Favorite Commercials/Ads of 2013

One thing about me is I love commercials with real effort and meaning put into them. I've put a list of my favorite commercials/ads of 2013. Most are emotional/meaningful but there are a few funny too. They are in no particular order but they're all great. Here we go!

1. Guinness Friendship

When I first saw this commercial, I wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen or how it related to beer but when everyone stood up out of the wheelchairs except for one, I realized. True friends will stick by and do anything to support eachother. Love it.

2. Extra Origami

OK - I LOVE how touching this GUM commercial is. Whoever thought of it is a genius. I cried the first time I saw this and I still tear up everytime it comes on. Something about a father and his daughter always tugs on my heart. I see this and text my dad. No matter how much I grow up, no matter how far we are from eachother, I'll always be his little girl. - Also, whoever made all those origami pieces definitely deserves major kudos.

3. Dove Beauty Campaign

Dove does great things for women. They truly want women to see themselves in a better and more positive light. This campaign is just amazing. It really made me think of how I would describe myself compared to someone else. Most people have seen the version I posted above, which is 3 minutes, but there is also a longer, 6 minute version. Ladies, you're more beautiful than you think!

4. Target College Acceptance

This commercial makes me so happy. Target has always donated money to schools but I'm not sure how many people actually now that. This was their way to let people know that they do but this commercial means so much more. It shows us the way students and parents feel when they read those words, when they realize their lives are changing and they're receiving the opportunity to go to college.

5. Apple Holiday

In my teen years, I never got to spend many holidays with my family and I'm an only child, so I was always bored. This commercial though, oh goodness, it's amazing. It made me want to spend time with my cousins and big family and have a blast. The commercial itself says a lot though. Teens love their smartphones. The kid looked miserable the entire time until we realized what he was doing, making a home video. A lot of people are saying negative things about this commercial stating it just proves how technology distances people from the real world, but that clearly wasn't the message of this commercial. Haters gonna hate. I loved it.

6. Volvo Trucks - The Epic Split

If you haven't seen this by now, there's a problem. This commercial blew up faster than the eye could blink. 65+ million views in a little over ONE month. Volvo did an amazing job showing off their product with one of the biggest names in martial arts films EVER. JEEZ, this commercial = mind blown. Volvo + Jean-Claude Van Damme + Enya = amazingness. Enough said.

7. Geico Hump Day

Hahahahha, just haha. The commercial is actually kind of stupid but it's just too funny not to give credit to.

8. Robinson Pals

Robinsons is a British brand, so I'm sure many of you haven't seen this but it's a great commercial. Two kids playing and having the day of their lives together, turns out one is actually the father. Believe it or not, kids actually love playing with their parents (when they're fun parents :P).

9. Kia Hamsters - Applause

You know a commercial is good when you hear a song from the commercial and think of the product and not the singer. I hear applause, I think the Kia Hamsters not Lady Gaga. Also, when someone says "Kia Soul" I think Hamsters, not the car.

10. Giving is the Best Communication - Thai

I don't know how I came across this commercial nor do I even know who made the ad. One thing I do know, is this is beautiful. The story, the message, the phrase "Giving is the Best Communication" is amazing. Be good to others.

11. Chipotle Scarecrow

I just saw this about a week ago, but it was beautifully done with its animation. Chipotle made this as an ad for themselves and an ad for their new scarecrow game. It's been on every single "best commercial" ad I've seen.

12. GoldieBox Girls

This commercial is just too cute. Girls are more than tutus and tiaras. Cute, right?

There are a ton of more great commercials from this year, but these are probably my top favorites. What do you all think? Any commercials that you absolutely love and I missed? -- What will be on my next favorites of 2013? You'll have to wait and see!

Belated Happy Holidays

Hi! I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Christmas and holiday, I know I did. Gosh, I really got wrapped up in the holidays and went MIA on blogging even though my plan was to blog more! But even more than that, a lot has happened in my life this month.

Let's start with Christmas!

This is our happy little tree. You may have seen it on my IG if you follow me. My boyfriend and I don't live together but he has the basement to himself so we set up out tree and put all our presents underneath it. This is our third year using this tree and it is just so stinkin' cute.

And here we are in front of his parents' tree. Our Christmas involved balancing my family and his. We're getting better at it every year so that's good. We just can't wait until we have our own place. -- I wish we would have taken more pictures, but that's ok. We had a great Christmas this year and I hope you all did too!

Big life news!

As I previously mentioned, I got a new job. I am beyond thrilled. I started the second week of December and it has been amazing so far. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful. This company is just beyond amazing and I am so blessed and honored to be given this opportunity and I'm finally able to get my career started. This is officially the first thing I get to scratch off my 30 Before 30 list!

I also get to scratch off a second thing. I bought a new car! A BRAND-SPANKEN-NEW car. I am so happy and excited! I had been saving and waiting to start my new job so I would be able to do this and it finally happened. I'll have to take a picture and post it but weeee, making big girl moves. This is awesome! 

I can't wait to be able to cross more off my list. I'm planning to do a couple more things in the next few months so I'm really excited.

Anyway, I am going to head off for now and go read up on others' amazing holiday posts. Talk to you all soon!

Mexican Fajita Dinner

Hi! I hope you all have been having a good few days, or week since my last post. Or was it even longer? I'm losing track. The holidays really do throw everything off. This Sunday we (in the Northern Virginia area) got a pretty nice snow storm. Pretty much everything was closed yesterday and today.

So what's there to do while snowed in? Cook! I did lots of cooking these past few days and I loved it. I love to cook! Tonight I'm going to share two new recipes that I found with you. Actually, my friend Autumn found the recipes, so I won't take credit for that. We also did not actually cook these during the snow storm, we actually cooked it last week. I mean, that's ok, right?

Well, here we go. 

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas

Ingredients

• 2.5 - 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 4 tsp chili powder
• 4 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh cracked pepper
• 1/2 package of taco seasoning
• 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 3/4 medium onion
• 1 large green pepper
• 1 large red pepper

Extra Ingredients

• Large Flour Tortillas
• Sour Cream
• Shredded Cheese
• Guacamole

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. While oven is preheating, cut chicken, onion and both peppers into strips. 
2. In a large bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, salt, pepper and taco seasoning. Add chicken, onions and peppers and toss to mix and coat.
3. Once everything is seasoned, add tomatoes and toss.
4. Place everything in a 15x10 baking dish.
5. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly and vegetables are tender. 
6. Serve on tortillas with desired toppings. 

Skinny Taco Dip

Ingredients

• 8 oz 1/3 less fat Philadelphia cream cheese
• 8 oz reduced fat sour cream
• 16 oz jar mild salsa
• 1/2 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup reduced fat shredded 4 Cheese Mexican
• 1 (2.25 oz) can sliced black olives

Directions

1. In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sour cream, salsa and taco seasoning and mix well.
2. Spread on the bottom of a large shallow glass dish (I used a 13x9 baking pan).
3. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese and black olives.

We ate ours with Tostitos Scoops! Fajita Flavored Tortilla Chips and it was amazing. This dip is SO good it’s ridiculous and the chips are realllllllly good too. And let me tell you, as soon as you try this dip, your mouth will be in heaven.

I think next time I will be adding in ground chicken (or turkey), adding more (a lot more) lettuce and making it into a salad. Clearly I won't eat the whole entire bowl, I'll just portion it.

On a side note, I officially have proof that someone has made one of my recipes! My boyfriend's cousin (who is also my friend) and his wonderful fiancé sent me a picture the other day of their version of my Greek Inspired Dinner and said, "Thanks for the recipe!" I was SO excited! -- Thanks for reading my blog and trying one of my recipes guys!

I hope you all have been trying my recipes too and are enjoying them. I know I'll have to write more about non-food related stuff and don't worry, I will. Enjoy the rest of your week everyone. Talk to you all soon!

Holiday Treats & My Goodbye to Falcons

Hello! Wow, it's been a while since I've posted a real post. A lot has happened in the past few weeks and I decided to wait because I didn't want to jinx anything. 

So, here it is: I got a new job! It's been 11 months since I graduated and had such a hard time finding a job in my field (Public Relations). It took me a while to really understand that a lot (a majority) of people don't find a job right when they graduate. I spent this year really getting to know myself and to fully realize what I want to do in life. I am so happy to finally have been selected for a wonderful opportunity. I don't want to go on and on about it (which I could) but I am beyond excited! 

Yesterday was my last day at Falcons Landing and it was kind of tough. I have been there through half of HS, all through college and until now. They are the most supportive people ever. The employees and residents are just so amazing. I have decided to stay there part time but I hope I'll actually get to come back enough!

But to lighten the mood on my last day, they also did their annual Christmas tree lighting. 

A bunch of the residents came down for the lighting. Everyone sang Christmas carols, drank hot cocoa and ate some cookies.

It was so fun and so beautiful. I love all the decorations that Falcons puts out.

So, in honor of the holidays and me leaving, I decided to bring in some treats as a sweet farewell. 

Peppermint Bark

Items Needed:

Baking Sheet

Spatula

Parchment Paper

2 Bowls (Or you can use one and wash it in between chocolates)

Butcher knife

Cutting board

Baking Items:

(You can use different chocolates such as Ghirardelli, Nestle, Wiltons, etc -- The ones I'm listing are what I used)

3 bags of Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Chips

2 bags of Wilton's Candy Melts - Candy Cane Colorburst

1 bag of Wilton's Candy Melts - White

10-12 Candycanes

Directions:

1. Line baking sheet with parchment paper

2. Pour one bag of milk chocolate in bowl, microwave for about 1 minute (it will not be fully melted) and stir. It will melt more as you stir. Pour second bag of milk chocolate in the bowl, microwave for about 20 seconds and stir again. Continue until all bags of chocolate are fully melted.

3. Pour milk chocolate on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and spread evenly. Place on a flat surface in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, until hardened. 

4. (While the first layer is hardening) Place unwrapped candycanes in a freezer bag (I say freezer because the bag is thicker) and crush the candycanes into small pieces.

5. Following the same melting process for the milk chocolate, start with one Candy Cane, then the white and finish with the second Candy Cane.

6. Pour and spread the top layer on top of the milk chocolate, spreading evenly on top.

7. Sprinkle the crushed candycanes on top of the wet top layer.

8. Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes for the top to harden.

9. Once all hardened, remove from wax paper and place on cutting board. Cut into pieces!

10. Enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

Items Needed:

Baking Sheet

Spatula

Bowl

Ingredients:

1 bag of Nestle White Chocolate Chips

1 bag of Snyder's Pretzel Rods

Sprinkles

Candycanes

Directions:

1. Linke baking sheet with parchment paper

2. Pour bag of chocolate in a bowl, melt for about 45 seconds and stir.

3. Dip pretzel rod in chocolate, about halfway

4. Sprinkle sprinkles (hehe) or crushed candycanes on top

5. Lay on parchment paper lined baking sheet to harden

6. Continue until you're out of pretzels or chocolate

7. Enjoy!

I got way too excited and bagged them up even taking photos. I'm sorry there aren't better photos. I'm also happy to say that I have a few posts prepped, I just need to set them up and I promise I won't disappear more. Unless I just get so wrapped up in my new job that I can't post anymore. ;) I tease. I have a lot of plans! I hope you all have a wonderful December and holiday season. I'll talk to you soon!

Favorite Christmas Movies

Hello, hello! I know it's been a bit long since my last post so I'll just admit it, I have been really side tracked with Thanksgiving and a few other things going on. But now that it's officially December (Hello, December!) it's okay to go all crazy with the holiday/Christmas decorations and moods. 

The first thing I always do to officially kick off my holiday season is to watch some Christmas movies. There are about 4 movies that I watch religiously during the holidays (meaning I watch them at least 5 times each season and throughout the year) but there are many others that I also like. Today I want to share some of my favorite holiday movies with you!

Home Alone - 1990

Because, well, who doesn't? 

Home Alone 2, Lost in NY - 1992

I definitely love Lost in NY more than the first. Mainly because I love NY and the scenery is just so beautiful but also because the bird lady touches me more than the old man from the first. 

Home Alone 3 - 1997

Yes, I actually really like Home Alone 3. I think Alex Linz is just adorable and I liked him in One Fine Day too. Plus, I really like the four different villains. And some random Home Alone trivia for you: Scarlett Johansson is the big sister (a lot of people still don't know that!) and this is the only Home Alone to be set after Christmas. 

Jingle All the Way - 1996

I LOVE Jingle All the Way. I seriously watch this movie at least 10 times throughout the year (not Holiday season). It really surprises me that so many people haven't seen this movie. What is wrong with them?! 

The Santa Clause - 1994

The Santa Clause is awesome, just plain awesome. I think the first is really good and the others, not so much. I mean, they're good and I'll watch them but they're nothing compared to the first.

Elf - 2003

OK, yes, Elf is good. It's a good movie and provides good laughs but I am not addicted to it like so many others are. I don't have every line memorized and I don't watch it a million times a year but it is still one of my top holiday movies. Am I weird?

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - 1989

"I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery." -- I'm never in misery at Christmas but if you are, I suggest you watch Christmas Vacation. It's not exactly a family movie but boy, is it hilarious!

It's a Wonderful Life - 1946

A true classic. Also, the first play I ever did was It's a Wonderful Life. It is one of the best memories I have, I met a lot of wonderful people and it's an amazing play/movie/story. 

What are your favorite holiday movies? Did I miss anything that you think I'm absolutely crazy for leaving off? You know what I did leave off.. my love for Lifetime & Hallmark Christmas movies. Yes, I record as many as I can, I have marathons and I love every minute of them.

I hope you all have a fabulous week! And now that it's December, I have a feeling I'll be posting a lot more. Talk to you all soon!