What I did on My Christmas Staycation

Driving with the sun roof open

I had no grand ideas about what I wanted to accomplish on my Christmas Break aside from relaxing. Thirteen days is a nice long time to be home and off work.  It can easily be ruined with over scheduling so I wasn't about to do that.  I spent time with my family a couple days before and on Christmas and then after that I did whatever I felt like doing.  During the hectic work week I forget that I even have a sun roof but when the sun is shining and I'm in a happy go lucky mood the sun roof is open, the radio is loud and the wind is in my hair.  That basically sums up my Christmas Break.

Ready for Yoga.  My mom got me this top for Christmas.

I felt so much more energetic without work sucking me dry every day. I stayed up later and slept in later but when I woke up I was ready to go.  I finally had time to visit my friend and see her new baby girl.  I got to to go my hair appointment on a Wednesday afternoon instead of dragging myself in after work and practically falling asleep under the dryer.  The gym is something I really looked forward to and was not just an obligation to try to squeeze in before or after work. I went almost every day.   The class times usually don't work for me but I made it to three yoga classes.  I loved starting my days this way.  It reminded me that I actually do enjoy exercising.   It felt so good to have the time and the energy to enjoy it and not just endure it. 

I usually get 3 flavors.  This one is Cafe Late, Cake Batter and Peanut Butter.  YUM.

On the couch in my comfy blue robe

 I spent plenty of time in my robe on the couch watching my shows.  My DVR is all but cleared out.  I watched Toddlers & Tiaras while eating my Golden Spoon Yogurt;  my favorite.  It's not my first time eating that Yogurt or watching that show but doing so on a Thursday afternoon after a great morning work out and knowing that I could do the same exact thing the next day if I wanted to made it better then ever. When Mj came home from work I energetically greeted him at the door.  We got in some nice cuddle time on the couch together watching TV and movies before bed.   Instead of being dead tired by 9pm like usual I was still wide awake.   He actually went to bed before me most nights instead of the other way around. 

Mj eating lunch

I got a veggie and Chicken Bowl and he got a Jalapeno and Quinoa wrap

I got to meet my handsome husband for his lunch break. We went to Crazy Bowls & Wraps. It was a cool sunny day so we ate outside. He had to go back to work but I got to go shopping.

Christmas Presents!!  My new leather jacket and top

I saw a brown leather jacket from H & M that I liked in my Marie Claire magazine. I figured the chances of it actually being there after Christmas was slim to none but since I didn't like the one I got for Christmas I decided to give it a shot. I walked in and there it was waiting for me. It wasn't the one in the magazine but I actually liked this one even better. It was in my size and it was 50% off of $199. The other jacket I got was more expensive. I saved hubby so much money on the deal that I knew he wouldn't mind throwing in an extra top.  "Mj, wanna see the leather jacket you bought me?"

SDSU vs Redlands

We went to a College Basketball game.  My first.  Mj and his friends have season tickets and usually go with each other but this time I got to be his date and we took the trolley. 

I didn't sit around on my couch the WHOLE time.  I got our washer/dryer maintenance done.   I cleaned house and did laundry.   We spent what felt like hours grocery shopping.  But even household chores and errands are better when you are on a staycation.  I didn't have to worry about when I'd have time to do them and I wasn't annoyed that it took up hours of my precious weekend time.  Life is so much sweeter when you have the time and energy to actually live it.  Some days it was just the gym and some errands.  Other days I actually had plans. But on all days my time was 100% my own. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and I enjoyed every wonderful day.

Good thing I don't hate my job because going back is inevitable and I'll be there tomorrow bright and early.   Time to get back to the daily grind but I've had an amazing break and it's great to go into the New Year feeling refreshed and relaxed.

Low Key New Year's Eve

If I told you that for New Year's Eve I ate fast food and donuts and drank champagne straight from the bottle you might think; how sad.  It actually is kind of a borderline pathetic New Year's Eve but we're OK with that.  I made dinner reservations one day but then decided to cancel them the next.  I checked Yelp and the only good review it got were for those who went to happy hour.  Everyone else said the place was overpriced, had really bad service and the food was just OK.  Guess I should have read the reviews before 5:00 pm on New Year's Eve.  It was too late to get reservations anywhere else and I wasn't really feeling Applebee's or On The Border.

I haven't had Taco Bell in a long time so we made a fast food run.  I love their soft tacos.  I had a craving for a Cinnamon roll so that was desert.  Healthy I know, but I'll work it off in the New Year.  In fact, it's one of my resolutions.  Can you believe McD's had the nerve to be closed at 8:30 pm?  Mj was one some kind of feeding frenzy before he starts his diet and exercise regime and wanted it for a 2nd time that day!  He had to settle for his left over KFC.  It was just the two of us so I said why bother with a glass?   Let's live on the edge and drink straight from the bottle.  So maybe I'm at home in my pj's watching a NYE countdown show but that's what makes it so edgy.  Right?  That's what I told myself anyways and Mj just thought I was crazy.

We spent a quiet low key night watching Friends With Benefits and then Dick Clark's New Year's Eve countdown with Ryan Seacrest cuddled up in the corner of our sectional.  If I had done this alone or with anyone else I probably would have considered it a pretty crappy New Year's Eve but since I was with Mj it was just fine with me.  We have fun together no matter what we do or where we go.  I wasn't out freezing somewhere in the middle of a crowd or spending too much money and I still got my midnight kiss.  I do resolve that next year we will definitely do something for NYE.  Anything at all would be a step up!

Happy New Year everyone!

Christmas Time

New Uggs!!

P90X2

I'm never sick!  So imagine my surprise when I contract some kind of stomach bug just in time for Christmas.  It started on Christmas Eve.  I ignored it of course because I never get sick.  I figured it would be gone when I woke up in the morning.  No such luck.  I refused to let it spoil the holiday and still enjoyed Christmas with my family.  Mj and I exchanged gifts here at home before we left.  He totally surprised me with Uggs.  He doesn't find them that cute but he knows I do.  I also got a brown leather jacket that I picked out.  I didn't like it as much as I did online so it will be going back and I'll have to find another one for him to get me.  I got him jammie pants, P90X2, Shakeology and a blender to go with it.  He asked for the gift of exercise and I gave it to him. 

Sisters

A present for the baby

We all met up at mom and dad's house where we spent the entire day.  My mom cooked and Mj made his homemade bread and some gravy.  I basically choked down a delicious dinner in between being wracked by stomach pains.  The one plus side to the stomach bug was that half the time the thought of food was unappetizing so I didn't even want to pig out.  Which is unusual for me this time of year.  My mom and little  sister spent all of Christmas Eve baking so there were plenty of cookies to choose from for dessert...and Ice Cream...and Apple Pie.  I could only stomach one cookie and a bit of ice cream.  After dessert we did our family gift exchange.  My dad had me and got me some cute bright fashion scarfs and some trouser socks that were on my list.  Mom got us all a few things because she can't help herself.  It was a very Merry Christmas.

Mom and sis handing out gifts

Mj and I

Big sis and her family

The whole family together

The day after Christmas I went to the gym.  I have no idea how I made it through that hour long work out because the rest of the day was spent fighting that stomach pain which came almost like clockwork every 10-20 minutes.  It really makes you appreciate your health when you feel like total crap.  Tuesday Mj took an extra day off because I asked him to in my sad sick voice.  I was feeling well enough to visit my friend Eb and it was nice to finally have time to see her and her new baby girl.   Today I had a great pain free work out at the gym and then got my hair did.  It was a beautiful sunny 77 degrees today but do you think that stopped me from wearing my new Uggs?  Nope.  I wore a tank top to balance them out.  I'm still really enjoying my time off from work and basically don't ever want it to end.

Sister Time

Little sis

Big sis Dani and my nephew

Dani picked out this robe and Tia gave it to her for X mas.

 I had a great time with my sisters.  Last Tuesday I picked up Tia from the airport and she spent the night at my house.  On Wednesday we spent the day with our older sister up where she lives.  We went out to Mimi's Cafe for lunch first.  I had a delicious Cobb salad which was a welcome break from all of the pure junk I've been eating.  Then it was time for the mall.  We all finished up our Christmas shopping then went back to the house and hung out.  Later that night we went to a late showing of Breaking Dawn Part 1.  I'm not sure who's idea it was to wear our pajamas but a 10:25 pm showing is pretty late so it seemed like a perfectly reasonable idea.  The movie was so good that I got my 2nd 3rd wind and perked up enough to enjoy it.  Can't wait for part 2.  As soon as we got home we went straight to bed. 

Dressed for the movies...sort of

The Theater was deserted.  Glad we didn't bother getting dressed!

waiting for the movie to start

I'm the middle child

The next morning we woke up and went to mom and dad's house.  We hung out there and mom made hamburgers for dinner.  I'm so glad that I was off of work and got to enjoy this time with them.  I really love spending time with my sisters.  Too bad it doesn't happen often enough but I certainly cherish it when it does.

Decorated the Tree and I'm Free

It basically looks the same as last year and I love it!!

After two weeks of being too tired and busy to do it we FINALLY decorated our tree on Saturday.  It's funny that it took us two weeks to get around to it but it only took about 20 minutes once we finally did it.  I even got some presents wrapped to put under the tree.  I don't do a whole lot for Christmas which is nice because there is no stress.  People ask me if I'm "ready" for Christmas like it's some sort of competition or an exam, but there really isn't much to be done.  Our family exchanges names so I have my family gift to buy and something for the husband.  Done and done.  I also get something for my little nephew.  I haven't done that yet  but there is plenty of time.  I'm such a holiday slacker.  I don't even bake.  My husband is actually in the kitchen making these delightful sugar cookies and Turkey soup with our left over Turkey Carcass from Thanksgiving.  The cookies are German.  Don't even bother trying to pronounce it; I can't.  I need more sugar like I need a hole in my head but they sure are tasty.  It definitely looks AND smells like Christmas in here. 

Spritz spezialitaten Cookies

At my job we don't do the whole holiday party thing but they still make us feel appreciated.  Last Thursday there was a holiday reception for the whole district with some really good food.  Our holiday gift this year was an awesome canvas black fold up outdoor chair.  The kind that folds up into a little bag and has a cup holder in it.  Our boss gave each of us a gift too.  Today was our department holiday luncheon at the Prado in Balboa Park.  We had a little banquet room all to ourselves and the food was really good.

I'm picking up my younger sister who is coming in from San Francisco tonight.  Tomorrow we will spend the day and night up at my older sister's house.  I'm so looking forward to spending time with them.  We are going to do fun stuff that sisters do like shop, eat, talk, hang out and watch teen vampire movies.  Yep, we're finally going to go see Breaking Dawn.  Tomorrow also marks the official start of my holiday vacation.  I don't go back to work until Jan 3rd.  For the next 13 days I will be a Lady of Leisure.  My job totally shuts down for the holidays and we don't even have to use vacation time.  My time will be all my own to do with whatever I please.  I've felt so tired and ragged like I always do towards the end of a long year so I really, really REALLY need this right about now.  I am free!! And it feels great.

Jam Packed Weekend

Last weekend was jam packed.  Where do I begin...Ok Friday night.  My friend Fe was a bridesmaid in my wedding and I haven't seen her since.  She lives out of state but was in town for work and I was so excited to get a chance to see her.   We met up for happy hour and got into some great conversations about life, love and work.  Just what a girl needs every  now and then.  She hasn't seen our house yet so she stopped by.  It was really good to see her.

Our party bus for the night

Saturday night was Mj's company holiday party which I very much look forward to every year.  It's a chance to dress up, eat, drink and be merry on the company dime.  The party was at Loew's Coronado Bay and Resort.  Their rooms average about $380 per night so yeah...we didn't stay there.  The four of us took a cab bus there from our hotel which was also pretty nice.  We had a good time.  The food was delicious.  They had a Macaroni & Cheese Martini Bar station.  Need I say more?  Band's are nice for ambiance but overall I think they're pretty lame for dancing so I didn't do too much of that.  We left around 9pm once it became clear that we would not be winning any raffle prizes and went downtown where we finally got the chance to get our groove on.  We found a club with a good DJ and a wide open dance floor and basically danced all night long.  We had a blast.  I won't go into the gory details but I definitely drank too much.  When will I learn that I cannot drink nearly as much as I seem to think I can?  I have no idea what time we made it back to the hotel but I think it was pretty late.

Me and my mac and cheese martini

Dancing the night away

Sunday morning we met Laura and Rob for breakfast then Mj and I went to the Bills v Chargers game.  We had great seats but it's still so hard to find the ball while watching a live game.   Luckily the sun was facing us so that kept me warm through most of it.  It was fun watching the Charger girls.  The home team won; Mj wasn't too happy about that.  I was pretty tired by then so I was really glad to finally get back home.  Not so glad to have to take a test for school but at least I got it over with.  One down and one more to go.

Chargers V Bills

It went against every fiber of my being to go out on a Monday night after work.  It was cold and rainy and I'd already had a full weekend and a very long day.  Mj's friend's cousin was doing stand up so we met up at a nearby burger joint then went out to comedy night with his friends.  I forgot how vulgar and nasty comedy can be but it was fun and funny.  Tonight there are no plans unless you count the gym.  The weekend was exhausting...but fun!  I'm a homebody so a lot of times I just want to stay home but I think it's good for me to get pushed out the door and pushed past my limits every now and then.  Life is meant to be lived....even if I often don't  feel I actually have time to live it!  But we sure made time this weekend.  I hate to say it but we still haven't decorated our poor little Christmas Tree.  Hanging head in shame.