Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas friends! It's my first Christmas not spent with my parents, and while I miss them very much and wish very badly that we were together, I'm still having a good day. :-) It helps knowing my mom will be here tomorrow morning!!!

So much has happened since I last posted. First - I finished working for 2013!! I am SO happy to have a nice long break from both jobs, although come mid January when the paychecks are small, I won't be so happy. Oh well, what can you do.

Friday after Job #1 I went to vinyasa yoga with Lisa. It was so interesting to go to that class after having done so much Bikram lately. I've decided vinyasa yoga is like a hug from a good friend, where as Bikram is like a spanking from your Grandmother. I think they both have a place in my life.

Friday night was date night - Andy and I went to dinner at "Yummy Garden Hot Pot"… basically fondue Chinese style.

At the hostess stand…

Ready to cook!

 I'll be honest… it wasn't the most flavorful meal I've ever had, and Andy and I both left feeling like we'd be hungry again in about 20 minutes, but it was a fun new experience and I'm glad we tried it.

Early Saturday morning, Andy helped me take my car to the shop to get a new alternator. Merry Christmas car and thank you Mom and Dad!! Then I had to go work my normal shift at Job #2… there were SO many baddies at the front desk. I was 10 seconds away from giving in and eating everything… then at the most perfect moment I got a text…. from Seetha. She asked if I wanted to go to Bikram at 4:00 and then go to Starbucks afterwards. Thank you Seetha!!!! That was all I needed to regain my resolve, so I'm happy to say I made it through my shift without pigging out on treats. Bikram that afternoon was really good, and I really enjoyed talking to Seetha afterwards. More than my "life guru," I'm starting to think of her as a friend. :-)

That night I wrapped some presents. At one point I turned around to see this…

Poco in an Amazon box :-)

Sunday was tough. In the evening I started my period (sorry, tmi) which explained a lot… I cried ALL day long. I was just so upset that I wasn't going to be home for Christmas. But despite what felt like a black hole of sadness, there were still some good parts to the day. Andy and I finished Christmas shopping for his family in record time (Dad, you would have been proud). I also met Anna and Lisa for coffee. It was so fun to hear all of Anna's stories from India!

Babs and Lisa with our gifts from India!!

Anna, the Indian Newlywed!

Later that night we all gathered at Will and Rose's for dinner. Nothing says happy holidays like some Chinese takeout!

Leave it to Lisa and Anna to do creepy pose!

Will and Rose - it was quite the feast

Andy wearing his new shirt from India!

Monday was 10,000 times better than my Sunday cry-fest. The morning started by going to a Bikram class…. and Zumba Sarah came too! She did such a good job! It really meant a lot to me that she would try the class with me knowing that yoga is not her most favorite thing ever. After class we went (disgustingly sweaty) to get lunch at Panera. I gave her a platter I had painted for her - she loved it!

The Logo for Sarah's Dessert Company!

And thanks to Sarah, I will be receiving a new Stitch Fix order on my birthday. Yes!!! I can't wait!!! Well, I can wait to turn 31… but I can't wait for my Stitch Fix to come!

Later that afternoon I met with Seetha again. :-) We got coffee at Starbucks and talked for quite awhile. I am so thankful for her - meeting her was probably the best thing that happened to me in 2013.

That night we had people over for one final hang - Lisa, Rose, and Will were all flying out the next day to spend the holidays with their families, and Ben and Lydia were driving their moving truck to Ben's new job in Charlotte, NC. We made dinner using the food Ben and Lydia cleared out of their fridge. We also played a new game called "Truth be told." It wasn't the best game in the world, but it was still pretty fun.

Game time

I also did a little nail art for Rose :-)

Tuesday was Christmas Eve! I took Lisa to the airport super early at 6am. Came home, took a quick nap, then got back up… I was tired… I wanted to go to Bikram, but I was also really tired, I had a lot of things to do… when Andy said he would go with me I woke up really fast! Holy cow what a surprise!! We got ready and went to Bikram - Andy was a champ!!!! He didn't even think it was that hot! I was really tired by the end of the day, and didn't get quite as much accomplished as I'd hoped for, but I am SO glad we went.

Sweaty Post-Bikram Andy

After we cleaned up and did a few chores, we headed off to Buffalo to hang out with Andy's family on Christmas Eve. They were very nice and agreed to follow my families KFC dinner tradition!

Ali and Babs

Andy digging in to chicken

We also played a game and watched the movie Madagascar, which just happened to be on TV. It was fun to hang out with a belly full of KFC. Although it was really late, we drove home so we could sleep in our own bed. Which meant….

This morning Andy and I had our first Christmas morning just the two of us. :-)

My stocking :-) Thanks Mom and Dad!

Andy looking sharp in his new coat

THANK YOU SANTA MOM AND DAD!!!!

Andy got me so many wonderful things - best of all, a new bag for my yoga mat from Lululemon! I will be so stylish now when I go to yoga. :-) We also had a little Christmas breakfast together - veggie egg bake, chicken sausage, and coffee with warm frothed milk (I topped mine with crushed candy cane!). We quickly got cleaned up, and hoped in the car to head back to Andy's parent's house.

With Andy, Ali, Chris, and Bailey the dog

(I wish I had fixed my shirt… stupid static cling). We opened presents - Andy's parents got me a soda stream! Now we can make our own carbonated drinks at home… cool! I think everyone had a good Christmas… it seemed like everyone really enjoyed their gifts.

Bacon Scented Dryer Sheets for Chris!! (it was a prank box)

Andy and his "new" record player :-)

And now we're up to speed! I need to sign off and put together my crockpot bread pudding. I've stayed starch free ever since my last juice reset a week and a half ago. I intend to continue my starch free ways through Christmas dinner, but I am going to cheat and try my bread pudding. It's one of my most favorite things. :-)

Merry Christmas! I hope you are all having a wonderful day.