Advent Calendar 2012

So I mentioned in my Thankfulness Post a couple days ago that I made an advent calendar. Well I did. Sort of. 

I didn't want anything fancy that I would have to either put a whole bunch of money down for, or spend hours sewing something cutesy that my fruitcake cat would destroy in five minutes. I drew up an elementary school looking Christmas tree on Illustrator and wrote a different activity on each decoration. (How creative! I'm so smart. Imma give myself a cookie.) 

Drew it up, printed it out, and now that sucker is on my fridge. Because that's how we roll. 

For the activities I made up things that I could do seeing as how I live alone, (boo.) That would still be fun and not so depressing. Here's what I came up with:

1. Christmas shopping!
2. Put up the tree.
3. Make paper snowflakes.
4. Take donations to Goodwill.
5. Send out Christmas cards.
6. Find mistletoe.
7. Bake cookies!
8. Hot Cocoa party.
9. Christmas Cantata (being held at my church.)
10. Watch "It's a Wonderful Life".
11. Make a popcorn garland.
12. Make breakfast for dinner.
13. Make mulled wine.
14. Christmas party! (I usually hold one every year.)
15. At home "spa" day. 
16. Eat dark chocolate! Because why not?
17. Make beeswax candles.
18. Watch "A Christmas Toy".
19. Make a tin can lantern. (Done by punching holes in a tin can with a hammer and nail.)
20. Winter Solstice celebration.
21. Holiday manicure. (Why not? I'm going silver & gold.)
22. Watch "A Muppet's Christmas Carol".
23. Do a lights tour.
24. Make a gingerbread house.
25. Christmas Day! Whoop! :)

Are you doing anything special for the Holidays? Lemme know!

xoxo,

Jenna.

What's In A Name?

Okay, so I've finally gone and done it: I've changed my name.

Not in real life! Just on this blog.

I figured it was time. I was tired of explaining to people why I didn't use my real name. Frankly, when people don't understand they can be real nosy assholes. I already have to put up with too many of them in my life right now, so the fewer the better.

How about a proper introduction? *ahem*

My name is Jenna. Nice to meet you!

I used to hate my name. No one could pronounce it correctly. Classmates would roll their eyes whenever there was a substitute teacher, and they had to explain how to say my name. (It was sweet that my classmates stuck up for me though. I was too quiet and shy to correct teachers on my own.) I wanted it to be something else, something more recognizable and simple like 'Jennifer'. I tried signing my name that way when I was little and it didn't feel right, so I kept Jenna.

I tried many other names over the years. I used "Zoe" as part of my AIM name back in the day, and one girl from college started calling me that in real life! It was hilarious, mostly because other people got to thinking that was my real name too. (It does fit, oddly enough.)

I started blogging for Fantastic Spatula and Uncommon Spirit under the moniker "Lucy Dylan Wiggins" partially for fun and partially because I didn't want the company I work for finding out I had a blog. Then people started reading it anyway, and I felt uncomfortable going by two names. Plus, even in the end it didn't feel right. Like I was wearing someone else's sweater. (Not comfy. Probably smells like old people, too.)

So Jenna it is, and Jenna I'll be. :)

Hope you don't mind if I stick around a while.


xoxo,

Jenna.

Give a Little Love

This is part two of my List of Things I'm Thankful For, as started in my last entry. (Yes, I know this was supposed to be November thing and it's now December 5th.) What can I say? I'm either completely lazy or insanely busy, there doesn't seem to be much in between with me. :)

Here's the rest of the list:

1. A New Bed: It's amazing what a difference a new mattress can make. I upgraded from my two twin mattresses and box springs smushed together to make a king bed, to getting a proper sized full bed. Let me tell you, it makes everything better! From finally being able to go into deep sleep for hours on end, to not having back pain in the morning...It's all wonderful. 
2. Serendipity: Not the movie! But the real life thing. Unfortunately, not in the romantic way. Things have been falling into place when they should, as in being able to sell my old bed to a friend that needed it and right when I needed it to be out of my house.
3. Running into old friends: I saw some "kids", (I say kids because they're younger than me.) from high school recently. They are as adorable now as they were then. (I'm sure they'd shutter to hear me refer to them as adorable! Bahahaha!)
4. Christmas Music: I am not at all in the Christmas spirit. I haven't been for years, but I'm trying! It helps when Josh Groban is singing sweetly through the speakers. And, as my sister-in-law knows all too well, it's not Christmas until you hear Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" on the radio for the first time.
5. Get-The-Hell-Out-Of-Dodge Dates: I live in a small, mostly boring town. If it weren't for the occasional trips out of town with my Best Fiend I'd probably go insane. This week we're getting away and finally seeing "Skyfall"! I am preparing to have Adele's theme song stuck in my head for all eternity.
6. My MC Angels: I miss my angels from college. Especially my moose and my duckling! (Funny how if people stick around me long enough they get an animal nickname. I assign spirit animals like it's my thing.)  I'm glad there are still some that stick with me no matter how insane I am. Or what woo-woo wonder critter I give them. ;)
7. Chugging Honey Straight From the Squeezie Bottle: Y'all, I ain't kiddin' about this one. If you are a sugar junkie and you've never done this then we can't be friends. I'm serious. Grab a honey bear and squeeze him till he screams. Then we'll talk.
8. Breakfast for Dinner: This one is self explanatory. Who doesn't like pancakes AFTER the sun has gone down? For serious. 
9. Advent Calendars: I remember having one cardboard box advent calendar when I was little. I didn't grasp the idea of only having one piece of chocolate a day until Christmas. That seemed silly. So I opened up all the little doors and devoured half of the sweets in a matter of minutes. Now that I am supposedly GROWN (HA!) I do appreciate the idea of counting down to a holiday. So in effort to try and not be so grinchy this year I came up with my own advent calendar of things to do until the big day. So far I'm sticking to it, although tonight I think is paper snowflake making and that might be...interesting. 
10. Christmas Cards: Again, another attempt at not being mean and green this Christmas. I love, love, LOVE getting cards but I don't think I've ever sent any out before. Which seems like a real shame, if you ask me. So I made Mowgli pose all pretty underneath our Christmas tree and his little, fuzzy face is now plastered on all my Christmas cards. I hope none of my friends are strictly dog lovers. (They might just get TWO cat cards!) (Because I am evil.) 
11. Weekly Lunch Dates: I can't remember if I've already said this. If so, it's worth repeating. My Best Fiend and I go out for lunch about once a week at a nearby Mexican restaurant. We've been going there so long they now know our drink and food orders. I'm not sure if it's awkward or awesome. 
12. Things that hit you right in the Feels: Seeing someone do a good deed for another person. Hearing stories about people donating money to worthy causes. Stuff that makes you weep even when you're not on your period.
13. Crazy Awesome Grandmas: I'm lucky that both of my Grandmothers are still around. Granted, my Nana is a bit...insane, these days. But she's hilarious nonetheless. And both have lived extraordinary lives that I love hearing about.
14. Chocolate: Eat it early and often, kids. Unless you're diabetic, and in that case you have my deepest sympathies. 
15. The Hobbit!: Only a few more days and then all the waiting will finally be over! I can't wait! Martin Freeman  being adorable! Sir Ian McKellan! So much awesome I can almost forgive Sir Peter Jackson for making it into three movies! EEEE!

I think that's sufficient. You guys keep me on my toes and make sure I update more, okay? Awesome. Y'all rock.

What are you thankful for? Lemme know!

xoxo,

Jenna.