Christmas Recap

Merry (3 days after) Christmas, everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday filled with love, peace, and joy. And if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you still are filled with love, peace, and joy.

At first, I wasn't even going to do a holiday recap. That's all I find in my blog feed the week following Christmas each year, and I typically roll my eyes, scroll through other bloggers' photos quickly, or just skip the posts altogether. It has always seemed sort of self-indulgent to me. But then I thought, you know what? This is MY blog. This is a way for me to document MY life. And even if no one else in blogland cares what I did on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I want to be able to look back on this year, last year, and the year before that, and reminisce.

So, skip this post if you don't care ;-)

Without further adieu....

Christmas this year was broken into a few different days. Since Sean and I started dating, it's been a struggle trying to figure out how to see all of our family and friends during Christmas and New Year's. I am learning that it just isn't possible to make everyone happy, but we can try our darndest.

On Saturday, December 22nd, Sean and I spontaneously invited my parents over for dinner, drinks, and gifts. We realized that we wouldn't have time to exchange gifts with them Christmas Eve like we did last year, so we changed it up a bit. I didn't mind getting my presents a few days early ;) I quickly threw together a beef stew in the crock pot, and we had a lovely evening.

I won't bore you by bragging about all the gifts I received from my parents, but let me just say I was blown away. Along with the traditional gifts like a calendar and some clothes, I got a few surprises as well. The gem of the evening:

That, my friends, is a Terrell Suggs signed football....my parents were at a Charity Auction, know I love T. Sizzle (I am seen sporting his jersey here), and my mom ended up in an intense bidding war with a woman--and boy, am I glad she won! I was blown away and it is already proudly displayed in my home.

My parents, Sean, and I had a great evening, and it was a wonderful way to kick off the Christmas weekend.

The next day, Sean and I realized we had a LivingSocial deal that needed to be used before it expired! So, into Baltimore City we went to Leinenkugel's Beer Garden, a really cool bar with great appetizers, and of course, an overwhelming array of beers.

Sean and I shared a beer flight and a dip trio, which was just lovely.

After Leinenkugel, Sean and I headed to a party at his aunt's house. It was my first time meeting his Dad's side of the family, so I was too busy meeting people to snap any pictures. We had a great time, though, drinking and eating and watching the Ravens beat the Giants :-)

The next day was Christmas Eve, which is absolutely my favorite day of the year--all the anticipation and excitement. Both of us had (separate) last-minute stocking stuffers and gifts to buy before heading to my mom and dad's, so we both got those done in the morning. And it was good that we did, because by about 4:00 pm, the scene out the window looked like this:

Sean and I trekked to my parents' house, a trip the usually takes 45 minutes...and it took us an hour and a half. It was pretty scary, but totally worth it for some family time:

cousins

my mom loves to photobomb

my man and I

Patron shots! We know how to party!

The Christmas Eve party also included a Yankee Gift Swap (White Elephant Gift Exchange), and I ended up with a pretty awesome gift:

Yep. That's a Justin Bieber singing toothbrush AND a Lady Gaga singing toothbrush, along with a Disaronno gift set! Saweeet. I am already loving Biebs singing to me every day.

Once Sean and I got home, it was almost 1:00 am, so we crashed quickly...except that I could NOT sleep and was like a little kid, eager for morning so I could race out to the living room and open my presents.

We finally got out of bed at 8:30am and exchanged gifts, just the two of us, which was lovely. We spoiled each other rotten this year...it's tough to say what my favorite gift was, but these are up there on the list:

A gift certificate to my favorite hair salon, and a Spa Day complete with massage and facial!!!

And here is a shot of some of my gifts....yes, that is a bottle of Patron and 5 mini liquor bottles. My man knows the way to my heart ;-)

Sean enjoyed his gifts, too, of course. I gave him a vintage map of Maryland in a unique frame, some clothes, a Home Depot gift card, and some other odds and ends. All in all, it was a fantastic holiday for both of us.

Then, in the afternoon, we went to spend time with Sean's mom, brother, and brother's girlfriend. We exchanged more gifts, and then hung out before going home to snuggle under our new Ravens blanket (courtesy of Sean's mom) and play Scrabble.

Christmas this year was fantastic, and I am so thankful for everyone in my life who made it possible.

How was your Christmas?

Holiday Cheer

The stockings are hung...

The tree is decorated...

The nativity is set up...

And there are random splashes of Christmas cheer throughout...

One more work day stands between me and a full week+ off work!

I am ready to enjoy the Christmas and New Year's holidays with those I love.

See you in 2012 

Blogging Day of Silence and Remembrance

By now, we have all heard about the tragedy that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT on Friday.

There are truly no words. This image has been passed around, and I am sharing it in the hopes that we can all come together to pray, heal, and move forward one painful step at a time.

This is a multi-faceted issue: gun control, mental health (I beg you to read this article), safety/security, etc. 

But for now, let's take some time to process (if that is even possible) what has happened, reach out and help, and hold our loved ones close. 

A Super Special Birthday

This Saturday was the birthday of a very important person in my life....

the boyfriend!

Yay! He turned *cough* (27) *cough*

We had a great weekend that involved some gifts...

...then some hanging of the gifts...

Isn't our new apartment finally coming together?

Then we had some celebratory drinks...

...and got all dolled up for a night on the town!

It was such a fun weekend, and I think the birthday boy had a blast too ;-)

Any December babies out there? Sean said he feels like he gets "jipped" on gifts since his birthday is so close to Christmas. Thoughts?

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip “Cake” Muffins

As you all know, I am a big fan of using cake mix in baked goods, mostly because it saves time, money, and energy (I'll be the first to admit I'm a lazy baker).

So, when Thanksgiving rolled around and S and I had two family dinners to attend, I knew I wanted to contribute something festive, but that wouldn't take a lot of effort.

Yellow cake mix and canned pumpkin to the rescue!

Here's what I came up with...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip “Cake” Muffins

1 box yellow cake mix (I used Pillsbury)

1 15 ounce canned pumpkin (I used Libby’s)

½ cup water

¼ cup vegetable oil

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 whole egg

2 12-cupcake pans

Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Stir until batter is mixed completely with no lumps.

Line cupcake pan with liners or spray generously with cooking spray. Fill each about halfway.

Bake at 350* for ~20 minutes or until tops are golden.

Yields approx. 20 tasty cupcakes!

These would also be yummy with cream cheese icing.

Enjoy! And I promise that's the last of the pumpkin recipes you will see on this blog...until my next craving hits! ;-)

Where the hello have I been?!

Ok, ok, so I doubt very many people keep up with my blog anymore since it has been so sporadic and  inconsistent for the past year or so.

I always prooomise that I am going to post X amount of times per week, and I even make a "blogging schedule" for myself...and then life gets in the way.

So, I wanted to at least pop in to say that I haven't been blogging much because I've been going through a LOT of changes in my personal and professional life.

Such as...

-Moving into a new apartment in a new town (but with the same guy, of course--he's here for the long haul)

-Quitting my job (That post was written when I first got the position...but it started to really wear on my emotionally and I was downright unhappy towards the end. I have no ill will for any of my coworkers or supervisors--they were all incredible!--and I learned so much there. However, it was time to move on).

-Instead, I am now a full-time nanny. Wait...what? How is this a "professional" career change, you ask? Well, quite frankly...it's sort of not. But the right position with a fantastic family fell into my lap, in a gorgeous area and decent pay, and I went for it. Why am I doing this, you ask? Because...

-I applied and have been accepted into Graduate School! Beginning in the Spring 2013 semester, I will be studying at Towson University for my Master of Science in Human Resources Development. I am really excited about it. I will be taking two night classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and the great thing about my new nanny job is the flexibility with my hours (generally work 8-4 M-F) which allows me enough time to make it to evening classes, and also allows me to study during the day (while the babies are napping).

That is pretty much the big stuff. I've had a lot of family visits, including to visit my grandparents who are old and sick, and I've been more concerned with real life than with the blog.

However, I really am going to try to blog more...even if no one is reading but myself! Haha. I won't make any promises or force myself to stick to a "schedule", but I will try (at first) to blog once a week. Right now it is naptime for the kids, so I am thinking it will be easier to blog during the afternoon than at my previous job.

I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season! I'll be back soon with a couple of recipes to share--some cookies and some crock pot wonders!

And I'll leave you with a photo of Sean and I when we visited the lights on 34th street in Hampden this past Saturday:

What's your favorite holiday?

My First Pro Football Game!

I've been to many sporting events in my lifetime. From professional baseball to pretty much every college sport, I've seen a lot of exciting events.

But one sport I had never seen live? Professional football. Sure, I've been to some big college games, like Army vs. Navy. But I am a Ravens fan, living in Baltimore city, and I had still never been to a Ravens game before....until yesterday.

I'll make a long story short, but basically Sean and I went through hell and high water (and a lot of $$$) to be able to attend yesterday's sold-out match-up against the Dallas Cowboys.

But boy, oh boy, was it worth it. We had so much fun tailgating with friends, and with my parents (who had never been to a Ravens game either!), who ended up snagging last minute tickets from friends. It was so much fun.

Sean and I arrived a little before 10:00 a.m. to tailgate with some friends. Then we walked over to my parents' tailgate, where some more shenanigans ensued. The game started at 1:00 p.m., and Sean and I headed in a little before kickoff--which we actually ended up missing because of security lines and bathroom lines.

Once we got to our seats, we stayed there pretty much the entire time, besides a little break to get some buffalo chicken bites. The game was a nail-biter, to say the least! The Ravens barely scraped together a win and the final score was 31-29, but hey! A win is a win, right?

I am so glad I got to experience my first ever Ravens game, and so thankful to this guy for making it all happen:

Have you ever been to a professional football game? Who is your "home" team?

*Edited to add: I have not forgotten about the October Yoga Challenge! I know my update will be a bit late this week, but I still have a post planned on how the challenge is doing and expect to have it published by Friday. Sean and I are in the process of moving, so as you can imagine things have been crazy

October Yoga Challenge Recap: Week 1

Last week, I posted about the October Yoga Challenge I decided to join when Courtney mentioned it on her blog in this post. Read more about it and grab a button for your blog!

Basically, my goal is to spice up my fall workout routine with 3 yoga sessions per week. There are no rules for this challenge--I don't want to put too much pressure on myself because I am moving in a week, have alot of family and personal stuff going on, and am just all-around busy at work and in my home life. But yoga is a great way to work our bodies and calm our minds, so I decided to give this challenge a go.

This week, I ended up only completing 2 yoga sessions at home. But you know what I realized? That is okay. I did the first one after a really stressful day at work last week. I got home and was about to plop on the couch with a snack (or a drink!) and zone out in front of the TV, but instead, I mustered up the energy to throw on my yoga pants, unroll my mat, and just...do it.

And you know what? It felt amazing. Not only did it feel great to stretch and move my body after sitting at my desk all day, but by the end of 30 minutes of posing, breathing, and stretching I felt rejuvenated. Calm. Happy.

I did the same thing a few days later with a routine I found in my latest copy of Yoga Journal (which I highly recommend--lots of great at-home practices and inspirational articles), and it felt fantastic.

This week I learned that exercise, particularly yoga, is about way more than just keeping in shape physically. A yoga practice is a great way to keep our minds focused and aware. It is a wonderful outlet for me and I am so glad I decided to join this challenge!

Check out Courtney's weekly recap here.

Happy Monday, friends! Today has been the craziest work day I have had in awhile...I'm sensing more yoga in my future ;-)

Have you joined the challenge yet?

Change. Embrace It.

Not sure if anyone follows the blog Not Salmon, by Karen Salmansohn, but it is filled with inspirational phrases, photos, and quotes to brighten each and every day. I highly recommend it.

This one really caught my eye:

Not only does it fit the "autumn" theme and the coming of the new month of October, but it rings very true to me. The world is constantly changing, you and I are constantly changing, and everyone around us is constantly changing. Change is scary, but it can also be a good thing.

This image is also a great accent to the October Yoga Challenge I am participating in with Courtney. To me, the challenge is not only about evolving physically, but also mentally. Yoga is very much a mental and spiritual experience, which is why it is called a "practice". I intend to do a follow-up on Friday about a few things I have noticed thus far (last night was my first yoga session of the month!), most of which are mental rather than physical.

But more of that on Friday. For now, think about the changes you have made in your life, and the changes you have yet to make. Some may be positive, some negative. But no matter what, accepting--and embracing--change is when the beauty can come in.

What changes have you made so far this year?

What changes would you like to make by the time 2013 rolls around? (3 months remaining--go make it happen!)

October Yoga Challenge

So, around this time of year, my "fitness" routine (if you can even call it that) gets a little stale.

You know, the weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and my life inevitably gets busier. There just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do. Working out before work is tough, and after work it is sometimes already dark to do anything outside, and since I don't have a gym membership (gotta save those dolla bills!), my options are limited.

Ok, I know...excuses, excuses.

Well, when I popped on over to Courtney's blog this morning, it was as if she read my mind. Courtney (the incredible blogger behind Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life) is spicing up her fall fitness routine with an October Yoga Challenge, and we're all invited to join.

Courtney's goal is to incorporate a yoga sequence into her routine at least 3 days per week, no matter how intense or how long. I have decided that 3 times a week sounds like a reasonable, attainable goal, and I am going to join along. However, if you want to join, your goal can be 5 times a week, 1 day a week, etc. As long as we are getting our bodies moving and enjoying the calming and cleansing aspects of yoga, that's all that matters!

Courtney will be doing a recap every Friday (beginning this Friday, Oct. 7th!) on her blog, with the opportunity for other bloggers to link up their recap posts as well. So, every Friday from now on, expect a short recap on Hot Coco(a) and also on my Twitter page about how my Yoga Challenge is going. Hope ya don't mind ;-)

If you want to join in on the challenge, or get more info, check out the snazzy new button on the right side of my blog. Or go to Courtney's page to get one of your own!

Here's to a month of fitness, fun, support, and encouragement!

Namaste.

Three Years Ago Today

Today's post is going to be a bit different than my last post. To read a bit more about the back story behind the following words, here is my original post about where I was in my life 3 years ago. I also did a follow up to that a year later, in September of 2010. And now, a bit about where I am on this gorgeous Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore.

Three Years ago today...

I woke up in a hospital bed to the sound of a blood pressure machine at my bedside. I got my finger pricked for an iron test, and felt dizzy as I stood up because I was so weak.

Today....

I woke up in a warm, cozy bed and felt a light kiss on the forehead from a man who truly loves me.

3 years ago today....

I struggled through breakfast, too weak and defeated to even calculate the calories and how many pounds I would "immediately" gain because of it. A nurse sat beside me and watched every bite, making sure I finished what was on my plate.

Today...

The only thing I contemplated was whether to have eggs or pancakes, and I had enough energy to start a load of laundry and take out the trash, all before having my morning cup of joe.

3 years ago today....

I was sitting in group therapy on a hospital inpatient unit, swapping stories with other men and women who were starving themselves, stuffing themselves, purging themselves. I had dropped out of college because I couldn't concentrate on anything other than running until it hurt and counting every calorie of every crumb that entered my mouth.

Today....

I am on the other side of the table...I am working with my patients to help them in their recovery from opiate, cocaine, benzo, and alcohol addiction. It may not be exactly the same, but the similarity is often uncanny. However, 3 years later, the similarities no longer bother me. I can draw from my past without dwelling on it, and I am a better therapist because of it. I have more than enough energy to get through a full work day, plus errands, happy hour, and family events.

3 years ago today....

I had the strength to ask for help, and the strength to willingly receive it. Maybe it didn't seem like it then, and maybe I thought things would never get better.

But today I can tell you: things are better. I worked hard, and I am still working hard every day, but in 3 years I have gained 30+ pounds and a hell of a lot of life. I am now confident in my own body, able to wear a bikini without panicking about "back fat" or cellulite. I can have my cake and eat it too. I can exercise without running myself into the ground, without feeling like I have to. Today, I can do some yoga if I feel like it, or take a brisk walk, but if I "miss" a day, I shrug and move on. I was probably doing something more fun anyway.

3 years ago, I learned a lot about myself and about the strength of the human body and spirit. Today, I am forever grateful to the past, but I am living in the present and planning for a healthy, happy, fun-filled future. Here's to many more years of success and happiness!

Five Favorite Fall Beers

Tis the season....for BEER! (Although in my opinion, it is always the season for beer.)

 

In all seriousness, though--autumn weather combined with pastimes like tailgating, football, pumpkin picking, and bonfires work harmoniously with a bold autumn brew.

 

I've come up with 5 of my favorite fall seasonal beers, although I could easily name 100.

 

The first 4 can be found almost anywhere in the United States (although in some areas more heavily than others), and the last is a Baltimore home brew that I just had to add because I love it all year round.

1. Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale (8% ABV)

http://weyerbacher.com/blog/2010/02/imperial-pumpkin-ale/

 

Weyerbacher Pumkin is what first got me on the pumpkin beer bandwagon about a year ago. It was on draft at a local bar, and on a whim, I ordered it, not sure what to expect. As soon as I took a sip of this hearty, spicy, bold amber ale, I was a believer. Just don't drink it too fast--it's a strong one, guys. At 8% ABV, this ale is much stronger than a typical light beer's 3 to 5%.

 

2. Dogfish Head Punkin (7% ABV)

http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/seasonal-brews/punkin-ale.htm

 

A pretty little 4-pack of this brew was waiting for me on Friday when I got home from work (brownie points for the boyfriend!), and it is already gone. This beer is made with organic brown sugar & spices, and is the perfect compliment to a brisk fall day.

 

3. Southern Tier Pumking (8.6%)

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3818/38394

http://www.stbcbeer.com/stbc/seasonals/seasonal-imperial/pumking-beer-page/

 

Out of all the beers on this list, Southern Tier's Pumking definitely packs the biggest punch at 8.6% ABV. With hints of pecan, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, you can't go wrong. This stuff is like crack.

 

4. Fat Tire Amber Ale (5.2% ABV)

http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/detail.aspx?id=7c5b394b-d7b7-486a-ac9a-316256a7b0ee

 

Fat Tire has many seasonal blends, but I am a big fan of their Amber Ale, which consists of "toasty, biscuit-like malt flavors coasting in equilibrium with hoppy freshness." This brew is popping up on taps all over Baltimore, and I couldn't be happier. Plus, I will gladly endorse any company with the belief that "we're not only passionate about great beer, it's also important to us to try to be a role model of sustainable business practices." (check it out here).

Oh, and there's a snazzy red bicycle on the label. 'Nuff said.

 

5. Brewer's Art Ozzy (7.25% ABV)

http://www.thebrewersart.com/housebeer.html

 

This is a Baltimore exclusive. Located in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood, The Brewer's Art is a restaurant with amazing food, unique atmosphere, and of course, home-brewed beers. My favorite is Ozzy, a Belgian-style that is "Both rich and dry...this beer is
all too easy to consume in large quantities".

 

What are some of your favorite beers for the autumn season?

I am always up for trying new-to-me brews.

Kitchen Remodel: Before and After

In this post, I mentioned the fact that Sean and I were going to attempt a tile backsplash in our kitchen--all on our own.

A few weeks ago, we finally took the plunge. Here's how it went:

First: We picked out these tiles from Home Depot For only $5 per square foot. Since our kitchen space was fairly small, this didn't cost much at all. 

This is what our kitchen looked like before--very BLUE. We actually used to have different countertops, but we got the granite put in earlier this summer and we absolutely LOVE it.

Then: Sean did most of the dirty work--the tiles are peel and stick, and then you have to grout after 48 hours. Here is a photo of during....

Third: Once the tiles were dry, Sean and I added the grout. This is a photo of the tiles immediately after putting in the grout. See how they look kind of dirty? You have to repeatedly wipe the tiles over and over while the grout in between them dries. It was very time-consuming, but we are all about saving money with DIY!

Finally: Here is the end result! I think it looks awesome. It really compliments the blue walls and the brown in the countertops. What do you guys think?

For about $150, our kitchen is totally transformed.

What's the last DIY project you did? Was it a success? Feel free to link to photos--I love a good home project idea :-)

Review: Infuse Your Mood Tea

Hello, hello!

Hope your Wednesday is going swimmingly.

Today, I have a review for you all.

In case you didn't know, in my household, we love tea. Love, love, looove it.

Sean and I have two teapots (one of which is shaped like a giraffe), plus a special teapot for loose tea.

We also have an alarming variety of teas in the pantry--sleepy time tea, tea for energy, flavored teas, etc.

So, when the lovely people from a company called Sun Chlorella offered to send me a box of their Infuse Your Mood 100% Natural Eleuthero Tea to review for you all, I was more than willing to partake.
Yesterday when I got home from work, this was waiting on my doorstep:

Imagine my delight! Inside the box was this pretty little box of tea:

Which boasts some pretty impressive nutritional information and ingredient list:

Literally ONE ingredient?! Awesome. Also enclosed was a list of some of of the benefits of eleuthero:

Inner calm? Physical endurance? Peace and tranquility?? Count me in!

I do admit that I was a bit skeptical on how it would actually taste. But, the boyfriend and I both brewed a cup (in my giraffe teakettle, obviously) to test. I forgot to snag a photo of the tea once it is actually brewed, but it was a light green color.

The verdict? It was surprisingly tastier than I had expected. Especially with a teaspoon of honey. It wasn't strong, which is good for someone like me. I'm the girl who dunks her teabag in the water 3 times and then declares it "ready to drink". Sean, on the other hand, was less impressed. He likes his teat to have a strong, distinct taste, and this just didn't do it for him.

As for the health benefits? I've only had this tea a couple of times since last week, so it's hard to tell. But I do know I felt healthier just drinking it, which is fine by me!

If you are interested in Sun Chlorella's products, please visit their webiste at http://www.sunchlorellausa.com/.

(Disclaimer: Although I received this product for free from the Sun Chlorella Company, all opinions and reviews are 100% honest and 100% my own.)