2015 Blog Year In Review!

I wish that I could say that this was a fabulous year in blogging, but, alas, it was not. This year was a sporadic year of posts and random thoughts here and there. I went on lots of fun adventures, but all on the West Coast. As the new year approaches us, I wanted to reminisce on some of my favorite posts and moments from 2015.


January: 
Recapped what it was like to be in the play "A Christmas Carol" 
I challenged myself to "Be Better" with a weekly challenge on improving myself. (I am doing this challenge again this year. If anyone wants to join, let me know!)

February: 
I learned about True Beauty and accepted myself for my beautiful aspects.
We went to Vegas! 

March:
Had a girls weekend with college friends up at Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah.





April: 
We went to Maui with the whole Ainge side of the family. It rekindled my thoughts and was SUCH a fun vacation. I made a video too!!

May:
I opened up about my Depression. Again. It's good for the soul.
I participated in my first "How We Wore It" Fashion collaboration. Now I'm a fashion blogger. Ha.
BOUGHT AND MOVED INTO OUR FIRST HOME!!!!

Note: Can you tell I'm a much better blogger in the summer when I am not teaching! ha. 

June: 
Went to Cedar City and St. George 
Basically lived up in the mountains and hiked A TON. 
Went to our 5th annual Strawberry Days Rodeo. 
Swam. A lot. 
Talked about the ten downsides of being the youngest. 

July: 
Started a Utah Temple Challenge. 
Celebrated the 4th of July in Oakley.
Took a girls trip to Manti! 
Celebrated T Money's Birthday with a BBQ in the backyard OUR FIRST HOME. 
Hiked more. 
Fell in love with Saylor even more and convinced you all that you need a dog.
Celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary and T Money had a hilarious interview.

August:
Started book reviews on the blog and read a lot of books over the summer.
Went four-wheeling, shooting and camping in the mountains.
Went on our annual Oregon trip for two weeks and visited Crater Lake, Bend, my cabin at Crescent Lake, downtown Portland, Oregon Coast and lots of gorgeous hikes. 

September: 
Wrote my own Twelve Commandments. 
Moved and had a classrooms makeover and started my fourth year teaching! 
Went to Taylor Swift! 
Celebrated my 25th birthday. 
Wrote about empathy for others. 
Wrote about Ten Things that I've Done Right in my Life.

October:
Started an intense health plan. 
My brother, Landon, got married! 

November:
Got into the holiday spirit with a fashion post! 
Updated you all on my life. 

December:
Christmas Style Jacket (see! I'm like kind of a fashion blogger now! haha)
Fifteen Best Christmas Albums. 
Celebrated Christmas with family in Oregon!

I am excited to see what 2016 brings! Happy New Year!!! 

Merry Christmas!

We didn't send out a Christmas Card this year because, well, I think people are sick of seeing just T Money, me and Saylor. So, here is our Christmas card!!!!

Hope you have a fantastic, memorable, and enjoyable Christmas with those that you love.

May your holiday season be beautiful and memorable.


Love,
Us.

My Christmas Wish.

I cannot believe that tomorrow night is Christmas Eve. Where does time go? I am currently surrounded by nine million nieces and nephews in the Pacific, Greeny, rainy Northwest. I was raised here, so it has been so fun to be home, but I definitely miss my Saylor doggy and my home!

I have a lot of wishes for Christmas.
And none of them are presents.
I don't say this to toot my own horn, but because I truly mean it.
My favorite aspect of Christmas encompasses the music, feeling, and fun festivities that are associated with this season.

My Christmas Wish is peace. I know that sounds so cliche, but I am so tired of reading, hearing and seeing all of the negative hatred, prejudice and anger that is shown throughout social media and in my everyday life. It breaks my heart to see all of the angst that so many people possess.

My Christmas Wish is to budget my money better. We are not horrible at budgeting, but it is definitely something that T Money and I could improve on. I want to be more secure in our finances. We are so lucky to have bought a home this year. This was a huge step in our relationship and phase of life. We are so blessed with this and I want us to improve on taking care of the things that we are blessed with.

My Christmas Wish is to see the positive in other people. I tend to look at the negatives regarding other people; it's not a good habit of mine. I tend to be sarcastic and cynical and negative at times (hey, we can't all be perfect!), and I want to remember to see the best in others.

My Christmas Wish is that everyone gets to spend Christmas with the ones that they love. This time of year can be a lonely time and I pray that everyone gets to spend it with a dear friend, family or loved one.

This christmas, I am dying for a new camera. But a $600 dollar camera isn't exactly in our Christmas budget, if you know what I mean. Luckily, we know people who make awesome videos and take beautiful photos all around us in Utah. My good friend, Helam, has a new start up company called "Focus Creative". He is not only my husband's old mission companion, but him and his wife are two of our favorite people. If you are looking for holiday photos this season, make sure to check out Focus Creative on Instagram and Facebook!



What are some of your Christmas Wishes? 
What do you wish for yourself or for others? 

Fifteen Best Christmas Albums!

I LOVE Christmas music. Seriously.

I am one of those people who has to restrain myself on listening to Christmas music until Thanksgiving. I love the festive sounds that illuminate throughout this time of year. If you follow me on Twitter, I have been tweeting #SisiMusicChristmasList of some of my favorite new and old Christmas Albums. I thought I would share some of these awesome albums with you so you can get your christmas jam on. 

*Note: These are in no particular order. 

1. Lady Antebellum: On This Winter's Night 

2. Justin Bieber: Under the Mistletoe (No, seriously. So good!)

3. Kelly Clarkson: Wrapped in Red

4. N*Sync: Home For Christmas 

5. Celine Dion: These are the Special Times 

6. Faith Hill: Joy to the World 

7. Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas 

8. Martina Mcbride: The Classic Christmas Album 

(I think it's safe to say that the 90s were PRIME in Christmas music!)

8. Josh Groban: Noel 

9. Colbie Caillat: Christmas in the Sand

10. David Archuleta: Christmas from the Heart 

11. Idina Menzel: Holiday Wishes

12. She & Him: A Very She and Him Christmas 

13. Michael Buble: Christmas

14. Mormon Tabernacle Choir- Any Christmas album!  (Let's be honest! They are amazing!) 

15. Pentatonix: PTXMas 

**bonus album: Amy Grant! 

What are some of your favorite Christmas Albums or songs? 

Student Christmas Gifts!

Please enjoy my exquisite photography skills with my iPhone. 

This year, I have a class full of seventeen boys. Yes, seventeen 11 and 12 year old boys. Any appreciation is more than welcome. I won't beat around the bush, it has been a challenging year. My students are so intelligent, fun, enthusiastic, but I am quite exhausted after a day of work. As my student yelled out (yes, they "word vomit" a lot) "This is why no one has twenty five children!"

 I laughed. Exactly. And people wonder why I don't have children yet. 

I always like to give my students a little holiday gift. Now, I teach in area where I know that all of my students celebrate Christmas. If this wasn't the case, I would not do a hand out of just Christmas, but rather, a holiday gift. This was very simple and my students LOVED it. They were so excited to get a Sprite and a cute handout with it for Christmas.  

Boom. Easy. Love it.  

I made this cute little hand out on Photoshop. I am too tired (literally cannot even keep my eyes open right now. Last day before Winter Break--praise the Almighty!) to upload it here, so if you want it, shoot me an email! 

Love, Mrs. C

(because my last name is so stinkin' long!) 

What are some of your favorite gifts that you have given to your students?

What are some awesome gift ideas that you have seen teachers give? 

Christmas Style: Polka Dots Blouse

I am linking up with Danica again today for her "Twelve Days of Christmas Outfits" (just like Monday's jacket post!) I am on a fashion blogging roll, I tell ya! Unfortunately, this is the last day for me to join in this #12outfitsofChristmas. My brain is fried and it's only halfway through the week. 

It's Wednesday of the craziest week of the year and I'm still alive, barely. IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. May we all rest in peace over Christmas Break. Two and a half more days for me at this point.

This purse has been featured in almost every single one of my fashion posts. Do I feel ashamed because of this? Not at all. I love it.

See my other awesome (ha!) How We Wore It and Fashion Posts below:

Christmas Style 
Holidays (HWWI)
Fall Transition (HWWI)
Keepin' It Casual (HWWI)

Pleated Skirt  (HWWI)

Vest It Up (HWWI)

Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Be a Fashion Blogger! 

Flowers & Dresses! 

Puppies & Dresses

White Plum

Straggly hair and no makeup for the win. 

Christmas Style: Jacket!

I am linking up with Danica today for her "Twelve Days of Christmas Outfits". I wish I was more on top of it to participate in all Twelve Days of Outfits, but, alas, my life is not that in order, especially with the craziest week of the year in my 6th grade classroom. Please, dear blog readers, let's hope that I will survive this week. Say a prayer for me. I am on a fashion roll, apparently, too. So, I guess I'm just going to become a fashion blogger. HA.

No, but, as much as I love clothes, I love writing. I just love it all? I'm a hippie. Don't judge.

Oooookay, today's holiday outfit is a fun jacket. It is the comfiest thing in the world, and plus, it is a little bit "Christmas-y" color. I throw it on over some leggings or black pants and shazam: cute, comfortable, Christmasy outfit (ten points for alliteration!). Who doesn't love that?

Also, See my other awesome (ha!) How We Wore It and Fashion Posts below:

Holidays (HWWI)
Fall Transition (HWWI)
Keepin' It Casual (HWWI)

Pleated Skirt  (HWWI)

Vest It Up (HWWI)

Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Be a Fashion Blogger! 

Flowers & Dresses! 

Puppies & Dresses

White Plum

Pictures shall do the talking now.

Winning. 

I don't understand this face?

And, that's a wrap. 

How We Wore It // The Holidays!

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE.

 And I have been the worst blogger because of it. 

I relate December during the school year to how Jim Gaffigan explains what having a fifth child is like: "Just imagine you are drowning, and then someone hands you a baby." That's how I feel. With 23 students. Who are 12 years old. It's a little chaotic and a little crazy, so blogging has been on the back burner. Plus, I sort of have this thing called FOMO (fear of missing out) and I want to do ALL OF THE CHRISTMAS THINGS AND HOLIDAY TRADITIONS. So, I sort of forget to, like, ya know, write. It happens. Priorities. 

Well, I had T Money be my Instagram Husband and take these pictures last minute last night with my iPhone because I'm a classy blogger like that. (Have you seen that video? So freaking hilarious. Poor Tanner.) 

 But, LOOK AT MY CUTE BRICK HOUSE AND ALL THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS. I have a Christmas Decor obsession. And I am not going to do one thing about it, besides keep getting gorgeous gold decorations. No wonder I'm poor. (Or maybe it's because I'm a teacher and my husband is in school?). 

from Because Shanna Said So 

Anyway, I styled this outfit a little bit differently than the above picture. I mostly did this because I don't own a plaid scarf like she does (how cute is it though?! I want it!) and I have worn nine million plaid shirts in these outfit posts. So I took the accent of red with the booties and leggings and went with it. 

Fashion bloggers, holla atcha girl. 

See my other awesome (ha!) How We Wore It and Fashion Posts below:

Fall Transition (HWWI)
Keepin' It Casual (HWWI)

Pleated Skirt  (HWWI)

Vest It Up (HWWI)

Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Be a Fashion Blogger! 

Flowers & Dresses! 

Puppies & Dresses

White Plum

Also, I really love having my whole body in front of the camera. That's my favorite. Not. But, anyway, my health plan update: I feel great. Haven't lost any more weight but I am down 12 pounds from beginning of October and three inches. I mostly haven't had any more progress over the last week and a half because I have eaten like CRAP. So there's that. TIME TO GET BACK ON THE BALL. 

Okay, now, the gorgeous photos. Enjoy?

Go see how these other beautiful ladies styled for the holidays! 

Brooke at Silver Lining

Robin at Penn & Quill

Aubrey at Aubrey Zaruba

Maren at Maren and Co

Brielle at Breezy and Co

Eden at We Are Worth Saving

Bekah at These Are The Days

Tayler at The Morrell Tale

Jessica at Mason Jars and Lemon Bars

Sharlee at My New Lines

Berkley at Berkley Anne

Jennifer at The Pepper Express

Alexa at He and I

Hannah at Hannah Rae

Rachel at Rachel Sayumi

Hannah at My Life as a Baseball Bride

Amy at Harris Inc.

Brooklyn at Brooklyn Jolley

Stephanie at The Artist + The Architect

Charlene at From Bisons to Buckeyes

Justine at Little Dove Creations

Jennifer at Jennifer Sikora

Paige at The Happy Flammily

Bonnie at The Life of Bon

Sarah at My For Real Life

Kyla at FordOlogy

Riley at Riley Jo Blog

Shelbie at R+S Brereton

Megan at Diary of This Girl

Emma at Ever Emma

Danica at Danikan Skywalker

Deidre at Deidre Emme

Head on over to Silver Lining Blog  to sign up for next month's How We Wore It fun!