5 FACTS. because 5 seems like a good number

1. I'M A BIG KID NOW. I tried to deceive myself into thinking I was an adult this Christmas. With no written Christmas list I was feeling high and mighty receiving full satisfaction that I had risen above the world of wants. LIAR! After going Christmas shopping for family and friends this weekend, I realized I had a longer wishlist than any child could ever muster.

2. I MAY BE PAPER CHALLENGED. I am the WORST gift wrapper. Seriously. Any tips?

My wrapping handicaps:

Too much wrapping paper on gift

(I know, sounds weird right - how can you have too much paper? Just cut it off. But let's say you're at the point where it wraps perfectly width wise, but the length is 3 inches too long on each side? Cut it still? No that makes for unclean edges, but would I rather have unclean edges or a bulge on two sides because of too much paper?)

Corners not tight

Folds are jagged and far from crisp

Wrapping looks crinkled when I'm done - like it's gone through 3 days of shipping across the nation in the back of a delivery truck when in fact it's just spent the last 10 minutes in my lap being taped and untaped and re-wrapped

3. I GOT LUCKY. I was supposed to work Christmas Eve. Now I'm not.

4. CHESTNUTS ROASTING ON AN OPEN FIRE... I was delighted to learn that I have a naturally good Christmas singing voice until I realized I only sound like Mary Carpenter in the shower. Or when the volume is turned up really loud in the car. Nowhere else.

5. SMART MAN. Jared has all A's so far this semester!

We leave Wednesday night for Clovis. We're excited for our first trek home for the holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

One Year Down.

Well, folks, we've hit our one year mark. No more of this newly-wed nonsense, we are head deep in this marriage deal. We have fully enjoyed the life of his and hers, Mr and Mrs and mostly sharing bank accounts. We have both felt incredibly blessed during our first wedded year. ONE YEAR LUCK: We moved to Santa Monica, I landed an incredible job, Jared has completed a year of school (one more year to go!), we became pink-slip owners for a Honda Accord, Jared got a part-time job valeting a this hotel, traveled to Belize and Guatemala and we're both still loving each other! Huzzah! Here's looking at you, kid.

One Year Ago...

First Wedding Card! I look nervous...December 20, 2008

Mean Girls

Last week Jared and I received an invitation from a friend to an Ugly Sweater Party on Sunday evening. When we read "Ugly Sweater Party" that indicated that the attire for the evening was to be a hideous knitted piece of apparel. So Saturday night, after a long day of errands, we were settling in for the evening when it dawned on us that we didn't have anything to wear the next night. We raced over to the Salvation Army and picked out some prime sweaters. Sunday afternoon we rummaged through our closets both trying to find a pair of light colored jeans, tube socks and tennis shoes that could best accompany our sweaters. After some time of putting together a make-shift outfit, we headed over to our friend's apartment. Jared had forgotten a very critical part of his ensemble - his hair. It need to be slicked down, parted and wet. Dipping his hands into the complex pool, I helped him smooth his hair into "creeper" position. Perfect! As we were making our way up the stairs, our friend came out to direct us to his apartment. I noticed that he was not wearing an ugly sweater. Jared, being the astute man that he his, recognized the same and whispered to me, "I think we just pulled a Mean Girls." Upon walking into the party, laughter ensued as we were the only ones dressed not only in ugly sweaters but in any sweater at all. We definitely pulled a Cady Heron. Luckily our friends are cool and still talked and laughed with (maybe at) us the whole night.

A Roll of Film is Like A Box of Chocolates...

You NEVER know what you're gonna get!

Thank goodness for digital cameras!

{not feeling} Guilty Pleasure

We ate a whole box in 2 nights and

I don't even feel bad about it.

Not A Typical Thanksgiving

We didn't eat turkey this year for Thanksgiving. We did not travel home nor were we surrounded by friends and family. We didn't spend Thanksgiving Day watching football or setting up Christmas decorations. Instead we spent it here:

And Here

And Here

We were Extremely grateful this past Thanksgiving.

Hope Everyone Had a Great Holiday.

Can't believe Christmas is right around the corner!