Updated for Mon: I will be productive this break!

I am going to use this post as a chronicle of what I do each day of Christmas break.  I have a couple projects that I need to do, and I need to keep up with my running.  So, this is going to help me out...hopefully.

Projects over break:
1.  Finish wedding album
2.  Update resume
3.  Get Christmas cards out
4.  Finish stocking stuffers
5.  Run 10 miles\week
6.  Buy for Panty Exchange 
7.  Read up on blogs and find some new friends.  I also would like to get away from the number of followers being 60, 61, 62.  It seems to fluctuate up and down every day.  I am ready to move past those weird numbers!  
 8.  Read this

Friday 12\21\12
I know I still had to work, but I am counting the evening as part of the break.  Anthony and I went Christmas shopping.  I finally assembled our Christmas cards and put them in the mail.  I have got to become more organized with those.  At least this year I wrote down everyone's addresses, so I don't have to ask them for them next year.  

Saturday-12\22\12
It's my dad's birthday, so I can't forget to call.  Fortunately, I packed for our trip to Amarillo last night, so I am able to relax while Anthony finishes up.  We made it to Amarillo and enjoyed an afternoon of relaxing and a dinner of Mexican food.

Sunday-12\23\12
I am up at 8:30.  I am not sleeping my day away.  I would super love to go running and try out my new running pants, but it is like 20 degrees outside.  I am going to wait a little bit until it warms up.  New Running Pants I am hoping that these capris will stay in place while I run.  I will let you know how that goes later.  I went running 3 miles today!

Running Pants Update: I love my new running capris! I have been looking forever for a pair of shorts\capris that will stay in place.  I have enough trouble breathing while I am running, I do not need to worry about pulling my shorts up or pulling them out of my rear.  I was concerned that they were too tight for my jiggly butt, but I really like the way they look.  I highly recommend stopping in Kohls for a pair.  They were 25% off already, and then I got an additional 30% off with my coup.  SCORE!

Last night we hung out with Anthony's parents and ordered pizza.  We also got to assemble a gingerbread Christmas tree.  I highly recommend these as you do not have to build a house but rather merely stack stars.


We also stayed up too late and started watching Season 3 of Downton Abbey.

This was a picture of when we first started watching the show!  I am excited to get back into it.

 

xoxo

What is in your stocking?

We started a new tradition last year with my family.  We joke that our tradition is starting traditions.  It was hard to start and maintain traditions growing up because each Christmas looked different than the last.  Sometimes, my dad would have to work in the morning.  Sometimes, he would work in the afternoon, and sometimes not at all.  Sometimes, we would spend Christmas in Michigan. 

Besides our tradition of ornaments, we didn't really have a set tradition.  Not to say though, that we did not create wonderful memories every year--they were just different.

Because of work schedules and other familial obligations, it is also hard for all of us to be together on Christmas.  So, we created some new traditions with my family, and I love them!

First, we swap names and buy for only one person.  Mom and Dad are out though because they buy for everyone, and everyone buys for them.  Mom usually knows what everyone wants because we have told her.  This helps keeps the cost of buying presents down.  It is difficult to buy for so many people, especially when gifts should not be the focus. 

Secondly, we started a stocking gift.  For me, it is always so fun to open the small gifts.  Each person comes up with the same gift to give each person.  Total for every person, your gift should not exceed 5 dollars.  This requires quite a bit of thought and planning the year before.  Sometimes, you may have to stock up on an item on sale.  Last year some gift ideas included: pack of gum, chapstick, toothbrush, pictures, candles, hand warmers.  I did Snow Man poop (white tic tacs with a cute little poem that I found on Pinterest) and Brown Sugar Body Scrub (yum! and it makes your hands and legs feel great!)

I think I slightly exceeded the limit last year by a few dollars, but this year I def stayed in budget.  I will be posted those projects later.  I don't want to give them away just yet!

xoxo,
Angela

The biggest cinnamon roll and first mention of sex

Over Thanksgiving break, Anthony and I traveled to Maryland for our second annual trip vacation.  I guess, it would be our third if you count our honeymoon.  But our honeymoon was kinda lame because 1.)We ended up with separate beds.  What?!  I know!  2.)We were still figuring out sex.  3.)Anthony got the sickest he has ever been in his life.  He spent one night on the floor in the bathroom.  So...I don't really count our honeymoon as a pleasant vacay.

Anthony and I really enjoy traveling just the two of us because we are not bound by anyone else's schedules or protocol.  If I want to wear sweat pants to the cheesecake factory, I go right ahead.  If I want to lay in bed and take a nap, I don't feel like someone is going to judge me.  This year we stayed at Anthony's cousin's house.  Although apprehensive at first about what expectations I would be required to uphold, I was pleasantly relieved that Jenn and Shawn and their four kids were the best type of relaxation that I needed.  In fact, all of Anthony's family that I hung out with were so chill and fun.  We really enjoyed catching up and bonding with everyone up there.

While we weren't with family, we were exploring.  Here are a few pictures of our journey:

We went on a walking tour of Washington DC.  Anthony was the perfect tour guide.  I was tired of walking before we got to any of the Smithsonian's, though. 

Gorgeous!  When I was younger and visited my grandparents in Michigan, we would take our pretty leaves and press them between wax paper using an iron.  Such a fun memory! This was my favorite part of Washington DC.

We stayed with relatives for the first two days, but decided to fend for ourselves our last two nights in Fells Point.  Anthony picked a really awesome hotel with a sweet view of the harbor!  (Side Note:  Be aware of what creepers you are friends with on your facebook.  Jenn and Shaun found exactly what room we were in using this photo I had posted.  :)

We got together for a kids-free dinner in Little Italy.  Yummy!

And my hair looked totally awesome that night.  Just had to brag.  Also, I don't think I washed it the whole time I was there.  My best hair days are when it is dirty. 

Old cobblestone streets.

Fort McHenry.  This trip was seriously like a huge history lesson for me.  I feel smarter already!

This was lunch one day.  It was seriously like the best thing ever.  It took me like a day and a half to eat it.  It is a good thing that this place is not around here. 

We got this the last night there.  We had been sitting in the hotel for like 3 hours watching Family Feud.  I had just taken my makeup off to go to bed, and Anthony was bored.  So we enjoyed this little treat, and I am glad we did not miss it.  

xoxo,
 

Christmas Wish List

1.  Scentsy
I love my Scentsy!  And I also love new scents.  This is a perfect gift for someone.  Although, not Scentsy, very similar items are found at Walmart.

2.  Magazine Subscription
Usually these are pretty cheap, and for me at least, they bring so much joy when they come in the mail.

3.  Mani\Pedi Gift Cards
Who doesn't love a relaxing day at the spa?

4.  Ornaments
Maybe this is a mild Christmas obsession of mine, but I love receiving ornaments especially when they have a story behind them.  Check out my blog post about Christmas ornaments here.

5.  If you are gifting to a foodie, try a cookbook.
There are so many types of cookbooks out there, that it is easy to find one that applies to your recipient.

6.  Books or ebooks
I personally love holding a book in my hands and smelling the pages (anyone?). 

The Story of the Ornaments

I used this as a guest post a few weeks ago, but if you did not catch it, here it is:

I love decorating for the holidays.  Yesterday, I literally squealed when I realized that I could hang up my Thanksgiving dish towel.  I get that from my mom.  The decorating aspect, not the squealing.

One thing I love about Christmas is getting out my box of ornaments.  My parents gave each of us an ornament every year.  The ornament had something to do with some significant event from the past year.  I love looking at each ornament and remembering that year.  This is definitely a tradition I wish to continue with my children.

Here are a few of my favorites and a short story behind each one:

I got this one the Christmas of the year my husband and I got engaged.  

This is one of my favorite ones.  A teacher in high school gave this to me and said it was because I was homemade.  To me, that was the best compliment.  

My parents gave this one to me after I moved away.  I would have cooking dates with my mom.  I would pick 4-5 recipes to make.  We would make them all in one day.  Then, we package them into single serving portions.  That way, I could grab a meal from the freezer without having to whip up a big mess for one person!  Phenomenal idea, and it worked very well.  

These are from last year, our first Christmas after we were married.  The one on the left, my hubs and I picked out at the biggest Christmas store ever, in Frakenmuth, MI.  My parents surprised us with the one on the left.  He is such a cute little snowman.  I remember all the fun Anthony and I had our first Christmas.  (He is kind of a scrooge when it comes to decorating.)

This is the most recent one that we have received.  I was so excited to get an ornament from Anthony's parents.  Last summer we went camping in Pagasa with his family.  We have so many memories from this place.  Like, find dead mice in my brother in law's air conditioning, cooking out, coffee in the mornings, hiking, and floating down the river.  Thanks for thinking of us.  I love it!

I have received several angels over the years.  I love them all!  I like to think I get them because I am an angel.  haha or maybe because my name is Angel-a.






What is your favorite ornament?  If you don't have one, I definitely recommend starting this tradition with your family this year!

How to Get Tight-Guest Post

Read her post.  She is definitely very convincing.  I think I might have to buy a pair of tights after I get back from my trip.  If you enjoyed this post, go check out Ragan's blog.  She always has great pictures and fashion advice:)  Happy Thanksgiving's Eve.   

On Colored Tights [and how they will change your life.]

hello friends! I am Ragan and I blog over at Touch of Serendipity. Sweet Angela asked me to share with ya'll today and I'm so happy to be here!

ok so. we all know that guest posts can be extremely boring.
which is why this is going to be short and sweet.

here's the punchline: get yourself some colored tights. They will change your life. here is photographic evidence:

cranberry tights - my most prized possession. (besides my engagement ring, right?) 

images found here.

Secondly, mustard tights. because mustard is everyone's favorite color when it comes to panty hose, correct? oh sorry, these are tights.

images found here and here.

And last but not least, the purple tights. because who doesn't want purple legs? mmm sexy. 

images found here.

colored tights are great if you 

1.) want some fun in your wardrobe.

2.) need to cover up the fact that you haven't shaved your legs in a month.

3.) want to figured out how to spice up that plain black dress you have worn all week. 

4.) all of the above.

So there you have it. that's my soap box. if you ever want a bit of snazz in your wardrobe, hop on over to Target because they have an awesome collection of colored tights right now. go to the colored tights aisle, pick out some cranberry, mustard, and purple colored tights, and knock yourself out.  

you will feel like a new woman.

trust me. 

Surprise Gift!!

Last night, Anthony surprised me with a gift that I had been wanting for a while.  Isn't she so precious?!?!  I have been wanting a puppy for a long time, but I knew it was not the best for our living arrangement or our work schedule right now.  So, unfortunately, this sweet doll does not belong to me.

While I was scurrying around getting ready for his work party last night, (seriously, like record time for looking amazing) he put this in my jewelry bag.

I was seriously surprised!  And I had to rush even faster to get ready, so I would have time to open the gift.

I have been asking for a pearl ring for a while, and he listened!  He wanted me to have it before the party last night.  So, early Christmas\anniversary gift to me!

I love how dainty it is!

If you are looking for a pearl ring, here are a few options that I browsed through:

Both of these are available at James Avery.  

Both of these are available at Helzburg's Diamonds.

Find a ring that suits your tastes and personality.  Starting dropping hints or buy it for yourself, wrap it, and put it under the tree!

**Still looking for some friends to swap buttons for free.  I put yours on my page, you put mine on yours.  Lemme know!

xoxo,