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Tuesday, January 25, 2011

a NEW day

This weekend = FAIL!


"Let Down" #1 : This is my sister Brittanie and her husband Branden.



As cute as these two little love birds are, they sure now how to break a girl's heart, particularly mine.  The plan: Brittanie and Branden arrive Friday night,  Saturday and Sunday - days full of good times and good memory making. What really happened: Branden gets the flu, they don't come... FAIL!


"Let Down" #2 : J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!

Jets lose to the Steelers (booooo!!!!) in the AFC East Championship 24 - 19.
I still love you Mark Sanchez.... FAIL!


"Let Down" #3 : "Testimonies of Christ through music" fireside
Once I heard the stake was putting on this fireside, I was so pumped and excited to attend.  Turns out the Jets game was on at the same time. We didnt CTR... FAIL!


"Let Down" #4 : NERTS LOSER!
Every Sunday night Chris, myself, and our good friends the Peedletons aka the Pendletons and the Breadys get together for game night.  The name of the game - NERTS.  This particular evening I did not bring my A game. I ended up dead last... FAIL! 


Although this weekend did not turn out quite like I expected... And these are relatively small and insignificant disappointments..  I will not let this ruin my week to come. Today is a NEW day, a NEW week, a NEW opportunity! Isn't it great how life is like that? One moment your basking in failure and disappointment, to the next moment where you are starting completely over. Life is what you make of it, I've learned that the hard way.  
So to all of you, who have experienced disappointment (everyone), keep your head up! It gets better. And remember it could always be worse.

Friday, January 14, 2011

so long, farewell 2010

Where did you go 2010? I know everyone says it, but as I'm getting older, I find it to be very true.... The older you get, the faster the years seem to go. And I sure felt it this year. The days felt like weeks, and the weeks felt like days.  2010 was full of first's, some last's, and some of the happiest moments of my life!


highlights and recap of 2010
*first's*
adventures in a hot air balloon
This year I had the most amazing surprise from chris! I have always wanted to
ride in a hot air balloon.  It was for sure on of the most exciting "first's" that I experienced this year.
Its also involved with one of the happiest moments :)
It was huge
So pumped!
The valley
going through the temple

My big sister Brittanie and i after my first session at the temple
traveling out of the country
This year I  was able to travel out of the country for the first time. It was so exciting and wonderful to finally get that stamp in my passport


Fun times on the beach

It was an awesome resort
:)

pet a dolphin
Okay, so to pet a dolphin isn't exactly on my bucket list. But swimming with one is for sure. But this was actually way cool and one step closer to checking that item off my list.

running a half marathon
Running this half marathon was one of the biggest accomplishments of my life thus far. My good friend
Cossette talked me into running this and I'm so glad she did
although my face doesnt show it... I was struggling beyond messure right here. haha

success

car accident

Thankfully I dont have a picture of my car, but this year I was in my very first, and hopefully last, car accident.  It was really scary and im just thankful that even though my car was totalled, neither I, nor the other driver were injured...

*last's*
sleeping alone

short shorts and tank-tops
Dont get me wrong... I never really dressed skankalicious or anything... but on a hot summer day i loved throwing on the tank and shorts! those days are gone. and im okay with that :)

being a hamilton
This is my amazing family... the Hamilton's.
Although i spent 23 wonderful years being a Hamilton, im excited to call myself a mantell.

*happiest moments of my life*
engaged
I have the best engagement story... its too long to type it all up..
basically I have the most amazing husband in the entire world!
thats all you need to know :)
with the ring

chris on one knee


married
I married my best friend on June 18, 2010
Best day ever!


honeymoon
We went to the Dominican Republic for our honeymoon and it was absolutely amazing!!!

the cute honeymoon shirts we got from the resort


we went to ocean world while we were there, it was basically a small version of sea world.  but you were so close to the animals it was amazing!


I don't know why I'm standing like a goober!


the beach we were on

Well it's that time of year again. The time where you reflect on the past year and think of ways to possibly make the coming year a little better... aka resolutions... As awesome as my 2010 was, I know that there are plenty of areas in my life that I can improve on!!
In previous years, I have taken days, even weeks, making this ginormous list of resolutions and things I would like achieve this year.  Ultimately setting myself up for failure every year.  So my resolution solution for this year was to set only reasonable and achievable goals, and cut down the number of goals I make.  These are the five that I have to decided to really set my sites on.
  • get fit and fab
every year I make this goal, with various degrees of success.  This year I'm determined to get to the weight I want, and also maintain that weight.  Also, I really want to reinvent my wardrobe completely!
  • chef much?
okay, so I don't cook.... hardly ever... one of my goals this year is to develop this talent. My goal is to be able cook dinner 5 nights a week.
  • books books books
read more! I want to finish at least one new book a month.
  • be a better better half
this is my husband

the handsome devil!
he is my world! i love him more than words can say. but sometimes, more often than i should, i find myself to be in some sort of funk. Which usually means i take it out him. This year my goal is to be me again. find away to be happy, no matter what life may throw at me. in turn i think ill be able to better love my husband and be a better wife
  • 100% for 365
this past year our stake presidency implemented a program called 100% for 100 days... my goal is to take this principal and imply it all year long! this is what it entails: 
Daily:
Individual and family prayer
Individual and family scripture study
Acts of love and compassion to spouse
Weekly:
Date with spouse
Family home evening
Sabbath observance at ward of record
Magnify your calling
Monthly:
Fast and pay tithes and offerings
Temple attendance
Home and visiting teaching



i am so thankful for all that 2010 has brought! All the experiences and blessings i received, and all the trials i endured.  i am so looking forward to 2011 and everything it brings my way.
bring it on 2011

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

the most wonderful time of year

One word-Christmas. Really, is there anything better? I think not! Its hard to narrow down what exactly makes this season so special. The tree, the snow, the lights, the goodies, the movies, the music, the real reason for the season, the friends and family, the list could go on and on. Minus the few extra pounds i acquire around my mid section, there really is not a thing i dislike about it. I love Christmas and everything it brings!
Here are a couple things that have made our holiday season special this year

  • Temple Square

To start out the holiday season Chris and I made our way up to Temple Square to check out the lights with Chris' older brother Sean, his wife Collette, and their son Ryler! (cutest child ever!)
Although it was freezing, it was well worth it! The lights are always so beautiful, and it was nice to enjoy them as well as the spirit that was felt on the temple grounds.
 The beautiful Salt Lake Temple

Kisses

 Chris and Ryler!

Sean, Collette, and Ryler

The Giant Nut Cracker
  • Decorating our First Christmas Tree and home

So this year I was so nervous that I wouldnt have enough decorations to put up, and it wouldnt feel much like christmas... but thanks to my mom, I had more than enough to put on my tree just not enough to put anywhere else. So we did some shopping, and we did some creative things to make our house feel all Christmasy inside!  
 putting the lights up

 putting on the finishing touches

 putting on the star

us in front of our first tree!
  • Comcast Christmas Party
This year Chris has been blessed to have a full time big boy job.  Although it keeps him really busy and between both of our jobs we have hardly any time for each other, it really is a blessing. And along with this big boy job came our first company christmas party. It was a Vegas style party, and we played blackjack for tickets to put into a drawing.  We didnt do too hot, and luckily we wont be going to the real vegas anytime soon.
 waiting to eat



  • Christmas Craft Day with the Girlies
As I mentioned earlier we dont have many Christmas decorations, so my good friends Courtney and Christina who were in the same predicament, decided that a Christmas craft day was in order! We picked 3 crafts that we decided to give a shot (probably bit off more than we could chew). The crafts turned out better than I could have hoped for and cant wait to have other craft days with the girls.
Pictures courtesy of Christina's blog :)
 working hard


the wreath
(this is actually Christinas)
  • Ice Skating with the Peedletons
Some of our most favorite people and our dear friends, the Pendletons aka the Peedletons, joined us on an ice skating adventure! it was the cutest little out door rink and we had a blast.


  • Christmas and New Years in Virginia
As it is, both of our families currently live in our home state virginia... so it only made sense for us to return home to them to celebrate the holiday. This year it was my turn to have Christmas with side of the family! It was so fun to be home and be with my family in northern VA, although im sure it was tough for chris to be away from his family, he was definitely a trooper and didnt show it. We then ventured on down to Charlottesville to celebrate the new year with his family. It was nice to see both sides of the family during the holiday and feel the love from both our parents and siblings.  Chris was able to visit with all of his old high school friends and it was fun seeing them all again. (unfortunately, I dont have a picture of all of them, or any at his house for that matter)
 the only pic i took of the sibs when i was out there.. sad
Virginia sunset
Christmas this year was different from any other Christmas I've ever had, and also the most special... because this year I was able to spend it with my most amazing husband! We are so blessed and are so thankful for all the love and joy that was shared this season.