I can't believe it's already a new year! After all the craziness that has happened this past year, all of the ups and downs, I can confidently tell you that with the bad comes better. I still don't know exactly where my life is going this next year, but I know there are good things in store for me.

This year i've done a lot for myself. I went snowboarding in Santa Fe which was a total blast. My birthday was spent with some of the best friends a girl could ask for doing what I love. I have met the most amazing people within this last year. Fourth of July I got to reunite with some old friends. I went with my family on our yearly trip to Ruidoso. In this last month I have had the privilege to see 3 outstanding artists perform (JT, Rihanna, and Jay Z) and just last weekend I witnessed one of my best friends from way back marry the love of her life.
 I just completed my certification to teach English as a foreign language, something i've been wanting to do for a while, taken on a side job blogging for an Interior Designer and that's a huge positive step for my career goals, reminding me my writing is good quality. Another huge accomplishment... I started this blog! Last but not least, landed my first job in Advertising and have realized this isn't exactly the direction I want to head towards nor the place I want to settle down. I felt I was the only one going through this, until I stopped to look around to see about every 20-something is doing the same. If you don't you are one of the lucky ones!

I've done a ton of research and soul searching to figure out what my next step is, where I want to live and what really makes me happy. I've been on some hardcore discipline to save enough money to move somewhere I want. I can't begin to tell you how much i've grown, from semi-responsible party girl to responsible young woman. It's crazy how fast life goes sometimes. I truly believe God has a plan for us, sometimes we don't see where he is leading us, or why certain things happen, but in the end everything makes sense and turns out how it's supposed to be. We just need to put in a little more trust, because that big man upstairs knows what he's doing.

With that said, 2014 is going to be epic, I just have a feeling! I've thought up a list of  few things I hope to stick to starting this next year:

Face Time/Skype my family more. 

Call my grandparents more often, time is beginning to look sensitive and I shouldn't have waited this long. Unfortunately at times we get so caught up in our own lives and put aside the people that love us the most.

Continue to grow, soak up more knowledge and gain experiences, with people, places, things.

Move somewhere new (by the beach hopefully) crossing fingers and create new experiences.

Travel much more because after all, travel is the only thing that makes you richer.

 Donate to charity.

Start investing.

Pay off some of my debt.

Pay more attention to my blog now that I have the time.

Find a diverse gym/workout to stick with so I stop getting bored and become lazy.

Cook more and get better at it. Those of you who have had my cooking know it needs improvement. 

Read a book a month.

Find a job that doesn't feel like work, that makes me happy.

So there you have it! I have already began to conquer some of the items on my list, and hopefully 2014 is the start of a bright future ahead! I can't wait to see what the next year will have in store, I love the mysteriousness yet excitement of not knowing. "Great things never come from comfort zones."

What are some of your goals for the next year? Will you stick with them?

Happy New Year!
XO
M

 

 

Today I get to go home to see my family and finally have our Christmas! For myself, it feels like Christmas was a month ago although it has been just a few days. I also have the pleasure to see one of my childhood best friends get married on Saturday! Soooo excited about that. I figured I needed to pay a visit since I have no idea where my life is about to take me in the next few months. Isn't that the beauty in life, the unknown? I hope each one of you have the most wonderful weekend!

XO

M

Sarah mentioned the photo hop to me earlier this week, and i'm so excited to be a part of the action! Obviously i'm a little late on this, I had a lot going on this week and didn't have time to snap any photos, but this weekend I have had the chance to capture some festive memories for the holiday season from around the house. Let's take a look!

1. My door definitely needed a little sprucing up! Next year i'm definitely making a wreath.

2.It's Christmas time in my house and my heart officially! Here is a wee little peek of my gifts for my parents.

3. I lost my little Christmas tree in the mix of moving last year, so the only thing that made it to my current apartment were these decorative stockings. Good thing I have a mantle this year! They are perfect.

4. Even Charlie is festive wearing his stylish elf hat. :)

Everyone have a wonderful weekend!
XO
M

2. Do you celebrate the holiday in style or is Bah-Humbug for you?
I definitely celebrate. Here in Texas it's always hot so once it gets cold all the festivities begin! I can't wait to go ice skating and walk through the lights!

3. Are you leaving anything out for Santa Claus this year so he remembers to leave your presents?
I leave Santa something every year, but this year I won't since i'm not really celebrating Christmas Day like I normally do at home with my family. :(

4. What is the one gift you are most looking forward to GIVING? {It can be to your kids, another family member, etc – remember to be discreet if they read your blog}
I want to volunteer, so i'm really looking forward to that. And if I can't find a place to volunteer my next exciting gift to give will be my dad's present he really needs, but is too stubborn to buy. 

5. What is your all-time favorite Christmas movie?
It's a tie between The Holiday and Miracle on 34th Street! 34th Street has been my favorite since I was a little girl. However, I recently saw The Santa Claus with Tim Allen and it might be a new fave. 

6. What is your all-time favorite Christmas song?
 "I'm dreaming of a whiiiiiite Christmasssss, just like the one I used to knowwww!"
A close second: Christmas Wrapping- The Waitresses

7. If given the opportunity, would you participate in an “Ugly Sweater” party and what sweater would you wear? Peruse one on the Internet or even if your own closet and show us!
Yes! I've gone to a few and used my trusty ugly sweater masterpiece I created myself. Next year it's time to upgrade!

8. Have you started any Christmas traditions this year that you plan on carrying forward?
This year is different for me since i'm not going home and spending the holiday with my family (we only have Christmas Day off from work.)

It's usually cold and dreary, but you never know in Texas! It's been t-shirts and shorts weather before and it's also snowed!

10. You just found yourself standing under the mistletoe… who comes up to give you a kiss first?
Probably my mother. Lol

Christmas is my most favoritest time of year. (Yes, I made that word up.) I would even go as far as saying it's better than my birthday. 

I love the music, the lights, the family time, decorating, the true meaning, the mood it creates, and everything else Christmas brings each year...except one thing.

I think our society has gone way too overboard with the buying tradition. Today's kids expect to have a million toys under the pine in the living area. Holiday decor comes out before Halloween and sales now start on a day dedicated to giving thanks for everything we have. Retail employee's along with others can't even have a dedicated day to spend time with their families anymore because every business thinks they must out-do the other with bigger sales and earlier openings. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I was under the impression that holidays were guaranteed days off work spent enjoying time with family, celebrating, and being thankful, no? Do we need a little time out here?

When I was a little girl I remember driving over to grandma's house on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The town would appear empty, excluding the lines of cars lining the streets throughout neighborhoods. Nothing was open, and I mean nothing. It had such a magical feeling. Oh how I wish it remained..

My hometown church would adopt a family from the local battered women's shelter during Christmas each year. My mom and I, along with another friend and her daughter, were always the designated ladies in charge. Not only was the large task fun, the opportunity is one of the most rewarding experiences. I can only imagine the looks on those precious little faces, children who thought they were getting nothing from Santa, spotting presents under the Christmas tree.

This Christmas I am not fortunate enough to go back home and spend the holiday with my family. My parents may come to visit me at some point, however it won't feel the same. Instead of harping on the negatives, I remain positive and plan on doing two things this holiday season:

1. Go ice skating (because who wouldn't want to go ice skating?)

2. Give back to the community by spending time or donating to the less fortunate.

Christmas is a time for celebration, it's always fun to deck the house with sparkling lights and and enjoy time spent with friends and family. Let us use this time to remember what we have instead of expecting everything under the sun we want, yet don't actually need. Just remain true to the reason for the season, never forget the real meaning of Christmas, to celebrate Christ our savior.

Are you doing anything festive that represents the true meaning of Christmas?

XO

M

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Last night was another one for the books, I got to experience my childhood crush once again doing what he does best. Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience was definitely quite the experience. I swear to it he's the best performer out there, not to mention the concert was an entire light show on it's own.

This man is super talented: he sings with such a beautiful voice, he raps, dances, plays guitar and piano. What more could you ask for!?