"When I grow up..."

Most kids, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, answer something to the tune of, "a doctor," or "a firefighter," or "a lawyer!"

Should I add here that I wasn't exactly your average kid?

I was also clearly graced with a mouth full of perfect teeth. 

Please, my teeth are practically begging for an orthodontist up there.

As a little one, I loved when people asked me my future plans. Because no one else wanted to be what I wanted to be.

At 3 years old: 

"Alyssa, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"A baby cow."

Not a calf.  Don't get it confused. A baby cow.
(source)

I wonder if my parents were worried.

At 11 years old: a nail technician. 
In fourth grade, I had an obsession with painting my nails a different color ever day. When I told my parents my future plans, they laughed at me.  Apparently, a baby cow is more socially acceptable than a nail technician in the Halter house.

At 16 years old: the next Ron Burgundy.
Anchorman was and is a classic, and it was after that movie I decided I'd major in communications and become a star news anchor.  I do a mean RB impression, and I habitually warm up with "unique new york" each time I speak in public.

I wanted that to be me.
(source)

That's a joke.

As I'm sure you've figured by now, my dream changed a little. Due to the depleting need for news anchors (news is becoming more and more automated), I decided I liked PR better.

okay, so Roush Fenway wasn't my best look.

An internship with NASCAR and a couple of stints in the restaurant industry later, I think I ended up where I belong.  ;)

Cocktail waitressing at Catch 31

and then supervising Tortugas!

But now... three cheers for "Electronic Media Specialist and Communications Coordinator!"

What did you want to be when you grew up? I'll bet my baby cow and your dream career went well together. ;)

My Dad Is AWESOME.

I can always count on my daddy to tell me how proud of me he is.

Catawba Homecoming 2009

I could always count on my daddy to hold my hand. As a child, I'd grab onto his (long, Halter) fingers to cross the ski slopes in the Pocono Mountains. In grade school, he showed me his hand in math at the kitchen table. In college, he escorted me across the field to have me crowned as Homecoming Queen. Now, he lends me his hand for the many tasks of moving, building, fixing, and advice in the adult world.

Catawba Graduation 2010

I can always count on my daddy to teach me life's lessons: to not leave the lights on, to shut the front door and not let out all the heat ("picture those dollar bills walking out the door!"), or to always keep the wrist strap on the Wii because "people throw these things at their TVs and break them."

look! he's got hair!

I could always count on my daddy to help me with my math homework, eat breakfast with me at the crack of dawn before school, teach me how to tile a floor and use power tools, or teach me to drive a stick shift.

Dad was always my buddy in pumpkin carving.

I could always count on my daddy to cheer me on at my sporting events, cheer the loudest when I'm onstage for voice recitals or musicals, to sport a Shawnee/Catawba field hockey shirt or hat, or to take mom, maggie, and me out in Key West on my 21st birthday.

Key West - January 2009

I can always count on my daddy to be awake early in the morning when I need something... and to most definitely be asleep before 11 p.m.

Dad and all his good lookin' kids ;)

I can always count on my daddy to eagerly jump at the chance to take me office supply shopping or to have some ice cream with me.  I wonder where I got my sweet tooth and love for electronics? ;)

Dad designed their NC house!

I will always remember how proud he was of me when I graduated high school, then college, and when I made him tear up at my first ever voice recital when I sang my favorite Disney song, Part Of Your World.

celebratiiiooon!

My dad is awesome. He's such a strong, smart, intense guy who has always helped me with whatever I need. I don't know what I'd do without him!

I'm pretty positive I have the best dad in the world.

Happy birthday, Daddy-O!

What makes your dad awesome?

All I Want For Christmas... [the unrealistic list.]

Ever made an Unrealistic Christmas List?

I did this year.

It's probably never a good idea to let unrealistic wishes materialize on paper, because my face on Christmas morning may resemble something like...

...this.

The Unrealistic Christmas list looks a little something like...

...this!

Seriously... what more could I ever need?

I'd take any color... ;)

So, who is bringing me my cute little baby on Christmas morning?

And who is moving to Virginia Beach?

Maybe I should set my sights on a cute winter coat or a new Camelbak water bottle.

Hey, a girl can dream, right? ;)

Wacky, Tacky Christmas Celebrations

When the Tacky Christmas Party was planned, everyone geared up to dress their craziest.

Just hangin' out in our Christmas best...

Check!

don't be jealous of our rockin' style.

Yes, I am wearing a Christmas onesie. It was a Christmas tradition for my grandmother, Mamoe, to give all the little grandchildren matching pajamas each Christmas. Since I'm the only unwed grandchild over the age of 8, I don't get to match everyone else anymore, so last year I picked myself out this fab onesie.

The party punch was a success to say the least. And we had fun being tacky crazy people all Saturday night.

doesn't Cynthia look like she's attending an 80s office party?

Life has been cuh-razy, and I can hardly remember the last time I had a lazy Sunday.

Enter... yesterday, a.k.a., a bLyss Designs workshop day.

I set up shop and cranked out about 8 wine glasses in one day!  I still have a bunch of finishing touches to make, but I am happy with my completion of Christmas Orders.

one of the many finished products!

Personalized orders are my favorite to make, and I had lots of 'em!  I can't wait for my friends who ordered these to give these glasses to their friends.

Plus, ABC Family was generous enough to provide me with a full-day Harry Potter marathon.  What more could a girl ask for? :)

Happy Monday to all!

Brrr... I'm Officially in the Holiday Spirit.

The fah-reeezing temperatures outside have really made it feel like Christmastime.

I'm all bundled up in my office since my coworkers don't have much appreciation for warm temperatures. The way I feel in here kind of reminds me of Lucky's scene in 101 Dalmatians (fast forward to 10:40 to see the part I'm referring to). "My tail is froze. And my nose is froze. And my ears are froze. And my toes are froze!"

Lucky (and I) need a space heater.

It's the most wonderful tiiiime of the yeeeaaaarrr!

I'm happily bouncing around to Christmas songs while I work this morning, thanks to a link to Straight No Chaser's Christmas music from Julie.  Straight No Chaser is an extremely talented 10-man a capella group, and they have some fantastic Christmas stuff right on their home music site.  They're pretty great - I quote, "We take the music very seriously; we just don’t take ourselves too seriously.” In the process, they are reinventing the idea of a cappella on the modern pop landscape."

I'm sold! 

And the feeling of Holiday Cheer is evident in my office today.
 

"Hi!  I'm a two-dollar tree from the handy front section of Target."

I've gotten lots of compliments on my little baby tree. :)

Aaaaand it's been so much fun gearing up for this weekend's Tacky Christmas Party!  Just wait till you see my Christmas garb.  It'll be good, I promise.

Just take a looksie of how we did it in college...

Thank you, Christmas sweaters.

Why, yes, that is a singing reindeer hanging from my neck.

I'll be seein' y'all on the flipside of this weekend.  Tacky Christmas pictures in tow.

Have a holly, jolly weekend!

Ouch!

I'm officially completely frustrated with my body and its inability to withstand injury.

I was running a lot over the summer. Since my summer job was in management of a restaurant (before my job in a school no), my hours were irregular, my boyfriend and almost all of my friends were studying for the VA bar exam, and I had no life, I had a lot of time on my hands to train for the VA Beach Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon. Any injuries then? Nope.

Back in training for my first half marathon (The November 2009 OBX Half Marathon), I ran plenty. Did I get hurt then? No.

we're all feelin' good at the start of the OBX Half Marathon!

I did pretty well in my training for the September 2010 Rock 'N' Roll... until July when I  hit a little bump in the road  tripped over a curb and ate some serious pavement.

to Patient First, I go...

Some stitches, pain killers, and a few weeks later, I was good to go and did fine in the race. Right afterwards, I tried to keep up my training since I'll be running the Shamrock Half in March (it's true... races are so addicting).

After some running, I started to feel some pain in my hip. I got some new Asics. It got better.

In the beginning of October, a shooting pain evolved down the outside of my right quad. After some research, I realized I was facing an IT band strain, which kept me off the treadmill for a good month. This made me wary for the Turkey Trot, but I babied it and did fine.  I was psyched when I ran the race in good time with no pain.

Now, enter... Monday.  I got a good run in (had to run off that Thanksgiving food!), and hopped back on the treadmill on Tuesday to find I could barely run at half-pace without right behind my knee killing me.

Hamstring strain? Really?

I'm extremely frustrated, sick of getting hurt, and very curious as to why I keep getting injuries.  I know I need to be better hydrated, but I'm a good stretcher and I feel like I listen to my body.

Now is where all my athletic trainer lovers need to step in and add their two cents. Who wants to come therapy me in VA Beach? ;)

Thanksgiving At The Beach

Okay, finally time for the Thanksgiving recap.  I had a whirlwind of a Thanksgiving break!

After the 7 hour drive there, I overloaded on food (and loooots of it), shopping, wine glass painting, and a Turkey Trot!

It was my first ever Turkey Trot, which I was talked into by my cousin, Kristie.  I was just coming off an IT band injury, so a little hesitant, but eventually was persuaded to register.  A 5k has to be a piece of cake after getting so used to half marathons, right?

cousins ready to TROT

we've always been cute. ;)

I wasn't really looking forward to an exciting time for the 5k, considering I'm more of a long-distance runner and haven't been training well.  These days, I'm running a lot slower than I was this summer.

After waking up bright and early on Thanksgiving Day, my cousins Kristie and Greg and I drove down the Grand Strand to the starting line.

1 Alyssa Halter        22 Hertford           NC   21:18 

21:18 minutes later, I came in 20th overall and FIRST in my age group!

the finish at 21:18!

I was so surprised and thrilled I was able to crank out a quick time after barely preparing.  I'm usually over prepared for races.

My cousin Kristie did fantastically.  She beat her time by over two minutes!  We must have good genes. ;)

chaaampions!

I forsee more Turkey Trots in my future...

I have a love for costumes...

A post about the Turkey Trot is pending (still waiting for Kristie to post more pictures!), so I'm switching gears a little to express my mounting joy for this weekend's upcoming activities.

I'm getting oh-so excited for our tacky christmas party! 

In college, I was introduced to the "Ugly Sweater Party," and of course, we went all out ever year we could (pictures to come).Come to think of it... I think I've always had a thing for costumes. 

looks like it runs in the family.  cool clown costume, Amy.

I'd go out on a limb and say Halloween is for sure second on my list of favorite holidays (I can't take away the #1 spot from Christmas... there's just too much joy for Halloween to override it).

There have been high school field hockey team themes.

calling all SHSFH05 Renegade Regulators - remember this one?

Then I apparently needed a year of college to figure out I needed to get some cooler costumes...

wow, a ladybug? extremely original.

So the next year, I found a costume that played off my internship with NASCAR.

vroom, vroom!
...and yes, that's a jar of peanut butter and a girls volleyball team around me.

And then I found a costume with POCKETS.  Winnnnnerrrrr!

I'm a home wrecker! get it?

After those few years, I finally discovered just how much fun you can have when you get creative yourself.

THAT is gladiator domination. completely homemade costumes!

And this year, my personal favorite, was a tribute to my most favorite pop artist out there... hellloooo Ke$ha!

1. it's a fake bottle of Jack - just a Fiji waterbottle.

2. family members from afar, I have NOT flown off the handle. this was just Halloween.

Is it just me, or are the craziest costumes the most fun?  I think it's like starring in plays and musicals - the most fun characters are the ones who are nothing like your actual self.  :)

Aaaaaaanyway, this is all relevant to my plans for this weekend.  Just wait till you see my tacky Christmas costume for our beach partaay! Woohoo!