Qualtrics Christmas Party 2015

Despite the fact that we have had multiple Christmas parties I still can't believe Christmas is next week. The Qualtrics Christmas party was last weekend, and it was fun, honestly last years party was a lot more my style but in regular Qualtrics style it was over the top. This years theme was casino royale.

We ate lots of random finger foods, the steak rice bowls being my favorite,  drank Italian sodas, and danced our hearts away. My favorite part was definitely the dancing!













Only 3 work days next week and then I am off for a week and a half. Hallelujiah.

Our first attempt at DIY-ing furniture











We redid a table and didn't die. So thats a miracle.

I am not a DIY-er, honestly I'm not sure I will try refinishing something ever again. For a lot of people I know its fun and relaxing, but for me, it was more stressful than work on a bad day. Not my thing!

I decided I wanted to redo a table when I started looking up the cost of new bedside tables. those things are ridiculously expensive for no good reason. So I found exactly what I wanted (minus the paint color) on KSL for $10 and we went with it.

In the end it all turned out. There is something about the sweat and tears that went into it that makes me love it that much more. Or maybe its just that it really wouldn't have been worth it if I didn't love it.

Christmas Decorations

I was so excited this year to decorate for Christmas!

We were originally thinking that we would get a real tree this year and then get a fake one at the after Christmas sales, but when I found our tree for 50% off at Target I just couldn't say no. I love Christmas decorations, because they feel like an investment for the future. Future christmas parties, future christmas' and memories.


 






Merry Christmas! 

Christmas Party 2015









We had a little Christmas party this weekend with our besties. It was such a blast. I love being able to host these things at our house. Travis and I made a big Christmas dinner: Pot roast and gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, and winter salad (provided by chels).

Activities included: Listening to Christmas music, Iowa Football game, cookie making and decorating (we got creative when the cookies didn't rise correctly in the oven) ornament exchange, and the game of Tenzi (which is the best, you should play it).

It was so fun to meet Hannah and Steve's new little girl Lydia and just party hard before everyone leaves for Christmas.

December Goals


Its December, what the heck. This year Flew, its almost over. Gotta soak up the last of 2015 while I still can!

November Goals:
1. Plan work for the holidays, don't let it take over, I need work life balance.
Did it! Didn't work at all on the 3 days I took off for Thanksgiving and it was amazing.
2. Have more intentional conversations, without my phone in hand checking email.
Still working on this email and Facebook are so addictive. 
3. Make my faith, husband, and family a priority over my job.
Definitely made this happen, October was all about my job, November was a detox. 
4. Overall- relax, it will all work out.
Check! 
5. Christmas shop! And set up decorations AFTER thanksgiving.


Check! All Christmas presents bought! Christmas decor post coming soon! 

December Goals:
1. Plan work so I can take off Christmas break
2. Do some good in the world (volunteer, donate, etc)
3. Exercise 3+ times a week
4. Blog more of our memories
5. Host a fabulously fun Christmas party :) 

Besides the snow I think December is going to be amazing! 


Thankful


A loving, hilarious, husband.
A wonderful supportive family.
A merciful God and Savior.
The best friends.
Stable fulfilling jobs.
All of lives necessities and so much more.

Some of the major things I am thankful for. I have SO much. I often worry about how ridiculously spoiled I am at this time in my life. Will it change, yes, that is inevitable, I am sure I will have hard times in the future, but right now my little bubble of happiness is bright and I am not going to dwell on how that could change, right now.

I am so very very blessed. And I want to remember that year round not just today.

Hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Where did November go?

The last couple months have been BUSY to say the least. Keeping up with my life and mostly work has been my main priority so blogging has taken a hit. The last couple months have completely flown by, its the end of November, WHAT??? 

When things get crazy or stressful or bad at work I typically don’t write about it, and that feels like a mistake. I want to chronicle the good and the stressful in my life to look back on and remember when things change. 

This month a project I was working on went bad because scope was unidentified and the client needed everything done yesterday. I made some good and some bad decisions. I may have barked at my co-workers and especially my husband more than normal, but I got through it and the client is really happy. I also realized that while the project was/is stressful it was interesting and complicated and required a lot of problem solving. 

I am realizing more and more how much I value time away from work, as much as I do love my job, I need time to myself, with my husband, and with my friends and family. I am so grateful for the wonderful people in my life who are always there for me, even if I need to complain for an hour. 

This next week I am only working 2 days, which means time to rejuvenate, hang with family, and celebrate the holidays. I cannot wait.

Here are some of the goings on as of late:




This is the most we've ever gotten into Halloween. We like Divergent if you couldn't tell, plus easy costume. Dauntless. 

Put our Christmas lights up before it got too cold. Don't worry this is the first and last time they've been on since we put them up. We are big believers in celebrating thanksgiving before Christmas. 


Breakfast in bed thanks to my sweetie. I've been sick for 2 weeks. BLECK. So much laying around doing nothing and not getting enough sleep because of my nasty cough. Hopefully better soon.