2 Challenges for myself

Okay, so a new year just around the corner. That means everyone is going to be making their New Years resolutions and what not. You could consider me one of those people. I'm the girl who starts into it, but then slows down, then gives up.

Not this year. This year I am determinded to complete 2 things.

Challenge numero uno: Go a year without soda.

Well I'm to attempt it. We recently borrowed the new Tim Tebow book Through My Eyes from our local library. When Tim was younger, his parents told him soda would not help his body. They challenged him to go a year without soda, and if he did, they would give him $100. Well, he did it and he always drinks water now where ever he goes.

I actually started this on the 10th of this month with my sisters. So, since next year is a Leap Year, I'll finish this challenge on the 9th of December 2012.

Challenge numero dos: 365 miles in 365 days

My mom signed my sisters and I up for a marathon. We complete 25 miles on our own, then on race day, we go and complete the 1.2 miles, so we actually do complete a 26.2 marathon. This takes place February 18th so I've still got a bit.

I started this challenge on the 20th of this month and I already have the 27 miles down. I've been fast-walking/running them. I'm going to try to get as many miles in as I can while the weather is cool, since in the summer, I'd be dying outside.

Why am I blogging about this? I'd love it if I could get y'alls support. I know if I have to keep you all updated on my progress, then I will actually continue to complete these challenges. I have a couple more challenges for myself, these are just the larger ones that I thought I would share.

By the way, I'd love it if I could hear your new year challenges as well!

~Peace, love, sisters messing up song lyrics making you die laughing~

P.S. And because I couldn't possibly create a post without a picture of some sort, I leave you with this:

What I am doing

{inspired by Sophie's post, I create this}

At the moment, I am doing many things...

creating// thinking// pondering// smelling// typing up blog posts// wishing// daydreaming// wearing// feeling// breathing// singing// thanking God//

Creating

A guest post over at Faith, Hope, and Buck the Cat

Thinking

Why skittles supposedly "taste like a rainbow"?? I mean, what's up with that? Anyone who can explain this to me will be my best friend.

Pondering

Over how it seems to be that this year went by so quickly. Without even a heads up, Christmas is over, and New Years is less than 5 days away. Whoa. I must've been living under a rock or something.

Smelling

Coconut Pineapple. Oh my gosh I love Bath and Body Works. I'm serious. I bought fragrenise mist yesterday from there on sale from Christmas, Coconut Pineapple. I'm in love. Its simply devine.

Typing up blog posts
You saw that one coming, didn't you? :)

Wishing

that this:

was mine. Isn't it so cute?! Its at Claires, originally $18, now on sale for $7! I couldn't find it at the store, so I might just have to pay the 6 dollars for shipping. Still deciding over whether I'm going to get it.

Daydreaming

About the usual, you know.

Wearing
A black camp t-shirt, dark blue sweatpants, gray and green striped socks (Christmas prezzie, thank you mom and daddy)

Feeling

Cold. Hence the socks and sweat pants and the urge to buy cute winter penguin hats.

Breathing

In fresh country air. Thank you, God :)

Singing

Random, but yes. I'm in a song mood. I've got the song Breathe by Taylor Swift stuck in my head and I have no idea why. Probably because its a neat song.

Thanking God

For allowing me the priviledge to face another year. For good health. For giving me the best friends and family a girl could ask for. And my Christmas was awesome. I got some of the coolest prezzies. The main one being a wii which is extremely exciting because we've never had video games at my house. I've discovered I'm beast at Just Dance, just saying ;)

Oh and I got a bunch more, but one thing I want to tell you guys about are my feather earrings. They are gorgeous. They have 4 feathers on each earring, one blue, one green, one pure white, one white with brown spots. I'm totally obsessed with them.

The weirdest part? Daddy picked them out for me. For one thing, I didn't know daddy would even go into Forever 21, let alone be able to pick out earrings like those. Yeah I was in shock, and I realized I don't give my dad enough credit. He lives in a household full of girls, I guess he'd be able to know what we'd like :) By the way, shout out to daddy, I love you :)

How was your Christmas? :)

~Peace, love, and Patrick Star~

It finally arrived!

Christmas! Its finally here!

What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing
Would the song still survive without five golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without misletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie
Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

~Christmas Must Be Something More by Taylor Swift

To all my wonderful followers, I wish you a merry Christmas and hope all your wishes come true :)

~Peace, love, the letter k~

Family Traditions

Oh my gosh I'm so excited! Today's Christmas EVE! Tomorrow is the day we've all been anticipating!

I love hearing about Christmas traditions, I thought I'd share some of mine with you and then I want to hear some of yours.

We get to open one present tonight, as goes one of my favorite family traditions, then we open all the rest on Christmas morning. My sisters and I wait in the kitchen, staring at the oven clock, because my parents say we can't wake them until 7:30am. As soon as it clicks from :29 to :30, we are off, shooting towards my parents' bedroom, jumping on the bed exclaiming that they need to wake up, as if the presents are going to get up and walk themselves out the front door if they don't hurry and get out of bed. We then all dash into the living room, sit down in front of the tree, and go around in a circle, opening all our presents one by one. We have never been allowed to just "rip" into them, because my parents enjoy seeing our reactions to the gifts they painstakingly picked out for us.

My other favorite Christmas tradition, is making cookies for our family and friends. We actually did that yesterday. I made the HORRIBLE mistake of wearing black sweatpants while rolling our sugar cookie dough. Of course, when you roll out sugar cookie dough, you have to put flour on the rolling pin. Let's just say I looked like it had snowed in my house. It was crazy. We used cookie cutters and made a bunch of sugar cookies, and then made regular double chocolate chunk, oatmeal chip, peanut butter, and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. The peanut butter and peanut butter chocolate chip were from this gluten-free recipe we found since we discovered recently that my momma is sensitive to gluten.

We also made tacos :)

These two pictures, above and below, are dedicated to my bestie, M. I wish I could send you these taco cookies but sadly, I eated them :((

Ok see the cookie above and below? We named him Barfalito. Don't ask why we decided he was Italian.. My genius sister rolled the cookie dough in sprinkles, turning the dough this lovely shade of puke green. Thus born, Barfalito. Let's just say my sisters and I are insane at times ;)

Anyways, now that I've bombarded you with a bunch of pictures, what are some Christmas traditions that your family does?

~Peace, love, raindrops~

Wordless Wednesday (Christmas Verison part 3)

~ :P ~

(P.S. 4 days until Christmas. *squeals and sings Christmas songs while running about the house rampantly*)
(P.P.S. Those above were not words. They are just figments of your imagination. Maybe you need to go see a doctor or something.)

History of the Candy Cane

One of my favorite sweet treats of this time of year, are candy canes. The way that the sweet, sticky, peppermint taste just floods your whole mouth when you nibble on the cane just makes me feel like I'm on Cloud Nine. However, the real thing that the candy cane represents has been lost, and now is only recognized as a Christmas decoration. I am here to help prevent that.

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would be a witness, so he made the Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth as our savior. It also represents the staff of the “Good Shepherd” with which He reaches down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candymaker stained it with red stripes. He used the tree small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Jesus on the Cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life, if only we put our faith and trust in Him.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a Candy Cane - a meaningless decoration seen at Christmas time. But the meaning is still there for those who “have eyes to see and ears to hear”.

{source}

Hopefully, next time you delight in a candy cane, it will taste a bit sweeter knowing that everything about it represents and points back to our Savior. The real reason we celebrate this time of year. :)

~Peace, love, toe socks~

Perfect Gift Idea

We've all got that one person. The person we've been through thick-and-thin with. And you have no idea what to get them for Christmas to show that you really care about them. Well I have the perfect idea, something to hold their cell phone when not in use!

How about one of these bad boys?

Its a moose. Basically its awesome because of that.

Okay I think I'm done :)

~Peace, love, hot chocolate with extra marshmallows~

Reminder

[Since I will be gone tomorrow, this post doubles as my Wordless Wednesday Christmas version part 2]

The Christmas season for me is filled with lots of things. Memories. Bright lights. Daydreams in front of the Christmas tree. Having fun with my siblings. Getting into a fake-fight over whether "huger" is a word with my little sister, and then somehow the two of us start fake-arguing in British accents. Baking cookies. Decorating cookies. These are all my essentials to making this time of year grand.

But in the mist of all the gift wrap and tinsel, we seem to forget what Christmas is all about.

Over 2,000 years ago, a little baby was born in a manger. The Lord sent His only son to save us from our sins, since we could not save ourselves. You nor I had the power to save us, only He does.

So please, its alright to be excited because there is a giant box under your tree with your name on it. Its okay to put up all the Christmas decorations and be excited to see all the lights turn on. Its perfectly fine to want to go out Christmas shopping. Just please don't get so caught up that you forget what this time of year really is celebrated for.

~Peace, love and shooting stars~