TMNT Christmas Cards

Dustin and I started brainstorming Christmas card ideas early this year. Like August early. We decided on a super hero theme and we would caption the card with "Have a SUPER Christmas!". I was planning on being Catwoman or Wonder Woman or some kind of awesome woman. Dustin wanted to be the Hulk. I had this whole thing worked out in my head. I looked at costumes before Halloween, during Halloween and the 'sales' after Halloween. But they were all way more than I was willing to spend. Then Dustin had a lightbulb moment and suggested we do a TMNT theme. He has been a fan of TMNT since he was a zygote. I was a fan as a kid too. I mean I still drink out of my Michelangelo cup on a regular basis. So the minute he mentioned it, I thought it was brilliant. I was 100% on board. He already had a Raphael mask and twin sais - since his childhood. So all he needed was the shirt and then of course I needed an entire Donatello costume which was so easy and inexpensive thanks to Amazon.com. We had planned to take the photo ourselves, like we have done every year. But then my boss got these amazing photos taken of her and her family and I knew we just had to use the same photographer. I remember going home at lunch that same day and sending her a Facebook message. I thought it was a long shot because it was kind of short notice but she was very sweet to squeeze us in (AND on her birthday weekend no less!) I was kind of nervous to tell her our Christmas card idea but she was immediately game. 

We met her for a Sunday morning hour long shoot at one of the prettiest parks in the Orlando area. A park I had never even heard of, let alone been to. We parked and walked up ready to go. We got some stares and some kids spotted us right away and screamed "ninja turtles!". The three of us laughed it off and got down to business. I was planning on going blind (no glasses) so I could wear my mask but then Dustin and Kelly both agreed that I looked good with my glasses on top of my mask. Done!

I told Kelly to direct us however she wanted. I completely trusted her. She had some really fun ideas. I especially love the jumping photo. And the one where Dustin has me over his shoulder. And the ones by the tree. Hell, I love them all. 

I know it sounds weird but I was worried about having a stranger photograph us. The minute we met Kelly though, all of those worries just went away. She was friendly, fun, professional, and most importantly really supportive of the theme. She exceeded every expectation I had. I can't wait to book another session with her. I'd love to get some of my brother and I. I'll worry about that next year. 

Kelly Berringer Photography

And this video is just because I have lots of free time. And why the hell not right?

Day 335

Instead of buying hooks for ornaments just use paper clips! My boss is a genius!

Found

Get your VOTE on!
-Pro Bowl
-ARNI
-People's Choice Awards

Billboards transformed into Bamboo Garden.

Congrats to Ben and his wife Ashley. Little Ben is the cutest.

Foxy Lady. How awesome is that dress?

A heart warmer.

Totes want THIS.

I have so been there.

Offbeat love quotes. (Thanks Nicole! These are brilliant.) Faves include:
-"Like you're trying to fight gravity
on a planet that insists
that love is like falling
and falling is like this"
-Ani Difranco's Falling Is Like This

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 

"I love you. You annoy me more than I ever thought possible, but… I want to spend every irritating minute with you." -Scrubs (Sam! Lover of Scrubs. This is a funny one!)

"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." -When Harry Met Sally

"I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone." -The Fellowship of the Ring

Day 334

we all have little photo ornaments at work except for me.

they meant to make me one last year but it never happened.

so this year i asked if they could use this photo of me.

they agreed. so jolly.

day 333

dropped these dudes off at work today.

Tweet Tweet

Kind of  forgot to post these. They go all the way back to before we left for Pitt. Ooops.


10/21/12
Wouldn't sports be interesting if athletes were paid by how well they did per game?

10/23/12
Just got out of the shower and while I was walking in the dark I stepped on something slimey. Turned the lights on and looks like a slug. 😭

Dustin stopped by the house to perform the slug removal! Feeling better but still traumatized.

Dustin is now calling me "Professor Horace Slugfoot". 😐

Not impressed with the new @fsfofficial music. It's good but they just can't ever top 'How to Start a Fire'.

10/24/12
I like when Jim Halpert had bangs.

10/25/12
Watching vampire diaries with Dustin's gma! 😁

10/26/12
I've been in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio in the last hour.

Was just asked if I wanted smoking or non at a restaurant. Can't remember the last time that's happened.

10/29/12
Dustin is the only one in the Pittsburgh airport wearing shorts.

when something says 'dry clean' does that really mean it's ok to hand wash or use the gentle cycle?

10/30/12
Just watched last week's 'Parks' and now I'm bawling like a baby. 💍❤ #catchinguponDVR

Wait, I thought basketball season just ended?!

10/31/12
Feeling slightly sick which means I'm slightly miserable.

real life modern families are not nearly as cute as the show makes them out to be. #complicated

11/1/12
How do I get that blue check by my twitter name? I want the 5 people who follow me to really know its me.

11/2/12
How do people just wake up, get dressed and go to work? I need time to DVR and internet! An extra hour of sleep is not worth the rush.

Ricola is like the Jolly Rancher of the cough drop world.

11/4/12
I hate when people think Walgreens is Publix.

Just ordered our 'costumes' for our Xmas card. Our original idea kind of morphed into something else and I think it will be even better.

Um, Walking Dead. Whoa. I'm so damn emotional right now.

11/5/12
I normally love the post office but today it put me in a really bad mood. It does not take 10 minutes to decide on a stamp design!

11/6/12
I've never voted on Election Day. Always early voted for the past 3 elections. I think it's mostly because I'm impatient & hate people.

What does it mean if my hands are freezing but my face feels like its on fire?

I don't understand why so many people wait until the last minute to vote?!

11/7/12
I feel like I'm from the 17th century when I tell people I don't text. Strictly iMessage and AIM aka free.

11/11/12
I don't understand people who MUST do something every weekend. It's so nice to stay in your PJs & lay around the house once in awhile.

Can we talk about Daryl holding the baby? #redneckdreamboat#TheWalkingDead

11/12/12
Baby talk should be banned in any and all public places unless you are actually talking to a baby.

11/13/12
Am I the only one who saves my airplane pretzels and brings them to work as a snack? Thought so.

11/14/12
I spend 1/4 of my day just logging into things.

11/16/12
Dustin's cooking dinner while I play DJ. He requested 'Can you feel the love tonight?' from The Lion King. Done.

11/18/12
I can't believe people still end up posting their reviews of random products on YouTube when their kids are screaming in the background.

I love apple products as much as the next person but the iPad mini is so dumb.

11/22/12
Russell Brand is the Pauly Shore of today.

If Kid Rock was going for the "chipotle burrito" look, then he nailed it.

11/26/12
I had a dream that @mariamena_no sang for a small audience in my front yard. It was wonderful.

Edit: I hate that my little emoticons don't show up on my blog. I'm not sure if there is away to fix that or not. Sometimes it really helps deliver an emotion. 

day 332

crazy hair. don't care.

tired eyes. french fries.

day 331

These 90s trading cards came with a Xmas present I ordered.

RAD.

Staycation

What I did on my FOUR days off...

-Finally saw 'The Amazing Spider-Man'. I wasn't impressed. The first half was pretty much exactly like the 2002 movie with Tobey Maguire. I like Andrew Garfield. I like Emma Stone. I think I would have liked it better if they had tried a completely different storyline. Also, I hated that they were in high school.

-Dustin and I got to eat at Red Robin for the first time in over a year. YUM! 

-We are one episode away from being done with the second season of Boardwalk Empire. Nucky forever!

-I went to see Breaking Dawn Part 2 with someone who will remain nameless because she is a secret Twilight fan and isn't ready to announce it to the world. I was surprised it was as good as it was. Twilight isn't my favorite. The books are ok. The movies are especially awful. But since I've read all of the books I was curious to see how it all tied up. I hated the fake, computerized 'Renesmee'. She was creepy. Seriously. The rest was ok. I've always been much more interested in the Cullens rather than Bella and Edward's love affair, so I was happy that they were in almost every scene. 

-I sat with Erin at Starbucks for hours helping her set up her new iPhone/welcoming her to the Apple family. We traded apps, set up backgrounds and ringtones. We even got to FaceTime! iPhones rule.

-I made it to the gym twice. One of those times was the morning of Black Friday. It was dead which is exactly the way I like it.

-We watched the Irish kick some ass. The Gators did too but I didn't really watch that game. 

-The Steelers lost. Again. Roethlisberger. Leftwich. Batch. I guess it's time for baby Ben, Jr. to show us all what he's made of.

-I put up our Christmas tree. The tree went up just fine. Then I tried to add a star that was once my grandma's but it didn't really go as planned. I'm pretty sure they always had a real tree which is much sturdier than our fake one. Oh well. No star, no big deal. Then, only half of the lights worked. Sigh. We went out to Target and got new ones. While there, we went ahead and bought a new ornament, like we do every year. Spidey was the chosen one this time around. He fits right in.

-Now that I'm done with Downton Abbey, I started watching Parenthood. I'm almost done with season one. And yes, it so lives up to all the hype. It's today's Everwood/Gilmore Girls/etc. Obsessed.

-I got all 183 photos back from our photoshoot. They are all so great. I can't wait to post them. But first, I want to send out my Christmas cards. They go in the mail tomorrow! Excited!

-Dustin made me a ridiculously good breakfast. Pumpkin french toast and egg 'muffins' wrapped in bacon. OMG.

day 330

Egg. Wrapped in bacon.

day 329

the prettiest drive home.

Do Good, Feel Good

I've been following ARNI on Facebook for quite some time now. They are a non-profit, no kill animal shelter located in Daytona Beach. I love seeing their posts about the animals they save. And it's even more exciting to see those same animals find homes. Every now and then they post their need for food and other items. I have been meaning to donate what I could for awhile but I never seemed to make it over to Daytona. So, I figured what better way to spend my Black Friday. We bought a giant bag of dog food and a big box of kitty litter and headed over there. We dropped the stuff off and had a walk around to visit the animals. Tiny kittens and full grown cats sleeping in baskets, piles of puppies, and a dog running in the fenced in 'backyard'. They were all so sweet. I especially fell in love with a chubby little puppy named Molly. She was playful and just the sweetest. OMG!

It was so nice to be able to contribute to such a great organization. Sure it wasn't much, but something is always better than nothing. It just felt good knowing we helped. I want to do it as much as I'm able. Not just for ARNI, but for local shelters too.

This year the party planning committee I'm a part of at work is organizing a toy/supply drive. I'm really looking forward to helping out with this and can't wait to drop everything off for them. Dustin has already contributed by purchasing a couple TMNT for the kids to enjoy.

My boss told me a story the other day about how she was in the drive-thru at Starbucks and was told she didn't owe anything for her order. She asked why, confused.  They told her a lady inside already paid for it - just because. A random act of kindness.

I love this time a year for a million reasons but the way people come together always warms my heart. It's the little things. A bag of dog food here, a ninja turtle there, a free coffee. If you have a little extra to give, please do. Help out. Make someone's day. It feels good.

I plan on keeping this going. I want to donate or perform a random act of kindness as often as I can. Looks like I've found my first new year's resolution.

day 328

new ornament.

Throwback Thursday

This week's little Dustin theme: Pittsburgh sportswear. Steelers! Pirates! Pens where you at?

day 327

thanksgiving for two.

Low key is the way to be

(source)

Today Dustin and I slept in. We watched football, played video games and read. It was a low key Thanksgiving for sure. But I somehow have started to prefer them this way. I mean, I stayed in my sweats all day. ALL DAY. The only thing Thanksgivingy we did was watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. That was enough. We didn't need to travel. We didn't need to see any one else. We didn't need to eat Turkey (we ate pizza for lunch and steak for dinner) to have a great day.

I get the whole traditional Thanksgiving with everyone you have a semi-relation to and turkey and ham and the works. I do. But I highly recommend going crazy one year and just hanging out at home. Because sometimes it's nice to just be present and thankful for the every day.

Gobble Gobble?

Moo Moo!

Thankful

60 People/Things I'm Thankful For

(source)

1. Dustin. My husband. My best friend. It's the best thing in the world being able to go through life with him on my team. 
2. Cody. Best brother ever. He is the most caring teenager person I know. I am very proud of the person he is.
3. Katie. A girl who has been through more than her share of heartbreak but continuously keeps her head up and her heart full. Plus, no one truly understands certain things like she does. BFFL.
4. Erin. My boo. So kind hearted and selfless. She cracks me up throughout every day.
5. Sam (& Pat). A wonderful, dependable friend who has accepted me during every phase in life. So happy she and her lover are getting the shot they both deserve.
6. Rachelle (& Matt). We don't see each other very often anymore but I talk to her on the daily thanks to iMessage. We always swap advice and have fun along the way. So happy Matt and Dustin have been enjoying xBox360 time lately.
7. Nicole. Not only a fellow Steelers lover but an incredibly genuine friend.
8. Aubrie.  A super bright, sweet girl. She's a goofball with the biggest heart. 
9. Kierce. This 3 year old has more spunk than anyone I know. I love that she beats to a drum all her own. Don't ever lose that individuality Fierce Kierce. 
10. The Buds. They make Dustin happy. They crack us up. And they make me laugh at myself almost daily.
11. Co-workers. I'm pretty lucky to work with the bunch that I do. They are always there to help and make me laugh. YOLO.
12. Other Random Family/Friends. You know who you are. We may not be as close as we once were but you're still pretty special to me. And even if we are never really apart of each other's lives again, I'll always look back on the memories and smile.
13. Blogs/Bloggers/Internet Friends. You all make me very happy. Thanks for sharing your life.
14. Harry Potter. The franchise as a whole has changed my life. Every part of it makes me happy. I'm thankful my grandma suggested I read 'The Sorcerer's Stone' all those years ago.
15. Olivia Munn. You are perfect. Let's take a trip to yay city and braid each other's hair!
16. Taylor Swift. In my head, we're already best friends. 
17. Health. I can't be more thankful for my own health and those I care about. Working in the health industry reminds me to count my lucky stars every single day and I do.
18. My glasses. Where would I be without them?! Probably lost. To see things clearly and in great detail is such a wonderful thing. 
19. Florida. You have always been good to me. You're hot and sticky 364 days of the year but there is something so homey about you. You make me want to go high five a palm tree.
20. Internet. The greatest. I love how connected it keeps everyone. And I love everything it has taught me about places, animals, history, etc. Endless information! Endless learning.
21. Steelers. Best football team. They've won the most super bowls out of any team and are consistently good year after year. They like to give Dustin and I heart attacks pretty much every week but we love them regardless. 
22. Penguins. I think all hockey fans can agree they are even more thankful for their team, this year especially. I hope hockey comes back soon. I want to see the Pens skate, and fight, and shoot, and score!
23. Snail Mail. For me, there is no greater feeling than receiving a post card or letter from a friend. Packages are even more exciting. Buy a stamp and WRITE to someone. It's so fun.
24. Pinterest. Oh you wonderful little site full of everything I want to wear, cook, and make. I think the best thing about it for me is how organized I can keep everything. Genius!
25. Essie Nail Polish. It's kind of expensive but every so often I splurge and add to my collection. It's amazing what a new color of nail polish can do to your mood.
26. Sweat Pants. Greatest invention ever. In fact, I'm wearing some right now as I type this. 
27. Apple anything. You make my heart happy.
28. Long weekends. Weekends are already one of my favey fave things but then adding an extra day or two just makes me want to jump around and dance like an idiot.
29. iMac. You are so pretty. So awesome. Let's hug.
30. iPhone. You are one of my best friends. You don't let me get lost or miss special events. You let me stay connected to my favorite people and help me freeze memories for all time.
31. Sewing Machine. Thanks for helping me create. Especially when I get to create for other people.
32. GREAT music. The kind that makes you forget about everything. The kind that speaks to your soul and helps you through tough times or celebrate fantastic times.
33. Lazy Sundays. I'm such a fan of lounging in sweat pants in front of the TV pigging out all day. Make your plans on Saturday and do some seriously relaxing on Sunday.
34. Bane. Yeah, he's a betta but he's got personality and he's part of our family. 
35. Yoga. The best way to feel alive.
36. Rainy Days. I'm one of the few that love days full of rain, thunder and lightning. 
37. DVR. Thank you for saving me so much time and allowing me to not have to race home to catch a show anymore.
38. Electricity (especially A/C). You are the bomb. Diggity.
39. SIMS 3. You are so damn fun. My favorite time suck.
40. Instagram. My favorite social networking site. All photos. All fun.
41. Freedom. I, like a lot of people, tend to take this for granted but I am so grateful.
42. Job. Having a job in itself is great these days but I actually enjoy mine which is a plus. 
43. Hot showers. The best medicine to pretty much anything.
44. Flip HD. You are falling apart and soon will probably die completely but I really appreciate that you have helped me capture so many awesome moments and am able to watch them over and over.
45. Sanuk Flip Flops. Helping me walk through life comfortably.
46. Hair ties. My best friend after a long day.
47. House. I love having our OWN place. With only OUR things. 
48. Scarves. They are just fun and I don't get to wear them all that often.
49. Tumblr. Just all things awesome. GIFS galore. 
50. Movies/TV/Books. Thanks for the entertainment but really thanks for the escape and adventures.
51. Microwave. My saving grace.
52. Deodorant. Oh how thankful.
53. A good nights sleep. Enough said.
54. Ice. Ever since our ice machine broke I have realized how truly grateful I am to have it at the ready. I love extra cold drinks.
55. Independence. In my thoughts. Financially. In all ways.
56. Hope. It can keep you going and that can mean the world.
57. Laughing hard. It's like instant happiness.
58. Yum Yum Truck. You guys make the best cupcakes in the universe. UNIVERSE!
59. Beautiful Scenery. Whether it be a backyard,  a park, an ocean, a highway, a mountain, whatever.
60. Fresh starts. Sometimes it's just the ticket.

day 326

the absolute coolest DVD art. 

we watched 'secret of the ooze' and it looked pretty damn good on blu-ray.

(dustin's early christmas present)

day 325

bright flannel is the best flannel.

Found

Pets grow up with their owners.

Sometimes Sweet had a really lovely Weekend Links. A few of my faves:
-92 Years of Women Voting - In Pictures.
-Childhood Style Icons.
-Say Yes.

All that and a bag of chips!

A dad's illustrations of what he says to his kids.

Dress like a wizard.

I've never heard of Breanne Duren but couldn't resist watching her video via Tumblr.

I had never seen this video of one of our local news reporters. How did I miss this on The Soup?!

Joe Biden aka THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE US OF A appeared on this week's Parks and Rec. Can he get any cooler?

Dumb Ways To Die.

Need To Know.

Terrible Tattoo.

Gotham High! Hell yeah.

Two zombie movies I really want to see: Warm Bodies and World War Z (Nicole, what do you think?!)

Rereremix.

day 324

scarfed.

my first instinct was to tug him around like he was a zombie and i was michonne.