What do you mean it's already 2012?

Now that the new year is upon us, 2011 is certainly leaving me wondering when childhood ended and adulthood began. I’ve pondered this before in previous posts, but aside from landing a full-time job, nothing feels more adult than a ring on your finger. Shouldn’t I still be listening to Mmmbop and practicing how to parallel park for my driving test? What do you mean my friends have kids? Where the hell did time go?

Since I pretty much abandoned my readers this holiday season, let me fill you in on where the last month went at least. As for the other 11 months (or last 10 years for that matter), I really can’t tell ya.

• I managed to avoid getting overly drunk at my department’s holiday shin dig this year (although last year’s conversation, which has been aptly titled “Confessions of Hanson Fan,” was brought up again).
• Fiance (still getting used to that word!) and I visited the snowy, Christmas-y, Bavarian town of Leavenworth, WA and ate delicious German food. I am now a huge fan of red sauerkraut.
• We celebrated all kinds of holiday merriment with our families.
• We may have found a good method to celebrate with all of our families without dragging ourselves around the entire state of Washington in a single day.

In all, I was able to keep my cool much better than I did last year. No Grinch here this holiday season!

As fun as the holidays were, nothing has quelled my excitement for our upcoming nuptials – best holiday event by far! But with that said, nothing can be more heinous than listening to someone talk/bitch/freak out about their wedding 24/7. Due to my personal experiences with Bridezillas, I’m determined not to become one. I have granted everyone permission to call me out, and/or use a safety word (banana) if I’m talking wedding way too much or being a downright pill. I’m not kidding. That’s how much I don’t want to piss people off. In fact, I promise not to blog about it too much. Sticks and Stones is not about to turn into theotherknot.com (btw, theknot.com has got to be the most overwhelming website in the history of the world wide web).

Anywho, the only thing I’ll say is that we’re getting married October 6th. We’ll have a fabulous autumn wedding, with plenty of time to plan, try on dresses (yay!) and make honeymoon arrangements (double yay!).

So, I’m charging into 2012 with these goals in mind:

1. Keep calm and carry on- no Bridezilla!
2. Do a better job investing in my health (a.k.a lose weight). And/or purchase a forgiving dress.
3. Survive whatever happens if the world decides to implode on Dec. 21, 2012 (but that’s after the wedding/honeymoon so…whatevs).

I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be a good year indeed!

And now - on to our New Year’s Eve celebration!

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but if you always party like it’s 1999, you’ll be confused when you realize 2012 has rolled around.

We're Tying the Knot!

The REAL ring bling!

Ok - I have two seconds to breathe so allow me update you quickly - WE'RE ENGAGED! And no, none of my anxiety dreams came true. I didn't get brass knuckles, it didn't fall apart. It's perfect! I can't wait to be a Mrs. :) And no we don't have a date yet, so next summer-ish is my answer for now. And if you really want to know how he did it, you're going to have call me for it. Sorry to those I don't know outside the internet.

The crazy holiday season is catching up, so I doubt I'll be able to post much in the coming weeks. So until, then Merry Christmas!

Our official family!

11 Holiday Lessons (so far...)

I'm one of those nutty, holiday-loving, real life Clark Griswold personalities that really get into the holidays. I love watching old nostalgic cartoons (everyday of December), listening to holiday tunes (even on my headphones at work), and going as far as attempting "All I Want for Christmas Is You" about two hours after Thanksgiving dinner is over. But we all know, as we get older, this time of year becomes increasingly stressful and less "Yay! Santa!" So I've made a list of helpful advice to get you through this time of year:

1. Don’t trust your dog to behave unsupervised around wrapped presents or ornaments (even if he or she was a complete angel around these items as a puppy). You will come home to a colorful mess, pick up colorful dog poo, and be forced to repurchase gifts.
2. First attempts at making hot buttered rum may result in wasted in-laws and great memories. Less rum, more butter next time.
3. The holiday season is football season! Don’t attempt to go to a Seahawks game on a Thursday night. What is normally a 20-minute drive to the stadium will force you to enjoy speeds of one tire rotation per hour and an insatiable craving for mass murder.
4. There is such thing as doggy pink eye, and no, they won’t quit licking their butts no matter how much they hate their eye drops. (I understand this is not specifically holiday related, but it really can happen to you during this time of year and force you to pay a ridiculous vet bill on top of other purchases you may be making at this time of year. Sigh.)
5. Feed your significant other a big breakfast on Thanksgiving day to mitigate any future alcohol intake. Failure to do so will result in the significant other falsely accusing their mother of slipping roofies into drinks, and thus blacking out and missing all of Thanksgiving.
6. Do make these pumpkin muffins and give them to everyone you know (ignore that the website is for pioneer women - I didn’t know they we were still marketing to those who travel in covered wagons). Don’t be surprised if you get a raise, a promotion or an engagement ring. You’re welcome.
7. Do start your Christmas shopping early, and revel in the fact that you are done on Dec. 1 while everyone else is scrambling. Nana nana boo boo, stick your head in doo doo. (Just don’t leave wrapped gifts out - see #1).
8. Start (or continue) a beautiful relationship with a crock pot. Who has time to make dinner with everything else going on? We’re still in the honeymoon stage with our crock pot. You can make meals cheaply, deliciously, and have them waiting for you when you get home. It’s like having an electric stay-at-home mom! (Or stay-at-home dad. We’re progressive here at Sticks and Stones. Our crock pot just happens to be a woman.)
9. If your domestic partner is more of a scrooge than a large adult who still believes in Santa (please refer to "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"), play holiday tunes and watch holiday movies incessantly until they have crossed over to the dark side with you. If your plan backfires and only throws them into rage blackouts, gift them this ornament as an apology.
10. Make time for cocoa. There's always time for cocoa!
11. Reserve days to lounge in sweatpants! (This is now the 11th commandment. Harold Camping told me so). Don’t pack your schedule so full that you can’t even remember what happened over the holidays. Enjoy every moment with friends and family, but know when to say, “Sorry, we’re busy. Can we take a rain check?” You will maintain your sanity (or at least most of it).

My December calender seriously looked like this last year. Never again!

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but heeding my advice will lead to a happy holiday season!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Gobble gobble. 

Happy Thanksgiving! There's so much to be thankful for each and every day. As much as I bitch about silly, trivial things on my blog, I really am thankful for each and every blessing in life. Since I won't be able to see everyone I love today, I wanted to give a very public thank you to everyone I love and everything I'm thankful for.

First of all, I am so, so thankful for organ donation (if you're able to be a donor - do it!!)! Thank God for my mom's smooth liver transplant recovery. She is now cancer-free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!! I can't put enough exclamation points (oh look and a one snuck in there)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm also thankful for arthroscopic hip surgery (I promise an 87 year-old is not writing this post)! Today I went up to the gym (yes, on Thanksgiving) and rode the bike for 20 minutes, and I feel great. The pain is becoming less everyday. Slowly but surely, I'll be back doing the things I love. I even have my sites set on some hiking trails once the weather clears up.


After the roller coaster year I've had, I truly realized what a wonderful support network I have.

I am so thankful to my own family (immediate and extended) that we emerged this year stronger than before. While I'm sad I won't be there with you today to celebrate, I'll be driving down soon to enjoy leftover stuffing in the near future (yes, that is a threat - hide your kids, hide your wife, hide your leftovers).

I am so thankful for my wonderful friends who have lent their ears and hearts to me throughout the year and throughout life! My best friend and I recently realized that we've known each other for 20 years! Cheers to lifelong friendships!

I have to give huge, huge thanks to my boyfriend and his family. They have been so wonderful to me throughout the entirety of this year. Boyfriend has been my rock through the ugliest times. He was there for me when I was at my worst and has helped keep me sane when I felt like everything was falling apart. His family has also been there for me and my whole family, offering their love and support in any way they could. I feel blessed to have such amazing future in-laws.

So thank you thank you thank you to everyone, everywhere. I love you all and I'm thankful for you all! And I'm thankful for stuffing and pumpkin pie, and even you, Bowsie, and sweats, and tea....okay I better stop here or this could go on forever...

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but never forget to count your blessings.