pumped for 2013.. and other tangents

Here is last night's date night consisting of Burger Supreme and Pitch Perfect. I can't express in words my love for a good Greek Salad (so let my face do the talking). Spencer was not amused by this pic. Here you see him drinking root-beer with lemon. That's right folks, my husband likes a slice of lemon in his root-beer  I find it gross, but (as LeVar Burton always said) "Don't take my word for it."

New nails! seriously if you live in the area, go to Renaissance Academy! Their shellac/gel nails are only $10! What a steal! Ask for Kirsten! She is the best! 

OK...
Well the world is suppose to end today but all I can think about is a new beginning. I feel like 2013 is going to be a good year (unlike 2009, which will undoubtedly be filed under my "Worst Year Ever" category). One thing that is really exciting, is that Spencer got a new job. We've been applying for medical related jobs for the last six months (and I say we, not like those annoying couples that say "we are going to med school" or "we are pregnant" when really only one of you are. But I say this because I literally found all the jobs and hounded him about applying). And finally it all paid off! He got a job as a medical assistant! Oddly enough this was one I found in September, and after a month of not hearing from the company, they finally called him for an interview (about a week after we gave up and he got hired at a non-medical place). Spence went in for the interview anyway and a week later they called and said "You're hired... but we don't have a place for you right now." Haha it was sad, but they said starting January they would need him and then we were happy! Go husband! 

And I can't wait for 2013 to bring my 2 new niece(s) and/or nephew that I'm getting this year! I love (other people's) babies.

I'm not excited for the cold, but the snow is gorgeous right now.

(Photo credit goes to my brother-in-law)

I'm also really excited for the Christmas break and the chance to go to Vegas and spend it with the in-laws. And of course I'm also excited for this:

Mostly because I was in the musical in 9th grade and I know every word. I may or may not have been a "lady of the night" but I was a dang good one if so.  I also saw the Broadway cast of it when I was younger and it was amazing.

Another thing I am looking forward to. Working out! I haven't been utilizing my gym pass as much as I would like to and it's one of my New Years resolutions. I pretty much eat what I want and when you're not eating super super health, you have to be working out to counterbalance it. Hope everyone holds me to that! 

Other Christmas decor: 

I finally finished this wreath and I am obsessed with it! I found the large "H" at Joann's Fabric (I wanted an even larger one but couldn't find a close place that sold them), and then I bought craft branches that had holly berries on them from Michael's. I used hot glue to glue them, but before that I spray-painted the H red. Then made the burlap bow and just hot glued it to the back of the H (although I'm sure there are many ways to more securely attach it). 

Our mini tree my mom no longer wanted.

I added the wreath that use to be on the door to our mirror.

Our reindeer watch dog. My mom always had this in the front room growing up and I guess she has outgrown it cause she game him to me. 

And someone was nice enough to draw this very symmetric design on my car. It looks like a turtle shell.

And speaking of Christmas... here are my new Christmas shoes! I wanted to get some work shoes with some height that weren't heels. You'll find them here at 6pm.com. They are Steve Madden and they were only $25 on sale (free shipping)! I'm obsessed with them in brown, but I have far too many brown boots. 

And lastly, have you heard of bloglovin.com? It is the greatest new thing I discovered. I use to keep the blogs I followed at the right side of my blog to keep track of them, but then I would have to go onto my own blog like twice a day and click on everyone to see if anyone updated their blog. Bloglovin is like Pinterest for blogs. You find all the blogs you're following and it organizes and saves them, and then you can get notifications every time someone you follow writes a post. It's also a great way to find new blogs (and it's also an app). Anyway, every one who reads more than one blog needs to get one and if you are getting one... follow me and put me on your bloglovin list (many of you are already on mine)! The link to my profile on the site is here, although you can always just copy and past my URL in the search box to find me. Love you all! Mmmmmmmmmwaa. 

a lavish vegas wedding weekend

Dress: Forever21 Belt: Forever21, Shoes: shoedazzle.com

(You can't tell because of the wild lighting in this room, but my dress and his tie match. Spencer NEVER lets me match. Yay!)

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to a wedding in Vegas... and it was amaze-balls! Maybe I lack rich friends, but I've never been to a wedding this over-the-top. The wedding was in the Wynn hotel and we started first at the ring ceremony with an isle surrounded by lavish fake trees with crystals hanging from them. Afterwards, we moved to a separate room for the appetizer hour that was full of fish, crab, and sushi. Next we moved on to the banquet hall where we enjoyed a 5 course meal, live band, dancing, and our own personal firework show overlooking the golf course. It was well worth the drive down to LV. After the wedding we went to the stratosphere to ride the Big Shot because some of our party had never been. This weekend mostly consisted of me, my husband  and these three crazy's:

A girl that weekend said to me "You're stuck with all these boys this weekend? I'm sorry." But I wouldn't have changed it for the world! I'm a guys girl and always have been. They are hilarious and we had lots of laughs. 

Priceless faces

Scuba Steve Elf feeding the cute sting-ray! 

Shirt: H&M, Shoes: Target, Skirt: borrowed

Here is my hair results from my highlights  My hair is naturally really light so not many people noticed any difference but I like that it looks natural. I feel like in the winter my hair gets darker so it was a nice pick-me-up. 

Pedicures with my sister last night! 

picture overload and a hairy announcement

Pixelated enough for you?

So after the above picture was taken, fast forward a few hours and I woke up in the middle of the night with really bad stomach pains. I really didn't want to go to the ER but I had had them on and off all week and this time it was bad enough that I couldn't fall back asleep. My symptoms were really similar to gallstones but after an ultrasound they found a big fat... NOTHING. This seriously always happens to me. In the 6th grade I was rushed to the ER with extreme heart/chest pains and after a million tests they found nothing. So over the weekend I was given some acid reducing meds and sent on my way. I guess on the bright side I don't have to pay for surgery. 

Scarf and leggings: Forever 21, Cardigan: Urban Outfitters, Watch: Nixon, Boots: Forever Young Shoes

I love turning scarfs into makeshift shirts/tunics.

Cardigan: thrifted, Pencil skirt: Forever 21, Gold tipped heels: Shoedazzle.com

Made some Nutella Peanut-butter Cookies. Recipe here.

Love naps with this guy.

Bought me a Barbie pink case! 

So here are my pictures of my Christmas decorations. I never made the snow globes I posted from last time because I ran out of time. 

Our silver and white tree

I only made 4 trees because they took a while. I would have made all silver ones with old silver pine cones my mom gave me, but that tree took the LONGEST. Seriously. But it turned out cute. 

Pinecone lights we hung above the TV

Still have not finished my holly berry monogram wreath because I ran out of berries on Sunday. I picked up more last night, however, so it should be done by tonight! 

And BREAKING NEWS: I haven't really told anyone this (not even Spencer) but right after work I have an appointment to get my virgin hair highlighted!! I have never colored my hair (besides a purple streak I did earlier this year) because ever time I went to get my hair trimmed, the hair dressers would say "When's the last time you got your hair colored?" And when I would say "Never," they would scream "OMG this is natural? Girls pay so much to get this hair color! Don't ever change it." So therefore I never have. Then I was reading the blog http://lovechugs.blogspot.com/ (read it. Weslie is adorbs!) and I saw her hair and thought, gosh it would be fun to have bright blonde hair! It would be a nice change without doing anything too drastic since I'm already a blonde. However I'm just getting highlights (I think), not an all over color, but either way I can't wait! Yay!!!! 

this weeks eats

Yesterday's Outfit - Blouse: second hand store, Pants: H&M, Riding Boots: urbanog.com Ring: Africa

I have a few recipes I tried this week and they were all a smashing success. First off: 

Baked Brown Sugar Chicken Wings with Roasted Red Pepper Cream Sauce. Recipe here.

With a side of Cumin Lime Carrots. Recipe here.

I have NEVER ever liked cooked carrots but these were packed with flavor and were delicious! 

(the only picture I took of mine)

 I told you all last time I had gotten mushrooms and attempted to cook with them. And surprise surprise... I liked them. Maybe it was because with the recipe I used, the mushrooms were just a mere vehicle to get the delicious ingredients into my mouth. And I even felt like a chef because I strayed from the recipe. The original recipe (here) was a mushroom stuffed goat cheese, tomato recipe. I however already had several other types of cheeses so I skipped the goat cheese. Instead I oven roasted the tomatoes, and then chopped them up and threw them in a bowl with equal parts ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese (with the spices they suggested). I also topped it off with bacon. The only other thing I changed was that I didn't have a lemon so I used a lime (in the dressing that covers the mushrooms). Oh and of course I didn't use Portobello mushrooms, just the regular small ones. Anyway they were really good and Spencer ate his, and half of mine. Oddly enough they kind of tasted like a pizza bagel (maybe that's why I like them so much). I think I will definitely make them again!

Welp, this weekend I'm going to be busy working on these crafts: 

Holly berry monogram wreath

Mason jar snow-globes

Hand made trees (tutorial here)

 I don't know if it's just me but I'm waaaay sad for the 50 degree weather to go. Glad to be spending Christmas in Vegas! Now I'm off to Buffalo Wild Wings. Have a good weekend!!

 *Tree and other decoration pictures to come shortly

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