2013 in Review!

2013 was a pretty incredible year for me. I was looking back over my posts and I hadn't realized just how MUCH we got up to this year. The biggest changes were Travis and I went vegan at the beginning of the year, and I got a new job in May. I have never felt better than I did this year, and I hadn't realized how much my old job was bumming me out until I moved stores. I'm so much happier now.
One thing you'll notice in this review is how many pictures I am in. This is a total change for me. 2013 was the year I got over myself and let people take my picture, started dancing in public, and boosted my self confidence in a real way. My only resolution last year was "be kind to yourself" and I think that really was my theme for the year. So here we go!

We did a lot of traveling this past year. We went up north for the first time ever and visited Detroit. Here's Travis at the Heidelberg project. We were just there for a long weekend, but had a surprisingly fun time.

For Travis' birthday we rented a cabin in the Smokey Mountains. It was perfectly relaxing and fun.

Our big trip of the year was out to the west coast! We saw so many awesome things in California and crammed in so many places. Including the Pee Wee dinosaurs!

We recreated a scene from one of our favorite movies high above Los Angeles!

We went to Disneyland and I feel in love with Mickey Mouse soft pretzels!

And we met Mr. Tiny! That really was a highlight dude! Thanks for hanging out with us!

We went to St. Louis with our best friends and took 1 million photos. (These are also the first shorts that don't go to the knee I've worn in probably 15 years!)

We stopped in Metropolis Illinois too. I want to get this photo on an afghan!

Travis and I went to Memphis in the fall and had a lovely Elvis themed weekend.

We did the world's longest yard sale for the second year in a row. I hope it becomes a tradition!

I did some estate sale-ing/ junking/ thrifting but not nearly as much as in previous years. And I'm ok with that.

It was a year of weddings! We went to five and I was in two! We started with my cousin's huge bash in Detroit. We tore UP their photobooth! That is my favorite wedding trend of all time! I wish we had one at our wedding!

I was in my good friend Marissa's wedding and looked so normal and ladylike! She walked down the aisle to a live, acoustic version of Beyonce's "Halo" and it KILLED ME.

I haven't seen the official pictures from Dana's wedding yet, but here I am in my bridesmaid dress. I got it from the Bettie Page store and I LOVE IT! Her wedding was so special and I cried through most of it.

At another wedding I got to ride in my first hot air balloon and dance in a field to "Get Me Bodied." Beyonce figured into a bunch of my good moments this year. Have I talked about her new album yet? I'm OBSESSED. I've managed to work it into almost every conversation I've had since it came out. I'll try to resist.

I got to meet my idol Richard Simmons, got a book signed by Neil Gaiman, and saw John Waters live. A good year for my celebrity crushes.

I also got to see and meet a bunch of the queens from Drag Race! I also met Latrice and Jinx, I just don't have photos handy. I can't wait for the new season to start!

This should probably be higher up, but we met our nephew Ellis in July! The first baby in my family. I can't wait to watch him grow up. It will be so exciting when he starts talking and remembering us.

We did that Hay Day event recently, which I hope is the start of more volunteering to help animals.

I dressed Travis up as Spock for Halloween. 2013 is the year I fell in love with Star Trek (and Zachary Quinto, yowza.)

I didn't realize until I was going through this blog that I got tattooed a lot in 2013! I got this moth for my birthday and finished my pagasus/sandworm half sleeve:

I got a tribute to my new love Spock, and my old love logic in the summer.

Travis and I got matching bff tattoos with our friend Valerie while we were in California. It is a cute mickey that is from a candelabra in the haunted mansion.

And then I started and finished a tattoo I've been talking about for years, my tribute to my favorite movie/play of all time! Little Shop of Horrors!

Here he is all finished up a few weeks ago. I'm in the itchy healing phase and its driving me crazy! Ah! But I LOVE it so much!

And last but not least, Travis and I celebrated 5 years of marriage, and 11 years together. He is my best friend and I love him so much. We had a really excellent year, probably our best since 2008! (That was another banner year for us!) Here's to 2014! May she be as kind as 2013!

Our Christmas Day

We spent the night at Travis' parent's house in Thompsons Station on Christmas Eve. The pugs got to come with, which was awesome. Travis' brother was there with his family and since the only little kid in the family is only 5 months old we got to sleep in until about 9. Perfect!

I love these house slippers!

Phyllis in her new bed with the gift she got from her grandparents.

It was Ellis' first Christmas! He wasn't quite sure what to make of his gifts from Santa.

I love Travis' stocking. It was made by his grandmother and is so sweet.

Travis did pretty great with my gifts! Some books I'd been wanting, some new blu rays for our new player (including great gatsby! yes!), the new Beyonce album, some nail polish, etc etc.

And these amazing vans! That color!

Ellis was a pro at opening presents. He just needs to learn that there is more to the presents than putting the paper in your mouth.

Phyllis unfazed by the growing pile of wrapping paper.

Ellis made us these ornaments, and I can't believe how cute they are! Look at that little hand print! It kind of makes me want to try making one with the pugs paw prints. We'll treasure this guy forever.

We had a big Christmas brunch and Travis made most of the food for us. Here he is frying some vegan sausage. He made the most amazing tofu scramble and pumpkin spice pancakes too.

Yum! I kind of want some more of that scramble with black beans right now!

It was pretty special to get to spend the day with our nephew for his first Christmas.

And of course I took a million photos of MY little babies, Phyllis and Priscilla. They had a great day with a special breakfast, and lots of treats, and new little toys to destroy.

Always wanting to be in someone's lap.

Hope you had a wonderful day! I've got a couple days of work left, then I took a little time off for the new year. I can't wait!!!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Oops! This was supposed to post yesterday! Oh well, it's still close enough to Christmas for one last Christmas post right?
You've seen my aluminum tree, but I also put up a green tree every year. I like how the aluminum tree looks with just vintage balls, so I have to have another tree for the rest of our ornaments. Both of us were given special ornaments every year growing up, so was have a tree full! I'm actually looking for a bigger tree in the after Christmas Sales this year.

Here are some of my favorites: This sassy little spun cotton snowman.

A suspicious Santa, and one of you probably recognizes that monkey!

There are a few pug ornaments on our tree, most with one of their legs taken off because of our little tripod Miss Phyllis.

There are a bunch of Dalmatian ornaments too, because I was obsessed with 101 Dalmatians when I was a kid. That woody is our ornament from this year. It plays "Holiday Road".

I love that sweet little santa, I got him last year. And that spun head guy on the book? is so cute and weird. It is a matchbox too, so you could put a little treat in there or something.

And I can' forget this stunning piece. My dad bought me this one at the grocery store at the height of my Backstreet Boys love.

And there is my beautiful tree skirt! I love it so much! One of the cats puked on it this year, of COURSE. But I think I'll be able to clean it.

This is one of my favorite ornaments of all. My mom made it when she was a little girl in sunday school. The best part is she told us she actually stole that little baby jesus from the girl sitting next to her! Haha, I always look for the "Jesus nut" when we get the ornaments out.

It feels so cozy in the living room with the tree lights on, and my ceramic tree. I'm almost sad to take all the decorations down next week!