Sunday Social: All About 3s

1. Top 3 favorite kinds of food

I'm really a fan of all genres, but we'll go with my top 3..... Italian, Mexican, and Southern.

2. First 3 things you do in the morning

Hit snooze, make my bed (every single morning.... first thing.... can't stand an unmade bed), and pee.

3. Last 3 things you do at night

Brush my teeth, set my alarm, and check my alarm to make sure I set it

4. 3 TV shows you NEVER miss

Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and Big Bang Theory

5. 3 places you want to visit

Italy, Ireland, and Greece

6. 3 people you can always count on

I can always count on my mom and my cousin Heidi, for absolutely anything. Then, there are several other people that I can count on for various things. My friend Meg can always be counted on for encouragement and moral support, even though I don't get to see her as much as i'd like.

Convos with TG: Irrational Anger Edition

Text a couple days ago at like 6am (I got up to go running and he has to be at work at 5am)......

I mean, I'm glad he's ok with the fact that I was steaming in the middle of the night over something he didn't do, right?

Words of Wisdom with H&J

Well, more like "Words of HIMYM Wisdom".............

Some Blurbies

I had a doctor appointment today. When the physician's assistant was asking my height, I said, "Five, seven and a half."

She goes, "Seven and a half?"

"Yes."

long pause

I looked over and saw she had typed 7 in the feet category. She was staring at it, quizzically.

I repeated, "FIVE, seven and a half."

"Ohhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! I was thinking that you didn't look that tall, but you were sitting, so maybe I was mistaken."

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I leave for Memphis on Thursday.

Based off the phone call I had with FD, this afternoon, it should be a very interesting weekend.

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I am SO excited that 'Bunheads' came back on ABC Family. It's 'Gilmore Girls' and dance wrapped in one.... right up my alley.

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I am placing a Scentsy order this week. Let me know if you want something!

Sunday Social: Blogging

1. What is the name of your blog? How long have you been blogging?

All-American Jess....... For anyone coming over from the hop, I've had a love/hate relationship with being called the "Good Girl" or "Girl Next Door" or "All American Girl" for basically my whole life. A lot of times, the description comes as a veiled insult, lol.

2. Why do you blog?

As my sidebar says, "to narrate my life." You know how Meredith Grey, Cher Horowitz, and other fun characters have an inner monologue (sometimes accompanied by a peppy soundtrack)? Yeah, I do that, too. So, I kind of use the blog to make my inner monologue a little less crazy and a little more like scrapbooking without the scissors, glue, and bits of paper all over the place.

3. What is the first blog you ever followed?

My friend Susan who passed away a few years ago.

4. What is your favorite post you wrote in 2012?

I have a few....

About a mouse (because while I was legitimately terrified at the time, it has made for a good story around the station)

Being Real

Old Wounds

Words of Wisdom with Heidi and Jess

Gator Game

Convos with TG

5. What are your blogging goals for 2013?

I'd like to blog at least 200 times this year. 2012 was a bit of a slacker year.

6. Name your top 3 favorite blogs.

Well, crap. I can't really do that. So many of the blogs I read are of people I've met in person and/or talk to on a regular basis. Just look to the left at my reader roll.

Random Things I Hoard

Thanks to Krystal, I just learned of this fun little link-up....

My family tends to be hoarders.... or "Pack Rats" as the slightly less creepy and less clinical term may be. We're not super gross and disgusting, but we tend to keep a lot of "stuff."

The older I get, the better I'm getting about being able to get rid of things, but there are certainly items that I "collect" unnecessarily........


Writing Utensils and Sticky Notepads

This just is ON my desk. I mean, really. Will I never need all those pens? Probably not. But, I have them at my disposal.

We're not even counting all of the stationary that I keep on hand. I could write "Thank You" cards for years.






Tervis and Travel Coffee Mugs

No joke, I'm obsessed. I have about 3 large Tervis and 4 smaller Tervis. Plus, a ton of travel mugs. Every morning, I bring three cups to work...... one for my water, one for my coffee, and one for my breakfast smoothie.





Shoes

Especially, fun heels and flats. The amount of shoes in my closet is insane. I really only wear about 25% of them regularly. Apparently, I'm also a hoarder of pictures of me and my shoes.



Beyond the above, I have special boxes for birthday and Christmas cards that are sent to me. I have a special box for all of the concert tickets, M&G passes, and specialty wristbands/nametags/lanyards I've collected throughout the years at my job.

And, for possibly the weirdest...... plastic shopping bags. You know the Target, WalMart, Kohl's, etc bags? I have hundreds of them. I have a giant Vera Bradley Outlet shopping bag that is FULL of plastic shopping bags. I feel so bad just tossing them that I save them for other uses. When in the world I will ever use all those bags is beyond me.

A Brave Birthday

Lydie-Lu turned 4 in November. Since my mom doesn't have grandchildren of her own to spoil, she likes to go all out for others' children, lol.

Most of the printables were found on Pinterest, however, I have no clue where she found them.....

The cotton candy were supposed to be wisps....

I personally thought that the target cookies were adorable....

Mom found these hideous red hairband things at the dollar store. The kids loved them.... the adults were terrified, lol........

Noah is pretty much the coolest 13 year old on the face of the planet. I don't know very many kids his age that embraces family..... both old and young... like he does. He is mature enough to hang with the adults (most of the time) and a great older mentor to the younger kids.

My mom rented a bounce house.......

.... and, in true Merida spirit.......

..... a pony.

The funny thing is that my 4th birthday party had a pony, too. In fact, Lydia's dad was at that very party. Only mine was 'My Little Ponies' themed.

Bella was IN LOVE!!!!!!!

Doing Gangnam Style on the horse....... This kid kills me.......

"Kecka!!! You got me lots of lips!!!"

So, Lydia's birthday wish was to have a Dr. Mommy doll. She'd been requesting that doll for several weeks. Her mom was saving that for the last present, only that meant that EVERY. SINGLE. PRESENT. she opened was followed up with, "That's not Dr. Mommy!"

Thankfully, everyone there was close friends or family, so we all got a big laugh out of it. She did thank everyone for their gifts, after announcing that it wasn't her dream present, lol.

Noah and Anthony working the ugly red hair.........

Sweet girls.........

Finally, the adults got in on the bounce house action............

Lydia with Grandfather. He loves her and she is so sweet with him.

Monday Musings

It is amazing what a two hour nap, followed shortly by an eleven hour night's sleep will do for a person with a cold.

The yucky cough is still lingering, but I do feel better!

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This is my new favorite breakfast.......

A Spinach and Fruit Smoothie. It's HUGE (and, I mean HUGE), full of fresh spinach (about 3 cups), yummy, and only 6 WW points.

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Have you watched 'Pitch Perfect' yet?

If not, you need to. Like, ASAP.

It's hysterical. With great music. And, lines that you find yourself quoting with others who have seen the movie in random conversation.

Surprisingly, you can find a million uses for "Lesbihonest..."....... "Whoop, there it is." in everyday life.

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So, guys, I learned how to curl my hair with a flat iron!

Yeah, I know that is so 2010, but I'm not so great with hair and am super proud of myself.

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Have you tried getting a manicure with UV Gel Nail Polish? Not gels that are artificial nails, but just regular polish that you put under a UV light in between coats.

It is amazing. It costs a little bit more than a regular manicure, but it lasts forever. 

This one is three weeks old. 

There is nail growth (my nails grow super fast) and a few small chips, but you have to look up close to see them. Otherwise, they still look amazing. This after wrapping and unwrapping presents. Picking at tape. Opening boxes. Washing a ton of dishes.

I paid about $10 more than I would for a regular manicure that would normally only get me about 3 or 4 days.

Sunday Social

1. Do you plan to change any of your eating habits in the new year?
Already working on it. My cousin is an Uh-Mazing cook. Since they moved here, we've been getting together for family dinners at least once or twice a week. Then, December came and all eating right went completely out the window.
So, I'm already back to counting, watching, and limiting. It's really not as fun as eating whatever you want....... However, fitting into smaller clothes makes up for it, in the end.

2. Any workout tips to get us back in shape after the Holidays?

Eat right and exercise. It's so cliche, but so true.

For me, I *hate* running. I've never been good at it. However, I completed the C25K over the summer and could tell a difference. My waist becomes more defined and my belly gets smaller when I run consistently. So, as much as I detest it, running does a great trick for me. And, I'm trying to get back into my Zumba classes as a reward for running.

3. What is your favorite thing you did over the Holidays?

I spent so much time with family that I hadn't seen in years. It was awesome. We laughed more than we've ever laughed together and just made the best memories.

Coming in a close second was getting to see The Guy, again. It was such a surprise and long time coming that it really topped off my Christmas.

4. What is something you hope that you accomplish in 2013 that you did not in 2012?

Let's see.... I want to be at my goal weight and/or size by the end of 2013. Did not do that in 2012.

I have a couple of weekend trips that I talked about with various people that I would like to make happen.

5. Name 3 things happening this year you are excited about and why.

1) I'm really excited about Memphis/St Jude. It is always a highlight of my year.

2) My sister and BIL are moving down here at the end of January. Watch out, Florida! You are gaining another crazy section of our family!!

3) Wedding planning! One of my dearest friends, Billie Jo, just got engaged. I can't wait to see her get ready to marry her dream guy. We walk the lake together and that is where the world's problems tend to be solved, hence I imagine that there will be a ton of wedding planning done in that time, lol.

Friday Blurbs

This three day work week has felt both really long and really short.

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All throughout December, my workplace has been a walking cesspool of cold and crud. Everyone was sick. Only, because it was year end, they weren't staying home. There. Was. Too. Much. To. Do.

I threatened everyone with their sickly little lives if I got sick on vacation.

Then, while on vacation, pretty much everyone in my family was sick. Cousins. Brother. Mom. Ninny. Aunts. Everyone.

Now? I'm getting sick. I can feel it coming on.

Thanks.

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There is a dead animal at work. As in, crawled underneath the building and died.

Thank the good Lord that the horrid smell is on the other side of the building and not on mine.

Also, thank goodness for Scentsy. No joke, everyone who has bought one from me as them running.

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I had grand plans of finishing my organizing this weekend, as well as getting a nice run in.

Now, I think I will be curled up on the couch with soup and a blanket.

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The strawberries are back in season in Florida.

This makes me SO happy :)

"Smells" like a great year!

For Christmas, I got a lot of my friends and family Scentsy products... they are in love and so am I!

This month, they are offering double half-price rewards for hosting parties. If you are interested in having a basket party (where I send you a basket of mini-testers and other products), let me know! It's a pretty easy way to earn free or half-price Scentsy!

Also, for the month of January only, they've brought back some scents voted on as "old favorites"....

Finally, if you think you'd be interested in selling Scentsy, I'd love to have you on my team! I'm having a great time and earning some $$$.