Friday Feature

Here's a few of my favorite holiday songs this year. First up Pentatonix doing The Carol of the Bells




Cloverton's Cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" with a twist



Nathan Pacheco, O Holy Night



What are you listening to during the holiday's?

Fit for the Holidays

During the holiday season, I like to add an extra work out, something simple that I don't usually do. Since there are so many get-togethers, and treats and cookies around, the extra exercise is definitely needed, for me at least. :)
I thought I'd share an example of one and it's dated for this year so you can do it too if you choose. There's a beginners version and if you work out often there's one for you too. Enjoy!

    

You can also do doubles: the specified amount in the morning and at night. Another idea is to break it down ie: for 12/14, do 20 in the morning and 20 at night. 

And as with any exercise, Not all exercises are suitable for everyone and this or any other exercise program may result in injury. Any user of the exercise program assumes the risk of injury resulting from performing the exercises and using the equipment suggested. To reduce risk of injury, in your case, CONSULT YOUR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL BEFORE BEGINNING THIS EXERCISE PROGRAM. 

Holidays at Our House

Christmas has already started and decorating has begun. We have a couple Christmas traditions that are a little bit different at our house.

1- We ask that grandparents, and aunts/uncles don't give our girls any presents. Instead we ask then to do something special together. Last year they received annual passes to the aquarium and went with their grandparents several times during the year and with their other grandparents, they went to a historical reenactment place and made seasonal crafts. They talk about these outings all the time. We choose to ask our extended family to do this for a couple reasons. First, we currently live close to both sets of grandparents and a few aunts and uncles but we might not always. I want them to build relationships now while we live close rather than be given (more!) toys. Second, I don't want my kids to become give-me monsters. Yes the holiday season is one for giving gifts to those we love but I've seen it get carried WAY out of hand, we have these guidelines in place to prevent that. We want the events remembered, not the things, placing the importance on the people around them.

2- We give our kids four gifts and a stocking. They get something they want, something they need, something to wear, & something to read. Though there's an extra 'wear' in there as a Christmas dress. :) We try to think outside the box and find gifts they will really use and enjoy. This also allows us to buy higher quality items as there's a limited amount of gifts purchased for each child.

3- I don't do Santa. I know, scrooge right? Not to me. I had older cousins who told me about Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and all that when I was around 4 and I don't even remember being all that disappointed. The reason for the season, in our house, is Christ's birth. Not Santa. So there's no elf on our shelf and the stockings are filled by mom and dad. Do our kids feel left out? No, they think it's fun to know the secret--that all adults know but most kids there age don't, and that Santa is a fun character of the holiday but think that an old man watching them would be creepy. Smart girls. :) 

We do all the other things like driving around to see the lights on houses, decorating the tree, baking cookies and gingerbread houses, parties with friends and family, and hot chocolate and jammies, reading the birth of Christ in the Bible. 

I'm looking forward to all the holiday fun and hoping for some snow! How about you? What are your family traditions?

Friday Feature

Passenger-- Let Her Go





New Politics-- Harlem




Of Monsters and Men-- Little Talks

Week Round Up

We are still deciding on Halloween costumes at our house, always last minute decisions here. Canda and I just got our first book back from the editor and we are going through reading and changing and rebuilding our story--you'll love it once it's out but I'm a little biased. :) Here's what I looked though online this week:

Oreo Cookies are addictive, new research finds. Yeah we all already knew that but there's a study on it now.

Bridal Fashion is turning back to color, not a new trend, but would you wear a colored frock for your big day? Looks fun to me!

The 2014 World Cup Qualifiers aren't over yet but there's already a simulator you can see how teams may potentially be matched up in Brazil this coming June.

Ever been to Burning Man? One first timer talks about the Temp City's Leave no Trace policy.

Indoor Play ideas that look great too!

Marriage is work! Here's the marriage advice from couples via Reader's Digest

Love to read? Here's a hotel with No TV's, Radios or Telephones in the rooms, and they are all decorated to fit a different author's work. Shakespeare, Tolkien, Agatha Christie, even Dr. Seuss and JK Rowling. come to relax and read, would you?

Friday Feature

Bastille - Pompeii


Lana Del Ray - Young and Beautiful

Tom Odell - Can't Pretend

Current Reading

I just finished with my reading challenge on Goodreads. This year I wanted to read 85 books. In January I thought this was a good goal, that I would need to push myself and might even have to have a marathon reading week at the end of December to finish it.
 Nope.
I'm done already.
On September 26th I finished my 85th book.
Here's a few of the books I've read though out the challenge:

I read a variety of genres, I have nonfiction, YA, Adult and even a Children's book or two. Do you stick to a certain shelf at the library of bookstore, or are you interested in a little of everything?

What books have you enjoyed though out this year?