2010 year in review, part two.

Missed Part 1? Check it out here.

July was full of summery goodness. We had my grandmother’s 80th birthday party and I spent Fourth of July with Mark and his friends. Most importantly, I let go of yet another troublesome part in my life: my friendship issues with Lyndsay. I stopped relying on her to be my utmost best friend and expecting things from her that I knew she wouldn’t deliver. Surprisingly, it’s done nothing but help our relationship because the heartache of unmet expectations was the root of the problem.

August and September blended together into an end-of-summer celebration, with a Labor Day block party, Mark’s white coat ceremony, and lots of baking. I attended my second-ever "real" concert, a free weekend-long series that was held in a nearby park and featured OK Go, Train, and Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

In October, I got to meet Billy Bell (my favorite member of the So You Think You Can Dance Season 7 cast) and dressed up as Katy Perry for a small audience of trick-or-treaters from our neighborhood. Oh, and one of my closest friends, Natalie, got engaged!

November was pretty quiet until the end of the month, when I went to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I with Natalie. It was epic. A week later I celebrated Thanksgiving with my family, started a new movie-watching tradition with Lynds, and went to an engagement party for Natalie where I was asked to be a bridesmaid! It was also at this party that I started talking to a certain someone, something that I was admittedly unsure of at first, but has proven to be quite worthwhile.

December flew by despite being chock full of goodness. There were dinner “dates” and candy-making, baking cupcakes and volunteering at Pictures with Santa Paws, mall trips, cinnamon apples, family drama, and lots of trips to Starbucks. I had to say goodbye to my great-uncle Ned and my dance teacher’s mother, Rose, both of which hurt my heart greatly. In a final life-changing moment of the year, I fessed up (both to you guys and myself) that I had anxiety and needed to do something about it. The holidays were splendid, we had a killer blizzard and nearly three feet of unexpected snow, and wouldn’t you know, giving my number to my BFFs brother turned out to be one of the best decisions I made this year.

Looking back, I'd say I had a pretty decent year. Not one of my best, but certainly better than 2009. This year, for me, was about letting go. It was about making choices that weren't always so easy to make, but that were best for me in the long run. It was a transition from the not-so-wonderful 2009 into what will hopefully be a fabulous 2011. I have good feelings about this upcoming year.

Here's wishing all of you a wonderful New Year! Enjoy today's festivities, whether it's a cozy celebration at home with a few people, a raucous party, or a crazy night out. See you in 2011!

2010 year in review, part one.

Initially I thought I had nothing to speak about this year, that the past twelve months had all fluidly combined into a really unmemorable experience. That was until I started reading old posts and going through my life month by month, realizing that life didn’t need to be full of totally! kick-ass! moments! all the time. The New Year is sneaking up on me, so before I get preoccupied with picking an outfit and shoes and being adequately covered in sparkles, here is part one of my 2010 Year In Review.

In January, I had my first turning point. My birthday party brought up mixed feelings and I was forced to deal with them head-on. I was finally able to get over my sadness of college being over (yes, it took seven months) and realize that whatever mistakes I made then cannot be changed. My friends helped to remind me that even if we didn’t see each other often, they were still here for me, something I was struggling to accept as well. February was quiet, mostly centered around my second-ever “real” Valentine’s Day spent with a boyfriend.

In March, I was starting fresh. There were big projects to be done around the house – painting my brother’s and dad’s rooms – which brought about feelings of accomplishment, something I desperately needed. At the end of the month, after some changes in my heart and mind, I realized it was time for my relationship to end, so Mark and I broke up. It sucked, but it was the right thing to do. It took most of April to get through it, but I survived.

In May, I had fully mourned my relationship and was ready for the summer. I made birthday packages for friends and attended some fun parties, including Ashley’s 25th birthday bash and Natalie’s graduation party for her completion of her graduate school program.

June was pretty exciting. Mark finally got into medical school which, even though we were no longer in a relationship, was exciting because I had been there with him through most of the process. I went to the senior recitals of my two favorite girls – Julianne and Dawn – and felt like a proud older sister. I started work on my grandmother’s scrapbook, which became my big project of the summer.

Not sure how I ended up with enough to talk about for two posts worth, but stay tuned for the second half of my year!

christmas weekend recap.

Christmas Eve was relatively quiet and relaxing, just the way I needed it to be. We visited with my mom's side of the family at her brother's house in South Jersey, which we visit only every couple of years. They recently redid their kitchen and it was beautiful. I should know, I spent plenty of time in there since all the "kids" still sit in the kitchen while the "adults" eat in the dining room. (In case you couldn't tell, I don't appreciate being almost 24 years old and still being relegated to a completely separate table.)

All the grandkids together, a rare occurrence.


My family with my grandparents.

Aside from that, we had a nice time. I chatted with my grandparents, we were able to maintain conversation during dinner at the kids' table (the last time we had Christmas Eve there, we sat in silence most of the time), and we took some perfectly awkward family photos. Before I knew it, we were on our way home to get ready for the following day.

After changing into my Santa pajamas, I got to work baking cupcakes, making mini cheesecakes, waiting for Firetruck Santa, and opening presents. Unfortunately, Firetruck Santa never turned up (he went down BOTH blocks on either side of us, but skipped our block. Rude!), but I did make out pretty well with gifts. I received a Wii Fit, a SYTYCD sweatshirt, Beauty & the Beast on DVD, the Jack Johnson To The Sea album, a pair of leggings, a cute top, and some Victoria's Secret body spray.

Christmas Day was a lot more exciting. I was up early setting the table, putting together appetizers, and doing any last-minute cleaning. We opened gifts soon after everyone arrived, which was an event. I made out with a new headband, clutch, two adorable shirts and a jewelry rack.

New clutch and headband from Lynds!

My cousins absolutely adored the bracelets I bought them - they were silver chain-link with a heart charm that I had engraved with the words 'olive you' on the back. It's an inside joke that my dad started, but Lynds and I always say it to each other. Needless to say, she got a little teary-eyed when she opened it. Considering that was my favorite gift to give this year, I'm so very glad it was well-received. Another hit gift? My brother's two-case pack of Guinness from my aunt. He was a happy, happy boy.

Her little face! I almost cried myself.

My brother's favorite gift pretty much ever.

The best gift of the night, however, had to my dad's. As I've mentioned several times, his favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Story. He watches it every year and quotes in non-stop. So, around the time of Thanksgiving, my aunt decided to get him a miniature night-light version of the leg lamp. She and Lynds then took it a step further and wrapped it up in a large box and wrote FRAGILE on it, just like the movie, and, well, here's how it went down:



We snapped a handful of pictures before sitting down for dinner, which was delicious. I was feeling really good and anxiety free, which might have had something to do with the lovely cranberry-and-orange-juice-mixed-with-raspberry-vodka cocktail I was sipping all afternoon.

My girls and I, all dressed up for Pretty Girl Christmas.

My brother wasn't really having any of this picture-taking nonsense.

There, a smile!

Once upon a time, we used to fight over holding my cousin John as a baby. Now he's way taller than both of us.

Dinner table!

After handling dinner clean up, we sat down for a few games. There was a quick round of A Christmas Story trivia - the game didn't go over as well as I'd planned - and then we stuck to our traditional game of Outburst. More pictures were taken before we sat down to a jam-packed dessert table.

My cousin Clancy playing game show hostess.

Traditional stair picture, with the prompt that we should put on scary faces.

Height order Brady Bunch picture, complete with gang signs by the guys.

Charlie's Angels.

Once dessert was finished, I had to drive my cousin out to the parkway. When I returned, the parents were involved in some Serious Talk, so we played Wii and then Lynds and I iced cupcakes for the following day. Unfortunately, due to the snow, there was no party the next day. I was seriously bummed, but it was nice to have another day to sleep and recover from my exhausting (and fabulously fun) week.

The snow has been a relaxing little break for me. I should be plenty rested for New Year's Eve festivities.

How was your Christmas? Did you get anything good? Spill!

ten on tuesday [vol. 16].

{Lynds & Me after our pedicures for her Sweet 16; June 2007}

1. What was the number one item on your Christmas wishlist?
I don't really think I had a specific item I wanted most. Also, all the gifts I get from my parents are ones I usually go out and purchase myself or that I specifically ask for, so I knew what I was getting all along.

2. Did you get the number one item on your Christmas wishlist?
See the above question. I did get plenty of lovely things, I'm very happy with all of my presents.

3. How long has it been since you’ve had a pedicure?
Three and a half years. And that was my only one! I bite my fingernails and never get manicures, so it never occurs to me to go get a pedicure.

4. How cold is it in your city today?
It'll be in the mid-thirties, though it's likely to feel much colder because of the wind and, you know, the thirty inches of snow on the ground.

5. How many pillows do you sleep with?
I actively sleep with three pillows: a standard-sized one that I actually sleep on, a heart-shaped one that either supplements the other one or goes over my head to block out the light in the morning, and a square throw pillow that I put between my knees when I sleep on my side. However, I also have six more decorative pillows that stay on the bed while I sleep because I feel too messy if I throw them all on the floor at night.

6. Can you roll your tongue?
Yup! I'd take a picture, but I'm feeling a tad lazy.

7. Do you always buy the same mascara or do you try new ones each tube?
For a while I stuck with Maybelline Great Lash, but then I got tired of it and wanted to try something new. Now I use Covergirl Lash Blast and really love it. I'll probably continue to use this brand unless I see something else I think I might like.

8. What’s your favorite cookbook?
I love my cupcake recipe book that I got from my friend Danielle a few years ago. I've only made a few recipes but there are so many good ones!

9. What was your first pet?
A black cat named Nigel. My parents got him before my brother and I were born and we had him until I was fifteen or sixteen. He was pretty nice, not temperamental or anything (considering he put up with two kids through their toddler stage), but I wasn't that attached to him. He wasn't mean but wasn't really friendly, he was just kind of there.

10. Do you wear jewelry on a daily basis?
There are two pieces I wear almost constantly: a red string bracelet that has a little heart charm on it and my Irish Claddagh ring.

These questions are a part of Ten on Tuesday which is run by Roots and Rings.

the unexpected blizzard.

I have lots of lovely stories to share from the holidays, but first I need to address the Almost-White-Christmas Blizzard 2010. Because starting on Sunday and ending at around noon today, the sky literally dumped at least two and a half feet of snow on my neighborhood.

It wasn't forgiving, either. The wind has been whipping around, making drifts and making it extremely cold. Luckily the snow is light, which I'm grateful for, but at the same time there's nothing like throwing a shovelful of snow only to have half of it blow back in your face. Yikes.

My 21-year-old, weight-lifting brother has been an absolute asshole by sitting on his ass and refusing to help unless he's paid, which means most of the work was left to me and my father. My mother even had to help, despite having arthritis in her knees and not being in the best shape. I honestly don't mind shoveling too much - we don't have much to do, since we park all four cars in our double driveway - but it's so incredibly frustrating that he doesn't have the courtesy to help.

Anyway! Enough about that. Now for all the pictures. Hopefully if you're stuck in this mess, you're snug as a bug in your house.

Last night...

My little baby car.


Snow falling.


Around 8pm, we already had about 14 inches.

And today...

Our poor bushes.

Our street.


Our front yard is under there... somewhere.


5-foot pile of snow we shoveled & the wall of shoveled snow around our driveway.


Backyard. Can you see where it drifted to the TOP of the fence in the back?


Up to my knees in a low spot.

holiday week 2010: day 4.

Past Traditions

• My mother used to take my brother and I out one night in the car - in our pajamas - and drive us around to see all the Christmas lights. We would point out our favorites and then pick which one we thought was the best all around. She brought a letter along that she'd printed out to put in the mail box of the "winner," stating that my brother and I had picked their house as the prettiest one in the neighborhood. It was always so. much. fun. and it's something I want to do with my kids someday.
  
  
• Speaking of Christmas lights, there used to be a house in the next town over that had tons and tons of lights and decorations. There were things hanging from the trees, light-up figurines in the yard, a moving Santa on the porch, and lights everywhere. We used to stop by after Christmas Eve festivities, when I was all tuckered out from excitement and still in my holiday dress and tights. It was magical, especially when I was still little.
  
  
• A few things always happened when opening gifts: we had to wait in my parents' room while my dad set up the video camera to tape us, my dad rang our set of jingle bells to signal us to come downstairs, and stockings were always opened after gifts. My brother and I would compare each and every thing we got in our stocking, making sure we both got the same or similar things.
  
  
• For a couple years, my cousins and I put on a little show for Christmas Day. One year we acted out the Grinch. Another year we acted out the song 'Nuttin' for Christmas,' which went well until the part about filling the sugar bowl with ants, at which point my older cousin accidentally flung all the sugar in the air. Finally, in what was our most successful performance, Lynds and I choreographed a dance (using choreo from my dances and her cheerleading routine) in 2005 to 'L.O.V.E.' by Ashlee Simpson. We wore matching outfits and everything.
  
  
• On my mom's side of the family, we always had to take pictures as soon as everyone had arrived. I guess it was to prevent us from being uncooperative later once we were tired. We usually piled onto the couch, the six of us cousins sitting with our grandparents, then took turns sitting in twos with them.
  
  Present Traditions

• Beginning in 2005, Lynds and I have been getting together the week of Christmas to make desserts for our family party. Sometimes we pretend we're on a cooking show, other times we just blast Christmas music and dance around the kitchen while we bake. We always have our Santa hats on and my uncle always threatens to eat all the goodies before Christmas. This year we made snickerdoodles and apple crumb squares and are also making mini cheesecakes, cupcakes, and brownies. We also had a baking emergency halfway through because we ran out of flour - thank goodness for Walgreens!
  
  
• On my dad's side of the family, we always play some sort of game. One of our favorites is Outburst, but we've also played trivia games, Guitar Hero, and DDR (which we even got my aunt to try!). This year we're gifting our family a trivia game based on A Christmas Story and I cannot wait to play it.
  
  
• It is not a Christmas Eve party without sprinkle cookies from Judicke's bakery. We always have a ton of desserts when celebrating with my mom's side of the family, but there has not been a year without sprinkle cookies. Which is good, because they are delicious.
  
  
• On Christmas Eve, Santa rides around our neighborhood on top of a fire truck, with its lights flashing and the sirens blaring. Every year - even now - I eagerly start listening for the sirens when it gets around the time he'll be coming by. When I was little, my dad used to carry me outside (I was in pajamas and didn't want to wear shoes), me in my Santa hat and him carrying our jingle bells, and we'd wave as Santa went by. My dad and I still go outside every year without fail and wave.

I hope you enjoyed reading my Christmas posts this week! I've been busy as a bee and am now finally ready for three days of celebrations. I'm wishing all of my readers a very Merry Christmas and lots and lots of happiness this weekend.
xo

holiday week 2010: day 3.

Gift Wrapping
Okay folks, get ready to point your fingers at the crazy girl because I love wrapping gifts. Picking out presents is a fun journey in and of itself, but there's just something about sitting amongst a pile of successful purchases, pretty gift wrap, and shiny ribbon and bows that makes me so happy. And don't even get me started on how lovely I think a stack of wrapped gifts looks.

(Also, I totally want to gush about the gifts I got, but most of my friends read this blog and I don't want to spoil the surprise.)


Gift wrapping war zone.


All wrapped and pretty!

Cards
This is the second year that I unleashed my creative side and hand made my Christmas cards. I was extremely proud of myself this year, as I adored pretty much all of my designs.


Work station.


More supplies.


Some of the finished products!

Treats
This section is going to provide you with so much evidence as to why my family calls me their mini Martha Stewart. I might've gone a bit crazy this year, but I have so much fun making any kind of food, so it was worth it.


Cupcakes for a bake sale hosted by my cat shelter.


Peppermint bark, nom nom.


Chocolate-dipped Oreos.


Chocolate-dipped Chips Ahoy!


Lots of chocolate and sprinkles.


Chocolate-dipped pretzels!


Finished goody bags!

The Christmas season brings out the giver in me like no other time of year. I go overboard on picking out gifts and giving things a personal touch, hence why I spent so much time crafting cards and dipping everything I could find in chocolate.

What gift(s) are you super excited to give this year, or in past years?