Thursday, December 26, 2013

Post Jolly Old Man

Today is the day after Christmas and I have NO idea what to do with myself.  For the first time in four days I don't have to cook, get the house ready or shower if I really don't feel like it.  I'll probably feel like the last one, but the jury's still out.  #yourewelcome  Today is what I like to call Leftoverevemas.  Pronounced leftover-eve-mas.  This is the day when I don't cook.  Like, at all.  This morning when we all work up *ahem, 10:30* I pulled out all of the leftovers, including the French toast casserole I made yesterday and said...and I quote "voila, breakfast/lunch and possibly dinner is served".  I have one lucky family, let me tell you! 

My personal favorite turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy sandwich will be a must today!  If you need any leftover ideas, make sure to check out my How to upcycle your Thanksgiving leftovers post, here!  There are SO many recipes to help you kick the leftover boredom!


Aside from eating our weight in food/cookies/candy and drinking enough cocoa to put even Santa's elves into diabetic shock, we've been doing super fun stuff!  Two days ago we went to a local park and then dawned our Christmas jammies for a family photo shoot !  Here are some sneak peaks!


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My personal favorite, so far! via







Yesterday we woke up bright and early to see what Santa brought us, had Christmas brunch and then I cooked my butt off for Christmas dinner.  Enter, leftoverevemas!  It was a fun night filled with food, games and family!  Everyone was super spoiled, including me!  Love that!










 
 
 








Being so far away from my parents I was blessed with a facetime from them!  This may or may not have been the first time in 3 years my Madre figured it out and we facetimed!  Ok, it totally was!  I was super excited to "see" them and I got to show them my house.  #mademyhearthappy




That's about it so far!  Today will be filled with winter drives "out the road" coming soon to a Cordovaism post near you, snowball fights, game nights and lots of family time.  Just the way I like it. 








I hope your Christmas was as amazing as mine was!  What was your favorite present?!  How do you upcycle your leftovers? 

Until next time...

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Playing not blogging

Happy Christmas Eve y'all!!  I'd say that I've missed you but that would be a lie!  I've been playing with two of the cutest step daughters I know!  I'm soaking in all the time I can before they have to fly back to casa #2!  But, I will give you a super fun picture show of what we've been up to!!  


Our first ugly sweater party!




The best snapchats I've ever received!!




The ice princess and igloo rooms!


A girl, her pug and their igloo!




Family time!




Pugs love to eat snow, I imagine this caption as " Oh, Hi Mom... Err, I wasn't eating anything..."


If you can't tell, those are matching Christmas jammies +family pics = coolest parents ever!  Our tween would disagree on this one!




Cocoa, cocoa and more cocoa!!


Pug snuggles...


So ladies and germs, that's what the Ladd family has been up to lately!  If you want more up to date awesomeness, follow me on Instagram @lifelaughsandladds !  Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas (eve)!



 
Love, the Ladds!!

Until next time...
 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Frank Friday + Photography Friday Link Up!

Well folks, I made it.  It's officially Christmas break for me and I'm looking at two amazing weeks of family, food and the best step-daughters in the whole world!!!   I cannot tell you how excited I am for the break and not having to work and frankly, I need it.  If you have been paying attention to my instagram you've noticed a bajillion pictures of my coffee cups with some kind of "poor me, I'm sick" caption.  I'm looking forward to kicking this 3 MONTH illness (I kid you not) out the door, hopefully to ring in a new year of health! 
This was me yesterday... No fun!!

I'd be lying if I said I didn't let my sickness slow me down, because that freight train wasn't stoppin' for nobody! *said in a southern accent I do not have* It has taken me about two weeks longer than I wanted to decorate my house and really feel like it's ready for the girls or for Christmas period.  You better believe these decorations will stay up past Christmas and I don't want to hear anything about it!  haha  I've been wanting to post pics of the house finished, so what better way than a Photography Friday?

For the first time I jumped out of my glittery silver & red Christmas and ventured into the world of shabby/chic burlap, gold and red Christmas that I have been drooling over for years.  I figured that being in the Alaskan wilderness gave me at least some excuse to try something new...I mean we go out into the wilderness and cut down our own freaking tree for crying out loud.  Correction, D goes out and cuts it down.  I went one year, picked a tree in a crazy hard spot and have been banned from going every since.  Either way, we get the best looking Charlie Brown tree that will fit in our house!  Side note, these are the most aggressive and well protected trees I have ever come into contact with.  They have razor sharp needles that will shoot out at you and stab your soul!  Ouch! 

I decided that shabby chic meant I had to DIY a lot, so throughout the house there are handmade pinterest wins and epic fails.  Let's see how good my camera skills can be to hide the fails?!   

Here's how I decked the halls this year! 














There ya go!  Those are just a few shots of the casa!  Hope you like it and got some inspiration!!  More on the Pinterest wins and epic fails later!!

Until next time...













Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Holiday Party Navigation Guide

Holiday work parties... you either love them, hate them or go because you're obligated.  I usually choose to go, well, because I like fun.  Also, the Christmas spirit runs through my veins making me love any and all things Christmas.  Since this is the season of giving, I've created a list of all the different types of people attending said parties to help navigate your way through even the most awkward holiday gatherings!  Unsolicited advice?  I'm you're girl!  You're welcome :)



The Bahumbug aka Scrooge
This person falls under the obligated category.  They are here out of a) being guilted into coming, b) free food/booze or c) they are obligated due to their position in the company.  I'm convinced that some people just dont like fun.  period. 

My Advice: Steer clear.  They don't want to talk to you and they're probably going to ruin your buzz.



The Token Drunk
I'm not saying this is good or bad... it is what it is.  This person can start out really fun and full of the Christmas spirit and then, well they get full of another, maybe multiple spirits.

My Advice: If they can hold their own and you feel like jumping on Santa's sleigh to party down, have at it but once they trade Santa's sleigh for Santa's lap... swim away!! 


The Lonely Coworker
There's always one.  Man, woman or child (child?) that doesn't have a date to the holiday party and instead of embracing this, they are two bitter comments away from Ebineaser status.  Whether it's their love of cats or inappropriate clothing after a certain age, this person wanted a date and unfortunately has none.
11 Best Pics of the Crazy Cat Lady Meme
My Advice: Unless you want to talk cat litter and alimony payments, use caution.  Although they could start buying drinks for a sympathetic ear.  Drink up but watch for the signs, when the cat lady starts slurring they have taken a left turn into the "token" land.  That's your cue to scoot!


The Frenemy
Much like a white elephant gift, this person can fool you into thinking they are something desirable.  Be warned, even through your candy cane goggles and eggnog induced pleasantries this person is not what they seem.  They may cozy up by the fire with you, but you will be the one getting burned!

My Advice: Danger Will Robinson!  This person may look like your bff and you may have a jolly good time sipping cocktails and commenting on people's ugly sweaters they didn't know they were wearing but come Monday at 8am, it's on like Donkey Kong!  Don't get loose lips, this "friend" may turn back into a foe at the stroke of midnight, Christmas cheer be damned.


The Host(ess)
Stressed Christmas hostess
via
The Host(ess) has a lot riding on this party.  They have put their blood, sweat and gum drop tears into making sure they spread Christmas cheer for all to hear.  This can go two ways: 1) they are the perfect host, keeping your glass full and fluttering around the room to save you from awkward social situations and make sure you have delicious hor d'oeuvres at all times or.... 2) they are a neurotic, stressed mess of a person that will ask you if you like their food every 20 seconds and rope you into helping with EVERYTHING.  Either way, feel free to put them in the line of fire if you get caught in an undesirable conversation- it's their party and their duty to take the hit.  #you'rewelcome

My Advice: Proceed with caution.  Gauge the situation, smile and overall aura of the host.  Real smile and seemingly well organized party, enjoy freely... fake smile and snarky comments- RUN!

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Ol' St. Nick
Otherwise called the creepy old guy who drank a little too much eggnog and now wants you to sit on his lap and tell Santa what you want for Christmas. *shudder* Sweet old man by day and seedy Bad Santa by night, this man is hard to spot.  Just like the O.F.M (Original Fat Man) you never quite know who or where he is.  Beware, this is not one magical gift of sugar plums you're gonna want to see!

My Advice: When the switch flips and you see mistletoe come out avoid at all costs unless you want to be his ho, ho, ho.  P.S. If he comes dressed as Santa, don't wait for the switch, he's already flipped!


Buddy the Elf quote: The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. The Christmas Elf
This person loves Christmas and will go around the party spreading Christmas cheer!  Smiling is their favorite!  This person probably had the best ugly sweater on purpose and is graciously embodying the true meaning of Christmas without losing the reason for the season!  While slightly annoying, this person may be the life of the party in a good way and as an added bonus, they are like kryptonite to their Scrooge-like counter parts.

My Advice: As a fellow Elf, I applaud this person and encourage you to hangout with them!  They may seem to be a bit much, but seeing is not believing... believing is seeing and they know this. 


Ta-dahhhh!  That is my Christmas gift to you blogland!  There are always different types of people at work parties and hopefully this guide will give you a heads up on who to friend and who to block!

Now don't be a cotton-headed ninnymoggins, go mingle!!

Until next time...

Friday, December 13, 2013

Frank Fridays: Holiday Parties, the beginnning...

Well, it's Friday!  We made it!  I think that in itself deserves a bottle glass of wine, don't you?

No... well.... more for me! (holy exclamation points #sorryi'mnotsorry)  I was "lucky" enough to have an extremely long 15ish hour workday on Wednesday, so yesterday I turned on the jets and sped out of there at 10 to enjoy some well deserved comp time!  Yesterday was spent crafting away and I can't wait to share my pinterest win's and epic fails with you next week!  anywho...

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'Tis the season for holiday parties with too much nog and plenty of drama.  I.can't.wait!  I love Holiday parties.  I would say I love Christmas parties but with cookie exchanges, work "holiday" parties, ugly sweater parties and family Christmas parties I had to make it a little more general.


Tomorrow night is my first holiday party of the season- make that two parties to be exact!  We've got one work party and one friend party to go to.  Decisions, decisions... What will I get in the white elephant gift exchange?  Will people like my sweater?  Will I be that person at the party??  I guess you'll just have to come back to find out!



Until then here's a little drink recipe to liven things up!  This has been a staple for the past couple of weekends and really tastes amazing!  One of my friends even calls it "Christmas in a cup" or bottle for that matter!

via
Spiced Hard Cider







  • 6 ounces hard apple cider
  • 1 1/2 ounces cinnamon whisky

  • Read more at http://cocktail365.blogspot.com/2013/07/angry-balls.html#60XOLEvkgq60vyZj.99
    1 Bottle Hard Apple Cider
    1- 1/2 oz Fireball

    Directions:
    1. Dump all into a glass & Stir.  Enjoy.

    It's that delicious and easy my friends.  Be warned, it's addictive, deceptive and bound to force a good time.  #you'rewelcome  Just make sure there's always a DD *okay, mom* and you drink responsibly.  You wouldn't want to have any little "mistakes" pop up on the internet, now would you??

    Until next time...
    Have an amazing weekend and don't forget to be Frank!


    Life, Laughs and Ladds: Frank Fridays

    Wednesday, December 11, 2013

    Cheers Not Jeers!





    Cheers not Jeers




    Every Wednesday I get to go through my list of blogs I follow or blogging ladies I talk to on the daily and pick someone who has inspired me this week!  It's always hard to choose someone because so many of you really do inspire me to be a better blogger, wife and person!


    Today I'm going to recognize Amber from 3 Ladies and Their Gent!  While I've never really spoken to Amber (not to be creepy or anything), but her blog always puts a smile on my face!  She seems like one of the sweetest people ever!  As a new mom of twins you would think she's sleep deprived and maybe a little bit of a hot mess- not the case, I can assure you!  She always has the best outfit posts that make me want to be a size0, but in a good way, and you better believe those gorgeous girls are always dressed to the nines!
    Told you!  How stinkin' cute are they?!
    This lovely lady has monthly updates on what the twins are doing, the products they love/hate and an honest opinion from a first time mom.  I would recommend anyone with kids to stop on by.  I know I'll be looking at this when it's time for me!

    PhotobucketAmber inspires me to write more and to keep trying on the baby train.  She discusses her own fertility issues (no, I have not been labeled as an "issue" yet) and the road to getting pregnant.  She makes life look so effortless, which with twins must be far from the truth!  She is constantly a positive, inspiring voice and inspires me to be a better person, mother and wife.

    Here's to you Amber!!  Go check out her blog and see what I'm talking about!



    Cheers Not Jeers!
    How it works:
    • Every Wednesday join in the link up by including "Cheers" about your favorite bloggers. These are bloggers who spur your creativity, touch your heart, or keep you sane laughing.
    • Post a small shout out or devoted post to your blogger loves, creating more community between each other, while posting a link to their blog in your post so others many be inspired.
    • Grab the button below to include in your post
    • After linking up, find a new face, visit a new blog, introduce yourself and send them a "cheer" 

    Highly Encouraged:
    There are no specific "rules" about following certain individuals in the link up, but just strongly encouraging women to seek out one another and offering praise instead of the negativity we can often see floating around the world wide web. I will personally visit each blog in the link up to see what any awesome impact this is making.

    Go spread some Cheer!!  Until next time... 
    Cheers not Jeers