Christmas Thoughts Come Full Circle

My husband is out skiing at Brighton. We are currently enjoying our Christmas in the snow with Nana and Papa. Nan' ran a quick errand so I decided to get online and type up some of her famous recipes. Already have I gained 2494949asdfkdl pounds (that's a real number) from texas sheet cake, oatmeal cake, Sweet Tooth Fairy cakes, Mini's cupcakes, Dough Girl (now Ruby Snap) cookies, and Ben and Jerry's... Birthday CAKE flavor. Oopsie! Naturally, instead of typing the recipes I got distracted by the blog. I decided I wanted some pictures but didn't want to load all of my camera pics and clutter up a computer that isn't mine. Then I decided to take a frowny webcam face and say, "Sorry, I haven't blogged like I said I would," but it led to other ridiculous pictures then a legit frowny picture (bottom left) that was actually my relaxed, "I refuse to try and pose anymore" face. No wonder people think I'm irritated all the time.


Which, if I may digress, don't say to people, "Don't look so excited" or "You don't look happy!" Those things are often said as jokes but are as funny as asking someone who doesn't have kids, "WHEN YA GONNA START POPPIN' OUT THOSE BABIES?" Obnoxious. Unfunny. Trite. ANYWAY. 


Nana got home and the last picture is of me making sure I'm alone so that I can make my goofy pictures. Feeling stupid, that was the last picture I took. We love being here though the drive was h-e-l-l (yeah Utah people, your hideous snow storm can go... Well, I've used enough trashy sassy talk on here). We can't wait to spoil Beckett on his first Christmas. Have a good holiday and a Merry New Year. With loves, Alisa, Elliott & Beckett (or CaleCale as we call him).

Sing Song

My favorite of this season.

Obviously...

You all knew my favorite *current day?* band is The Killers, right?

I mean, come on. 

With Brandon Flower's face fronting the band, why wouldn't they be anyone's favorite?

Carry That Weight.

As of yesterday

I've lost 52 pounds since Beckett was born (7 months). 

I worked my ass rear off.
(I'll be honest, the bulk (pun intended) of it came off in two months just by gong through what we call, "the motions") 
But still.

It was hard. It's still hard (let's all talk about TONING). But it's possible.

I feel healthy.

 The end.

Returning to a more photogenic state near you!


This brings me to another post that I think I'll do this next week.
The Belly Band Review. Don't know what it is? You will.

A Holiday Night Synopsis via Phone Pictures

Holiday Catalogs. I don't even look through them anymore. What's the point? Ok, maybe to show Elliott a few goodies I wouldn't mind seeing in my stocking, but come on. Christmas is about buying OTHER people goodies. Besides, they'll all be on winter clearance in a month. 

Beckett's Christmas Eve jammies. Fitting for our Christmas in the snow. 

  So there's a Juicy Couture outlet at Arizona Mills. Yeah. There is. Been open a month and a half. Know how I know (other than the fact that the cashier told me)? They haven't trained their employees on security magnet removal yet. Yeah, going back to that already overwhelming mall on a Saturday AND to it's most popular store no less should be great. 

 Christmas presents (almost all of them) ready to be taken up to Nana and Papa when we visit soon. Most are from Santa. Please don't tell Beckett. 

 My new Christmas candle. I really love it--one of the benefits of braving Arizona Mills. They have a Bath and Body Works Outlet. Though let's face it, most of the time the 50% discount on candles isn't worth the trek and crowds. But let's revisit the Juicy topic. Despite the whole magnet debacle, my once (or twice) a year visit was well worth the irritation. 

White is great all year long. Let's not be crazy. Love these Le Creuset dishes. Each one less than $10 at Marshall's. Speaking of, they have a Le Creuset outlet at Anthem (much higher up on the hierarchy of Valley shopping malls than AZ Mills). I haven't been to that store... When Brianne and I visit (since those trips should never be taken alone) we spend too much time in the J. Crew outlet. Our record is 2 and a half hours.

And lastly.

I'm SO excited for the Christmas cards to arrive in the mail. Seriously. It's our first year of doing them (and of course there's ONLY a picture of Beckett. The whole thing was very impromptu, I really had to pass on orchestrating a family picture. Next year.) Now, what dessert will compliment our lovely Christmas Carsds? Well... We'll probably mail all the cards so sorry. But still. We ARE looking for a yummy treat to make... or assemble. Off to Trader Joe's to buy their yummy goodies and disguise them as our own. Whatever we do, we certainly won't come close to Krista's HOMEMADE marshmallows (to compliment Trader Joe's Sipping Chocolate) and HOMEMADE candied/cinnamon roasted/whatever pecans. Everything super good.Sheesh girl.  

All Things Crocheted

In Beckett's room there is a shelf that contains the no touchie toys. The toys that are, if you will, the presents you buy your family, friends, whoever, just because you want to use them. I've been a victim and a perpetrator. On top of his bookshelf rests these precious gems that I will absolutely love forever (and don't worry, I'll let Beckett have them since they're rightfully his). 

1.The octopus(pi) family. Crocheted by my dear and lovely friend (from ASU storage of course) Abby. She recently graduated from ASU as a fibers and textiles major. She also earned a national scholarship for her work (seriously, that was a huge deal since only ONE person in the country gets it) to open up her own studio. As more babies pop out, I will surely bribe (pay her the big $$$) and harass any which way I can to get her to add to my little family of three. I love, love, love them. 

2.The stacking rings. The base is supposed to be a frog then, from bottom to top, a ladybug, bumblebee and dragonfly. This was  made by my dear mother, and was my favorite gift... uh, I mean, Beckett's favorite gift... at Thanksgivingmas. I keep telling her to make an etsy shop in conjunction with my grandma (who is a master knitter, crocheter, sewer, cross sticher as well) and they would make the big $$$ too. Probably because I would immediately buy out their shop. 

Now, speaking of etsy shops, I tell my other dear friend and former bosslady at ASU storage to create an etsy shop in conjunction with Abby since she too is like the aforementioned ladies of craftability. I was recently informed that her own creation for Beckett's Christmas present is currently being knitted as I'm typing this. I'm excited. She doesn't hold back. Anything. 

And lastly, I can't let a December 8th pass by without paying homage to the man who started the greatest band that can: 

John Lennon. 

Please note the shirt. When Elliott and I were dating a man in Walgreen's (no we didn't go ON a date to Walgreen's) stopped me and told me how much he loved my shirt. He had a perm mullet. Elliott told him he probably made my day. And he did. 

And don't have a panic attack, those were Welch's Sparklings. WELCH'S SPARKLINGS. The most party I can get out of those is a trip to the bathroom every 3 minutes because of a sugar overload.  And once upon a time I was really that skinny. 

The end. 

Please enjoy the following video (because I get made fun of for excessively talking about all things karma, jinxing, superstition, etc):

Free Usually Means Easy, Right?

Especially in this case.

I love Shutterfly. It is through that company that Elliott proposed to me with a book compiled of pictures and memories from the months we had spent dating. The last pages contained a picture of him holding an engagement ring and a proposal to match. Shutterfly will always hold a special place in my heart as well since that is where subsequent books documenting our lives have been designed and ordered, only to deliver yet another special experience as we look through the pages of memories we created in life, and online.

Now. Enough gush.

I heard about this promo and, not being one to follow along with giveaway and re-blogging gimmicks, am willing to break my unspoken rule for the sake of Shutterfly... Since this isn't really all that gimmicky...

Elliott and I have never had a Christmas card. Until now. Thanks to Shutterfly, just by posting a few favorite designs of mine, we earned a whopping 50 free cards.

With the exception of liking just a few stamps, BOOM, free holiday shout-outs to all of your family and friends!

Here are some of my holiday/Christmas favorites:

If you're an overachiever and already have all those Christmas and holiday cards in the mail, you can look at the other many goodies on their site like THIS and THIS. 

Wanna be a joiner just like me?

Go here.

Beckett Turns 7 Months and More C.C.

Beckett is getting bigger. Louder. Happier. Less patient. More fun. 

Meanwhile, I'm taking him here to have his silhouette done by Judith Housel. She is supposed to be pretty good I hear. Well, I've also seen. She's done Brianne's kids and their silhouettes are phenomenal. If Beckett's big cheeks go away, I would forever curse myself for not having a silhouette of them.  I can NOT wait, it's my Christmas present to me. 

PS. 

Sitting on my counter top are this month's Sprinkle's Christmas flavors. Need a hint as to what they are? Fine. They're Eggnog, Vanilla Peppermint and Chocolate Peppermint. I picked up a few cupcakes this morning to take to my dear friends (and former supers) at ASU Library Storage for the ex-bossman's big 5-1. Needless to say, it was a success. 

On so many levels. 

Thanksgivemas..Givingmas...Mas.

Since many members of the Day family will be on separate sides of the country this holiday season, we decided to combine Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Don't worry, we still kept the "Christ" in "Christmas" despite what the name says. We had our traditional Turducken, which has always sufficed for two holidays worth of food. Oh yes, I said Turducken. Don't like meat? I feel bad for you. 'Cause it is somes gooooood meat. Or meats. It's Cajun sausage and cornbread stuffing shoved into the belly of a chicken which is shoved into the belly of a duck which is then, ultimately, shoved into the belly of a Turkey. It's good. But guess what? I didn't eat any! Why? Because I had a 24 hour flu--not cold, flu (shakes, cold sweats, and unstoppable stomach problems)--and was only able to eat a biscuit and crystal lite. Boo. So that was my Thanksgivmas. The flu. Guess that's what I get for so publicly announcing how willing I am to devour a 3-in-1 bird(s). It was still a great time and I suppose I can look on the brightside and double up on food for Christmastime since I gained zero weight for this holiday. Or holidays... We celebrated 2-in-1, that's right.

Smiling through the pain. Kept strong by Elliott's promises of taking care of me (not that I wasn't here) and wrapping me up in huge blankets once we got home.

Beckett playing with Ryan's toy (OBVIOUSLY).  Where's the ASU love?

 Ryan playing with Beckett's toy.

 Before coming to my parents, Elliott went back to his old stomping grounds in Tempe to play the *at least* 15th Annual Turkeybowl... or Turdbowl... or something like that. All of these guys (of whom I only know a handful) put on a pretty good show for us wives and girlfriends. Elliott and I couldn't help but notice that they had every single guy this year for the game. Though not everyone lives in Arizona anymore, they still come back for family or other reasons and find time to get beat up, despite the recent move to flag football over tackle. 

I'm sure it's not hard to spot Elliott. See the fireman mustache and baby?

I'll see you in my dreams.

I know the video is blurry, but it's the only one I could find. This song is one of my favorites of all time. It is probably going on the list of "Funeral Songs" next to my ultimate favorite song of all time, "In My Life" by The Beatles (and that WILL be my funeral song).

George is not my favorite Beatle, though he probably is the most beautiful. I will admit it's John Lennon (his voice and solo career post-Beatles really decided it) but I was looking through a few drafts of posts I had started here and there over the past few months and found this yesterday. Ironically, today is the 9th anniversary of George Harrison's death and 8th anniversary of the concert, so here you go. 

By the way, this clip is from the same show as "The Lumberjack Song." I'm telling you, that "Concert For George" movie is amazing to watch.

A Cupake Review

First of all, my idiot of a cat is stuck under our bed, the bed that we huffed and puffed to push against the back wall so she couldn't run behind it. It's a beautiful bed, I have to say. The base touches the floor so that the only way under it is to crawl through the opening beneath our headboard which is curved so even if we push it alllll the way against the wall, there is still a foot of space she can jump through if she gets on a nightstand first. Elliott is at Church meetings and I can't move our behemoth of a bed to get her out. 

She's a  behemoth. FACE.

That being said, this post will be written with a strained back and an obnoxious cat meowing in the background. I am sickly satisfied by her entrapment. 

 The things I would suffer with if I didn't have Elliott.

Now, onto a cupcake review. As you all know, and if you don't, you should, I love me my Sprinkle's cupcakes. I really wish I would have done a review on here for every cupcake flavor I've tried because in the past 6 months I have had just about all of them INCLUDING the elusive holiday flavors. Oh well. Youcanstartadietinthemiddleofabagofchips.

I'll start my cupcake reviews now. Of course, me being me, it wouldn't be of a Sprinkle's cupcake. Whatever.

Last night, Elliott and I were getting our quarterly Carrabba's fix and were going to stop by The Coffee Shop next to the overpriced and overrated, Joe's Farm Grill. If I wanted to eat outside, I'd have a picnic. And I'm rarely in the mood for a picnic. Rarely. 

Anyway, I had heard great things about The Coffee Shop from my dear friends at ASU Library Storage. More specifically, I had heard great things about The Coffee Shop's cupcakes that had been featured on "Cupcake Wars" from my dear friends at ASU Library Storage. However, leaving Carrabba's, Elliott and I both saw the words "CAKE" on a banner above one of the shops in the strip mall. I ran through the parking lot to the shop and immediately felt like I was walking into an open-house event. I found out, this was the second day it was open. I had just walked into Designer Cakes by April.  At $2.50 a piece or $9.50 for a box of four, I figured this was MUCH closer and a tad less expensive than Sprinkle's so I chose to sample. April herself was doing all of the ringing up and packaging and gave me two free cake pops because she was such a nice gal. (The cake pops were chocolate covered with a peppermint flaked frosting. Divine. And only $1.25 each)!  The cupcakes are great, and her cake creations are amazing to look at while you're waiting in line. Seriously. Amazing. I felt like I was watching "Food Network Challenge."

 Top left to right: Vanilla, Pumpkin Chip

Bottom left to right: Chocolate Peppermint, Pink Velvet

Now for the hard truth. Will I still have my Sprinkle's several times a month? Yes. Will I go back to this fun little-big cake shop as well curious to see what she'll come up with next (as only Sprinkle's is the most predictable bakery on earth)? Yes. Ok, ok, ok, I still love Sprinkle's more (duh) but this lady was ringing people up, being an entertainer to her entourage that was there supporting her (remember I said it felt like a party?)and making these cupcakes ALL by herself. Ok, not ALL at the same time but I'm pretty impressed with her AND her cupcakes. I still plan to head to The Coffee Shop and try their cupcakes but that will have to wait for next week. 

Meanwhile.

My back hurts.

Expletives.

Enjoying Sunday. Church was nice after being away from the Ward literally, all month. Oh, and as I am finishing this up 30 MINUTES LATER, what's that I hear? None other than Missy Girl Mittens Baby Girl Cat pawing at the treat bottle that was sitting OUTSIDE of the bed. She freed herself, motivated by food. Behemoth. 

Disney.

I love Disneyland. Love it. Who doesn't? It's like my Twilight or Harry Potter or Hobby Lobby or anything that I am entirely indifferent to. Everybody loves it (Dinneyland), including me, and I don't know why anyone--ANYONE--wouldn't. And don't say Asians. Or children. Or long lines. I have responses for each of those reasons. Disneyland is a science. A system that, with the right plan, can be worked. And we worked it. Last Friday, I quite possibly had the best day there I have ever had in my dozen plus trips to the magic mecca (and it's more than the fact that I finally took Elliott, who hadn't been since 1997... apparently). We went with our dental school friends, Kyndall and Brian and had a heyday. The weather was overcast, meaning we were dry but many people stayed home for fear of the rain coming.

Let me better illustrate what I mean by retelling the experience we had on a little ride called "Splash Mountain":

Ride Operator: Would you like to go again?

Us: Yes. 

Ride Operator: *Pushes button* 

Us: Wee!

...10 minutes later...

Different Ride Operator: Would you like to go again?

Us: Nah. Twice was good. Too cold. Too wet. 

Ride Operator: *Raises Eyebrows* Ooooohhhhkayy..?

Not to worry, we walked on every ride with the exception of *maybe* 3 or 4.

I think Elliott would even admit that he was converted.

By the way, planning a trip soon?

Get a fastpass at California Adventure for the "World of Color" light and water show. Amazing. Blows the Bellagio's show out of the water... No pun intended.

 Moving on.

 Day two was equally amazing as THAT was the day the real downpour came. However, it cleared up for several hours giving us just enough time to be a little merry and fly a kite on Huntington Beach.

Do you love our frog kite? Because we did.

 Elliott has his Free WIlly on. 

 Kyndall, the natural kite flier.

Brian, the natural bag holder. 

Lastly.

Have you eaten here?

(Scottsdale and Phoenix)

How about here?

(Old Town Scottsdale)

And how about here?

 (Newport and LA)

These restaurants are part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group. 

They are officially my favorite restaurants. Very similar, but each with it's own specialty items that set it apart from the other restaurants in the group. 

Houston's: French Dip made with prime rib, fresh ahi, tortilla soup

Bandera's: The cheeseburger, meatloaf sammy, and Carnita's sammy

Gulfstream: Mustard Barbecue Beef Ribs, and a house-made hot fudge sundae that will addict you so fast, before you know it, you're eating more than half of your friends' and embarrassing your husband because you were too stupid to order one yourself and will have to wait until the next time you go to California to get it and this makes you sad.

But motivated. 
We are so lucky to have such great friends who will let us stay with them at their aunt and uncle's amazing home!! It definitely made this trip much more affordable and possible! Thanks Kyndall and Brian. Until next adventure.

Mustache

Happy Movember.

I'm a Lumberjack.

And I'm ok. 

I really am.

I just got accepted into NAU's Master of Education in School Counseling program. 

I'm excited. 

I'm THANKFUL because it really was more of a blessing and a divine hand working in my favor than anything else.  

I start this January and the plan is to finish in 2 or so years. 

Granted, since I've started the new adventure of having babies, it is nothing more than a plan that I will gladly postpone if needed. 

 Please note Tom Hanks (bottom far right).

I love school. 

And George Harrison.

You should really watch the entire "Concert for George" film, by the way. 

I also will always love love love my ASU.

 I'm thinking I want one of their sweatshirts for Christmas... As well as an ASDOH one to support my baby. 

Food for thought.

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

This has served as a mantra for me for a couple of years now ever since hearing it from a wonderful lady at Church.  

 I think about those words nearly every day. 

I set a lot of day-to-day goals--and usually end up re-setting them the next day. I tell myself, if I started right now (again) with a clean slate , 20 years from now I would look back and realize that as "bad" (and let's really not read too much into the word "bad") a habit as I once had, at least I haven't repeated it in so long.

--Until then--

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”

“You can start a diet in the middle of a bag of chips”