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?