All Packed Up
Just one more day of work and then I’m on vacation for 12 days!!! 
Twelve days is the longest amount of time I’ve had off since summer vacation back in high school. Even for my wedding, I only took off 12 days. Well, technically, I am working the entire time (writing a book and CNC never stops), but I’ll only be at NuVal for 5 hours during that timeframe, and I like going there, so it’s fun work. 
I’m so excited for the holidays!!!!! Can you tell that I’m totally psyched?
Breakfast
The nice folks at [me] & goji sent me a gift certificate to create my very own custom cereal, which was really fun. I loved playing on their website.
I did a full review of my last [me] & goji mixture back in May, so be sure to check it out.
Apparently, I gave this cereal mix the same name as my last one.
Check out the all-star cast of ingredients! Pistachios and choco-granola were great picks!
I have zero willpower around cereal, especially those with all of my favorite ingredients, so I broke out the measuring cup this morning to prevent me from eating the whole container in one sitting.
I added soy milk and sliced banana to my cereal.
Bowl #2.
And Ready to Go
After work today, I’m picking up Mal, loading up my car, and heading straight to our hometown for Christmas. Mal is also picking up his new car, so we need to get to the dealership before it closes for the night.
Last night, we packed up everything that we needed to take with us, so we could have a speedy departure from our apartment.
Christmas presents! 
We got our family lots of great goodies this year!
We also packed up Murphy’s “diaper bag” with everything he needs while we are away. My mom and sister are “sharing” him while Mal and I are in Oregon. They both wanted to pug-sit, so they divided the time equally. I’m glad no one fought over Murphy!
Murphy has a lot of stuff for such a small dog!
Even though we’re not flying out until Christmas Day, I packed my suitcase for Oregon at the same time I packed for our trip home to see our families. (Mal and I will be in our hometown until Christmas morning.) It’s so much easier to pack 2 bags at the same time, especially when I’m in that packing frame of mind.
With all of my West coast trips this year, I must say that I’m getting much better at packing!
In addition to packing, we also took down all of our Christmas decorations, including the tree.
Murphy had been chewing our Christmas tree non-stop, so we took off the decorations this past weekend and backed it into a corner, which we then surrounded with a pug barricade. It’s been like that ever since. It’s sort of scary looking isn’t it? Good thing it’s trash night tonight! I can’t wait to get this thing out of our apartment!
Feel Great Weight
With the New Year right around the corner, I thought this topic was relevant: 3 Reasons Crash Diets Don’t Work.
Giveaway on Trading Up Downtown
Read about my Christmas morning tradition with my family and enter to win some goodies: Christmas Morning Traditions.
Question of the Day
What are you looking forward to most about Christmas?
Tags: Me and Goji, NuVal
Kristen @ Change of Pace — December 23, 2009 @ 8:19 am
So exciting! It will be a nice relief to be off for awhile! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas Tina!
Meg — December 23, 2009 @ 8:25 am
I’m looking forward to playing around in the snow with my niece and nephew. Merry Christmas and safe travels!
Emily Eats and Exercises — December 23, 2009 @ 8:45 am
I’m looking forward to having some down time! I’ve been putting off all sorts of projects until I have more time – reorganizing the kitchen, here I come.
Julie @ Pickley Pear — December 23, 2009 @ 8:47 am
Travel safe Tina and Merry Christmas! I am heading to the Bahamas for Christmas, warm and sunshine here I come!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is — December 23, 2009 @ 8:52 am
12 days off! You lucky gal!
ellen eats beets — December 23, 2009 @ 8:55 am
enjoy those 12 days!
rungirlrunn — December 23, 2009 @ 8:57 am
I’m most excited about my family coming to visit! I’ve never had Christmas at my house before
Lisa — December 23, 2009 @ 9:03 am
Have a great vacation! Safe travels!
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans — December 23, 2009 @ 9:05 am
Love the barricade! Safe travels! I’m most excited about being home for Christmas! I flew in yesterday.
Kelly — December 23, 2009 @ 9:06 am
Have a great trip! The pug barricade is great! I have four days off for Christmas so I am excited about that.
amanda — December 23, 2009 @ 9:06 am
Have fun on your 12 day “vacation”. I am a huge cereal fan and I have been known to eat the stuff out of the box! I too, have to force myself portion control when it comes to it.
Chelsea — December 23, 2009 @ 9:17 am
Have a GREAT time. I’m mist excited about my daughter on Christmas morning! She’ll get it this year and be excited when she sees everything. Can’t wait!
amanda @ fake ginger — December 23, 2009 @ 9:20 am
haha @ Murphy’s diaper bag. He needs more stuff than my 1 month old!
Have fun and stay safe on all your trips!
Morgan @ Life After Bagels — December 23, 2009 @ 9:20 am
whoa Tina you are super organized!
jenna — December 23, 2009 @ 9:27 am
Have a great trip tina!
Jenna
Paige — December 23, 2009 @ 9:41 am
Wow! Twelve days is awesome. Have fun in Oregon, Tina:)
Janna (Just Flourishing) — December 23, 2009 @ 9:47 am
OMG look at your poor tree. Oh Murphy!
Have a fabulous holiday Tina!!!
K — December 23, 2009 @ 10:01 am
12 days!? Yahoo!! That would be awesome! Your poor tree – lucky we’ve never had dog issues with ours. Only our chocolate labs tail sometimes knocks ornaments off. Family is, by far, my favorite part of Christmas
Cait (Cait's Plate) — December 23, 2009 @ 10:03 am
Being with my family!!
And wow. I am SO jealous of your vacation!!!
Bridget — December 23, 2009 @ 10:20 am
You’re so organized!!! I need to take cues from you! I’m totally feeling the stress of our first Christmas as a married couple…I’m jealous that both your families are close together!
Plus some rsetaurant I read about then realized it was near Medford and too far from where we were going (we headed up to Porland after leaving his dad’s). If I remember what it was I’ll let you know.
Have fun in OR!! I went last summer for teh first time to visit my husband’s (then fiance) dad and that side of the family. Looks like Medford is about 1.5 hours south of where I was…definintely not much to do out there haha, but I think there are some wineries near Medford, you should look into it
Lindsey @ Eat, Read, Run — December 23, 2009 @ 10:25 am
Relaxing with the fam! This year my friend is also throwing a Christmas bash the day after, so I’m especially looking forward to that party. Every year it’s usually all about family for us, but it will be nice to throw in some friend time as well. Have a safe trip and a happy holiday!
diana(mymarblerye) — December 23, 2009 @ 10:25 am
i love how your family split time up to dog sit! Have a great trip and can’t wait to read about it. BTW putting up xmas decorations BEFORE you leave: great idea.
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale — December 23, 2009 @ 10:38 am
Definitely looking forward to some time off! And, let’s see: hot cocoa, cookies, chocolate, wine…
Mellissa — December 23, 2009 @ 10:50 am
I am looking forward to time off and to having my husband home for 2 weeks, which never happens!
Ameena — December 23, 2009 @ 11:10 am
I am looking forward to catching up on things I can’t get to during normal working days…
Have a great trip!
Jocelyn — December 23, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Have a safe trip!!! I’m glad you have 12 days off..you deserve it
I guess I’m looking forward to a bunch of stuff…
yummy food, baking (this is the first year without my grandma at christmas (rip) and I am attempting to bake her yummy short bread for the fam) , I’m meeting my boyfriends parents…and just having some time off of work!!!
Rachel — December 23, 2009 @ 11:32 am
Aw, it’s kind of sad your Christmas decor is down before Christmas! But your organization skills at this time of year amaze me. Right now, I’m lucky if I get all the presents under the tree before Christmas, haha
Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen — December 23, 2009 @ 11:50 am
I’m so looking forward to being away from work and getting to relax, cook, and workout with my family! You guys are much more organized than we are though, we’re leaving tomorrow AM and haven’t done anything to get ready! Enjoy your trip!
Megan M. (Bites of the Apple) — December 23, 2009 @ 12:01 pm
MMMMM cereal!!! I’m looking forward to frolicknig with my sisters and finally getting some warm weather in costa rica!!!!!
Danielle (Coffee Run) — December 23, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
Enjoy your trip! I’m looking forward to spending time with family
Sam (Merit to the Carrot) — December 23, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
Have a fantastic trip
I love Murphy’s diaper bag. And the tree barricade! That’s pretty intense!
Karla — December 23, 2009 @ 12:27 pm
What a great idea to pack ahead for your trip!
I’m looking forward to chatting with my family and friends and not having a ton or reading and work to do!
Maria — December 23, 2009 @ 12:33 pm
Enjoy your long vacation! Travel safe and have fun! Happy Holidays!
Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) — December 23, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
You are going to miss that little guy so much!
tiple N Stephanie — December 23, 2009 @ 1:11 pm
omg!! I’m so envious of your cereal! I seriously want that! But I’m guessing that it’s pretty expensive, right?
Heather @ Get Healthy With Heather — December 23, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
I can’t wait to spend time with all of my family this Christmas. Hope this west coast cold weather isn’t cold for you!
Tina — December 23, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
I definitely have no control around cereal either. I can never stop at one bowl! I hope you have a great time with your family!
Kristi — December 23, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
I am looking forward to seeing my family and eating all of the different Christmas Cookies! I am also very excited to see what Gregg got me- because we lowered our limit due to paying for a wedding and he was done with present over a month ago
Kelly B. — December 23, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
I am just looking forward to some good family time! I get to see cousins that I typically only see a few times a year so it is always fun! Especially now that we are all getting older and are married..the families are starting to expand!
Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run — December 23, 2009 @ 2:52 pm
Hope you have a great trip, Tina!
I am most looking forward to opening gifts with my dad, mom and brother and then jumping in the car and driving 4 hours to Sonoma County to have Christmas with my grandparents and cousins.
Jenny — December 23, 2009 @ 2:54 pm
That’s great that you have so much time off!
I’m looking forward to a low key day with my family, where none of us have anywhere else to be but at home and relaxed
eatingRD — December 23, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
I’m really looking forward to seeing my mom, and while I still need to work on a lot of things over the break, it will be nice to have a little downtime. I’m excited for 10 days off, even though I still have to make up the hours
Hope you have a great trip!
Tracie (@hollafoodzone) — December 23, 2009 @ 4:04 pm
Your cereal looks yummy – I just ordered some “custom” oatmeal from goji a couple of days ago. Can’t wait to get it! I’m looking forward to having the holidays at home (for once!)
Erica — December 23, 2009 @ 4:45 pm
I’m looking forward to attending the same Christmas Eve party our family has gone to since elementary school. Now that I (and now half the kids there) am in college, it’s nice to see people I’ve known for so long in that traditional setting. Plus it’s nice coming back from school and looking fabulous!
Lauren @ eater not a runner — December 23, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
Sounds like you are going to have a great time! My favorite tradition is we do joke gifts on Christmas night, they are always so funny and everyone gets into it.
Lynn (The Actors Diet) — December 23, 2009 @ 5:53 pm
happy holidays, tina! i’m always amazed at how much stuff i need to pack for my 10 pound dog.
Tasha — December 24, 2009 @ 12:00 am
So sorry that you had to take your tree down. I hope that you have a great trip! Murphy will miss you, I’m sure.
BroccoliHut — December 24, 2009 @ 3:28 am
I have a hard time controlling myself around granola-esque cereal too–I should bust out the measuring cups every now and then.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Cynthia (It All Changes) — December 24, 2009 @ 7:34 am
Christmas is all about relaxing and reflecting. I enjoy sleeping in and the Hunni and I read Luke 2 together over breakfast. The rest of the day is movies and more movies.