What I Learned In 2012

For the past couple years now I have written a post sharing what I learned in the previous year and how it changed me or relates to how I will go forward in life. As I was thinking over the past year I realized it would be harder in 2012 than previously. So much has happened from major disappointments to shock, to joy. Trying to pick the biggest lesson from the year was difficult for me but I think I can sum it up to say that no matter what happens around you to stay strong and confident that the best is yet to come. Don't worry, I will spare you a lengthy melodrama or too many cheesy remarks. 
Hope is a powerful thing, always believe that your life can be improved. Whether it's your mental or physical health, happiness, or dealing with a tragedy, we must learn to take it in stride. Know yourself and process your emotions. Reach forward either by focusing on the future and what you're going to change or do, or reach out to others. No matter what is happening there is always someone going through something worse. There is always someone with less blessings, less family, less money, etc. All we have to do is remember the victims or Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy to understand this. 

We need to strive for peace, always. Whether it's local or abroad. A small or a large scale. Little things can make a big difference. No matter how chaotic things get in our lives, don't forget the big picture. It's worth working towards!
And lastly, I have learned to recognize those that are true friends. This past year, more than ever, I have appreciated those who stand with me and beside me. Those who have made me laugh in spite of tears, pray through the tears, and be to thankful through the tears. Those who have put me first when I needed it. Those who have read my blog hahaha even when there is nothing worth reading! Those who have tested my new recipes a.k.a. experiments. :) Those who I have spent so much time with and made so many memories with that I hope I never forget. Shows, concerts, dinners, movies, or just sitting and talking. 
I hope that everyone has at least one friend in their lives that they can list these things about, that they can count on. I know I have more than one and for that I am eternally grateful.
I am looking forward to an awesome 2013 and I truly wish you all the best that life has to offer!!
As always, thanks for reading and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 



And if you're really interested, here's look back at one of the last posts of 2010 and 2011:

2010 
2011

Stage 10 of Christmas - The Days After.

Well, Christmas is officially over.

"Now what?"

This is always my feeling the day after Christmas! lol

All the hype, all the spending, all the suspense...over.

I LOVE the stations that continued playing Christmas music the day after, it was so much fun driving home.

The Christmas exchanges with family and friends throughout this week make Christmas continue on, even if I have to work every day! They are wonderful and exciting in their own sense because they have a feeling of being "bonuses" of Christmas.

I get this dramatic love of Christmas from my mother. She is a Christmas fanatic. The fact that I am actually depressed after Christmas Day is truly her fault. For those who know me and read this blog, you know this is a rare moment of sentimentalism. I know that decorations in Bula will be up until the weekend after the New Year and presents will stay under the tree for at least the day after New Year's. Christmas music will still play and the eating of left overs and cookies will continue on for 3 weeks. Not knowing any other way, I admit that I am biased towards these traditions.

I know people who take everything down and put everything away as soon as the actual Christmas Day is over. I cannot fathom this lol where's the fun in that?

Christmas is one time a year. One time a year to see everyone you love, to eat whatever you want and way more than you should, to spoil children who may not even deserve coal, to hear the Christmas story, to actually not mind longer travel times and snow coming down in buckets to cover everything. One time a year to get the things you WANT instead of buying yourself the things you NEED, to see people's faces light up as they open their gifts, to bust out all your holiday scented candles and baking skills.
(or lack there of if you're me) :p

I know that there are still down times, the remembering of loved ones who are no longer there, the missing those who can't come home, the piles of neglected work you will have to go back to, the spending of your savings, the messy house, the long lines in stores, and the days that it will take to get everything put away...

But it's so worth it! And to be over in a day, or two days, is just unimaginable for me. I want to make Christmas last as long as I can. A two week extension taking you right into that next year! Who wants to rush?

So here's to a Merry Christmas Week! Life is so short and this truly is the best time of the year!

Pics from the Memorial Day Picnic!

Here are a few pics from Memorial Day! I Wish I had gotten a few more though, I forgot I had my camera in the morning and then the afternoon was spent playing volley-ball!!

Montage!

Hey everyone! Here is the montage from last Saturday! I shared one on Facebook, but it was a rough draft, so if you watch again, and it's different, you're not crazy! ;p

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Christmas Montage!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And here's the link to view the Christmas 2007 montage (it was the first montage I ever made!)!:

http://nikkis-bubble.blogspot.com/2008/01/hope-you-all-enjoyed-memory-re-cap-post.html

Thanksgiving 2008!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving! lol I meant to post something BEFORE the holiday, but what can I say...better late than never?!? My holiday, long weekend, and black friday shopping were all fabulous and I hope you guys can all the same! Hopefully everyone travelled safely!!! I always get nervous driving during the holidays, all the crazy's (black friday shoppers esp. Myself excluded of course...) are out! (apparently they have families too...) :P Below is a montage of my family's Thanksgiving with the Curtis', Allens, and Hamiltons! All the food was amazing, and of course there was a cheese ball...which I have to say, my mom makes the best of! I always eat too much of the snacks and appetisers, and hardly any of the actual Thanksgiving Day meal! And then there's dessert... :P At the end of the montage are 2 short vids of the guys playing the Wii! I def. want one now!!! :P

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What Kind Of person Are You?

Ok, now we've all gotten these FWs a BILLION times, but yet, each one is a little different from the last one, and each one, we do! The problem is, that we never get to see what our friends put! This is a quick one that I thought was fun and an easy one to share! All you do is pick your favorite out of the choices! Then make sure you post your answers under "comments"! So, according to this, I am a Romantic, Boring, Mysterious, Popular, and Fun person...not sure how the boring got thrown in there, but Ok I'll take it! :P

1.) Pick your favorite color out of the following:

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue

Purple

2.) Pick your favorite animal out of the following:

Cat

Dog

Fish

Snake

Parrot

Mouse

3.) Pick your desired honeymoon spot:

Hawaii

New York

East Africa

Spain

Montana

4.) Pick your favorite instrument:

Violin

Piano

Electric Guitar

Drums

5.) Pick your favorite soft drink:

Dr. Pepper

Sprite

Coca Cola,

Mountain Dew

Pepsi

ANSWERS:

1.) Red - Adventurous

Orange - Fun

Yellow - Sweet

Green - Wacky

Blue - Romantic

Purple - Mysterious

2.) Cat - Feminine

Dog - Loving

Fish - Boring

Snake - Boyish

Parrot - Annoying

Mouse - Brainy

3.) Hawaii - Romantic

New York - Busy

East Africa - Curious

Spain - Mysterious

Montana - Country Girl/Boy

4.) Violin - Intellectual

Piano - Popular

Electric Guitar - Wacky

Drums - Wild

5.) Dr. Pepper - Popular

Sprite - Wacky

Coca Cola - Wild

Mountain Dew - Athletic

Pepsi- Fun

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Montage of Family and Friends!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Video Montage of the Last Couple Weeks

I made a montage of the photos from my birthday party, last week in Ashtabula, and some of the Erie Lake. I had way to many pics to just post them up like I normally do, so I put them together! And no negative comments because the photos took forever to load, it took an hour to make the video! lol j/k Tomorrow's Monday!!! :P Are you ready? I know I'm not! lol I have a couple short vids on my digital camera that I'm not sure what I'm going to do with yet! lol I may post them individually or put those together to, but either way, there's more to come! lol Enjoy!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Video Montage from the Holidays!

Hope you all enjoyed the "memory Re-cap" post! Sorry there were so many links! I just couldn't choose! lol Here's a video montage that I made! (Thanks Mellissa for the site info!) It's photos from the last couple weeks of December! Dad and Joey's Hunting trip, Christmas, New Year's and a couple from in between there! Sorry if it's a little choppy! It's my first one so go easy on me! lol Enjoy!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, it's almost the end of the year 2007! I can officially say that this is my last post of the year! :P

This is one year that has gone by super fast! There's been some heartaches and tears, but many, many blessings, memories, and fun times with old friends and new! Now is a perfect time to look back and be thankful for everything God has done, all the lessons learned, and all the great times we've had!

So whether your spending New Years with friends or family, hanging out or watching the ball drop, have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!