2011 Year in Review.

Best Inspiration of 2011:

The story of a flawed girl

#firstworldpains

The splendid things in life

These are my confessions 

If you want to be happy, be.

Forever as We Are

January.

The birth of Whispering Sweet Nothings!  Crazy to think this all started as a 30 Day Challenge inspired by my lovely cousin, Megan O. (Check her out, she's pretty rad)

My beloved puppy passed away unexpectedly. RIP Josie.

Feburary:

Consisted mostly of fulfilling this challenge (which took longer than 30 days for my procrastinating self to complete).  This I believe  An essay I wrote on growing up in a non-traditional family

May-August:

I spent Delving into DC in the nation's capital interning for a fortune 500 comapny!  Take a peek at some of my many adventures, including Sushi, pandas, and Harry Potter Sounds like a winning combination right? I got to live with my precious cousin Baby O. 

September:

9/11 ten year anniversary, hard to believe.

On 9/8/11 I started dating the lovely fella.

We made the rash decision to add this little guy to the family. Meet Jack Bear (If you haven't became acquianted already)

October:

Remember that time I decided it would be a good idea to try a 2 pound Colassal Reeses' on for size? (bad idea).

November:

A bittersweet celebration of my mothers birthday on the 10 year anniversary of my grandfather's passing.

Sentiments on turkey day. 

December:

The year I asked for nothing.

Embrace the face!

Awkard family photo session.

Some of the tougher ones to publish...

Struggles with my dad: Let's just say, I love him, but I don't particularly like him. I wrote this poem, to perhaps give to him one day if I'm ever strong enough. How I felt on him visiting me in DC: Undecided.  This letter I wrote to him at 16 when things first started falling apart.

My baby brother: Never too late and how to waste a perfectly good life.   If this scares you to death, well it certainly should. I like it better when he's smiling with his teeth. 

Finally my Non-Resolutions for 2012. Cheers to the New Year!

Leaves me speechless.

18-year old Ben Breedlove died from a cardiac arrest on Christmas Day after opening presents, a week after he made his final video on YouTube.

He looks so young, vibrant and full of life, it's hard to believe

 a life could end so suddenly. Please  pray for this family.

Don't take a single second in this life for granted.

You never know when it will be your last.

my fabulously eclectic stocking.

1. Pez Dispensers with Pez. Quite the throwback I must say!

2. Two pairs of touch screen gloves, which will work wonders on my 8 am treks across campus to class!

3. Mini vaccuum for my laptop keyboard, laziness at its finest :)

4. The 18th Barbie Ornament in the series, Campus Sweetheart.  Cannot wait to one day hand these down to my own daughter.

5. A booklight.

6. A nice array of pretty lip glosses from Stila.

7. Comfy Kicks- take it from heels to flats in a flash. These would come in handy Uptown on the weekends if I ever got the chance to wear heels anymore. (Having a fella the same height as me makes that kinda difficult. It doesn't bother me in the least, but boy does it bug him)

Perhaps an improvement from the Bump-Its we recieved in last year's stocking? At least she spared me the mini egg sandwich frying pans she gave my little brother. How lucky am I to still recieve a stocking at 20? Bottom line: My mother is the best Santa known to man. 

from the fella.

1. Fuzzy wuzzy teal blankie from Forever 21 (He knows me and my love for cuddling too well)

2. Pretty aqua scarf from J. Crew

3. Twilight Woods body wash... our mutual favorite scent from Bath & Body Works. I got him the men's version for Christmas along with the cologne which he is digging already.

4. Forever 21 gift card which I cannot wait to put to use.

5. Yummy-licious edible massage lotion in Berry Passion from Victoria's Secret (sorry mom).  Can't wait to put this one to use either ;)

6. Delicious smelling Noir Tease body mist from Vicky's.  Highly reccommend this scent to all of you! 

Jack Bear couldn't be any more spoiled. He got his very own couch from Frontgate! Next comes a heated dog condo in our yard to put an end to peeing in the house, just you wait!

Grandma Schultz squeeeezing our heads together.

House, MD.

My stepmother let me borrow all 7 seasons of my favorite show in the history of forever to take back to school.  My grades are already bound to suffer (sorry mom)

cheers to the new year.

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the year I asked for nothing.

And whaddaya know...

None of which I asked for.  So, you can imagine my shock when I awoke to a stack of boxes wrapped in my name under the tree on Christmas morning.  Clearly, mom doesn't know how to follow rules.  Her response: "You wouldn't want to deny a mother the pleasure of watching her kids open presents on Christmas morning, would you?"  Fuzzy logic, considering I'm 20 :) 

Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate these gifts and cannot wait to sport them out on the town in Oxford, but ...if you recall, I had NO Christmas list to speak of, but rather asked for donations to the YWCA of Columbus.

But....

I did get a very special gift from my little sister.  They're called Pure Vida bracelets.  The perfect gift for me! I got 3...

1. The American Heart Association-- Super special to me, as we sponsor a heart walk in my grandfather's name every year who passed nine years ago of heart failure

2. Negu: Pediactric  Cancer-. Encourage Every Child Fighting Cancer to Never Ever Give Up!

3. Best Friends Animal Society

These bracelets are only $5 a piece and go to a great cause!

And.... 

My mama did get the donation I wanted to the YWCA to feed a family of three for one week, in my honor!  Their motto: "Eliminating racism, empowering women."  "To a very giving daughter" was the message. My mom was on the board of the YWCA up until recently, so it is an organization I old near and dear to my heart.  I hope to get involved myself in ways other than simply donating money, as soon as I'm home again in Columbus.

Overall, it was a pretty great Christmas.  Headed off to the fella's house to exchange our gifts today.  I'll have to enlighten you all on the quirks I got in my stocking in tomorrow's post, quite comical, so look out for it!

someday at christmas.

Oh how incredibly relevant this song finally is this Christmas.

Some day at christmas, there'll be no wars
When we have learned what christmas is for
When we have found out what life is really worth
Then there will be peace on Earth

Someday all of our dreams will come to be
Someday in a world where men are free
Maybe not in time for you or for me
But someday at Christmas time

So thankful the troops are home and the war is over.

 

I can't begin to thank all of the service men and women who placed their lives at risk for our sake over the past ten years.  A very Merry Christmas filled with peace to each and every one of you!

Sponsor swap for the New Year?

 Hey lovelies! Since I'm not quite "established" enough in the blog-esphere to start asking for sponsors myself, I was wondering if any of you would like to swap buttons in January?  A win-win situation, right?  I'll have an introductory post of all of you. E-mail me at x3shanerx3@gmail.com if interested.  I'd love to have you!

On a lighter note, are these nails not precious as can be?  Getting some sassy New Years Eve ideas...

pinteresting holiday love.

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12 Day Shopping Spree?

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12 Days of Christmas in today's dollars
One partridge in a pear tree: $184.99 ($2,219.88)

Two turtle doves: $125.00 ($1,375.00)

Three French hens: $150.00 ($1,500.00)

Four calling birds: $519.96 ($4,679.64)

Five gold rings: $645.00 ($5,160.00)

Six geese-a-laying: $162.00 ($1,134.00)

Seven swans-a-swimming: $6,300.00 ($37,800.00)

Eight maids-a-milking: $58.00 ($290.00)

Nine ladies dancing: $6,294.03 ($25,176.12)

Ten lords-a-leaping: $4,766.70 ($14,300.10)

Eleven pipers piping: $2,427.60 ($4855.20)
Twelve drummers drumming: $2,629.90

(multiplies by the # of times it is sung)

One set total: $24,263.18
Full 365 gift set: $101,119.84
All I can say is, yikes!

This is only a 3.5% raise to $24,263.18 for 2011, following a huge leap in 2010 of 9.2% to $23,439.38.  When the tradition began 28 years ago, the 365 gifts totaled only $12,673.56

While the cost of goods seemed to rise, labor, not surprisingly, remained fairly constant. 3 of the gifts that didn’t increase in price: 8  maids-a-milking, 9 ladies dancing and 10 lords-a-leaping – were related to employment. Musicians, however, pulled in a slightly higher price with boosts for both the 11 pipers piping and 12 drummers drumming.

Interesting, aye? Can you tell I'm a finance major? :)

Funny the way it is.

Funny the way it is, if you think about it

One kid walks 10 miles to school, another's dropping out

Funny the way it is, not right or wrong

On a soldier's last breath, his baby's being born

Funny the way it is, if you think about it

Somebody’s going hungry and someone else is eating out

Funny the way it is, not right or wrong

Somebody’s heart is broken and it becomes your favorite song

-Dave Matthews Band

Now that I am finally home sweet home, away from the stress of finals, I'm going to start my own little holiday project: 

Blessing Bags!

     What does this consist of, you ask?  A simple ziploc bag which you fill with necessities such as trail mix, granola bars, toothbrush/paste, deoderant, a bar of soap, a warm pair of socks and mittens. Perhaps throw in a note of encouragment to let the recipient know there really is hope for them. Then seal 'em up and distribute them in your community or the closest inner-city area to those who need love the most. 
    No longer will you need to ask yourself: Do I hand him money? But then what will he spend it on? Do I drive through that McDonald's and buy him some lunch instead? Are they even homeless?  It always seems to leave you feeling guilty whether you give in to their pleadings or not.
     You haven't truly lived until you do something for someone that can never repay you. And are perfectly content with that.  I challenge you to make just one and give it away to someone in need!  My idea of the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit. It really is the little things that count :)

makes you realize your problems aren't so big after all.

can not stop chuckling!

This just made my day! I suggest you watch in its entirety for the full effect :)

Poor kiddos, terrible parents :)