MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE DORKY SISTERS

If you didn't see on instagram, here is the wonderful Christmas card my little younger sister and I mailed out this year. I say younger because she is not little anyyyyyyyy more! If you can't read the card due to the instagram quality of this photo, it says "Merry Christmas from our dorky hearts to yours." We ordered them through CardStore using this template. I seriously love this card company! This card was not glossy and really good quality. They have a HUGE selection of cards and I can't get enough of them. We got lots of compliments ;)

The photos on the card are from this blog post last Thanksgiving. They were too great not to share to all our family and friends...again. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break! Before we know it, it will be New Year's Eve and we will welcome 2013. I haven't thought past 2012, so 2013 should be interesting, but I wouldn't ask for anything less :)

*This post was not sponsored and/or affiliated with CardStore. I just love the cards I got and wanted to share :)

TUESDAY TUNES: HOLIDAY MIX '12

I am posting Tuesday Tunes early so we can enjoy two full days of holiday music before we have to wait another 12 months to whip out the holiday playlists and vinyl. I truly hope all of you have a wonderful holiday whether it's Christmas or another tradition. Savior this time you have with your family and friends.

Here are 34 songs I have come to enjoy this holiday season. Artists include Andrew Belle, Amy Stroup, Trent Dapps, Ben Rector, The Civil Wars, KT Tunstall, Fiona Apple, The Owl City, Coldplay, Ingrid Michaelson, She & Him, Lenka, Michael Bublé, Sufjan Stevens, and much more. I apologize in advance for the one Bieber song I have on here (guilty pleasure!) Enjoy the mix and enjoy this holiday season.

This mix is better served with hot chocolate, warm embraces, reunions and fireplaces.

listen on 8tracks

For more holiday music, check out this Tuesday Tunes post.

CHRISTMAS CRAFTS

Happy Holidays and Merry almost Christmas!

Since I don't live with my two wonderful college roommates anymore who spoiled me with Christmas decoration, it was about time that I started my official collection. I was inspired by this pin to create those Christmas trees and inspired by all those mason jar crafts to create my version of a mason jar centerpiece. I didn't make nearly as many crafts as I have planned, but my pinterest boards will definitely keep me inspired for next season :)

I hope everyone has a fun-filled, relaxing and sentimental holiday season. I'm filling mine up with relaxing, hot chocolate, annual Gingerbread House Making competition with high school best friends, funky Christmas hats and just all around good cheer.

Any crafts that you recommend? I'd love to hear and pin them for next year! :)

STARTING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

Can you believe it is nearly mid December?
At times (and by at times I mean all the time) I feel as though life is FLYING right by me. I think "Oh, that's not for another few weeks" and bam, that few weeks turns into tomorrow. I always have mixed things about the month of December...and what do I do when I have mixed feelings?

I write letters.

Dear December,

You are the perfect ending before the perfect beginning. It is almost as simple as that. Aside from your holiday swag (yes, I just said swag), there is something much more deeper to you than holiday sales, higher electricity bills, ornaments, gift wrap, tacky sweater parties and Santa. Underneath the petty stresses of finding the perfect gift, finding the perfect tree or sending out your Christmas cards on time, you are the month where we want to show people how much we care about them and give them a little something for being a part of our lives this past year. You bring warmth to the colder months and you really do bring joy.

I love that you're the season of hot chocolate, snow globes, multiple family dinners, Elf, peppermint, red, Christmas cards, wrapping presents, days off, knitted everything, family time and nights by the fireplace, but I love you the most because you're the month of true reflection. When you roll around, I look back at everything that has happened these past twelve months and ask myself some important questions. It is amazing how much can happen in just one year... I reflect on the person I have become and what will become of me. Have I changed? What changed me? What have I accomplished this year? Did I say I love you to the right people enough? What are the mistakes I have made? What are the moments I need to hold on to forever? Am I where I want to be? Am I where I need to be?

You always urge me to grow, grow, grow... to give back, to love unconditionally and learn to relax. You are one heck of a month and know how to end a great year in style. For now, I am soaking up in your holiday sun and loving every moment of whipping out my Christmas music and having an excuse to spend some money on loved ones. I am always torn with whether I want you to speed up or slow down.

For now, slow down :]

It is sure starting to look a lot like Christmas.

TUESDAY TUNES v.16 | FIREPLACE SONGS

TUES Nov. 27, 2012

 

Noisetrade is one of my favorite sources to find new indie artists, or those special live sessions with the well-known indie musicians. Since it is officially POST Thanksgiving, it is only appropriate we start playing the Christmas music! Noisetrade is always offering free music downloads so I am constantly checking out new artists...and you should too.

This week The Music Bed came out with a Holiday Sampler featuring artists such as Amy Stroup (featured here), Drew Holcomb, Katie Herzig and Matthew Mayfield to just name a few. I have listened to this sampler about five times all the way through already and I highly recommend it!

If you are looking for the not-so-typical Christmas music that doesn't include 90's Pop covers or "Santa Baby", here is a mix that gives you the perfect mix of holiday cheer without the side effects of a broken record. Who wouldn't want an indie Christmas?

To listen to the songs before downloading them, just click on the play button to your right and let the music speak for itself. If you like it enough, go ahead and download it for free :) I have been downloading music from Noisetrade for quite some time so I can promise you it is safe, completely legal and properly licensed.

Let the Christmas music season begin!
Do you have any favorite holiday music must-haves?
I would love to hear them and check them out!

Also, I am not sure how long they will be offering this free sampler, as The Music Bed offers several throughout the year, so be sure to download asap! The links may expire sooner than later and may not work in the future.

View other Tuesday Tunes posts here.

This post was not sponsored in any way by Noisetrade. I just consider them to be a great, reliable source for legal free music.

A glimpse into my holiday season, 2011

First off, can I just say how lame I have been with my blogging!
I had envisioned my break just a little differently, however, I would not change a thing.
Here's a little glimpse into my Christmas.

CHRISTMAS 2011 >

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were beautiful ones filled with so much love, new scarves (thanks Mom!), Just Dance 3, lobsters, doggies, warmth, some of my favorite cousins (a new one!) and just overall fun. As you can see from the pictures, my family knows how to celebrate - with JUST DANCE 3 of course! At one point, we have about 15 or us dancing together. What a perfect little way to celebrate life and family. Of course I wish my whole family could've been with us, but regardless, it was a beautiful time.

So I kept talking about Just Dance 3, well, we even captured it on video. Enjoy!

I also added my bucket list FINALLY to my blog! Read along :)

From my heart to yours

 

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas!

Otherwise, Happy Holidays!

I hope it is filled with laughter, love, family, friends, pets,

good food, good company, hope and faith.

God Bless.

Have you told someone you loved them today?

*Photo taken Christmas 2009 by yours truly. 

A little holiday cheer

A friend of mine decided to make a JibJab video of us for the holiday season. He made it a couple weeks ago, but I just noticed it last night, so thank you Frederick for having this float around on Facebook [without my knowledge]. I find it extremely humorous. He's made these videos for the past two years. New holiday tradition? Probably.

Also, one of my favorite artists, Rachel Platten, is having free music on Noisetrade today. Download here! You won't regret it.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

 HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

ugly sweaters = photobooth

 

In the midst of finals, my roommates and I decided to throw a little shindig for a small little study break for yummy food, How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey edition), ugly sweaters, good company and some great laughs. Moments before the party, I had a epiphany! Let's have a photobooth! It's not quite as fabulous as professional ones, nor is my flash high-end, however, we turned our back porch into a photobooth! It was a hit :)

We got to capture some wonderful moments and even better [ugly] sweaters. I even added a prop box for added fun. Aren't my friends wonderful?

Ps. BLOGGING WORLD, I'M OFFICIALLY BACK!
No school or work for a whole month :D

three different cities, three different days.

Currently I am miles from home at the local Panera Bread in Concord, New Hampshire. I am visiting my dad this holiday and I have been able to see some very fascinating cities. We landed in Boston, drove through Maine to visit a family friend for Christmas, and had a very scenic drive to Montreal, Quebec. We drove through the White Mountains which was absolutely beautiful. Scenes so beautiful you feel like you just walked into a postcard. Here's a few shots from the cities/scenes I've seen thus far.

Maine

 Maine

 White Mountains, New Hampshire

 Montreal, QC

 Old Montreal, QC

I am very thankful that I have the opportunity to travel to these places. Naturally I am homesick but it's been very nice not having to worry about work or school. Tomorrow we are planning on going on a "safari tour". A safari tour in December in the North? Should be interesting haha and of course snowmobiling! I've avoided Snowboarding this trip because of my everlasting cough :/

Today my sister and I walked around downtown Concord. I am always intrigued by cities and their downtown. It was filled with interesting cafes (other than Starbucks) and stores. We even passed by a little theater that was playing Black Swan! Which was playing in the next 10 minutes we arrived so naturally we saw it. I have so much respect for Natalie Portman. Even Mila Kunis did well in this movie. Everyone should watch it, just be prepared for some awkward scenes when you're watching matinee with all the old folk haha

Other than my travels, not too much has been going. I've been thinking about some New Year's Resolutions and everything I want to accomplish next year. Haven't made an actual list yet...when I do, I'll be sure to let the world know.

I hope everyone has a wonderfully safe New Years :)

December, Be Kind

 

taken 12.8.10 (c) m.vega

"be better than you were yesterday."

It's been a while since I've
blogged,

taken photos,

or had any kind of artistic outlet.
Now that school is going to settle down [just for a few weeks], I've been trying to do some art projects that I've been thinking about for a while. I've started taking pictures again - that's a start. I can't say I'll have one for every blog post, but that's the goal. I've recently become attached and intrigued by bows. It started when I had to work at Ruby Tuesday and all I could wear was black, which for me is a little bleh, so I started wearing things for my hair, and boom - this fascination for bows, flowers, ruffles, & hair clips began. Luckily it hasn't done much damage to my wallet.

Quick recap of important events -

• Decided on a major/minor! Public Relations Major, Sociology Minor
• New job. Same responsibilities. [New restaurant, same positions]
• I have kept my personal pact of growing my hair out
• Boone never surprises me with its ridiculous weather
• I've started playing Bookworm again (Click to play!) It's addictive but stimulating
• I've (recently fallen) in love with: Netflix, my townhouse, my roommates, my loft of a room, the excitement of my future plans, Mumford & Sons, my boots, and the people/person in my life.
• I'm excited for: the holiday season, my trip up North, my trip home next week, giving Christmas gifts, 2011, for my last final on Monday, my art projects, my new Toms/Typewriter/Snow shoes, and to wear my mustard yellow trench coat around.

best wishes,

Ps. Forgive me for the lack of development with this blog. I promise to update, make it more "cool" as soon I find the inspiration, motivation, and that so called "time".