Christmas Countdown

In honor of the Christmas season, the roommate and I thought we'd send out Christmas cards. Well the cards ended up being photos on Facebook and Twitter.

The photos are so jubilant we thought it would be a great way to countdown to Christmas with a new photo every day. (Go follow the roommate on Twitter @samsimp so you can see the photo a day.) Since the idea was birthed late last night, I'm a little late about advertising it on the ole blog. Don't worry I'm going to make up for it today.

So cold outside.

Joy is found in a Christmasy home.

So be on the look out for each day's Christmas cheer photo. I also have another surprise for you. Two Christmases ago, the roommate and I made a Christmas video where we sang Christmas carols. At the end of the video, the roommate made up a little Christmas ditty dedicated to Santa, and I sang back up.

Because it's Christmas and because I love you, I'm going to let you watch it.

Merry Christmas friends! Be lovin' you.

Thoughts on the song for Santa?

Jingle Bell Rockin' 5K

You are in the midst of a star. Yep, that's right. A star. Mom and I were on TV Saturday night after the Light Up the Night 5K in downtown Little Rock.

I tried to find the video, but stupid Internet Explore keeps informing me that I need to update my browser. And I can't update my browers because I don't have admin access to my work computer. #firstworldproblems

The point of the 5K was to dress up and run the downtown streets while admiring Christmas lights put up by local businesses.

So we dressed up. It was a pretty big group of us. And there was somewhere around 900 people running in the race. The only downer was the lack of Christmas lights and decor along the race track. And it was freaking freezing. So cold, in fact, that I didn't get warm until after I took the hottest shower and drank some hot tea. My body is basically without blood. (I'm kidding...Calm down.)

When I got home from the race, I put my race bib with all my other race bibs. And it made me feel really good to see them all grouped together.

My little boards are running out of room. And I haven't quite figured out what is the best way to keep up with them. I don't really want to put them in a box just yet. It's all so new to me still. The nostaglia hasn't even wore off each bib yet.

Each of the three bibs has the race name and date and my finishing time written on the back. I can't really remember if I wrote other stuff, but I know those three things are on it. Two 5Ks and a 10K. Woot Woot.

On a completely different note, I've discovered the sheer genius of what is awkwardfamilyphotos.com. While scrolling through the blog of photos, I found this and thought it was appropriate for this Christmas season.

Pretty sure I laughed until tears came out my eyes. I love everything about it. Really rings in the Christmas spirit.

What have you been up to?

Do you have any awkward family photos?
I have some old dance photos I'm sure could win awkward family photo prizes. But there is one photo in particular that would win millions...Let's just say I went through a phase with short hair, braces, glasses and sparkly blue butterfly clippies...I wish I was joking about this.

Ever Moving Forward

What is it about friendship break-ups that are so much worse than regular break-ups?

I broke a friendship yesterday. But in my defense, it was a long time coming and I got the worse end of the break-up stick. Truth is I'm not ready to talk about what happened. I need time to heal and gain some perspective on the entire situation.

But you can read about the saga of our relationship here and here and here. Like I said, it was a long time coming. And I knew once I said what I needed to say, his response would not be the one I wanted to hear. But I did it anyway even though I knew it would cause me a lot of pain.

When it comes right down to it, if I had never said anything about the way I was feeling, he would have been oblivious for a long time. And I would have always wondered what if. But now I know it's not what I thought it could be. So I push on. Ever moving forward.

The roommate wrote me a note to try to cheer my spirits. I found it by the coffee pot this morning. Reason 987459827 as to why she's the best roommate ever.

It says:
Things to think of today...

• We have in our possession a pair of the exact gloves they wear on Deadliest Catch. We can pick up everything frozen.
• We are freakin funny.
• We own a Christmas fetus candle. (ed. note: The candle is called Christmas Festival...the roommate can't read.)
• NEEDTOBREATHE. Well we met them. Looked into all their eyes.
• We be lovin each other.
• We own 4,052 coffee cups.
• Animal dance moves of ours are clearly inspirational.
• SHUT UP DAVID.
• Katie is most likely on her bed.
• We are going to get a sticker
• Cancas.

I'm not sure when I'll be ready to talk about the details of what happened yesterday...and the past week...and the past three years. But someday, I'll share this life lesson with you. But I can already tell you I'm a better person for having had the experience. A much braver person than I thought I ever could be.

A Momentary Lapse of Love and Reason: A Musical Tribute

Today's the kind of day that warrants a little tunage to calm my soul.

Last night the roommate found a video of Needtobreathe covering Led Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks," and I fell a little more in love with Needtobreathe and Bear's voice.

I. Simply. Cannot. Handle. This.

His voice, the ponytail and hat combo, the open shirt, the sound of the guitar. I swoon.

If I had been there in real life, I'm pretty sure I would have passed out from the sheer genius of the sounds. Even when I watch it, my palms get sweaty and my heart races. Clearly I have a problem.

Other songs I can't get enough of right now:

I was actually in the audience when this song was played. "The Reckoning" was written to be the anthem of this time in my life. I cannot handle the drums and piano sounds right after the first verse. I can't handle any of it really.

Dude can sing. And play the piano. And make my heart flutter. Watch it all the way to the end to get the full musical experience.

"And we are living, living for a moment, a moment. A momentary lapse of love and reason." Nuff said.

Gotta love "Kids" for real. Too good. Too good. And don't mind the weird video...just listen. And I dare you to try not to move and dance around...It's impossible.

Foster the People's "Pumped Up Kicks" has been played out by the radio. But I still love this song...which hasn't really made it to the radio yet. This is another that you can't help but move to. Try it. You'll like it.

What songs do you love right now?

What I've Learned in the Past 24 Hours

Christmas light-up pens are the bomb.com.

It snowed last night. And this morning.

I ran yesterday in the 30 degree weather. I basically put everything I had in my closet on my body.

My alma mater UCA was featured in Self magazine for its leading health experts.

Ginuwine's "Pony" was written in 1996. And it's still as crazy good as I remember it. A little old school hip hop for you to enjoy today.

And after I rediscovered my love for 1996 Ginuwine. I found this.

Now this takes me back to 10th grade in my silver Alero bumping up and down Main Street in the Sugtown. #straightgangsta #istillloveit

What songs take you back to the "Golden Years" of high school and/or college?

Tis the Season to be Merry

For me, Christmas parties should never be BYOB. Period. End of story. I'm still mentally recovering from a Christmas Extravaganza on Saturday night. Here's what happened.

My friend Logan and her sister Lindsay threw a Tacky Christmas Sweater Party on Saturday. The roommate, Jodi and I were thrilled to be out and about in Christmas garb.

My tacky attire consisted of a beaded sweater vest and a Christmas plaid wrap skirt that I liked to say was a kilt.

It looked more like a Christmas rug, but let's not analyze it too much.

Jodi had on neon purple pants. The roommate rocked a sweatshirt that said "Love: What Grandmas Do Best." And Logan had a huge bow on her head.

But enough about the attire. I know you want to know what happened. And I'm gonna be honest and tell you I'm probably not the best person to ask.

See here's the thing. After the Christmas party, we were all suppose to go downtown for our friend Chelsey's birthday. But after a bottle of wine, a car ride and a change of clothes, my body decided it would not be my best interest to participate in said birthday festivities.

I know what you're thinking. It was probably late. And I needed to stay home. No. It was before 11 P.M. But you are definitely right that I needed to stay home.

After much you'll-feel-better-once-we-get-you-baby-cheeseburgers-from-McDonalds talk failed, the roommate and Jodi left me at home (thank the lort). It would not have been a fun time for anyone had I left the house.

Moral to the story: Don't drink a bottle of wine at a Christmas party. Wine is the devil. And while I use to love it, now I think our relationship has moved to a love-it-a-little-less stage. Oh, and I'm never drinking again. The end.

But nobody can be sure as to how it all happened. One minute I was up and feeling great. And the next I was down for the count. We can't decide if it's the bottle of wine, my incredibly low alcohol tolerance or a combination of the two. But I do know BYOB and Christmas should never be in the same sentence.

Switching gears:

Saturday I will be running in a Jingle Bell 5K. I'm so pumped to dress up. No booze will be consumed at this party.

I can't decide if I want to make a handprint reindeer sweatshirt or a handprint Christmas tree sweatshirt. Or something completely different. Thoughts? I do think a nice quote from one of my favorite Christmas movies should be on the back. More on that later.

Speaking of running. I've sucked up over the last week. Not one run. NOT ONE. I guess after the 10K I thought I needed a break. Today and Thursday I will run. No matter how cold or gross it feels outside. I will do it. #ithinkicanithinkican

Tell me about some of your Christmas party experiences.

Have you ever done a Holiday race where you can dress up? This Saturday will be my first one, and I'm super pumped.