Show and Tell: Introduction

It’s the first Show and Tell Tuesday of 2016…for those of you who don’t participate already, I recommend it! These are fun posts to write and read of other people. You simply write on the topic, find the link-up at the bottom of Andrea‘s post and go through everyone else’s. Do it! 🙂

So today’s topic is a little about myself…hmmm. A whole post to telling you about me. Oh boy 😉

Where to start?

I’m a daughter…

…and a sister.

I will choose my family first before anything.

A friend…

A Starbucks enthusiast…

…but only because McDonald’s doesn’t have Soy milk.

Which leads me to food allergies…if you want to know what life is like without gluten and lactose you’ve come to the right place!

I am an exercise fanatic. I’ve recently found a passion for health and fitness and i’m looking at possibly doing something in the future within that field.

I’m turning 22 in a couple of days and graduating college in August (FINALLY!). I’m pretty much an open book.

I’ve been a Red Sox fan since a young, young age and would choose baseball as my favorite sport. I am a total left-brain and find a lot of joy in planning and organizing.

And most importantly, I find my identity in Jesus and try as hard as I can to live my life like He would. I’ve had a few struggles in life so far, but I feel like it’s taught me so much at the same time. I consider everything in my life a blessing and do my best to find the positive part of everything.

I’m just your average girl.

As for my resolutions this year…i’m doing them a little differently. This year I decided to make a 2016 Bucket List. I sat down on New Years Eve-yes my New Years Eve as a 21 year old was spent at home. That’s another thing about me. I’m fine hanging at home on the biggest party night of the year. Maybe i’m not just the average girl 😉 And New Years Eve night was spent writing down 3 things under the 4 categories that I think are most important for any individual. It’s my 2016 bucket list.

This year, i’m focusing on fitness.

Physical:

*Be able to look at myself in the mirror and be proud of what I see.
*Get my group exercise certification. I’m still contemplating this one to be honest, it’s been on my mind a lot lately, but i’m not sure if i’m wanting to put in the time and work for it yet.
*Work out 5 times/week no matter what is going on. I think this goal and healthy eating will help my fitness goals and i’ll be able to take progress pictures. Hopefully, then i’ll achieve physical goal #1 above.
*Finally get a gym membership. For the past couple months i’ve been testing out gyms across our area to see which one fits me the best. I think I have found one, so I need to sign up!

This year, i’m focusing on contentment.

Spiritual:

*Go on a mission trip. I haven’t been on a trip since 2011 and it’s now 2016. That’s five years…it’s time for another mission trip!
*Spend each morning in Quiet Time. I’m going to do my veeerrrryyy best to spend the first 30 minutes of every day with Jesus. I think it will make a difference for me in how the rest of my day goes.
*Join a small group. Whether it’s another Bible study, a group of young adults, a group of women, or something. I want to find a small group to get connected with.

This year, i’m focusing on independence.

Social:

*Graduate college. August, August, August!
*Find a (full-time) job. Boo. This is bittersweet. Right now i’m loving the free time i’ve been having so it will be sad when I have to go work full-time again.
*Say yes this year. This is self-explanatory.

This year, i’m focusing on happiness.

Mental:

*Do something i’m uncomfortable with. I want to do something that’s going to push me mentally.
*Find happiness with something. Happiness comes from within, which is why I made it a mental goal. I want to find something that I wake up every morning excited for!
*Be in my room at 10:30PM. This has already been hard and it obviously won’t be possible EVERY night but I think it will be a good time for me to relax and reflect on the day. During this time i’m writing down something i’m thankful/grateful for every day. (Got that idea from Reeana, thanks Ree!)
*Work on being satisfied. I think this will be hard because it’s difficult for me to be satisfied, i’ve already figured that out. But i’m working on it this year i’m going to start by writing a list of 15 good things about me and keeping it somewhere that i’ll look at it.

So that’s me. And that’s what 2016 will hopefully look like for me. I hope if this is your first time here you come back, and if it’s your 320957238 time to read all of that, bless you.

Happy 2016!!!

Show and Tell: Christmas Decor

Show and Tell Tuesday…

…Christmas decorations style!

Last year, my mom was really into making these wreaths. She made one for Fall and then one for Christmas. Welcome!

Mom does an AWESOME job decorating our bannister every year.

And Morgan’s job is to set up this little snow village scene…I have no idea what it actually is. Those are her little Houndstooth snowmen she gives mom for her birthday every year too.

Dad decided one year that he wanted to be like the big kids and get lights by his room….so he now has a strand of colorful lights with branches on the window opening of his wet bar.

Another one of my favorites is the decoration around the columns. There are little elves (and big ones) spread throughout garland. PS these are a pain in the backside to put on!

In the entry way sits this table, and this year it’s decorated with one of the 3 plates Morgan made mom for Christmas last year that says “The Middletons” and some fun candy canes with a boot, ornaments, and another Santa.

And this piece of iron decor has little elves looking like they’re hanging off of the fabric and playing 🙂

My favorite part of our Christmas decorations is always, always the fireplace. The fireplace at Christmas just makes my Holiday loving heart happy. Mom decorated the mantle, Santa sits next to it, and I lay in front with the fire crackling behind me. Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care…and my grandma’s stocking is the first one in line 🙂

My grandma made our stockings herself. Hand-stitching each of them with love, and all the bells and whistles, with the year we were born. They are my favorite.

We all have a different stocking holder every year. I don’t know why, but i’m assuming it’s because ours would break all the time.

My aunt gave this Santa to my mom a couple of years ago, and now he sits by our fireplace to watch over us..to make sure that we’re being nice and not naughty.

We love having a real Christmas tree at our house. Ahhh, the smell of freshly cut wood with the mix of the needles. Right now, our tree is sitting naked in our house because we are a lazy fam. O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are your (bare) branches.

Eeek! It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Once we get lights and ornaments on our tree that is. Truth be told, our decorations are pretty much the same as last year, and the years before. It’s just easier that way.

Now I can’t wait to see yours. Just in case you missed any of my previous Show and Tell Tuesday posts:

Mission Trips/Service Opportunities
A Day In The Life
Halloween Costumes
My First Job
The 5 people you’d invite to dinner
Where I was on 9/11
Who I was in High School
My Back to School Traditions
My Home
My Beauty Routine
My Yard
When I Grow Up
Favorite Party I’ve Hosted
How I Got My Name
My Favorite Vacation
My Favorite Room In Our House
How (2 of my favorite couples) Met Each Other
My Groundhog Day
My Organization Tips and Tricks
My New Year’s Resolutions