I'm glad my husband wasn't home to see me like this....

Balling my eyes out! Yes, crying!
I wasn't supposed to be crying during SATC! I was supposed to drink a cosmo and feel all girly and happy! Haha!

The husband was out of town... again.... so I decided to rent this little charm that I have put off seeing for quite some time. I think I may be the last person on the planet to see it. Oh, well... all in due time.

Soooo... it wasn't quite what I expected. But I still loved it! I won't give it away (for possibly the one other person out there who hasn't seen it) but I am just glad everyone ended up happy... whatever that may be for them.

Rafa slept through the whole thing..... lazy little dog!

P.S. That closet! Are you kidding me? I must have it!!!

My First Award

Hey everybody! I'm so excited! I just received my first bloggy award!

Jamie @ The Stampin' Mom has given me this lovely "Snazzy Blog" Award!

"This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

So here are eight award-worthy bloggers!

• Sydney @ Diapers and Deadlines - A true woman after my own heart - Comm major. She just got a great new job, so go by and tell her congrats on this award.... oh, and her new job! ;)
  
• Leslie @ Got Kids, Need Valium -She is an awesome military wife, living in Chile and raising her two gorgeous children (check out her daughter's hair... I swear I'm in love). She is finally at home in the states visiting family over the holidays. I know she'll be so excited if you pay her a visit and wish her fun times with family and safe travels back!
  
• Betty @ Keeper of the Skies -A fellow Twilight lover and great commenter. She has these wonderful dates nights with her family and there is always a funny story that comes out of it. I'm sure you know her... go visit.
  
• Emma @ Musings of the Mindless Banterer -I do think Emma was one of my first loyal blog readers (you know, because there are so many of you... haha!). She always has funny, witty, light-hearted posts that make me laugh. Now she has these 'shout outs' that are always changing. Go check her out.
  
• Brie @ My Home - My Life -This girl is a great blogger. I feel like we are in similar places in our lives. She is a young somewhat newlywed and has some good stories on life and marriage.
  
• Vicki @ Not So SAHM -Now Vicki and I are both from Alabama.... and that's about where the similarities end. Haha! I kid. :) We do disagree on a lot of things (mostly political in nature) but we like to poke fun at (while respecting) each other's opinion. She is also famous for creating Best Post of the Week. Check her out in both places.
  
• Valarie @ Valarie Lea From Tennessee now from Alabama - She is awesome. We live in the same town and she keeps me informed on where to find the best deals. Valarie, have you been to Michaels recently. I'm looking for a clearanced fall wreath and wondering if they still have any.
  
• Wep @ WepRuminations -Wep is a loyal commenter. She recently went through a whole beagle-sitting fiasco but made it out alive. Thank goodness!
  
• Cassie @ Southern Domestic Goddess -Cassie has the sweetest little baby boy. Please go oooh! and awwww! at his pictures!
  
• Mrs de Miranda @ The Road Less Traveled -Now this girl has been going through some tough stuff but she is one strong lady! I can relate (on a small scale... nothing near her level) with her immigration troubles. Lucas and I are currently in the midst of the citizenship process. Our next interview is in July.... Anyway, go check her out.
  

Okay, so I know that's 10 but I can't figure out which one(s) of you to cut (because I love you all) so I'm picking 10 instead of 8. Now you ladies can post this to your snazzy blog if you please and pass it along to 8 (or 10) of your bloggy friends!

Now picking 8 (or 10) was pretty hard. You see, I have 111 blogs in my daily reader and that number grows everyday. That is crazy! I don't know how many is normal but that just seems absurd. I just can't stop... I find crazy good blogs everyday. So for you ladies who weren't mentioned above, know that I still love and appreciate you. AND - I have an award for you, too. Actually, lots of awards.

Shauna @ Trying to Stay Calm posted this huge list of awards and passed it along to me. So I'm passing these along to those of you who are reading my blog now.... that is you! Thank you so much!!!



Whew! That was exhausting! BUT totally fun! I enjoyed my first bloggy award post! Thank you to the givers and receivers and everyone for being such great bloggy friends!

Wanna Win This?

That's right! Katie @ La Petite Chic is giving away a Wii Fit! Go check it out!

The Movie Review in Pictures & a Video (no spoiling for those of you who haven't seen it yet)

Lucas and I went to see it last night. You know what it is. See....

(Don't I look like I belong?...... Don't answer that. I was trying to be all serious.)

So - without further ado - Lucas's review:

Not so shining.... but what does he know?

And my review:

Oh, yea. It was good.

The movie didn't follow the book directly - I guess because there wouldn't have been enough time to cover it scene by scene. It threw me off just a little. I would say.... 'no... that's not how it happened'. And there were some things added that weren't in the book (I, of course, like the book version better). BUT - it was still an incredible movie. AND I like Robert as Edward more after seeing it.

I leave you with this..... it gives me chills.... and is my new favorite song. :)

The Photo that Made the Cut

***UPDATE to this post: I wanted to let you all know that I ended up buying the stretched canvases. It would only have been about $10 or so savings on each print after I bought the stretching bars and I didn't think it was worth the hassle just for that. I am cheap but I am also smart (sometimes). I don't think stretching them myself would have been the wisest decision.***

Thank you all for your help. I loved all of your choices and advice! The overwhelming favorite was the swing picture. It was my favorite, too. But, although husband likes the picture, he thought others were better suited. His favorite was the vertical photo with both of us looking at the camera. However, I wanted a horizontal photo. So we decided on our 2nd favorite (which happened to be your second favorite, too). And the winner is (drum roll please)...........

The wall photo

I've ordered 4 canvases (one for us, one each for both sets of parents, and one for my grandparents). Merry Christmas to all! ;)

I'll be sure to show you the final products when they arrive!!

My New Boots....

I'm sorry, Leslie, but these are totally mine.Classy Chaos is giving these away. But don't bother... my name is already on them. :)

j/k - Go check her out - but seriously - stay away from my boots.

Skipping Christmas???

Christmas is my most favorite time of the year. Yes, I love presents - giving and receiving. But, more than that, I love the general feeling in the air. Everyone seems happier. There's lots of music and shopping and happiness and more of those random acts of kindness floating around. It is just a good time of year. I most enjoy those special Christmas traditions with family. On the 23rd of December my mom's side of the family gathers together for a huge dinner, fellowship, and fun game of 'Dirty Santa' (although it's not that dirty). I just love it! Then on Christmas morning, we have breakfast with my parents and grandparents. My dad always cooks the best pancakes - EVERY YEAR. That is.... until this year. (If I had a record player this is where that lovely Christmas music would scratch and there would be silence...... get it?)

This year - one month from now - I'll be on a plane to South America..... missing all of my annual traditions. Don't get me wrong, I am so extremely excited to go visit Lucas's family. This is the first time I will go as his wife (I haven't been since we were only dating). Now, I really am part of the family. Also, I am truly looking forward to spending the holidays with his family and being a part of their traditions.

But I've done the same thing for 24 years. Every Christmas is the same thing. And that's how I like it. I love it, actually. So I've thought about just all out skipping Christmas this year (by all out really all I mean is not putting up a tree or decorating). What's the point? I mean - we are leaving a full week before Christmas! I don't think my mom is going to let me do that. She is very determined that I will at least have one tree up (last year I had three - I'm kind of a Christmas freak).

I know I'm being selfish. I get every holiday, every special event, and all the other random days with my family. I'm actually quite lucky that this is all I have to give up. It is just hard. Because this is my first Christmas away from my family and my traditions. I'll still celebrate in Colombia, but I just have a feeling that it isn't going to be the same. I'm sad to be giving up these traditions and letting my family down.

This attitude is completely unfair to Lucas. He celebrates everything with my family and I should be happy spending Christmas with his. I'm going to snap out of this (I hope). I just don't have that usual Christmas cheer.

I am still getting to keep a little -slightly altered - tradition, though. I have mandated a breakfast with my parents and grandparents - yes, in our Christmas pajamas - the night before we leave for Colombia. I must have my dad's pancakes and I won't miss out on this special tradition, whether it is on the 18th or the 25th.

So, since you've put up with my nonsensical rant on skipping Christmas, I'm going to show you our house all decorated for Christmas last year. Our first Christmas as husband and wife and in our new home.