2013 - Year in Review

Well I almost can't believe it...we are at the end of another year.  It has definitely been a great one for us and I am so looking forward to next year.

2014 is going to be our best year yet.  We have a few secrets up our sleeves that I cannot wait to tell you all about. :)

I hope you enjoy this year in review and we wish you a very wonderful next one!!

Get ready for picture overload - this is my warning in advance :)

{January}

I celebrated my 24th birthday

{February}

Ryan and I celebrated Valentine's Day via FaceTime ::Thank God for Apple products::

Went to Disneyland with the cutest little boy ever ::Gavin Alan::  All that was missing was his Uncle RyRy

{March}

I participated in my first ever Run or Dye event.  I was joined by some great company ::my favorite little girl - Pumpkin Pie:: and we were a complete mess.

{April}

Ashley and I took Pumpkin Pie to an Egg Hunt at a local park and we missed the hubs terribly for Easter.

{May}

Saw Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley in concert with Ashley K ::Ashley G at the time - yay for weddings!::

Celebrated my mom's birthday

Celebrated Mother's Day

Waited for Ryan to come home

{June}

Found a house for Ryan and I to live in once he returned home from deployment

{July}

My Sister came to town

Had the most wonderful bridal shower ever

Celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary with my mom, Ashley and Pumpkin Pie

Ryan FINALLY came home

{August}

Went to Disneyland with the Parsons Family ::Pumpkin Pie::

Saw Luke Bryan in concert

Saw Brad Paisley in concert

{September}

My brother, sister-in-law and Gavin came to town for the wedding along with a million other loved ones. :)

Renewed our love and devotion for one another

Went to the B-A-H-A-M-A-S!

Went to Ashley and Puffalump's ::not his real name:: wedding

{October}

Started this here little ol' blog :)

Saw Jason Aldean in concert

Went to Johnny and Kirsten's wedding

Duck Season started

Our little Hank was born on Halloween Day

{November}

Hosted our first Thanksgiving Dinner
Went to Reno to see Rodney Carrington

{December}

^^probably the best month of the year besides July when Ryan came home^^

Ryan's 25th Birthday

6th Annual Suits and Staches

Got to bring Hank home just in time for...

CHRISTMAS - as a little family of 2 humans and 2 furbabies :)

We also got some really great news in December but that is part of the surprise that we are keeping until next year.  Stay tuned to find out.  I guarantee it will be super exciting! :)  It is for our little family at least!

I have a few goals to accomplish in 2014:

+ be a better wife - although I already spoil him, there are times when we both get a little upity :)

+ buy a house and make it a home

+ become a mommy

+ live a healthier lifestyle - more veggies and exercising

+ eliminate the debt and increase the savings - I work on this monthly but will continue in 2014 and hopefully only have a mortgage and two car payments in the ways of debt.

See you in 2014 - another year older ::literally because it is my birthday tomorrow:: and hopefully wiser in some way

XO 

Five on Friday - last one in 2013

I cannot believe that this is the last Friday of 2013!!  The year is wrapping up and so are the holidays.  As much as I love Christmas - and believe me, I do! - I am happy to have my house back in "normal" shape.

Today I am linking up again with the ladies of 5 on Friday.

{ONE}

Our house is back to "normal" as I stated above.  Last night after dinner the hubs and I took down the ornaments, lights, garland, tree and other decorations around the house.  As sad as it is to take it all down it had a good run.  It survived our journey to get it, bring it home, keep it alive and keep it from being attacked constantly from the pups.  One thing we learned this year, both of our furbabies like the taste of pine trees apparently.  This might have to be our last real tree but I will probably be okay with that.

{TWO}

We found out yesterday that we will be adding a new addition to my family!  My cousin in Washington announced that her and her husband are expecting their first child on their Christmas card!  It was so cute and we are all soooo excited!  She is due in June so we are all hoping that they make a visit to California before she pops out little Baby Moz.  :)

{THREE}

Hank Hughes - the newest addition to our family if you don't follow me on Twitter or Instagram - has finally slept through the night last night!  That's right folks...our little bundle of joy slept 8 whole hours last night!!!  We are on cloud nine and couldn't be more excited.  LOL.  We have barely been making it 4 hours at night this whole week that we have had him.  Last night he decided to be an angel - probably because he knows how tired his mommy and daddy are - and slept the whole night and no accidents!  We feel like superheroes this morning.  Ignore the over excitement and just let me have my moment please :)

{FOUR}

This Christmas was the best one yet.  I keep thinking that there has to come a year where it doesn't beat out every one before that - but I have yet to find that.  This year, Ryan was home!  Biggest thing by far for me.  Nothing was more special than getting to spend Christmas together.  We started the morning off by spending time with our furbabies.  Ryan and I did not do gifts this year due to getting Hank Hughes just a week before and because being together is all we needed.  We then went to my mom's house for breakfast and presents.  My mom spoiled us - and the dogs - as she always does.  It was the first year that I didn't wake up at my mom's house on Christmas - a little strange, but we survived :)  We then went home and spent the rest of the morning and afternoon with our little family of 4 snuggling on the couch and watching TV.  For the evening we went to my in-law's for dinner and more gifts.  Dinner was delicious and we, once again, got spoiled.  My mother-in-law got everything on our list this year.  We are sooooo set now. :)  We ended the night with our pups just as we started it.  It was an amazing Christmas. :)

{FIVE}

My birthday - quarter of a century! - is in 5 days!  I can't believe it.  I feel like I just turned 24 a couple months ago.  I am so excited that Ryan will be home this year for my birthday too.  We will be going out to dinner for Chinese food like I have done every year on my birthday since I can remember.  I love that we do this and am so glad that my parents started that tradition many moons ago.

I hope that you all have a great Friday and lovely weekend.  Enjoy it!  Last one of the year!!!

So Christmas is Over...

We hope that you had a very Merry Christmas! ❤
From my little family to yours :)

One last Christmas song for the fun of it :)

My 25th birthday is in 6 days folks!!!! AHHHHHH!!!!!

A whole quarter of a century!

Oh, You Fancy! {12 Days of Christmas}

Day 11 of #12DaysOfBlogging with Amber and Erin.

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Today we are talking about holiday looks.  Now I am in no way, shape or form a fashionista.  I think that I can pair simple things together to make them look good.  

Now, my family had their get together yesterday and being the horrible blogger that I am, I did not take a single picture of my "festive" outfit.

Tomorrow I am planning on dressing "festive" for work and then on Christmas Day I will probably just wear leggings and a big top since we aren't going anywhere but to both parents' houses and back to our couch to snuggle with our furbabies.

And with all that said I didn't want to not post any pictures so I discovered Polyvore ::which please tell me how I haven't before!:: and put together two looks that I would love to wear - but could never afford.

Holiday Party for Work:

Dress/Coat/Shoes/Clutch/Earrings/Bracelet/Polish

Holiday Fun:

Tunic/Leggings/Wedges/Hair Bow/Clutch/Bracelets/Earrings

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!!

Holi-Drink! {12 Days of Christmas}

Day 10 of #12DaysOfBlogging with Amber and Erin.

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Today we are talking about festive, holiday cocktails!  Man oh man, do I love cocktails.  Now don't take this as I have a problem...it is actually quite the opposite.  I have pretty much quit drinking since our honeymoon but I do indulge every once in a while still. 

The problem with the holiday drinks though is that I am picky.  And by picky I mean that there are very few drinks that I actually like.  I like the drinks that are sneaky and yummy.  I don't drink dark alcohol or beer for the most part.  I enjoy vodka and liquors.

Now with that being said - and get ready to GASP - I despise Eggnog.  :(  It is sooooo nasty to me.  Nothing about it is appealing to me.  The eggy taste, the creaminess, the RUM or WHISKEY.  No thank you!  More for the rest of you this way though.

source

So with that I have decided to share one of my most favorite drink recipes ever.  I discovered this when I was bar tending at good ol' Spag.  It quickly became my favorite drink ever and I used to make just a little bit extra each time so I could take a little taste - responsibly of course. :)

I introduce you to - and you're welcome in advance -

The Strawberry Pomegranate Drop

Things Needed:

1 Martini Glass - or any glass for that matter

Ice

Cocktail Shaker

Plain sugar

Lime Juice

Sweet and Sour

Monin Strawberry Puree

Three Olives Pomegranate Vodka

Directions:

::Disclaimer - I just count everything out.  There is no wrong way to make it as long as the proportions are correct::

Take your cocktail shaker and put a scoop of ice inside.

Pour two shots of vodka inside.

Take the puree and put some inside.  As much as you would like it to taste like strawberry.  I usually do about 5-10 seconds worth.

Add a splash of lime juice

Fill the cocktail shaker so that it is about 2/3 full with sweet and sour mix

Cover and shake until you feel the whole shaker turn chilly.

Take your glass and dip the top in lime juice and then sugar.

Strain your shaker contents into glass.

Serve with either a lemon or lime wedge

ENJOY!