Thursday, January 31, 2013

Seattle

If you read my sister's blog...you would know about our new family tradition for figuring out where we were going to vacation this year. And out of my brilliance came a beautiful tri-fold poster board about the wonders of Seattle! And because it made the most sense (duh...best vacation ever) we decided to take our summer vacation to Seattle, WA!!!

I know that this vacation was forever ago, but better late than never...


Because I've let the vacation timeline get away from me, here's a list of things we did and pictures for visual appeal:

Safeco Field Mariner's Game

Harbor Tour

Seattle Space Needle
Mt. Rainier in the background...so pretty!

San Juan Islands Ferry Ride

Zip Lining in the San Juan Islands
Mom and Dad were the only ones finished saying "Zip Line!"

Killer Whale Watching at the San Juan Islands

 Paying to go whale watching from a boat was really expensive, so we decided to chance it by not going and finding a spot on the side of the cliff to watch. Our timing could not have been more perfect! The second we parked and got out of the car we started seeing them swim by. We probably saw about 12-15 whales in about 30 minutes of watching. CRAZY!

Seattle Zoo
Sic 'Em Bears at the Zoo!
Pike Place Market
 Original Starbucks
  These are pictures of where we ate lunch one day at Pike Place Market...full of hippies...but so pretty!

Seattle Aquarium

Experience Music Project Museum
(These pictures are blurry because we were all laughing so hard at our incredible limited music ability as a group)
 Kayla = Drummer
Me = Guitar
Dad = Guitar
 Aaron = Bass
Kelsey = Vocals
Tyler = Keyboard
 Look at Kelsey tearing up that microphone!

Shopping on the Pier

Gum Wall near Pike Place Market

Other Random Pictures

Family vacations are the best...and this one is definitely in the books as one of my favorites! Can't wait to see what we come up with next. I vote SKIING!!!

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

My 20 in 2013

The Ellis Family has decided to start a new tradition! We are all setting goals for ourselves for the calendar year, but we're doing it a little differently:

We've decided that it would be fun to set 20 goals for ourselves in the year 2013, but we only have to accomplish 13 of the 20 goals by the end of the year. If we accomplish more...GREAT, if not...we haven't decided what the punishment will be yet! Now, I know that this won't be able to continue for much longer, because let's face it, accomplishing 13 out of 20 is difficult enough, I can't imagine what trying to accomplish 19 out of 20 will be like. But for now, I am all aboard! So here are my 20 for 2013:
1. Read 5 Books for Pleasure
I have a lot of reading to do as far as class is concerned, but I'm on a mission to read at least (hopefully more) 5 books that are not required reading this year.  So far, I can cross one off of that number...The Hobbit is finished!

2. Get Published 
This one is a big one for me. I am working on a research project for a class with a couple of girls in my cohort and we are serious about trying to get our research published. It will be a lot of work, and it will be hard, but I think we can do it!
 
3. Get Accepted to Present at NASPA  
This one kind of follows getting published. If my group does well enough, we could submit a request to present our findings next March (2014) at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators conference in Baltimore, Maryland. We would find out if we are selected this calendar year!

4. Start Planning Graduation Vacation
This maybe is a cop out, but Tyler and I are set on going on a great vacation after we have both graduated...that means Summer 2014! So I want to start the process of planning said vacation...I know when I can personally check this off the list, and while I've started the planning process, I've got a ways to go!
 
5. 26 Pinterest Projects/Recipes 
Why do I pin things on Pinterest if I'm not going to do anything about them? So, 2013 is the year of my Pinterest follow-through! Already completed a couple projects...I'm on my way!

6. Pay Back 1/2 of Student Loans
This is a goal that Tyler and I share! Hopefully when he graduates in August and gets a job (fingers crossed, knock on wood, etc.) we will be able to start the paying off our student loans process.

7. Exercise 2-3 Times Each Week
         A) Drink 2 Nalgenes Each Day
This one is getting better...I haven't been consistent with it yet, but I am at least working out once a week (which is better than nothing/better than last semester). We are trying to get in a routine with this goal...life is so crazy though, it's hard to get it down! Nalgenes are NOT HAPPENING! I need to work on this one big time!

8. Lose Weight
That seems like a no-brainer if I'm trying to work out and drink more water...Grad School has not been kind to me!

9. Talk with a Long Distance Friend/Family Member at least 2x a Month 
I really want to be better at communicating with my friends that I don't see often, so I am trying to make myself accountable by making it a goal of mine to stay in touch with them more. I have some of the greatest friends, and since I've moved away from a bunch of them, I can only usually rely on the phone to stay in touch!

10. See ALL Oscar Best Picture Nominee Movies Before Oscars 
The Best Picture Nominees for the 2013 Oscars are (ones crossed-out we have seen):
Argo
Zero Dark Thirty
Les Miserables
Silver Linings Playbook
Lincoln
Django Unchained
Amour
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Life of Pi

11. Complete 3 New Sewing Projects
Bowties - COMPLETE
Not exactly sure what else I might try to sew, but I've got about a year for inspiration to hit me!

12. Plan and Go On 12 Surprise Dates With Tyler!
Hopefully, these dates will happen once a month. I've already taken Tyler on our January date, and I have a few ideas for the next couple of months. I'm really excited about this one!

13. Make 5 Things Homemade That Would Normally be Store Bought 
I might double dip this goal in my sewing projects, or Pinterest projects. So far, I've made homemade spaghetti sauce and ravioli from scratch!

14. Make All A's 
(Cross fingers, knock on wood, etc.)!

15. Read My Bible at Least 4x a Week 
I really struggle with this and I have such a desire to be more disciplined in this area. I've had a really good start to the year though, so hopefully that saying about creating habits is true! 

16. Use My Crockpot 1x Each Month 
Cutting this one close this month...but, tomorrow we will be having something from the crockpot! 

17. Blog at Least 3x Each Month 
I've already told you about this one...keep me accountable folks! 

18. Start Saving For Anniversary 
I'm wanting to start setting aside little bits of money so we can do something fun on our 4 year (YIKES!) anniversary this summer! 

19. Be More Active in Our Budget Upkeep...Check At Least 2x Each Week 
If I'm more aware of our budget, maybe I won't overspend at the grocery store every month. 

20. Learn New Hobby...(don't know what yet!)
This one is still open...Tyler did get a ukelele for Christmas though. That sounds appealing!

So...CHEERS to the new year, and here's to hoping I can at least accomplish 13 of these 20 goals of mine.

Picture Post!

Is anyone else tired of looking at pictures of our kitchen?! Yeah...okay, well in an effort to accomplish one of my goals for the year 2013 (more on that later), I am trying to blog at least 3 times a month...that's right folks...and today is definitely January 30th, so here's to 3 new posts in the next 2 (ish) days! Until I can organize my thoughts, here is a dump of pictures from the past 6 months!

 Improving my sewing skills...bibs for all those Baby Mama's around me!

Said goodbye to Blitzen...sad to only have her for 1 1/2 years...BUT...

 Said hello to Junior!

 Met my Cohort...all 16 of us are on our way to be Masters of Higher Education and Student Affairs!

 All the Carpenter girls on Dad's lap!

 Family Competition over Christmas break: Here are the winners of the longest field goal kick, fastest 40 yard dash, and fastest 100 meter dash.

 Tyler and I hosted my cohort (16 people + 6 "spice" (plural of spouse) = 22 PEOPLE) for our Christmas party...we actually fit...want proof?

 Here we are!

 Kayla Graduated!!!

She's a SMARTY PANTS now!

 Went to the fair with Ian and Cara (our good friends from Arkadelphia). So much fun...and we found out that Cara was eating that corn dog for 2!!! Little Ivan Deetz is on his way!

 Here are my references for one of my midterms...Grad School is THE BEST GREAT manageable.

 Junior's first snow (with us)!

 Lots of blood themed desserts for our Dexter watching parties! Take a look at the others:


 Homecoming collage!

 One of the best things about our new apartment!
Lots of time in front of the fire this winter!

 My Cohort at Christmas on 5th Street.

 Read and saw the Hobbit.

 Bestie Christmas Dinner and gift exchange...love these girls!

 SO MUCH STUDYING IN GRAD SCHOOL!

So fun to go to Baylor games with Kayla!

 Baylor Dr. Pepper hour with friends.

 Tyler and I made these Beaker and Bunsen costumes for Halloween...AMAZING!

 Started a new business...thanks to Kayla's suggestion:
BOWTYLERS is up and running!

 Just part of life in the Student Activities Office. 
Giant eraser from a Pigskin act.

 Surprise date to Lula Jane's for breakfast! Going back ASAP!

 Besties Girls Weekend 2013!
Lots of crafts and laughs.

 Nikki and Caroline's Baby Shower!

 Cohort dressing up as our respective Harry Potter houses.
Top: Gryffindor
Middle: Ravenclaw
Bottom: Hufflepuff

Hostess goes out of business, so Dad buys the entire stock at Target...naturally.

More updates to come...Christmas, Seattle, and hopefully more day to day happenings! Here's to never not updating for 6+ months!?! Hopefully...