Christmas Traditons Link Up

Today I am linking up with one of my favorites Holly ( her husband just did my new awesome blog design) to tell you about my Christmas traditions.

To be honest the only thing that stays the same every year is the movies.  I haven't always been a fan of Christmas but can't get enough of the movies.  Anyone else addicted to those ridiculous Hallmark movies?? Oh just me? Pathetic I know!

Here are my must sees every year:

Who doesn't love this movie? My dad and I used to watch the 24 hour marathon every single year and I still never get tired of it!

This movie has so many great actors in it and the story is great. 

 Aww Love Actually.  I just noticed yesterday that Rick from The Walking Dead is in here!

I used to watch these constantly when I was younger and have now passed it on to Marcus.  These are a must at Christmas time!!

Growing up our family traditions were always different.  The one thing that stood out to me the most is when we would visit my Tata and Nana (my Dad's dad and step mom).  The whole family would gather in the living room and make music for hours.  Tata, my uncle and my dad were amazing guitar players, so we would all sit around and sing anything from Christmas, to country, to Spanish songs.  We were lucky enough to get together Father's day and do the same thing but probably for the last time:(

The one thing that will carry on in our family is music.  It is our favorite thing!

What is your favorite Christmas song?

Here is mine:

Wendy and Carnie Wilson-Hey Santa-Yep I went there. Judge away

This year I have decided to LOVE Christmas!  I usually don't like it because of the stress it brings but this year is different.  I am going to decorate and do fun things with the kids every weekend until then!  Tomorrow-Santa at Bass Pro, they have the best set up and who doesn't want to go there anyway?  Here is to a great Christmas!!!

This or That

Today I am linking up with Candra and Jodi for the This or That Link up.  Answering questions is so much fun isn't it?

Screened in Porch or Wrap Around Deck-Wrap around deck for sure but it has to be out in the country with a perfect view of the sunrise and sunset:)

Big Luxurious Bathtub, or Huge Walk in Closet-Bathtub.  I used to have one and it was my favorite part of the house!  Candles, wine and a book! Perfect mommy time!!

Kitchen with an Island, or Kitchen with a Breakfast Bar-Neither? Islands and breakfast bars just gather junk lol  Ok if I have to choose then a kitchen with an island.  They just look prettier!

Big Front Yard, or Big Back Yard-Big Back Yard.  You can hide from your neighbors haha and if your lawn isn't perfect it's ok!

Bountiful Garden or Nearby Grocery Store-Garden! Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best kind! I wish I lived somewhere warm all the time so I could have a year round garden.

I'm off to make more jam! Hope everyone has a great Tuesday:)

Thanksgiving and Weekly Goals

How was your Thanksgiving?? Mine was more like Black Thanksgiving. Yes we had dinner and yes I shopped ALOT!  3 different stores to be exact.  What a better way to spend with my family?? Yeah I know it's horrible but hey I am cheap and love me some good deals!

Walmart was nuts and I ended up watching and listening to several fights...I mean really those beats by Dre headphones are not worth broken bones.  Yes there were broken bones and people getting kicked out.  I felt like I was watching animal planet and all these people were fighting for food!

Except it starts the same day now.

I got some really great deals, ended up saving over 400 dollars and got a new laptop! These new laptops are confusing though, they have apps. Yes apps!  If I want to do something on here I have to download an app.  I guess I could have just upgraded my phone and it would have been pretty close but hey I can type without misspelling every other word because I fat fingered it at least right?!

It feels good to be back to blogging.  I don't even actually care if people read it.  It helps me remember my life, my goals and keeps me accountable when I decide to do crazy things like fitness challenges.

This weeks goals:

Fitness

*Work out every day this week, even if it' s only 10 minutes
*Put down the hot Cheetos-I may have eaten a bag yesterday( a big one)
*No sugar.  I know this is hard but it's what I struggle with most.

My goal is to be the healthiest and most fit I have ever been by the summer time.  Then I can actually rock a bikini!

Home

*Deep clean!  The stomach flu is going around and I don't want that shit.  I was up till 5 with Marcus while he was puking his poor little guts out!
*Make more jam!
*Sell some jam!  I made some yummy flavors last week, cranberry champagne, strawberry margarita, carrot cake and vanilla pear.
*Read a whole book...I've been slacking on this one

Happy Monday!! Hope everyone gets some good Cyber Monday Deals!!

Thread Eleven Facebook Challenge

When I saw thread eleven was doing another fitness challenge I jumped at the chance. I hadn't worked out in months and I knew it would be a kick start to getting my ass back in shape. It was a 2 month challenge and to be honest that first month I ate clean maybe 70% of the time and didn't work out once....oops.

The second month though I kicked butt, including doing the advocare 10 day cleanse.  Is that cheating? I didn't do it to cheat I promise. Just wanted to eat better and I did!

Here are my results:

Starting weight 129.4
Waist 34"
Hips 37.5
Legs 22.5
Arms 11.5

Now:
Weight 123.2
Waist 32
Hips 36
Legs 21.5
Arms 11

Pretty good for a month!! Anyone have any other good challenges coming up? It would be nice not to gain weight over the holidays:)

What baseball has taught me

Sorry for being absent, I have been so busy and haven't felt like hooking up my ancient laptop and waiting 3 hours to write and post.  My birthday is coming, someone want to buy me a new one?? lol

Today is the inspection on our new house, Monday is the appraisal, next Saturday my Dad and Aunt are throwing us a reception and then we hopefully close on the house the following week!  I CANNOT wait! I can't wait to live with my husband, I can't wait to not feel like a gypsy, I can't wait to have a routine again!  Then it is back to making up recipes and hopefully working out! The kids go back to school 3 days after we close....that's going to be a pain in the ass but I'm thankful we will be there before instead of after!

The other night I went to a Rockies game with my hilarious friend Dorlene.  As I was enjoying the gorgeous sunset of Colorado.  If you have never seen one, get here asap.  They are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen, the mountain backdrop helps I'm sure.  I realized how much baseball has taught me!

My happy place

It's even better with beer

Let's start from the beginning...I HATED baseball.....no really!  I started going to karaoke when I was 21 and all of the people loved it.  I ignored it and always told them "baseball is stupid" "it's so boring".

One of them said come to a game with me I promise it won't be boring....so kicking and screaming I went.  Guess what?? I was hooked!  When you are at the game there is so much life, so much fun, so much emotion.

This says it all

The true test was watching it on TV.  It is hard to pay attention, everyone looks the same, balls are flying (haha) and it is just hard to stay focused.  I watched slowly and with my friend's help learned about the game and who each player was. That helps a lot.

It just so happened that year not having any idea when I started loving the game, they went to the world series.  Of course it was against none other than the Red Sox.  I could not get enough of baseball after that! 

As you learn about the players, you learn they are nothing like basketball or football players.  Yes they make mistakes and there are certain ones (*cough* Jeter *Cough*) that like to be the center of attention but seriously how much do you know about baseball players and their personal lives?? Not much I'm sure of it!

I Hate crowds, they make me crazy!  I get claustrophobic and don't look forward to going somewhere where I know there will be a lot of people.....except a baseball game.  A crowd there doesn't bother me one bit.

Heart....these players have a ton of it.  They love the game and you can feel it just watching them.  They have their good games and bad games but overall whether they win or lose they still get to do something they love for a living. 

The excitement-When you are at a game and they are winning or losing the fans are some great cheerleaders.  We may have to rally ALOT but if you are a true fan, that's what you do.


It has taught me to not give up.  At the end of that game even if they are losing they don't give up.  I have tried to do that with life.  It doesn't happen most of the time but every time I go to a game or even just watch one it reminds me.  I cheer, jump up and down, get excited, get sad, get mad....all the emotions that come with life. 

If you want something go for it....what's the worst that can happen?

Add caption

What about you? What do you love about baseball? Football??

Happy Friday!!!

Finish the sentence Part 500

Finish the sentence? Why not!

If I had one extra hour in the day... I would probably play more candy crush...

I wish my name... would be Gina. Oh wait my bff already calls me that "Dammit Gina" Who knows what that's from?;)

I think anything chevron is... is annoying already!

My last nightmare... I got chastised for calling my niece a devil child by her dad's family.  Who knows where that came from? lol

Sometimes... I wish our cars were bumper cars and I could bump people out of my way!

My last meal on earth would be... Anthony's pizza, hot cheetos, rocky road ice cream and a cherry pepsi

I would much rather... be with my husband right now. It has been a long 11 days....

Mayonnaise... is alright but Miracle whip is where it is at!

10 years ago, I didn't think...I would be married. I always thought it was a joke

Selfishly... I like to ignore everyone with a glass of wine and a book

My favorite show on TV right now... Dexter....the last season...it is so sad
 

And, George Zimmerman... no comment. Florida likes murderers I guess

Happy Thursday! Thank god it's my friday:)

Let's talk books



Hi there! Did you miss me? Probably not lol that's ok. I haven't been in a blogging, working out kind of mood lately. I think once I get into our house things will change. For the next ten days I am staying with my grandpa while my grandma goes out of town. It will be good for me because there will be no eating out and I will be bored out of my mind. Lots of workouts in my future for sure, oh and westerns....millions of those! Plus it will be a routine and I can eat healthy! Not only that but I get to spend some quality time with my grandpa....can't forget that. Anyway I have been finding time to read lately so I thought I would share a few of them and what I thought

I LOVE Janet Evanovich....usually.  This book is just Ok.  Her usual humor hasn't been in her last couple of books and it's so sad. 

If you have ever read any of her Lucy Kincaid books, this is another one in the collection.  It took me a little while to get into it but when I did it was hard to put down.

Everyone kept telling my Jennifer Weiner was this great author but this book wasn't great.  It was a cute story, kind of a Thelma and Louise type story.  I am not sure I would read any of her other books though.



I LOVED this book.  Everyone kept saying how great it was and it truly was.  The ending was a shocker but this book will definitely go on my favorites list!



One of these days I am going to add a books tab to my blog, I am kind of blog retarded though.  Maybe I need some hubby jack magic!

In these ten days I plan on reading a whole lot!  Working on Reconstructing Amelia right now...stay tuned.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!!!