Merry Christmas 2010

Every year my Nana throws a huge Christmas Party on Christmas Eve. It's one of my all-time favorite events of the year!

Christmas Eve With my Mom

The Girls! This is my two sisters and my cousins... who put that blond in there? j/k Val :)

Every year Santa comes and we all have to sit on his lap and tell him what we want for Christmas. Here are my niece and nephew, Karys and Blake - they are dolls!Valerie and I on Santa's lap
My Aunts, Mom, and Nana with Santa

I hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Happy NewYear!

I hope everyone had a wonderful new year!! This was my favorite New Years yet - and pictures soon to come!!

Now time for Resolutions... I have a couple that I would like to set for myself:

1 - Get back into running: I have been slacking lately... I ran a Turkey Dash 5K on Thanksgiving Day, but other than that, I have not put my running shoes back on. However, due to my super busy schedule, I do not think I will be able to start this one until next week.

2 - Get back on Weight Watchers: Over the holidays, I managed to gain a few pounds, as I am sure most of us did... however I was allowing myself to eat whatever I wanted... now it is time to kick myself back into gear, and lose my holiday weight. Luckily I didn't put on too much, so it shouldn't be that hard to get off. This resolution has started today.

3 - Listen to my gut instincts: I tend to believe and trust in people to a fault. Unfortunately, I was proven wrong one too many times, and learned how surprisingly nasty some people are. This resolution might be the most important one that I follow.

All in all, I wouldn't say that I hated 2010, but I couldn't wait for 2011!!! There are going to be some big changes in in my life this coming year, of which I am sure I will blog about. I am looking forward to this year and all the possibilities it holds!!!

2010 Fantasy Football Leagues

For many years, people have tried to get me into Fantasy Football, but I never had the slightest bit of interest... until this year. My cousin, Valerie was in a league, Sunday's Best, that needed a couple extra players, so I thought why not?

I loved coming up with my name, it's Harry Potter inspired, of course! My name in all the leagues is Felix Felicis. For all of you who are not HP Fans, Felix Felicis is the potion for Liquid Luck!

The draft was so much fun, that we decided to create a family league as well. My BIL, Tim, set it up and came up with the name No Experience Necessary (with one division called Spaghetti, and the other one Meatballs - oh so clever).

Then I was invited into a Survivor League (I Will Survive)...

And then a weekly Pick 'Em League (NFLMoyerMadness10)....

So basically, I went from playing in zero leagues, to playing in 4 different leagues in a matter of a week! I was a little overwhelmed...

I did horrible in the Survivor League and was out after the second week (thanks Dallas, you just gave me MORE reason to hate your dumb team....)

I missed the first week of the Pick 'Em League, but I am still hanging in there pretty good. I am above the average, so that works for me!

The No Experience Necessary League (family league).... I started out strong and then took a quick turn for the worst and nose-dived into 9th place... didn't even make playoffs!

The Sunday's Best League completely took me by surprise. I was winning almost all my games (only lost 2 the whole season) and when playoffs started, I was ranked at #1!!! I was so nervous going into last night's game because it determined who won the league... and guess what? I DID!!!! I came in First Place!!

Since this was a free league, I won bragging rights.

SO THIS IS ME BRAGGING!!

YAY ME!!!!

And here is some FF Humor :)

I am so excited and so hooked on Fantasy Football now! It actually made the games fun for me and I learned who some of the players are!!!

Thursday Thirteen: Christmas Edition

13 Things I love about Christmas

1 - Christmas Lights (picture taken last year driving through neighborhoods)

2 - Christmas Cards! Giving and Receiving! (see post below of my cards)
3 - Christmas Music: (sorry the video is sideways, I don't know how to fix it...)

4 - Egg Nog, Starbucks Holiday Flavored Coffee, Homemade Baileys, and Frrrrozen Hot Chocolate! Basically, all the Christmas Drinks! (I have been wanting the Frrrozen Hot Chocolate ever since I went to NYC, and this year I finally bought it for myself!)

5 - Christmas Decorations:

Tree Last yearTree This Year... see a difference?? :)

Last year's Picture6 - Wrapped Present's Under the tree (yeah, I wish mine looked like that!)

7 - Christmas Movies (classics and newbies) - my favorite is the clay annimation of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!

8 - Baking!

I made these cute elf pants for my team at work - I made homemade fudge, cookies, and stuck some candy canes in there :)

9 - Mistletoe (do I need to explain further??) I love how sparkly my mistletoe is!

10 - Scarves:

11 - Santa Clause! (and watching Karys believe in all the Christmas Majic!) 11 - Christmas Parties - my work Christmas Party as well as my Nana's Christmas Party, the event I look forward to every year!

12 - Holiday / Christmas Candle Scents 13 - Saving the best for last - Making the time to spend with Friends and Family - nothing can beat that!

I hope you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

My Little Cuban Dream in a Cup!

Colada's are one of my favorite things about Miami! I had forgotten how much I loved these little Cuban espressos until I revisited this past weekend. My friend, Justin, loves them just as much as I do and showed me how easy it is to make them at home. The stove top espresso maker (aka 'moka pot') is easy to find in Miami, however they are not so common in Katy, TX.
You have no idea how excited I was when I ran across one at HomeGoods! I immediately snatched it up and was even more excited after reading the price: $7.99!On my way home from work today, I will be stopping off at the grocery to buy some espresso coffee beans and natural brown sugar – I can’t wait to enjoy a colada today!

Rachel and Vito Through the Years...

Vito and I have been sending out Christmas Cards for many years now. Unfortunately, we didn't take one our first year together (2004), but here is a look of us through the years!!

1st Annual Christmas Card (2005): 2nd Annual Christmas Card (2006):
3rd Annual Christmas Card (2007):

4th Annual Christmas Card (2008): 5th Annual Christmas Card (2009):

6th Annual Christmas Card (2010):

Merry Christmas!!!!!

~Love Always, Rachel & Vito

2010 Turkey Dash 5K

I completed my second 5K on Thanksgiving Day. I was very nervous about this one because I have been slacking on my running... it had been almost 3 months since I had run - at all!!

My friend Emily ran with me the whole time, we kept each other entertained by talking to one another and before we knew it, we had less than a mile left to go!

My time was 35:42, which is only 1:04 min slower than my first 5K. I was really shocked considering I haven't trained! I couldn't be more please with my time :) I didn't get any pictures this time but we had a pretty good sized group again.

It was fun and I am ready to do another one! But I need to train for the next one, I was extremely sore for 2 days after this run! My muscles made me pay for not using them up in months! It's crazy to think that I have completed 3 races this year! Two 5K's, and one 10K. Wonder if I will beat my number next year!! I am determined to beat my times :)

PS - I know the picture says 2009, but I could not located a 2010 emblem...

Halloween 2010 (a little late)

My camera was dying on Halloween, so I was only able to take three pic...

Mandie brought over this really cool Pumpkin Pizza for all of us to eat - I thought it was so cute! Sleeping Beauty and her Bat Brother :)

Steph and I wanted something festive, however we waited until Halloween night to go grab something, and all they had left were devil horns... at least they were sparkly!!

TEXANS!!

I was able to go to my second Texans Game of the season yesterday. Although we lost, I still had such a great time.

Thanks to Emily and David, we had AMAZING seats!! This pic was taken RIGHT before we scored... I tried to get a picture of us making the touchdown, but I was jumping up and down and cheering, so the picture didn't turn out all that great...And I was excited to wear my new Pink Texans Jersey!!! I love it! You can't really tell from the picture, but the number is glittery :) who said you can't still look girly while you tailgate??

Thanks again to Emily and David for the tickets!!!

MM on Friday!

This is a special Muggle Monday because in only TWO WEEKS from TODAY, Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is going to be released!! Here is the trailer for the movie - I get goosebumps every time I see it!

And, to no surprise, I have had my ticket for quite some time. I am doing the assigned seating again, it's so worth it for a premier as large and important as this one - I can't wait!!!!

Special thanks to the Leaky Cauldron for the trailer.

CCBC

Lately, I have read so many books, it would take too long to tell you about them... so I just wanted to shorten it to the ones that have really caught my attention and that I would HIGHLY recommend to you.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield: I could not put this book down. There is a crazy twist in the story that I did not see coming, and it made it that much better. You constantly want to know what was going to happen next. It started out just a tad slow, but once it picked up, it never stopped!!

Stephanie introduced me to The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins: I had only been captured by two other series, Harry Potter and Twilight, until I picked up this series. This series does not have vampires or wizards, so if that's not your thing, don't worry. I honestly had no idea what these books were about when I started them, only that they were so great. It is unlike any other series I have ever read. I am completely in love with them. I love the characters, the story, the way it was written - everything!! I would even find myself making excuses not to leave the house because I was so engrossed in this story. I think everyone would enjoy this series (not just girls!). Thank you SO MUCH, Stephanie, for introducing me to them!

Muggle Monday's

Muggle Monday's are back... do you know why??? The countdown of course!!!

74 Days

until Deathly Hallows Part 1 is released!!!!!!!

Sand Crab 10K

I completed my training program (B210K) and ran my first 10K!! I know it will be by far the hardest 10K that I will ever do! It was a night run on the beach in Galveston. The sand was so brutal! On all of us!!

Part of our group! (and Vito got in this picture too, which I love!!!)

Me with the Newly Engaged Couple, Emily and David :)

Us getting ready for it to start!!

My original goal was to do this 10K without walking. I achieved that goal, however my time was kind of disappointing to me. 1:21 min. I want to do another 10K in October so that I can feel better about my time. I'm glad I did this run, but I'm glad its over!!

Going Private

I have been debating on on whether or not to make my blog private because I didn't want to lose some readers, which I am sure I will. When I originally started my blog, I was careful not to put too much of my personal information, but after time I started slacking on it. What ultimately made up my mind was when I searched my name and saw a picture of my niece. It didn't sit well with me at all....

If you would like to continue to read my blog, please email me at iheartvito@hotmail.com and provide me with your email address so that I can add you to my approved readers list. ANYONE I know is more then welcome to email me - friends, family, even if we don't talk on a regular basis, please do not hesitate to email. I will make it private in 2 weeks, on September 10th.

As a side note - if you follow me through Google Reader or Bloglines, my updates will not show after I become private. Please don't forget to stop by!!

Remember - if I know you, you are more then welcome to continue reading.

Thanks for understanding guys!!

Meeting Baby Kinley

A haven't posted in quite a while... but I recently went with my two friends Brandon and Vanessa to visit Kara & Wes, who had a sweet little bundle of joy :)

When we got there, I didn't want to put her down! And yes, Vito went too :)

The next morning I got to give her a bath!

The three girls! (my sister pointed out to me that almost exactly one year earlier, the three of us were taking this picture in Vegas! Oh how times change!!!)

Kinley became obsessed with her Baby Einstein Videos :) She was so precious!!!

I hate that Kara and Wes live so far away :( I wish I could visit them more because I know that Kinley is going to grow up so fast!!! Thanks Kara and Wes for hosting all of us!!!