New Years Resolution...more like New Year Diminution

Ok, so yes - I Googled words rhyming with Resolution!...but we all know my vocab sucks, and this was a much better option than evolution.

Synonyms for Diminution: 

- Decrease

- Reduction

- Lessening

- Shrinking

and my favourite

- Dwindling 

When i think about my past New Years Resolutions, i know... that, always in the list of things like:

- be nicer to people

- try my best at school 

- always remember what your Momma (MO-just for you haha) tells you,

there is ALWAYS these same little words that appear in my list...and millions other womens' throughout the world...whether it be at the front of the list...sneakied in the middle of the list, or quickly added at the end to keep up a reputation...those horrible words

WEIGHTLOSS...always finds its way in. 

So many of us develop cunning little plans to be shrunk, reduced or on the way to be a mighty fine form of dwindling ;) 

Seeing as I've woken up this morning super early (7am! AH) and realised I havent done any resolutions this year...and i dont know if you have yet dear sisters... I'm going to make some for us. That way we can be united in some of our goals this year, and find joy and excitement together...even though Oceans...or husbands...or other insignificant things may separate us :P 

In no particular order:

the de Valle sisters (Sarah, Naomi, Stephanie, Jessica and Jordana) New Year Resolutions 2012

1. Each day, remember your sisters and smile for them...who knows which one of us could be having a down moment? that way we'll always be smiling!

2. Share each moment of excitement with each other...it may be something small..like seeing a novelty sized object.. or something as big and exciting as a new baby!...Let's not keep it to ourselves! Share it, and spread the excitement! Post it on the blog, email it or facebook each other :)

3. Sing in the shower. I know it's random! But it's actually so much fun! We could even have a mutual sister shower song haha. Like: Singing in the Rain, or Bootylicious by Destinys Child ;) haha! 

4. Make time for ourselves and each other. I know our lives get so busy during the year and often we get caught up in the craziness of it all. Make sure we all have time to rest, and find times when we can sit and talk to each other (even via skype)

5. Seek to be spiritual. It's amazing how it can bring so much peace in life. Pray for each other. 

6. Try to do small acts of service throughout the week for each other, or random strangers! Compliment someone, send each other a nice email, leave a sticky note on a cafe wall telling someone they are wonderful? Anything! :)

7. This one sounds weird and random...and i'm sure we already do it. But I'm going to add it in anyway. Give Thanks and Appreciate and respect the things we have been given which make it possible for us to live. This includes things like: the earth, animals, Mum and Dad :), Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

8. Take more photos. Document our lives!...and keep a photo of your sisters somewhere :)

9. Continue in our endeavors to embrace womanhood and love who we are, how we are. Remind each other of this. 

10. Finally. Love, forgive, support, remember, be kind, laugh with, and listen to each other always. Make our bond of unity stronger than its ever been before!

This year there will be no Diminution! :) 

(Feel free to add to the list my sisters) 

I love you!

Over a month...This must be a Serious Blog Post!

Now where do I even begin!? 

I'm not even sure. So maybe I'll start off where we left off, which was the 11th of December when you had not yet received yourself a Christmas Tree!

It seems the Genius Mission Impossible worked to plan...because I see you got yourself an amazing tree not long after! WIN ;)

So every year we go as a family to see Santee Claus in the City with our super exciting de Valle cousins...as the years have gone past without you, we have managed to still have you there in various forms of stuffed animal (how sweet are we?!) 

If you look closely...you are a cute little hedgehog, Rich is a Gorilla and Jordana is a lambkin :)...."Lest we Forget"

 Skipping ahead a bit...fast-forwarding over the inhaling of a serious amount of food...we had a visit from a big fat man in a red suit...although since our man has been eating vegetarian for the past year, i dont think he could fit the quota very well :/ 

It was a very different Christmas...with sisters all over the place!! One of them decided to get up and leave to Tasi to visit some other important family (pffft)...one was off in the fairy land of Jetlag, and one of course was in Festive New York. (The other two were present and lively :) ) 

Santa was very modest this year and brought us one gift each. It was different, but nice. 

Christmas also fell on a Sunday!...so we got to go to church. Now i can see all of your faces now thinking "*sarcastic woo*...why would you want to go to church on such a busy family day?" ...well let me tell you, it was so wonderful! The spirit of Christmas was quadrupled, and sining christmas hymns with everyone was just the most beautiful thing :) 

and you may have enjoyed watching me attempt to walk up to the pulpit to conduct, in the shoes I received for Christmas which were just that LOT too high and required some epic conscious walking haha

So Nanna's house didn't have any Red Rooster this year...because some Ninny passed the food onto our Mum haha...so the food has swaped from greezy chicken and chips...to festive salads and roasted chickens (it was actually amazing) haha

Oh and dearest Grandpa was in full form, making lovely not-repeatable comments about christmas presents haha ...did i mention we got pyjamas?? ;) 

Grandma Nicoles was busy as it always is and was full of violent children running around with Pinata sticks :) 

It was a beautiful, busy and different christmas. and i loved it so much...but i would have loved it more with my complete family :)

Ok...so now i think i will dot point...because theres too much to throw into one blog! so its really not going to be too exciting!

- Boxing day: We ate more food! who would have thought!? 

- Convention: Mum, Dad and I went to convention in sweltering hot Licola! It was so much fun...but left me lacking so much sleep and a desire not to 'reach higher grounds' but to sit under shady trees and be lazy for the rest of my life :) 

- Post convention: You would have been impressed by my social-ness ...who is this woman staying up past 10.30!? 

-The Wind and the Willows: I'm sure Jordy will do a blog post on this for you! It sounded amazing! but i can't really elaborate 

- Barwon Heads: We definitly had the chance to relax! It was windy and rainy and cold..."Hello Summer"...

Jordy and I had some real adventures chilling in our tent getting wet through the MEGAstorm :/ ...and somehow we still managed to get super burnt! 
and just throwing this one in there because you may find it as entertaining as i did...our little cousins asked Mum where her eyebrows were. AHAHA

That brings us to today...I have so much to get ready today! Sometime last year a did a post on no longer being a caveman/woman! well i really hope i can write a similar one by the end of today! haha 

I miss you and i love you, and i'm so sorry this blog post is so random and bedraggled, BUT its 2012, so they can only get better from now on right??

In fact I just thought of one i can do! so be prepared ;) 

Operation: "Get Christmas Tree inside apartment without the assistance of Richard"

Now!
Word on the grape vine is...a certain someone (Richard), wants to wait until it snows it collect a Christmas tree!...and apparently it is now the 11/12/11, and still no Christmas tree set up in your apartment!!
THATS 11 DAYS LATE...AT LEAST!!

As you can't go out and get the tree yourself, because its too heavy; I've devised a fool proof plan to get you your christmas tree, before its too flippin' late!!!

Jessy's Fool Proof Christmas Tree Mission

Step 1: Choose the desired location for the collection of your tree

Step 2: Ensure Richard is out of mind, out of sight. He will hinder the plan, and only create obstacles and awkwardness for the collection of your belated tree.

Step 3: Search through those cupboards (that cupboard? haha), and bring out that figure hugging dress and high heeled spang-dangley shoes. Brush your luscious locks,wave that wand of mascara and spray some perfume on your décolletage ;) 

Temptress!

Step 4: Get your booty out on that street. I don't care how cold you say the weather is. This mission calls for extreme measures,and its time to grin and bear those below 5 degree Celsius temperatures! 

Step 5: Locate a male, possibly of the attractive kind, with large biceps and thighs (they help with tree carrying you see!?)

Step 6: Ensure he is not one of these creepy types, by giving a friendly wink, and observing his reaction. If you feel the reaction is appropriate...proceed to Step 7. If inappropriate, repeat Step 5.

e.g. Appropriate: smiles dashingly and approaches you to say Hi

e.g. Inappropriate: Winks back and yells ridiculous comments like "howw you doin'??" and then wiggles his eyebrows

Step 7: You have caught the attention of your assistive male; now you just need to ensure his assistance. As he approaches you and says Hi...batter your eye lashes (which are beautiful thanks to Step 3), maintain eye contact. After some harmless small talk "names, origins, professions, pets, hobbies" ...explain in these exact words. "You look like a man who likes to work out? ;) ...Did you know...on several occasions I've tried and tried to move a Christmas Tree into my apartment, but it's just tooo heavy! Whatever will I do!!?? *flips hair and strikes a pose*" 

Males ego is boosted from the compliment at the start of the conversation, and feels he needs to impress you further by helping lift the Christmas Tree

Step 8: Walk with him (YES IN YOUR HEELS) to the selected Christmas tree farm, choose the best tree, giggle and ask 'oh so sweetly' to chop it down and carry it home for you, using those huge biceps...and thighs of his? 

Step 9: WOAH...you have an assistive male bringing home the tree of your dreams by using your womanly ways. WIN. Once it is in the desired corner of the apartment; thank him graciously for letting you use him. and if he asks you for your number, you may give him a fake one...or tell him the hurtful truth (youre engaged)

Step 10: DECORATE YOUR TREE!!!...and start thinking of wonderful stories to tell to Richard, as to how you actually got that tree into the apartment without any help!

and there you have it! a Christmas Tree Mission...in 10 easy steps!

*Safety precautions please (don't pick a male with * shifty eyes *several piercing's and tattoos *greasy hair *no muscles *someone with name Timothy)  and be sensible when woo-ing your assistive Christmas Tree Male. 

I hope you use this plan, because i know it will be effective. 

I wrote this blog, because i needed some cheering up; and what do you know...but problems arent solved, but i feel happier after devising this fool proof plan.

I love you and miss you (Naomi and Jordy!) 

Stay safe my cherubs 

xxxx

I BELIEBS!!!!!...do you??

Belieb this christmas ;)

Please love an appreciate these songs. I must warn you...they may even be life changing. This might be the greatest new Christmas song ever written? 

(Nomi...listen to all of it...especially the 2nd verse...its just too good haha...share it with the world!...share it with your minions!...sing it to Richard...like the Snuggies...the world will be a better place)

Could this be the greatest combination ever created!? Mariah + Biebs = Everyones Christmas made better :D

As you know Mariah is an important part of our Christmas...and this collaboration has just made me so so happy...so you too can Belieb and let the Biebs into your life this christmas (does this sound blasphemous??) haha :/ 

Dear Nomi and Jordy, as you are being foreign at these great times...i also want to share with you beautiful Barbra Streisand, and recommend that you hire the classic (as Dad would say)  "Hello Dolly" and be filled with joy!! :D She is just beautiful and you cant help but fall in love with her! 

I wish we could have a girly night and watch it all together!!

Before i sign off my beautiful girls...i have 1 more piece of exciting news!!!!

I PASSED 2ND YEAR UNI! ITS A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!

This is me celebrating...all on my lonesome...because you all left me. (Mum thinks im 'special') haha

I miss both of you so much! 

Merry Merry Christmas my darling cherubs! 

'Tis the Season to be Jordy... and Jolly!! Already!!

Well well well, 

As you know...our family is one of tradition; and every 1st of December, we put up our most beautiful Christmas tree, whilst singing like crazy to Patsy Bisko and Mariah Carey. It is so much fun and brings so much joy into our home...and makes everyone wish for that Hippopotamus for Christmas which we never ever get?? :(

The problem in this traditional picture is...tomorrow is the 1st of December...and our Christmas tree is already up!!! Tradition was broken...but for a legitimate reason of course!

Little J, left us on Friday, to travel the streets of Pariiii (Paris), eat nutella with baguette and speak the language of love. ;) 

I don't know who i'm more jealous of....you my Nomi, with your Festivities in New York...or you dear Jordy, with your Festivities in Paris. 

It's time like these when i feel like Beth off "Little Women"...when all of her sisters are travelling, getting married, or having babies and accomplishing wonderful goals, and she stays at home with her Marrmee and Papa. I do love being at home, it is my favourite place...and the Mornington Peninsula is my favourite place in the world. I miss my sisters being with me though. 

Soon i'll be the one leaving you all behind though! then I'll have some exciting things to write about for you :)

Not that the Christmas Tree isn't exciting!!

Now i still hold true to my belief that our Christmas tree is the most beautiful of all....although the beading proved to be a challenge again without you my dear Nomi. Stephy wanted to weave, i wanted to drape...it just became confusing...BUT WE GOT THERE! haha

As Stevie Wonder would sing..."Isn't She Lovely!?"

Now there is more photos and a special movie just for Nomi viewing ;) to come...but i don't have access to them...because theyre on Sari and Dad's phone ...I'll try to figure out how to upload them  :)

Also...we have a new addition in our home...

Meet Jesso...the 2nd!! He's a life-size birthday card. Pretty impressive, yes i know. but still beatable!! Just you wait haha. 

He is very versatile...we can sit and watch TV with the family, he can sit at the dinner table, you can take him for walks...play basketball with him?? and even better...you can take him for a swim! because yes...hes even waterproof. haha 

He is so handy when you want to scare someone else...although i will admit even i get scared and creeped out sometimes when someone moves him into a strange place or i forget hes there haha

So there he is...the not one and only Jesso.

(get it? get it?? haha )

I havent spoken to you in a long time and I'm missing you as always.

Keep safe and always remember how loved you are!!

xxx

The Great Storm...and the Great Finish!

Hey Hey little Lady ;)


Well, when i say great storm, I don't mean it metaphorically. We were literally hit by a GREAT storm. We all thought it was going to be a Wizard of Oz storm, and the house was going to be lifted up and we would fly off to a wonderful land. The rain was so heavy, it sneakied on under the door and began to flood the house, and within any minute we could have been swimming around like mermaids! ...Have a look!!

Ishka's Bowl is floating!!

When i say the Great Finish, i'm talking about my Great Finish!! Yesterday I had my last exam...It was a horrible oral presentation in front of my lecturers and another student. 
But its over now! and I'm free to do what i want for 3 months! :D
And now is the time to tell you, Dylan, a friend and I have spontaneously decided to go to Cambodia, Vietnam and Borneo for a month in February!!  We got super cheap flights, and I am so excited to experience another country with different food, weather, sights and people. :)
We also celebrated the end of my second year uni, with an 'oh so exciting' game of spoons...a very violent game involving grabbing spoons off a table...if you miss out on grabbing a spoon you get a letter...which eventually spells an offending word. FAT. i was the FAT :( haha 
Jesso and I also watched an oh so long and extended version, but so much more exciting version of Lord of the Rings 2!


I miss you Nomi, and hearing from you makes me so happy. I can't wait for your work trip here next year so i can finally see you! But i hope even more you'll be able to visit before then. 


I went to the YSA ball in...oh so far away Heidleberg last week! Normally during an event like this, we would have you rallying up with bobbypins, hair irons, hair spray and makeup trying your bestest to turn a weed into a rose. Unfortunately i was the only one home, and thankgoodness; my friend came over and helped me get ready. 

"All Glammed up" This is for your eyes only my lovely sister ;)

The dance was fun and full of glitzy and glammy people...and even though I'm much to white to be a dancer...i managed to dance till my feet were sore. (don't worry i didnt take my shoes off!!) haha

I miss you and i love you, and i cant wait for you next blog post!!!! 

:D

xxxx

My Huckleberry Friend ♥

I'm sitting here in bed, and its 12.03 am. I can't sleep, my mind is running 1 million miles per hour. 

Huckleberry Friend:

" There are your good friends: people who love you. And then there are your huckleberry friends: people who've known you for years and have stuck by you and love you no matter what. "

Although oceans separate us, the stars glow when the sun shines and i can't cuddle you as i wish i could, you are and always will be my huckleberry friend and precious sister.


Remember when we used to laugh at the most ridiculous things, or dance like crazy people when you bought a new cd, or talk about nothing and everything together, or sing till our hearts content, or eat till our hearts content. remember watching multiple chick-flicks together...remember trying persistently to teach me how to do my hair...remember going on picnics to coolart, or out for breakfast or chippies in flinders. Remember when we all used to be young and have no worries in the world, driving to queensland singing to the spice girls. ...I miss those times.


Love you
xx