Living a Joyful Life

Holiday Hiatus I will be in NY for the holidays so I'm putting my blog on hiatus. I will be back in the New Year with lots of new posts. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season!! Credit: Personal Photos

One: NY for the holidays I'm so excited to be spending the holidays in my home state of NY. I can't wait to spend quality time with my family and share the magic of the season with my nieces & nephews. ^Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree last year in NY ; Personal Photo^ Two: Meeting my baby nephew for the first time This trip back home is extra special because I will be meeting my baby nephew M for the first time. He is two months old and I can't wait to love on him. Credit: Pinterest Three: 8 year anniversary of meeting David Wright On the 16th, it was 8 years ago that I met David Wright, my favorite athlete. My dad suprised me with tickets to meet him and it was one of the greatest days of my life. It was definitely a dream come true. ^Meeting David Wright ; Personal Photo^ Four: Carole Matthews Christmas books I've read two out of the four Carole Matthews Christmas books she has published. I'm currently readi...

Here is what I received in my Pop Sugar Must Have Box for December: ^December Pop Sugar Must Have Box^ ^December Information Card^ ^What Inspired The December Box^ Smashbox Be Legendary Long-Wear Lip Lacquer Retails for: $24 I forgot to take a picture of this product so I snapped a pic of the information card. This product is way too dark for me so I gave it to my mom who loved it. Canvas Dauville Platinum Bowl Retails for: $29 I love this bowl. It's the perfect size and so pretty. I'm using this to hold my bracelets. SPUN by Subtle Luxury Speckled Metallic Scarf Retails for: $62 This scarf is so pretty. The quality is great and I love the metallic speckles. I'm going to wear this on Christmas as I think it will make the perfect addition to my outfit. Knot & Bow Parcel Tags Retails for: $4 These will definitely come in handy during the year for labeling presents. I love the color too. Williams-Sonoma Cupcake Mi...

Saturday: I had been really sick since Tuesday and I felt awful all day Friday at work and at night I had a fever. Saturday I felt awful as well. Fever, body aches, chills, and I was still congested and coughing. I spent the day in bed watching TV and just resting. Credit: plainlypatterened.co.uk Sunday: I felt about 75% when I woke up on Sunday. I watched a Christmas movie in the morning. In the afternoon, I went to Walmart & Kroger with my mom. I got two gift cards for Christmas presents and Christmas cards for my mom, dad, step-dad, and step-grandma. When I came home from shopping, I wrote the Christmas cards. After dinner, I spent the rest of the night reading (the December issue of Good Housekeeping & the book I'm currently reading). ^Photo of my Christmas tree (this was last year)^

READING: Wrapped Up In You -Carole Matthews WRITING: This entry and lists LISTENING: Nothing at the moment THINKING: I hope I feel 100% better by tomorrow SMELLING: My iced coffee WISHING: That my family & friends have a wonderful, happy, and healthy holiday season WEARING: Pajamas LOVING: My family, the holiday season WANTING: To not be sick anymore NEEDING: To buy two more gifts and some cards FEELING: Tired and weak

One: Sickness woes On Tuesday, I went to the doctor and got diagnosed with a sinus infection and double ear infection. I was put on amoxicillin (which I've had many times in the past). Fast forward to Wednesday morning when I woke up covered in hives and my throat swelled up. So back to the doctor's I went where my doctor told me I had a severe allergic reaction so I had to get a steroid shot and a new antibiotic. Two: Christmas Movies I've been indulging in Christmas movies since November 1st. I love all of the movies on the Hallmark Channel, and the ION & UP Networks. I also love the ones I watch every year like The Holiday, The Family Stone, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Love Actually, Christmas With The Kranks, and more. What are some of your favorite Christmas movies to watch? Credit; Pinterest Three: T-shirt that's meant for me This t-shirt sums me up perfectly. Credit: Skreened.com Four: Christmas Shopping ...

Saturday: I spent time helping my mom decorate the tree. I also read a lot. At night, I got a Stromboli for dinner from a local pizza place. I watched two Christmas movies: Comfort & Joy (which I watch every year) and a new movie called The Tree That Saved Christmas. I really enjoyed the movie because Lacey Chebert & Corey Sevier were in it and I really like them. ^Pumpkin supervising us decorating the tree^ Sunday: I wrote out the majority of my Christmas cards (I just need to buy a few more cards). I also watched two more Christmas movies (Christmas In Palm Springs & Paper Angels). I read for a while and my furbabies, Davey Eli and Pumpkin spent a lot of time with me. I also watched the latest episode of Nashville and the past two episodes of About A Boy with my mom. ^The tree in my room. All the ornaments are on the top of the tree because Pumpkin thinks they are toys.^

READING: A Big Apple Christmas by multiple authors WRITING: This entry, my Christmas card list for family members, and a shopping list LISTENING: Christmas music on Spotify THINKING: December is going by so fast, as it does every year SMELLING: My iced coffee WISHING: That all of my family members and friends all have a wonderful holiday season WEARING: Pajamas LOVING: My family & the holiday season WANTING: A happy & healthy holiday season for all of my family & friends NEEDING: Quality time with my family in NY FEELING: Happy, thankful, loved, & cheerful

I found this cute holiday meme on this blog amandaroseblog.typepad  and decided to do it on my blog. 1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate. 2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wraps them. 3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored all the way. 4. Do you hang mistletoe? No. 5. When do you put your decorations up?  Mid November. 6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Spiraled ham. 7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Spending time with my family, doing special things to celebrate the holidays with my mom, cookie bakes with my mom, aunt, and cousins and our family Christmas parties with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins! 8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?  My older brother told me. 9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Growing up, we used to open the gifts we got each other on Christmas Eve. 10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? No theme, just lot...

One: Three day break for Thanksgiving equals a 5 day weekend I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and an awesome Thanksgiving break. I got to spend time with a lot of family, took a road trip with my mom to visit family, did some shopping (NOT on Black Friday), and spent time relaxing. Two: Christmas Music I've been playing Christmas music since November 1st. (Yes, I'm one of those people) My favorite Christmas albums are: Kenny Chesney's All I Want For Christmas Is A Real Good Tan N*SYNC's Home for Christmas Both of Michael Buble's Christmas albums Matthew West's The Heart of Christmas Josh Hoge's This Holiday Both of Jessica Simpson's Christmas albums Idina Menzel's Holiday Wishes Hanson's Snowed In All three of the Glee Cast Christmas Albums Both of Dave Barnes Christmas Albums Celine Dion's These Are The Special Times Credit: Kal Barteski Three: This puppy & his favorite song ...

READING: With Love At Christmas by Carole Matthews (It's such a great book!) WRITING: This entry and a list of what else I need to be in terms of presents for Christmas LISTENING: Christmas music THINKING: I'm glad I'm feeling better SMELLING: My iced coffee WISHING: For all of my family and friends to have a wonderful and joyous holiday season WEARING: Pajamas LOVING: My family, the holiday season, that I'm going to NY for 10 days this month WANTING: I really want an iPhone 6 Plus but I know I can't afford it NEEDING: Quality family time <3 FEELING: Loved, thankful, grateful, content

November Happy/Loved List: + Step-dad’s birthday + Quality time with my mom + Put up my Christmas tree in my room + Celebrated Thanksgiving with my mom, step-dad, grandma, aunt, uncle & cousins + 3 days off for Thanksgiving break + Visiting my aunt & uncle & cousins + Shopping at Hobby Lobby with my mom & aunt + Read some great books + Watched a lot of great Christmas movies + Received my November Pop Sugar Must Have Box + Received my December Willabee & Ward charm bracelet

Saturday: My mom and I took a road trip to visit my aunt & uncle. We went out to Cracker Barrel for lunch and then we looked around in the shop there and afterwards we went to Hobby Lobby. We ate dinner at my aunt's house and then my cousin, his wife, and their kids came over for dessert. My mom, aunt, and I finished the night watching a movie. Sunday: My mom and I left around 8:30 in the morning to head back home. We stopped at Starbucks for coffee and breakfast about halfway into our trip. I spent the rest of the day at home relaxing. And now it's December. I can't believe how fast this year has flown by!!