Christmas Clearance Savings Continued....

Let me start off by citing my own belief on lunch breaks. I'm way busy at work (and life in general!). However, on occasion, I am able to take a lunch break. Normally, I eat at my desk while I'm going through emails. So, when I get a chance to take a lunch break, I try to run quick errands.

We are running slow today so I was able to take a lunch break . I used this break to run to Pier 1 to look at their Christmas decoration clearance sale. My reason for going there was that I had a gift card to Pier 1. Last year, my brother got me a $50 Pier1 Gift Card for Christmas. We weren't able to cross paths for a while so he wasn't able to give it to me until later in the year.

While at Pier 1, I was able to use my gift card to purchase 5 Christmas stocking holders (that normally would have cost a total of $89) for only $45! I liked them because not only do they serve as Christmas stocking holders, but they are also nice for added decoration. No, we don't NEED 5 Christmas stocking holders. (it's just J and I). However, I plan on using some of them to hang other Christmas items.

Christmas Clearance...I finally get it.

I never shop. I'm not a smart shopper when I do. However, I'm working hard to get better at it.

So, when J wanted to take our $50 Wal-Mart gift card (Christmas gift from my parents - Thank you!) to Wal-Mart last night and see what we could get in their Christmas Clearance decorations aisle....I finally got it.

For under $60 we got:

* 12 Red chargers

* Christmas Tree Jar to put ornaments in

* Mini Christmas ornaments for above jar

* Linen Table Cloth and napkins for a table that seats 8

* Smaller Christmas Table Cloth for our round table.

* Pre-Lit Christmas Wreath to go over fireplace

* 2 Christmas Kitchen Towels

Honestly, I don't have pictures of these said items because last night was also our night to put up all the Christmas decorations....just thought I'd share. I'm learnin!

Christmas 2010

It was our turn to go to my family's state for Christmas this year. We drove down the night before Christmas Eve into my hometown.

Christmas Eve - J and I spent time with my closest and oldest group of friends. Not everyone could attend, but we had a good turn out. One of our friends and gotten engaged, another was expecting her second baby girl with her husband, and another brought in their new baby boy. It's such a blessing to remain connected with such a GREAT group of people after all these years! We have all remain good friends since elementary school. It's simply amazing!



Christmas Day - We enjoyed a nice lunch and presents at my parents home. It actually snowed at Christmas. It was our hometown's first white Christmas in 20 years!



Later that afternoon, we drove south to my brother and Sister-in-Law's house. We had a really great Christmas dinner at their home. Good food, pretty decorations, and presents filled the house! We got to see the pretty furniture they got for their first baby's nursery as well! We had a house full of uncles, cousins, siblings, significant others, and parents. As you can see....J really likes my sister-in-law's dip.



However, our Christmas isn't over for J and I. We will be visiting some of J's adopted family in another city this weekend for a late Christmas and early new year's celebration.

I pray that 2011 is a year of blessing for my family and anyone else who might be reading this!

Technical Difficulties

I've been having some pain in my left knee since Monday. It's getting better each day, but it's slowed down my workout schedule and has forced me to take it easy during my practices when I go over my Jive routine.

I'm icing it at work and taking Advil to help reduce swelling. I'm also picking up some Glucosomine Chondroitin later today.

Prayers are appreciated. I'm working so hard right now in hopes to give some really great performances in January. I really feel like I'm breaking through some walls in my dancing and need to be 100%.

5 Reasons Why I Clean in the Mornings

I realize everyone has a system or schedule that works for them. However, below are my reasons for scheduling all of my house cleaning in the mornings:

1. I don't have to have a "cleaning day." I divide up all of the cleaning tasks throughout the mornings during the weekdays. This allows me to break it up a little. Instead of cleaning for 3-4 hours on one day, I'm cleaning in much shorter increments.

2. By cleaning on section of the house each morning, I start off my day feeling accomplished.

3. Doing a load of laundry each morning ensures we never have an issue with not having anything clean to wear! (You know we've all had those days where our outfit wasn't our first choice simply because everything else was needing to be washed!)

4. Cleaning in the morning means I can focus on "ME" items after work. After work, I can focus on my workouts, my dance practices, and making dinner. When J gets home, our hangout time isn't interrupted by the dryer going off.

5. I have more time to focus on projects and fun stuff on the weekends. When J doesn't have practice, we have more weekend hangout time that DOESN'T revolve around my cleaning schedule.

Blackpool 2010 Latin Pro Final - Rumba

This Week

My goals for this week:

* Finish wrapping ALL the Christmas presents (with the help of work wrapping 5 for me per by below post).

* Have ALL my new open choreography routines memorized. (I'm so close).

* Finish the remainder of my workout week. (On Track)

* Get present for J's office Christmas party and shop for two more of his friends.

* Finish work on some work projects this weekend.

* Get my hair did.

Blackpool 2010 Latin Pro Final - Samba

A fantastic Samba final round at the Blackpool Dance Competition. Love this. Camera got up close too!!

Knowing When to Delegate

So my Specialist at work informed me that our company's valet service wraps your Christmas presents for free if you bring 5 at a time (in their box) and make an appointment.

Yes, please.

How's THAT for multitasking. I work and get my presents wrapped at the same time! Merry Christmas to ME!

LOVE this Blog.

If you haven't signed up for email notifications from this blog, I suggest that you do so. If you are as busy as I am, this blog is super helpful.

The below entry of "Dumb Little Man" is all about setting up "systems" to help you get your every day to-do list items accomplished.

First of all, I use systems for everything I do each day. I do the same routine in the morning to help get chores done and make sure everyone is tended to. For example, I start a load of laundry before I get in the shower. When I get out of the shower, I put the clothes in the dryer. While I'm doing a list of pre-scheduled weekly chores, the clothes are drying. I take the clothes out of the dryer and fold them before I finish getting ready for work. Don't ask what time I get up.

"Are Your Systems Letting You Down?"

2010 Winter Showcase

Our dance studio recently had its annual Winter showcase (i.e. adult dance recital). Although, I didn't perform in it, my husband had SEVERAL performances with his students!

As usual, he did a fabulous job with them! I was very proud. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to dance a routine with his professional partner since she was sick. They were going to do this awesome Foxtrot routine!

Here is a picture of J and one of his students during their routine. He looks so handsome!



On my side of things, I'm working on learning 5 new dance routines of open choreography for my competition next month. That will be a total of 10 routines for me to ace when you add those to my 5 silver-level routines I'll also be dancing. I'm working on a harder level of routines so this has been a challenge for me. I've been able to easily memorize Bronze and Silver level routines because they mostly go through specific patterns. However, the open choreography is a lot more complex. I've spent several hours the past weeks going over the choreography. I'll do the same this week.

I'm determined to get them!!! The sooner I memorize these routines (this week if I have anything to do with it!), the sooner I can move on to the technique aspects of the routines. I've got some lofty goals next year, but I'm determined to make them!