Vacation

SO this last week I went to Disneyland! If you know me at all you know I'm a Disney Freak so this is by far one of my favorite places to vacation. Wednesday morning started off with an early wake up. My mom picked me up and took me and my sister to the airport at 5:30am. This whole trip was a surprise for my cousin Jaclyn's 16th birthday. So basically me and my sister got to the airport and we kind of had to hide because my cousin didn't know we were going and we wanted to surprise her when we were actually in California. Their gate was on the way to ours, so we waited for them to board their plane and then we walked by, it was a little tricky. We landed in California and took a shuttle to the hotel. Mean while my aunt uncle, cousin and her best friend were getting a rental car and headed to the hotel as well. they got there about 10 min before us. Perfect timing, we were able to walk right into the lobby and surprise her, it was really fun! we stayed at Disney's Grand Californian hotel...it was gorgeous!

 From there we went into California Adventure for the day. If you ever plan a Disney Vacation I would highly recommend going during the middle of the week in January. There were hardly any lines at all, it was so awesome. I think we waited the most 15 min. for a ride and most of them we just walked right on!

85 degrees and lovin it!

Monsters Inc. 

Waiting in line for Toy Story Ride

The 4:30am wake up started to catch up with us and we got tired pretty fast. We were able to ride almost all of the rides in California Adventure. We went to Rainforest Cafe for Dinner and walked around Downtown Disney, took a quick dip in the hot tub and i was showered and in bed by 9:30.

Dinner next to the elephants 

Yummy Mike caramel apple from Downtown Disney

Lego store in Disney land had the Hulk made out of Legos

Belle and the Beast out of Legos and I happened to have a Beauty and the Beast sweatshirt on! 

The next morning we woke up and it was full of surprises for my cousin Jaclyn on her actual birthday. We started off the day with a princess breakfast at Ariel's Grotto. It was super yummy and each princess came up to talk to us and take pictures.

 Me and the Birthday Girl

Super Yummy Breakfast

After breakfast my other aunt and uncle surprised Jaclyn and showed up from Temecula. we were all visiting when a park employee came up to Jaclyn and told her she would be our personal tour guide for the day and that we would be able to cut to the front of the line on almost all the rides that day! so awesome!
We went to Cars land first, this is the newest park of Disneyland and apparently always has the longest lines. We skipped right to the front and rode Radiator Springs Racers, it is the cutest ride ever and it seriously feels like you are in the movie, they did an incredible job replicating Radiator Springs.

We went over to Disneyland and rode all the rides until Emilee had to leave us at 4:30. She was the best tour guide ever. The tour was awesome because we got to skip lines but personally I loved it because I learned so much. This was my 9th time going to a Disney park(between Disneyland & Disney World)so the rides are always awesome but to do something different was really great. The tour was very pricey but If you have the money I would highly recommend it! Thanks Auntie and Uncle for paying! hehe.

After the tour we went back to the room and changed to go to Cheesecake factory for dinner. I got Cajun Jambalaya and raspberry lemon cheesecake...super yummy!

On Friday we went back to being normal people who had to wait in line :( There was a Tinkerbell half marathon that weekend so the park was significantly more crowded because it was the weekend and because of all the runners.

Mater Waffles for breakfast

Max!

Mickey!

California Screamin!

Mr. Incredible! 

Tower of Terror!

Sulley

He sneezed and scared us haha 

 Overall the trip was pretty awesome! we went down to Temecula on Saturday and then flew home that night. Like I said Disneyland is an amazing place but I was pretty tired and ready to go home and relax. As I left the park on Friday I realized that the next time I would probably return would be with my own kids someday. I can't wait for that!!

Recipe

Advocare Approved Recipes are the best! I can have them when I am doing a challenge, which I currently am, but they are usually so good I make them more often then that. This is probably one of my favorite healthy recipes because its so easy and delicious!

Spicy Black Beans & Tomatoes (Recipe altered from Budget Bytes)

Ingredients 

• 1 lb. (2 cups) dry black beans 
• 4-5 medium size tomatoes
• 4 cloves garlic 
• ½ Tbsp cumin 
• 1-2 med jalapenos
• 5 cups water 

Instructions

1. Sort through your beans to remove any stones or damaged beans. Rinse the beans well to remove any dust. Place the beans in the slow cooker.
2. Also add to the slow cooker: tomatoes (including juices), 4 cloves of garlic (smashed or roughly chopped), one or two jalapenos (diced and seeds removed), and ½ Tbsp of cumin. Add 5 cups of water, secure the lid and set the heat to high.
3. After four hours open the slow cooker and check the beans to make sure they are tender. They should be fully cooked at this point but if they aren’t, simply cook them longer and check again after a couple hours. 
4. Either serve the beans immediately or divide up and freeze in single or double serving sized portions

These beans are so good! pair it with a little chicken and avocado and you have a delicious salt free Mexican feast! If you are feeling extra fancy I like to chop up onions cilantro and tomato for some fresh pico de gallo. 

24 Day Challenge

I am starting the 24 day challenge this week....I actually started it on Monday... Perfect timing because before my vacation I was packing for the warm California Weather and all of my summer clothes were a little to tight! The Advocare 24 day challenge is so awesome, I did it a couple of months ago but it was definitley time for another one. This program isn't magic, I definitely eat really healthy and completely on a schedule. The first 10 days are a cleanse, after the holidays and vacation my body is I'm sure very excited for this part. I will check back in 10 days and let you know how it is going!

Shows

I have always had a few favorite shows but my obsession with different TV series started during college. Like most people in school my schedule was always so weird, sometimes I wouldn't have class until noon or I would get home from my day at 2pm. I started watching tons of series on Netflix and I find myself having more and more "favorite shows" each season. I am so excited this winter break is almost over and most of my shows start up again this week! This is a list of the T.V. shows I am currently watching with a little personal review.

Grey's Anatomy

Seriously who doesn't love this show. I started watching it when I was probably a Junior in High School and it is still on TV. I love the drama each episode brings weather it is with a patient or a character. Sometimes I can see story lines coming but other times I'm completely shocked with the way the show turns. I don't think I have ever screamed and cried at my TV so much before watching Greys.

Parenthood

I fell in love with this show during season one. Its a show all about family and the everyday struggles most people go through. Its so heartwarming and real I find myself crying for these characters every week. I highly recommend this show if your not already watching it, its a feelgood family series without the unrealistic drama most TV shows bring. 

Hart of Dixie

First of all if the cast of beautiful people doesn't convince you, maybe all those southern accents will. This is a quirky fun lighthearted show. I have so much fun watching it every week. 

New Girl

I just started watching this show and had to catch up a little on Netflix. Zoey Deshannel is so hilarious you can't help but love this show. Its just a fun 30min. of television I like to enjoy every week. The characters all have their funny little quirks and you can't help but come back and see what kind of trouble they get into the next week. 

Chicago Fire

Hot Firefighters....does it get much better then that! haha I love this show some much, its still fairly new and only in the second season. Every episode comes complete with sweet stories from all the great characters but don't worry there is plenty of drama. 

Those are the 5 TV shows I can't miss every week but let me tell you I have this little thing called Netflix which can be very dangerous! during Summers in college, well lets be honest everyday during the week I would get lost in the different series I would start. Anything from Desperate Housewives, Weeds, Brothers & Sisters, to Raising Hop and many in between. 

Everybody has a favorite movie so I don't find it weird I have a favorite TV show. My most favorite ever is...

ONE TREE HILL

I could easily watch this show over and over and over again...in fact I have! luckily the entire thing is on Netflix. The characters all start out a juniors in high school and it ends 10 years later. It is honestly the best show I have ever watched. All of the characters are so different yet it is so easy to relate to each one individually. The stories are so real and it just makes you want to be their friends in real life. Don't get me wrong there is plenty of drama, and stuff that definitely doesn't happen to your average person but I still can't help but love the characters. If you haven't seen it, watch it, I promise you won't regret it.

I feel a little nerdy posting about my favorite shows but they honestly make me so excited to sit down every week and get lost in someone else's world and story for an hour. 

New Years Resolutions

Well its already January 9th and a little late to be writing out my New Years Resolutions, but better late then never. I knew a few goals I was going to set for myself but writing it down makes it so much more official, and possibly hold me more accountable.

1. NO MORE SODA POP: what the heck, why am I so obsessed with pop. This addiction of mine is a little embarrassing because I consider myself a somewhat healthy person and pop is so bad for you!Its very odd because I never drank it growing up, and all of a sudden I want it all the time. I feel like I am kicking an addiction, if I tell myself I can have it every once in awhile I don't know if I will actually keep to the occasional drink so I'm going cold turkey! So far so good and I'm nine days with no pop!

2. START A BLOG: Well here I am...post number 3 and going strong, hehe. I already talked about it in my first post but I really wanted to start this blog for myself. Anything from huge life events to small everyday thoughts are going to be captured here and I can't wait to look back in years to come and read all about the memories! 

3. EXERCISE MORE: Well really the goal should be to just exercise at all. I keep saying I'm going to join a gym or start some at home workout videos or something. I know this is a very Un-original goal but oh well, it needs to happen!

4. EAT OUT LESS: This bad habit is a combination of laziness and that I like to go out on Date Nights when Michael is home. I need to cut out the laziness restaurant trips though and save going out to eat when we want to have a date night or try something new  

5. BUY A HOUSE: I'm not sure how realistic this goal is for this year but a girl can dream. I absolutist HATE renting and can't wait to buy a home of our own. If not this year, then next year but I am done putting it off and making excuses why I don't save more. 

I think this is a pretty good list of goals for the year, Happy New Year Everyone! 

Pets

I don't think I would categorize myself as an animal person...My family had animals growing up but unlike my sister and brother I thought they were cute but I was never obsessed with them. we have had many family pets and many many of them were cats but none of them survived like our cat Mittens did. My brother got her for his 5th birthday and he turned 21 this past May. She was a stubborn old lady who had the weirdest habits. Such as crawling on the bathroom counter and meowing uncontrollably until you turned on the faucet for her to drink out of. unfortunately she passed away the week before Christmas and its been super weird not having her around.

My sweet precious Mittens!

My mom has been bugging me to get a new cat. I was apposed to the idea at first. I didn't think I was ready to have a new cat just quite yet. On New Years Day I randomly woke up and asked Michael if we could go to the humane society and get a new cat. I didn't really want to get a Kitten but once I started looking I didn't want a 10 year old cat either. My mom keep sending me craigslist adds for kittens and this last Saturday I decided on some Kittens. We got two new babies. They were born on 10/10/2013 and they are brothers.

Michael named his Russell

And I named mine Melo

They are such cuties!!

I love not having an empty house while Michael is on the road, except these babies are keeping me awake all night!

If they aren't meowing looking for the other one, they are running around playing like crazies! I swear Russ thinks he is Spiderman and can climb walls and my bed haha. I love them and I know they will hopefully calm down after getting used to their new home :)