oh christmas tree

"...how lovely are your branches"

and everything underneath :)

This Christmas was very good to me this year.  Well besides the horrible cold that came to me two days before.  No bueno.

Christmas Eve started out very good.  I got to sleep in, which always makes for a happy Caitlyn.  In the afternoon we went over to my aunt's house on my mom's side of the family.  We ate yummy sandwiches and enjoyed each other's company.  We always do an ornament exchange (white elephant style) every year and this year was no different.  Although, there wasn't too much stealing going on.  We were nice this year.  I ended up with a gold snowflake ornament with red and purple jewels.  Very cute.  I had to leave early to get home to get ready for work at 4.  Before work I made myself a nice blend of green and black tea with a little milk to take to work (in my cute silver sparkly Starbucks mug that my boy got me a few weeks back as an early Christmas present) to sooth my throat a little.

Well it didn't work (neither did the Zycam, btw) my cold kept getting worse as the day went on.  And at work it was even worse.  We were BUSY.  I hate being sick and handling someone's food.  I washed my hands 10x more than usual that shift.  The worst part was when I was at one of my tables taking their order and I had a horrible coughing fit.  I couldn't stop/couldn't breathe/couldn't talk and I looked like I was about to die (or at least I felt like it).  Gah, so embarrassing.  Some of the people at the table were pretty nice about it though.  Thankfully one of my managers saved the day with a wonderful cough drop.

That night when I get off I came home and filled my parents' and Thomas' stockings.  I hate taking cold medicine especially the stuff that makes you drowsy because, well, it REALLY works on me.  Children's Dymatap takes about 10.2 seconds to knock me out.  I ended up taking the recommended dose of Tylonal Cold Nightime (2 pills).  Bye, bye Caitlyn see you next Thursday (quick! name that movie!).

Christmas morning my mom woke me up at 9:30.  My brother was getting to anxious to open presents.  I am a little grumpy when I wake up in the morning but since I was drowsy--no grumpy I guess haha.  Santa did good and brought me lots of wonderful things.

My stocking was filled with yummy chocolate, peppermint bark and Sephora goodies!  There was also a really cute necklace.

I also got the new Blackberry Storm aka the love of my life (not really, but it's really cool!) along with I Love Lucy DVDs!, Forever 21 shirts, a cute jacket, a scarf and some pjs.  My mom also got the family The Office DVD board game (which we played tonight).  It's really fun and we can't wait for Steph and Cale to come down and play with us!

After we opened presents we had a wonderful breakfast of bacon eggs and pancakes.  I had to beg my dad not to put anything weird in my pancakes.  He likes to make new concoctions with his breakfast foods.  Some good, others not so much.  Half of the pancakes he made plain (whew).  The other half was doomed.  Chocolate chips and Christmas colored sprinkles that my mom had left over from baking.  They didn't look so good haha.  Since I was still sick I had to skip out on the rest of the family activities for the day.  I rested up nicely and am feeling better today.

I hope everyone had a wonderful family filled, wishes fulfilled Christmas!

p.s.  Didn't know the movie?  Well here you go.

merry christmas eve!

It's barely Christmas Eve!  This christmas is going to be quite different this year.  My sister and Cale won't be here and I get to spend my Christmas Eve at work :(.  Closing for that matter.  Oh well.  I am very much feeling the Christmas spirit anyways (besides this sickness creeping up on me that left me with a nice man voice today).  Seriously I cannot get rid of this thing.  Lots and lots of green tea is what I've been drinking.  And I tried Zicam for the first time.  So I figure out if its worth all the buzz that I've heard about this "miracle worker".

House Bunny....um, have you seen this movie?  It's hilarious.  I watched it for the second time tonight after seeing it in theaters this summer.  It's a good chick flick but the boys enjoy it just as much! I watched with my little brother and my boy.  I'm pretty sure they laughed more than I did.

Speaking of my boy, my sister finally ( ;) ) sent me pictures of my birthday weekend back in October and I kind of looooove this picture of us (thanks Steph!)

we have our sweet moments

but don't worry, we go right back to being super cool ;)

Well I hope you all have a holly jolly Christmas!

my name is caitlyn

...and I like to dress like a lady.  I don't like to wear outrageous look-at-me clothes.

I like to follow trends that don't overshadow who I am.

I don't believe that what you do has to reflect in who you are.

Sometimes I would much rather lay in my bed than go out.

I feel like "labels" are overrated.  On people and brands.

I am still a dancer and cheerleader at heart.

I feel successful and accomplished at times.

Other times I feel like I can do so much better.

I believe that dogs understand us better than anyone else on earth.  Which is why I could never be a cat person.

(in case you felt like you didn't know me that well.)

a little christmas survey

Egg nog or hot chocolate?
I've never tried egg nog but I definitely have a feeling I wouldn't like it.  Too creamy and heavy for my liking.  So definitely hot chocolate.  My favorite is peppermint hot chocolate or black and white hot chocolate from Starbucks.  But then again...the stuff you make at home with a big marshmallow.
Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? 
Well my mom wraps most of our presents and the presents that "Santa" leaves are unwrapped and grouped together for each kid.  Even though none of us believe in Santa anymore it's still fun.
Do you hang mistletoe? 
We sure don't.
When do you put your decorations up? 
The weekend after Thanksgiving.
Favorite holiday memory as a child? 
Always waking up early with my sister sneaking into the living room to get a peek at what we got.
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? 
Once I got older I started to figure it out but my mom finally told me in 7th grade haha.
How do you decorate your Christmas tree? 
I love our tree--red and gold.
Snow! Love it or dread it? 
I love it but I think I'm glad I don't live in it.
Do you remember your favorite gift? 
I love the tv my mom got me a few years ago...it was totally unexpected and I use it all the time!
What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Being with family and friends remembering the reason for the season.
What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Oh man I don't think I have a favorite but we always bake a ton.  OOO now I know!  Baklava!  We don't make that but our neighbor brings us some every year.
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
We started this one kind of recently but I like that we get to open one present on Christmas Eve and it's always PJs.
What tops your tree? 
A pretty angel.
Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? 
Both are amazing.
What is your favorite Christmas song? 
O Holy Night, but I love them all.
Candy canes? 
My favorite.
Favorite Christmas movie? 
The Santa Clause which I still need to watch...

Oh and in case you still didn't know....my sister's birthday is tomorrow and she is having a giveaway!  Shouldn't she be having a givemestuff?  Anyways haha...go on over to ThoseCorwins and enter!

scarfs and ramblings

I got my wonderful scarf in the mail today!  The lovely Sarah from Sarah Said. and my wonderful cousin Talia from Rejoicings and Ramblings hosted a scarf exchange!  It was a lovely surprise to see that a package for me was sitting on the kitchen table.  Thank you Vanessa! (I kind of really love it!)  Yours will be coming soon!  And I promise I'll be wearing it out with something much cuter than my high school swim tee-shirt hehe.

I had kind of a crazy/stressful week.  Let's just say I'm settled in.  I painted my room and I love love love it.  I painted the ceiling all by myself and most of the walls myself (with a little help from Thomas).  Its a pretty grey (not blue, Stephanie.  Really, I promise haha.)  It's very calming compared to the stark white walls I used to have.  I love for my bedroom to feel like my own personal haven and it feels like that.  I'm adding some more colors into my room like deep purples and magentas.   I'll post pictures when I get it more put together.

My high school math teacher passed away on Monday.  He was my teacher sophomore and junior year and I TA'd (teacher assisted) for him my senior year.  He gave me my love for math.  I used to hate the subject, now its one of my strongest.  My math teachers in college always ask me why it isn't my major.  His death made me very sad mainly because he was such a wonderful teacher and man.  It made me realize that life is short, very short.

Could Christmas come any sooner?  I think not.  I want to go look at Christmas lights soon and sip hot chocolate while doing so.  I think I'm going to snuggle up in my wonderful bed and drift off to sleep watching The Holiday, or Friends because I'm simply obsessed even though I've watched the whole series probably about five times.  Hmmm...oh well :)