my holiday

It's the Sunday after Thanksgiving, the night before I must return back to work, and the hour after I indulged in far too many nachos and one too many beers while dining with my Lovie. Time to reflect...

This holiday weekend did me good, but it definitely did not start out so well.

On Thursday morning, I woke early as I was excited to wear my newest skirt and spend an extra fifteen minutes curling my hair for the day's special occasion. Trent and I left our house about twenty minutes later than planned (which is good for me...), and started the trek to my hometown. We drove separately, though, as he had to be back a day earlier than me.

I stopped at the grocery store on my way out of town as I needed to pick up a few ingredients for the appetizer I most recently pinned and wanted to prepare before our gigantic feast. Unlike my usual stops at the grocer's, I was outta there lighting fast and excited to get home and start the weekend.

About a year ago, I bought a new (to me) car which has a keyless entry and keyless start. Literally, KEYLESS. My car unlocks whenever the "fob" is near it and I start the car with the push of a button. Theoretically, this is a fantastic idea as one would never have to stand in the cold and dig through a purse or a pocket to find their keys. But, on this day (Thanksgiving day), this great invention did me no favors...

As I reached for my car door, with grocery bags in mitten-covered hands, the usual *ding!* did not sound as the doors unlocked (as it should when the "fob" is near). Frustrated and cold, I walked to each and every door and tried to open my car doors. Nothing. Annoyed, I walked back inside the grocery store and called Trent.

Trent was already 15 miles out of town. Luckily, though (and a bit frustrated himself...), he turned around to rescue me. Meanwhile, I walked back and forth to my car trying and retrying to get into my car. By the time Trent arrived, my precious curls had turned to frizz and my runny nose (...this was the fourth, miserable day of a cold) had made me look (and act) like a three year old as I found creative ways to stop the dripping without a tissue at hand...

Anyway, after driving across town in search for a new battery, we finally gave up our search (every place was closed), and drove to the next town where we found a replacement. Thank god.

THEN, my grumpy attitude and I started the way back to my hometown. We arrived 2 hours late. Ug. So much for that appetizer...

ANYWAY, enough sulking! The rest of the weekend was great! I ate WAY too much food, played games, and shopped my little socks off. Most of my shopping was done on-line in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. But, my mom, sister, and I still couldn't resist our Black Friday shopping tradition. We left the house at 10:00 PM and returned after 4:00 AM. Successful it was.

Friday was spent eating leftovers, more shopping, and watching "Frozen" in the very front row of a very packed theatre with my baby cousins, brother, and someday-sister-in-law.

Saturday was BAKING DAY!!!!! Several family members gathered together for an afternoon/evening of baking and sharing a dozen or more different Christmas cookie recipes. It was so great and will definitely be an annual thing...

 

Today I was lazy. And sadly, after looking closely at the picture of me above, I noticed an odd bulge near the bottom of my shirt. My belly. Good god. NO, I'm not pregnant. I went and bought my very first Cedar Falls gym membership a few hours ago. It's time to get serious.

WEEEEEEkend

Ahh...I just love the weekends! Where the heck do I begin with my most recent?! Friday seems logical.

...after working a long and miserable nine hour day, I headed home to open my much anticipated Urban Outfitters package only to discover that only two of my six items were shipped. The disappointment was alleviated, however, when I fell in love with these two items (which were the same item in two different colors). I ended up wearing them for three days in a row--and no, I did not do laundry, so if you do the math, you will find that I wore dirty clothes to work on Monday (which isn't very unusual for me).

ANYWAY, after arriving in Cedar Falls that night, I enjoyed a deliciously crisp Woodchuck cider at the Panther Lounge and later indulged in half-price appetizers at Applebees. While there, I had the unfortunate (yet very amusing) encounter with two women in the restroom (who didn't realize I was in there, adjusting my contact) as they discussed--and loudly demonstrated--their bowel movements and tampon statuses. I can only imagine how they felt and what they said after they heard the door open and I rushed on out of there.

After that lovely dinner, Trent watched a movie while I fell asleep within the first ten minutes. He then struggled as he carried me to bed a little while later.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention a very, very important part! Since Friday was Valentine's Day, Trent and I exchanged our gifts. He did an excellent job and spoiled me with a bunch of Taylor memorabilia.

I gave him a date night jar (yes, stolen from pinterest), a movie theatre gift card, and some candy. I think he was pleased.

On Saturday, Trent and I enjoyed our morning coffee snuggled up with Baby Sophia while we hung out with her sweet parents, Jake and Des. I then talked Trent into joining me at my favorite store on Main Street, Kitchen Essentials.

Later that night, Trent and I met my friends Lauren, Natalie, Christy, and Marcus for another night on Main Street. We had such a good time! We spent the majority of the night singing our hearts out at The Blue Room for karaoke night.

Lauren, Natalie, me, and Christy

On Sunday, I spent the day laying around with Lauren and Natalie doing absolutely nothing (my favorite kind of day). Trent and I spent the evening eating dinner at a fancy restaurant and watching the tele.

Pretty good weekend, huh? 

Valentine's Day!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!!! Yesterday, February 14th, I was not able to be with my Valentine, so he decided to have Valentine's Day changed to February 15th--this way we wouldn't have to spend this special day apart. So sweet of him, I know.

In honor of today's holiday full of love and all things red, I decided to wear my new red pants. My friend, Miss Natalie, got them for me for Christmas (she also got me an adorable dress that I will post once it's warm enough to wear). Natalie swore these pants were purple, I argued they were red. She then said she was positive they were purple as she would never buy red pants because they would clash with my ginger hair. Of course she would bring my hair into this debate. Anyway, after taking this picture, I think she's right--they're purple. So, in honor of Valentine's Day, I am wearing my new purple pants.

Ignore the dirty mirror :/

So far, my Valentine's Day has not been all that magnificent. I am spending it at work. Yup, at work. Last week was supposed to be the last Friday I had to work (which is why I was "extra excited" last week)--but no, I am so far behind, I decided to spend today's holiday on the job. Luckily, my coworker brought in giant donuts, which made the morning so much better.

Another lucky thing, my car is completely packed. So, right after work I get to head straight to Cedar Falls and I get to stay there all week (I work there next week)!! Today cannot be over soon enough! I suppose I should probably stop complaining and just get my work done and over with. So, adios contaminos! 

Butt Pads.

A Friday or two ago was our Christmas potluck at work (this is what I brought to share). We were also instructed to bring a white elephant gift. This is what I brought:

A tissue packet, a cow jar, and...butt pads. 

My Aunt Krista bought me these butt pads off the streets of LA when I came to visit after my high school graduation; I was eighteen then, and a little less endowed (but I promise I still never, ever wore this thing!). Anyway, I was so scared that one of my forty or fifty something year old male managers would open this and have a terrible sense of humor. Luckily, my managers did not participate in the exchange, and a twenty-fiveish year old male ended up opening my gift. His reaction was priceless; he was embarrassed, bright red, and tried to shove those butt pads back inside that cow jar before anyone realized what he had opened. It was perfect :)

Christmas.

I was so excited to write about the new year this morning that I forgot I have yet to write about my Christmas! So, I am breaking my previous record (of one) and I'm writing two posts in one day.

My last day of work before Christmas break was Thursday, December 20th and I don't have to go back until tomorrow--January 2nd. That's twelve work-free days in a row. Woah. 

I spent that first weekend in my college town of Cedar Falls. On Friday night I went out on the town with my best friend, Miss Natalie, and we met up with several other friends that we don't get to see very often. 

Natalie (who has forgotten how to take a normal picture), me, Amber, and Sarah.

Saturday was spent babysitting/cuddling a precious little three-week old baby girl, Sophia Mae.

It doesn't get much better than this :)

On Sunday I made the two hour trek to Algona to spend Christmas with my Grandma M and Monday (aka Christmas Eve) was spent with Trent's family in Wilton. Sadly, my camera was MIA for both those days...

Christmas was spent at my parents' house. My brother volunteered to make our Christmas dinner and he treated us with a delicious plate of Beef Wellington. Afterwards, we gathered around the Christmas tree, took way too many pictures, and opened way too many presents.

Dane (my brother), Abby (my sister), my Grandma K, and me.

Dane, Jenna, Dave, Abby, Trent, and me.

My cute parents.

On Friday, I was lucky enough to get to babysit my cousin's two babies, Kennedy and Quinn. They ate lunch in their makeshift fort, pulled lots of books off the shelves at the library, played in the snow with their second cousin, Sydni and their Great Aunt Lisa, and ended the afternoon with a nice long nap cuddled up on the couch. 

Kennedy, Quinn, and their peanut butter sandwiches.

Quinn and Syd during the baby boy's nap.

Christmas with my dad's side of the family was held at my parents' house on Saturday. The day was spent eating, catching up with family, drinking brandy slushes, and playing with the littles. 

Naked and chubby baby Claire. I can't even handle how cute this picture is.

Claire was caught red-handed with a bottle of wine and margaritas...

And there you have it, folks...another great Christmas to be thankful for.

MY PERFECT THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving break is over and now I am back at work, sitting at my desk, and daydreaming about how perfect my weekend was.

Perfection Reason 1:
Thanksgiving was held at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Hampton, IA. All four of my Aunt and Uncle's kids (my cousins) were there, and all four of them have BABIES.  To be exact, two 7 months olds, two almost 2 year olds, one almost 3 year old, and a 4 year old were in attendance. I was in heaven. Just look at this little guy...



I love him so stinkin much.

Basically, I spent the entire day with either a baby or some sort of food in my hands. I don't think it could have been any better.

Perfection Reason 2:
90% of my Christmas shopping was started and finished this weekend. My mom, aunt, cousin, and I started shopping at 9 PM on Thursday night and didn't return home until 4:30 AM on Black Friday morning. Woah.
Then, I spent the entire day on Saturday and an hour or so on Sunday shopping. Double woah.

Perfection Reason 3:
This one wasn't realized until this morning....

After spending the ENTIRE weekend constantly eating, drinking beer and wine, and not working out at all (aside from carrying all my shopping bags around--which my biceps are still sore from), I only gained one pound! ...which on the down side, is more justification for skipping my workouts this week :/

Alright. Lunch break is over. Enjoy the rest of your Monday!