A Year In Review: 2011

I always feel less enthusiastic about years that are odd numbers, even numbers are just more my style. Odd I know. So I was kinda anxious about what 2011 would hold for me.

January: This month I stared Accutane and began to chronicle my trials and tribulation for you all. It was such a great outlet to have the blog and all of you guys to vent my frustrations with. I could see this acne thing being a very slippery slope to depression if I didn't have this community to give their two cents and support when I was going in for blood test after blood test and having my skin flake off of my face.

Febrary: This year Jon and I celebrated our 12th Valentine's Day together so Jon was very creative and bought me a bouquet for each Valentine's day we have had together.

March: I was lucky enough to meet up with some very lovely ladies (and some super cool non-blogging guys: George and Brett) to have some brunch and chat it up IRL. I really want to have more meet ups this coming year-do you hear that friends?!

April: This month I flew off to Oregon with Nani and Papa to visit my brother Richard. I really loved Oregon and am just waiting for an excuse to go back and visit.

May: Wow, this month Jon asked me to be his wife on a rocky bluff-I said yes, thus kicking off a wedding planning frenzy!

June: This month I was supposed to be done with accutane but since it hadn't started working my doctor suggested I stay on accutane AND give up dairy.
July: This month we made a big move to San Francisco. It was scary but we were tough about it and it really paid off.

August: We took our yearly trip to Tahoe to recharge for a bit and I also celebrated 4 years of blogging!!!
September: Some dear friends of ours tied the knot and Jon and I realized that we were next in line!! (I later wrote a post about dancing at weddings in which their wedding was featured)
October: Wedding planning continues and we finally got to go cake tasting-it was all I ever hoped it would be.

November: I ran in my first race! It was a big moment for me because I never thought I could run any distance after I found out about having torn discs.
December: I took some time off for the holidays and really soaked in the time off. Ahh it was so good for my soul!
I just really want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone that visits this site and reads what I have to say. Your comments make me feel so very special and keep me going on this little blog. Here's to another year of life, love and blogging-I hope you join me!

Please have a safe and happy New Year!

Candy Cane Nail Polish Tutorial!

Up until recently I have just stuck to painting my nails one color only. But since I am on winter break I decided to get crafty and mix it up a bit for the holidays. Are you ready for a candy cane nail tutorial?

Ok so first step is to paint your nails with a base color like normal. If you are unsure how this is done you might want to visit this earlier tutorial I did. For this manicure I chose the color "So Many Clowns...So Little Time" by OPI. I really love this color, I am even considering wearing this on my wedding day. (Did you wear nail polish on your wedding day?)

So let this coat dry completely. No if's ands or buts about it-it needs to be totally dry. Because next we are going to put scotch tape on our nails. So take two small pieces of tape and line them up so that they make a diagonal. Press them down so you don't have any ripples.
Now you are going to take your second color-I chose "Big Apple Red" by OPI. I like to do two coats-but remember let each coat dry before you apply the next one. That is key to the success of any manicure!
So once the second color is dry *gently* remove the strips of tape. Resist the urge to do this before the second color is dry or else the second color will bleed and you won't have a crisp line.
Once you remove the tape you have a really sweet surprise awaiting you! (I added a thin coat of clear polish to seal the deal).

Time Off

I work in a school which means that I get two whole, glorious, weeks off during the holidays. What have I been doing so far?

-Going on morning runs

-Baking

-Yoga classes

-Hanging out with family

-Staying up a little later than normal

-Spending time with friends

-Cooking up a storm

-Hanging with my little man

-Reading

-Cleaning the apartment (I love a clean apartment)

-Having friends over to eat and catch up

-Sleeping in-which means 7:30 or 8 for me

All that and its only Wednesday! I still have the coming week off as well and I can't wait to see what is in store!

What type of things do you like to do when you have time off?

John Mayer on Sincerity

I know John Mayer has gotten a lot of heat in the media in the past. But he wrote something on his blog that really struck a cord with me about sincerity and I thought I would share it with you all. What can I say, the man has a way with words.

Here it is:

f you want to be truly intimidating,

If you want to make an impact,

If you want to have strong connections with others

just be sincere.

Sarcasm is not an attitude, and it’s not a personality trait. It’s a style of rhetoric meant to be used occasionally to highlight a larger point. Saying you’re a sarcastic person is like saying your favorite cuisine is salt. Sarcasm is easy because you never have to take a stance. And that’s just the problem; It’s so noncommittal.

When you see someone you’d like to have a conversation with, here’s how you really make your impression felt. I promise you’ll be remembered for it: “hello.” I don’t know when the lines got crossed and it was deemed attractive to be ambiguous and critical. Girls don’t like it when guys do it and guys don’t like it when girls do it. I live in a city of cool people with the absolute worst PR representatives: themselves.

Be yourself, even if that means being unsure or uneasy. Let someone else put you at ease. Meet them in the middle. Be sincere.

Happy 3rd Birthday Franklin!

My distinguished,

goofy,

sleepy little man...

is three today.

Oh Naked Tree

If I had it my way, Black Friday shopping would consist of going to a tree lot and picking out a tree. But you see, Jon likes to wait a little bit-so this year we compromised and waited until December 6th.

We walked a couple of blocks to the nearest tree lot and all three of us picked out a tree. And just like that we took it home.
We set the tree up with every intention of decorating it. But then we ordered a pizza (half of it without cheese for me), watched tv and then we were just too plum tuckered to decorate it. So there our naked tree sat for a whole week.
We even considered just keeping it au natural because it looked so nice just as it is. Then Jon suggested just putting lights on it-but then I said no we couldn't do that because it would make our apartment look like a Hollister-sans the awful blaring music and nose assaulting cologne.

So we busted out our decorations which consisted of both sentimental ornaments, random store bought ornaments and both white and color lights. Its a mish mash of traditions and tastes but somehow it works.

A Party That Left Me Cold

One of the best things about living in San Francisco is that we are much closer to many of our friends. So that means that this year we are invited to quite a few holiday parties. Well Saturday night we went to a friend's party a little before the masses arrived and settled in, took off our jackets and began socializing. Before long the house was packed with holiday merriment and drunken silliness.

I myself imbibed in very little but others did not fare so well. Earlier in the day there was a gathering called Santa Con-basically you dress up as Santa and bar hop all day long. Well some of the guests had participated in Santa Con and decided to end their night at the holiday party we were at. You realize what this probably resulted in, right? HOT MESS-APALOOZA 2011.

One of the Santa clad ladies was hurtin bad-or at least you could tell she was going to hurt bad the next day. Thankfully, someone realized she would be better off at home so she left, with her black jacket and her Santa red dress, up under her arm pits. Classy.

The night wore on and Jon and I decided to go home. We go to grab our jackets, Jon's is there, but mine is nowhere to be found! AND(!) my car keys that were in Jon's zippered jacket pocket were gone! So we try not to jump to conclusions and we do our best search effort while in the midst of at least 50 guests. It was for sure, my keys were taken from Jon's pocket and my black pea coat was gone. I instantly assumed that the tipsy Mrs.Clause was the culprit but I couldn't be sure.

Cue freak out.

My mind started to rifle through the things that having my keys stolen would result in. First of all, we couldn't drive our car home, we couldn't get into our apartment (Frank was home alone too), I couldn't get into my office at work, and least of all, but still annoying, my library card and gym card were on there too! UGH times ten! So our friends drove us home, we had to wake up our landlord (who thankfully lives in the complex!) he let us in our place, we got our spare keys and our friends then drove Jon back to the party to get our car.

This morning I woke up with a start of anxiety about having to replace all of the keys but realized that in the grand scheme of things in life it wasn't the end of the world. So I let it go. I also told Jon that part of me was still holding out hope that the keys and my jacket would show up. He said not to hold my breath and deep down I agreed. But then Jon gets a call from his friend saying that he tracked down the tipsy gal and she had indeed grabbed my jacket (and for some reason taken my keys from Jon's pocket). SO long story short I will be reunited with my belongings. Moral of the story, never trust a girl with her dress under her armpits and sometimes things really do work out even when you think they probably won't.

Have you ever had something taken from you at a party?

Music Monday: Christmas Music

Does anyone have this cd? I just love the sound of Zooey Deschanel's voice so I am sure I will love it. Remember when she was in Elf? Ever since that movie I had hoped she would put out a Christmas album.

Speaking of new Christmas music, Michael Buble has a pretty amazing cd out. I just LOVE the way he re-does old standards, his voice is like buttah I tell you!

Even though I am pretty excited about these new cd's I still have a huge soft spot in my heart for my old Christmas go to's. Jon bought me the 98degrees Christmas cd for our first Christmas together (he also bought me an Old Navy tech vest). I would listen to this song on repeat and day dream about being engaged to Jon at Christmas time. Well here we are, funny how things work out.
For some reason a lot of people think my love for Celine is funny but I don't care, the woman has pipes! I love hearing all the Christmas standards (and some originals) belted out by her. (She looks like she is sniffing the box huh?)
Now this cd is perfect for cuddling around the Christmas tree with a Hot Buttered Rum and enjoying a classy evening in.

Well this, this is quite possibly one of my most sentimental favorites. Say what you must but those guys could harmonize! They have the classic songs down but there is also those catchy original songs such as Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. Jon worked at the GAP when this cd came out and he heard it about 500 times per shift, which means that he knows all the words, a fact that embarrasses him but pleases me greatly.

What are some of your favorite Christmas albums?

Hair Inspiration

I have a ridiculous amount of hair. I compare it to a horse's tail, its long, thick and heavy! Not that I am complaining-believe me I feel lucky to have so much hair, when it cooperates that is. When it cooperates I enjoy wearing my hair down. BUT when it doesn't play nice it is a dang nightmare-complete with tangles and split ends. Oof

On those days I daydream about good hair.

On those days I picture the following hair on my head.

Anne Hathaway

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton

Kyle Richards

Kim Kardashian. She may be slightly cray cray...but damn, she has some great hair

Who is your hair inspiration?