Anyone else have a holiday rush hangover? No alcohol involved, just so much packed in to two days that your head is still spinning and you are wondering how in the hell Christmas came and gone already?! Because that is totally me this morning! I don’t really know why, but I was feeling all Christmassy from Black Friday up until this past Monday. Then I kept thinking to myself all Christmas Eve and Christmas Day that it doesn’t even feel like Christmas. I am not quite sure what to think about that?
Either way, Christmas has come and gone. Now that it is gone, the next week will be all in limbo…then we get back to our regular scheduled programming, both figuratively and literally! I for one will be sort of relieved January 6th when my life goes back to normal. I LOVE the holidays…but I am a creature of habit. The holidays sort of shake up my habits and routine and while I love it, I also feel at peace when they are here and gone and my life comes back.
Let’s have a Christmas in review, shall we? Christmas Eve morning I cooked sausage pinwheels and we watched a few episodes of Grimm. (I will be sharing the recipe when my blog schedule goes back to normal!) I am really loving Grimm. Anyone else watch it? We are in the second season now and it has really grown on me. Chris pointed out that when I was trying to explain the show to his sister that I sounded like a crazy person haha. It is weird but I love it! After we were done being lazy, I gave Mac a hair cut that he so desperately needed then we got ready and headed over to his parents house. Every Christmas Eve we go over there and bake and have snacks and open presents. It was a lot of fun!
Some of the Christmas candy we made. Yum!!!!
Christmas morning we headed over to Chris’s sister’s house for breakfast, as we do every year. We get to see what our nephew got for Christmas and spend some time with his family. Then we rushed back to our house after, picked up all the presents for everyone on my side of the family and headed to my sisters house for a few hours. Since we didn’t get to spend Christmas with my dad this past weekend, we had rescheduled the time to lunch on Christmas day. We didn’t eat anything, we just sat around and talked and watched our nieces and nephews open their presents from us.
From there, we headed to my mom’s house for Christmas dinner. When we got there, I helped my mom prep a little then we watched all the kids open their gifts. Then we prepped some more food and then all the adults opened their gifts. Dinner was amazing! My mom had gotten a Honey Baked Ham, then she made macaroni and cheese, scalloped potatoes, lima beans, corn, and Spanish rice to go with it. She also made homemade pierogies!!! My favorite food on the whole planet. YUM YUM YUM! I ate entirely too much food, but it was justified for skipping lunch. She also loaded us up with her famous sugar cookies, pecan tassies, pumpkin raison cookies and pinwheels to take with us! I am pretty sure I will gain 50 lbs eating all of it.
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She hooked me up with some awesome clothes for Christmas from my favorite store, Loft! I was in desperate need of some new clothes! She also got me some brown leather boots from Nine West, an awesome Alabama scarf and elephant bracelet and a few other things. She has always spoiled us for Christmas, and this year was no different.
Today I am back at work and trying to get into the swing of things for a day and a half before I am off for NINE days. NINE DAYS OFF. WHAT?!?! I would be lying if I said that I cant wait and can barely focus on anything today. I am going to have to try really hard to get everything done before tomorrow at 2:00 pm. I am lacking some serious concentration!
Well hey there Blog land! I survived my surgery on Friday. Not because it was an invasive surgery, but because I am a huge baby and didn’t give myself a panic attack and die. I might have been a little bit out of it Friday evening, but I was able to squeeze in some Christmas movies and relaxation on the recliner under my favorite blankets! I also enjoyed a banana milkshake. Nothing like a guilt free milk shake!
Saturday we spent the afternoon with Chris’s family for Christmas dinner and we watched the kiddos open their presents. I was feeling better than I expected on Saturday, and even got to enjoy the foods! I had to eat them at room temperature, and it took me FOREVER to eat….but I wasn’t missing out on the goodness!!
Sunday we were supposed to have Christmas lunch with my dad at 1:00 pm. I got a text in the morning from my sister saying that her and my brother in law were not feeling well at all. My sister works at a daycare and she has had several kids with the flu this past week. She was afraid her and Mike might have come down with it. She said it was best they not come. I agreed. I didn’t want to get sick!!!!! She needed her rest! My dad and I talked and decided it would be best if we just swung by sometime Christmas day instead. So Chris and I decided to hang out with is parents and have some lunch and do some shopping. We had lunch at The Tavern on The Summit. I enjoyed a bowl of chili and a baked potato. Yum! Then we went to Toys R Us and Bargain Hunt. Bargain Hunt was a bust, but Chris got some Xbox One games for buy one get one 30% at Toys R Us. Places were crowded, but not near as crowded as you would think for it being the weekend before Christmas!
Some random thoughts this Monday.
I have a huge bowl of brownie truffle that was supposed to go to my dads house sitting in my refrigerator. I have a feeling that I will be snacking on that more than I should. I mean it is brownies. And it is staring me in the face every time I open the door!
I am working today, Thursday and Friday this week. While it sucks to work the week of Christmas since some of us have to be big kids and not get “Christmas Break,” I am not hating the fact that traffic is so light! It literally took me HALF the time to get to work this morning. That is a big deal when your commute is an hour!
I cant wait for everyone to open their Christmas presents! I love giving presents!
I worked out this morning like a boss. No surgery will keep me down! I followed the modifier today, I don’t need to over do it and cause problems. Week three of T25 and I am feeling pretty damn good! For me, no work out is fun….but T25 is at least tolerable. I feel like I am definitely shredding some fat and burning calories ever day. It feels great!
You would think I would be sick of Christmas music by now. Nope. Never!!!!
Give me all the Christmas sugar cookies!
Sephora no longer carries my spot treatment in stores. What the crap Sephora?!?!?! Anyone have a acne spot treatment that they LOVE? Please do share!
How is it even possible that it is the Friday before Christmas?!?! I don’t even know where this past year has gone to be honest. I am both excited that it is Friday, and nervous at the same time. I have to have surgery this afternoon. I was trying to hold off until after the holidays but I just cant wait any longer. I am having a tooth extracted that cracked back when I had my wisdom teeth taken out earlier this year. The nerve is now exposed and there is no saving it. Not quite how I wanted to start of my Christmas festivities, but I am looking forward to just getting this tooth out of my mouth and hopefully some relief!
To get my mind off the fact that I will be “put under” soon….I am listening to some Christmas music. After all, the best way to spread cheer is to sing loudly for all to hear! If someone held me at gunpoint and told me I had to pick my top five Christmas songs ever, they would be:
1. Christmas Canon Rock – Trans -Siberian Orchestra
2. Where Are You Christmas? – Faith Hill (from The Grinch)
3. My Only Wish This Year – Britney Spears
4. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Leona Lewis.
5. Merry Christmas Happy Holidays – NSYNC
It is hard to narrow them down!!! I wanted This Gift by 98 degrees and Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You on the list but there just wasn’t enough room!
My favorite Christmas Albums are by Jessica Simpson, NSYNC, Martina McBride, Kenny G and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. What are you top favorite Christmas songs? Maybe you can sing them to me and spread the cheer! I am going to need it! Please send me good vibes for today, I need a speedy recovery, as I have our first two family Christmas events this weekend! We have a huge family gathering with Chris’s family on Saturday and my Dad’s Christmas dinner on Sunday.
When I was younger, my dad bought the Bob Rivers Twisted Christmas CD. If you have never heard of these CD’s before, do yourself a favor and give them a listen. Seriously! They are pretty epic. Basically the songs are either original Christmas songs that have been changed, or regular songs that have been made into Christmas songs. In his later CD’s he even has songs with titles such as “What If Eminem Did Jingle Bells” and “Be Claus I Got High.” If you aren’t one for traditional Christmas music, perhaps you would like these songs. I think even the Grinch would enjoy a few!
The first two CD’s are my favorite. Just the best. There is Jingle Hells Bells (to the ACDC song) an electric guitar rendition of Joy to the World, a song called “Didn’t I Get This Last Year,” a dog lovers classic “Yellow Snow” and my number one Christmas dance tune “Buttcracker Suite” (like the nutcracker song.) My favorite memories of all of these songs though comes from The Twelve Pains of Christmas. Obviously, like the Twelve Days of Christmas.
You see, my dad has a short temper. so when he got frustrated with things…some bad words would loudly fly. One of the most frustrating things for anyone at Christmas is the lights. Even with our tree pre-lit I have trouble every single year with the same damn strand. Every year Chris has to come to my rescue before I go over the edge. You would think with the same problem each year, I would learn my lesson. The definition of insanity speaks of just this, doesn’t it? Anyways, my dad used to get so pissed getting the lights out. They would be tangled. Some strands wouldn’t light at all, others would blink when they weren’t supposed to. If one light goes out, they all go out. That sort of thing. Then you need extension cords, and bulbs and it can be a pain.
Not everyone finds joy in everything Christmas. The song The Twelve Pains of Christmas covers the twelve top things that people hate about Christmas. While I don’t agree with most of them because I love Christmas…..I can see why these things could be a pain.
The first thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Is finding a Christmas tree
The second thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree
The third thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Hangovers
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree
The fourth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Sending Christmas cards
Hangovers
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree
The fifth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Five months of bills
Sending Christmas cards
Hangovers
Rigging up the lights
And finding a Christmas tree
The sixth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Facing my in-laws
Five months of bills
“I hate those Christmas cards!”
Hangovers
Rigging up these lights
And finding a Christmas tree
The seventh thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Salvation Army
Facing my in-laws
Five months of bills
Sending Christmas cards
“Aw geez”
“I’m trying to rig up these lights!”
And finding a Christmas tree
The eighth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
“I want ant farmer for Christmas”
“Charities, and what do you mean your inlaws?”
Five months of bills
“Ah, mailing out these cards!”
“Edith, get me a beer, huh!”
“What, we have no extension chord?!?”
And finding a Christmas tree
The ninth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Finding parking spaces
“Daddy, I want some candy!”
“Donations!”
Facing my in-laws
Five months of bills
“Writing up those Christmas cards”
Hangovers
“Now why the hell are they blinking?”
And finding a Christmas tree
The tenth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Batteries not included
No parking spaces
“Buy me something!”
“Get a job ya bum!”
Facing the inlaws
Five months of bills
“Yo ho, sending Christmas cards”
“Ah geez, look at this!”
“One light goes out, they all go out!”
And finding a Christmas tree
The eleventh thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Stale TV specials
Batteries not included
No parking spaces
“I gotta go to the bathroom”
Charities
“She’s a witch, I hate her!”
Five months of bills
“Oh, I don’t even know half these people!”
“Who’s got the toilet paper?”
“Get a flashlight, I blew a fuse!”
And finding a Christmas tree
The twelfth thing at Christmas that’s such a pain to me
Singing Christmas Carols
Stale TV specials
Batteries not included
No parking
“Waaah!”
Charities
Gotta make ’em dinner
Five months of bills
“I’m not sending them, Mister, that’s it!”
“Shut up, you!”
“Fine, you’re so smart, you rig up the lights!”
And finding a Christmas tree
Just You Tube the song….listening to all the voices makes it ten times better, I promise!!!!
First Pain – Finding a Christmas Tree
We have an artificial tree, but I would imagine cutting down the tree, tying the tree to your car and trying to carry it in to your house is a huge pain in the ass. Plus the needles make a mess.
Second Pain-Ringing up the lights
I already discussed this…HUGE pain!
Third Pain – Hangovers
Yes, if we over indulge in our holiday beverages it is going to hurt! Especially since I am not getting any younger. Hangovers are a bitch that slaps us in the face and reminds us we aren’t 21 anymore.
Forth Pain – Sending Christmas Cards
I avoided this one this year by just not doing them. LOL. While I love to receive them, I sure do hate the process of writing something special in each one, addressing all the envelopes…and standing in line at the post office for the darn Christmas tree stamps. Why must I have cute stamps?
Fifth Pain – Five months of bills
While I love to give presents, that shit gets expensive. I am not going to go in debt for five months over it…but still!
Sixth Pain – Facing the In-laws
I love my in-laws so I don’t really have a problem with this, but I know that I am lucky in that department and LOTS of people hate having to deal with certain family members. Especially around the holidays.
Seventh Pain – Salvation Army/Charities
I already have certain people/organizations that I give to. While I appreciate all the hard work people do to volunteer to collect money….ringing that damn bell at me when I am trying to enter a store is NOT going to convince me to give you money. Sorry. And don’t look at me with those judgy eyes while do so either!
Eighth Pain – Kids -Shopping with them, having to hear them whine in stores
For the love…if your kid is throwing a tantrum fit in a store and knocking down 30 boxes….take them to the restroom and spank them! I know it can be frustrating. Its crowded, they are whining that they want everything, you are all tired….but I don’t want to have to hear it when I am trying to get my shopping done too! Teach them how to behave like humans in public. Dont let them run free. My parents controlled me and my sister in public with no problems. Why cant you?
Ninth Pain- Parking
Good lord. Entering the parking lot in a shopping center is like entering the Hunger Games. I hate crowds. I hate wasting time sitting in my car. It is awful and miserable and no one wants to do it. Hello Amazon! Problem solved.
Tenth Pain – Batteries not included
Aint that some shit? You just spend $50 on this plastic toy made in china that cost $3 to make…and they cant even give you batteries!? I am pretty sure when I was younger my parents spend half of Christmas day putting together toys and finding the right batteries for the right stuff. What a pain!
Eleventh Pain – Stale TV Specials
Can we maybe play another movie other than a Christmas Story for 24 hours? Please?
Twelfth Pain – Singing Christmas Carols
Sorry, I love Christmas music! Sing away!
Why didn’t they have one about doing all the dishes or having to go to the gym for a year after all the treats you ate?
Linking up with Stephanie and Jen for A Year in Review!
When Stephanie hosts a link up…you link up! I am making it a tradition to do a year in review post each year. I did one last year for 2012 that you can find here. 2013 has been quite the year. It hasn’t been my favorite, I am not going to lie. But it was hard to top last year! I mean we got married, bought our first home, got new cars and new jobs! A lot of change and a lot of happiness!
The Good:
We are settled into our marriage and our new home.
I changed jobs back in June.
We made it to the beach twice this year! Both trips were amazing and relaxing.
We made several trips day trips to Huntsville.
We met a new friend.
We were fortunate enough to be able to upgrade to all the new gaming systems. PS4, Wii U, and Xbox One.
My doctor has finally figured out what was wrong with me and got me on a treatment plan.
I have been religiously working out FIVE days a week since July. I am so proud of myself for this.
I turned 30 this August and have accepted it, and kind of like it! 30 really isn’t that bad!
The Bad:
I have been struggling with dental issues all year. I had my wisdom teeth removed back in January, I had a crown done last month…and I have a few more procedures, including a surgery that will have to all be done next year.
I hit a dear in my car back in March. It was scary!!!! No need to fear, the dear was just fine. The front end of my car? Not so much. Don’t they know to only cross at the deer crossing signs?!?! (Just kidding, I know that isn’t that purpose for those….but some people seriously think the deer are only supposed to cross there!!!)
The Ugly:
Chris and I managed to both get in a car accident on the same day! We were both rear ended, so at least it was no fault of our own. Unfortunately, the person who hit Chris had no insurance. It has been a NIGHTMARE dealing with that. Plus all the medical bills that we have had to pay out of pocket.
I turned 30 in August. I am old. (This also made my good list, HA!)
We cant forget to talk about the best songs of 2013. I am going to be honest and say it wasn’t the BEST year ever for new music. In fact I know that my list of songs I cant stand from this year are tripled what I have enjoyed. But there have been a few gems that I love! These are in no particular order.
1. Mirrors – Justin Timberlake
2. Royals – Lorde
3. Wake me Up – Avicii
4. Marry Me – Jason Derulo
5. Clarity – Zedd
6. Roar – Katy Perry
7. Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
8. Sail – Awolnation
9. Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Ray
10. What Does a Fox Say – Ylvis (I know a lot of people hate it, but I cant help it!)
11. When I Was Your Man – Bruno Mars
12. I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice
13. Mine Would Be You – Blake Shelton
14. Highway Don’t Care – Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban
15. Wagon Wheel – Darius Rucker
I asked Chris to put together a list of his best of 2013 songs. He knows music WAY better than me. He has amazing taste. You will see a few repeats from my list but not many. Now I have to go add all these from him to my Spotify so I am cool too!
1. Sail -Awolnation
2. Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Ray
3. Freestylers – Cracks
4. Fly – Nicki Minaj
5. Work – Iggy Azalea
6. I Need Your Love – Calvin Harris
7. Anything Could Happy – Ellie Gold
8. Still The Same Man – Nicky Romero
I cant wait to see Helene’s list! What are your favorite songs from 2013? I am ready for 2014 and excited for what it might bring.
Linking up with 
