Because yeah.

Sadly I don’t have all that much to update about my life. We’ve been enjoying the day to day… working towards cooking at home more often, trying to find the motivation to exercise, playing with the dogs. Oh and watching Big Love during any free minute we have. We’re in the middle of season two; it’s so addicting! I can’t believe we waited this long to start watching it.

Last night, Cale decided he wanted to finally make some cupcakes with the rainbow chip icing we had purchased about a month ago. Which is an amazing feat in itself; that frosting lasted an entire month without getting eaten straight out of the can. And since he’s such a wonderful husband (or since I’m such a horrible cook and lazy wife who was busy doing the laundry), he grabbed the mixer and took it upon himself to make them.

So if you would like a cupcake, please come! We have about a million, and I really don’t want to eat them all.

Sidenote: I’ve been using the hipstamatic app on my iphone to randomly document my day to day life and have been posting every so often at stephcorwin.com since it’s just so easy! If you haven’t been following over there, I think I’ll maintain the format that longer posts will be here and random snippets will be there.

My year as twenty four was one I never could have predicted, and one that without reflection could have passed by without regard. But it was a year to be proud of that is for sure. I did things and accomplished more than I could have envisioned. I may be spending my twenties as a married, career-driven, young lady, a way of life that could easily fall victim to the boring day to day, but it is still exciting and wide open for adventures and opportunities. I battled the same challenges I face year after year: eating healthy, finding time to exercise, wanting more out of life, stressing myself out more than necessary. And I will continue to face those this next year.

However, those are not the things I’ll remember my twenty-four year old self for. I’ll remember that: I made a list and took an active role in achieving the things I want out of life; It was the year I got bangs and I started to love my hair; I got a new computer and subsequently learned how to edit my photos better (and had fun with it!); I stopped hiding the fact that I don’t believe in god; I flew to Vegas two weekends in a row, once to celebrate two years with my husband and another time to meet a group of women I did not know who would have such a profoundly positive impact on me and my outlook on life; I became a sister-in-law to two adorable little twin babies who have given my baby fever a huge boost; I had a girls weekend in Shaver and got back to work to find out I was getting promoted; I photographed my first wedding and fell in love with my husband ten times over as he officiated the ceremony; My family went to Yosemite and did not see any bears; I went back to school for my masters in taxation degree; We moved out of our little cottage in the quest for more space to live; I committed to the Avon Walk and felt good to be helping a cause so much bigger than myself. I blogged less, I lived more. It was a tremendous year.

The things I learned over this past year are small things, like refusing to say no to something just because it makes me nervous. Little things that will open more doors for me in the future. I want to take advantage of all the opportunities I can. Those plans I had for myself when I was going through college, that timetable I just needed to meet: out the window. I want to live in the present, not pushing all my hopes and dreams into the unknown future. Granted, this won’t result in some huge life-altering change right away, but I don’t want to limit myself by refusing to see things as options. It’s my life that I’m leading. In the spirit of watching The Holiday a few too many times this December, I need gumption. And 25 year old Stephanie is going to have gumption in spades.

December 11, 2009: Happy 25th Birthday to me.

Happy holidays everyone, I hope you have had a fabulous 2009 and are looking forward to an even better 2010.

But really, I’m about to be twenty-five. Like a quarter of a century. Like it’s time for me to grow the eff up.

So in honor of growing up and being an adult, this year we’re donating money for Christmas. Because during economic downturns, the non-profit groups get hit the hardest. Which is something you hear all the time, but still don’t take action. At least I know we don’t. So we’re using this holiday as our catalyst to spread our good fortune with others. One of the first places we donated was the honors program at the college I graduated from. As for the charities, we still have to decide on that one. It’s all so overwhelming! Do I want to help the puppies at the SPCA or what about the starving children? Or diseases? There are so many people and animals and causes that need help in any way.

So here’s my proposition, anyone out there that was already planning on getting me a birthday or Christmas gift. You? Yes you. Mom or Cale? No, not you guys. You’re not off the hook. Instead of spending the money you were going to spend on me, choose your favorite charity and send it that way. At a loss for where to donate? Well I’ve got just the place for you:

This upcoming July 10-11th I’m participating in the Avon Walk in San Francisco. I’m pretty excited about it. It’s two days where we walk a marathon the first day and a half marathon the next. All to raise money for breast cancer research. A sea of pink will be crossing the golden gate bridge and weaving through the streets of Marin. I’ve never committed myself to something of this magnitude, but I’m glad to do so for such a great cause. I have quite a large sum to fund raise, so if you’re at a loss at what to get me for Christmas or my birthday, please donate towards my walk; it’s tax deductible (if you itemize) and goes to a much better cause.

Until then, I’ll just be getting my booty in shape because walking 39 miles? yowzers.

P.S. Since when is it already December? Seriously?

So yes, I did spend some time this morning to fix myself a new layout on this blog. I know there will be a few more things I need to tinker with, but overall, I’m pleased. Also, this is my first time adding captions in my videos for my beloved blogger friends that are deaf, and I must say it made it much more fun! I hope you all enjoy!

This is a former major league player. Who? No idea.. but look at the fancy umpire, complete with cigar!

They play with 1800′s equipment too: bats, gloves, etc. Check out the photos at the SJ Mercury News. Much better than mine and gives you an up close look at this vintage baseball.

We had a great time enjoying the game, the great weather, and a beer on a Saturday afternoon. Well and playing with babies…

Cale and Chase. Calm down my uterus.

Let’s not forget the other momentous occasion from that weekend: Chase spitting up all over me. Yeah. Nice.

In other random news:

• We got Soft Claws to put on our cat. We just got the clear (Stupid Petco AND Petsmart did not have any of the colors). But I was shocked at how easy it was to put on him. It was one of those moments where you just want to kick yourself for not doing it sooner.
• I actually have a Halloween costume for this year. Pros to going as a 60′s secretary: getting to buy fabulous shoes, having a dress I can rewear, and ratting my hair like nobody’s business. I’m excited!
• Laughing like a 12 year old when I overhear “Don’t worry you won’t have to bob someone else’s apple” while at work. You bet I won’t be bobbing anyone else’s apple.
• I’m going to be gone all next week in Scottsdale, Arizona next week for training. I’m hoping there will be some nice warm weather waiting for me.
• I have been able to keep my google reader at a manageable level lately. If only I could also keep up blogging on a regular basis, but we’ll just take the little successes as they come.

What little successes did you have this week?

Over the years I’ve come to find that it is entirely too easy to make my day. Really. No joke. It’s hard to believe sometimes because I have the tendency to easily get discouraged about things, especially in the rush of day to day. The second I start to think about how rare it is that I have time to myself, the complete failure I’ve been about exercising, and all the little things I’d love to get done but just do not have enough time in the day, it’s hard for me to see the bright side of anything. But every once and a while something will come along that will make me smile no matter what is going on. I could be vacuuming and get a whiff of a fall candle. Bam! Smile.

This weekend filled me up with so many wonderful little moments. Really it was just so refreshing. This is pretty rare when we make the four hour trek down to Bakersfield. Usually with all the driving, and the inevitable lack of sleep that comes with a changing sleep schedule and not being in our own bed, I’m so ready to be driving right back up to our house. This weekend was different. Maybe it’s because I started Saturday with a mimosa. I mean that has to make everything perfect right?

via joiseyshowaa

There were just plenty of little reminders that practically screamed at me Stephanie this is what life is all about. The weather was perfect. Even in Bakersfield. It was the welcoming of fall. I bought my first scarf of the season, which I immediately put on because I have waited far too long for fall to get here; I had to get a jump start. We also made our way into Bath and Body Works. How is it that they manage to put together the most perfect fall and winter smelling candles and fragrance oils? Now it’s so nice to walk into our house and just smell and feel the warmth of fall.

Not only that, but we got so much wonderful family time, with the celebration of my sister’s 21st birthday and the sake bombs that resulted, and the quality time spent with the little baby brother and sister (no sake bombs there). I don’t think I could love the time we spent this weekend any more. My uterus is most certainly screaming at me because baby laughs and giggles are just irresistible. I do love how much we’re still able to be active participants in our families’ lives even if we’re not living nearby.

Pardon me while I take a moment to soak in all this goodness.

Answer: Girls, go to see (500) days of summer. Boys, go see Bruno. Girls, drink Starbucks. Boys, obsessively turn on the xbox the second the girls aren’t looking. Girls, purchase a necklace that will make your husband gasp at the price, but you justify it saying you’ll never get lost ever again. Boys, buy bottle opener keychain that costs 1/3 the price of the necklace.

Girls, reward yourselves for surviving zombie attacks in living room by buying a smorgasbord of:

CUPCAKES!!

One of my favorites. Chocolate with salted caramel filling.

Smore cupcake. For reals. That is graham cracker crust there.

Demolished.

Boys, barely eat any cupcakes, which makes the girls wonder even more what in the heck is wrong with boys??!

Cupcakes purchased from my new favorite place: Kara’s Cupcakes. Kara, if you’re reading.. I love you.

Seeing two adorable little babies this weekend. Oh yeah and their moms too.

We can’t forget this guy! This crazy guy who is letting his wife go to Vegas with a bunch of people without him. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that he has the LSAT that Monday and would like some peaceful and quiet study time.

What has been making you smile lately?