So last year I bought these Christmas bowls for like 75% off at Dillards the day after Christmas. This was like a huge deal, and I didn't get to use them since Christmas was over. Then I completely forgot about them until tonight, so I pulled them out and I had cereal for dinner just so that I could use my new bowls! I love Christmas time so much and I wish it were Christmas year-round! I've also decided that I have a love-hate relationship with the week before Christmas break. I love all of the cool things we do at school, but the kiddos are CRAZY at this time of year.....I almost need an energy pill just to get me to Friday. But only 3 more days!

Exhausted

My picture for today describes how Sadie and I both feel today. We are exhausted. The week before Christmas is always a fast and tiring week. The kids are crazy and there is so much to get done before the break. At the end of the day I am just exhausted. Sadie and Chloe are starting to play together. The only problem is Sadie keeps biting Chloe with her puppy bite and Chloe is not liking that so she turns around and growls at her. My sister's dog, Harley, is back with us so I now have 3 schnauzers living under my roof. That means 3 dog bowls, 3 baths, and 3 large cages which is a lot of time and money....but I love them anyway!

A Christmas Tea

My picture for Sunday December 12th is all of the goodies I prepared for my mom's Christmas party. I baked chocolate covered pretzel sticks, puppy chow, gingerbread teacakes (not in the picture) and peanut butter fudge. We also had cake balls from Celebrity and hot apple cider that we purchased from the L.D. Bell craft fair! It was nice to see my mom's friends, some of whom are my old teachers. It was the perfect way to end a cold Sunday. Earlier in the morning, my mom and I attended the Christmas concert at the Whites Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake. It was packed and for good reason. The entire service was a concert about the birth of Jesus. They had a full orchestra and choir. It was beautiful and helped me to remember the reason for Christmas.

This photo was taken last night, (December 11th). I went and celebrated my birthday with my friends at the Cheesecake Factory in Southlake. I spent most of the day trying to finish my Christmas shopping and baking for my mom's afternoon tea that she is holding. She has a tea every year, but she can't bake or cook very well. So I get voluntered for this every year. So after a long day of hustling and bustling, it was nice to sit and eat dinner with a few of my friends. Thank you to those of you who made it out to dinner! I think the Cheesecake menu gets larger every time I go there. I settled for the mini house salad and the mini margarita pizza! Then all 8 of us split the Red velvet cheesecake for dessert! The white chocolate peices on the back of the cheesecake are amazing! I know the photo didn't come out that well, but the plate says Happy Birthday to you! Until this afternoon, have a wonderful Sunday!

The dessert season is finally upon me!

Well today I woke up feeling somewhat sick, so my wonderful husband volunteered to go to Target for me to get my cooking items! Every year my mom hosts a holiday tea and since she is lacking in the baking department, I kind agree to bake for her. On this years menu we are having peanut butter fudge, puppy chow, chocolate dipped pretzels, gingerbread fruit cakes, cake balls, fruit and crackers. I absolutely love to bake in the kitchen, and if I could avoid tasting everything I might be about 10 pounds lighter. But I have finally come to a place in my life where I am accepting how I look and I am completely 100% happy about it! Now that the items have been purchased it is time for the baking to begin.

Today is the day!

So today begins my journey into the year of being 25. I woke up pretty stuffed up and with a sore throat so hopefully I am not getting sick. Anywho it was a great day. I was treated to lunch
by my team, which was awesome! I wore my tiara all day just to make sure that everyone knew it was my birthday. I can't lie, next to Christmas my birthday is my absolute favorite holiday/day. My kiddos were very good today and the day flowed well! I ended my night with dinner at Red Lobster with my closest family! I'm a nerd and I wanted them to sing happy birthday to me, so my sister made sure to tell them! So as I turn a quarter of a century old- my only thoughts are that I am happy to be healthy and surrounded by people that I love! I am so blessed and I thank God everyday for all that he has given me!
~alysa~

Happy 25th Birthday to me!

So today is the day before my 25th birthday, a year that I'm hoping is going to be one of the best years of my life! I have finalized my list of 25 things I want to do the year I turn 25. Here is the list.
1. Go to the Harry Potter Theme Park- I successfully did this over Thanksgiving break and it was one of the best vacations I have ever been on.
2. Read 25 books I've never read.
3. Try 25 foods I've never tried before.
4. Put on a 3-course dinner party at my house.
5. Take a cooking class.
6. Participate in a mini-triathlon or 5k.
7. Attend a Cowboy's football game.
8. Go to an aquarium.
9. Have a beverage in honor of my little sister, Colleen's 21st birthday on March 8th.
10. Purchase cowgirl boots and wear them out.
11. Be in a wedding.
12. Put red in my hair.
13. Donate something to Cook Children's hospital.
14. Join a church.
15. Write a letter to a congressman/woman.
16. Attend a concert for one of my favorite singers.
17. Start and finish my wedding scrapbook.
18. Add to my family.
19. Buy my first house with Rene.
20. Go karoke with friends.
21. Skype with a friend.
22. Stop, relax, and paint a picture.
23. Go horseback riding.
24. Volunteer for something.
25. Take a picture for everday of being 25 and post it on my blog.

I will post my first picture tomorrow and will check off everytime I complete something on my list!