Crazy Family Christmas Shenanigans

About 10 years ago my family started a new tradition that has caught on like gang busters. We started getting bored with the usual "visit, dinner, visit, dessert, presents, midnight mass, goodbye's" because we didn't really get to enjoy each other because you were so focused with "making the rounds". So one year my Uncle Steve, who's a dentist, surprised us by secretly polling 100 of his patients and presented us with a Christmas version of Family Feud! It was hilarious and amazing and was the beginning of a beautiful tradition. Since then, every year there is a Christmas game that remains top secret until Christmas Eve when we all celebrate. The responsibility of coming up with the game rotates, so whoever is hosting Christmas Eve, is also responsible for the game as well. 

In the past we have played...

Family Feud, Christmas Murder Mystery, Survivor (2 times), Name That Christmas Tune, Christmas Charades, Christmas Picture Rebus Puzzles, Christmas Dice game (rolling a 2 and a 5 simultaneously), Wii  Tournament (we created characters for each person in our family)

This year I am in charge once again and we are going to play Minute to Win It Christmas version! I am so excited to see how ridiculous my family will be! Not a single person cares about making a fool of themselves, and usually we're a bit intoxicated which will make it that much more hilarious. If you haven't seen this game show, you really should! The tradition of a game on Christmas Eve has really brought my family together over the years and has created some memories that will last a lifetime. I am so thankful for my amazing family, whom I love and whom I know loves me for just the person I am. 

Empowering Women

A few weeks ago a friend of mine posted a link to The Brave Girls Club, an online website designed just for women, where they can come together to create an online community where positive self-images are instilled. This is for women who want to lead the best life they can live, all the while being brave in whatever challenge life may throw at them. It's one of the most empowering communities I've come across. 


Now granted I haven't had the time to really delve deep into the inner workings of this community, but what I have seen, is powerful, wonderful and exciting to find in my inbox daily. There is an email you can sign up to receive called "A little birdie told me...Daily Truth". This email is a little nugget of gold if you ask me! Each day it has something empowering, uplifting, inspiring or something that you just needed to hear that particular day. So many days in the last 2 weeks, these little daily truths, have spoken to me in just a way that I needed. Something my dearest and closest friends have told me before, but nothing that I believed. For some reason, I had to have it presented this way, to make me understand it and grasp it in the way it was meaningful to my life. Check it out...you won't be disappointed! 


One of the "owners" of this club is quite the artist and has created these inspirational images that I just had to post! I'm thinking of printing them and framing some for my desk, wall shelves, etc! I give all credit of these images to the wonderful women at The Brave Girls Club!

In a time when I am struggling with a friendship that is emotionally
draining; one where I'm giving my everything and not getting
anything in return...I SO needed to hear this. It's permission for me
to move on and not feel guilty. I'm protecting my soul. :)

I L.O.V.E this. It's so simple but yet so meaningful! Who
cares what others say...be yourself...do your thing...be you!

Simple. Profound.

Christmas Movie Magic

One of my favorite ways to kick off the holiday season is to snuggle up on the couch with blankets and friends, and mugs of hot chocolate (and maybe a bit of peppermint schnapps) and pop in Christmas movies! There are so many that I remember watching as a kid with my brother, on repeat, night after night. The love for  Christmas movies continues today, as I've compiled a list of holiday movies I plan to watch this year. Some I've seen, some I can pretty much quote line by line, and others I've never seen. Regardless, they are movies I plan to watch this season, and are listed in no particular order. I've put an ** by the ones that hold a special place in my heart. What are your favorite Christmas Movies??


1. Babes in Toyland**
2. A Christmas Carol
3. A Christmas Story
4. Elf**
5. The Family Stone
6. Four Christmases
7. Frosty the Snowman
8. The Holiday**
9. Home Alone**
10. The Muppet Christmas Carol
11. The Polar Express
12. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
13. Scrooge
14. A Charlie Brown Christmas**
15. It's A Wonderful Life
16. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
17. Love Actually
18. Miracle on 34th Street
19. The Night Before Christmas
20. Prancer

Snow!

Some people like to play in the snow...I however, like to put my Legos IN the snow :)

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

In honor of the impending holiday I thought it was only appropriate that I post some of my favorite Thanksgiving Centerpieces and table settings. The rich color tones gives off such a cozy, inviting feeling that brightens up each room. Although I am not hosting Thanksgiving this year and will not need to create any sort of centerpiece, if I did, one of these would for sure be sitting in my dinning room.

I love the simplicity of this one, especially because all you use is
your own linens, fruit and gourds purchased at your local store.
Simple, straight forward, and gorgeous.

I don't think the centerpiece on this one is anything special
but what I do love is that the centerpiece isn't meant to be
the focal point. LOOK AT THOSE DISHES! How fun! This
is a great way to mix it up a bit and still have plenty of room on the
table for all the other "goods" :)

Again, I like the de-clutter look of this one. Who wants to
have to work around bulky centerpieces that block your
view of your loved ones and make it impossible to set
the turkey, potatoes and all the other fixin's on the table?!

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! How simple! I never thought about using
nuts to decorate like this. But how chic and simple but gorgeous!

Hands down my favorite! Just think of how versatile this could
be! You could do different plants for every season and it'd be
the perfect accent to your table!

Giving Back

Lately I have had a bit of a heavy heart, thinking about my life and how to make it more meaningful. I feel pretty selfish for not doing more for my community and others around me. Everything that I do revolves around me and what makes me feel good and rightfully so, it is my life, but I feel like there should be more to it. Yes, I give back by teaching young 5 and 6 year olds and really what could be more rewarding than that, but that's my job. I'm hired to do that. And although I love my chosen career, I am beginning to feel a pull to do more. I have been thinking of doing some sort of volunteer work, something that will help me to connect with others in my community and a way for me to give back. My first thought was Habitat for Humanity where I'd help build houses for those less fortunate but my immediate thought was "who would willingly give ME a hammer or power tool?!"....I'm rather clumsy and accident prone!. My second thought was Special Olympics where I could work with people with special needs. Ideally this would be what I'd chose, but you really don't get to connect with people much through that one because it's different people every time. But I LOVE working with people with special needs. Hmmm. 

I need some inspiration...some sort of sign that will lead me to the perfect volunteer situation.

"The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others."

--Ghandi

My new inspiration

I have been wanting to re-do my bedroom and master bathroom but simply haven't known what I wanted. I think I've figured it out. I started off with my master bedroom a pretty, soothing shade of green but I've since decided I want something more neutral. After four years of green, I'm ready for a change. My master bath is pretty small and I had painted it a deep purple...pretty, but it just makes the space seem smaller. And childish.

I'm obsessed with grey. I don't know what's come over me but I LOVE GREY! It's soothing, and simple yet sophisticated and it's just what I've been needing. I want to paint the walls in both rooms grey (they connect so I need to keep it consistent) and accent with a greyish purple, white and black. Here are some rooms I love. Some more overdone than my taste for sure, but beautiful none the less.

Isn't this just to die for! I love the chic simple design
for a babys room. One any little girl could grow into and
love for years to come.

A different view. That mirror above the dresser pulls down
and turns into a changing table! I die! 

Not a fan of the yellow incorporated here
but I like the design on the wall in lieu of
a headboard. 

Although very minimalist, I feel like this is such a serene place
to retreat to. 

Best Thing Since Sliced Bread!

I have literally discovered the best thing since sliced bread. I kid you not! I'm a sucker for searching on Craigslist for household items but hate having to click on every posting to see the pictures. There's a new thing called Craigseasy.com and it's a bookmark that you add to your bookmark menu. Once you search for something on craigslist then you click the craigseasy button and it shows you pictures of the posted items! NO MORE CLICKING EVERY POSTING! It saves so much time and frustration! I am in love :)

So save yourself hours of searching and go to www.craigseasy.com
It'll change your life too :) Happy hunting!

Was I The Same Way?

Two years ago I was with a man whom I thought was the love of my life. I met him at a wedding of a co-worker and he was the best man. I didn't know it, but everyone else had told him about me and it was a secret set up on their part. I met him and was smitten instantly. We were inseparable the rest of the night and well into the after party. I awoke early too anxious to hear from him and when I did, I asked him out to coffee before he had to make a long, three day trip back to Oklahoma, where he was from. Four days later I jumped on a plane and flew down to spend Labor Day weekend with him. It was a leap of faith, one that I never in a million years would have seen coming, but something I felt I had to do. You see this particular summer I had attended a total of 7 weddings and was beginning to wonder when it was my turn. When did I get the happy ending? When was it my turn to wear a pretty white dress and marry the man of my dreams? So when I met Dan, I thought that dreams maybe do come true.

The trip to Oklahoma was one of mixed emotions. I hated the state, but was falling hard and fast for Dan. I loved his confidence, his funny quirky sense of humor, and his ability to set me free. He made me feel like I was the only one in the entire world that mattered. Our relationship turned serious very quickly and within weeks we were saying those three little words that I refuse to throw around lightly. They're sacred to me. We began talking about marriage and children. We looked at rings and talked about where we'd live, and how we'd raise our children. It literally was everything I ever wanted...except for the fact that I lived in Washington, and he lived in Oklahoma. It was an intense relationship filled with extreme highs, and low lows. My family didn't see the man I saw. My friends tried to see the man I saw. His family saw someone strong, and stable and loving...the one for him. I tried to believe he was the man with everything I wanted. Sooner rather than later, I began to notice red flags but I tried to convince myself that it would be ok. It wasn't. I began to realize that I needed out of the relationship, and after 9 months, I did just that. I ended it, and broke his heart, and mine at the same time. I broke his because he needed someone in his life to make him feel loved and I ripped that away from him. I broke my own heart because I ripped out from under me the one thing I wanted more than anything...to be a wife and mother. I was ok. Sure I was sad, and lost, but I moved on. I was happy to be "free" again and not have the burden of his problems weighing on my shoulders and ultimately I was happy knowing that I didn't make a mistake.

4 months after our relationship ended I found out that he had gotten married. 4 MONTHS!!! This shot me into a complete downfall of depression. I was NOT ok. I was a mess. I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat, couldn't stop crying. I felt as if the universe was out to get me. Why me? Why did I deserve to go through this? I sought out counseling because I knew it wasn't something that I could fix on my own and after a few months, I began to heal. I don't think I'm 100% there, and probably won't be until someone shows me what true love really is. But I'm close. I know that I deserve better. I know that I dodged a major bullet by not marrying him, and I know that he couldn't have made me happy.

I write all of this because I have a friend who's boyfriend broke up with her 2 months ago after a 6 year relationship. I see her in a state of depression which has taken her into the world of cigarettes, pot and alcohol to ease her pain. She doesn't care about herself, and thinks that HE is what makes her complete. She thinks that she'll never love again, and doesn't believe in love. Everytime she calls me I hesitate to answer because I know it's going to be a long conversation about him, and how miserable she is. I don't want to hang out with her one-on-one for the same reasons. I feel terrible about this and know that I need to be there for her, but I can't handle it. I can't handle how she isn't helping herself. How she can sit there and email him and tell him how much she is hurting, and expect him to come running back to her. She is sabotaging herself and I can't sit here and watch her do it. It's driving me crazy and I don't know what to do. I want to help her so badly. I then begin to wonder. Was I this bad? Did I do the same things? Were my friends and family annoyed with me??

I just pray that there begins to be some sort of light at the end of the tunnel for her. I know there was for me.

I'm going here...

Tomorrow morning I am going here...

My new home for four days...

the lazy river...you will be my new best friend :)

Things I love...

How can you not just love this trio?! I die!

Again, if I had a child, they WOULD have this. 

I love the vintage feel these doves have. Kind of a fun idea
to give away 3 to girlfriends, and keep the 4th for yourself!

This makes me smile. Oh the simplicity but such a strong statement.

I'm such a sucker for bright colors..

The quirky side to me

Oh sure. I mean who doesn't need a
caged rock monkey?

All images from http://www.atwestend.com/

In my fantasy world...

I would be an interior decorator, or at least have the money and space to have these grand ideas and carry them out. I would never put all of these design elements in the same home, but I love them all and couldn't help but post! It just makes me giddy thinking about them and dreaming that one day I could have something even remotely like them!

I am obsessed with this space! I love how casual and inviting it is,  and how
uncluttered yet richly decorated at the same time. You can tell this is a space
to spend a lot of quality time together..and that's what's most important!

I am a kid in a candy store with this kitchen! HOW FUN!! Can you
imagine a kid going crazy in here (and by kid I mean me!) 

I love the natural colors in this room and how much impact the branches
have. I would probably insert a bit more dark brown but that's just because
I love dark wood to make it more cozy feeling :)

clearly not for a home, but I thought this was
a beautiful Fall wedding reception idea!

I would be an interior decorator, or at least have the money and space to have these grand ideas and carry them out. I would never put all of these design elements in the same home, but I love them all and couldn't help but post! It just makes me giddy thinking about them and dreaming that one day I could have something even remotely like them!

Vegas themed Bridal Shower

Here are some goodies from the bridal shower I helped throw a few weeks back for a girlfriend of mine. I am a sucker for a good theme party, so when given the chance to do a Vegas themed one, I went for it! :) We had a salad bar and then a dessert table. Most of what we had I figured out a way to tie it in to Vegas hotels, so many of the food items represented a major hotel on the Vegas Strip. Prizes for the games we played were a set of poker chips and a $5 scratch ticket :) I didn't get a picture of the drinks, but we had a "Tropicana Tropical Punch" a "Hard Rock Hurricane" and "Bellagio Water" :) 

Fish bowl with black & red poker chips and mini playing cards!

The table with the party favors! 

The party favors that everyone got when they left...
They said "Crystal's Taking A Shot At Love"

The bride wanted a giant salad bar and that's exactly what she got!
And OH was it a glorious thing!

Dessert table! What more could you ask for!

My attempt at playboy bunnies..not great, but a good try :)

haha I LOVE these! :)

MIA

Ok so I have been missing in action lately and I suppose I have a lot of updating to do. I've been so busy/overwhelmed this past week for many different reasons. I love lists, so here it goes...

1. Early mornings at work due to many committees I'm in charge of, and mentoring a new teacher that takes up A TON of my time and energy
2. Officiating HS volleyball two nights a week and coming home only to pass out from exhaustion
3. Cleaning the house so that my brother's "lady friend" wouldn't be repulsed when she flew in from Colorado (oh, and yes...my brother lives with me and can you tell how thrilled I am to have him and clean up after him?)
4. Working for my dad...he's in the middle of writing a books and has deadlines for his real job that were due like yesterday. SO I've been spending my time working for him to help him catch up
5. Trying to catch up with all my other responsibilities in my other jobs
6. Bachelorette party in Seattle for a girlfriend of mine who's getting married in Vegas in a few weeks

I promise I'll be better at posting!!

True Friendship

Today was the first day in over three weeks that I can legitamatly remember having absolutely nothing to do after work and it felt wonderful. I got home at a decent time, changed into my cozy sweats and poured myself a glass of wine all before 5pm :) I did my usual "unwinding" by perusing facebook, and my other favorite blogs and then called Courtney, my longtime friend/college roomate whom is one of those people who you can go months without talking to and pick up right where you left off. It was EXACTLY what I needed. We caught up on everything and never once did we hold back. Often I feel like with friends who you don't talk to on a regular basis you sometimes hold back and don't confide in them as much as you would others...but not Courtney. In actuality, she's one that I can tell anything and everything to and know it's safe with her. Our lives are so similar on so many levels that it's sometimes scary. It fills my heart with happiness to know that Courtney will always be there for me no matter how far live takes us apart. We have a bond that cannot be broken. As I think about our conversation, it really makes me think about my friendships with others and how those friendships seem so much more empty. Maybe it's a time to re-evaluate my friendships and put more effort into those that bring me love and joy and eliminate those that don't. Either way, it was so nice to cozy up on the couch, glass of wine in hand, and chit chat with my college roomate/bff :)

Bellingham State of Mind

This makes me so happy. I spent four amazing years in Bellingham while in college, and this perfectly illustrates the city that I love. I miss it so, and wish I could return.

Finding my way...alone

The title of this post gives off the impression that the following will be a sad commentary about the lonely existence I lead, in this great big world full of happily married, or committed couples. Quite the contrary however, is the fact that this post is a happy post!

You see, this morning I gathered with my childhood girlfriends where we spent time chatting and catching up on life. I always love this time together because they are like family and I adore them as if they were my sisters. They're all married...yup every single one of them now, and that leaves me. Little 'ole me, just waiting for my knight in shining armor. They were all asking if I was on the internet doing the whole online dating thing again, and was surprised to hear that I in fact, was not. That's right, I'm taking a break from online dating. I need time to focus on myself, and this decision, I'm quite happy about. Our chatting continued about life in general, and then as we parted ways, I dashed over to the "bungalow" where I then helped set up for a friends bridal shower. It was a Vegas themed bridal shower and OH did I have fun. I swear I was like a little kid in a candy store, getting to  decorate and bring my creative juices to work! More on that goodness, later...back to the point at hand. Love.

At the bridal shower my 2 bf's and I were having fun setting up and were talking about dating and marriage and of course, they get to me, and determine that I need to get married. **in my mind "NEWSFLASH! HOW ON EARTH HAVE I NOT REALIZED THIS EARLIER!"*** Yep, I know. Trust me, I want to be married, but I refuse to settle. Again, conversation turns elsewhere (probably to the shenanigans of my latest dbag male friend whom I'm no longer speaking with) and I'm out of the spotlight again (yes!).

I then spent the evening with some other girl friends ( yes I know, I'm crazy busy) watching movies and relaxing. Of course we have to pick When In Rome, to watch which is a predictable romantic comedy. Once again, for the 3rd time today, I'm surrounded by the love conversation.

Ok so getting to the point. I usually leave each of these types of situations feeling a bit sad at the fact that I'm still single and living my life on my own. I also feel a bit nostalgic towards the good days with Dan, and wishing that he were still mine...that those happy times were still here and the marriage talk was in the works. But then I realize all of the things that were wrong with Dan, and realize that being single allows me to do the things important to me, and not have to worry about the needs of another person. I can do things on a whim, and am proud of myself for being a strong independent woman. I suppose, for the first time in a long time, I'm OK with being single. I actually don't mind it. Sure, of course I'd love to be loved by a man. I'd love to know that there's someone out there always thinking of me and wanting to be with me; wanting to one day be my husband and father to my children. But that will all come. I have to believe that. I have to believe that the time just isn't right for the two of us to come together, and that right now, my purpose in life, is to continue down this road of self-discovery, and acceptance of the person I am becoming.

Inside the mind of a 5 year old

Today was my third day with students and can I tell you how much I already adore them! I love spending my days with 5 and 6 year olds because they say the most hilarious things and really are just so innocent. Today a little one said, "My mom told me that if you get bitten by a wolf, you turn into one". My response "really, wouldn't that be scary?". To which he replied, "nope, I hope I get bitten by one...I want to be a wolf!"

And this is why I love my job :)

Free Your Glee

This weekend marks the start of another year of the Puyallup Fair, and oddly enough, I couldn't be more underwhelmed. I have great memories of the Fair, the greasy goodness of the food, the thrill of the rides, and the delicious milk samples from Wilcox (lets not even get me started on the creamy goodness of their freshly made swirl ice cream!). But this year is different. I could care less about the fair, and in all actuality, I wish it would go away. I live by the fair, and I hate the traffic! It takes me 15+ minutes extra each day to get home from work because of Fair traffic, the traffic revisions are stupid, and drivers are BRUTAL! This is the 14th year I've worked at the Fair however I will slap you silly if you call me a Carnie! :) It's fun, and I get to see my friends who I've come to love over the many years, and I especially love catching up with my "regulars" who give me freebies at the fair because they like me so much! :) And who am I kidding, it's fun to flirt with them...just because I can ;) I suppose there is some positive that comes from the Fair, but right now, as I sit here smelling of greasy Fair food, and my feet are throbbing, the last thing I want to do is head back there in less than 10 hours!

Random Acts of Kindness

Yesterday as I was heading to a volleyball meeting (yes, a meeting on Labor Day..who does that!) I decided to stop at Starbucks to pick up a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate ( I know, it's like a party in your mouth it's THAT delicious). I was pulling in to the drive through and this car speeds through the lot, and cuts me off just to get in front of me! UGH! needless to say I had some not so nice words for her, and sat with a scowl on my face as she spoke into the speaker, clearly indecisive as it took FOREVER! As I pull up to the window to pay and pick up my cup 'o'  heaven,  the way to perky guy at the window informs me that the car in front of me paid for my drink! WHAT!! THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ME! WHOOO HOOO!! Of course I then paid it forward and bought the guys drink behind me. I hope the trend continued.

As I drove away I realized that I wasn't following the 90/10 rule. 90% of life happens TO us that we can't control, and only 10% that happens to us we can control. I could have controlled my attitude and not so nice mouth, but I let it get the best of me. And for what? It wasn't going to get me up to that window, cup in hand, and on my way to the meeting any faster. Here I was being a brat, and the lady pays for my drink! Go figure. Lesson learned. Heart warmed. Kindness appreciated and delicious drink in hand.

Smiles!

My very first blog!

I'm here because I feel like I need an outlet...some place where I can be me. I am here to express my thoughts, adventures, successes, failures, goals, outlooks, and anything else I feel is worthy of being documented. Even though I'm single, and independent, I refuse to be the crazy cat lady sitting alone in her condo talking to the cats, so I figured I could "talk" here! I have no idea what will come of this, so here goes!