It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

Welp, it's December 16. Which means that Christmas Day is just around the corner. Which is great, because Christmas is one of my favorite holidays! Why? I have no idea. It's not like I'm selfish and want a million presents from those who love me...it's more that Christmas has this unique feel to it. Everything just seems different on Christmas day. It's like the world is refreshed and good things are going to happen!

My friend shared this quote with me and I think it's great. I'm going to apply it to 2012.

May you never forget what is worth remembering...
or remember what is best forgotten....

Woot Woot!!! New Developments!!!!

Things are going pretty okay for me lately and things are also suppppper busy!

However, I can now mark something off my bucket list (and it's totally nerdy, so brace yourself) I finished my MBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, it requires that many exclamation points. I turned in my final projects on Tuesday and found out that I received A's on both of them last night. I may or may not have done a little graduation dance in my kitchen! It's insane. It took me two full years because working full time and going to school is hard stuff! (props to those of you who did it in undergrad!)

of course it's going to be WAY MORE awesome than this because it's an actual diploma, but you get the point

The holidays are coming up and I love this time of year so that's fantastic as well.

All in all, not much to complain about here. Days are still tough without my friend Jim, and I have random break downs on a somewhat regular basis, but it's getting easier to face Wednesday nights without him and that's comforting.

So, go out there, cross things off your bucket list, friends!!! It's exhilarating!

xoxo

Sparta what???????????

I'm working out again. It sucks. I'm sore. I've been using the handicapped stall at work so I can literally just fall down on the toilet....

But, since I am having so much fun I thought I would share some of the work outs with you guys. I know, I'm so super generous. It's insane.

The first one came out in 2010 I believe and it's what we call "Spartacus". Actually, Men's Health calls it Spartacus so it's not really a name we gave it. Anyway, you can find it here. And a PDF version here for you to print.

The second one is a revamp of the original Spartacus and is appropriately dubbed Spartacus 2.0. I haven't done this one yet but am doing it later today. I'll let you know how bad it sucks.

You can find it here. And a PDF version for you to print here.

So, try it out. You never know what kind of body might be waiting for you around the corner. When I am successful at shedding all this extra poundage and getting back to Tiffany circa age 18, I'll share my success story with you. Until then, use your imagination.

Happy endorphins! Maybe one day we'll all look like this:

I mean, I could go for less abs on me, personally. But if the hubs started rocking this bod, I would not be sad. :)

Photography....

If I had to pick a second life to lead, I would want to be a photographer. Not the kind who does like wedding photography, etc. although I'm thankful to the people who do that, I'd want to be more like national geographic great and swim with the sharks to get my pictures!

But, I'm not that kind of person. Instead, I work a stupid 8-5 job that I like on most days but would trade in a heartbeat for something more thrilling. I was going through some pictures from vacation last year and here are some of my favorites of  Costa Rica.... Ahh to be there again...hopefully not during the rainy season this time!

I'm including this one to show you what my idea of "people" pics is....people do not want pictures of themselves like this! I know!

So what is the point of this post? Oh, right. To tell you, blogosphere (all 5 of you) that I want to do more with my life. I don't want to just take fun pictures of my nieces and nephews (and maybe kids some day). I want to travel and take fun pictures of the world! Or just of Texas. Shoot, that's even better  than not taking any pictures!!!

So, here's hoping that after I finish my MBA (in October) I have more free time on the weekends to just get out there and drive! Stop at every hole in the wall diner I want to and just take pictures of the world out there. There's so much out there, that it's got to be more fun than this!

Plus, with the hubs going back to school....I'm going to be awfully bored on the weekends I think!


“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”
-Ernest Haas

Google and Fat

Okay first, I just want to say that it's a little disturbing how many Jessica Simpson pictures come up if you do a Google image search on "fat". I mean, really guys? She's not even fat! Sure, she gained a few pounds here and there, but overall, she's still pretty damn hot. I honestly couldn't believe how many pictures of her came up! Sooooo we'll be skipping a picture for this blog because obviously the internets has lost it's damn mind.

Second.....I've been a little harsh on myself these last two days but I think that I'm probably going to have to keep being harsh because I feel like (and I know deep down) that my weight is bothering me and is slightly out of control. Whew. That's hard to say out loud!!! I've known for probably a year or so that I needed to do something about my weight. That it's out of control. That I'm unhappy with the way I look and feel. But, I'm lacking the motivation. No matter how much I call myself a fat ass or tell myself that I'm overweight, I still haven't found the inspiration to go to the gym. It's actually quite lame and annoying. And I know that if I would just get there once, I'd probably feel better and feel like going back. But sadly, that hasn't happened either.

I've started calling myself out on it...if you follow me on Twitter (which you should because my comments are dumb just like this blog), then you would have seen my tweet yesterday questioning whether the guys at the gas station are checking me out because I look cute or because they're debating whether or not I can run away from them if robbed.....it made me lol. But that's the thing. It made me laugh. It didn't force me to get to the gym.

So, here's what I propose blogosphere....that I quit being so lame and hold myself accountable through you guys. I know like 5 people read this, but 5 people is more than just me, right?

Here's hoping that holding myself accountable, by talking to you guys, will help me in the whole process of not being a lard ass and being more like my old self. My cute, skinny self. Who was happier!

And if you so desire, you can find me as "tiffytrox" on Twitter. You know you want to. As long as you're not some creepy internet troll, I'll even let you follow me! 


"Too many people confine their exercise to jumping to conclusions, running up bills, stretching the truth, bending over backward, lying down on the job, sidestepping responsibility and pushing their luck." Anonymous

A little change goes a long way....

I'm not what you would call "good with change". I don't typically handle it all that well. I like things to be in the right order and happen the same way. I like adventure and spontaneity, don't get me wrong, but big changes are hard for me stomach.

Things are changing around me at work and at home and I think it's making me a little antsy. The hubs has decided to go back to school and pursue nursing, a lifelong dream. And I'm about to finish my MBA and that's scary! What will I do with all my free time? There are also some big changes coming down the pipe at work , I fear, but can't be sure of that yet. We will all just have to wait and see before we know how to respond. Makes me nervous though! Change always turns my stomach in knots!

SO, I changed my blog around. It was fun. And it was change that I can control! :)

The hummingbird picture I took in Costa Rica. I think it's beautiful. And the colors are calming to me. :)

Hope you like it!

He who rejects change is the architect of decay.  The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery. 
~Harold Wilson

Best. Saturday. Ever!

This Saturday was jam packed with tons of stuff going on. I wasn't sure how it was all going to work out, but it did!

First, we started with a wedding party celebration for our friends who got married on Thursday. They opted for a private wedding at the JP with their moms but then had a big bash for some friends. It was awesome. I love my friend very very much and it was great to see her happy. I know that she will continue to find happiness with her now husband and I can't wait for her to pop out their soon to be baby! (In January, whatever, that's close).

We followed the wedding celebration up with a trip to her dad's house for some post party drinks and fun. It was a great time!

We hung out there for a while until we decided we needed to get home so the hubs could get some rest. BUT since it was on the way home to run by another friend's house, we decided to stop by there too.

This was super fun because my friend Colleen was there with her new baby and Janet's German exchange student is in town with her brother! It was a blast to see so many friends and family and to get to spend the day celebrating!

Happiness is my favorite so it was great!

PSSSS -- I have some pictures but haven't downloaded them off my camera yet so I'll update this when I do! 


“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”
Aristotle

Oh thank heaven for....little GIRLS!

Uhhummm.... (like I'm clearing my throat, right?!) Let me introduce my BEAUTIFUL baby niece, Olivia Reese. She came into the world yesterday at about 2:00PM weighing 8 lbs and 4 ozs! Big girl!!

I haven't gotten to see her yet, so excuse the phone screen shot pic, but just go with it. :0

I'll see her tonight and take some more, much better pictures!

two things I love about this picture: 1) my sis in law looks amazing for just popping out a baby! and 2) she's newborn pink!

this one is just a picture that makes me laugh and was on Google+ when I was getting the baby picture!

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."
Author Unknown

Where ya been????

Wow. Talk about life getting crazy and not having any time to do anything....even BREATHE.

I had intentions of posting this great blog about my super fun birthday weekend and then I never got around to it. And I had intentions of posting a blog about the Mavericks and their epic win over the Miami Heat and all the fun stuff that we did those last few days. But then I never got around to it.

Basically, I've had a lot of "don't want tos" these past few weeks. I'll try to be better about that in the future!

Nothing new has really happened. We went out of town for my birthday and that was really fun. A lot of fun. And we're going out of town this weekend to float the river in San Marcos. That should be fun too. And then we'll go to New Braunfels in two weeks to float the rivers down there and spend some time with the family. Pretty much summer is my favorite time of year so I'm soaking up as much as I can and just having fun!

Hopefully next week I'll have time to give you some updates on other stuff...and share the details about my twilight zone birthday and this weekend!

Have fun! Wear sunscreen!!!

LET ME CATCH MY BREATH!!!

Seriously. Long time no blog post. It's mostly because I don't even have time to think anymore, let alone come up with something to blog about. So naturally, I'm going to blog and complain about the amount of work in my life right now.

I have school. I have two classes this semester and two more to finish. The goal was to take both this summer and finish by August. But I'm starting to think that maybe I should take one this summer and one in the fall and finish in October instead. (with graduation in December). It'd be 3 years instead of 2.5 but I might get to keep my sanity.

Work is INSANE in the MEMBRANE. You know that saying "Be careful what you wish for" ?? Well, it's taken over my life. I will never complain or gloat about my free time at work again!

And on top of all that, I'm serving on the Pastor Nominating Committee at church. Basically, at this point, we're reading anywhere from 10 - 20 applications a week. It's a very tedious and long process, but I'm enjoying myself. I'll just be glad when school is over and I can devote myself more fully.

Hope your lives are slightly less insane than mine because I seriously feel like I need to STOP and CATCH my breath!

LET ME CATCH MY BREATH!!!

I feel like this week has been a whirlwind sprint to the finish kind of week and it's only TUESDAY.

I know that a lot of my friends are extremely busy, and I'm not jealous of them at all. But, I like being busy in my personal life more than I do in my work life. I mean, when am I going to fart around on the internet if I have to actually do work?!!? Hello? Not convenient.

I feel like today I can't catch my breath. I'm running around doing a million different things! It's almost lunch time though so I felt like I could go ahead and take a little break to post this nonsense on my blog.

Hey, I don't take my 15 minute smoke breaks 12 x a day so I feel like we're equal. :)

Funny how things change....

It's funny how we go through life with certain friends and groups of friends and then as our life changes, so do those friends. People we thought would be in our lives forever fade away and new people shuffle in. People we didn't expect to be friends with suddenly become some of our best friends. Life is constantly changing.

My boss told me the other day that if you don't work hard in life and make things hard for your self than life ends up being hard. We were talking about working out, but it applies in all aspects, when you think about. If you train yourself by constantly pushing yourself to be better, to work harder than other people, then when disappoint or sadness finds you, you're going to be well equipped to deal with whatever life presents.

I guess my point in writing about both of these is that we often find in life that there are some friendships that are worth trudging through quick sand to save and some that could disappear tomorrow and we'd let them fade with the sun. The trick is finding out and learning which ones are worth the effort. Personally, I've tended to look at life like all of my friendships are that important to me. But in reality, there several that I would go to the ends of the earth for. Others that I would trudge through mud for, and others that would simply let fade with time. I'm beginning to learn the difference in my friendships and learning that it's okay to not be best friends with everyone. In fact, the friends that I do call best friends have earned that title. They've been there for me through bad times and through good and have proven themselves worthy of my devotion. Others? Not so much.

So here's to the friendships that are worth trudging through hell for. And for the others? Eh, keep them around as long as it's beneficial. Once it's no longer beneficial, quit putting in so much effort.

Random Thursday Thoughts

1. It's totally cool that the Rangers lost last night because I have every reason to believe that they will bring the series back to Texas and beat the crap out of the Yankees. They deserve it, and the Yankees can suck it. 
2. Vitamins taste like poop. I don't like put them in my mouth and let them melt or anything, but for the 2.5 seconds that they are in my mouth, they taste like poop! I hate it! Why can't they taste better? And  no, I don't want to take the gummies or Flinstones. They taste bad either way. I'm not lowering myself to gummy standard. 
3. I think things are picking up in life. I think good things are afoot and it's exciting! 
4. I'm seriously tired of being on antibiotics, but thankfully, I'm almost done. 
5. I've worked out twice in two days and it felt good. I'm going to keep rolling with this work out thing I think. I know, two days not very impressive, but hey, two days leads to 200. :)
6. Today's is Colleen's birthday. I wish we lived closer so we could get together for lunch or something. 
7. Going to Arkansas this weekend. Mixed emotions. Hopefully sis in law's sorority is filled with nice, non-judgmental girls!
8. I really hope lots of kiddos show up to Trunk or Treat next weekend. The hubs and I are part of a 6 person leadership team for it and if it doesn't go well that will SUCK!!!
9. My grams is the best! She made a poodle skirt for me for said trunk or treat. Yesterday she tells me "It looks really cute. I did a really good job" made me giggle. 
10. I sure am tired today. I slept well, but the hubs got up at like 4 and that seriously puts a damper on your morning. Thank goodness for Mt.Dew at 7:00AM!

This too shall pass....

So, today, my pastor posts on his facebook that he has resigned from the church. Not all that surprising, husband and I felt like it's been coming for a while. The thing about our church, is that it's kind of older in spirits and there just aren't very many young people to keep it going. This whole pastor leaving thing is actually fairly common because there are members that are very set in their ways, and tend to make life difficult for the younger generation. It's unfortunate because to me, the church has done a lot of things for this particular family. We agreed to pay them more because they were coming as a couple and required more money. We agreed to pay him more when she resigned in October, and we've stuck by them as they've led us through some difficult times. I guess where my faith gets shaken a little is more because of the fact that he chose to announce his resignation on facebook instead of waiting for the church to announce it. I mean, that's just as bad as breaking up with someone over text message. And if you ask me, a little bit cowardly.

I respect this person and I'm proud of what he's done for our church, but at the same time, I kind of want to hit on top of the head and say WTF?? Why would you tell everyone over facebook that you're leaving? It's awkward to me. I mean, give the church members time to grieve before you tell everyone outside the church what you're doing. For example, my mom found out because her friend, who is friends with my pastor on facebook, called her and told her that it was on facebook. It was the first anyone in my family had heard about it. Not a big deal, except for the fact that this friend of my mom's doesn't go to our church. She goes to a "rival" church down the way from us. I just kind of feel like he slapped us all in the face by not telling anyone first. I think it could've been handled differently, and that we deserved for it to be handled differently.

Ahh, oh well. This too shall pass. Another season will come and our church will survive this. Everything works out in the end, exactly the way that it's supposed to.

White Dresses, Lizard Skin, Big Houses, and Sinus Infections...

White Dresses----who wears white at a wedding?! Oh yeah, the bride! and occasionally the groom, if you do that whole on the beach, in white linen thing. But seriously?! Who would wear a white dress to a wedding, if they were not the bride? Apparently someone at my wedding! The nerve you have to have to wear white! SERIOUSLY!! It's not about you! it's about me! SO the white dress thing really just topped off the day/night. There were several instances where I just wanted to say "it's my wedding, we're not here for you" But, I digress.
Lizard Skin--honeymooning tip #789 - If you're in the pool for an entire day, don't let the free drinks get to you and cause you not to re-apply sunscreen. Re-application is KEY. Otherwise, you will peel like lizard. Good times Confucius say.
Big Houses---finally CLOSED on the house! It's officially the property of TMT and DAT. Ha..that way you can't tell whether or not I've officially changed my name, which I have not. Again, I digress.
Sinus Infections---so what tops off a wedding, a honeymoon, and buying a house?! The start of a beautiful sinus infection! God I love 'em! I can't breathe, my chest hurts...literally hurts, and I just want to lay in bed. But considering I was just off for 7 days, it apparently is not an option at this point. Love my immune system! Love it! love it! love it!

So, if ever you're bored, need something to do, call us up! we'll be painting, or weed eating, or packing, or maybe even lounging in our new master bedroom. Who knows?!