new year, new slate!

Today is the last day of 2009, in a matter of hours it will be a brand new year!

Every year I make a few new year resolutions; some of them I cross off, others...not so much.

This year my resolutions are:

1) Like every other person: Get healthy! I want try to not drink so much diet coke, and for one month no soda pop. And obviously eat right/exercise.

2) My ward is doing the challenge to read The Book of Mormon together this year, so they've give us a book mark with what we need to read each day. I haven't done this since President Hinckley's challenge years ago in the beauty school days.

3) I'm usually good at not spending money on frivolous things but I haven't been great on it lately so I plan on making sure if what I am buying is a need or a want.

4) Write more consistently in my journal.

5) Find a salon job and work hard to save up for future events.

6) Do more service for others in need.

7) Be more patient and speak only kind words.

8) Be a better daughter, sister, aunt, girlfriend, and friend.

9) Finish my hair clips and head bands I've begun making. I've been slacking off.

10) Most importantly to be a better daughter of God, I am definitely not perfect nor close to it but I want to make right choices to be better person.

Do you think we are prepared for the holidays?

Wood Christmas party!

Sunday evening we had our Christmas party. We ate a delicious dinner thanks to my mom and sisters (I had the difficult task of being in charge of drinks)

Stefani read this book to the family, if you don't own this book you should go out and get it. It's a must have! It teaches about the gift of giving others of Penny's jar of money she gives out each year with her family. So for our activity after we decorated our own jars to fill up for the next 12 months till we give our jars away next December. It was such a fun activity to do as a family and looking forward to next year of all of us giving them away to someone who needs them.

Everyone busy decorating their jars

Austin's Jar of Love haha

Everyone's jars they made!

Mrs. Clause ready to give our her rewards!

Not everyone was thrilled with their white elephant gift

poor Hailey got stuck with a jar of jam, that little lip couldn't have

popped out faster, she was happy that someone ''stole'' her gift so she could

pick a new present haha

Ryan was on the ''nice list'' and picked for an award for staying busy with school and work, getting good grades. He got some pj pants and ear plugs. He was excited about his white elephant gifts of crackers with a salami stick.

accessorize much?

I found this great website from one of the magazines at the grocery store when skimming through it and love it! I pretty much want everything on it haha. Go HERE

**Also they are having free shipping on the 17th on all orders! They have some dang cute things, I bought some necklaces and bracelets for presents and one for myself since I HAD to reach the $50 in order to get my free shipping. totally worth it btw.

Here are a few of the items that I bought:

I think this is so cute and unique

I bought this one in teal, so pretty!

This necklace I love, it can either go with jeans a cute t-shirt or with dress for a party ect

Great gifts to give to a friend, sister, girlfriend, anyone who would love some more jewelry!

Tis the season

I have a love hate relationship with the season winter, my dislikes are like anyone else's

*driving in the snow/blizzards

*scraping snow and ice off my car since I don't have the luxury of parking in a garage

*dry skin

* washing the salt and snow off my car knowing it's going to snow with in the week but I don't want rust to appear come Spring

The things that I enjoy about winter would be

*peppermint ice cream

*stephen's hot chocolate and pumpkin spice

*cozying up by the fire with a blanket and classic holiday movie

*the smells of pumpkin and cinnamon

*the beautiful serene look after a new fall of snow

*Christmas lights around the neighborhoods and Temple square

*Shopping for my friends and family

*sledding at Sugarhouse park/snowball fights

*bringing out my scarves, gloves, sweaters, boots, ect I love winter clothes

*listening to holiday music in my car and singing along

*watching Martha Stewarts holiday show getting cute ideas of making my own holiday cards, wrapping presents, and yummy food

*Did I mention delicious food?

*my mom's homemade cinnamon rolls are scrumptious

*and most importantly remembering the true meaning of CHRISTmas

I'm looking forward to spending this Christmas season at home with my family, and ecstatic that my sister Brittani, her husband and son Finn are going to be with us. I hope you are all enjoying the end of the year and the season!