Experiencing the Rose Bowl

While in college, going to the Rose Bowl never worked out.  Luckily for me, the Badgers went for a third time! In case you didn't catch the game, *spoiler alert* they lost.  Nevertheless, Ryan and I had a great time and here are some pictures from our little vacay.

We decided to board Holly at a local kennel.  This involved packing up little baggies for her and collecting some of her favorite toys and a blanket that our friend Meagan sent her for Christmas.  Holly was so excited to go there and was super hyper in the office.  This was our first time boarding her, so Ryan was nervous, but it all worked out.  German Shepherds experience separation anxiety, so I don't think she fully enjoyed her experience but I was happy that she was being taken care of and had the opportunity to play with other dogs.

 Snuggling and Holly showing some classic yoga moves

So we were off to the Rose Bowl.  It was a little over a three hour drive to get there and decided to stay in Rosemead instead of Pasadena.  We arrived on the 31st and surprisingly enough, did not shop around at the mall located conveniently across the street.  However, when we did drive into Pasadena, I fell in love.  It had a great mix of stores and restaurants and just a fun vibe.   

Since this was our first New Years together, I was pretty amped up.  I was ready and waiting for my first New Year's kiss and to spend that time with my husband.  We had a really relaxed evening and ate dinner at a restaurant/bar called BJ's (I know...tactful).  I'm not big into drinking, but I still enjoy a few drinks every now and then (I did go to Wisconsin), so I had a great Long Island at the hotel bar and Ryan continued with a few drinks at the restaurant.  Ryan picked up a few more drinks later on and then Ryan went to bed. He went to bed! It was only 10:30!  I thought I could let him rest but he was super sleepy, so I continued watching the ball drop on TV.  I was slightly upset that my New Year's kiss was fast asleep due to the effects of alcohol but in Kimberly fashion, I made a bad situation good.  I made a hilarious photoshoot in which Ryan won't let me post.  It's not inappropriate, I promise, he's just sleeping through all of it :P

Although I didn't get my kiss at midnight, I remember sleepily complaining to Ryan at like three in the morning and I got a nice kiss then.

Time for Game Day! I wore my classic, well-worn Game Day bibs and we had room service for breakfast.  There, my friends, is the deliciousness of a mango-pineapple smoothie. Da-lish!

ON WISCONSIN

 Stanford Band, although they looked ridiculous, created this awesome Wisconsin!

 The Wisconsin Band- Love em!

We ended up losing the game and it was actually pretty disappointing but we ran into a few Wisconsin friends and it was really nice to catch up.  Ryan and I enjoyed some Cheesecake Factory and it was so good.  I miss really good eats like that!  The next day we headed back home and this little lady missed us tremendously.

As if I couldn't enjoy enough of Wisconsin loves, one of my wonderful friends, Becky, visited her hometown for Christmas and brought back these awesome goodies.

 Coffee from Watertown, WI

Penzey's Spices that originated in Wisconsin

We've had a great week!

Thanks for Reading :)

Favorite Things Friday

It's Friday and a wonderful opportunity to comment on the awesomeness of this week.  To start off, I'd like to share some of my favorite finds on the interwebs, including Disney princesses, a mountain of a reading challenge, book chats over at Sweet Green Tangerine, a different workout plan that involves loving your body instead of loathing the treadmill, and my start to becoming a book reviewer.

Stephanie from My Creative Brightside was the most perfect Cinderella at this little girl's birthday party.  In case y'all didn't know, I love all things Disney and had (let's be real, still do) really wanted to be a Disney character princess.  You know what kind of stinks? They don't get paid really well and before I get a rotten tomato thrown at me for saying that, I mean they're about minimum wage.  Can't save a lot with that, so alas, I'll just admire how adorable that birthday party looks.  Anybody need a 23-year old Disney princess? ;)

My favorite reading challenge that I've discovered involves climbing a mother truckin' mountain. You definitely heard right, a mountain. I'm signing up with the blog, My Reader's Block to participate and take care of the mountain of books that need to be read :)

The Mount TBR Challenge 

"to be read"

How does it work?

Challenge Levels:

Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s
Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s
El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s
Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Olympus (Mars): Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s

And the rules:
*Once you choose your challenge level, you are locked in for at least that many books. If you find that you're on a mountain-climbing roll and want to tackle a taller mountain, then you are certainly welcome to upgrade.

*Challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2013.

*You may sign up anytime from now until November 30th, 2013.

*Books must be owned by you prior to January 1, 2013. No ARCs (none), no library books. No rereads. [To clarify--based on a question raised last year--the intention is to reduce the stack of books that you have bought for yourself or received as presents {birthday, Christmas, "just because," etc.}. Audiobooks and E-books may count if they are yours and they are one of your primary sources of backlogged books.]

Now I don't know if I have that many "backlogged" books, but I do have a lot and I can't wait to participate! I know I have a lot of bookaholics following this blog, so y'all should sign up with me and we can hold each other accountable!  Now once I tackle all those bad boys, if you have another reading challenge that you recommend, definitely let me know and comment below.  I love insight and feedback on everything I post here.

I also am really excited to participate in Jessica's Book Chats this year.  Her Book Chat link-ups have a different topic every week and they're a lot of fun.  I wish I had discovered her blog sooner but know you all know about it and can participate next week!  Her Reading Resolutions for 2013 are so on par with what I would like to accomplish this year.  How many books do you want to read this year?  I fell short of my goal and that alone was encouragement for me to start picking a novel more often than searching Instagram (there's gotta be a way to have my cake and eat it, too).  Visit her blog at Sweet Green Tangerine because I'm obsessed with it and you can expect it to be a good contender for my January blog obsessions.

I used to work out a lot and I get all kinds of bored with running.  I'm good at it but I hate it.  The double-edged sword of fitness.  You know when you're hot, sweaty and starting to get bored and you're thinking, "nooooo it's only been a mile."  So if I can avoid running, I try to.   So I came across the Tone It Up blog hosted by Katrina and Karena.  They're doing the Love Your Body Challenge for 6.5 weeks.  

I've made their January calendar my background and these ladies are so cute!  Not only do they focus on health and fitness, but they work on you!  It's a mixture of a Nike fitness ad and a night in the lounge back at the Theta house.  That's probably a bad example unless you were in a sorority, but it feels like you're chatting/texting/blogging with your best-friends.  They're all about the motto: loving your body and I'm excited to give this a try.  I started doing this today and it was fun and my glutes are definitely feeling it.  DO IT...you'll like it, promise.  Here was the workout for today: 

They're fun, they're fabulous and I just love watching their videos after a good workout.  Health and fitness is important but so is your self-esteem and overall well-being.  Have fun while working out and love your body! Don't beat yourself over it!

 

One of my 100 in 1001 things is to become an advanced reader/test reader for publishers and I've done just that.  I literally (does anyone think of Parks and Rec whenever they say this?) signed up for NetGalley last night and I can request eBook versions of soon-to-be popular (hopefully), great reads.  It's been so much fun looking around and requesting books.  I've already had twelve books approved for me and I can't wait to start reading and providing reviews.  So ladies and gents, you'll be seeing a lot more of that on here. #yearofopportunity

A lot of wonderful things have happened this week, including the start of the Blogger Book Swap.  In case you're reading this and haven't signed up, you have roughly one week.  I'm closing the sign-up on the 12th as long as we have enough pairs and right now, we have a ton of great readers signed up.  I cannot express enough thanks to my co-hosts for going above and beyond in spreading the word.

Another great opportunity is your chance to win a free necklace from Glass Chic Designs.  If you haven't read the post on #onelittleword, you may be lost from time to time on my future posts.  I may be biased, but it's good stuff, and I recommend you check it out and enter to win a free necklace from a great Etsy shop owner.

As if this week hasn't been inspiring enough, I've decided to participate in a year of gratitude and mail out 52 letters to the people I care about.

Whew, that's a lot going on and it's only the first of twenty13.  It's great to feel this energized and motivated...like hot damn I can do this!  

What are some things that are getting you amped up for the new year?     

Thanks for Reading!

  

P.S. I've seen folks anonymously saying mean things on other blogs and the subject coming up frequently.  One, that's just not ok to do.  A blog is someone's personal space and yes, they've chosen to share it with the world, but with the expectation that they'll receive courtesy with that.  If you don't like a blog, then unsubscribe from them.  Stop being mean or rude and show a little heart.

 

A Year of Gratitude

You've probably seen it numerous times on my blog, or if you're part of my FB world, that I've been absolutely terrible at keeping in touch with my friends and family.  I just graduated a few months ago and people that I would see on a daily basis, some of my best-friends, I haven't even talked to on the phone.  I want to say it's disgraceful.  I want to back it up with some excuse that I've been crazy busy.  I want to say that I have the crappiest phone service/reception at the house we're in.  I want to fill in all of those things with something to make up for my lack of presence in the lives of so many people I care about.  Sometimes I think that's one of the reasons that I blog.  It's my way of keeping in touch in this crazy world of social media.  But I don't think any of those excuses could make up for my lack of conversation with my best-friend, Katrina, who just graduated from our university, or Emily, another one of my best-friends, who is getting married.  I'm her Matron-of-Honor and I feel like I'm missing out, just because I'm here and she's there.  This isn't like me, all of this is so not like me.  

When Rhonna Designs, hands down one of my all time blogs that inspires me on a daily basis, had a post called A Year of Gratitude, I immediately checked it out because a year of gratitude sounds like something I should be focusing on as part of my #onelittleword.  Rhonna calls it her one little goal project along with her one little word, and I really like that.  Her post covers a year of gratitude in sending out 52 cards (there are 52 weeks in a year, just in case you didn't catch that) and this kit from Compendium Incorporated provides a journal and writing prompts.  It sounds like an amazing idea :)

Well, I don't have $29.95 plus shipping and handling to spend on this beautiful kit (budgeting as a grown-up...oy vey), but I absolutely love the concept. So here's my plan:

Now 52 people does even begin to cover the number of people who I would love to show gratitude towards, but it's a start.  I also love personalizing things and making them special for those who mean a lot to me.  If I make a solid PDF, I'll be sure to share it with all of you and those who would like to participate.  I think this is such a wonderful concept and I'm really excited about!  Join me and add it to making twenty13 one of the best ever  :)

Thanks for Reading!

#onelittleword 2013

Disclaimer: I say one foul word in this blog post and I don't intend to edit it. 
But keep scrolling through, because there's a wonderful surprise at the end, I promise!

Some of my favorite bloggers, designers, and overall creative minds have been throwing around the hashtag and phrase, "one little word."  I was intrigued, especially since #onelittleword was usually accompanied by a cute necklace, bracelet, or scrapbooking/journaling activity.
Um, raises hand, that's right up my alley.

Let me tell you friends, I love this idea.
One little word encompasses everything you want out of the new year.  It's so much more than resolutions or a list of goals, it is what you want the year to be.  That in itself is so inspiring.  You have a brand new year, a new slate filled with memories to be made.  Pictures must be taken and people need to be met.  You can read more about this concept over at Ali Edwards' blog.

The most beautiful thing about this, is that it's a single word.  One word that describes exactly how you feel.  That can be challenging and may even instill anxiety to be so definite with something.  However, I just love it.  For once you have to decide, this isn't open-ended.  It's like a realistic goal.
You will accomplish this.

So I started brainstorming my one little word.
After a week or so of trying to figure out what new year's link-ups I wanted to be a part of, I had already created lists of goals or resolutions or something like that because I actually dislike calling them resolutions- then it hit me- write it all down.  So I started thinking of what I could contribute to a 101 in 1001 list (a future blog post you can anxiously wait for) and my one little word just came to me.

opportunity

As I write this, 2013 hasn't even started on the west coast and it's still so incredibly exciting.  I have my life partner with me for an entire year.  That's a big fuckin' deal.  We are finally together to go on adventures and experience new things.  It's not just me on my own, it's us.  We now have the opportunity to be together and actually live as one, instead of two bodies united despite the worldly distance of a war and deployment.  2013 means that we're getting another dog.  Not just that, but we're going to help a little fur baby out in life.  We're giving him (getting a boy this time) the opportunity to experience love, compassion, and to be insanely spoiled.  I've been obsessed with dogs since I was a baby.  There is something so beautiful in animals- they see no wrong in people.  If I can give an animal a good life through my means and capabilities, I will grasp that opportunity.  2013 is 365 days of accomplishing goals and dreams.  Sometimes that means when a door closes that you find a window, or just bust through the wall and make your own door.  I want to become a part of the Amazon Vine club, be an advanced reader (or test reader) for a publishing author, and so much more.  I plan on doing these things. It will happen! :)

So I invite you to participate, write a blog post, write it down and hang it up where you'll see it everyday as a reminder of your expectations of this year.  I've already seen many bloggers out there with their word for the new year and I love it!

One way I chose to commemorate such an important word to 2013 is I made a necklace from Glassy Chic Boutique made by Jessica Ely.  Click on that link and it will take you to her adorable Etsy shop.  I chose a hand stamped bar necklace because of its handmade simplicity.  For me, it's symbolic of staying focused, not getting distracted, and keeping my priorities in order.  It's a daily reminder of how awesome 2013 will be.  Jessica and I began messaging for the order and I explained to her what #onelittleword is all about and she loved the idea.  She was awesome enough to talk about her experiences being the shop owner of Glassy Chic Boutique:

My name is Jessica Ely and I am the owner of Glassy Chic Boutique on Etsy. I create and sell custom hand stamped and photo Jewelry. I'm all about custom. Most everyone has someone or something special to them, so why not hold them close, show it off and be reminded everyday!

When Kimberly put in her order for a custom hand stamped necklace with her "new years resolution word", and told me about the #onelittleword concept, I was more than excited! What a fabulous idea, I thought! I mean, It's often so easy to come up with a resolution for the new year, but to stick with it, now THAT can be the challenge. This necklace will allow Kimberly to be "held accountable" and act as a reminder to her throughout the year. When others ask her what her necklace says, she gets to share her story, how perfect!

Kimberly chose the "bar necklace", which has four sides. Four sides to get creative with! There is a 12 character maximum on each side. So,within the 12 characters, the possibilities are endless! :-)

Here's to wishing everyone's new years resolutions come true!

Source: GlassyChicBoutique by Jessica Ely

What could be more awesome than embracing what your 2013 will be?  

My very first giveaway!  

Jessica has been kind enough to give you all the opportunity of winning a hand stamped bar necklace from her Etsy shop, Glassy Chic Boutique.  Enter below for your chance to win one of these amazing necklaces and to perhaps get you started on your #onelittleword journey.  The contest starts January 4th and ends the 11th, so make sure to spread the word and enter yourself.  Having my #onelittleword has made me all the more excited for the new year and I hope it does the same for you :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Good luck and thanks for reading!

For the Book Lover who has more Books than Groceries

As I write this, we currently have 25 folks signed up for the blogger book swap.  That's incredible!
I've been receiving wonderful feedback from bloggers and lovers of books and I just can't begin to tell all of you how thrilled that makes me.  It started off as a simple idea of wanting to connect with other bloggers who love to read and it's turned into this little project with the help of my amazing co-hosts.  Thank you to all those who have been blogging, tweeting, and posting on Facebook about the event.  I certainly could not undertake a project like this without all of your help and guidance.

Now the Blogger Book Swap is an affordable event, with books being either new or gently used, and shipping being around $5, tops.  However, you do have the opportunity to run with this idea (a bit) and make it your own.  What do I mean by this?  If you feel like contributing items or details that are relevant to your book swap of choice, go for it! But, please do not feel pressured to add anything to your book package apart from your book and on the flip side, I would recommend not going overboard...well, I guess, unless you truly feel inclined.

If you're looking for some fun ideas, here are some places and products to get those creative juices flowing:

1//2//3//4//5//6//7//8//9//10

So I may or may not have had a little fun exploring Etsy.

These are just a few ideas and I invite you to be creative and explore various other possiblities.  I tried to find options for a variety of budgets and like I said, you are in no way obligated to give anything in addition to your book exchange.  If you're looking for more budget-friendly options, I would look at eBay or your local craft store.  You could also check to see what supplies you have at home, if you feel like getting crafty (which is always awesome).  

What are some of my favorites?  

Although pricey, I love the book text scarf because it combines fashion with literature.  Another online favorite, if you like the book tote bag, is Out of Print Clothing.  They take the covers of classics and turn them into tees, totes, journals, etc.  This Great Gatsby notebook and Little Women tote bag are so fun!  The MyBookmark Etsy shop is a unique take on the traditional concept of a bookmark.  I'm sure you've seen the wicked witch legs bookmarks before, but this Etsy artist has so much to choose from.  Of course, I'm a fan of the military one as pictured above and I also love the sexy siren, it's so sassy!  I've also been looking around at different book plates and stamps and I think the stamp from Studio255 is very chic. 

Now these are just some items to picque your interest for the swap, but who knows, you might end up spoiling yourself ;) 

Keep texting, tweeting, Facebook posting, and blogging about the event and I can't wait to announce the pairs in a couple of weeks!

Thanks for reading!