2014 looks to be a promising year filled with new adventures and new opportunities.
Thus, I feel like updating and moving my blog!
In just a few short days, I'll be unveiling the new site! Currently, I'm still thinking of a clever title! (Feel free to share your ideas in the comment section below.) I'm debating moving the past posts over the the new site, or starting from scratch on this one. Suggestions appreciated. At the latest, the new URL will be announced mid-week.
On January 1st, 2014, Jason and I celebrated our "official" year THREE together!!!!!
Dare I share how he asked me to be his girlfriend?!? I do, I do dare!
Background Info: Jason was in Michigan for Christmas. I dropped him off at the airport, and was due to pick him up on January 4, 2011. During his "vacation", my sister and I would house-sit for Jason, planning to spend New Years Eve at his apartment. Secretly, I mailed up Christmas presents and a hand-made Christmas card! Ok, fast-forward to December 31, 2010. Like most servers/waitresses, I had to work on New Years Eve. Huge money night! And, since the guy I was hoping to spend it with was 700 miles away, why not work?! Working New Years Eve at The Cliffs is awesome--live band, evening gowns, tuxedos, divine food, bubbly drinks--what's not to love!? I believe it's the one day a year where you can totally be yourself with the members--dancing, singing, having a real good time!
(Myself & Chelsea bringing in the 2011!) Jamie and Katie, one of my friends, planned to meet me at Jason's place to have a few drinks and celebrate once I got off. As time ticked away, with the countdown to 2011 in the nearing future, butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Would I call Jason to say, "Happy New Year!"? Will he even pick up? Should I just shoot him a text? Would he call? The anticipation was almost too much to bear! With Dick Clark's voice in the background announcing 30 seconds until the ball dropped, I found a hiding place where I could call Jason. 10-9-8...it was ringing...7-6-5...still ringing...4-3-2...HAPPY NEW YEAR JESSICA!!! (Sigh of relief, I didn't have to leave a message!) Jason and I chatted for under a minute, said our "Happy New Years", promised to save our New Years kiss for each other, and then it was back to work for me. Joy! I think I left work around 1:00 AM. I called Jamie to let her know I was off of work and to be awake when I got there! I had an hour drive from work to Jason's apartment. Jamie informed me that Katie was already passed out. As I opened the door to the apartment, I could see Jamie asleep on the couch; passing through the hallway, I spotted Katie passed out in Jason's bed. I woke Jamie up, gave her a hug, and said Happy New Year! She was unimpressed to say the least, and was back sleeping in 10 minutes. Being that I was safe inside Jason's apartment, I decided to give him a call and let him know. We talked for hours...until wee hours in the morning. I don't believe either of us wanted to get off the phone. And, just before we did, Jason said he had to ask me something. "Jessica, do you want to be my girlfriend?" As too not seem like I had been waiting months for him to ask, I simply replied, "Yes!" OH HAPPY DAY!
Now, how is a girl supposed to go to bed when the guy she's been waiting to ask her out does?!? She can't. I proceeded to wake up everyone to tell them! I was, and have been ever since, ecstatic to be Jason's girlfriend! The next 3.5 days couldn't go by quick enough! I wanted to give my boyfriend his New Years kiss! And, that my dearies, is the story! Happy late Anniversary Love! (Just to be clear, I did get Jason a card...I didn't forget!)
Happy 2014 folks! :) Since I'm so far behind, hell, I'm cutting straight to the chase! A couple of years ago I decided I wouldn't make New Year's Resolutions anymore, because I NEVER keep them. Instead, I've decided to make new yearly goals--goals that have no time limit to start and no deadline to finish. Just goals!
(Can you guess which one is me?!) 2014 do me right! Let's turn the goals into great stories!
I feel the need to put this one first, as it is already accomplished, and what better way to start the new year by checking off one of your goals?!?! #1 Get license and don't lose it! 18 days and going strong! #Booooyah
Lose 20-25 pounds. Really, I'd just like to tone up, get rid of this muffin top I've been carrying around for the past year and a half.
Find an exhilarating hobby! My hobbies have seemed to disappear the past few years; its hard to engage in extra activities with the overload of work I've managed to pile on my plate. I'm ditching the dull and bringing in some fun!
Learn to play the piano. And become a member of Jason's band!
Start school ASAP!!!!!!! I finally know what I want to do when I grow up, the anticipation of starting school again puts a huge grin on my face! (Note to self: come back to this post after two semesters into school. Remember, this IS what you wanted.)
Find a job I look forward to going to daily, something that brings new challenges, something that makes me work smarter, something I enjoy!
Foster more! (Later post about the current babies I'm fostering!)
Take on a new adventure! I'm not sure what that new adventure is yet, but I'm ready!
Run a 5K! And then...keep running them, working myself to a 10K, to a half marathon, to a full marathon! (This is one of those goals that has noooooo deadline!)
Take time for myself! Massages, pedicures, facials, having dessert and wine, soaking in a bubble bath, getting my hair did, etc.
Blog more! (Starting this year off with a BANG, huh?)
This year I also want to make sure I show and tell the people that mean the most that they are loved and I do, truly, appreciate everything they have done for me, everything they do for me, and everything they continue to do for me! :) I am infinitely blessed!
Well there you have it, my on-going list of goals for the year.
Christmas '13 was my first Christmas in Michigan, and the first one with Jason's family! Annnnd, my first White Christmas!!!! Yaaay!!!
(Yes, I did just wake up!)
Unfortunately, I'm not a photographer, as my Mom is. Over the Christmas holiday, I managed to take 3 total pictures. I know, I know, you wanted pictures. Sorry!
The memories made will be forever etched in my brain and unforgotten. I thoroughly enjoyed the cold days, the laughter with family and friends, and the many, many drinks shared!
I had the opportunity to partake in a girls only cookie-making tradition with all of Jason's fabulous cousins!
What a great tradition! All of the cookies were homemade and hand-decorated!
After cookie-making, Jason took me to my first ever Red Wings game!!!
Even though the Wings lost, I had a really good night hanging our with Jason and Scott at the game! The atmosphere in this place was like none other!
Before the game, Scott was telling me about the significance of the octopus. It took/takes eight games to win the Stanley Cup. He mentioned that some folks are dumb enough to throw an octopus out on the ice in the first period, and are escorted out immediately. Why pay that much money for a ticket to be thrown out of the game before it even starts? What do you know--I also had the opportunity to watch one of those idiots toss out the eight-legged creature on the ice and kindly be taken to the exit. For those of you who haven't a clue as to what I'm talking about, enjoy!
Fun stuff!
The next day...Christmas Eve!
Like my family, everyone in Jason's come to one house and celebrate together!
Christmas Eve wouldn't be right without Santa! Yes, yes, Santa was at the Murphy house on Christmas Eve! Not only did we all get to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what we wanted for Christmas, he brought us all an early Christmas present! :)
This Santa was the real deal! I loved it! He played the part very well! He's been coming to the Murphy house for the past 28 years! Uh-huh, waaaaaaay before I was born!
(Sorry I don't have any pictures of this festivus night!)
The night concluded early Christmas morning...like 4:30am...with games of Euchre and Cards Against Humanity, and yet again, many drinks! Might I add, Jason and I are Euchre CHAMPS!
I awoke Christmas morning in the arms of the man I love, blanketed by my little lap dogs! Blessed beyond belief, I am! (Chronologically, this is where I talk about my first White Christmas, oops!)
Santa was good to me! He brought the running shoes I asked for, a Macbook Air, Red Wings ticket, Victoria's Secret gift card, and the priceless time spent with family! Christmas day brought many festivus miracles--and a few shed tears.
(Only the MacBook and shoes are mine, Alyssa!)
It was tough being away from my family on Christmas day. Thank God for technology though, I got to FaceTime with them over lunch! :)
A few days after Christmas, we celebrated Charlie's 3rd birthday and Elaine's 92nd!!!!
(Charlie enjoyed massages from Uncle Scotty!)
(And, Elaine enjoyed a birthday lunch with her family!)
Yaaaay for birthdays!!!
I believe we originally planned to leave the same day, on Charlie and Elaine's birthdays. But...you know how plans go. We stayed another day--for Jason to get his Red Wings phone case back from Scott, and to watch him play hockey! The kid has skills. Sadly, we spent most of our time with our eyes on Scott in the penalty box! :P
The following day we left the Mitt, home to South Carolina. Our time, as enjoyable as it was, is never long enough!
So, here it is peeps, my Christmas recap--choppy and all over the place! Maybe next time I won't wait so long to put it all together.
Merry LATE Christmas ya'll! A couple more videos before you go--gotta LOVE Howie & Howard!
(Homeboy loves the snow!)
(Howard loves to know what time it is--what a perfect gift for him!)
I can't believe it's already 2014, AND a few weeks since my last post. I had ever intention of blogging while on our vacation to the Mitt. Life had other plans for me! Now that I'm back in the south, and normalcy has been restored I can catch up and let you know how things went, share New Year's resolutions, and things I'm looking forward to in 2014.
January is promising to be a very busy month for both Jason and myself. I do believe I shall share that/those stories for a later post.
It looks as though tomorrow may turn into a snow day! Be that the case, look for several posts coming at you this week! I can't wait to get things up!
Two humans. Two dogs. Six states. Seven hundred forty-five miles. Twelve hours, if we're lucky.
We're leaving in one day. Tomorrow. We should probably start packing. Boy, do I hate packing. Normally, I make a list, and check it twice, just to make sure I have everything I could possibly need, and then some. Yes, I over-pack; I am a lady. I'm excited about Christmas in Michigan. The snow, the family, the food, the drinks, the laughs! I can't wait! In our four Christmases together, this will be the first one I'll spend with Jason's family. I'm eager to participate in their family traditions, and experience something new. Fear not Hightower family--I plan to give you all a call! Fingers crossed, we can get FaceTime to work this year! :) Witnessing a White Christmas would be stellar! It's not too often that we get snow here in the South, more sparse, a White Christmas! To my knowledge, I've never experienced waking up to freshly softly fallen snow. (Fingers crossed for this as well!)
(With temperatures like this, we're bound to see snow!) Before we get to enjoy the Conlin family, we have to make it there! This year we decided to drive Jason's car up--more room for the dogs, better in the snow, etc. It should be fun! I'm sure I'll zonk out within the first couple of hours driving. Luckily, Jason has the day off, before we leave and can rest up for a loooooooooong drive! Buttttttttt, before that, it's home to finish our laundry and pack! Pack for the boys. Pack for myself. I'm counting down the hours! One more work day for me, then to the Northland we go!
Christmas Photos. They're fun! Fun for me! I'm sure Jason and the boys would choose a different adjective to describe them! Obnoxious. Stressful. Pointless. Waste of Time. You get the point. Somehow, I convinced Jason to participate in family Christmas photos this year. "We don't have any family photos." "It will be easier for someone else to take our pictures." "The boys will listen to you and I if we are sitting/standing beside them." "It will only take an hour...or so." Maybe it was annoyance, or guilt. Who cares though?! We had our photos made!!! Pictures say a thousand words. Enjoy! :)
I am very impressed with how well Howie and Charlie behaved.
Charlie, being the diva he is, loves dressing up and having his picture taken.
Ears down makes for a HAPPY dog! Sorry I don't have more pictures of the Howster, he refuses to sit still to have his picture taken. One last picture before you go!
