Saying Goodbye to 2013

Is it really the end of another year? Where did this year go? Before we say hello to 2014, I want to take a look back on 2013.

On January 1st, I rang in the New Year with family in West Virginia.

(Clearly Miley stole the tongue thing from me)

 

Shortly after New Years, I jumped on a plane and headed back to California.

In April some friends and I headed to Reno, Nevada. I had never been there so it was a new experience and something fun to do.

In June my mom came out to California and we celebrated my Birthday! We traveled to San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Cruz. We had a lot of fun!

 (at the beach boardwalk)

(Visiting the Golden Gate)

(Visiting the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose)

 

In July I visited the Redwoods for the first time.

And I saw some of Northern California for the first time...

 (Coastal town: Crescent City)

In August, I started going to NBA games with Beezy...

 

In October, I celebrated Halloween with friends...

In November, I was able to travel back to West Virginia for Thanksgiving. I also worked on completing my 30 Before 30 List.

 

In December, I celebrated Christmas with family.

 

I'm working New Years Eve and New Years day so that's how I'll end the year!

Workin' On My Fitness

When I was in high school and college, I was very active. I twirled for Marshall and because of that I was very active. I worked out in the gym everyday for hours. I had practices that would last for multiple hours every day. On game days I was be active for 8-10 hours and in every day life I was pretty active. I think because of that I was very fit. I had defined arms, a flat stomach and some meaty legs. Granted, I didn't have the best eating habits but I was eating. I wasn't a huge fan of vegetables. I was a college student and loved pizza, fries, noodles, etc. During college this is probably the skinniest that I was...

Let's not talk about my major watch tan line. I know.

 

I got really, really thin after my first major relationship break up and got sickly thin. I think I weighed like 115 here. Since I'm about 5'4'' and actually do have big bones it wasn't attractive. At the time I thought I looked fantastic because I mean really who doesn't want to be skinny in college? Looking back on these photos I was too thin. My big bones were sticking out.

But considering I like to eat...

Flash forward to 2013 and I'm starting to notice that I need to get in shape again. I need to work on my fitness. I want to spend this year working on getting back into shape and toning up my arms, stomach and legs. Santa has phoned me from the North Pole and let me in on the secret that I'm getting a treadmill for Christmas. I'm also going to invest in some hand weights. I'm going to work on eating better and by better I mean actually ingest things like wheat bread, fruits and vegetables. I'm also going to try out protein bars and healthy drinks. I'm going to have to break up with In-N-Out and my beloved Crab Rangoon from the local Chinese place. I'm going to put down the chocolate covered peanut butter balls, the little Debbie cakes and replace them with carrots and grapes.

Why have I decided to do this now? Because I'm going to  be 30 in June. I want to rock an awesome two piece bathing suit. I want to be physically fit again. The big motivator for me is that I've got an idea for something in the fall but I'm not willing to share it yet. I know I have to be in good physical shape for it, that's for sure! So we shall see kids. January 1st the fitness is on!

Now I just need to compile a good music playlist for working out. Suggestions? Also if anyone has any suggestions on nutritional drinks, shakes, bars etc. Please let me know! I need/want things that do not contain caffeine and less than 2grams in sugar.

Five on Friday

1. Christmas is the best time of the year.

I have the post Christmas blues. I love the holidays and Christmas is my favorite. I'm sad that it's over. I feel like with Thanksgiving and Christmas being so close this year that all of us got robbed an entire week of holiday joy. I'm so glad that I was able to travel to West Virginia and spend it with family. Santa visited me and brought me tons of great stuff but I would have been happy even if I didn't get a single thing. Being home was enough for me.

2. The Christmas Ham. My mom out did herself this year. She made an amazing ham.

We prepared the ham on Christmas Eve. We got it covered in the pineapples and smeared the brown sugar mixture all over it. Christmas morning this bad boy went into the oven and came out six hours later. It was so good! My mom also made tons of sides which were yummy as well. It isn't Christmas without some ham!

 

3. Christmas Cookies and Candy. My mom and I made some homemade cookies and chocolate covered peanut butter balls. When I say my Mom and I, I should clarify. My mom basically did everything and I helped paint the cookies and cover the balls in chocolate. Just to be clear. I am not Martha Stewart when it comes to all things.

 Cookies for Santa! Clearly he loves Christmas trees and stars.

Prepping the peanut butter balls. Then the finished product...

I can't know how to make these. If I did, I would make them everyday and eat every single one. That's how good they are. Seriously.

 

4. Christmas flowers.

Someone sent me flowers on Christmas Eve. I thought it was super sweet and nice. Look at that cute boot! I mean flowers and a Christmas boot, how can that not be awesome!?!

 

5. It's back to the real world now with work. Ugh....



Theater Thursday

Today is the last day to enter the giveaway!

It's Thursday and that only means one thing here at Crazy Shenanigans... it's Theater Thursday! This week's featured Christmas Edition movie is... National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Does this movie need any explaining? I don't think so! This movie is a hilarious, Christmas classic that features Clark Griswold and his family spending the Christmas holiday together in their native Chicago, Illinois. He wanted to get the whole family together and what unfolds is hilarious. I think everyone can relate to it.

 

No family holiday is what we always hope it would be but the Griswolds are experiencing more than enough for us all. If you've never seen this movie then you really are missing out on some great laughs. Go check it out! Also check your local theater listings because Cinemark movie theaters have this movie featured in their Christmas edition this year so it's been shown on the big screen again in certain theaters on certain nights.

 



Have the Hap Hap Happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny Kaye!

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone is spending the day with the people they love.

Christmas Cards 2013

I love sending and receiving real mail. There's nothing better than going to your mailbox and finding real letters, cards and packages. No one jumps for glee when they receive a bill. Naturally I send out Christmas cards every year. However this year I did something a little different and had three different designs. I couldn't decide on just one.

The first design was this one...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite Christmas movies. When I saw this card, I knew I had to get them and send them out. I only wish the inside could have been the speech that Clark gives ones he receives his "bonus". Who wouldn't want that delightful message?!

The second card...

My second card was Elf! I love this Christmas movie and think it's cute. It has so many quotable moments. The outside of the card said, Smiling's My Favorite. The inside of the card said, Because I see you! Merry Christmas! Now if it would have only asked you, "What's your favorite color?"

My third card was a personalized one...

This was the first year that I had done a personalized one. I always see year after year my friends send out their family cards so I decided to do my own! The back featured a personalized message. I mainly sent these to family and a few closer friends. I got these from Shutterfly and I thought they did a great job with the printing. They also came really quickly once I ordered them.

If I sent you a Christmas card this year, I hope you enjoyed it!
PS: Don't forget to enter my Amazon gift card giveaway!

Five on Friday

1. My mom and I spent 48 hours in one of my favorite places- Pigeon Forge/Gaitlinburg Tennessee. I seriously love that place and no visit to the east coast would be complete without going there. We made the 4 hour road trip and hit the town.

2. The Dixie Stampede! Every year the Dixie Stampede changes up their show and puts on a Christmas theme during this time of the year. The show is great and the food is wonderful. You also get a super cute boot for your drink!

3. The Comedy Barn.

We've seen this show multiple times but it's never failed to make us laugh. They've got singing, dancing, comedy and animals. It's always a fun time!

4. We shopped at some of my favorite Christmas stores.

I had to feed my addiction of all things Christmas and acquire more ornaments for my new trees and themes! Beach theme got tons of new ornaments! Here's a sneak peek...

5. We hit up one of my favorite vintage stores, Nostalgia.

It's located in Knoxville and I always find amazing vintage pieces there. This is the place that I found my sectional couch and chairs. This trip didn't disappoint. I found some great 1970's curtains still in the original packaging... sealed! I was like SOLD!

Bonus 6. Don't forget to enter for the Amazon Gift Card!

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