Love, Don't Judge.

First order of business, is that we have moved the Secret Santa Gift Swap to December 20th. We want to make sure that everyone can participate and the Post Office doesn't get in the way. They seem to be giving many of us a hard time during this holiday season, but fear not!
Check your emails for the details!

I was really struck by Melissa's story today. It is the epitome of what you can lose by misjudging people, and this pin came to mind when I read it.

Source: weekendattire.tumblr.com via Janna on Pinterest

Hello there! My name is Melissa and I write over at Scribble-N-Dash. I have been such a huge fan of Janna's blog for some time now & reading her Perception is Everything posts every single week has made me want to share how one very important person in my life, at one point, I wanted nothing to do with {& respectively, wanted nothing to do with me... Someone I completely & utterly misjudged}

Cue seventeen year old me...

A girl who wanted nothing to do with a part time job. Who wanted to go to school, socialize & spend all her free time with her boyfriend.

I took the job at Subway to please my parents & get them off of my back about being "lazy"... Creating a social life was not lazy in my mind, it was a busy busy time being seventeen! They obviously did not see it that way.

I hated working there, I didn't make any real connections with other employees & in fact had a major disliking for my manager. He & I did not see eye to eye on anything, and I received a lot of the "not-so-fun" jobs to do when he was there. If I saw his car when I pulled into the lot before work, I would sit there & wait until it was a few minutes after I was scheduled, it limited the amount of time I had to be around him. I seriously considered quitting many times; he considered firing me as well.

I saw him as a stuck up, arrogant guy on a power trip because he was the manager. Unfortunately I thought very little of him & never took the time to get to know him. He saw me as a spoiled little girl who had everything handed to her & who did not take working seriously; he was not entirely wrong at the time either.

See today, that manager that made my life a living hell for over a year, that guy that I drove crazy, as probably one of the worst employees out there, is now my wonderful, loving husband, Andrew.

We look back now & both can acknowledge that we did things to strain that Manager/Employee relationship in hopes to get me to quit & him to fire me. A little after a year of working there I did make friends, which is how Andrew & I started hanging out. One thing lead to another, I broke up with my boyfriend, and started dating Andrew.

We have definitely had our ups and downs, transforming our relationship from one of distaste to one of sheer infatuation all while working together was intense {I officially quit a week after we got married!!!} We were around each other all of the time & it took its toll. I began to understand just how stressful his job was & still is. He wasn't arrogant or on a power trip, he just had a low tolerance for anyone who made his job more difficult or stressful for the sheer purpose of just wanting to, but I really wasn't as spoiled as he perceived me to be.

Seven years ago, had someone told me that this is where I would be, I would have never even considered their statement remotely true or even probable.

I misjudged the most important person in my life & when I realize just how close I came to never even realizing this, how that whole first year could have gone either way, I thank God every single day that I stayed & he gave me chance after chance.

You never know where you will find love, the person you cannot stand today may just be the person you are meant to be with for the rest of your life.

Thank you so much Janna for letting me share my story! Love ya girl!!! :)

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Seriously, can you imagine almost missing out on the love of your life?

I am SO happy that they grew past their issues in time.

Love, don't judge!

                   << CeCe is having a  fun giveaway too! Who doesn't want $50 to DSW?!! I Do, I D0!

Capture THAT. A Day In The Life

Erin has the most random link ups and that's why I love them.
I find out about them with two days to get it done, so it's a race against time and always fun.
Today's inspiration is sharing "A day in the life..." or something like that.

If this had come up a few weeks ago, I would not have bored you with my lack of action. Now that Will is home, there is a LOT of action, and it's not just in the bedroom. Buhdumdum tsshh.

Well, let's just get on with it ;)



Don't I look festive with my Christmas mug?
I use that mug year around.




My stud muffin likes to work out a lot. Now that he's home, I'm thinking I will test the waters, and at least it's extra time with him on the weekends. Let's just see if it lasts.



We are blessed with mild winters in my area of Colorado, but those low temps are finally showing up on the Doppler. That meant it was time for us to gather some wood.



While Will split the wood, I started Apple Crisp in the Crockpot with the overabundance of apples my MIL left with us. I used a generic recipe from Pinterest, but used sugar substitute (gotta regulate my sugar levels) and used a Strawberry Medley cereal for the topping. Made the house smell AMAZING.



Obviously, our life revolves around food... I'm okay with that.
We love cooking together, and we love making "bad" recipes a lot more healthy. You just can't beat homemade pizza and the slash in calories that comes with it.

But the best part...



I simply can't think of anything I'd rather be doing than snuggling by the fire with my amazing hubby. It's the little things in life that make each day special.



IN OTHER NEWS
December 16th is my Blogiversary, so we are kicking off a giveaway today in that honor!

I can't believe that it has been two years already, and yet, it feels like just yesterday that I had an audience of none. (Hubby didn't even read at the beginning, Tsk Tsk.) Now, however, I feel incredibly blessed to call this little space my own and to have this outlet, not to mention all of the support you all give me. As such, this giveaway is to thank YOU for sticking around.

I have enlisted the help of some elves, and I must say they are the best "helpers" around.
You will love them, so show 'em some love.

Elf Kristine does our market research with her two lovely little girls. She also spreads cheer with that smile of hers, and her stinkin' cute headbands. Don't tell the {boy} elves that I told you, but they totally rock the headbands when know one is around. It holds their ears in.

Blog || Twitter || Etsy



Elf Alana is our house comedian. We all have those rough days when the toy line isn't in sync, the Naughty list is fluctuating, and there is no milk for the cookies (major meltdown), but she gets us laughing.  All the while looking fabulous. She doesn't let #ElfProbs get her down.

Blog || Bloglovin'



Elf Lesley is our makeup artist. The Bratz Dolls are her biggest fans, but she thinks they wear too much makeup for their age. I hear ya girl. However, I'd rather make those than those dang Furbabies. Why are those popular again?

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Elf Coley handles the education. She's a Saint, because to be honest...elves can be quite unruly. They're all like "We know how to make toys. We don't need Algebra!" Oh yes you do, munchkins! It makes you more well rounded elves...or so I'm told.

Blog



Elf Cynthia keeps us fed with her love for food. Whether it be whipping up some cookies (I won't tell you who forgets to buy the milk *cough Cynthia cough*), making a hearty meal, or her laid back attitude, she can calm down the most unruly of elves. She knows the way to an elves heart is through their stomachs. Smart woman ;)

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Winner will be featured on my sidebar next month, a TARGET Giftcard, and win all of these fabulous prizes:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Just 'cause it's Monday, doesn't mean it has to be a bad day.
Good luck to you all and just know that I love each and every one of you!

My Minion Army

Today is my Monday and my Friday!

Yep, only working one day this week, and then I get to enjoy the first REAL weekend alone with my lovah. There are already a few plans including going shooting with our proclaimed son, Buck, but all that matters is that we get to spend the whole thing together!

I was trying to find the convo where Will reminded me that I'm not working weekends now that he's home, but instead I found this one. When I read it, I said, "Seriously, we crack me up."

Premise:
I have regulars at work, and a lot of them are affiliated with the Military (Government contractors and such), and I tend to find out behind the scenes information from Will's unit before he even gets said info. Totally not protocol, but I take what I can get.

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend, because I know that WE will!
It feels so good to say "we" again ;)

Sneak Peak Of The Homecoming!

Okay, I lied. I am linking you to a sneak peak of the Homecoming photos, but it's for a good reason! Not just selfish reasons. ;)

If you have Photobucket, then you know they have been emailing us about their "My Life's An Adventure" Contest. I didn't really have any intention of entering, but as I was going through the Homecoming pictures, an idea struck me.

See how this idea came into fruition, and vote for us by "Like"ing the story!

There are nine million people in this contest, but I figured I might as well give it a try. I happen to think our story is the best, but hey...that's just my opinion. I hope that the judges do too, but 10% of the score is based on Social Media, so I NEED you and your awesome votes. Pretty please with sugar on top?

Sorry for the tease, but once I get the CD with the pictures, I will be sharing all of the Homecoming fun! Promise.