Post-Christmas Post Part 2

Yesterday I posted about our pre-Christmas festivities.  Read about those here.  I left off at the part where we drove back down to Evansville with a car-load of presents. 

 

We arrived at my parents' house early in the morning to open presents.

 

 I got Kelly a BeerTender.  It's a mini Keg-erator for those mini kegs of Heineken or Newcastle.  My parents also got him some monogrammed mugs to go along with it.  He wasn't the only one that was excited about it. 

 

 

I got a new laptop from Kelly and a Nook from my parents.  Yippee!

I think the dog was a little overwhelmed by all of the craziness.

Then we got ready for the rest of our little family to come over.  We ate TONS of food.  My mom always makes a bunch of different appetizers to snack on throughout the day. 

I didn't gain a pound!  I weighed myself this morning, and I was pleasantly surprised.

After we ate we went outside for our second annual "Let's shoot stuff" event.  Last year my brother got a shot gun for Christmas (Why, I'm not sure.  He doesn't even hunt), and we all went out and shot some rounds at buckets.  This year we used water bottles and of course I missed big time.  Not my thing really. 

Things I am not good at ^^^^.  It scares me.  My mom didn't even come outside. I think it scares her too. 

When we got home that night we had to figure out what to do with all of our new stuff!

 

 

Post-Christmas Post Part 1

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  We sure did! 

 

We started out by heading up to Kelly's grandparents' house on Sunday night for a seafood dinner!  It was so yummy!  This year we decided to wear ugly sweaters.

Then we exchanged gifts and headed back to his mom's house to stay the night.  His mom and I drank lots of wine and I introduced her The Holiday and Jude Law. 

 

He is so nice to look at.  And his accent...Oh!

 

If you have never seen The Holiday, you should put it on you must-watch list for next year.  So good!

 

 

Then on Christmas Eve we drove up to eat lunch with Kelly's Dad and Stepmom.  Then we went back to their house to hang out and exchange gifts.  Then we drove back down to Kelly's mom's house where we watched more Christmas movies and drank more wine and ate some cheese and crackers. 

 

 

Christmas morning we woke up early and opened presents.  We ate a big breakfast and then we trekked back down here to spend Christmas Day with my family!  So much driving!  Good thing the snow waited until Christmas night to come!

 

I will share the rest of our Christmas fun tomorrow...Farewell for now!



Happy Last Wednesday Before Christmas!

It's hard to believe that this time next week Christmas will me OVER!

I'm linking up Christmas style with Jamie @ This Kind of Love and What I'm Loving Wednesday and Michelle @ The Vintage Apple and Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday! 

 

I am still loving that a got a new job!  It is causing me a lot of stress and I have an unbelievable amount of work to do, but I will make it through just like I always do, and I will love it!

 

I am loving that Kelly and I's 3rd anniversary tomorrow! We have officially been together for a long time!
 

 

I am loving that the PTO is providing us with a yummy lunch today.  Yay for soups!

 

I am loving Pinterest and my many Christmas pins! (I apologize for the wonky pins in advance, sometimes you just get tired of trying and continuously failing to line them all up.)

 

Source: ellinee.com via Elyse on Pinterest

 Printable bottle labels for Christmas
 

Source: jamiliajean.com via Elyse on Pinterest

 Best Christmas card ever!  Their faces are priceless!
 

Source: etsy.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Source: fancynapkin.blogspot.ca via Elyse on Pinterest

Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur and Peppermint Schnapps.  Perfect Christmas drink!
 

Source: beaumondephotography.blogspot.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net via Elyse on Pinterest

Source: bostinno.com via Elyse on Pinterest

 Poinsettia- instead of a Mimosa.  Use Cranberry juice instead of orange juice.  Yummy!

And one last thing that I am loving:

 

I am loving this poem that was sent to me multiple times through my email yesterday.  Have you seen it?

 

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38 when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious; their laughter filled the air, ...they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

 

They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say, they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

 

"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven." declared a small boy, "We're spending Christmas at God's house."

When what to their wondering eyes did appear, but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same, then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

 

And in that moment was joy that only heaven can bring those children all flew into the arms of their King As they lingered in the warmth of His embrace, one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

As if He could read all the questions she had, He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

 

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below, He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.

Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand, "Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools", "I'm taking back my nation, I'm taking back my schools!"

 

Then He and the children stood up without a sound, "Come now my children, let me show you around."

Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran, all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

 

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight, "In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.

 

I can't help but to feel guilty about loving stuff when there are so many parents mourning the loss of their children.  It seems so wrong, but at the same time it makes me that much more thankful for each day that I have to spend with my family, friends, co-workers, and students. 

 

 Have a great day and don't forget to cherish every bit of it. :-)

 

 

Holiday Bucket List

Oh my goodness!  Where has the time gone!?!  There are 7 days until Christmas and I have not even done anything with my Holiday Bucket List.  With my new job getting ready to start, I have been getting things ready to move to a new school, while getting everything together for my sub as well.  Not to mention I had the flu yesterday which I haven't had since I was about 8 years old.  I don't have one present wrapped!  I am not even done with my presents! Ahhh! 

 

Luckily I have been able to mark off a few things off my bucket list by pure coincidence. 

Source: google.com via Mcp on Pinterest

Elyse's Holiday Bucket List 2012

1. Watch Christmas movies.

2. Make Christmas cookies.

3. Shop til I drop.

4. Look at Christmas lights.

5. Listen to Christmas music.

5. Play in the snow (if it snows).

6. Read Christmas stories.

7. Do something nice for someone.

8. Make crafty Christmas things.

9. Drink peppermint hot chocolate.

10. Spend time with family.

11. Wrap presents.

12. Try a new Christmas recipe.

13. Drink Christmas cocktails.

1. Watch Christmas movies.

Two weekends ago, we took all of the decor off of the big wall in our living room, turned the couch around, and watched Christmas movies on our projector.  We watched some old clay-mation movies, like Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph, and the old Frosty movie. 

We also watched A Christmas Carol, which I love.  It was about 5 hours of movie watching fun!  I still want to watch The Holiday and Elf, but we couldn't fit them in that night.

9. Drink peppermint hot chocolate.

While having our movie night, I made myself some lovely peppermint coffee/ hot chocolate in my new mug.

 I combined 3 cups of peppermint flavored coffee with 2 TBS. of peppermint mocha creamer, and a pack of regular hot chocolate, and I topped it off with some peppermint marshmallows.  It was delish!
 
2. Make Christmas cookies.
5. Listen to Christmas music.

On Sunday my mom, sister, and I had our annual session on Christmas cookie baking.  We made 9 (9!) different kinds of cookies.  Fortunately for me, I didn't eat too many because I wasn't feeling well and came down with the flu shortly after. 

We did all of this while listening to Christmas music!  Love Pandora! Love Josh Groban and Michael Buble!  And I love that we remembered that bowl trick! (Where you put your phone speakers down into a ceramic bowl, who needs an iHome when you have a bowl!?!)

That's all for now!  I have 7 days to finish the rest!



Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

What I'm Loving Wednesday and OHP!

Did you miss me?  I've been gone for so long that I actually had to LOG IN to Blogger!  GASP!  I have had so much going on with Christmas coming up and MY NEW JOB!  Huh? Yes, you heard right...I GOT A FULL-TIME JOB! 

It is a temporary art teacher position at another elementary school in my area.  Their art teacher is retiring at Christmas break, and so I will start the new semester there!  It is only temporary, so I will have to reapply at the end of the year for the "real" position, but if all goes well then it shouldn't be a problem! 

In turn, I have been super stressed out, sad to leave my current school, excited, overwhelmed, on the verge of crying....I didn't really know how to feel about this, but I went to the new school on Friday, so I am feeling a lot better about it!

So that is what I am loving on this Wednesday!  I'm linking up with Jamie @ This Kind of Love and What I'm Loving Wednesday and Michelle @ The Vintage Apple and Oh How Pinteresting Wednesday! 

 

Here are some other things that I am loving:

 

I am loving that we are having a cookie swap party at school today.  It has been a little difficult to coordinate, but hopefully it will go smoothly and people will participate!

 

Here are the cookies that I am making:

 

Source: recipe.com via Unhipchickblog on Pinterest

Although they never look as pretty as the picture!

 

I am loving this Christmas song!

 

 It's totally fitting for me this year!  Made me cry!

 

I am loving that I am going to the Nutcracker on Sunday with my mom and my sister.  It doesn't matter how old I get I still LOVE going to the Nutcracker!  Nostalgia!

 

I am loving that the Christmas party for the Salon is on Saturday.  It is always SO fun!

 

I am loving Pinterest!

 

Source: etsy.com via Elyse on Pinterest

Love this! 

 

Source: jamhands.net via Elyse on Pinterest

Carrot Pineapple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.  I die.

 

 

Source: thepeacefulmom.com via Elyse on Pinterest

 My sweet tooth is having some cravings right now!  Cranberry Bliss Bars.

 

Source: cookingwithkrista.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

 Crescent rolls with Crab and cream cheese...yum!

 

Source: thedatingdivas.com via Elyse on Pinterest

 Take a kiddie pool, fill it with pillows...instant snuggle time.  Perfect for a movie night!

 

Source: ussery3.blogspot.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I'm in love with this door!

 

Source: heart-2-home.com via Elyse on Pinterest

I really need to learn how to make these kind of wreaths!

 

Happy Wednesday! 

 

Only 13 days until Christmas! 

 

5 for Five

The start of a new week means that I have to check to see how well I did on my goals with Jessica @ Fantastically Average and Jenn @ Party of One!

I thought I did really well...thought.  Turns out I did not do so well.  I half-way did most of my goals but none of them were completed 100%.  BOO to that! 

 

Here were my goals for last week:

  

1.  Schedule 3 blog posts at least the night before.  Negative.  I just can't ever get this done at night!

 

2.  Finish at least 2 craft projects.  I finished one completely and the other was started but I had to wait for the paint to dry!

 

Here is the project that I finished. 

It turned out really well I think!

 

3.  Make an additional payment on my credit card.  I was waiting on a check, so I am doing this today!

 

4.  Workout 6 out of 7 days.  I forgot my shoes on Thursday night and Friday my mom and I decided to get some shopping done.  But I did have a longer than usual workout on Saturday morning, and I took the dog for a pretty long run/walk yesterday.  I am pretty sore.

 

5.  Put the finishing touches on my Christmas decorations.  This goes along with the second craft that I didn't finish.  The paint is drying. 

 

0 out of 5 goals!  I am a 5 for Five failure!

 

Here are my goals for this week:

 

1.  Start working on some Christmas presents.  I have a few that I have to make!

 

2.  Workout 6 out of 7 days.  Trying this again!

 

3.  Schedule at least 1 blog post the night before.  Maybe I'll just try for one this week.

 

4.  Finish my bulletin board at school.  I have to get my Christmas board done before Christmas!

 

5.  Fix my Cricut.  I will no longer work because it has to be updated, and I can't get it to update. 

 

To end with something positive, I had a great weekend!

 

Friday we ordered pizza, watched a movie, and I drank wine and made the above wreath.

 

 

Saturday afternoon, I cracked the screen on my phone. Total fluke, I barely even dropped it.  :-/  Saturday night we went to an Icemen hockey game.  Lucky for us it was Star Wars night.  Brought out some of the "different" folks, but it was cute.

 

Two of the liuttle league teams played at an intermission.  It was so cute!

My favorite part of the night was when all of the characters danced to Gangham Style.

 

We finished off the night at Bar Louie, my beloved loaded tots, and this guy.

 

Salted Caramel Martini.  OMG so good.

 

Have a great week!