My friend Renee just announced to everyone that she'll be having a new addition to her family at the end of July! As of yet, she doesn't know what she's having - but I'm pulling for a girl so that I have an excuse to buy lots of frilly stuff! I'm definitely happy for her new little blessing and can't wait to meet the baby face to face - if the baby is anything like her mommy, he or she will be BEAUTIFUL!

Renee was really worried about my reaction - just because Chris and I have been trying to have a little one of our own for almost a year. It'll happen for us eventually - hopefully Renee will share some of her water with me! I totally believe that we control how we react in any situation and I decided at the beginning of this process that I didn't want to be bitter or angry towards anyone that was pregnant when I wasn't - what purpose would that serve anyway? Babies truly are miracles - it's amazing what all has to line up in order for them to happen! Definitely not as easy as they make you think it is in high school! It'll be my time soon enough - and until then, at least I have one that I can love on and spoil! (And give back when they need changed!)

Christmas

It seems like we spend half the year getting ready for Christmas, then it's over so quickly! The past five days have flown by so fast - but it was great getting a chance to see my family - especially those we don't get to spend nearly enough time with!
A short recap: One of Grady's many presents! The Lattig family The great Pickled Walnut eating Champions of 2008 (From left to right: Shane, Kyle, Dad, Jon and Chris) One of Santa's reindeer escaped to Canton!

What I've been doing at work...

This process has seemed like it's taken forever, but I'm glad that we're finally done because it looks AWESOME! The local humane society in the county where I work, received grants to not only purchase a cargo van to transport animals to the prison program and back, but also for their new endeavors of transporting animals to a shelter in Minneapolis, Minnesota to find forever homes. I'm a big supporter for adoption of animals - and I really hope that this van stirs up the cause and plenty of long deserved attention to the cause! The company I work for was fortunate enough to develop the concept of the art work, as well as printing and installation. Our team put in lots of hours all the way around and it looks great!

Happy Birthday, Chris!

We went out on Friday with some friends to celebrate Chris' birthday - and even though not everyone was able to make it, with Christmas parties and get togethers - we had a blast. It was so nice to take a break from the business of the season and kick back with those that are important in our lives. We went back to the apartment after, and played the Wii, which gave us even more laughs. Thanks for celebrating with us!

Header

After hunting for a couple weeks, I finally found the image that fits my blog perfectly! A big thanks to MorgueFile.com that hosts free high-res digital photos for all creative pursuits; corporate, public and private use.

Also, a big THANKS to Mary R. Vogt for taking this great photo and posting it on MorgueFile.com for others to use!

Resolutions

Holidays are a time of year for celebrations with friends and family - catching up with those you haven't seen in a while and a great time to reminisce of holidays past, as well as creating new memories. We also reflect on our lives of the past year and look forward to all the possibilities in the new year.

Instead of waiting until the clock is striking midnight on December 31 to try and convince yourself that you're finally going to lose those 10 and some pounds - take some time between the hustle and bustle and really think of what you want out of your life and where you want to be a year from now.

I came across a great website that helps you through this process with very minimal effort. goals.lululemon.com

Goals do not have to be earth shattering - but even the smallest goals will have an impact on your life. A couple weeks before Christmas last year, Chris and I made a goal to give up fast food. I once read somewhere that it takes 30 days of doing something over and over again to become a habit. I'm proud to say that a year later Chris and I are fast food free. We do have the occasional Quizno's or Subway or Tim Horton's (sandwiches only!) Let's face it, it's hard sometimes to pack a sandwich is your purse when you're out with friends. I feel so good about the both of us that we made an attainable goal and stuck to it.

This is what I have planned for this upcoming year:

Happy Thanksgiving...a day early!

We're going to be traveling up to Michigan tomorrow morning to spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws. I'm definitely going to miss spending time with my sister while she's in town this weekend, but at least I'll get to see her when she comes home for Christmas. (I'm already counting down the days, Katie!)

Even with all this turmoil going on in the country right now - I have lots to be thankful for- a loving husband and family, great friends (that I consider my extended family!), my job, health, and insurance, all while living in this great country. There's many people out there now that can't say the same thing, which is why it's a great time to help out the community. A little goes a long way, so please take the time to help out those around you. Pay it forward - you never know when you might be in need.

Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels!

Lego Fashion Show!

JCDC Versus LEGO from Four H on Vimeo.

via craftzine

Go Bucks!

Twas the night before game time,
And all round the shoe,
Not a creature was sleeping,
They were screaming "Beat Blue!"
The banners were hung by the lamp posts with care
In hopes that Pryor would find Beany through the air.
Drunken and crazy and burning their beds,
While visions of kick-off danced through their heads.
When all of the sudden there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the keg to see what was the matter.
When there in the sky, in a Coupe DeVille sleigh,
Was Woody Hayes decked out in scarlet and gray.
He looked on the crowd that was gathered around,
And said that he heard that a game was in town.
"I came here to watch it, and wish you good luck."
"Though it's not like you need it, cause Michigan still sucks."
(Poster and poem by annon.)

Tinkerbell Party

This past weekend while I was in Canton visiting family, I invited my little cousin Caitlyn over for a Tinkerbell party. I bought my mom, Caitlyn and myself fairy wings and we popped lots of popcorn and watched "Tinkerbell" -- which is probably one of the cutest movies that I've seen in a while and hopefully will be owning soon! Afterwards, we colored in coloring books (which I haven't done in forever and definitely don't do nearly enough) and had some fun taking pictures. I gave Caitlyn all of our wings and the movie, and while on the way out the door, and prompted by her mom, she said "Thanks, Grady!" (Grady is my dog).

It's a Girl!

It's great to celebrate with friends at work that just found out yesterday that they'll be blessed with a baby girl in April! They already have three cute little boys, who'll definitely be looking out for their little sister. I'm pretty sure she won't be able to date until she's 35. I can't wait to buy the baby patent leather shoes and ruffle butt bottoms - she's definitely going to be the most girly-girl ever - at least until she's old enough to start hanging out with her brothers!

Gettin' in the spirit

In search of a star Christmas tree topper - Beryl, Kelly, Erin and I drove up to Bronner's (the LARGEST Christmas store ever) in Frankenmuth, Michigan on Saturday. It's definitely worth the trip if you have never been there before - though you should definitely go earlier in the year when there's a little more room to walk up and down the aisles without bumping into everyone. We also ate at Zenhder's which has the best home-made German food in town.

Hopefully next year we'll plan to go a little earlier and stay for the entire weekend so we have time to hit up the outlet mall at Birch Run, which we were too tired for on this trip! Driving four hours up and back, plus many hours shopping is enough to make even the most excited Christmas shopper exhausted!

Things I've learned over the past 28 years

I follow blogs all the time and I've been wanting to start one for a while but figured no one really cared about what I had to say or think - but here goes anyway. Here are some lessons that I've learned over my lifetime up to this point, some more quickly than others, but all of them equally as important.

• You always have a choice in any situation - it might not be easy to make, but you always have one.
  
• Anything worth having is never easy.
• After a bad day never cancel plans with friends - they are the best way to turn your day around.
• Being an adult isn't about making the right decisions - it's about how you deal with the outcome of those decisions.
• The definition of the word insane is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
• Attitude is a decision.
  
• When you want something badly, you'll only get it after you stop wanting it.
• Lying about a situation usually causes more problems than what there were to begin with.
• Needing and wanting are definitely two different things.
• There are never too many miles between the people that you love.
• There are always going to be people that have it better than you - but there's also people that have it worse that you.
• If you want someone who doesn't care what you look like or whether you've brushed your teeth but wants to kiss you anyway and is excited to see you every time you walk through the door - get a dog.