Finally, a Christmas post!

Above: My little reindeer :)

(That stayed on all of... five seconds)

So finally, here is my Christmas post, which will primarily be pictures...

Our Christmas went like this...

Christmas Eve- Grandpa's house

Christmas Morning - Mom's house

Christmas Dinner - Mom's still

Christmas Evening - Dad's house, then Dad's girlfriend's house

So we were a little all over the place, which I'm not crazy about. I felt a little rushed in general this holiday season. In fact, the other day I turned on the radio and realized, I missed the Christmas music! I never sat down and enjoyed it or sang along this year, or really even heard my two favorite songs (Santa Baby - the Marilyn Monroe version, and Baby it's Cold Outside). Not to mention, we didn't drive around to look at lights or anything.

I hereby vow to not be swept up in the consumerism frenzy next year of just buying things for people last minute. I say this every year... but I really am going to make an effort next year.

So next year, you guys better hold me to this!

That being said, we really DID have a nice Christmas. It was just busy is all.

My Grandma came into town and stayed at our house, so it was also nice to have some company. And I will say, Russ and I truly got spoiled rotten. Not only did we get a ton of other things that we wanted (like my favorite perfume, my Shu Uemura eyelash curler, tools for Russ, Shop Vac for Russ).... well... you know that computer that I complained so much about?

It's out of here!

To make way for a brand new Hewlett Packard computer that my mom and dad put their money together to buy for Russ and I!!! I honestly couldn't believe it! It even comes with a new wide screen 19 inch monitor! It is HUGE!

So here I am, uploading pictures faster than ever, so I officially have no excuse now! LOL

Without further ado, here are some pictures from our Christmas!

Christmas Eve at Grandpa Mel & Bev's (my Step-Grandma):

Rob and Kristina

My Mom and Rob

Kyle and I

Kyle, Mom and I


I really think red might be his color!

My Grandpa and his wife, Bev

My favorite perfume! Sui Dreams by Anna Sui. I have worn this one for years, along with many others, but seem to always love this one the most. Kristina (my younger step-sister) used to always ask for some of mine, and now she has one too :)

Okay... so you know those houses that just have an insane amount of lights? The one people stop in front of and line up around the block for? Yeah, that's my Grandpa's house. I snapped some pics towards the end, so not everything was on (including the whole front portion and blow up things), but here is some of it...

Christmas Morning and Day at my mom's house:

Being attacked with kisses

Russ' new BASS fishing ornament (from Mom and Rob), he loves it!

An annual tradition, Mom gets me a Shu Uemura eyelash curler every year. This is my favorite curler, and they are supposed to be replaced once a year. They don't even make refill rubbers for them, so hence our tradition!

Everyone wants socks, right?

And finally, at my Dad's girlfriend's house:

Finally, my dad and I, which is a rare picture indeed. In fact we were supposed to go out to a joint Kaileigh/Kyle birthday dinner (we are both December babies), but since Kyle went on a road trip, I have been "blown off", if you will. That seems to be a constant with my dad. Some things just never change.

So anyways I think I am off to clean a little bit and just veg on the couch with Russ and possibly watch The Notebook :)

Sounds good to me!

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas, and if I don't blog before, a Happy New Year!!!

-K

Twenty-Two

Yesterday was my 22nd birthday, and while I have a moment, I wanted to share a few pictures!
I worked most of the day, but was treated to lunch by my boss, and later on we had the most amazing cupcakes to celebrate!

Almost all of us, having some cupcakes

Above: A sweet gift from my wonderful boss!

After work, Russ and I went out to dinner with my mom, my cousin, my stepdad and my stepsister. We went to Fat's which for those not familiar is a nice Asian-style restaurant. Which, as you may know, is my favorite.

My lovely stepsister and my stepdad

I don't think I could even begin to list all of the dishes that we have (we ordered a bunch and had them family-style). Unfortunately, the one bad dish, was of course the one that I chose out. If you go to Fat's, skip the lemon-grass chicken! My favorites were the honey-walnut prawns, and the kimchee that came with the korean bulkogi beef.
Because it was my birthday, they brought out a slice of banana cream pie!

Everything was wonderful!

All in all, I blew out 3 candles last night, and made the same wish three times. Hey, third time's a charm, right? Hopefully it will come true soon!

-K

Double the Fun

Above: Myself, Lilah, and Skipping Christmas by John Grisham


For this post I have written two different parts... I decided to just throw them together right here, since I know that sometimes when people post a new entry, I usually only see the newest one!


So first, my book review, and then a fun tag that I received!


Amazon.com Review:

John Grisham turns a satirical eye on the overblown ritual of the festive holiday season, and the result is Skipping Christmas, a modest but funny novel about the tyranny of December 25. Grisham's story revolves around a typical middle-aged American couple, Luther and Nora Krank. On the first Sunday after Thanksgiving they wave their daughter Blair off to Peru to work for the Peace Corps, and they suddenly realize that "for the first time in her young and sheltered life Blair would spend Christmas away from home."

Luther Krank sees his daughter's Christmas absence as an opportunity. He estimates that "a year earlier, the Luther Krank family had spent $6,100 on Christmas," and have "precious little to show for it." So he makes an executive decision, telling his wife, friends, and neighbors that "we won't do Christmas." Instead, Luther books a 10-day Caribbean cruise. But things start to turn nasty when horrified neighbors get wind of the Krank's subversive scheme and besiege the couple with questions about their decision. Grisham builds up a funny but increasingly terrifying picture of how this tight-knit community turns on the Kranks, who find themselves under increasing pressure to conform. As the tension mounts, readers may wonder whether they will manage to board their plane on Christmas day. Skipping Christmas is Grisham-lite, with none of the serious action or drama of his legal thrillers, but a funny poke at the craziness of Christmas.


My Review:
This book was actually chosen by my book club that I am in for our December read. I have to say that it isn’t generally what I would choose for myself, while I have heard people rave about John Grisham, I just haven’t had much interest in his genre of books. This was, of course, a Christmas book, and therefore quite a different book for Grisham to write.

Overall, I think that this book is good for what it is. It’s a short, quick read, and it’s a Christmas novel. What more is there to say? I went into the book not expecting much, and frankly, I didn’t find much. I felt that characters were unlikeable and underdeveloped (though the book is only about 220 pages, so that could be a problem with character development as well).

While I don’t ever want to give any part of the story away during my book reviews, I will say that I felt like parts of the book were extremely unrealistic. I guess I just can’t imagine a neighborhood where people are genuinely appalled that someone would “skip” Christmas. I’m not really sure why they would think it was their business. Then again, I also live in a pretty diverse state, and a town that while not quite a large city, could never be described as a small town anymore. I guess if someone didn’t celebrate Christmas on our street we would assume they had good reason; or to be honest, I really wouldn’t notice!

I guess what bothered me most was the way that the Kranks planned their lives around their daughter, Blair, who was much too old to be acting as spoiled as she did in the book. Granted, her character is always presented as a privileged and even spoiled “girl”, so I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised at the outcome of the book.

I did; however, like reading a Christmas book and I think that I will pick up another one next year to “get in the spirit” of the Holidays. Just maybe a better one next time!

So bottom line: this book is good for what it is. It was inexpensive, and very short, and meant to be somewhat of a satire. Pick it up for some light reading, but don’t expect too much from it! Also, there is a movie made after the book called “Christmas with the Kranks”. I have heard that the movie is pretty bad, but maybe will have to judge for myself!


And now for my "tag"...


I can’t believe what a dork I am. Brandi (of Excess Baggage) tagged me literally days ago in her blog. Brandi, I promise I read your blog, and often, I just don’t know how I missed this entry! I think it was what I mentioned before about sometimes only seeing the most recent one on my dashboard when I log in.

Here are the rules:

List 10 honest things about yourself, and then pass the award on to 7 bloggers. (I don’t think I actually KNOW seven bloggers… so I will do my best!)

1. I will be 22… tomorrow!

2. I am a perfume-aholic. I LOVE perfumes and I don’t buy them nearly as often as I want to, 'cause they’re too freakin’ expensive!

3. My favorite food can generally be lumped into the “Asian food” category. I especially love Japanese and Thai, and quite fond of Korean as well. My favorite by far is Sushi, but if you ever come to see me, I will make you try my favorite Thai place as well. Well, okay, I won’t MAKE you, but I'd highly recommend it ;)

4. If a song has crummy lyrics, I generally will hate that song. I can’t stand the stupidity of some song lyrics, and I guess that’s the general reason why I don’t really like Rap/R&B music.

5. I love, love, love to read! I doubt this comes as a surprise to anyone, since I probably mention it a few times in my blog. I belong to a book club (and NO it isn't a bunch of old ladies! LOL), a group that I have come to love so very, very much. I have met some amazing friends in my book club!

6. I'm obsessed with Vitamin Water. Yes, I am aware it's not as good for you as water. Yes, I am aware it is pretty loaded with calories. No, I will not give them up! Seriously though, they are basically my one vice. Other than nail biting. Oh. And shopping.

7. I have a little wiener dog, which you probably also already knew from my blog, if you are a reader. She is seriously the best dog ever, in my life I have had many pets, and I loved them all, but not a single one was like her. Yes, I'm obsessed.

8. I LOVE headbands! I wear one pretty much every day, and feel naked without it. The same generally goes for necklaces, it's just a staple for me to wear it!

9. I love taking pictures of things. Someday I would love to invest in a high-end camera and just take some amazing pictures when travelling. I like the camera that I have, but I feel like it just doesn't capture things as beautifully as they are in real life. It bothered me the entire time that we were on our little trip to Alcatraz.

10. I love to write. I would love to start writing fiction again, but just feel like I don't have the time to just sit there and do it (which really is probably bs, since I'm sitting here writing this blog). Well, okay to be fair to myself I did start this blog to get inspired to write, and have found that it's been coming easier lately.


Well there ya go! Ten honest, and completely random facts about me... I will tag... (and if you've been tagged, feel free to tell me or ignore it, I know there's no point in doing it twice).

1. Brittany

2. Bridgett

3. Remo

4. Jenn

5. The author of Pretty Little Pictures



Have fun :)


In other news, just have to mention that Russ and I finally got our new mattress! Instead of doing Christmas presents for each other, we decided to "get ourselves a present", and finally get a nice mattress. Our old one was terrible. We got an AMAZING deal, and it was delivered yesterday night. Last night was one of the best nights of sleep I have had in a long time!



Thanks for reading!

-K

Gift-Exchange-Eve.

Sorry that my blogs have been lacking “substance” lately (not that they had any to begin with). Not much has really been going on.

Today at work we decorated our office and all had a little lunch together, which was very nice! It was a lot of fun, as well; I really love where I work and the people I work with. It was just a nice little time and really gets you into the holiday spirit. Not to mention, the tree looks beautiful and has just about inspired me to get a move on and get our house ready for the Holiday. Granted, I am at work more than home, so it’s nice for work to be decorated too!

Tonight I went and shopped (feels like I’ve been shopping every night, which isn’t as fun as it sounds, even for me!) for our gift exchange. Gift exchanges for some reason, are just so difficult to me, and shopping for them is probably the hardest part. The limit is (supposed to be) twenty dollars…

I ended up getting a Bath and Body Works gift set of Warm Vanilla Sugar. It smells nive and warm and a little sweet, which is what I love to smell like in the winter. I hope someone enjoys it.

I guess the reason I’m not crazy about gift exchanges is because I feel like I’m socially awkward with things like this (well, most things, really). I hate opening gifts in front of people. I worry too much about my reaction which makes me seem fake, and I swear that’s not even it. I’m just very self-conscious. Now opening gifts, in front of strangers, then exchanging for one I like more (generally the rule in gift exchanges that I’ve been to)? Wow… talk about feeling uncomfortable. I don’t want anyone to think their gift is any less important than another’s, and the same for whatever gift I bring!

I still have this horrible memory of a gift exchange at youth group at my church. To set the scene a little, I went to church alone every Sunday, because my parents didn’t care to join me. So, I was the girl who went alone to church, sat alone, left alone. I was a fourteen-year old redheaded chubster with curly hair, braces, and zero confidence. I was uncomfortable in any situation, really. I summoned up the courage to go to an event at church that wasn’t the regular service; it was a youth group get together before Christmas.

I brought a nice gift for the gift exchange, and while we went about whatever rules apply with such events… I found myself with a small, rectangular present to unwrap. As I peeled back the paper, I felt my heart stop for a second and the blood rush to my face. Beads of sweat emerged as I realized I had to continue tearing back the paper and raise the gift for all to see.


Buns of Steel.


The exercise video Buns of Steel, I’m sure you all know which one I’m talking about, we’ve all probably had a giggle about it at one point or another I’m sure.
But when you’re the girl described above… well, I wasn’t giggling, I felt like crying.
Of course, it was only intended as a gag gift, and nobody could have known that I was going to be the recipient of said gift, but well, that’s just my luck. Thankfully, everyone had a good laugh over it, and someone even “stole” (part of the rules of the gift exchange) the gift from me, jokingly claiming they would put the video tape to good use at home.

Maybe they sensed my anguish, or maybe they simply craved buns of steel.

Of course, I do of course find it pretty funny now. Long story short, gift exchanges mess with my nerves a bit, and we’ll just have to see how it goes tomorrow.

We’re having the holiday party at the nearby Cheesecake Factory restaurant, which should be very nice! That part I am certainly looking forward to!

Oh Em Gee, Cute!

Just had to share... I thought this was too funny, this popped up on my "Today" screen on MSN.com

Article copied from here.

"OMG! It's a keyboard for blondes!"

Blondes have suffered decades of ridicule, but it's time they embrace the jokes. When it comes to a hot-pink boost of self-confidence (or at least a few good laughs), the Keyboard for Blondes may do the trick.
The all-pink keyboard swaps out standard keys with funnier, dumber key names. The backspace key now says "Oops!" and the entire row of function keys spells out USELESS KEYS. Hit the "$" sign and you get the sound of a cash register clinking.
Blondes can even get a little technical and use special keys that type out "OMG," "ALI" (Absolutely Love It!) or "XOXO." My favorite? The caps lock key now says: "Warning! size XXL letters."
Though this fully functional keyboard would be a great gift to poke some fun at your fair-haired friends, regular computer users may find it a bit challenging. However, like the completely blank Das Keyboard, the Keyboard for Blondes might help poor typists improve their skills, since the keys are 1) a distracting pink, and 2) no longer have the standard labels.
According to its manufacturer, European Trends, the keyboard has already been released in the U.K. to some success, and at $49.95 probably only a true blonde would purchase this novelty item. It's compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux. I know what Paris Hilton will be getting for Christmas.

I'd want one... but wouldn't waste the fifty bucks on it!

Hmm...

Hmm... yeah, there isn't really anything to write for the time being, so I am going to take a cue from Bridgett & Brandi, and answer these questions from James Lipton, host of Inside The Actor's Guild.

What is your favorite word?

Conduit. Lovely. Sweetheart, Sweetie (any pet name like that really, unless it’s used in a patronizing way), Weiner ;) I say it so often, my dog thinks it’s her second name.

What is your least favorite word?

Gizzard. Maggot. Earwig. Cadaver.

What turns you on?

A sense of humor, a person who reads(!!!), European accents (I know, I’m SOOOO original), an educated person who isn’t cocky about it
What turns you off?

Arrogance/Cockiness. Bad New Jersey accents. Bad grammar. People who refuse to try new things (what a lame way to limit your experiences in life…), Hypocrites.

What noise do you love?

Birds in the morning. The crackle of a fire. The roar of the sea. The chime at my door at work (don’t ask). My puppy’s bark, she very rarely barks, and when she does it’s generally for a good reason. “I love you” whispered in my ear…
What noise do you hate?

The ring tone on my phone that I have as my alarm in the morning ( I chose it on purpose because I end up hating any song that serves as my alarm). The sound of sirens. People honking their horns. Gross coughing. Someone spitting.

What is your favorite curse word?

I say “Hella” a lot… does that count? Russ gives me the worst time about it, but I honestly don’t notice when I say it anymore.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Author or grade-school teacher

What profession would you not like to do?

Something like an accountant… basically anything working with numbers/math. A creditor. A sales person.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

"Come on in" would be lovely :)

-K

It's a Dog's Life

When the humans are at work...well....

Just had to share the lovely mess that we come home to every so often. That is all bark that Delilah has dragged inside into our kitchen. Now, I went through our entire backyard and literally picked up every piece of bark that I could possibly find and threw it away. Somehow, she still finds plenty to decorate the house with.

Hey, what else is there to do, right?

P.S: Are you all sick of seeing my red plaid scarf yet? Cuz I'm clearly not...

-K

Here...there...everywhere!

Above: My morning drive on Friday

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Well... okay, to me at least. The mornings have been especially foggy, and I guess for me that's winter! So my mom's birthday surprise for me on Friday was AMAZING! We drove to a little spa called Harmony and she treated me to a pedicure, a facial, and a massage!!! I have never had a facial or a massage, and it was absolutely wonderful. I haven't felt that relaxed in a long time.

Friday night Russ and I went to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner, and then went and saw Four Christmases. Well, it wasn't as bad as I expected, we had a few laughs and enjoyed the sweet parts of the movie and just overall getting into the spirit of Christmas.

On Saturday we went to a Christmas parade with our Dachshund meetup group, and afterwards went to our friend's store for snacks and just to hang out with friends and our dogs. Because the city was geared up for the Christmas parade, they also had a "Santa" in the store available for pictures, which I ended up mostly taking of people. Not that I'm complaining, I love taking pictures, especially ones that will put a smile on their face!

It was a lot of fun... If you haven't ever checked it out, Meetup.com is an awesome site to go find local clubs. My mom started our Dachshund meetup, and there are over a hundred members now. We do fundraising for local animal rescue and also just socialize with people who have at least one thing in common with us (though generally more)! I also found my amazing book club on meetup, and am having the best time with the girls I've met there!

Well, we wrapped up the weekend on Sunday doing some work on the house (me on the inside, Russ outside). Russ topped off our side planter with bark (gosh, what a cheap and easy improvement), and started on our Christmas lights. I will most likely post some pictures of our lights once they are up!

Hope you all had an amazing weekend!

-K

T.G.I.F...almost.

Hello! Well, I haven't written lately because life has been quite uneventful. Poor Russ is sick with some stomach virus and called in sick, and took himself (gasp) to the doctor. Now, I have to say it must be something quite nasty if Russ takes himself willingly to the doctor.

I snapped some pictures of him cuddling with Lilah, she has been cuddling with him constantly while he's been sick. I think dogs just know those kinds of things...

Oh, and I DID figure out that if I use the red eye for humans, it sometimes works for dog eyes too, but not always. And it gives her kind of a "beady-eye" effect, but still an improvement over the yellow orbs!



As for me, I am certainly glad that tomorrow is Friday! I only work half the day tomorrow, and my mom will be taking me to an undisclosed location (it's an early birthday surprise). Needless to say, I am quite excited!!



Take care and enjoy your Friday!

-K