My Year in Review...

January

I ran my first marathon!  It was an awesome experience and I swore I was never going to do it again...ha.  It was the coldest day weekend on record.  It freaking snowed at 3pm...in FLORIDA!  No one was prepared for how cold the race was.  Gatorade froze on the pavement on contact.  The coldest weather I had trained in was at 22 miles and it was 48 degrees.  Marathon day, in the 20's.  The high was 26...how perfect for running 26(.2) miles!  I'm proud of myself and it taught me a lot about myself and training.

February

I was finally good at snowboarding this year...must have been all the running :)  Our annual snowboard trip was interesting and fun.  Lots of memories made.  Robin and I actually made it through the trees this trip...we were so proud.  The boys better watch out!  We're coming for them this year!!

March

We made the trip to Jacksonville to watch two great friends, Ashley & John, get married!  It was so beautiful!  We had a great time at their wedding!  This was Ashley's wedding...I'm sure some of you read her blog...if not, check her out!!

April

In April, one of John's childhood friends got married.  Their wedding was sweet and beautiful. They had quite the party!

May

My 26th Birthday

Memorial Day Weekend

Yea, I got older.  Woo!  Haha.  May was pretty much just a month of fun in the sun.

June

We celebrated John's birthday and channeled our outdoorsy side by canoeing.  It was awesome!

We also had another childhood friend of John's get married to his amazing lady, Vanessa.

July

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!

August

Tennessee Trip 2010!  We had a great time with friends :)  Our first big group trip!  Hopefully, next year, the rest of the group can join!!

September

Go Gators!!!

October

Florida/Georgia!  Sept-Nov is really spent watching Gator football every weekend.  I can't help it.

November

So much to say about November.  I went to New York, had thanksgiving, ran a 1/2 marathon with friends, painted and put new floors down in the house...

December

December was full of baking, Christmas celebrations, and time with friends and family!

2010 was a great year!  Probably the best yet!  I'm so thankful for my John, family, friends, having a close group of girls, my health, my job, and of course Lily!!

Here's to 2011!  Besides a wedding, what will you bring?!

Random Tuesday

Since I decided to write about Christmas instead of my random blurbs on Monday with Miscellany Monday, I'm doing it today.  

Today, I feel random...

I'm still not out of my anti-work mode.  Yesterday, I got my car worked on where they gave me a rental to drive to work because they screwed up...big time...but this made me arrive late.  Then, I cleaned my office and my turtle tank.  I cleaned a lot...and found money.  I love it!

I ran a little over 8 miles last night and it felt fantastic.  John and I did our little loop and I can't tell you how good I felt.  It's been a little while since I've had a decent run with all the work dinners and parties we've had going on the last month.

I ran 8 miles last night, partly because I was literally dreaming about running and partly because I think I'm going to run a 1/2 marathon Sunday.  I'm still deciding, but my decision will probably be yes.  I can't help it...

I've been having strange dreams lately.  The night before last, I had a dream I was watching the neighbor on one side, dump a body at the neighbor on the other side's house.  It was weird.  His kids (which he really only has one) were staring at me through a window while I was watching this go on.  They looked like kids from 'The Shining', and no, I haven't watched that recently.

Last night, we watched 'Salt' with Angelina Jolie...fine actress, crazy hoe in my lowly opinion...(how could you do that to Jenn?!).  Anyway, back to 'Salt'...good movie if you like action thrillers mixing with a little drama.  I liked it.  I think there will be a sequel...and I'll watch it.  The movie also has three potential endings...I liked the second ending best.  Has anyone else seen this?  Which ending did you like?

This morning, there was ice on my car.  Enough, that I had to use a Christmas gift card to scrape it off my windshield and windows.  I had on my fingerless gloves, so the ice got all over my fingers and froze them!  I like being able to wear winter clothes, but between last year's frigid temperatures and this year already, I'm ready for shorts, tank-tops, flip flops, and sun!  Maybe a nice January trip to the beach like in years past??  Come on weather, cooperate! Ha!  (I know, I have no room to complain, I mean, we didn't get snowed in a have blackouts and blizzards, but the above mentioned reasons are why I live in Florida!!)

Two of my bridesmaid's dresses have come in!  They're so cute on them in the color and style we ordered!  I love it!!  Oh, and in case you don't check my wedding ticker at the top of the screen like I do, there's less than 3 months left now!! Woo hoo!  I better get my butt in gear and start doing the rest of the items on my list.

Lily was so cute at Christmas.  I have pictures to share.  Ready?

She was so tired after all her Christmas adventures here...

For New Years, we're going to the annual Marc & Christy party!  Yay!  I can't wait!  I feel like our group hasn't really gotten together since the Christmas party...I miss them and I'm ready! :)  Bring it 2011!!!

I'm still trucking through my Insanity workouts.  I've made it through month one and am in recovery week now.  So far, I've missed 2 days because of too much Christmas stuff and I'm allowing myself 3 cheats, so I have to be really good for the rest of the time.  Less than 5 weeks to go!  Score!

I found a lot I love.  It has a crappy house on it that needs work but it doable and I want to buy it.  So bad.  It's perfect, on a lake and really inexpensive for how big the lot is.  Problem is, both John and I have our own houses.  I think I'll sell mine...even if it is for a loss right now.  It'd save me money on  HOA fees.  Stupid fees.  Honestly, we shall see...I'll be researching today.

Thanks to those of you who commented on my love people post.  It is hard, but it's nice to see that I have others in my boat that feel the same way.  We can show them love, even though they choose not to reciprocate.  Not saying I'll be perfect at it, but at least I know it's just always going to be a work in progress...like everything else about me :)

So this was a little long, but it's my random Tuesday post :)  I hope you lovely ladies have a wonderful Tuesday!!

FREE Chick-fil-A!!!

Hi Friends...as an unofficial advocate for Chick-fil-A, I thought I would share that you can register for free spicy chicken biscuits.  What's better than Chick-fil-A???  Especially when it's FREE!!!

YUM!

Go HERE to register for your free biscuit!!!

ENJOY!!!

It's over already?!

Christmas seems to fly by these days.  It's almost a month of anticipation, then it gets here, and it just seems to fly right by...  This Christmas was wonderful!  It's our only engaged Christmas and we fully enjoyed the time with our family and friends.

John and I cheat pretty much every year and exchanged presents Christmas Eve, before church hehe :)  It's really the only time we have together just us before the mad dash around Central Florida begins!  He got me a waterproof camera I've been wanting, specifically for our honeymoon...and a really cool watch.  He's working on introducing me into the world of the watch wearers.  I have never worn one consistently, so he got me one with lots of fun things going on in hopes that it sticks.

We went over to John's parents to spend some time with them before Christmas Eve service and then headed to church.  This was the first Christmas Eve service I can remember where they didn't read from Luke, so I was a little disappointed with no official Christmas story from the bible, but we did still get to celebrate Jesus, so I guess it worked out :)  Following church, we ran down to my aunt's house for dinner.  Here are my little cousins with their pillow pets we bought them...squealing ensued for the rest of the evening over them, so I guess they were a hit!

We went back to John's after dinner where he set up his present and proceeded to play early into Christmas morning.  He did a lot of napping Christmas day!

Christmas morning we went to my parents for presents and breakfast.  They have a nice little family shot of John, Lily and I that I'll post later, plus a full family shot.  Greatest picture of the day goes to my mom...

...after finding out her and my dad were going on a trip haha.

We spent the rest of the day at John's grandparents spending time with his family.  After we got home, Lily got a special present that I have to share :)

 Grown men putting a pink Snuggie on a ShihTzu...funny!

 She's smiling, I think she likes it...

Thanks Jason & Ashley :)

We finished our Christmas watching:

Despicable Me!! Ho, Ho, Ho!

How was your Christmas??

32 Years!

Today marks my parents wedding anniversary. They were high school sweethearts and have been married 32 years!! It's such a rarity now for couples to stay married and I think it's so neat to see that there are couples that work through the tough times and are so much stronger because they have been working together all these years. I feel thankful to have this example in my life. I know it hasn't always been easy, but I think the work they have put in makes them appreciate their relationship and each other so much more.

Congratulations! Thanks for the great example!

Let's get real...

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about life, love, ect.  And I've realized that sometimes I suck at loving others.  Not with people I really like, but with those that annoy me or that I just don't like to be around.  I'm not mean, but I'm also not loving to them.  I'm not really sure what to do.  A lot of times it just makes me frustrated or mad, but I know I really shouldn't be letting people affect me in that way.

Sometimes, things people do are messed up, but I have no control over anyone else...just my reactions and how I handle myself in the situation...and that is what I'm working on...

This has been on my mind for a while, especially now, because it's Christmas time.  To me, that symbolizes not only time with ones I love, but the ultimate gift...Jesus became a man, came to earth to one day die for everyone.  That is the ultimate example of love.  He gave himself for everyone.  Sometimes it is hard to fathom.  He knew what was to come...that He would die for people who loved him, and those who hated him.  The crazy part is, I'm not asked to die for anyone, I'm just supposed to love them.  Why is it so hard sometimes?

How do you respond to those that aren't friendly, or go out of their way to be hurtful?  How do you learn to love them, even when you don't want to?

Miscellany Monday

{one}
I have checked out.

I do not want to be at work anymore until after New Years.  It's not that I don't like my job, I'm just done.  My motivation for all things work just left me one day last week and I can't find it.  I really think we should have a "holiday" like they do in some places in Europe.  Businesses shut down.  People do fun things.  It's for the good of the people...and their mental health.  Who's with me?!

{two}

5 days til Christmas.

Already?!  It seems crazy Christmas is almost here.  Almost done shopping, but not quite...

{three}
Lunar Eclipse.

So, tonight, you should check out the lunar eclipse going on.  First of all, it's pretty cool that this is happening  because the last one on the winter solstice was 372 years ago and secondly, you may never see another one of these in your life time...at least according to the scientist who say the next one is in 2094...I'll be 110 years old, so I'm pretty sure I won't be making that one.  I'll be setting my alarm to watch.

Check it out more info here.

{four}

A Festivus for the rest of us.

Every year, John's college buddies have a party in honor of Festivus...the Seinfeld holiday.  If you're a fan of the show, I'm sure you know about it.  There's the airing of grievances, the pole and feats of strength challenges.  This year, the party was in town, so we went up to a friend's house to enjoy the evening.  The feats of strength challenge this year was wrestling in sumo suits.  We had a good time and it was fun seeing friends we don't see too often.  It was a very late night and after a few small precious hours of sleep, we were up for John to go row...I'm exhausted.

{five}
Row, Row, Row your boat...

So, in high school and college, John and his brother were rowers (as was Robin, John's SIL).  The men's team that they rowed with in high school decided to get together and face off with alumni of an old rival for fun.  Sunday morning, we went in the cold rain to watch the boys.  Robin ended up steering the boat since they didn't have anyone to do it.  After I couldn't see them anymore, I went and slept in the car...

{six}

Happy Monday.

I don't have much energy to think of anything else fun, so I'm signing off.  Have a great day friends :)

Finally Friday!!

Happy Friday my bloggy friends!  Is it just me, or has this felt like the looongest week ever?!

1. Do you regift...and if so, do you have a regifting horror story?

I can't remember a time that I have regifted, but I've been at parties where I've noticed that things have been regifted from others from the year before.  It's a funny thing to notice, and I always hope the person I knew brought it doesn't notice, but then again, how could you not?!  

2. Do you know what you are getting for Christmas this year?

No, I really don't.  Sometimes I can figure out something, but this year, not so much.  I guess I'll be surprised!

3. Who brings the most gifts in your family, you or Santa?

It's a joint effort really.  I mean, who doesn't love getting gifts from Santa?!  "SANTAAAAAA!!! OMG! Santa, here?!...I know him! I know him!"-One of my favorite clips from Elf.  I tried to embed it, but it's disabled, so here's a link for those of you who would like to enjoy! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyCfRHumHU

4. What store do you love to by jeans from?

I love, love, LOVE, my Buckle jeans!  Last year, John and I had gone out of town and we needed to grab some clothes, and we found Buckle...and ever since then, my life hasn't been quite the same.  I mean, I just didn't know jeans could make your butt look that good.  Haha, jk jk, but I do love them.  I got 2 pairs that day and they're definitely my go-to pairs.  They always look good and they're comfy.  I also have an 8 year old pair of Abercrombie jeans that I like a lot...they've withstood the sands of time...

5. Christmas meal: Big, All Out Meal or Snacks and Apps?

Ha!  Over the holidays, all we do is eat!  Starting with Thanksgiving and rolling (literally) on through the month of December, we eat...LOTS of big meals.  But today, let's just take a snapshot of Christmas:

Christmas Eve: Candlelight service, then, Christmas Eve dinner.with a spread of ham, rolls, potatoes, potato salad, pasta salad, veggies, desserts galore + much more that I probably don't remember.

Christmas Day: We start the day out with breakfast at my parent's house.  When I say breakfast, I mean a big, full, southern-style breakfast.  You name it, we most likely have it. Then, roll on over to lunch where we have a huge spread at John's grandparents.  Then, we end the day by snacking a little more and falling into a sugar coma for the next few days.  Oh the glory of Christmas eating...

That about wraps it up for today, folks!  Only one week left to finish up that Christmas shopping!  I have almost finished!  We will have completed everything for J's parents this weekend (I hope) as well as a couple other family members...we're getting there!!  I hope you can all enjoy this next week, even though it's going to be super busy for us all I'm sure.  Take time to remember what Christmas is all about!  

Spending time with Family...

& Friends!

& JESUS!!!