DIY: Santa Beard on a Stick

Every year around Christmas my team at work heads to the Grand Californian by Disneyland for what we call the "State of HSM" it is a chance for us to reflect on the past year, and talk about what we are challenging ourselves to do in the year ahead. And we ALWAYS take a team picture in front of the giant Christmas tree at the Grand Californian. I had read about photobooth props on one of my favorite blogs, and decided I was going to make some for our picture this year.

Here is how I did it.

I used the fold in half stencil technique. After drawing several Santa Beards this is the one that won.

Then I bought...yes bought...chopsticks because when you think of an idea at 11:00pm the day before, it can be difficult to find a Pick Up Stix that is open. I jut glued one chopstick to the back of each Santa Beard and mustache.

I made one of each: Santa Beard and Mustache.

Then I tested it for size preference. Seems like a perfect fit.

{This is me saying Ho Ho Ho...obviously.}

Then I got to work making one for each person my team. Which actually didn't take me too long.

Then we posed for our picture...and I can I just say that I love it!

THEN...the security guard made us throw them out before we could go into the park. I actually anticipated that happening so I was happy that they didn't take me too long. You never know how you can assault someone with a bunch of Santa Beards on chopsticks. A few of them made it in...which made for some funny pictures at lunch.

Better get busy making yours. Christmas is only 14 days away!

XO

Ryanne

I heart Wellies

I am currently obsessed with the idea of ME owning Hunter Wellies. But who isn't right? I mean obsessed with owning wellies, not with me owning them.

I want them all. Every color...black, red, turquoise, pink, and man do I love those purple ones.

The problem is I live in Southern California. Yes, it is beautiful and it is warm all the time, and it doesn't have seasons, and it never really rains. Ok so it never rains. Which is nice a lot of the time. But sometimes a girl wants to pull on a super cute pair of Hunter Wellies and a dress and then go jump in a few rain puddles. Is that so wrong? So me owning even one pair of Wellies would just be silly.

So for now I guess I will just dream.

XO

Ryanne

All I Want For Christmas

So over the past week Jonathan and I have been purchasing and wrapping Christmas presents (well...he purchases and I wrap). This always brings up some interesting conversations about Christmas gifts and what we should get for each person. Especially those impossible to shop for.

With Jonathan's family we use a website called All I Want For Christmas. It is an easy way to make a list of the things that catch your eye, and people can go in and check off what they are buying for you...don't worry you don't see the checked off items only other people see it. I mean you could always figure out a way to sneak a peek, but who wants to do that? That is no fun.

Since everyone lives in different area it is a great way to see what kinds of things people are wishing for and what they are all ready getting. This is our third year using it, and it is really great and easy.

I really LOVE buying people gifts, especially when the gift is something they really want.

Trader Joe's Tuesday

Ok...so I really LOVE Trader Joe's. I buy all of my groceries there and I feel like there are so many hidden gems there that I discover every time I am there. So I am introducing Trader Joe's Tuesday where I talk about my favorite things at my favorite store.

This week is all about a new Witt household favorite. Veggie Sticks. No not veggies sticks like cut up carrots and celery, but Veggie Sticks with a capital V and a capital S.

They might look funny, but they are so delicious. They have a slight taste of french fries...light, lower calories french fries. And they feel funny when you let them dissolove on your tongue. Delish!

XO

Ryanne



Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Dressember

My totally adorable friend Blythe is participating in her second annual Dressember. She is wearing a dress everyday of December. She invited others to join her this year, and has got quite a crowd. Doesn't just the thought of it make you feel fancy? Head over to her blog to see all her totally cute dress/tight combos.

I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me

This year for Thanksgiving we drove out to Las Vegas to visit Jonathan's family. I read my book for most of the ride, and usually I read as long as I can...until the very last sliver of light. Just as my eyes were starting to hurt from it getting a little too dark I looked up and saw the MOST incredible moon rising.I have NEVER seen anything like it. Even though I think this picture is pretty amazing looking it still doesn't even come close to the actual thing (click on the pictures to see the full size).

As we came over each hill the moon rose a little bit more into the sky. (Sorry this picture is a little blurry.)

XO

Ryanne

I Heart Christmas Cardinals

One of my favorite parts of Christmas decorations is Christmas cardinals. I could have a whole tree of cardinals. I just think they are so bright and cheery and Christmasy. Out of all five Christmas tubs in the garage - count em...five - they are always my favorite things to unpack at Christmas time.

XO

Ryanne



A Witt Christmas Tradition

Jonathan and I have a tradition of buying each other an ornament every year that we started our first married Christmas. It was actually Jonathan's idea...which makes it even more special for me.

Here are the four years of ornaments...

2006

Jonathan gave: The Diet Coke

Ryanne gave: The (dreaded) Music Note

I really pride myself in being a great gift giver. And yet I bought this ugly music note for my husband with the explanation "You love music". Every year it goes on the tree and every year Jonathan makes fun of me.

2007

Jonathan gave: The Starbucks Cup

Ryanne gave: The Colts Helmet

After the 2006 fiasco I learned my lesson. Instead of looking to Target for ornaments I discovered just what I needed to redeem myself on the internet.

2008

Jonathan gave: The Twilight Ornament

Ryanne gave: The Cheeseburger Ornament

Not only did I do better...I did awesome. I managed to buy an ornament that Jonathan loved and that I thought was beautiful and didn't mind having on the tree.

2009

Jonathan gave: The Gnome with REAL sticks

Ryanne gave: The 2007 Fantasy Football League Champion

Yup...you read that right...2007. That is when he won, and like a good wife I remembered.

XO

Ryanne

Christmas in the Witt House

Since it is the first day of December it would only make sense that we decorated for Christmas last night. I knew our small little house couldn't hold a giant tree so I have had my eye on small trees. There is a tree lot by our house where the trees are lined up from tallest to shortest and every time I drove by it I couldn't help but giggle at the smallest of the trees. So that is where we headed and that is what we bought. A 3 foot Christmas tree...so small that we had to put it up on a bookshelf so it wouldn't get swallowed up by our house.

It is the perfect size for one string of lights and just the ornaments that are the most special to us. Jonathan insisted that we only put the ornaments on the tree that we have purchased for each other, but I managed to sneak a couple other special ones on the tree.

Now we just need to start wrapping gifts to put under the tree...or beside it on the bookshelf.
XO
Ryanne

I Think I Can

This isn't a blog about how I am sorry I haven't blogged. Because when I read those all I can think is "Why spend your time writing that blog...why not jut start blogging?" But I do want to make sure that my faithful readers (or reader) know that I do want to blog. I do...I really do. I think about it all the time, and I read all the blogs I love thinking about how great it would be if I had an actual blog, like a big girl blog.

So this is a blog about a challenge to myself.

I am going to blog for one whole month.

There I said it, and now you can hold me accountable (if you wanted to).

So I am going to blog for the whole month of December. And I am really hoping that this will jump start me into blogging - like for real.

So 31 days (well really 32 if you count this one).

For now I will leave you with this cute little piggy wearing rain boots...until tomorrow!

XO

Ryanne

I Am Bacon You To Stop

The other day I was watching TV and heard about Bacon Salt which is kind of like Garlic Salt...but you know...bacon flavored. I was mildly interested - I mean I enjoy stuff that tastes like bacon. I started imagining all the things that are healthy that I could sprinkle a little Bacon Salt on to trick my tongue into thinking I was eating something bad for me. Rice cakes, fro yo, celery. Then maybe I wouldn't crave things that were actually bad for me. You know...like...bacon.

But then I was browsing one of my favorite catalogs Think Geek (what? people still shop from catalogs right?) and they had a two whole pages dedicated to bacon stuff. TWO WHOLE PAGES.

Then I was online doing some Christmas shopping and I came across Bacon Flavored Envelopes. This whole obsessed with bacon thing is being taken a little far. I mean let's be honest it doesn't matter what flavor you make an envelope I am going to continue splurging for self sealing envelopes.

I heart Children's Books

While looking over this list I was reminded how much I love Children's books. I have always been drawn to them, and even have a few of them sitting on my bookshelf with my other books. The illustrations, the stories, the sometimes rhyming. I love the titles that don't really have any hidden meaning, and that identifying the moral of the story is usually done within the first pages of the story. And there is no guilt about them lying unfinished on your bedside table.

Steering Wheel Tricks

Every time this song comes on the radio in my car I think of how fun it would be to do this on my steering wheel. In fact sometimes I am pretend I am doing it.

Four Years

On Friday Jonathan and I celebrated four years of marriage with delicious food, a great movie, a little time at Disneyland AND mostly important lots of time together!

Today someone asked me how Jonathan and I met. As I told the story I included the part that I often do about knowing Jonathan was "the one" pretty much as soon as I met him. Every day confirms how right I was in that part of the story.

Just 20 Shopping Days

"The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value." Charles Dudley Warner

Now we all know how much I LOVE my birthday. And since it is just weeks away I have been thinking what it is that I want for my birthday. However, for the first time that I can remember I can't think of one thing I want for my birthday. I mean I could come up with a few things here or there, but usually I am waiting for my birthday to come in order to ask for something extra special that is only birthday appropriate.

Is it quite possible that I have all I want?

Have I succeeded with having the attitude of less things, more experiences in 2010?

I am not really sure what it means, but it means I am very excited to open presents on my birthday, because I assure you it will be JUST what I wanted!

I Heart Sauces

Tonight I made a salad for dinner, just because I was craving a certain kind of salad dressing (Trader Joe's Goddess Dressing). 

I find this happens a lot. I choose where I am going to eat or what I am going to eat based on what kind of sauce or dressing I can eat.

Craving salty, extra delicious ketchup? Then of course I will be heading to In N Out

Looking for a salad dressing I can dip my whole meal in? Then El Torito Grill's Cilantro Pepita Dressing

Just need a dose of guacamole and sour cream (oh man - I love sour cream)? Then Chipotle is my choice.

What's your favorite?

(Nutter) Butter Luck Next Time

Got an email today from Ruby's about their Nutter Butter shake. I can enjoy a tasty Nutter Butter, and my boss really loves them. But much to our dismay the local Ruby's had shut down. So we ate wings instead - which were delicous - but were not as yummy sounding as a Nutter Butter Shake.

I will have to seek out the shake at another Ruby's.

Fast Flats

I was just listening to Pandora and a commercial for this incredible product came on.

They are a pair of flats (for you men read: a type of shoes) that fold up and you can carry in your purse.

Who thinks of this stuff? Brilliant!

My Friend Maxwell

Best commercial I have seen in awhile. I giggle every time.

I LOVE pigs!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Amateur Graphic Design

For those of you not reading this on Google Reader, Bloglines, or whatever RSS reader you prefer you have probably noticed that I have a new blog background and blog header.

At work I have had to learn a few Photoshop skills, and I felt really inspired by what I was creating at work.

So I  found this amazing tutorial on how to make a blog background, and then I got to work. I am sure there was a much faster way to do whatever I did, but that didn't stop me from feeling quite accomplished at the end of my designing.

I was so proud of myself I made a new background for the Gnome Blog I also contribute to

I think I will leave the professional graphic design to my husband, but (as you can tell) for the time being I am quite proud of myself.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Helpink.org

Helpink.org is a cool new website where artists can submit their art work. Helpink.org turns the artwork accepted into posters and sells them. All of the proceeds go to the charity of the artists' choice.

The End of LOST

This is not a post about my thoughts on the Season Finale of LOST. LOST is what it is. Confusing, magical, sci-fi, and unanswered. This is a post about me being sad that LOST is over.

I  will never forget watching a complete season of LOST on my honeymoon with Jonathan and then searching for a Target because we needed to get season two in our hands well before we headed home from Florida.

I also vividly remember reading the article when the producers of LOST announced it would end in 2010.

I feel like I said goodbye to my friends on Sunday night. I am not sure if it will fall into the ranks of The OC and Veronica Mars as a show I will watch over and over (I have exhausted both the DVD's and Hulu when it comes to those two shows). The intensity and need for me to watch something light hearted as soon as the LOST logo comes across up at the end of an episode may keep me from putting it on as background noise. But Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley will be always be close to my heart. The writers of LOST could fill my head with a million more unanswered questions and I would still faithfully watch the show every week.

Signing off for LOST.

Bad Robot.

500

This is my 500th post. It seems like it should be a big deal, but it also seems like it took me a million years to reach this benchmark.

Here's to the next 500 posts.
Cheers.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

 

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Saving My Pennies

This weekend when Jonathan and I were doing some chores around the house I turned on the Ella Fitzgerald Pandora station. I have talked about my love for Ella before, but as my home was filled with her beautiful voice I was reminded again just how much I really love her (which of course is further proof I was born into the wrong decade).

Although I have known it has existed for awhile I was reminded how much I would love to have this:

It contains every song that she recorded from 1956-1964 in order of release. If I were to buy the actual box set it would contain 16 CD's! However, I have my eye set on the itunes version - which includes 254 songs and would be much quicker to get on my computer and ipod. Now...all I need to find is an extra $160 to add this to my music collection.

In the meantime I will settle for my Ella Pandora station and Christmas album.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Headed to Lynchburg

We are headed to Lynchburg on a red eye tonight to visit Jonthan's parents.

I am such a lover of the East Coast, and it has been SO long since I have been there! I can't wait to just take it all in!

We are hoping to sneak a trip to Washington DC in there as well - I love love love love love Washington DC. You can guarantee there will be lots of pictures!

See you in a week!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Home Sweet Home

Have I mentioned how much I love my cute little home?
True after living in our four bedroom two-story house it did take some getting used to our 900 square foot one-bedroom apartment...but I love it. We have everything hung on the walls and every single box unpacked, and I am pretty sure everything has a home. There is nothing that seems to be missing, and I am not on that constant search for that one last thing to make the house complete. I just love it.

Even when I have the day off and Jonathan is working about 15 feet away from me.
Even when I have to get really creative with counter space while making dinner.
Even when I can hear my neighbor talking (loudly) on the phone in the morning, or smell cigarette smoke lingering up through my window while I am laying in my bed.
Even when I have to carry my groceries up two flights of stairs.
Even when there is someone in our one bathroom and I have to pee.

I especially love it when it only takes me five minutes to dust the whole house.
And when I turn the air conditioning on and within minutes the whole house cools down.
And when birds come and hang out on our balcony.
And when I can see what my neighbors are watching on TV.
And when I DON'T hear any neighbors screaming at their kids.
And when I leaving to go out of town the task of coming home a totally picked up house is not unattainable.
And when I have the day off and Jonathan is working 15 feet away from me.

I just LOVE it.

Saying Thank You

Part of my job is to say Thank You to people. Well really I am supposed to appreciate and encourage people in such a way that they they know I am saying "Thank You!"

Thank You for loving students.
Thank You for taking time off of work to come on this trip with us.
Thank You for giving tirelessly EVERY week to your small group even though your students never acknowledge this.
Thank You for showing up at that freshman baseball game and sitting in the ninety degree weather in your business suit so that one student had a fan.
Thank You for calming that parent down...for praying with that student...for inviting him over for family dinner...for listening to her talk about her break-up with her boyfriend.
Thank You.
Thank You.
Thank You.

Generally these Thank Yous come in the form of handwritten notes or a small token of my affection. I would rather be sending them on all expense paid vacation to Tahiti where they could sleep in a hut over the ocean while basking in the beauty of God's creation...but I can't.

So instead I buy stationary, and $5 Starbucks cards, and little trinkets that remind me of that person and I mail it to them.

How do you say Thank You?

The Land of Enchantment

Last week we were in Shiprock, New Mexico with serving the Navajo people there.
I am so proud of all of my students and adult leaders - they worked hard - slept little - and really gave their all to serve.

Here is MY trip to New Mexico in numbers:
156 students
37 adults
6 kids
4 busses
25 hours in the car
1 stop at Cracker Barrel
500 pages of Harry Potter read
8 trips to Walmart
1440 hot dogs
1440 hot dog buns (every SINGLE hot dog bun in Walmart)
38 boxes of Cheese-its
26 jars of peanut butter
77 loaves of bread
1 trip to Home Depot
4 REALLY heavy buckets of primer
38 pies from The Village Inn
6 times my math failed me
2 times we followed the GPS instead of our instincts
52 times Jonathan and Phil made fun of me
2 dinners at 2:30am
20 total hours of sleep over five days
1 midnight trip to the emergency room

It was non-stop and just when you thought you could sit down to rest (and maybe take a nap) we would be on to the next thing - but it was such a blast to watch our students come back to the hotel each night tired, dirty, and overflowing with God's joy!

Happy Birthday Ange!

My sweet friend Ange is turning 30 today!

Since I can't be with her to celebrate her birthday I wanted everyone to know how great she is and how much she deserves to be celebrated.

Here are 30 things we both love which is why we are the best of friends!

1. We love LOST

2. We love our iPhones

3. We love Sprinkles cupcakes

4. We love tumbleweeds

5. We love 30 Rock

6. We love Bagels and Brew

7. We love traveling to new places

8. We love ministry

9. We love Twilight

10. We love homemade guacamole

11. We love crappy TV

12. We don't really love exercise, but we like to pretend we do

13. We love Starbucks

14. We love to read

15. We love animals (she loves them more than me)

16. We love Christmas decorations

17. We love our families

18. We love blogs

19. We love adventures

20. We love a good commercial

21. We love to laugh

22. We have just the right amount of love for Disneyland (not too much not too little)

23. We love Twitter

24. We love to talk

25. We love trendy pop songs

26. We love to text silly things to each other everyday

27. We love musicals

28. We love to think (maybe over think sometimes)

29. We love to sit really close to each other on the couch

30. We LOVE GNOMES

I love you Ange! You can move back to Orange County now.

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Picture Monday

A peek into my life every Monday based on a random sampling of pictures on my computer.

You are welcome!

Random Thoughts

I have always thought of the 5 freeway as more American because Disneyland is off of it. I don't even know what it means for a freeway to be American.

I drive so much differently when I am in the car alone. Especially on the freeway. I am way more aggressive. I am 100% sure it is because I am not talking...to anyone. I feel the need to put "to anyone" at the end of that sentence because there is a good chance I am talking to myself.

On that note...there is no way I could ever be on a reality tv show. I talk to myself so much when I am alone I am sure I would spook the camera man.