unless you're spending a hefty chunk) aren't stylized to stern lines and shapes but they are still loosely made from the basic line of whatever the designer was looking for. If you know you always look fierce in empire, go for it BUT remember: the new year is to try new things so maybe get a completely unexpected line! Totally up to you.
           ~Are you going for the LBD (little black dress) or are you looking for something a bit more flashy? This girl loves the traditional lbd but if I'm going for it I make sure to jazz it up something crazy with a metallic clutch or sparkly headband and cocktail ring because I find just black a bit too drab for my personality. Make sure you're taking the occasion, the company, and location in to account so you don't feel out of place (don't read that as in "feel too different"-read that as in "maybe this micro-mini wasn't a good idea for my work function")

(I have yet to find my "IT" dress to bring in the new year...but once I do it'll be posted here-don't fret chickens!)

4) How to make it all work

**Say it with me now: C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.C.E! A girl can't work any top, skirt, shoe, lip liner without confidence-I refuse to believe it. If you want to go GaGa (meaning like Lady-not a baby) the go GaGa! But remember why she's so memorable and intense: she owns it. I'm not trying to sound like Tyra but what's the point of perusing for 2 hours, trying on 15 different things, and paying a buttload of cash-all for it to sit in your closet and for you to "find the right time to wear it"?! Clothes & accessories are for wearing. Say it out loud and often. If you had the metaphorical balls to buy it (i.e. spend the dough/time/effort) then you damn well should wear it. If you feel like you're lacking in the confidence department remind yourself the entire time you're getting ready of good traits you carry (not even related to fashion/style) and why you are who you are. Simple as that. You'll walk out of the house in a potato sack feeling like a million bucks and you'll look great!
**If you have all of these fabulous clothes and accessories and have no idea how to make them all work together-check out mannequins at the mall. The associates/managers are hired to design them and if you walk by an outfit you absolutely love in the window display-go home and see what/how you can make it work with what you've got in the drawers. If mannequins creep you out, check out ads and other people. There are many fashion forward people in the world so use their awesome talents and make them your own!

(I have kind of set a goal to wear at least 1 piece of jewelry (besides the wedding rings) a day when I remember-this adds a little sparkle or personality or even simplicity to an outfit I am claiming as my own. De-cluttering my closet to the things I know I'll never wear again has also helped bring old pieces in to new light for me-it's like shopping all over again because I'm finding these pieces I haven't seen in so long!!)

I know this was a bit long but I felt a "fashion flare" and wanted to share with my fellow readers!  Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did and let me know if you completely disagree or have something else to add!

*For awesome sites to check, view:
http://glamourist.blogspot.com/
http://lefashionimage.blogspot.com/

Love and kisses.

On a Sunday afternoon

It's actually only 8 AM so the blog title should be different...but I had the song stuck in my head from the Disney "Alice in Wonderland" so there it is.

I have an amazing day planned ahead of me today.  Actually, the next 2 weeks are packed full with friends, food, fun, and memories. (That sounded very Hallmark of me, lol.) I can't wait!  I'll take as many pictures with my stupid phone as I can (thankfully we're getting a new camera in January so YAY) and then post them up when I can.

I need to put up the pics of our little house decorated...maybe within the next few days?

Anyway, my awesome Sunday is going to consist of:

*coffee (1 of my 4 times for the week)
*dog walking (every Sunday, like promised)
*"Lois and Clark"-Season 4
*warm snugly robe
*HOPEFULLY snow (and snowball fights and snow angels to follow if true)
*working out
*wrapping presents (I only have 4 more to go and I'm getting most of them Wednesday/Thursday evening!)
*wrapping my Hula Hoop
*hanging out with Elisa drinking hot cocoa and giggling
*reading more on my book (Dorian Gray is more than 1/2 way finished!)
*relaxation


Does it really get better than this?!  <3

*Gulp*

As of today, I am applying for a GA (Graduate Assistanship) position with the Sociology department at MTSU.

It seems a bit intense but I am ubber excited about the potential of it!  I love love love being busy and doing research/Sociology so it would be amazing if I got it!

There are only 2 positions left so keep the fingers and toes crossed that I get it!

*Oh yeah-still not sure if I'm officially even an MTSU Graduate Student yet but...here's to more hoping!

<3

Mr and Mrs Raley

Click here to view this photo book larger

You've got to check out our wedding day album!  Shutterfly.com helped me make it and it's incredible!  Perfect, fun, and personal-just like our special day <3

Leave me comments letting me know what you think!  We are ordering it within the next 2 weeks and I want to share it with all of you!

Lots of Love,

JeR

What I ACTUALLY did on my to-do list...

Go run
Decorate house for Christmas (WAHOO!)
Tidy up
Sort laundry
Get hooks for ornaments
Get quarters for laundry
See "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" with the husband
Do toe nails
Finish season 3 of "Lois and Clark" (haha, I know right?! yes-this is on my to-do list)


Well not a bad day!  It seems I'm pushing laundry, yet again, to tomorrow...cheers to Sunday!

To Do List

I have a lot to do today.  Well-maybe it's not a lot to do it's just a lot of time consuming to do...does that make sense, lol?

I've got to:

Go run
Decorate house for Christmas (WAHOO!)
Tidy up
Sort laundry
Get hooks for ornaments
Get quarters for laundry
See "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" with the husband
Do toe nails
Finish season 3 of "Lois and Clark" (haha, I know right?! yes-this is on my to-do list)

See-not too much just some of it is time consuming.

Pointless blog, but hey-I felt like writing  =P

XoXo

Something wicked this way comes

I feel like I'm getting sick.  It may be due to my sinus' but still-sick is sick.

I can't be getting sick!  I've got a Harry Potter date with my husband, running with John, and Christmas decor to put up all this weekend!  =(

Maybe after Zumba tonight, I will go home and sleep even though I'm supposed to go over to John and Elisa's to finish wrapping my Hula-Hoop....  Sleep is the quickest way for my body to recover.  I've been drinking my hot tea today and I plan on having some oatmeal and maybe a nap for lunch.  These should help....

Cross fingers and toes it's just a little cold that tea, soup, and nyquil can cure.

Love and kisses,
J

December Goals

Yay! It's officially December 1st-and you know what that means....more goals and FUN!  Alright: are you prepared?

~Home
*Decorate for the holidays
*Put up laundry when it's done (I hate putting up laundry)
*Sand and prime table in bedroom

~Health
*Clock at least 8 consecutive miles on the elliptical or treadmill
*Drink more water
*Get knee brace and wear it when running (this should help me increase my endurance on the treadmill/concrete vs using the elliptical)
*Even during the break from work (and due to Christmas) work out in SOME way at least 3 days a week (this will be a tough one!)
*Walk Tucker every Sunday unless it's raining all day....
*Drink less coffee-less meaning no more than 4 times per week (this is less considering I drink it almost every day!)

~Fun
*Go Christmas shopping with Mom and Jen (Yeeee!! This has become a tradition and it's SO much fun!)
*Finish shopping and wrap presents (well duh!)
*Mail out holiday cards by December 17th
*Celebrate early Christmas with Kelly, Wes, Tonya, and the boys
*Buy a New Years dress (hopefully in a smaller size!)
*Celebrate Christmas with family
*Celebrate the New Year with friends
*Celebrate Elisa's Bday
*Celebrate Mom's Bday

~Books
*Finish "Picture of Dorian Gray"
***POTENTIALLY start some reading on Graduate school books IF I get in...***
*Start "Hitchhikers Guide" Series

Well, I think this will do for now.  It seems fairly easy-so let's see how I do!

XO

Raley Xmas Cards

Snow Flurries Cocoa Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly.com for elegant Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Isn't it DARLING?! Shutterfly.com really knows how to rock n' roll for holiday cards. I am so pumped about getting these cards (should be here by the end of next week) and they were FREE! ALL 50 OF THEM!  A small amount paid for shipping and postage-totally worth it!  They were really fun to pick and choose and to design-Der and I are both HUGE hot chocolate fans so this hot cocoa themed card seemed perfecto!

Are you hoping you get a card in the mail?

You should...and maybem if you're lucky, you will   =D

Lots of Love,

J

November Goals-fo' real

Okay-I forgot what most of my goals were for this month so just a forewarning-there will be a lot of fails, lol.

~Health:
*Clock 2 days per week of group cardio (yoga, zumba, or kickboxing)- I probably shouldn't, but I'm going to count this as a win.  I did not go, however, the day after Thanksgiving like I normally do but in my defense I wasn't feeling well.*Clock at least another 2 days per week of cardio/strength training (elliptical/treadmill and weight lifting)-Here's the thing... I've tried to keep it up-it's a bit rough but I always feel a lot better.  I'll say FAIL because it wasn't fully consistent but it was damn near close.*Drink more H20-always a good goal-failish?  I ran out of our bottles and our tap tastes horrible so I didn't drink as much as I should but still a good bit....so win/fail?
*Clock 6 consecutive miles on either elliptical or treadmill-FAIL but I've got 5!  After I get my knee brace on Thursday I think this will be a bit better =]

~Fun:
*Do something creative every day in November...yeah I said it-EVERY DAY...all 30 of them!  I'm so worthless tonight I need to find something fairly easy to do before I collapse (blogging will not count!) One reminder though-I will update photos of said crafts 1 time per week so even if you're not seeing the pics for a bit, I swear I'm still at it!- EPIC fail....like I hardly did anything crafty..... BUT the few things I did do are awesome! Details to come tomorrow =]
*Home for Thanksgiving- WIN! It was soooo yummy
*Get new haircut- WIN-she helped lighten it and made it look more how the style is supposed to, lol.
* Thanksgiving with friends-we are making mashed potatoes, bringing drinks, and cranberry sauce (YUM!)- WIN (we all brought deliciousness!)
*HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART 1 ON NOVEMBER 19TH!-DOUBLE WIN! I've seen it twice (yahoo!) and plan on seeing it this coming weekend with my husby =]
*Tonya's B-day lunch/dinner (even if it kills us!) -WIN! After almost a month of trying to finagle schedules we finally did it! We ate at Olive Garden and exchanged her gifts (God I can't WAIT until we get a camera so I can actually capture these moments!)
*Babysit Andrew and Dylan 1 night - FAIL...I was supposed to watch them tonight but their water heater is leaking and we had to push it off for potentially another night next week (which won't be November, lol)
*Continue Christmas shopping finishing at least: Destiny, Kelly, Jen, Mom, and Tonya-WIN! I finished: Jen, Destiny, Mom, Tonya, Kelly, Steve, and Brad!  Just a few more people and then we're done!!
*Celebrate 6 months of marriage <3 -WIN!  It was very laid back and fun.  We saw "Due Date" and ate at Chilis before snuggling for the evening and just hanging out.
~Home:

*Hang picture frames & small shelves in living room- FAIL but I've decided to hold off on hanging those frames until January because if we get a new t.v. it will go RIGHT where the frames are...so there may need to be a new interior design, lol.

*Find frames and hang pics in bathroom-FAIL but not for lack of trying!  No where that I've looked has the frames I need! =(  So I took the one that was hanging up down and I'm gonna try to come up with a new shceme and see if I can get it done by the new year.

* Get small rug for entrance way- FAIL...just because I forgot about it, lol

 

Judges-the tally is?  WIN= 8               FAIL=8   A tie!  Well well November, you weren't too shabby! 

 

But to be honest...I am TOTALLY looking forward to December =] 

 

I'll update y'all on that come tomorrow for new goals and such.

 

Love for always,

J

The new family member

I don't know if I ever told you all about the newest addition to the Raley family!

May I present:

Long John Silver-our blue and red crown beta

He's pretty awesome and loves his Roman home.  We've had him since the beginning of October and I just forgot to tell you all about him!

This is him.  He's rad.

Well well well-it's time for an update!

Hello lovers!

     I hope you're all doing well, having had a wonderful feast on Thanksgiving and doing what you wanted.  Der and I headed to Chattanooga after I got off of work to spend the day with my brother and mother-so much fun and so YUMMY!  We had: turkey, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, peas, green beans, croissant rolls, stuffing, sweet tea, strawberry cream cheese pie, blueberry cream cheese pie, and pumpkin pie *phew!*  It was delicious and mom made some travel plates for us to bring back here! I had Thanksgiving again last night, lol!

     In other news: November is drawing to a close and I have done a lot and feel quite accomplished (even if they're not on my "November Goal" list).  I will recap those goals and discuss what I've done further with my goals update on Tuesday.  =]  I can't believe Wednesday is the 1st of December! My my how fast 2010 has come and how quickly it's leaving!  I feel like 2011 will be another good year.

     I am really excited to put up Christmas decor!  I will put it up on December 1st-after work and before "Criminal Minds".  This will be the first year as Mr. and Mrs. Raley and I can't wait to decorate our home and send out our 50 FREE Shutterfly.com Christmas cards! YAHOO! I've already got 1/2 of the presents bought and next weekend I'm going to wrap them all!!  One of my favorite things about Christmas is the way a tree looks when it's lit up and has presents under it.  I know that's not what Christmas is supposed to be about but I won't pretend that this pretty display of gift giving to one another isn't a wonderful part of the holiday.  My mom and sister are coming up on December 11th to go shopping (a little tradition we like to do every holiday season) so I hope to finish everyone by then.

     The gym is going well...I have been kind of down on myself the past 2 weeks feeling like I'm not getting any results but I went running on Tuesday and did much better than I thought I would!  I guess I've been so ho-hum about it because I'm not really seeing any results but I am feeling much better when I do work out.  Maybe it's the weather?  I plan on going today and working some of this frustration out with a good ol' fashion sweat =]

     In January we plan on getting a new digital camera (one of those pan arounds) and I am SO excited! My blog will actually be a bit more updated and I'll be able to follow our lives in photos!  We're also getting new mattresses which is JUST as exciting because my allergies kick my ass every night and morning so these new luxuries will be wonderful.

     Well I need to finish my apple cider tea, some "Lois and Clark" and eat some breakfast before heading to the gym.  Afterwards I plan on taking Tucker for a walk, sanding and priming my table, and putting up the laundry.

     A mellow little Saturday and I am pumped to partake in it.

Getting excited about...

1) I've started our wedding book using Shutterfly.com and it's coming along SO well!  The last one I was working on crashed with the old laptop so I'm starting fresh on the new PC.  I hope to have it printed out and on our table by the new year!

2) I have been going to the gym for over a month (at least 4 days a week) and I am feeling soooo much better!  Watching what I eat a bit and just generally working on my self has really paid off-I'm lovin' it!  We'll see how far I've come by January 15th  =]

3) I make my first car payment today!  I know it seems more like a pain than a triumph but I'm really excited about it!  Man-I just remembered that I need to post pictures of Fiona (that's her name) on here...maybe soon.

4) I am seeing "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" on Friday with my family and I am STUPIDLY EXCITED.  Like it's a bit serious, lol.

5) Thanksgiving is in a week! YAHOO! I can't wait for mom's good home cookin'.

*What are you getting excited about?!*

Christmas via Shutterfly-take II

Okay for real-not only do I really love the Shutterfly.com account for making personal photo books but they also have incredible deals on holiday cards and great photo options in general!  It's also exciting because it helps me keep up with my craft-every-day goal for November.  I've also got our wedding album started through this site so needless to say...I'm loving them!

I have looked at a few other sites (Walgreens, Walmart, Microsoft programs) for making our 1st Christmas cards and most of them have the same standard formats, fonts, and color schemes.  I actually got so frustrated the other day while looking through them that I almost threw in the towel and bought some standards at Office Depot...lucky for me I did not!

While I was reading The Ooey Gooey Daily News' blog, I stumbled upon the Shutterfly.com free giveaway for 50 Christmas cards-(needless to say: I was glad I didn't chuck the money for standard Office Depot cards).  And seeing as her last years Christmas cards from the other place didn't pan out...I think Shutterfly.com is for me this 2010 season!

Now what I am looking for this Christmas season is something special.  It is my first Christmas with my husband so we want these cards to be unique, seasonal, and personal.  Thankfully, while looking through Shutterfly's billions of options and designs, I think we'll get those 3 traits we want! Yahoo!

* I am a HUGE fan of the photo holiday cards-really hits both the personal and unique traits here and I love that!  What's better than having some friendly and familiar faces on your fridge wishing you happy holidays, well wishes, and bright nights?!  Nothing I tell you!  So if you feel the same way-check them out here: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery.  I'm loving this display-namely for Christmas.  This combines both the holiday themed card and a photo-perfection if I've ever seen it, lol.


*I also just genuinely love holiday cards.  If Der and I had got our copies of our fall pictures already, Thanksgiving cards would have already been sent! *grumbles to herself*  But I think we don't have to have fall or even Christmas pictures taken for them to turn out...I mean, I've got this started for our potential card and it's looking great, don't you agree??  Check it out! http://www.shutterfly.com/ssc/viewPreview.sfly?fid=0fbb09ec7594db58328a6b68bbcad23c5625c431369d420afd12f45bbad520eada27fa73774b895da76d158d7850ae70

*Now Shutterfly.com asked me to post this on both my facebook, twitter, and blog-honey you KNOW I'm glad to do it!

Here's my FB status for today:

Jordan Elise Raley Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… learn more: http://bit.ly/sfly2010 Check it out and help me get these free cards for the Raley's 1st Christmas!!

Here's my twitter status for today: BigNoseKate28 Jordan Raley 

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… learn more:http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Woohoo!! Hopefully my friends can help me out by checking this stuff out-I'd love it!

I am going to submit this for hopeful winning-wish me luck! Hopefully I can get some fabulous free 1st Christmas cards this year instead of having to fork out lots of dough on mediocre ones-cross the fingers and toes for luck!

<3 J