Confessions & Life Updates

Hey friends!  Man, December was crazy busy wasn't it?  The holidays and end of year always are, so while I feel like I've adequately recapped my year (HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE), I haven't so much talked about what's been happening lately or in December at all.

I confess... At the first of the month my work's corporate office asked Shawn, Blaire, Ron, and I to come down and decorate for their Christmas charity event.  It was a little stressful because they didn't have any idea of what they wanted-they basically just said "create a setting, we have trees and a chair and a backdrop" but then we showed up and they didn't have a backdrop actually.  So we rushed out and found the tree back drop, wrapped a bunch of presents, decorated the tree and it was ready.  It looked really good though, and it was fun to get out of work to do something good.

I confess... Kristina and I got together and made handmade bath salts and sugar scrubs for Christmas gifts this year. We made peppermint, margarita (really just lime), lavender, orange, lemon grass, jasmine, and mixed citrus (lime, orange, and lemongrass).  They were a big hit and fun to do!

I confess... My grandmother gave me some couches.  They're in great condition and really cute, and my awesome family (including my little brother Ryan, pictured above) helped me move them in.

I confess... Meggy graduated with her Master's degree the second week of December and we couldn't be more proud of her!  We went over and hung out for celebration, and it was lovely to see them! 

  I confess... Josh came in from Canada and it was so great to see him!  We had a little get together with some friends two nights in a row to celebrate.  On the second night we made egg rolls for old time's sake and played Cards Against Humanity.  

I confess... I spent Christmas with my family.  Above you'll see me snuggling with my sister's bunny and also my brother's wrapping job.  He likes to give gifts that are strange enough you'll think of him every time you see it.  A few years back it was a heavy stone yard decor turtle (who sits in my plant in the living room), last year it was a gaudy candle holder, and this year it was a hand book end. I actually really love his gifts-I need to get another matching book end so I can use them!  

My mother got me a big ceramic pots and pans set which is amazing and so needed, and my sister got me a super soft Ninja Turtle blanket and some other things.  All my gifts were lovely!  Josh's mom bought me some slippers and a heated scarf, and I've been wearing the slippers ever since.

  I confess... I made these watercolor family portraits for my mom's and Ari's gifts.  They were so fun! The only downside is that I put all this time into it and my brother broke up with his girlfriend (shown to the far right in the first picture) that night... Sooooo I don't know what my mom wants to do with that image. Such a bummer, but I should have been smarter-too young!

I confess... We finally got snow on Christmas! Personally, while I dislike driving in the snow and it was nice not dealing with that, I was starting to get concerned about the drought we're going to have this Summer due to the lack of water. I'm still concerned, but a little helped! 

 

I confess... I brought my cat home with me from my mom's house.  We're... Adjusting.  I don't think I'm a cat person as much as I used to be, and she's been SO clingy.  She follows me around meowing all day long and wants to be held and petted 24/7-including the middle of the night.   It's strange, she wasn't that way before (I adopted her with my first boyfriend like 10 years ago), or at my mom's house where she just slept all day and didn't interact much.  She's been so active and clingy here.  I'm really hoping that she calms down when she's more adjusted to the new living space.  I'm losing my mind.

 

I confess... She LOVES Josh though (but who doesn't?) and he thought she was sweet and loved on her the whole time.  I was glad she did, because in my annoyance I've been loving her less haha! She was his little shadow all week.

I confess... Josh's mom came down last night and we all went to dinner, then the both of them stayed at my place last night, where we had chocolate and watched horror movies, before heading to the airport this morning.  I'm sure going to miss him, but having him in town just showed me how we can still have as good of a relationship and pick up where we left off every time we get together.  I'm also visiting him for sure this summer!

 

I confess... I baked cookies twice this month!  First my peppermint cookies which I like for Christmas, and second I wanted to try homemade ginger cookies.  They turned out great, but I want to try fresh ginger in my recipe next time I make them.  Still tasty, and good and chewy-I'm not a big fan of hard cookies.

I confess... I'm having a sale on ad spots through the 5th-so snag an ad with $10 off before Monday!

I confess... Don't forget the 12x30 Challenge that Kenzie and I announced!  Monday we announce/share the first month's challenge which is to work on loving yourself, and we have so many fabulous suggestions and prompts! 

I confess... I'm all signed up for school this semester and need to go get books.  I'm taking my last French class for a while, Math, and Intro to Linguistics.  Should be an interesting semester.

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