Christmas Archives - Page 3 of 5

Tis the season to eat too much… fa la la la laaaaa

December 29, 2013 by Susan Leave a Comment

Merry Belated Christmas Blogland!

Our 2013 Newlywed Christmas Card!

What in the world happened to Christmas!? It really seemed to come and go this year…. Maybe because we spent part of it with his family and part with mine? Maybe it’s just because I am getting older? Maybe because I just kept eating and eating and eating…

Anywho! It was a good Christmas! How about a super quick recap!

I’m obsessed with all things glitter and all things sprinkles… Can you tell which was my favorite cookie?

The Friday before Christmas Michael and I headed up to Northern Virginia. I had a business lunch/interview/meet-and-greet I needed to attend before we made our way on to his folks’ place. We spent 4-ish days with his family - eating way too many homemade cookies, cakes, and donuts. No joke - my pants don’t fit me anymore. Seriously. I’ve been wearing dresses or jammies (not in public) or leggings. {Who’s with me for a Whole30 day cleanse on January 1?!}

Hoodie Buddies! Michael and his nephew TJ.

We exchanged gifts with the G-Fam on Christmas Eve Eve. They all seemed to like what we got them, and we really love the gifts they gave us! I ended up with some awesome winter-wear, my first non-rain poncho (gonna need to check pinterest for a how-to-wear-this-wardrobe-item inspiration) and of course some wine related gifts. Pretty positive they think I’m a lush.

At some point during our trip to NoVa we went into Washington DC with some of our close friends. We did dinner at a steak house (don’t mind if I do!) and then wandered around the Zoo to check out the lights and some animals. Quite frankly - I was highly disappointed there were no giraffes with lights wrapped up their necks… just sayin… what’s Christmas at the zoo without lit up giraffes?!

Christmas Eve we headed home… to our home. For about 45 minutes.

It gave us enough time to sit. Pet the cat. Wrap a few more gifts. Unpack. Repack. And head on to my parents’ house for Christmas Eve dinner.

We had a delicious holiday meal - and I was thankful it was quite healthy. My body is starting to reject me and my holiday mentality of ‘eat what you want - there’s always next year…’ We had fish and scallops, sweet potatoes, roasted veggies and a salad. With meals like that I am pretty positive my entire family could embrace the paleo world. Easily.

Then I chased it with some christmas cookies and fudge. #wompwomp

My new glittery Christmas Slippers! Thanks Santa!

Christmas was just lovely at the B-Fam house. We unwrapped gifts then started cooking. My family does a huge Christmas Brunch every year rather than a Christmas Dinner. This year we had about 20 people come! It was awesome. And delicious. And totes magotes not paleo.

A pink tool set just for me! No more wondering where the hubs left the hammer!

After brunch we napped like champs. Until Chloe decided to lick our faces and wake us up. We headed to Va Beach with the fam to visit my grandmother, who usually comes for all of the above festivities but this year her dog was very ill - and unfortunately we had to put Sandy to sleep the day after Christmas. Please keep my grandmother in your thoughts and prayers as this was such a difficult decision for her. It broke my heart to see Nana hurting so badly on Christmas Night when we had “the talk” with her.

By the time Michael and I got back to Newport News we were tired and starving. And just realizing that there was no food in our house other than LaraBars and Olives. So we took note of all the lessons learned in the classic “The Christmas Story” and headed to the nearest chinese buffet for our christmas dinner.

And it was deliciously unhealthy, yet again. I’m not really sure what kind of “fortune” that first one was… but as I sit and ponder I’m pretty sure it was God trying to intervene in my ‘it-doesn’t-matter-your-body-will-bounce-back-after-you-stuff-your-face-with-garbage-for-two-weeks’ debauchery.

A text from my sister…

I type this days after the first healthy christmas of my entire life. Yes - I get sick every single Christmas. When I was a baby - I broke out in hives on Christmas Eve… that just led to a lifetime of holidays filled with strep throat twice, the flu at least three times, migraines, head colds and things of the sort. I was quite joyous waking up on Christmas morning without any symptoms other than shrinking jeans.

Then the day after Christmas happened. And I convinced myself it was allergies.

Then the Saturday after Christmas happened and I spent the entire day watching Benson and Stabler solve sex crimes I had already watched them solve, while sipping hot tea and Emergen-C, blowing a nose that sounded like a fog horn, all from our king size bed with my cat.

So friends - with that I am going to take some meds, sip some tea, down some zinc and try to get an hour of work done. Then I am going to pray that not only will a magic fairy show up to clean and organize our house before our New Years Eve party - but that I will be healthy enough we do not have to cancel our party… pray pray pray. Stupid Christmas Curse.

(And due to the illness set back - the 2 cats tea shoppe will probably not be opening January 1… but stay tuned!)

I hope you all had such a wonderful, happy and healthy Christmas surrounded by friends and family! xoxo

… Join in any Reindeer Games?

December 22, 2013 by Susan Leave a Comment

Tis the season for tradition… I guarantee when “Christmas tradition” is envisioned - you see visions of sugar plums dancing through your head - along with stockings, beautifully decorated trees, family traveling near and far to sing carols off key, christmas fudge and excessive cookies, waking up at 6AM to sneak a peek at what perfectly wrapped gifts Santa left and watching Christmas Vacation 37 times each holiday season.

Yes, I concur. Those are all terrific traditions. But the best types of traditions are those that are born from a wise-aleck, sarcastic comment. Like three years ago when I said to my roomie “Check out the crazy person with Reindeer Ears on their car!” (Yes, I realize they are antlers - but they are also ears.)

And so began the greatest holiday tradition of all time… The Reindeer Game.

{source: partycity.com}

It is hard for me to put into words what festive holiday skills and emotions this game brews deep within me… Togetherness, holly-jolliness and reindeer mockery. But Christmas competitiveness is the key. Ain’t nobody gonna sneak up from behind my top ranking score - like the grinch who stole christmas - and steal a last minute Christmas Day Win out from under me! (Actually this is exactly what happens every single year.)

It was originally just my roomie and I playing… now we have opened it up to bring in our sisters. Two sets of sisters - all fighting for the reindeer champion title. Nothing gets much more intense and cut throat than this. Other than maybe olympic curling.

Above: An example of an expert-level sighting… across a busy, 6-lane intersection.

The ins and outs of the game are quite simple - whether you are surrounded by people or alone, we I find it 100% necessary to yell REINDEER! every time a reindeermobile is spotted.

From Thanksgiving until Christmas, a typical conversation between my husband and I while driving to Chipotle may look like this:

Me: I could eat Chipotle every day of the week and be a happy girl.
Michael: Yeah, I had it yesterday, and the day before that. I don’t really feel like having it today.
Me: We always eat where you want to eat. I really want -REINDEER!- Chipotle today.
Michael: Let’s go to Chickfila.
Me: Okay -REINDEER!- but next time we are going to Moes.
Michael: Okay, we can go to Chipotle.

There are two things you should notice - 1. I live, breathe and love Chipotle. And 2. I have Reindeer Game Tourettes. It doesn’t matter if we are in the midst of a very serious conversation (like the one above) or if I am alone in a parking lot… I will loudly say REINDEER! in my most casual and cool demeanor. Then I text my old roomie (sometimes with picture proof reindeer footage) to get credit for my sighting.

So where do I see this game going in the future? I’m so glad you asked!

I would like to believe that 10 years from now we will have an iphone app - where thousands of Reindeer Game players unite… it will some how be magically connected to google maps - where we can post a red nose every time we sight a silly car with these silly decorations. Points will be automatically tallied, so my old roomie won’t have to receive a text every time someone calmly shouts -REINDEER!- in the midst of a conversation.

What do you win?

Nothing really. Just the title. And knowing you were number one. And not being the loser.

What do you get if you lose?

Well - a few years ago I actually purchased a set of these Automobile Reindeer Ears as a gift to my roomie… in hopes that each year the loser would have to put them on her car until Easter. That still hasn’t happened.

So gals - we have until Christmas Day.

Stay honorable and don’t cheat.

And may the best reindeer spotter win.

{the fine print of this post: in no way, shape, or form are we trying to belittle or make fun of drivers with said -REINDEER!- antlers. when all the other drivers, used to laugh and call you names… yes, we feel these are silly. yes, we feel they are incredibly awkward on the fluke 77 degree day and you want to put your windows down. yes, we think they are a waste of holiday cheer. but we are so incredibly thankful for you and your need to make your vehicle wear antlers from thanksgiving until (sometimes) springtime. without you we would not enjoy holiday traffic nearly as much, we wouldn’t text each other half as often, and we would have one less holiday tradition. so here’s to you mr-i’m-so-cool-i-drive-a-REINDEER!}

A 20 Minute Walk in Stein am Rhine

December 27, 2012 by Susan 4 Comments

As promised yesterday, I am still boycotting the end of Christmas! We have a family dinner tonight with some relatives who just came in town… maybe we will drink some gluhwein and pretend the holiday has not passed us by!

I also promised yesterday that I was going to share some photos with you from my snowy afternoon trip to Stein am Rhine, Switzerland. Here we go!

My Uncle decided a quick afternoon trip to Stein am Rhine would be a great thing for us to do… to fully understand my reservations about this day trip you must understand my Uncle. Many times in my life he has said “Oh, it’s just a quick 20 minute walk” which, when translated from German to English, and Swiss-fit-Uncle to American-out of shape-Niece means the walk will take a minimum of 3 hours.

As we pulled out of their driveway it started to snow. I’m not talking a little flurry here or there, I’m talking Swiss highways were being shut down! We continued on with the intent of visiting this little town after driving up to a castle. Key words being “driving UP.” Thankfully, Uncle Urs decided it probably wasn’t the best idea for us to drive up a mountain to a castle, but instead just enjoy the downtown area of Stein am Rhine.

Did I mention it was freakin’ cold?! And did I mention we had a sleepy Benjamin with us? Again, the kid slept through our entire walk! (Which was probably a good thing because none of us knew how to put the snow cover on the stroller properly!)

After walking through town we stopped to get some hot tea and cake. Benjamin woke up and played with some other children that were in the cafe. Then we bundled back up and headed home. I will admit, I was not looking forward to this outing one bit… but looking back, it is such a nice memory. I am just extremely grateful that I wasn’t the only one freezing, which meant the “20 minute walk” was not a 3 hour trek!

There are still a few more things to show you from my trip… so stick around!

Protesting the Exit of Christmas with Swiss Pics

December 26, 2012 by Susan 2 Comments

I absolutely hate it how there is such a build up to Christmas… on tv, the radio, the sales ads, the signs, the decorations, everything! And then literally 3 minutes after Christmas is over the Lifetime Channel stops playing the cheese-ball movies, the radio station that has been playing Christmas music for the past 57 days reverts back to pop hits from high school, and that the stores already have Valentine’s Day nonsense stocking the shelves.

I type this as I sit and bask in the glory of my Christmas Tree’s lights less than 24 hours after anxiously unwrapping gifts to see if I really was a good girl this year. Please society, just give me a few more days of twinkly lights, cookies, and carols.

Now, how about some Swiss pictures?! (I have yet to upload my Christmas ones, and the Swiss photos are a lot more interesting! Plus, this is just one way for me to protest the exit of Christmas… how about we agree to celebrate Christmas here on my blog in a couple days? Deal?!)

I absolutely hate flying. But there are a couple locations I absolutely LOVE to fly into. Norfolk (my hometown airport) at night is the runner up, because you can see the ocean, the military bases, the huge navy ships and just a handful of tall buildings. Zurich, Switzerland takes the award as my favorite place to land a plane! Flying in on December 3, we were greeted with dark skies parting way to a beautiful sunrise, the alps in view, snow on the ground, and lights from the Swiss communities.

My family lives in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It’s a small town with a big waterfall. Unfortunately, I do believe this was my first time NOT going to see the Rhine Fall. But I guarantee you that if you google it image search it, it will look the same as it has the past 15 times I have seen it. On one of my first days there, my cousin Kirsten and I (and sleepy Benjamin) walked along the Rhine one afternoon before the snow started.

After a bitter cold walk it was time for some hot spiced rum tea! Sugary, sweet and delicious doesn’t even begin to describe this beverage.

Little Benjamin slept for our entire walk! He had no clue that we parked him in a restaurant while we sipped on hot beverages.

As much as I adore my little nephew, it was nice to have a “big girl date” with Kirsten one afternoon in the middle of my trip. We hopped on a train and headed to Konstanz, Germany! While we were there we enjoyed a traditional German meal on a boat … (a pretzel and some brats, along with a tall beer!)

After warming up a bit, we ventured back out to the Christmas Market. If you have not been to a traditional European Christmas Market, I highly recommend you put it on your bucket list. There is nothing more Christmas-y and festive than this! (Do you see the rusty metal houses below? Kirsten and I both took one home! Such a nice present - thank you Kirsten!)

And nothing says “Legit” like a couple cups of Gluhwein! (It’s amazing spiced red wine served hot! And I love it!)

Did I mention it snowed almost every day I was in Switzerland? Come back tomorrow (yes, I promise it will be here, because I am typing it up now!!) and see some photos from my snowy day trip to Stein am Rhine, Switzerland!

Big News and Merry Christmas!

December 24, 2012 by Susan 2 Comments

After receiving numerous (not just one, not just two, and really, more like five or six) emails from friends, family, and readers about wanting to see more photos from Switzerland on my blog - I am here today to explain myself and leave you with a quick “Merry Christmas” photo.

Yes, I am back from Europe, hence the lack of awesome pictures on Facebook and Instagram. A few days after I got back though, things just flipped upside down again.

After almost 8 years with 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (as one of their top sales reps)

I resigned.

To say there has been a massive amount of turmoil going on with my job for the past few months is an understatement. Leaving this company has been one of the toughest decisions I have had to make in quite a long time. But it had to be done. My mom, who has been with the company for 23 years will also be leaving. Our last day as the Mother/ Daughter Warranty Duo will be December 31st. (But actually, since the 31st is a holiday, our last day will be Friday December 28th.)

Like I said, not an easy decision. What helps though? My semi-supportive family (not quite all of them are on board yet…) My supportive boyfriend, who I’m pretty sure thinks I’m nuts, but he is tired of me crying all the time. The fact that it is the end of a year! I mean, if you need to start fresh with life, when is a better opportunity than a brand spankin’ new year?

My Swiss photos are still awesome, and they are just achin’ to be shared with all of you. But I needed to finally tell everyone what I couldn’t tell them for the past few months. I knew this was coming, but I didn’t know it was coming so soon. It has been so hard to blog and be positive when all I wanted to do was cry and rant about how worried I was/am about my future.

So what in the world will I be doing with my life??

I have my own wedding and event planning business, 29:11 Celebrations. (the site is still under construction) I have also added Small Business Marketing to what I will be offering in 2013. (I currently have clients all over the USA for the Marketing bit… let me know if you need a marketing consultation!) (Oh, and I’ve planned weddings all over the world… let me know if I can be of service with that too!)

I hope to rock my way through the year with events and brides and weddings and social media marketing and business cards and networking events and to-do lists and getting a business credit card and learning about business finances (because lord knows a communications major is going to suck at paying taxes properly…)

I will also be working as an assistant for my mother, who will be the managing broker of the Keller Williams Realty 1.3 miles down the street from me! As a team, we also just landed a builder’s site! 30-ish new homes and lots to sell!

Before I called my boss last Monday morning, I sat at my desk, bowed my head,

and prayed really really hard.

And I am asking you, my friends, family, readers, and support system to please do the same. I am absolutely terrified about what 2013 will bring. I am also very excited to see what 2013 will bring. I know I have the strength, knowledge, and creativity to make it on my own. But after 8 years of living a very comfortable lifestyle, the realization that there will be no direct deposit magically putting money into my bank account is starting to sink in. Maybe I should do a series of “how I’m learning to live on a budget” starting in January. (Tips are welcomed and highly appreciated.)

I feel like I am “finally coming out of the blogging closet” and that I can actually know tell you exactly how I feel and exactly what is going on in my life. It’s a huge relief.

As the holiday has oh so quickly approached, I want to take the time to thank each and every one of you for being a part of this blog. Who knew it was possible for me to make so many great friends from this little piece of the world wide web that I own! You are all terrific!

From my little blog to you… the 2 cats, Chloe, and I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I hope you enjoy time with your family and friends, throw paleo or whatever diet you have out the window for a few days, I hope that Santa brings you all you wish for, and that you remember the true reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!

Love,
Suz

Oh, and for anyone who is not receiving their Christmas Bonus this year… I figured this clip would be fitting this year… Merry Christmas! xoxo