Armed & Ready....for some GIRL TIME.

I know I've said this before & I'll say it again....there are not alot of things in life better than an impromptu night out with your 'ol girlfriends.  Throw in some cheesedip & it becomes orgasmic.

Am I right or am I right?

My sorority (DELTA DELTA DELTA baby) sisters & I always get together around the holidays, and it's one of the main things I look forward to this time of year.  We all live fairly close to one another, minus the Montana-ers, Chicagoans & Seattle-ers so we're pretty blessed.  However we don't get together near as much as we should.  But even when several months pass between our get togethers, we reconnect like we saw eachother just the week before. 

I love hearing about where everyone is in their lives....doctorate programs, marriage, new relationships blossoming, careers & babies babies babies.  Each of these ladies hold a special place in my heart & for that, I'll always be grateful. 

Sistahs 'fo life.

And let me just say, the merlot induced fuzziness I feel today....SO worth it.

Lucky for me, I had just lathered up my nails in a new polish I got for Christmas. 

Great mani for girls night & perfect opportunity to link up with my homegirl T-dawg (and her co-host Vicki) for their annual Nail Files link up. 

Winning.

I had forgotten how much I love Essie polish. 

You can always count on them going on smooth, always looking great & holding up thru rough days.  Like a good husband should be.
:)

Hope you all have a wonderful & relaxing weekend planned!

Date night tonight with Mr. Xenos & our last holiday shin dig at our home Saturday evening, otherwise some much needed R&R. 

On a serious note, one of Jon's dear friends that he grew up with passed away over the Christmas holiday.  Only 30 years old.....just heartbreaking.  We are attending his funeral tomorrow morning.  Please keep his family & loved ones in your prayers over these next few days.

Merry Christmas from the X Household!

I've enjoyed catching up on everyone's holiday posts this morning.  Sadly, I have come down with a fierce chest cold & sore throat.  No bueno.

But on the flip side, luckily I work for a fabulous company that has allowed me to take the day off & get some rest.

Since we're all wrapping up our holidays....what better time to finally share with you our Christmas card that went out to all of our loved ones last week.

One of my favorite parts of the holidays are PHOTO CARDS!  I just love 'em.

So Christmas began for us on Saturday.  The in laws arrived late morning & I spent most of the afternoon doing some last minute shopping.  The first Christmas celebration was Saturday evening...then onto Sunday, starting with an early morning church service.  Then Monday Christmas Eve lunch & lastly, an early morning Christmas Day breakfast at my Mom's. 

Needless to say, we are WORE out!

The gift I had made for my new niece & nephew born this year....thank you Etsy.

....and Christmas just isn't the same without an intense game of Holiday Pictionary.

And yes, that's a fake fire on the television.

We do it up right here in the Midwest.

Run Run Rudolph.

Momma's gotta run off this ass.

Thanks for all your love on my Insta post this past Saturday.  I ran my 3rd 5k of the year & it was a blast.  There's just something about an upcoming race....the anticipation, the training, the excitement you feel the night before, the energy you magically wake up with, putting in your earphones as you take off & the exhilaration of crossing the finish line is like NO other.

I get more and more addicted each time.  This run was host to my slowest so far at 32 minutes, but hey, no biggie.  I haven't been training near as much as I usually do with the cold weather & the early sunset every evening. 

(Enjoy some photos below)

 Look at my step-dad holding up Jack as I'm taking off.  I just LOVE this one.

And in the spirit of the upcoming holiday & the end of another year, I've been thinking ALOT about New Years Resolutions.  I just love this time of year & the excitement that comes with one chapter closing & another one opening....

I am a firm believer in embracing all the lessons that life throws at you, regardless of what you go thru to learn them. The good, the bad & the ugly. 
Because if we didn't go thru shitty, shitty things sometimes...we wouldn't be the person we are today. 

There's nothing I love more than coming out of a tough situation & having that peaceful moment where you realize, hey, I got this. 

In all lifes situations I want to learn, I want to be better & I want to live passionately.

Running makes me feel all these things.  It helps me clear my mind when I'm going thru tough things; it helps me prove to myself that I do actually have willpower somewhere, hiding under all the lard; & it helps me feel better overall....mentally & physically.

Which brings me to my next point.

New Years Resolution for 2013:  13 races in 2013

Have you all been thinking about YOUR New Years Resolutions or has Christmas climbed up into your brain & set up camp for the next week? 

Be Silent & Pray.

Rest in peace sweet babies. Rest in peace all you heroic angels who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect the innocent.

I pray for all of you now in heaven, for the families you left behind & I pray for America.

We shall never forget & strive for change.

SPD Link Up: Ice Skate Edition

Can I just say.....how is it that Christmas is a measly 2 week away?  This December has flown by...and for the gal that's spent more time crafting this holiday season versus holiday shopping, no bueno.

No bueno for my Christmas list, but MUY BUENO for my little lake house.

When I saw this pin my heart just melted.  It was love at first sight.

As much as I LOVED having an April wedding, a winter wonderland would've been my second choice FOR SURE.  I mean, look at these centerpieces! 

So off to the antique store we went.  We snagged a little pair of skates, hit up our local Walmart for some spraypaint, and after a pit stop at Michael's we were ready to go.

I just LOVE how they turned out.  Next year I'm going to add some sparkle...but to be honest, I am all crafted out for the season.

We crafted, we drank, we glued & now time to sit back & enjoy how it all turned out! 

Now honey, go pour me another.

Don't forget to link up with Katie & Steph to show off your goods! 

  

What's your favorite piece of decor you have laying around the house this holiday season?

Santa wants to know....

Saw It. Pinned It. Did It. Christmas 2012 Edition.

Ok, ok...enough about the cruise.  Hope you enjoyed all the recaps & photos.  We had  a great time & I loved having the chance to share some of our memories with you all.

Moving onto all things CHRISTMAS!  I have had TWO different people wish me a happy holiday this morning, just in case they don't see me beforehand. 

PEOPLE. 

We still have 3 weeeeeeeks.

And this sistah hasn't purchased ONE gift yet.

So please stop wishing me a happy holiday.  Your stressing me out.

But not the kind of stress that a glass of Pinot Noir can't take care of. 

Thanks for the love on my Instagram (@annexenos) last night. 
You gals sure love seeing pics of VINO. 
And that's why I love all of you.

Linking up today with Katie & Steph with what this crazy crafter has been up to these past couple weeks.  I saw this pin and feel in love instantly. 

I love the rustic look.  Love the color, love the writing & I absolutely LOVE everything about the poem it came from. 

And the idea just grew from there...

So off to Michael's I went. 

Went home, painted them.  Let them dry overnight and sanded the hell out of the eges.

Then grabbed one of these....

(Sharpie makes the ABSOLUTE best paint pens.  TRUST ME. I've done lots of trial & error)

And wrote away!

Since I have LOTS of built in shelves on each side of the fireplace, I chose several of my favorite verses & spread them out around the room.

I ended up hanging my sign from the mantle with burlap ribbon.  I then drilled a couple holes & twisted in the burlap knobs...

Whipped together the stockings & hung them up!

The stockings are a little project that perhaps I'll share next week.

They are a work in progress, but I'm loving them more & more as they come together.

These signs are the perfect rustic touch to our rustic holiday decor this year.  I just love 'em.

Thank you Pinterest for the inspiration!

And while we're talking all things holiday, I'll leave you with this little heartthrob.

19 days and counting..........

Now go link up & join in the fun!

Our Favorite Place on Earth: Grand Cayman Island

Has anyone else been to this beautiful island?  If so, you can totally relate to me here. 

Grand Cayman was

HEAVEN. ON. EARTH.

When Jon & I win the lottery (which by the way, the winner of that crazy powerball earlier this week...yeah, they lived about 45 minutes from us), we will be buying a house for us & a house for everyone we love to come visit.  Keyword there, visit.

;)

The whole vibe the island was just amazing.  From the moment we got off the big boat & into the little one to take us ashore, you can just feel it.

Chill.

Jon & I decided to horseback ride on the beach.  Holy Fun-ness.

I had the biggest smile on my face the entire time. 

Add that to the mammoth cheesedick plastic helmets we had to wear, and this is what we looked like.

Foxy, I  know.

We rode this little bus across the entire island, clear to the opposite end.  We loved it because we got to see a good portion of Grand Cayman on the trip.  We pulled up to this tiny little stable, and when I say stable, I mean a bunch of horses tied to bamboo trees.

It was awesome.

We threw on those terrible helmets, got assigned horses  and took off on our ride!

Isn't she a beauty?  

After our ride we took a taxi to the famous Sevin Mile Beach where we enjoyed the local beer, Caybrew.

Caybrew with a view? 

I'll take it.

After enjoying some of the local delicacies we strolled down the beach, took a dip to cool off & watched a guy roll around in a huge rubber ball.

If anyone knows where you can buy a huge rubber ball to play in, let us know.

(That's what she said)

We bid fairwell to the island we fell in love with, in the only appropriate way we knew how.

A couple last minute cold Caybrews in brown paper bags, while sitting on a park bench.

We could so be homeless people in Grand Cayman.

Homeless people with a lifetime supply of Caybrew that is.