All posts for the month December, 2011

The Official Last Post

Sweat it Out:
Elliptical 1 Hour

This is officially my LAST post for 2011.  I am not going to deny that this has been a GREAT year!  One that has been different for me and has had me adjust my lifestyle because of the changes that have happened in my new life.  In case your new here are just a few things that happened in 2011:

  • I became a Stay-at-home-mom.  This is a HUGE difference from working a full-time job and I have found that the freedom requires a LOT of organization, and a lot more self-control.  I can’t even tell you how many days I’ve spent this year watching TV all. day. long. (sigh, that is not exactly the great things I was talking about above)
  • I started this here blog.  One of the best things this past year by far.
  • I joined Weight Watchers, and then quit it when I got my Body bugg in October. (no hurt WW, I still love you, but unfortunately money was tight!)
  • I made a few weight loss goals, and actually hit them.
  • I started “The New Rules of Lifting for Women” program, and have watched my body transform before my very eyes, along with a healthy gym habit.
  • I (along with my hardworking hub’s) got us out of credit card debt, and now we are budgeting better than we ever have.

There are a lot of great things in store for 2012, but I won’t go into that until tomorrow.  What I will do is steal a page out of Kimberly’s book, and complete my good riddance post.

Good riddance to negative self talk.  The majority of my blog is positive.  I am, by nature, a positive person, and I don’t want to waste your time having to read some of the horrible thoughts that I have said in my head.  Believe me, they are there.  Although I try my hardest to keep this an inspirational place when I am looking at myself in my full length mirror (which is a skinny mirror, I might add so its even scarier than I led myself to believe) I can say some pretty nasty things to myself.  So goodbye to you negative thoughts, 2012 will be full of positivity and there is no room for you here.

Good riddance to debt.  I hate the chains of debt and I have decided that nothing is worth going into credit card debt.  We have managed to get ourselves completely out of unsecured debt, and I never want to go back there.

Good riddance to the 280′s, 270′s, and the 260′s (can you tell that I have weighed myself since Thursday and I’m in the 50′s again?).  I don’t ever want to see those numbers again.

Stay tuned for my 2012 goals, and of course the beginning of the 21 Day Vegan Kick-start Program on Monday!!!

What are saying good riddance to in 2011?

3 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 31, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 2011

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 31, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/31/the-official-last-post/

Syncing Up

Sweat it Out:
Weights 30 Minutes
Elliptical 45 Minutes

Yesterday was the first day since I bought my Bodybugg in October that I actually synced my calories burned with my calories consumed.  I had a great day yesterday, and the scale is showing some results.

I can testify to food journaling and why it needs to be done.  My track record in the past was that I stayed on track with calories most of the day until I hit dinner.  Dinner is usually when I have meat products and eat the bulk of my food.  For example, on Wednesday I made chicken fajitas and my total calories consumed during dinner were 827 calories.  That is with using healthy alternatives!

Last night I made a Butternut Squash soup and steamed broccoli, and had strawberries and 2 cuties for dessert.  The total calories consumed for last nights dinner were 483.  Quite a difference, and I felt like I ate a LOT!

I ended up eating a total of 1547 calories yesterday, which is actually lower than I would have liked, but I felt like I was eating ALL DAY!  It just shows how much you can eat when you are filling up on healthy foods.  Here is how the day ended according to Bodybugg:

I ended with a deficit of 1757 calories!  I am shooting for more like 1800 calories a day, because this morning when I woke up I felt fatigued like I didn’t eat enough yesterday, but I keep it to 1800 calories a day and continue burning like I have been, there should be some serious results in the future.

One more success is that I made a butternut squash soup that my hub’s liked so much, he finished of the ENTIRE pot!  I was planning on having some left over for lunch today, but…..oh well.

Butternut Squash Soup
1 small onion chopped
2 celery stalks chopped
handful of baby carrots chopped
2 medium red potatoes cubed
medium butternut squash cubed
32 oz. water
6 Chicken Bouillon cubes

Combine butter, onion, celery, carrots, red potatoes, and butternut squash into pot and cook for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.  Add water and chicken bouillon cubes and simmer for 40 minutes.

Once vegetables are soft, transfer to blender and blend on high until smooth.  Transfer back to pot and add salt and pepper to desired taste.  I added a lot of pepper because I like it spicy!  I also think that you could experiment with other things like adding curry or other spices, if you like that sort of thing.

My husband will eat anything once, so I have to ask him if he would eat it again, and he reluctantly admitted that he LOVED this soup.  I think it is because it is healthy and low-calorie that it is hard for him to admit that he like it.  I will be working this soup into the meal rotation.

And here are the nutritional stat’s:

Are you a picky eater?

Weights:  I don’t know if I can really say that this workout was from NROLFW I modified it so much!  I am having a hard time with this phase because some of the moves are awkward and I can’t feel them working anything.  Normally I would just add more weight, but then my form is all off.  This has been a frustrating phase for me.  I only have two more workouts left for this phase and then I can move on.  Phase 6 is a lot different from the rest of the phases and I am eager to move on!

  • Deadlift: 4 sets of 10, 60 pounds
  • Bent over Row: 4 sets of 4, 60 pounds
  • Lat Pull down:  sets of 8, 80 pounds
  • Single leg squat: 4 sets of 8
  • Push-ups: 4 sets of 10
  • Seated row: 4 sets of 6, 80 pounds
  • Plank: 4 60 second holds

1 Comment
by Shrinking Carrie on December 30, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Body Bugg, Daily Stats, Dustin, Recipes, The New Rules of Lifting for Women

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 30, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/30/syncing-up/

Unleash the Beast!

Sweat it Out:
Elliptical 1 hour
Attempted Home Foam Rolling

I am happy to say that my sickness is finally under control!  I thank my Kombucha for getting me back in the game!  Two a day keeps the Dr. away (just my opinion, obviously I am not a medical professional).

This morning I woke up with an itch to get to the gym.  I had probably one of the best cardio workouts to date (considering I haven’t done any cardio in 1 and a 1/2 weeks!).  I thought I was going to be sluggish and possibly go down a level to work myself back up to where I was before vacation.  I did the same level I was doing two weeks ago and I went strong for 60 minutes!  I am going to attribute it to eating good for the last 3 days.  It is AMAZING what fruits and veggies can do.

My AWESOME hub’s got me my very own 36″ foam roller for Christmas, and so I saved it until I got home to do some stretching.  This may be tough because Hanna thought I was playing a game with her and she kept running at me full speed while I was trying to roll.  I couldn’t help but laugh, more like rolling on the floor laughing.  My kid is a crack up!  If I leave the roller on the floor she kicks it around with her feet so it rolls everywhere, she totally melts my heart!

Weigh in:

Starting Weight 282.8 Pounds

Last Weigh in: 264.8 (Ugh!  That is so hard to type!)

This Weeks Weight: 260 pounds

Total Loss: 4.8 pounds!

I knew that a LOT of the weight I gained was due to sodium, bowel back-up (I know, TMI, but its the truth), and water retention.  I have really focused the last few days on eating low sodium, high fiber foods.  I have also not had any sweets.  I have finally got to the point where my body is no longer craving sugar and carbs every second of the day.  Now I just need to maintain the eats that I have been consuming and I should be golden.

I also put my body bugg on today, and today will be the first day (since I have owned it) that I will be updating my food and seeing the calorie deficit in actuality.  I may write a post on it tonight, depending on what’s going on, and if I have time (and don’t fall asleep!).

21 Day Vegan Kickstart Program:

I am so excited to get this challenge going!  I have looked up some great recipes that I will be trying out and I have felt so good these last few day without eating so much dairy and meat products.

This challenge starts on January 2 and will include:

  • starting weight
  • starting body measurements
  • progress photo’s
  • Weigh ins on Mondays
  • What I ate Wednesday posts

I hope that you will follow along in my progress!  I will also be joining in the Gold’s Gym 12 Week Challenge, that starts in January as well.  Who know’s, maybe I could win $25,000!

Are you going to be participating in any challenges for the upcoming new year?
Any New Years goals?

9 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 29, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, Body Bugg, Challenges, Foam Rolling, PCRM, Sick, Workout

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 29, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/29/unleash-the-beast/

Packing Liquids

I’m feeling a little better today.  Although last night I coughed so hard I thought I was going to throw up.  I have been trying to drink lots of liquids and hopefully I will pee this sickness out.

I got 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night!  Hallelujah!  I took some Theraflu before I went to bed and it knocked me out.  I’m guessing Hanna didn’t cry, or at least I didn’t hear it?  She seemed happy this morning so it couldn’t have been that bad.  I have got new arsenal on the cold front:

I really only get about 1 cold a year and it is at about the same time every year.  It must have something to do with traveling.  I am loading up on Kombucha tea to make this nasty sickness go away, and I felt so good today that I might try going to the gym tomorrow for a light workout.  I think Hanna misses going to the kid’s club and she is stir crazy!

I am taking this time to focus on my eating and I’m happy to report that I started tracking my food today on The Daily Plate.  I have been eating a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and I think it is aiding in my recovery of the holidays.  Yes, there will be a weigh in tomorrow!  I am also trying to plan and find some good recipe’s for the 21 Day Vegan Kick Start that starts on January 2!  I’ve been trying to eat less dairy in preparation for this challenge.  I’ve gone a whole 2 days without eggs and have replaced it with oatmeal.  I already feel a little better just after two days of decent eating.  Weird.

What is your best remedy for a cold?
How sick do you have to be to NOT go to the gym?  I will usually go unless I have a bad cough or if it’s the flu.

3 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 28, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 21-Day Vegan Kickstart, Sick, The Daily Plate

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 28, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/28/packing-liquids/

The Honest Truth

I’m still on gym restriction since my cold has been sitting in my chest, and I’m pretty sure that if I got on a cardio machine I would get more of a workout from the coughing fit I would be having.  It is sad because honestly, I miss the gym.  I miss getting out in the morning and being able to drop Hanna of in the kids club and just having some me time.

I am trying like crazy to get better!  I made a HUGE pot of chicken noodle soup yesterday, and I have been drinking herbal tea, and trying to eat the best I can.  the funny thing is that after a week of throwing caution to the wind, I am sick of sweet and fatty foods.  I never thought I would say that.  I’ve been to the grocery store and have stocked up on produce in hopes that it will rid my body of all the evil Christmas toxins.

This past week has really made me recognize some things.  One of my MAJOR triggers for eating is being with family.  Let me start out by saying that I have an AMAZING family, and I have never had anything but support from them when it comes to my weight.  All of the trigger feelings that I have are from my own inner monologue and secret eating is at its finest when I am around family.  I’ve made such a big deal about me wanting to lose weight, my mind makes it seem like everyone is watching me and being critical of my every move.  I know that they want me to be healthy and happy, and that it exactly what I want for myself, but that little tinge of rebelliousness in the back of my head wants to show the world that I can eat whatever I want, and do whatever I want.  For some reason self-destructive behavior always ensues.

You can’t hide from your family.  They know you the best, and its hard to fake anything when you get around them.  The fact is, is that I have been so relaxed since after Thanksgiving that I haven’t even been trying at losing weight.  It has made me have some ugly feelings for this time of year, and I can honestly say that this is the first time that I am doing a happy dance that Christmas is over.

My official New Years Goals (not resolutions) post will be coming up, but 1 goal that I have for the next year is to get myself so into the habit of being healthy, that I will be able to enjoy next years holidays and not have a repeat of my feelings from this year.

And while I’m being honest I will admit that when I got on the scale yesterday I weighed in at 264.8.  That is a 10.8 pound gain!  I know that with focus on a healthy diet and getting back to the gym when I get over this cold, and that 10.8 pounds will be gone in no time.

3 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 27, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Christmas, Weigh in

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 27, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/27/the-honest-truth/

FMM & Vacation Recovery…

Santa brought me something very special this year.  I must have been a very good girl.  The cold I received on Christmas is the most full blown cold I have had in a couple of years.  Achy, snotty, and a horrible cough rounded out my holiday vacation.  Normally I would be at the gym right now getting my sweat on, but instead I’ve decided that I need to take it easy for the next couple of days. I need a vacation from my vacation!

I did get on the scale this morning, and then I QUICKLY jumped off.  I will say that my goal for maintenance did not happen, but I also know that a lot of the gain I see is salt, too many carbs, and just poor eating all around.  I also only got out for a walk once last week.  My week was a total fail diet and exercise wise.  But that is why today is a new day, and so I am moving on and getting into detox mode this week!

If you’ve taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you’re new, please take a moment to answer this week’s question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen. The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it’s time for this week’s topic!

FMM: Do you celebrate Christmas and/or Hanukkah? If so, tell us about your Holidays 2011 experience…Did you enjoy it?  Do you wish it had been different?

I had an amazing Christmas with my brother and his family in Gilbert, Arizona.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera and so I have no pictures :( .

The week started out with a lot of shopping!  Dustin and I live in an area where the shopping is sub-par (to say the least) so we tried to take as much advantage as we could of the great malls they have in AZ.  We also got a present for my mom and niece.

On Tuesday we went to Zoolights with the family which was great for the 5 kids, and interesting for the adults (and by interesting I mean, we did it for the kids).  Wednesday and Thursday consisted of more shopping and we got to go out to dinner with just the adults (Dustin and I, Ryan and Jen, and my mom).  We went to Cheesecake Factory, and I ate a delicious salad, and of course had a piece of chocolate coconut cheesecake.  We had a fun night just hanging out and talking.  Dustin and I don’t get out very often without the baby so we took full advantage of spending some much-needed time out with adults!

Friday night Dustin and I went to a Bob Seger concert!  I can’t even tell you how long its been since I’ve been to a concert.  Dustin decided that he wanted tickets for his Christmas present so he enjoyed it most of all.  I was starting to get sick at that point so I tried to enjoy it as much as I could. I loved when he sang Little Drummer Boy, and I also loved the Silver Bullet Band, it was amazing to see so many amazing musicians.  It was a good time!

Saturday night we got together with one of my cousin’s that lives out by my brother, and some family friends.  A great surprise was seeing my Aunt Maryann.  She is a flight attendant and had a layover in Phoenix, so she got to spend the night with us catching up after not seeing each other for about 4 years!

The kids decorated cookies for santa, and my SIL made a turkey dinner for us all to enjoy!  I enjoyed the food a little too much!  I am in need of a major detox.  My mom has a tradition  of reading us a Christmas Children’s book on Christmas Eve, and it can be hard to get through with all the kids.  We helped my brother and SIL play santa, and didn’t get into bed until almost midnight.  I am such a light weight with staying up lately, we didn’t go to bed before 11 every night.  I am looking forward to catching up on my sleep!

We got up and watched the kids unwrap their presents from Santa, and from the family.  My niece Chloe loved the Tinkerbell barbies Hanna got her, so much she took a nap with them.  Then we spent the rest of the day getting ready to go to the airport, and lounging.  By this time I was getting progressively sick, and just plain not feeling good.  We missed church so I could nap Hanna in hopes that she wouldn’t be too ornery for the plane ride.

After saying goodbye to all of my family we took a plane ride with a fidgety baby and a longer flight than we expected.  The cherry on top was when we couldn’t get our car to start after leaving it at the airport for 7 days.  We got home at 11 and promptly went to bed.

All-in-all we had a fun holiday with family, and that is what Christmas is about to me, spending time with family and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!

 

4 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 26, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Friend Making Monday, Merry Christmas!

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 26, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/26/fmm-vacation-recovery/

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!  I hope that this time of year is filled with fond memories and family tradition.  I am thankful for this past year and the changes that have come with it, and look forward to the exciting new year of 2012!  I am thankful for my savior Jesus Christ and that I get to celebrate his birth every year!  Merry Christmas, love the Seals Family!

1 Comment
by Shrinking Carrie on December 25, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Merry Christmas!

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 25, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/25/merry-christmas/

Wanna Quickie?

Sweat it Out:
30 Minute Walk
2 1/2 Hours shopping
1 Hour of walking at Zoolights

This will be just a quick post, because I don’t have a whole lot of weight loss related topics brewing in my head.  I have been major busy with traveling to Arizona and getting me and my family settled in for the week.

The weather here is magical!  I went from 19 degrees to 62 degrees and it couldn’t feel more perfect.  This morning I went out fro a walk and my niece & nephew decided that they wanted to come along.  Needless to say it was a short workout, but effective.  I got my step count in for the day, activity all done, and I’m on track to make my caloric burn goal.  Not that it would make too much difference!  My families neighbors have been dropping by goodies for the last two days, and they are some yummy treats!

One thing that I laugh at coming from Colorado is this:  We went to see the “Zoolights” tonight at the zoo, and it was about 54 degrees.  Dustin and I were wearing hoodie’s and that was pretty much the extent of our winter gear.  Everyone else was decked out in beanies, coats, UGGS, and full on winter apparel.  We had a hard time keeping a straight face with all these winter light weights.  I LOVE it!

Other than that, I am enjoying the time I get to spend with family, and trying to stick to my three goals for the week!  And, I forgot  my camera……again.

How is the last week before Christmas treating you?

2 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 20, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 20, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/20/wanna-quickie/

9 More Days….

Sweat it Out:
Elliptical 1 Hour
Weights 30 Minutes
Foam Rolling & Stretching 15 Minutes

Yesterday, I went to get in my car and go to the gym and my car battery was almost dead.  In other words, that car was not going anywhere until it could get a jump-start.  Looks like leaving your dome light on for 4 hours, because I didn’t shut a door all the way, does make a difference on your battery.  After making a couple calls and not being able to get a hold of anybody, I decided that I would settle in for the day at my house, and try to get some things crossed off my to-do list.  Dustin jumped the car later on that night, and I was just praying that it would hold and we wouldn’t have to buy a new battery (remember that it could have been anything, my check engine light has been on for almost FOUR YEARS, no biggie).

Needless to say, you can tell by my workout today that it started up like champ.  Toyota Camry’s are the bomb.com.  Especially when they are 14 years old, and covered in dirt.  I am a little superstitious and I feel like if I actually get out and clean it, it will lose its magical powers of being an amazing car.  That, and there is no car payments on it which is a-okay in my book.

I doubled up on my workout today since I missed my NROLFW workout yesterday.  I am BEAT!  My muscles are sore and my energy is zapped.  I am also very disappointed to share that I have gained 4.4 pounds.  When I got on the scale I weighed 258.4 pounds.  I can tell by the way my hands and feet are feeling that a lot of it is water retention, salt, and the fact that I am just finishing up my period, but I said I would be honest when posting my weigh ins, and that is the honest truth.

Trying to lose weight during the holidays SUCKS.  Trying to maintain what you’ve lost during the holidays SUCKS.  Plain and simple.

This week has been a bit rough because my to-do list was long and tedious, but I still managed to get in 5 workouts.  I feel that is pretty successful.  I will say that I didn’t plan food very well and I ate out of convenience and what sounded good.  Bad choices turn into more bad choices, and there you find yourself up 4.4 pounds and wishing that the holidays would just hurry up and get over with already.

The thing is, I LOVE Christmastime, but unfortunately, this year has been challenging and it has made enjoying all the things I normally love extremely hard.

I’m going to Arizona on Monday and I only have three goals for myself next week:

  1. Drink 100 oz’s of water daily
  2. Go for a walk and stretch Tuesday-Saturday
  3. Enjoy spending time with family.  Weight loss goals will still be there when I get back, and so will renewed motivation.

I only get to see my brother and his family once a year, if we’re lucky, and this will also be the first time in a LONG time that Dustin has 7 days off all together.  I refuse to stress out over weight loss and let it affect my time with the people I love.  I will make the best decisions I can, and I will maintain the weight that I am right now.  I will come home on the 25th and have renewed focus on my healthiness journey, and I will NOT have a free-for-all until the 1st of January, because that’s just stupid.

  • What is one goal that you had/have for the Holiday season?
“The New Rules of Lifting for Women” Stage 5, Day 6, Workout B
  • Romanian Deadlift with bent over row: 4 Sets of 10, 60 pounds
  • Lat Pull Down: 4 sets of 6, 80 Pounds
  • Single leg squat: 4 sets of 10
  • Push-ups: 3 sets of 10
  • Planks: 3 sets of 60 second holds
6 Comments
by Shrinking Carrie on December 17, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 17, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/17/9-more-days/

Christmas Traditions Revealed!

Sweat it Out:
Elliptical 1 Hour
Foam Rolling and Stretching 15 minutes

There is a great little Christmas Questionnaire going around the blogosphere these last few days and I couldn’t help but get in on the fun!

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?  Eggnog ALL THE WAY!  Although I haven’t had a drop this season because of my sweet tooth challenge.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or leave them under the tree? When I was young we use to take our stockings down from the fireplace and put them where we wanted Santa to leave our stuff.  They were left unwrapped and displayed nicely around our stuffed stockings.  It made it much easier to sneak down in the middle of the night to peek at what you got!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  We haven’t done lights on our house, but for our tree they are white.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, I get plenty of kisses from Dustin so I figure we don’t need it!

5. When do you hang your decorations up? The weekend after Thanksgiving and they are taken down the day before New Years Eve.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (besides dessert)? A nice spiral Honey Baked Ham, yum!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Putting on Christmas programs every Christmas Eve at my Grandparents house.

8. What is on your Christmas wish list?  I don’t have much of a wish list and I already got my bodybugg, so anything else is just fun!

9. Do you open any gifts on Christmas Eve?  We never opened a present on Christmas Eve because we always opened up presents from our grandparents and cousins at our family Christmas party.  I am going to start the pajama tradition with Hanna every year though.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?  We do a family ornament exchange every year with immediate and extended family, so my tree is a hodge podge.  But the ribbons always match my presents.

11. Snow.  Love it or dread it?  LOVE it! I am from Utah and now live in Colorado so I better love the snow!  Although my hub’s has to drive in it everyday so  I have a love hate relationship with it lately.  Two years ago he got in an accident on the highway because of some black ice, and so now if I see snow when I wake up I immediately call him to make sure he got to work ok, and then get worried of he comes home late.  I am a worry wart!

12. Real tree of fake tree? Fake!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  I wish it was something more sentimental, but when I was young (I can’t remember how old) my gramma got me a Barbie Ferrari.  My gramma always got the latest and greatest presents for us, she always knew exactly what we wanted.

14.  What is the most important thing about Christmas for you? Spending time with family, of course!

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?  My gramma’s homemade toffee is AMAZING.  I can eat a LOT of it, and have been resisting the urge to try to make it myself this year!

16. What is your favorite tradition?  One year my mom made us a Christmas box filled with a Christmas children’s book for 12 days of Christmas.  Every year she adds a new book to the box, and when Hanna is old enough (and doesn’t DESTROY books) I will start reading her one book a night for the month of December.  Have I mentioned that my mom is ULTRA TRADITIONAL?!!!!!  Bless her heart, she tries to sit down and read us a book on Christmas Eve, but I have the most ADD brothers ever, and she starts to get frustrated after too many silly comments.

17. What tops your tree?  A Star, and when the afternoon sun hits it just right, it makes sparkles on the ceiling!

18. Do you prefer giving or receiving?  I think that when you become an Adult with a job that pays money, you can buy most of the things you want, so Christmas becomes more about giving, but it also gets harder to pick out presents for adults!

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?  Oh Come all Faithful sung by Josh Groban and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

20. Candy Canes, yuck or yum?  Yuck!  The only time I don’t mind peppermint is if I am trying to freshen up my breath with a piece of gum.

21. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a triple tie between “A Christmas Story”, “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation”, & “Elf”.  I love that TBS plays “A Christmas Story” for 24 hours on Christmas.  The mom on that movie reminds me of my Aunt Maryann!  I love it!

22. What do you leave for Santa?  Nothing, Santa is supposed to leave ME something.

23. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?  My mom makes a BIG breakfast.  And we all take turns opening up presents.  the youngest always goes first which worked great for me when I was young.  Now I have a bunch of nieces and a nephew that get to go first.  No fair.

24. Do you prefer to shop online or at the mall?  At the mall, but unfortunately, we have pretty pathetic options for shopping round here, so I do a lot of my shopping online.

25. Christmas letter, or Christmas card?  Christmas card!  This year was the first one speaking of:

This isn’t the picture that we sent out, but we did have some family pictures done, and I loved this one!

  • Are you traditional for Christmas?  What is your favorite tradition?
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by Shrinking Carrie on December 15, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Christmas, Lists

Posted by Shrinking Carrie on December 15, 2011

http://shrinkingcarrie.com/2011/12/15/christmas-traditions-revealed/

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