Looking back...

I've never really stopped to reflect back on my year.

I'm always rushing ahead looking forward to what the new year is going to bring.
Today as I'm running around trying to get things done, I started thinking about how 2011 was a pretty big year for me and decided to review it in blog posts.

2011 in Review:

In January I got a really neat little book that helped inspire some blogging.

 In February I spent, what I hope will be, my last Valentines day without my love.

In March I thought I wasn't going to graduate, had a weekend full of pizza, and 

wrote one of my best poems to date.

In April I helped my sister with a wreck the dress shoot, participated in one day without shoes, and

felt guilty for becoming a Kindle owner (but only for a second).

In May I thought a lot about dreams, tied a yellow ribbon around tree, graduated from college, and celebrated four years.

In June some kids I love graduated high school!

In July I got to go my favorite place, officially finished school, and listened to a lot of music.

In August I went to the GLS and learned a lot, tried to figure where I fit in, and got engaged!

In September,  I learned to trust.

In October I told you a fun story, celebrated 14 and 18 years, and got some really good news!

In November I thought about what I was thankful for 30 days in a row.

In December I shared 5 things about me, wrote a holiday happy list, wrote a love letter, and untied that yellow ribbon.


See? It was a pretty packed year and 2012 will probably be even better!
Speaking of 2012, I normally don't do new years resolutions, but this year I think that I need to.
So here we go...

1.  Drink more water and less Dr. Pepper.
2.  10-10-80 plan needs to be in effect in my life.
3.  Work out and get fit..I wanna look good in that pretty white dress of mine.
4.  Set a date!
5.  Learn how to cook more.
6.  Grow this little blog of mine.


I'm gonna be absent from blogging probably for the rest of the year, unless I have time to post from my phone.  I hope that every single one of you has a good New Year!

364 more days to go...

Can you believe that Christmas is over?

I always get the same feeling on December 26th that I do when I'm coming off of a sugar rush.

I just crash.  I didn't get out of bed until 11 this morning and have spent the last hour and half just being lazy.  

I hope that you had a wonderful last couple of days.  It makes me sad knowing that all the fun of Christmas is over.  However, there is an upside to it being over.  2012 is just around the corner!

I don't think I've ever been more excited for a year in my life.

I'm getting married, moving to my favorite state, and starting a whole, brand new chapter of my life.

I've always struggled with change, but I'm super impatient for these changes to come!

Christmas Eve eve happy list!

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Merry Christmas Eve eve Happy List!

1.  Friends and family home for the holidays.
It's always fun when we get to catch up and crowd in our tiny kitchen.

2.  Baking...and more baking...and more baking!
In the last couple weeks I think I've baked more than I have in my entire life!

3.  The little Santa secrets that are kept and shared between friends and family.
I love being pulled aside to talk about presents with someone!

4.  Candlelight Christmas Eve services.
Both parents are singing and so is the sister's boyfriend. Love.

5.  Attempting to wrap presents and make them look pretty.
I am not a good wrapper at all, but this year I was trying!

6.  The almost constant string of texts coming in to my phone from my love.
Even though we're not gonna be together, it makes the holidays feel a little more cheerful knowing he's safe and sound.

7.  Getting Christmas cards.
Our linen closet door is getting super full and I love it!



I hope that you all have an amazing Christmas together with your friends and family.
The next two days will be super packed and filled, so I won't be blogging.
Merry Christmas!   

Untying this dang yellow ribbon

I'm taking down my virtual yellow ribbon.

Because we're done!

 Haven't been able to sleep since 5 this morning, because I've been so happy and excited.

Technology is tedious.

What is with technology and me tonight?

We're super behind on top of it this year, but I was just now starting to work on our family's Christmas letter tonight! This year was too big with two graduations, two moves, one transfer, one trip to NC, and one diamond ring, that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share all of it with our friends and family.

Anyways! I found a free template online though another blogger and was using it's super easy fill-in-the-blankness, when the computer crashes. For some reason this template doesn't let you save, so I lost everything!

Frustration ensued and I am taking a break to regain some sanity.

Thought I would look at some calming pictures on Pinterest and their site is down.

Go figure.

Hope your technology behaves for you tonight.

I'm going to the best friend's to have a glass of wine and to bake.

The last one of the year and white elephant gifts.

Tonight has been extremely entertaining, but first I wanna talk about the last sibling birthday for 2011.

Today my youngest sibling-in-law turned 14!
Happy Birthday Rachel!

I love her to death. She's super sweet and can make me laugh with her sense of humor.
I can't wait to spend more time with her and be around for many, many, many more birthdays!

So that's it, all my siblings birthdays are packed into the last 3 months of the year, within a couple weeks and days of each other.  I'm kinda sad it's over, but I'm looking forward to celebrating with them next year!

Tonight was our Christmas party with the friends, who I consider to be just another part of my huge family.

We ate a ton of food and cookies, laughed hard, and fought even harder over white elephant gifts, such as "The Help" DVD and a Starbucks card.

There was an utter state of chaos, when we introduced a new twist on the game and for 5 minutes everyone got to battle it out for the gift they wanted to go home with.

I just love this time of year and when we all get together.

How was your weekend loves?

I hope it was good and that this next week leading up to Christmas morning will be filled with fun!

A weekend to love.

It's a few minutes into Sunday, but already this weekend has been one for the books

(I apologize in advance for the quality of the pictures, I'm too lazy to go get the actual camera and download the several hundred pictures we've taken so far).

We started off right on Thursday with Famous Dave's for Candace's birthday dinner and drinks.

Well, drinks once her awesome boyfriend, Colin, brought her the wallet and ID that she left the house without.

 

Then on Friday, my mom, Candace and I were invited to go wine tasting with the amazing Blair

at Pessagno Winery.  It was super fun and very delicious! I'm so glad we went!

Then, it was pay day at work, which always makes you happy no matter what day it is.

Finally, a group of our friends got together and took Candace out for a night in Monterey!

We had a blast at both the Mucky Duck and Britannia Arms.

Saturday, was Mani/Pedi/Lunch day with Becca, Candace, and Cassie.

We had a great time just hanging out as sisters.

Then Blair and her husband were throwing an open house Christmas party, which was filled with friends, food, and amazing drinks!

Then I got to babysit some of my favorite little kids and then hang out with my bestie once they went to sleep!

Plus tonight (last night...however you'd like to look at it), was just amazing for so many other reasons!

Tomorrow, today, is our Christmas party with a lot of our super close friends!

There will  be ugly Christmas sweaters worn and white elephant gifts exchanged and I'm very excited!

Now I need to sleep!

Have an amazing Sunday lovelies!

The big 21!

Today is my first baby sister's 21st birthday!

Hurray!

I love Candace to death.

We are almost total opposites of each other, but that's just one of the many reasons why I love her.

She's super passionate, super truthful, super hilarious, and super talented.

I've plugged her photography on my blog several times and I'm so excited that she's going to take our engagement pictures!

 I'm also excited that now I have a sibling, who I can go have a drink with!

Happy Birthday Candace Aileen!

I love you!

I saw a shooting star tonight and it made me wish a little...

Remember when Brooke used to do her Wednesday Wishes over on her blog?

Well Sydney over at The Day Book has been posting her wish lists the last couple days,

and tonight I saw a shooting star,

so I started thinking about what I'm wishing for right now.

I think I can come up with a few things.

1. Homecoming.

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2.  An engagement party/engagement picture session with Candace

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3.  The perfect white dress...whether it's strapless or not!

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4.  For all my Christmas shopping to be magically done for me.

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5.  For the temper tantrums and rough days at work to stop.

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I could keep going, but I don't want to create a totally out of control blog post of wishes.

Let me ask you,

What are you wishing for?

Right now...

I am...

Watching: Once Upon a Time with Candace and Colin.

Eating: Nothing, although I could go for some Goldfish that I know are in the pantry.

Drinking: Hot, apple cider from my adorable birthday mug I got this year.

Wearing: Gray sweater, flower thermal shirt, skinny jeans and socks.

Avoiding: Going to bed.

Feeling: A bit tired and very content.

Missing: My fiance. Who else would I be missing?

Thankful: That tonight was much better than my work day.

For moms who bring home little gifts and good friends with good wine and lots of talking to do.

Weather: 46 degress and cloudy. It feels a lot colder outside though.

Needing: To Christmas shop for everyone, to find the perfect white dress, and to see my love.

Thinking: That doing these things on my blog, reminds me of all the old Myspace surveys I used to do in high school.

Loving: That Christmas is so soon and this year is going to end soon.

Stole this from Goodnight Moon, who stole it from a few other bloggers.

Tatrum...Metldown..Hissy fit...whatever you call it, I don't like it!

Work was difficult today.

Actually the last 30 minutes of work was difficult.

The kind of difficult that got my blood pressure up and my hands shaking, 

all while I was trying to stay calm and diffuse the situation with a very, not calm child.

It certainly wore me out and made me panic for a second about my mothering skills.

But then I came home and my mom must have known that my day was hard,

because she had an adorable, festive jingle bell ring waiting for me.

Then one of my friends, the amazing Blair, saw my pitiful Facebook post and mentioned she had a bottle of wine open, so I took her up on it and spent the rest of my night talking and helping her bake and hanging out with her adorable kids.

My night was much better!

Thank goodness.

Happy Monday everyone!

This makes 5

I've been on a blogging spree lately...I apologize!

This Christmas season, I've decorated not 1...not 2...not 3...but 5 Christmas trees!

Two at my own house, two at my church/mom's work, and one at Cassie's house!

It's been super fun and festive.

Enjoy a few pictures from our day of decorating.

I'm dreaming of a...

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Follow Meg from the wild and wily ways of a brunette bomshell on Pinterest. She won't disappoint!

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White Christmas

No really though, I'd be happy if it just rained.

Happy lazy, Sunday afternoon!

Love letter: Meet Tara

I got my love letter assignment this morning and I'm incredibly excited about it!

Meet Tara.

Tara is a young twenty-something who is seeing her share of hardships these days. We cannot really share all the details but her hands are absolutely full and she could use a little less heartbreak and a few more miracles.

She is working on getting her degree while taking care of her family. She has a lot on her plate and has been struggling with stress lately. We’re hoping her letters will serve as a reminder that she is not alone in all of this and that she will get through the trials-- safe and stronger.

This is perfect right? I can totally relate to a lot of what Tara's going through! I'm so excited to write her a letter!

If you want to join in, you don't even need to sign up!

Just write a letter to Tara and...

Sign, seal & drop letter in the mailbox to: 

Tara's Bundle, PO Box 2061, North Haven CT 06473

 

 If you're interested in writing a letter to another family in need, check out

Ashlee's post about her family!

I'm super excited about this! 

Last night was just one of those nights.

Emotional. Long. Late. Draining.

This morning has just been one of those mornings.

Hard to get out of bed. Puffy eyes. In need of 12 cups of coffee, instead of 4.

But I'm showered and dress, our friends are starting to show up, and we will be watching Christmas movies 

all day.

Plus, this is bringing me comfort.

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Happy Saturday!

I love letters...especially love letters

I found this little project on a new, super cute blog.

I have always loved letters.

Writing them and receiving them.

That's why I'm super stoked about The World Needs More Love Letters.

Check their website out and until December 16th, you have a chance to write a love letter to someone who needs it.

When I know more about my part in it, I'll let you know.

Have a good weekend lovelies!

A chilly, holiday, Friday happy list!

While it's not THAT chilly outside, Salinas is pretty cold.
Plus there's 16 more days 'til Christmas AND it's Friday.
These three things deserve a happy list.
Enjoy!


1. This video that Chelsea shared on her blog today.

2.  Getting the house clean before noon with my mom and Candace.

3.  Randomly getting the day off.

4.  Being able to go to Matthew's Christmas concert tonight because I got the day off.

5.  Watching the little kids I babysit get into old Christmas movies that I used to love when I was their age.

6.  Being able to bless the moms I work for by doing their dishes and cleaning their houses when I can.

7.  Our all day, Christmas movie marathon tomorrow!

8.  Good conversations with old friends.

9.  My goal of 250 blog posts for 2011.

10.  Green Wedding Shoes and all the fun wedding ideas that I've found on it.

This little dilemma of mine

Today is one of my very good friend, more like sister's 22nd birthday.

Happy Birthday Cassie!

Last year on New Years Eve

Tonight we are going out to get a celebratory drink, which brings me to my dilemma.

The thought of getting dressed up to go out...puts me out.

I started to realize this when I lived in Long Beach and my roommate, Hannah, and I would complain to each other about the amount of work it takes to get ready to go out for the night, for girls.

I'm not a huge fan of getting all dolled up!

I should be right?

For some reason I'd rather wear jeans and a nice shirt and call it a day.

Because I love Cassie, I will somehow find something nice to wear tonight,

 and we're going to have some fun!

Maybe this and maybe that...

Maybe I've resolved to wear glitter nail polish all month, because it makes me feel festive.

Maybe Facebook has made me mad today.

Maybe I'm obsessed with House Hunters and maybe I can't wait to get my own house!

Maybe I wish it was really cold, like it has been, AND rainy.

Too much for me to ask??

Maybe I have yet to Christmas shop for anyone.

Maybe I got really excited when I got an email saying this month I needed to seriously start look for 

a wedding dress.

Maybe I'm ready for the fiance to be home.

Maybe I'm really upset that I haven't gotten to watch Miracle on 34th Street yet.

Maybe I'm really loving being nanny and happy with my decision.

Maybe I'm sad that SOA is ending tonight.

Maybe I'm already tired at 7 p.m. and I really want to go to sleep.

My own resting before the rush

"The wreath says it all. Red bow, perfectly tied; placed in just the right spot; gently lit. A welcoming symbol of merriment to come.  A circle of festivity.  This is the home we all want to come home to---and this is the fantasy few of us actually do come home to.  We can imagine what's inside where the warm glow lights the night: Beautiful tree.  A fire in the fireplace.  Candles burning invitingly.  Time to sit quietly, savor the moment, and sip hot cider.

Yet once we pull out the boxes from the attic, most of us confront a time-intensive task with more 'task' than 'time.'  We want the transformation of our houses to be completed virtually overnight and are frustrated at how long it inevitably takes."

Thomas Kinkade, "Christ, the Light of the World"

Just thought I would share some of these thoughts from this little book I'm reading this holiday season.

Tonight was something we call "Resting Before the Rush" at church, but I wasn't able to go due to the fact that I was rushing around taking care of little ones for eight hours today.

But tonight I'm enjoy getting in bed at reasonable hour, catching up on some blogs, reading this book, and just being mellow.  I know these next couple weeks are going to be super hectic, but I'm excited and will always remember the real reason that I love this time so much.

Happy Monday everyone!

I feel like I ran ten miles... backwards and up-hill both ways...

I'm a little tired tonight.

For the last week I feel like I've been the "Amanda" version of the Energizer Bunny.

Constantly going and going and going.

Our Christmas musical at my church was this morning and it was pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself.

I had a blast playing in the orchestra and I really thought it was a lot of fun having my whole entire family be a part of the day.

Even after a two and a half hour nap on the den floor today, I'm still tired.

I think I'm gonna call it a night early.

I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend!

Five things...

Saw this on  Le Musings of Moi's blog the other day and thought it would be fun to do!

5 things you don't know about me:

~ I was home schooled until high school! I'm totally normal and definitely not like this.

~ I've been going to the same church for 23 years.  That's my entire life and I love it.

~I have to play a game or two or three of Freecell before I go to sleep, no matter how late it is.

~ I remember random times of my childhood and sometimes amaze my parents with my memory.

~ I hate horror/scary/intense movies...I refuse to watch them.

5 things I'm knowledgeable about:

~ How to change a diaper. 
Hey, don't judge. Some people might have issues with this.

~ The violin.

~ Those frozen dinners you get in a bag and plop in the skillet.

~ I would say the military, which in some aspects I am, 
but they still like to throw curve balls my way sometimes.

~ Planning a wedding.

5 things I know nothing about:

~ Math.  Even simple 7-year-old math still makes me go crazy.

~ How to shop for the men in my life. Why is it so hard ya'll??

~ Football.  Touchdowns are the only thing I get in that sport.

~ How to be a wife...but I'm reading and listening and watching and I think I'll be fine.

~ Cars. I will gladly let my future hubby take care of those things.

5 things I believe:

~ I believe in Jesus Christ. He's pretty amazing.

~ That everything happens for a reason.

~ That a good cup of coffee can make the day better.

~ That family is one of the most important things in the world.

~ You can really do anything if you set your mind to it.

It's the most busy time of the year

Most busy? 

Oh well.

The busy season has begun!

I feel like I've been going non-stop since Monday!

I've decorated 4 Christmas trees...one of which was 12 ft. tall.

I've had orchestra practice and been there for band and dance practice every night.

I've also worked every day!

December 1st has come and almost gone already.

I can't believe that my favorite time of year is here.

Where in the world did this year go?

I feel like summer just ended!

I hope that you all have had a wonderful time decorating and getting ready for this Christmas season.

Make sure to take time and enjoy it, 

I know I will!

Linking up...December 1st!

Happy 1st Day of December everyone!

Today I'm linking up with Goodnight Moon and sharing a new favorite holiday song.

This is "Ho Ho Hopefully" by The Maine and I think all you LDR and military ladies will like it!