My 2012 in Review

What's that? You want a re-cap of everything that happened to me this year? Okay!!

Check out highlights of this year after the jump...

Waking Up In Vegas

We are back from California! It was so good to be home and spend time with my family. The girls got manicures and (much-needed) haircuts, my dad took the men on a "man day" (who even knows what they did) and we watched lots of movies and ate lots of food with lots of people. And we had FOUR Christmases! 

On our way back, we picked up some friends and spent the night in Vegas! The last time I was in Vegas, I was eight and my grandma took us to Excalibur. I don't remember anything about that trip, so all my ideas about Vegas have come from movies like 21 and  Ocean's 11, 12 and 13.

This time, in real life, we spent some Christmas money on a nice meal and walked through the Venetian and saw the water show outside of the Bellagio. 

The whole time we were walking around town, I just kept thinking about how many casino heists and card-counting scams were most likely secretly happening all around us. All the moguls making huge business deals in elite penthouse suites, and me wearing my husband's huge sweatshirt to keep from freezing. Something about Vegas makes me nervous, because I am not a Vegas person. I don't enjoy anything that people who go to Vegas like to do. I felt pretty out of my element based on all the things I've seen in movies about Vegas (luxury, danger, sex, and partying, all done by George Clooneys and Julia Roberts' with lots of swagger). 

Have you actually walked around the strip and looked at the people walking around?  They aren't sexy. They don't look like moguls. In fact, they look just like ordinary people! The only people who looked sexy were the girls on the corner dressed up like flamingos who got paid $10 a pop to take pictures with people and promote their hotel. Even they looked like they were freezing and not having a good time. I'd rather be warm in a big sweatshirt than freezing in a flamingo costume. 

And that, my friends, is why I should trust real life instead of all those movies I watch. 

PS: My favorite things about Christmas was that it was our first year together as newlyweds. The last two Christmases were spent pining instead of fully celebrating. On Christmas Eve, after everyone went to bed, we stayed up playing Wii and Pinning (respectively) and watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional together. It was a great way to start Christmas and reminded me why we celebrate this holiday longer than any other holiday. What better reason than Christ? 

The True Meaning of Christmas: A Babe, born in Bethlehem

It's Christmas Sunday! I'm so excited to go to church and listen to the story of Jesus' birth and life. I've been reading up on him here, and it's getting me really excited for Christmas. I love having a reason to learn and think more of my Savior. To get you in the Christmas mood, here's a quote on the true meaning of Christmas, and a short movie of the nativity. Enjoy your Sunday! 

"The Christmas season is a time to celebrate the priceless gift of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His birth, which we commemorate during this season, is more than the symbol of a holiday. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of all mankind, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace, and our joy and salvation. This Christmas season will have greater meaning as we seek to follow His example and live His teachings."

-found here

The Best Christmas Movies Of All Time

Remember when I talked about my favorite family Christmas traditions? Watching movies together is a big part of that. In honor of one of my favorite traditions, I have compiled a list of the best holiday movies to watch this month to get you into a festive mood. This post could also be called:

"The Best 17 Movies to Watch At Christmas Because They're Awesome And I've Seen Them And They Mention Christmas At Some Point". Enjoy! 

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

2. Home Alone

3. Meet Me In St. Louis

4. The Santa Clause

5. The Polar Express

6. Elf

7. White Christmas

8. To Grandmother's House We Go (Oh yeah. This is happening. I was addicted to MK+A growing up. Watched every movie 10 trillion times. This is staying on the list, mostly because it makes me happy to see them pre-hobo.)

9. The Harry Potter series

10. Little Women

11. Mean Girls

12. Serendipity

13. The Holiday

14. Sleepless in Seattle

15. When Harry Met Sally

16. You've Got Mail

17. The Family Stone

I won't apologize that 3 of those movies feature Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks/Billy Crystal. While googling Christmas movies to refresh my memory, I stumbled upon this gem. I've never seen it, but I might pay a billion dollars to find a copy.

Your turn. Do you have a favorite Christmas movie?

9 Cute DIY Christmas Decorations

one / craft stick snowflakes / two : glitter reindeer art / three : candy cane wreath / four : miniatures in a jar / five : sparkle branches / six : dollar store fake fruit + glitter = centerpiece / seven : 25 awesome advent calendars eight : handmade christmas trees / nine : peace garland

Friday Favorites

It's Friday! Why is Monday so close to Friday, when Friday is so far from Monday?

Our best friends got married to each other this weekend! Other than that, we have spent the entire week detoxing from Thanksgiving. We have been hitting the gym way more than usual (easy, when the usual is never lately), cooking healthy meals, and overdosing on all things Christmas. This weekend we're going to see the lights at Temple Square (I'm a sucker for twinkle lights) and doing a temple session. Lesbehonest, a good portion of this weekend will also be spent on my rear.

Here are some of my favorite things this week:

Provo Christmas Bucket List

Guys. December is crazy. There are so many things to do, and yet somehow, I still end up sitting on my butt at home watching Christmas specials on TV. Love me some TV, but there are so many things to do in Utah during the holidays! I have compiled a list of the most exciting things happening in Utah Valley during the month of December. This is in no way an exhaustive list, but I did a lot of curating for you. For more complete calendars of events in Utah Valley, go here + here + here + here.

Tradition .... TRADITION!

I think I mentioned earlier that I am trying to find some new family traditions that Matt and I can share together. I love my family's traditions, and I love being a part of Matt's family traditions, but I think it'll be fun to have our own. Being newly married puts a big old magnifying glass on everything I thought was normal. Turns out, some things are normal for me, but not for Matt. The things I did growing up are not the same for Matt. Talking to people about their holiday family traditions has either proven that 1) my family is weird or 2) my family is awesome. I am wholeheartedly choosing #2. 

Here are some awesome Rowland family traditions that I am excited for this Christmas:

1) Watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This is the only movie that I have seen more than 7 times. (Other movies that come close are Titanic, My Little Pony, and Sex + the City).  My father loves it. He quotes it all year long. It's a given that this will be on in the background at some point during Christmas vacation..........Do you see what I did there?

2) Chinese food on Christmas Eve. I think this tradition might have started because my mom was getting too stressed out about cooking a perfect meal on Christmas Eve, so my dad took away the stress by ordering Chinese food one year. I love that he gave her the perfect reason to relax and enjoy the family instead of slaving in the kitchen. We have done this for a few years now, and I look forward to it. It's a nice treat for us and for my mom...(BTW, she cooks amazing meals all the time and we love them). 

3) Mom's Annual Bathroom Reader Giveaway. That's right. I don't know how this started, but my mother buys literally every single person in our family a new version of Uncle John's Bathroom Reader every year. I always pretend to be grossed out, but those books are actually really interesting. I just keep them outside of my bathroom...

4) New Year's Empanadas. Growing up LDS outside of Utah means no LDS friends (except for my trusty sidekick, Jeannette). I obviously wasn't allowed (or invited, let's get real, I was a total nerd) to go to parties, so New Year's Eve was always a family night. We started cooking Empanadas every 31st while we watched the countdown. Now that I'm away from home, my new tradition is to spend New Year's with the very same sidekick Jeannette, no matter where we live. 

My favorite New Year's was the year before Matt left on his mission. We went to a party in SLC, but it was lame, so we went and watched Benjamin Button. That movie was so long that we had to run to get back to the party to see the fireworks go off at midnight. We were running through the deserted streets of Salt Lake and missed the fireworks because the buildings were so tall, but they reflected off of the buildings across the street. We stopped running and just stared...and then I got an asthma attack.

5) Three Christmases. My extended family is very small. And we all live within an hour radius of each other. We see each other all the time. Thanksgiving is always at my house, and Christmas is always split up between my mom and dad's sides. Christmas Eve: immediate family. Christmas afternoon: Mom's side. Christmas night: Dad's side. I had never even heard of a family reunion until I moved to Utah. We never needed them. 

6) The wrapping party in the laundry room. My mom usually stays up wrapping Christmas gifts late into the night. My sister and I loved helping her wrap presents growing up. I love giving gifts, and I love giving pretty gifts even more. I would try to make every gift look different somehow. We have a whole closet in the laundry room dedicated to wrapping supplies. Boxes of gift tags. Bows upon bows. 10 different kinds of wrapping paper. Bag and bags and bags galore. Wrapping the gifts for me was almost better than Christmas itself! I loved staying up late with them and talking or listening to Christmas music. When we had dogs they would come in and walk all over the presents, but we loved them so much we didn't care anyway. Good times.

7) Stake Christmas Choir. I don't do this anymore because I can't be at rehearsals beforehand, but in HS, I was always in the Stake Christmas Choir every year. We always sang at a special Christmas fireside a few Sundays before Christmas. I love singing, and I love Christmas music. It was so fun to be a part of a singing group that sounded pretty dece. Nothing brings the spirit of Christmas to my heart faster than singing Christmas music.

8) James Taylor Acoustic Christmas. Once my dad figured out how iTunes worked, I'm pretty sure James Taylor Christmas was the first album he bought. And then he played it loud enough for the whole house to hear. I would be in the bathroom and hear that guitar start up and I knew exactly what was going down. "James Taylor is such a good musician, but man, is he messed up." Who cares...his voice is like butta.

9) Late-night Mexican food runs. Somehow my brother found the most ghetto authentic Mexican food in Fullerton and craves it annually, at 2am. It's the kind of place where all the cooks expect you to order in Spanish. Since we both inherited the night-owl gene, we'd be the only two up and he'd ask me to go on a Tacqueria de Anda run with him. Of course I thought it was super cool when I was in high school to hang out with my cool adult brother, so I usually went along. One time he tricked me into eating a brain taco. I think that was the end of the late-night runs for me for a few years. I hope we go again this year.

NEW HARDIN FAMILY TRADITIONS: 

- Buying a new ornament every year when we go on vacation. 

- Decorating the tree together for FHE
- Small gift at Christmas. Use the saved money to go on a nice summer vacation.

- It's not Christmas yet, so I still have time to think of some more + execute them.

What's your favorite Christmas tradition? 

Holiday Gift Guide: Secret Santa Edition

one : jonathan adler all-occasion card set / two : egg tangram set / three : iPhone alarm dock / four : spy deck / five : portable ping pong set / six : stainless steel drink straws / seven : canvas foldable city tote / eight : slotter game / nine : portable backup battery

Eternal Things

I have been thinking a lot about eternal things lately. I am trying to study the Gospel more (read scriptures, ponder + attend the temple) and understand my eternal purpose. By trying to spend my energy caring about eternal things like family, personal progress, God and my marriage, I feel like all the little insignificant things have started to fall away. Life is hard, tedious and frustrating at times. But it is also full of joy, wonder and amazing moments. I am trying to focus on the latter. 

Speaking of Christmas (wait, what?), I am trying to make this my most spiritual Christmas yet. I do love posting holiday gift guides, but I am also planning some fun December activities for my family to build up some awesome Christmas memories. In 10 years, we will all remember how we felt instead of what we got, anyway.

Here is a great website to get you into the true spirit of Christmas! You can read the Christmas story, quotes from some very inspired men, and listen to some srsly great Christmas music.

Happy Sunday! 

Holiday Gift Guide : Friend Edition (Girl)

one : handmade car kit / two :  dainty initial necklace / three : fondue for two  / four : nautical tea infusers / five : diy temporary tattoos / six : make your own recipe book / seven : buddha bowl / eight : personalized usa map / nine : monogrammed key chain

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! We are down in Arizona with Matt's family, riling up children like nobody's business and eating way too much food. This is my first holiday as an official spouse, and I'm having a great time! It helps to know your husband's family four years before you're married. No nerves, just fun. There are almost 30 people under one roof, which I love! And we went hiking after Thanksgiving lunch (a first, but it definitely makes room for Thanksgiving dinner). 

We were planning on driving up today to be in our best friends' wedding, but we have had some car trouble. Getting a car repaired on Black Friday looks like it's going to be a daunting task, so we will be staying here for a couple more days instead of driving back up. We are sad to miss our friends' wedding! But at least we get a few more days of family time. 

You guys know I have been all up in Christmas's business since Halloween ended. I still have a few more gift guides scheduled, but today is devoted to things I love. I'm channeling my favey faves, Oprah, and her favorite things. Right now I'm loving on bold pops of red, cuddling weather, and simple decorations. Here you go! 

The art of lighting a Christmas tree.

Have you heard of the sound wave bracelet? You record yourself saying something, send it to the company, and they make a bracelet, representing the sound wave of it.

This website lets you upload any picture and turn it into a coloring page. I wish I could still get away with doing this in church.

I don't know why, but I don't crave baked goods like most people I know. This sounds like the perfect holiday treat to me!

It's almost time to start the official countdown to Christmas! This website has 34 ways to make an advent calendar.

Holiday Gift Guide: Mens Edition

I'm going to be honest here and say that I probably know as much about what men want as Mel Gibson knows about women (pre-lightning strike). But I got some suggestions on Facebook from trusty men and this guide is approved by my husband, who is definitely a man's man. Enjoy! 

one : iPhone wallet / two : nerf shoot to snooze alarm clock / three : gift card for camping equipment / four : grill and smoker  / five: those shoes he's been eyeing for six months / six: the man can grooming kit / seven : 12 pre-planned, pre-paid date nights / eight : a honeymoon sleeping bag / nine : personalized leather toiletry bag

Holiday Gift Guide: Womens Edition

Let's just say that this is probably what I want more than what all women want. I will say that most women do like to be surprised with a romantic gesture like #1 or #5, if its in your budget.

one: plan a trip and surprise her with the plans on christmas day / two : a weekender bag for that trip you planned / three / four : her favorite tv series on dvd / five : remember how you always talked about getting that pet? get it!  / six / seven : a book you think she'll enjoy / eight / nine : a year subscription of her favorite magazine

Holiday Gift Guide: Kids Edition

one / two / three / four / five / six / seven / eight / nine

7 Thing I Love About Christmas

A Christmas Playlist

Can you guys tell that I'm getting sooooo pumped for Christmas? My favorite way to do it is to play some holly jolly Christmas tunes! Christmas music is the only consistent music we listen to all year that helps remind us of Christ, family, giving and joy. It's so positive and it puts me in a great mood. Why wouldn't you want to listen to that for two whole months instead of one? Here's a merry playlist to queue up on your Spotify. You're welcome.

picture found here. 

Friday Favorites

Happy weekend! Not gonna lie, this was the longest week ever. But, at least we are all kinds of ready for Christmas around here! On Monday (for FHE) M + I may have sat around in our unmentionables and watched The Voice...but then we decorated our Christmas tree! We're all about keeping it real. I'm so excited for Christmas that today's post will be mostly dedicated to my favorite holiday. Here you go! 

The island where people forget to die. What?!

12 healing foods to cure headaches and other ailments.

Christmas is coming! I'm more excited this year than any other year! Here's a list of things to do in November to get ready for crazy December Christmas-month.

Have you heard of renter's wallpaper? I kind of hate those sterile white walls that come with rented apartments. I might have to get some of this myself...

Wondering what to get me for Christmas? I knew you were! Let's start with these vintage Santa matryoshka nesting dolls. Oh boy!

Look! A free, cute, printable DIY Christmas calendar.

One of my Bucket List items: Sleep under the Northern Lights in an ice igloo in Finland. Yes, please!

Need a neighbor gift for Christmas? This is super easy and better than cookies.

A Snow Memory

Our first snow! I always feel a little like Lorelai from Gilmore Girls on the first day of snow. What is so magical about new snow? I think it's because it sugar-coats every surface of your corner of the world and lets you see things in a new light.

My favorite snow memory is from Christmas 2009. Matt and I had been dating for 16 months, and apparently that's the appropriate amount of time to get a free pass to family Christmas vacation. All 30 of us drove up to this cabin in Island Park, Idaho a few days after Christmas. It was in the middle of the woods, and a fresh blanket of snow had just fallen. Matt and I bundled up and went on a walk in the middle of the forest, hand in hand. Everything around us was dead silent, I swear I could almost hear the snow falling. I remember being completely content with where I was at that moment. 

What's your favorite snow memory?