Why taking joy is a pain in my ass!

Who knew that taking back joy would end in the sentence, "I don't think my ass has ever hurt this bad."

As I mentioned in my last blog post, "I'm taking my joy back," my 34th year of life will be filled with things that bring me joy. About two weeks ago, I got it into my mind that I wanted a bicycle. I have no idea why I wanted a bike, but the urge was there, so I decided to get one. So I did what most wives do when they want something. I, in my not so subtle way, let my husband know. Again and again and again.

Me: "Wow, look at that person on that bike. I wish I had one."
Me: "If I had a bike, I would totally ride around our neighborhood."
Me: "When I get my bike, on my birthday, I will be so happy."
Me: "In case you were thinking of buying my bike, don't just go get one, give me a gift card so I can pick it myself."

Ya'll, I don't know how this man deals with me. 😂

Well, my birthday comes and Hubby took me to the bike shop. I tested many bikes, went for test rides, and bought way too many accessories than needed for a beginner biker. In the end, I got my bike!

This is the part where I should have written, "...and her and her bike lived happily ever after." Yeah, not the way it is going.

When I thought about this great scheme to get a bike, I forgot one thing...I haven't actually ridden a bike in like 14 years! The old adage that you never forget how to ride a bike (I think that is the saying...lol) is true. I still know how to ride a bike. However, my body feels so awkward. I wobble. I feel unsteady. And most importantly, I hurt.

As you can tell, I am a hearty woman. My ass is quite large and juicy. However, imagine the uncomfortableness of sitting all of my glory on something no bigger than my hand. It hurts and my "saddle" is sore. Even sitting on my soft couch reminds me of the soreness. Hubby just laughs when I sit down and yell, "Oh, my ass!"

I am on day four with my new bike and so far, I have ridden only five miles. I can honestly say, though, that those have been the happiest five miles of my life. I smile while I am riding and enjoy the wind blowing against my face as I go down a hill.

I still have a long way to go to being more than a dangerous beginner on the roads, but I can say, I am looking forward to every mile along the way.

Here is an added bonus photo of the neon safety jacket that Ryan is making me wear while riding. Thanks, hun, for really letting people know I am a novice. Lol.

I am taking back my joy!

This morning, I woke up to my 34th birthday.

As life has a way of showing you, things don’t just magically change to a Disney musical number because it is your birthday. I still had to do litter for my cats. I still had wrestle to get the e-collar on Frankie for his morning potty break. And I still had the same tired look on my face as I fought my unruly hair.

But today was different. Today, after doing the mundane things that my household required, I had a mission.

I was going to get a nose ring.

For the last two or so years, I have been mulling over the idea of getting a nose ring again. I had tried twice in high school, but due to my own neglect (surprise, surprise!), they both were removed shortly after. I knew, though, that I was now much older and more responsible. (I think.)

But then it happened. I let my own brain talk me out of it.

“People will think you are too old for a nose ring.” “Everyone has a nose ring, so you won’t want people to think you are just imitating.” (Add other unkind, crazy mean things that your subconscious says to you to keep you from doing things.)

So there I was stopping myself from doing something that I really wanted to do.

Then yesterday, after writing my blog post about the end of my Jesus year, I started thinking about that nose ring for some reason and the usual doubts came flooding in. But then I looked at the words I had just written.

“I have a renewed purpose to find the joy in the place where I am at now (mentally and physically)…”

We're all adults here, so I think I can say this with no judgment. Fuck my age! If I am going to find joy in the place I am now, then why am I stopping the joy of a nose ring because I am not a certain age? What exactly is the "too old" age? How many awesome people do you know, who are your age or older with nose rings and guess what, you think those people are really cool.

And who cares if others have one? Other people have noses too and you don’t see them trying to cut theirs off because you have one. No one is watching you, Beasley. No one cares. Get over yourself. And for the ones who do, WHO CARES?! Will you love your nose ring less because you see someone else with one? No! You will then know you are both sisters and brothers of the punctured and you will give each other the encouraging head nod of the piercing warriors that you are.

Ok, ok, that last part may not happen, but you know what, I would settle for someone just looking at me one day and thinking, “Wow, that girl is rocking that nose ring.”

So I went and got my nose ring. It took all of 15 minutes. Then I drove home, cracked a bottle of Prosecco, and celebrated my new awesome accessory surrounded by my cats.

In my 34th year, I have found my mission. I am going to take back my joy. I am going to take back all of the things that I told myself I was too old or too fat or too busy to do. If something once brought me joy, I am going to bring it back into my life and create such an overflow of joy for myself that I will be “living my life like it is golden” (Jill Scott).

Yep, 34 is going to be a good one.

Today is the end of my Jesus Year

Today, I end my Jesus Year. As I sip on the last cup of coffee in my 33rd year, I reflect on a year that some say holds incredible significance.

I first heard the term “Jesus Year” from actress Yvonne Orji as she was sending greetings to ‘Insecure’ co-star, Issa Rae on her 33rd birthday. In her Instagram post, she wrote, “#WelcometoYourJesusYear.”

Source: Yvonne Orji Instagram

While there is no concrete definition of the term, it can be summarized as a year of incredible change where one feels like they have been reborn. Named for Jesus Christ, who in his final year of life at 33, was "arrested and crucified in Jerusalem after starting a spiritual, political and intellectual revolution," the 33rd year of life is a time where many have made transformative changes in their lives (Todd, 2012).

A less profound definition from the Vancouver Sun states, “The ‘Jesus Year’ is now also becoming the age in which young people – not necessarily only Christians, but everyone in this multicultural society – decide it’s time to get serious about life, time to accomplish something” (Todd, 2012).

I think that that Vancouver Sun definition is more in line with my own experience. In my 33rd year, I felt like I was at a point in my life where I needed to be more rooted. For the last eleven years, I have moved more times than I care to count. Every rental reminded me that I was not stable and that I was paying off someone else’s dream. And with more and more pets arriving in our lives, the constant fear of being put out of a home for having too many pets was too much to carry. So, in 2017, we bought a house.

In the last five years in Atlanta, I have not made any permanent friends. I do not have any hobbies. I don’t have favorite places that are not associated with my pets. I have made no connections to the city that I have resided for half a decade. I have merely been existing in a place that I thought was temporary.

Now, with a plot of land with our names on it, we are finally home.

The verdict is still out on whether buying a home was the best decision of our lives, but for me, this purchase symbolized a new era that was emerging. Love it or hate it, I now own a part of Atlanta. I am invested in making my happiness here. It is now time that I stop treating this city like a layover that will not end.

Tomorrow, when I wake up, I will be another year older. While it does not have an epic name like “Jesus Year,” I know that this is going to be an incredible new chapter for me. I have a renewed purpose to find the joy in the place where I am at now (mentally and physically), to find my tribe in this city, and to really feel like I am home.

So to my 33rd year, I raise my glass and say, “Cheers!”

---

Reference:

Todd, D. 2012. The 'Jesus Year:' Its time has come. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved from http://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/the-jesus-year-its-time-has-come

One Day: Trivia and Goofs

The biggest goof to me was Anne Hathaway and her horrible accent. However, here are some more trivia and goofs for you.

• It was actually raining for the filming of the scene where Dex and Emma are holidaying on a French beach. The actors performed under a tarpaulin in their swimsuits.
• In Patricia Clarkson's final scene, the lighting of her close-ups gradually gets brighter and brighter, to signify the character's imminent death. I noticed this and was wondering what was happening. Great idea.  
• On July 15, 1994, Dexter tells his mother that he won't be able to stay to visit her that evening because he already has plans to attend the premiere of Jurassic Park. The UK premiere of Jurassic Park took place a year to the day earlier, on July 15, 1993.
• The wide shot of London in 1994 pans across the Houses of Parliament and then you catch sight of parliamentary office building, Portcullis House but it wasn't built for another 7 years.

And finally, a quote:

Emma: A tortilla is either corn or wheat. But a corn tortilla folded and filled is a taco, whereas a filled wheat tortilla is a burrito. Deep fry a burrito, it's a chimichanga. Toast a tortilla, it's a tostada. Roll it, it's an enchilada.

Movie #4: One Day

The next movie on my list was "One Day" starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. I have to give this movie a 3 out of 5 stars. I really wanted to like it more, but God, could Anne Hathaway's British accent be any more horrible?! Seriously, I was not sure if she was supposed to be British, Irish, or American because she switched between all three. 

The premise was a bit thin as well. Nowhere in the movie was it explained why they just so happen to meet on the 15th of every year. Even fate is not that lucky every year. And just when we were hoping for the best for them as a couple, they go and kill her off. Very dramatically as well. I will say, though, that the best acting was done by Sturgess as the grieving widower. I truly felt his pain and sadness. Maybe I am so sensitive to it since I now have a husband who I would die if anything ever happened to him. 

Begin Again: Lost Stars

I usually end a review of my Netflix movies with the trivia and goofs, but I just want you to enjoy the excellence of the lyrics to "Lost Stars."

Please don't see just a boy caught up in dreams and fantasies
Please see me reaching out for someone I can't see
Take my hand let's see where we wake up tomorrow
Best laid plans sometimes are just a one night stand
I'd be damned Cupid's demanding back his arrow
So let's get drunk on our tears and

God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?

Who are we? Just a speck of dust within the galaxy?
Woe is me, if we're not careful turns into reality
Don't you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow
Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer
Turn the page maybe we'll find a brand new ending
Where we're dancing in our tears and

God, tell us the reason youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and the lambs are on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark? ooh

And I thought I saw you out there crying, ooh
And I thought I heard you call my name, yeah, yeah
And I thought I heard you out there crying, oh
Just the same, oh, yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

God, give us the reason youth is wasted on the young
It's hunting season and this lamb is on the run
Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark? ooh

And I thought I saw you out there crying, ooh
And I thought I heard you call my name, ooh
And I thought I heard you out there crying, oh

But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?
But are we all lost stars, trying to light up the dark?

Movie #3: Begin Again

Movie #3 on the Netflix playlist was "Begin Again, starring Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo. When I tell you that this is one of my favorite movies, I am not lying. I have watched this movie about 30 times already and it still wows me with the level of talent by the cast. 

First, let's start with the cast. Keira is definitely a great actress, but who knew she could sing? Not saying she is going to blow anyone out of the water with the vocals, but she has a delicate voice that was perfect for the songs of the movie. Next, Mark Ruffalo. Hubba Hubba. This man is sooo sexy to me. I mean in every movie he is in, I am left fanning myself. He played the role of the almost washed up record exec to a tee. I actually know an ex-record business guy and I swear him and Mark are the exact same person. Lol. Now, let's get to the incredibly sexy Adam Levine. Whew, I just can't with his whole sexy aura. My very first concert in college was Maroon 5. They came to my campus to play for us after their first album dropped and I have been hooked every since. 

Second, let's talk about the premise of the movie. Every girl out there wants to win in the break-up and in this movie, Greta won! She turned this shitty thing that this guy did to her into a way to express herself and be her own woman. I was so happy at the end when she did not go back to that asshole. And the connection between Greta and Dan was incredible. Let's be honest, if the friend was not at home in the scene after they shared music, they would have totally gotten it on! And I wouldn't have been mad at all!

Lastly, there is the music. The music in this movie was so good that I went out and bought the entire soundtrack after my first time watching the movie. I think I have listened to "Lost Stars" so much that I can sing every hook, line, and ad libbed breath between. This album was gold. I recently drove through the canyons of Utah for a business trip and this album happily got me through the places on the road where I got no signal. If you haven't, go buy it!

A Walk to Remember: Goofs and Trivia

And now to my favorite part - trivia and goofs. I am usually pretty good at seeing the inconsistencies, but this movie fooled even me.

• This movie was filmed in only thirty-nine days, despite the fact that they only had Mandy Moore for ten hours a day because she was still a minor.
• Jessica Simpson was considered for the role of Jamie Sullivan. Thank God they made this change.  Jessica Simpson can barely act her way out of a paper bag. 
• At the beginning of the movie, when Landon and Clay are on the tower before Clay jumps into the pool, the water is spraying out over the water like a regular high diving tower, however, when the tower is seen from below, there is a small stream of water, not a spray.
• In the school bus scene, if you look through the back door window, you can see someone in the car following the bus wave.
• Beaufort, North Carolina is nowhere near the Virginia state line.

And now a quote from the movie:

Jamie: You have to promise you won't fall in love with me.

Landon: That's not a problem.

Movie #2: A Walk to Remember

Next up was another Nicholas Sparks classic, "A Walk to Remember," starring Mandy Moore and Shane West. I have seen this movie like a hundred times and every single time, I have to fight back tears. This movie is a good girl reforms bad boy story. At the beginning, you want the stupid guy to be gone with his stupid actions that have gotten him in trouble, but by the end, you are rooting for his new tender nature. 

I would give this movie a 3 out of 5 stars. The storyline is good, but at times the acting seems a bit forced. And let's be honest, we had to watch Mandy Moore pout her lips for like 60 minutes. Without knowing it, I started doing it. I can definitely say that her acting has gotten better with each movie that she has done. 

This movie just makes you wish for that person who will stay with you no matter what. Who will take care of you, love you, and be willing to be there until the end. I love my husband and think he will stay with me until I die, but he won't be as romantic as this guy was. He built her a freaking telescope for God's sake! That is a true romantic. 

The Best of Me: Goofs and Trivia

If you are like me, you love random trivia that you find about movies you watch. Here are some trivia and goofs that you will enjoy.

• Paul Walker was cast in the lead role but after he passed away, the role was given to James Marsden. I don't know how Walker would have done (RIP), but Marsden was amazing and he is uber handsome!
• Every dress (except the last) that the character of Amanda wears (even as an adult) has an open back. I actually noticed this and was secretly hating that my back isn't flawless enough to pull off a backless dress. 
• At the oil platform, Dawson posts an envelope with money but does not seem to seal it. I saw this too! Knew it would come up as a blooper!
• Dawson's eyes change color from brown to blue through the years. Someone really should have caught that. Lol.

Finally, I leave you with a quote:

Amanda: You want me to fall back in love with you? How do I do that if I haven't ever stopped?

Is it just me or could she totally be Megan Fox's younger sister!

Movie #1: The Best of Me

The first movie of my Netflix and Chill romance-a-thon was "The Best of Me" based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks. Ok, this one was a tearjerker. I may have released like two tears at the end. It was a young romance gone sad type of movie like "The Notebook." Rich girl from good family falls for poor boy from the wrong side of the track who is actually good at heart. We all want that type of innocent, youthful love, don't we? Then the bad stuff happens that breaks up the young love and the rest of the movie is the will-they-won't-they scenario. No spoilers here, but I would give this movie a 4 out of 5 stars. Some parts were easy to guess what was going to happen next, which is the folly of most movies nowadays. However, the acting gets high marks. 

This movie made me ponder a bit. Everyone has that one person from their past that they in some way still love. The person who if they showed up at this very moment, your heart may skip a beat. Probably like many people, it ended bad or had no real resolution. In the end, though, the majority of us would move on with our lives as it was progressing. We wouldn't go back to that person in fear that what you had wasn't that great. Or even just the idea that the life you have is not that bad and not worth risking. 

You do hear of those stories where the love was too hard to ignore. How once you saw that person again, you just couldn't go back. How everything picked up just as if you had not spent 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years apart. You see these people together and you know that they are truly happy. You wonder if their love story would have shone as bright had they been together those years. Would they be living a mundane life in a relationship that had lost its spark?

What would you do if that one who got away showed up right now at your doorstep? 

Netflix and Chill

So I dropped off like I usually do after trying to blog for too long. Blame the ADHD in me. Plus I really just am not that exciting.  So I have given myself a new challenge to get my writing going. I am going to watch every romantic movie on Netflix. (Let me clarify, every movie in the Romantic genre on Netflix. No matter if I watched it before or if it is boring or utterly strange. I will watch it, write about it, maybe go on tangents about my day, etc. Let's see how long we can keep this up.

Talk later!
Crystal

Day 13 of 25 Days of Christmas: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Dear readers, I learned something new about my Hubby. He loves classical music. What?! Yep! So for day 13 of my 25 Days of Christmas, I took Hubby and I to see the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. For their "Christmas with the ASO," they brought the joy of Christmas.

From their website:

"Capture the spirit of the holidays with the Orchestra’s iconic story of Christmas, created by the legendary Robert Shaw. A majestic cast of over 400 musicians brings to life the Greatest Story Ever Told."

In addition to the orchestra, there were three wonderful choirs, The Gwinnett Young Singers, The Morehouse College Glee Club, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. They absolutely blew us away! My favorite part had to be when they played the music from "The Nutcracker," which is my absolute favorite ballet.

To say that these are the best of the best musicians is an understatement. Their talents and dedication to get this far is inspiring. Hubby and I are already talking about going back again!

Talk later!
Crystal

Day 12 of 25 Days of Christmas: Holiday Drink and a Book

I love reading. I mean, I LOVE READING! And my guilty pleasure is cheesy, romantic novels. I am talking Harlequin novels where the woman's bust is heaving on the cover. Lol. I was the only 15 year old who had a subscription of Harlequin-type books. My love for the opposites attract or the unlikely romantic are my favorites. Well for Day 12 of 25 Days of Christmas, I decided to grab me a new Christmas themed romance, make me a Christmas drink, and read my day away.

Let's start with the book. Ok, so I did not physically grab a book...lol. More like, I pulled up my Kindle app and started reading digitally. Because I have Amazon Prime, I am able to download lots of romance novels for free. So for today's book, I chose "Unwrapping Her Perfect Match." Not only is it about Christmas, but it has a rugby angle to the story. See, reading and learning about a new sport!

Here is the long summary of the book from Amazon:

’Twas a week before Christmas, and at the auction house... 

At six foot one, Gwen Chambers has felt like a giant her whole life. She’s a calm, capable nurse saving lives in a busy London hospital, but healthy men give her heart palpitations. When larger-than-life rugby player “Little” John Sheldon convinces her to bid on him in his team’s fundraising auction, she discovers how pleasurable heart palpitations can be. 

A rugby player was stirring, with desire no one could douse... 

John has wanted Gwen since he first saw her, but when he’s injured in a match just before Christmas he suddenly needs her too. Not only can the sexy nurse help him recover, but she might be able to help him look after his daughter—a shy ten-year-old who speaks only French. 

But will it be a Happy Christmas for all, and for all a good night? 

From decorating the Christmas tree to ice skating at the Tower of London, Gwen helps father and daughter open up and bond with each other—and she bonds right along with them. But when John's agent calls with a life-changing offer, Gwen has to decide how far she’s willing to go for her perfect match. Will their first Noël also be their last?

Cheesy, right?! Well, so far, I am loving it. I was able to get through about half of the book in an afternoon and will be finishing it in the next week.

Now for the Christmas drink...this one was hard. I just could not find anything that sounded good enough or in small portions that I could drink alone. I did not want to end up with a gallon of punch, you know? Well, I had a bottle of red wine and I thought, Sangria! A red wine sangria is perfect for winter, especially when you add some citrus fruits. Here is the great recipe that I used.

Well that is all. Going back to read more of my book. 

Talk later!

Crystal

Day 11 of 25 Days of Christmas: Make a Hearty Winter Meal

There is nothing like a warm, hearty meal on a cold winter day. Well this is Atlanta and it was 73 degrees today, but that did not stop me from cooking a great meal for Hubby and I. So on day 11 of 25 Days of Christmas, I went into my kitchen and whipped up a spicy chili.

Chili is kind of my thing. What other recipe can you go into your cupboards and clear out everything and put it into one pot. Ok, ok, not everything, but seriously, I used a lot of ingredients.

You may be thinking, "Crystal, how is this holiday related?" Well, it may not be directly related, but it has become a tradition in my family that every December, I make my infamous (to my Hubby) chili and since this 25 Days is about creating traditions that can last a lifetime, I am including it. :)

Since I don't measure my recipe at all, I would be horrible at giving you directions on how to make it. However, I did find one that is pretty similar to mine here. The only difference in mine is that I love packing in as many beans as I can...light kidney beans, dark kidney beans, black beans, cannelloni, whatever I have in my kitchen!

I hope you enjoy!

Talk later!
Crystal

Day 10 of 25 Days of Christmas: Hiking with Our Dogs

I don't know about you, but I love being outside when the air is crisp and the leaves have fallen. When I lived in Frederick, MD, I would take my dogs hiking at least once a week. Just us on the trails, exploring the waterfalls, and getting rid of all stresses and pent up energy.

Since moving to Atlanta, we have not gone hiking at all, so for day 10 of 25 Days of Christmas, I decided to take my bunch on a holiday hike! We went to Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs, GA, about 40 minutes from our house. This park was so beautiful! And luckily, the weather was beautiful at 60 degrees with a light breeze.

So I have been working out hard for about two months - one hour of cardio, 4-5 days a week. Well that did not matter because I struggled on this 3.5 mile, moderate to difficult hike. At several times between points 6 and 9 (there were 20), I seriously thought that I would not be able to make it. My legs hurt, I couldn't breathe, and Frankie (my lab) was literally pulling me up that hill. But guess what? I finished! It took us a while and I was sore, but I made it through the rest of the hike and to the car. Woohoo! Here are some pictures that I took on this holiday hike:

We look the labs, Bella and
Frankie along on the hike. 

Marker 10, halfway through the hike. 

My beautiful, Bella Louise

My handsome boy, Frankie

Away we go! Thanks Frankie for
pulling your mama along. 

Yep, this was at the beginning of the
hike before the pain of going up those hills. 

My handsome Hubby pondering life. Lol. 

I love my hiking crew. 

The beautiful river that we crossed
on the bridge on the trail. 

After that hike, you know what I did the rest of the day....sleep! I needed it.

Talk later!
Crystal

Day 9 of 25 Days of Christmas: Christmas Photo Day and Singing Christmas Tree

So today, Hubby and I did my absolute favorite Christmas activity! On the 9th day of the 25 Days of Christmas, we took Christmas photos!

As I did last year, I took to Groupon and LivingSocial looking for deals for photography studios. Again, I was able to take advantage of a deal from the Picture People for a session, prints, and a CD of our favorite pose. Great deal all for just $22!

Hubby and I were thinking of all kinds of themes and costumes, but in the end, we kept it simple with jeans, white shirts, and Santa hats. We decided to include one of our zoo members this year for the fun. We chose Justice, our most recent foster fail. She is the most well-behaved and wouldn't have been scared of the flashes and the stranger.

Because of Justice, we had to be at the photo studio at 9 am before the mall opened. That meant I had to put on makeup before 8 am. Ugh! It was all worth it as we came out with some wonderful shots. We selected one pose of all of us and one with just Justice to print out. So drumroll please....here are our Christmas photos for 2015!

A little selfie before the actual photo shoot. 

The photo of Justice. Ain't she cute?

Our Christmas Photo!

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! Lol.

We did a two-for-one day of Christmas activities! On that night, we drove 45 minutes to Fayetteville, GA where we got to see a great production at New Hope Baptist Church called the Singing Christmas Tree. It was amazing!

From their website:
"The Living Christmas Tree is a worship celebration combining music, drama, choirs, orchestra and thousands of computerized lights on a 50 ft. “Singing” Tree. Each year an original story incorporates sounds of the season as well as biblical drama to proclaim the gospel story of Jesus Christ."

At some times during the production, I was crying, while at other times, I was in tears. It was amazing! I even got to see a real life camel! That thing was huge, yet gorgeous! Afterwards, Hubby and I went to dinner where we got to look lovingly into each other's eyes. I love him!

What a perfect day for Christmas activities!

Talk later!
Crystal

Day 8 of 25 Days of Christmas: Cookie Decorating

So after giving myself a few days break from sweets, I was ready for this next activity. On day 8 of 25 Days of Christmas, I had a cookie decorating party...with just Hubby and I. 

There is nothing better than the smell of cookies wafting through the house. I change that, there is nothing better than the taste of warm, gooey cookies in your mouth. Mmmmm. I decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies. Hubby loves the peanut butter cookies. After baking them to golden deliciousness, I took out my cookie icing and went to work making stars, Christmas trees, and Christmas sayings. I think from the results that I need to work more on my decorating skills. Lol. Here are some pics of this activity. 

The before picture of the peanut butter cookies topped
with a little sugar to make them a little crunchy. 

The after with my awesome decorating. 

Well, I am off to eat some cookies while they are warm and delicious. 

Talk later!

Crystal

Day 7 of 25 Days of Christmas: Design Christmas Card

For Day 7 of 25 Days of Christmas, I put on my creative hat to design our yearly Christmas cards. So last year, Hubby and I started the tradition of sending Christmas cards to family and friends. Everyone loved our goofy picture and the handwritten sentiments! So this year, I am taking it a bit further by actually designing personalized Christmas cards!

There are lots of websites that you can use for this, including Shutterfly, but for a more economical solution, I am going through my local CVS store. In addition to them being reasonably priced, they have free same day printing, which we will need since we are going to send these out two weeks before Christmas!

It took me about two hours to find the design that I wanted and to customize it with our name, a message, and the layout that I wanted. In the end, I think I created like five cards, but will let Hubby select the one he likes the best.

Hubby and I have our photo shoot planned for Day 9 and this year, we are including one of the zoo members. Won't spoil the surprise yet.

Can't wait to do the big reveal!

Talk later!
Crystal

Day 6 of 25 Days of Christmas: Sugar Coma Overload

I will be honest hear, reader. Today's activity was supposed to be much different. As you know from day 3 of 25 Days of Christmas, Hubby and I baked a million cupcakes...ok, more like 48, but still a lot. Well here I am at day 6 and we still have about 24 cupcakes left! I am in a sugar coma to the extreme, then I look at my activity of the day and it said, "Make Christmas Candy." I was like, nope, not happening! My waistline needs to recover from all of the cupcakes that I have eaten and will still have to eat, so tonight, I decided to scrap the candy making and watch the marathon of Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel.

They run ALL DAY LONG. So tonight, I stayed up late watching all of the great romantic Christmas ones. That is all, nothing else planned. Well, that is not true, I am planning on hitting the gym tomorrow so that you all won't see me on TV as they airlift me off of my couch. LOL.

Talk later!
Crystal