It's a new year and a new you, er, ME.

It's that time again! And while everyone seems to dread it, I am OK with New Year's "Resolutions", "Goals", etc. Whatever you want to call it.

I mentioned previously some goals that I already have in the works. Or I guess, goals that I already have planned out.  But here is my full list:

1. Spend more time with God. This is so important to me. I know so many people that are involved, and I want to be more involved with Him as well. I asked for (and received) a new Bible for Christmas, so what I'd like to do is start doing daily devotionals. If anyone knows of any good daily devotional books for the newly married woman, well, I'd love to get my hands on it!

2. Stop drinking sodas. I rarely do as it is, but I'm curious more than anything to see if I can completely cut them out. I want to challenge myself to see how long I can go without having any. Because let's face it, some days a soda just sounds good. But I am going to attempt to cut them out.

3. Start running at least one 5k a month. My ultimate goal is to move on to 10k's and eventually half marathons. I've never really been interested in running a full marathon, but hey, you never know.

4. Have at least one girl's night a month. I love my husband dearly, but girl time is necessary. And I am terrible at having consistent girl's nights. It would be wonderful to get my girlfriends together semi-sort of regularly to catch up.

5. Get out of debt. Sean and I are very fortunate to not have a lot of debt, but we do have some. And I would like to have none. As for me personally, I usually have a running balance of about $600 between my Visa, Kohls, and Macy's cards. Then we have the motorcycle payment (eek!) and a few other random-y things here and there that I'd love to eliminate.

6. Stress LESS. I have a tendency to get consumed with people's emotions around me and let them negatively impact my own mood. I also have a tendency to worry about the small things, which I know isn't good but I have a nasty habit of it anyway... So I am really going to try to put my best foot forward and not stress out as much.

7. Take PICTURES. I love taking and having pictures, but I've gotten out of the habit of regularly taking pictures and I want to document more of Sean and I's marriage. We have so much fun and I'd like that to reflect in the pictures that we have.

8. Finish painting our house. When Sean and I first bought our house we thought it was perfect. Then, reality set it and we realized that we hated all of the colors in the house, so we have been slowly repainting the entire house, room by room. I would love if at this time next year, I could tell you that our house was done being painted! I'm not expecting it to be completely together, but I would like for it to be completely painted!

I think that about sums it up.

I hope everyone finishes this year with gusto and begins 2011 with lots of positive thoughts and actions!

xoxo

Rachael

Catching Up

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and has an easy week ahead of them. This Christmas was busy for us, but went a little smoother than last year. I think we are finally figuring out what works for us and for everyone else.

I woke up early (6:30) on Friday morning and went and worked out and from there my day just flew by me. I feel like I blinked and suddenly it was time to make the drive to my parents. But let me back up a little. I worked out and then came home and started cleaning. Since Sean was still in bed I did all of the dusting and wiping down of counter tops, etc, while he slept. Then I gathered my list and went to HEB. I do not recommend that anyone brave HEB on Christmas Eve - it isn't pleasant.

After HEB I ran across the street to Randall's (much calmer there) and picked up a few things before braving Starbucks for a non-fat gingerbread latte for me and a caramel brulee (sp?) latte for Sean. As soon as I got home I turned up the Christmas music and started baking ginger crisps and oatmeal cranberry cookies. While each set of cookies was baking I vacuumed a different room and Sean painted our entryway (pictures to come, I just haven't had time yet!). It looks amazing, it really does. The paint looks perfect, it's better then I could have envisioned.

We showered, got dressed and then opened our stockings from each other. Sean got me a jupiter jack for my phone so that I can talk through my radio in my truck - I don't have bluetooth in my car, so he thought I needed some form of it... He also got me a Fossil watch that I adore but I can't find a picture of it online to show you, so that will have to wait until I take a picture of it :)

In his stocking he got new boxers and a new travel coffee mug (he needed on badly). Then I let him open his gift from the kitties early too, and "they" surprised him with these:

He was THRILLED to say the least. A few weeks ago I came home with these:

I really haven't taken them off since I bought them, they are so darn comfortable! And when Sean saw them he immediately wanted new slippers as well. So I immediately went out and bought them :)

Then we packed up and headed over to my parents house for Christmas Eve. Naturally, as soon as we headed out it started raining, so the drive went from a 30 minute drive to a 45 minute drive in no time. But we made it!

We went to the Christmas Eve candlelight service - which is always my favorite - and I had one of the coolest experiences I've ever felt in my life, and I just have to share it. As we were sitting there and the preacher was talking about really asking God for what it is you need in life - be it hope or light or whatever you need, I was thinking about what I need and praying as hard as I could about what I needed and I felt as though someone just wrapped their arms around me and hugged me r-e-a-l tight. I almost started crying and I'd be lying if I said I didn't tear up, but it was the most comforting feeling in the world. I know that everything is going to work out the way its meant to, and I've never doubted that, but sometimes its nice to have a little extra reassurance.

After the service we went back to my parents to open gifts, load up, and make the drive back home. Once home, Sean and I had our own Christmas - which was so special to me. It was our first Christmas in our house (technically, we had the house last Christmas but we weren't really in it yet) and our first Christmas being married. We lit a fire, and unwrapped our gifts from each other. All in all - perfect.

The next morning, I woke up really early to go for a nice Christmas morning run :) and then came home and made coffee, showered, woke Sean up and we packed up again - this time to head to his parents house.

Once we got there it was mayhem - but the best kind. There was coffee and presents, laughter and pictures, and really everything you imagine Christmas morning should be like. It was warm. It was family. It was good.

We then headed over to his grandmothers house for Christmas with my MIL's side of the family. Going over there makes me sad that my whole family isn't here in Houston - her brother and sisters all live close by so everyone gets together and its loud and noisy and fantastic. We did a gift exchange, at lunch, and then Sean and I packed up one last time and headed home.

Once home we went into overdrive, cleaning and cooking, and soon it was 5pm and both of our parents were showing up for dinner. This was probably my second favorite part of Christmas (my first favorite was when Sean and I had our own personal Christmas :)). We drank wine and snacked on all the goodies I put out, and then sat down to a big family dinner.

As soon as everyone left, I washed and dried the dishes while Sean moved all of our gifts into our room and then some friends came over...

It was perfect, and everything I ever want out of Christmas. Lots of family and friends, there's not much more I could ask for!

I hope everyone had as blessed a Christmas as I did.

xoxo

Rache

It's the most wonderful tiiiime of the year...

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas time full of family and cheer! And I also hope that everyone takes a few minutes (at least!) to remember the reason for this season...

both photos courtesy of Google Images :)

Merry Christmas!

Friday, where are you!?

I am literally going crazy waiting for Friday to get here. I cannot wait to have another three day weekend, followed by another three day weekend for new years!!

This is hubs and I's first Christmas as a married couple! I can't wait. I went a lot little overboard... We set a limit as to how much we could spend on each other, but I kept finding things I wanted to give him... So now, the cats are giving Sean a gift, and Santa is making a debut with MONSTER JAM TICKETS! I can't wait! So maybe that's more of my gift to the both of us :)

I'm also craving some shopping, which is ridiculous considering how packed it is out there. But there is a blazer at Kohls that I am pining after...

So maybe I deserve a Christmas present to myself, riiiiight?? I thought so too.

I am trying to convince Sean that we need a fancy date night, because I bought a dress from Macy's that I will never be able to where unless we have one. But it was on sale from $150 to $17! Who could say no to that?? (exactly. that's what I'm sayin').

This weekend was OK. Actually, I'm just irritated with small parts of it. Nina (Sean's best friends' fiance) and I went out on Friday night to a local bar by her house while the boys played poker and had a great time! Then Saturday I went and had lunch with a few coworkers, and wasn't really feeling too hot so Sean and I stayed in. <3 He is the best. We watched Inception and State of Play - both of which were pretty good, though I'm going to have to watch Inception again.

Sunday was kind of bleh, except for meeting up for some deeeelicious mexican food with my parents and Sean's parents... I am SO grateful that everyone gets along, we had a great time! (and always do!!)

Traditionally Christmas Eve is a big deal in my house and Christmas Day is a big deal in Sean's house - so Christmas really times out perfectly. And this year, for Christmas Day Night (does that make sense??) both our parents are coming to our house! I am very excited about this!

Anyhow, since it's MNF and I don't really care about the teams playing, I may sneak out and do a little shopping ;) I think I need some presents for myself...

I also need some prayers. Since I'm not sure who all reads my blog, just please keep me in your prayers. If you want to know why, I will tell you outside the online world :)

THANK YOU!

xoxo

Rachael

I'm sitting here in the ever-fading light, listening to "Little Saint Nick" and every other Christmas song that jingles its way through Sunny 99.1's holiday tunes. Leo is curled up into my side with his head tucked under my arm purring softly, giving me discontented looks every time I move my arm too much. And in this moment of extreme solitude, for whatever bizarre reason, I'm just a little bit sad.

It's funny, every morning on the way to and from work, I've been waiting for "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" to come on the radio so I can sing cheerily along. And right at the very moment that I'm feeling the teensiest bit melancholy, the radio breaks into this specific song. 

God works in mysterious ways, huh?

We had an unexpected day off work today. I should clarify - we had an unexpected day out of the office today. Our power was shut off in our building, so we are supposed to be working from home today. I've dabbled in and out of work-related items, with pauses to do the massive piles of laundry that have accumulated in our house, and a lot of baking. I found out today that I make excellent ginger crisp cookies, chili pecans that have no ounce of spice to them, and pumpkin spice cookies that taste more like pumpkin bread. ::sigh:: Baking is one of those house-wifey things I'm still working on perfecting.

I know so many people that aspire to be certain professions in life. And as unimpressive as it may sound, my one big aspiration has been to be a housewife, that stays home and takes care of the kids. Cooks dinner every night and forces everyone to sit at the table together for 45 short minutes to share a meal. Cleans the house, does the grocery shopping, and still manages to be a fabulous mom and wife. Is that weird? I work at a law firm where I get paid fairly well for being two years out of college (two years? already? that is sad in itself). My boss is constantly pushing me to go to law school. I love my coworkers. And yet, there are days that I'm still unsatisfied. I had big dreams at one point, dreams that I now don't think I'll ever accomplish. 

I read somewhere that if you really want something, you go for it. If you don't really want it, you just continually make excuses. I'm scared that I'm just making excuses all of the time. 

This post is depressing ME. 

Sorry guys, no cheery post today. HAPPY FRIDAY. 

I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

xoxo

Rachael

my LEAST favorite thing about holidays in an office

I am probably about to go against what most people love about holidays in an office.

But my very least favorite thing about working in an office during the holidays:

All the treats that make their way into the door. You see, I have no will power. Zero. If there is something that I like a lot (like candied, chocolate, or salted pecans - and yes, we have a tin of all three sitting in our kitchen right now) then every time I walk into that stupid kitchen I have to have some. A few here, a few there, and before you know it I've eaten 27 pecans. And yes, I know the exact number, because I've walked in there on three separate occasions and each time I've grabbed three of each. Thus, 27.

GO AWAY FOOD. I'm going to have to skip dinner tonight in order to make up for this.

How many people are dying to see this movie:

photo courtesy of

Because I am dying to see this. And I've talked Allison into going with me ;)

Sean and I, courtesy of one of my clients, got to see a screening of:

photo courtesy of

Um, yes please. Let me tell you why. Better yet, let me show you:

photo courtesy of

I know a few people that are not Marky Mark fans, but let me tell you, I swoon for him. Maybe it's because him and my husband have a lot of the same characteristics. And Sean? Well, he may have a slight man crush on him. We both liked the movie. It comes out Friday, for anyone wondering.

I also decided that by taking Sean to see that movie, I was quite possibly the best date ever.

Wanna know why? :) I figured. Because I took Sean to dinner, bought him margaritas and dinner, took him to a movie - and not a chick flick, but the movie he wanted to see (yes, yes, I got the screening tickets for free, but that's beside the point, it's the best perk I've gotten so far for my job) - and after all that, I didn't even make him drive me home, I drove myself ;) (we met at the restaurant/theater after work). Ha ha ha. I am AWESOME.

Anyway, back to work I go.

xoxo

Rachael

I am full of Christmas cheer right now!

Yesterday was a wonderfully relaxing day - Sean went to play golf so I had some much appreciated alone time yesterday. There is something so relaxing about sitting at the kitchen table with a hot cup of coffee, knowing that the house is already clean, the groceries are already bought, and the only thing you have ahead of you is a day filled with Christmas activities... :)

I spent the morning browsing the newspaper ads and cutting coupons before I bundled up and faced the (beautiful, might I add) day. I had to go to two different Academy's before I found the gift my brother and I are giving my dad for Christmas and then I stopped into Michael's for some more Christmas items, ran into Target to get tape and rounded off with a (non-fat) Gingerbread Latte from Starbucks. Delightful! I listened to Christmas music all day - both in the car and at home - and spent the afternoon wrapping presents. Now our stockings really are hung by the chimney with care, and there's a nice spread of gifts waiting for eager hands to unwrap them beneath our tree. When Sean got home we piled back into the car and went to Michael's again (had to get some more wrapping related items, hehe) and then to Ross to look for gifts for his family's Christmas exchange. (And yes, we listened to Christmas music the entire time).

Then it was home to decorate our tree, light a fire, cuddle up on the couch and watch football. Sounds pretty perfect to me. (Have I mentioned that I have the best husband in the entire world? Well, I do.)

To back track though, we had a girl's dinner on Friday night that was quite fun and always needed. I truly cherish being able to spend time with girlfriends away from the guys. Everyone needs that escape time, and there's something so comfortable about swapping stories and catching up.

Saturday was nothing too notable, I did a lot of Christmas shopping, house cleaning, and grocery shopping. My parents came over for dinner and we had homemade fajitas (they were so good!) and wine. I love catching up with family as much as I love catching up with girlfriends. We went out for a little bit on Saturday night and met up with some friends, but neither Sean nor I was really feeling like being out so we didn't stay for long.

I'm hoping for a quick week this week, because next week is Christmas week! I am really looking forward to all of the family time and every one's cheerful moods.

I hope everyone else is enjoying the holidays as much as I am!
xoxo

Rachael

iiiiiit's FRIDAY!

It's finally here! My favorite 'week'day!

And today is going to be a good one. I have a super cute new scarf, courtesy of my BFF Jen, that I am IN LOVE with and it's girl's night! WOOHOO!

A couple of us are getting together at our friend Amy's house for some dinner + wine, a little gossip, and a lot of fun - what could be better than that? Then tomorrow, Sean and I are putting up OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE EVER! I'm slightly excited ;) I am also going to try my hand at homemade guacamole tomorrow, let's all say a little prayer that it turns out well... my little brother makes some pretty darn good guac, so hopefully it's in the genes and I make it as well as he does (I'll settle for not as well, but still good too).

I finally finished off Thanksgiving leftovers for lunch today. I realize that I probably should have thrown the food out (it didn't taste bad at all though!) but the thought of tossing such delicious food literally made my heart hurt, so I ate it instead. Sean and I vastly differ on if food is still 'good' or not. He'll toss it after a day. I will still eat it a couple weeks later if it still smells fine and looks good... I haven't gotten sick yet, so I must be on to something. I think he is just wasteful! (haha, kidding hon...)

I am really pumped about tomorrow for no especially good reason. I have nothing terribly exciting on the agenda (OTHER THAN THE TREE!!!!!)... My day is pretty much looking like: run, grocery shopping, house cleaning, Target (<3), finish Christmas shopping, TREE, dinner with parents... Then Sunday, oh Sunday, I am going to be a Christmas wrapping fool. Let's pray I get it all out of the way, because the backseat of my truck can't handle me tossing anymore bags into it... I may have gone a bit overboard this year... :-/ Oops? I'm just full of good cheer this year, and I can actually afford to but my family lots of gifts... so I did... (my mom specifically told me not to do this, but I didn't follow instructions very well :-/...)

I hope you all have a spectacular Friday and weekend!

xoxo

Rachael

I Love Everybody

For those of you out there that are as obsessed with reading as I am, if you are looking for a quick, hilarious read, you should definitely pick this book up:

thanks, Google

Actually, you should look into picking up all of her books - they have had me rolling with laughter. And I mean that quite literally. Sean has walked into the room because I've been laughing so hard I'm crying going "what are you laughing at?!?!"... then as soon as he sees the book he just shakes his head. :) I love funny reads.

Anyhow, the point is that one of the chapters in the book is called "I Love Everybody". It's a riot. And as I was driving to work this morning in the traffic that would give someone a heart attack I was slowly chanting in my head I love everybody. I love everybody. I.Love.Everybody....

I've been repeating it all day long (I am well aware it's only 9:30).

My house is in full Christmas swing. Ohmygoodness I am in love with all of our decorations. It took me four different trips to Hobby Lobby and Michael's both, a trip to Big Lots, and several places in between, but now we successfully have sweet little stockings hanging above our fireplace, decorations galore, and the BEST wreath EVER hanging on our front door. It's made entirely of jingle bells and I am THRILLED with it! I fell in love the second I saw it and I can't wait to take and upload a picture of it here. This weekend!

We are having an impromptu girls night tomorrow night (yayyyy!!!) that I'm very excited about!

I'm going to work now though :)

Have a great Thursday!

xoxo

Rachael

It's the start of something...

I'm not even sure where to begin with this post, I feel like it's been quite some time since I've posted. I actually had a long post typed out on Friday, but by some freak accident I deleted it and I didn't have it in me to go back and retype everything, nor did I think I could capture what I was trying to say...

Last week wasn't the best for me. Nothing bad necessarily happened, but I started having eye infection problems again towards the middle of the week and by Friday I wasn't feeling well at all (being a girl is no fun sometimes!) I ended up having to skip going out to celebrate my dear friend Allison's birthday, which I was upset about, but sometimes sleep is what you need! And sleep I did, I was asleep by 9 on Friday night! That NEVER happens, but really, it was nice to catch up.

Needless to say, Saturday I woke up early (who would've thought? haha)... I worked out (easy work out though) and then went and did as much Christmas shopping as I could. I bought everything! I'm now done Christmas shopping for my brother, mom, and Sean. I bought cute little boxes to put cookies in for my coworkers ($1 at Walmart? Yes, please!) and started on some gifts for some close friends. I'm hoping to finish up this week, I hate waiting until the last minute to finish!

After, I did a little bit of house cleaning and then the hubs and I went to his family's house to celebrate his dad's birthday and take family photos. After that we went home and I was in bed early again... I don't know what is with me lately! I have just been craving sleep. But it's been wonderful :)

Then SUNDAY!!! I was so excited and nervous for Sunday because I ran my first 5k ever! I ran the Mistletoe 5k, which was only 3 or 4 exits away from our house, and let me tell you, I LOVED it! I left early and naturally it was freezing when I got there, but despite how cold it was when I finished I just wanted to be in shorts. My sweet, sweet friend Jenn tried to surprise me there, but couldn't reach Sean in time, but her words of encouragement pre-race kept me going throughout.

Saturday Sean had asked if I cared if he went golfing Sunday morning... I said I didn't mind, but deep down I was a little sad that he wasn't going to be at the finish line when I ran in. Well, let me tell you just how wonderful my husband is! I ran into the finish line and as I was walking off the high of running I looked up and there he was, standing there smiling, waiting to give me a hug! Have I mentioned how crazy I am about him?!? He is the BEST.

I had a pretty lazy Sunday after that. Came home and chatted with Jen on the phone for a while (it had been TOO long since we'd really talked!) then came in and chatted with my other JenN online for a while (also, way too long since we'd talked!)... Sean left to play golf and I went and bought some more Christmas decorations and decorated the house a little more, did some laundry and cleaned the house, watched football and made lasagna (which was delectable, I might add). Then we finished off the night watching the season finale of Boardwalk Empire and hubs finished watching football while I went to read.

All in all, it was a GREAT weekend. First weekend in a while I haven't gone out at all, but I wasn't sad about that in the least. It was actually really nice to just stay in and off the radar for a while!

I'm thinking about running a 5k in Sugar Land this weekend. Haven't quite decided yet. We shall see!

Hope you all have a spectacular Monday!


xoxo

Rachael