Ali's Favorite Things!

Oprah who? This is ALI'S FAVORITE THINGS!! (Tis the season, right?)

I love Christmas! Not only do we get extended time with people we love, delicious sweets, familiar songs, red & green splattered everywhere - we get PRESENTS! And who doesn't love a good present? C'mon, admit it, it's your favorite part of the season.

But as much as I love receiving gifts, I absolutely love to give them! So I thought this year I would give a few shout-outs to my favorite things. Maybe it will help you with that one person you can't find a gift for.

So here they are! (In no specific order.)

1. Old Navy Mukluk Slippers 
http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=55153&vid=1&pid=797667&scid=797667132
These are super comfy for the cold winter months ahead of us. They are also super cute! They come in 7 different colors, pink with the orange trim is my fave.

2. Pier 1 Brocade Flat Wallets
http://www.pier1.com/catalog/browse/0700.gifts/tabid/501/CategoryID/119/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/8903/ProductName/Assorted-Flat-Brocade-Skin-Wallets/Default.aspx
These are a great gift for a gal in your life. They come in multiple different colors, have a great design, and hold a lot. Why not stuff it with a gift card to their favorite shop or restaurant?

3. The Home Alone Collection
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Home+Alone+Collection+%5B2+Discs%5D+-+Widescreen+Pan+%26+Scan+-+Blu-ray+Disc/18860243.p?id=2159912&skuId=18860243&st=Home%20Alone&lp=1&cp=1
What a Holiday classic! This is a fave in my family, and it will be something I share with my kids someday. This collection has the first 2 Home Alone movies, starring Macaulay Culkin. I think they are far and away better than the ones without him. So why not pick this up and snuggle up with your family in front of the fire and have a movie day?

4. Polaroid 300 Instant Camera
http://store.polaroid.com/products/0/354634/Instant_Camera
I remember when I was younger and a friend of mine had a Polaroid and I thought it was SO cool! In a world of digital cameras, why not have some fun and go old school? Also, I think a Polaroid picture is so much more fun to display than a regular printed picture. This is definitely on my wish list!

5. A Nice Pair of Riding Boots
http://www4.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6.aspx?GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=190d496&DeptID=70731&CatID=71777&PCatID=70731&SO=0&Ne=8+5+3+23+14+1037+1031+18+949+904+833&CatTyp=RLE&Dep=Womens+ShoeS&N=4294953499&x5view=1&Cat=Boots&Nao=105&PSO=0&CmCatId=77583|71777
Riding boots are timeless in my eyes. And you don't have to own a horse to wear them. This pair is really stylish AND affordable! Maybe a present for yourself. ;)

6. Mr.Coffee Single Serve Brewing System
http://www.jardenstore.com/productdetails.aspx?BrandId=1594&pid=3291
This a great gift for a coffee lover in your life! So many times I have brewed a full or even half pot of coffee and a lot of it goes down the drain. This is a single cup brewer from a trusted brand in coffee. Genius!

7. Skinit Customizable Laptop & Cell Phones Skins
http://www.skinit.com/index.php?affiliate=adw1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=cell%20phone%20faceplates&utm_content={K_CREATIVE_HEADLINE}&utm_campaign=KEYWORDS+LAUNCHER&gclid=CIyY7Pyuy6UCFQO8KgodtQvhlQ
With these fun skins, you can choose from hundreds of designs or upload your own! My fave? Van Gogh's "The Starry Night."

8. Philosophy Skin Care Products
http://www.philosophy.com/
This is not only a really fun line of lotions and body washes, but also an effective skin care line. Around the Holidays, they have very cute gift sets perfect for giving! My favorites? The Melting Marshmallow Holiday 3 piece gift set that smells delicious and comes in a cute package, and Help Me - a retinal cream that I put on at bedtime and it dramatically improves my skin's texture.

And now, a few stocking stuffers!

1. Dean Martin "Making Spirits Bright"
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Spirits-Bright-Dean-Martin/dp/B000009RV8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1291218059&sr=8-4
A classic that every family should own to put on while decorating the tree & cookies!

2. Lip Smacker's Dr.Pepper lip balm
http://www.colorandflavorshop.com/product.php?productid=51640&cat=3&page=2
Something I brought from childhood to adulthood. A great flavor that leaves lips moisturized with a touch of color!

3. Yankee Candles
http://www.yankeecandle.com/cgi-bin/ycbvp/retail.jsp
The best of the best! Find your favorite scent and give to a friend. It will warm up any room!

4. A Personalized Ornament
Growing up, my family would go pick out a Christmas tree and we'd each get to pick out an ornament to hang on it. I still love getting ornaments - especially if they have something I like on them (puppies, coffee, snowmen, angels, etc.) it is a sweet way of showing you thought of someone.


Well, these are a few of my favorite things. I hope you found some inspiration for giving this year!

Happy Holidays all!

People can change.

So many times I've heard it : people can't change. People are the way they are, and they will never change, so don't hold your breath or you'll wind up passed out on the floor wondering why you even tried to believe in someone in the first place.

I'm here to tell you it's all wrong. People CAN change. And I have proof.

Not long ago I was a young adult, barely 20, thought I had the whole world figured out. And of course, if revolved around me. I loved to have fun, and that was my only hobby. I didn't care about much other than myself. I tried drugs, drank constantly, lied, made enemies - I was a pretty bad person. I thought my parents' divorce was the world's way of saying "Go ahead! Screw everything up!" So I did.

I kept telling myself, and others, that I would change. But I kept going back to that selfishness I knew so well. As time went on, not many people close to me thought I would ever be any different. And they had every right to believe that.

But eventually my behavior started catching up to me and I was desperate to be different, to go back to the old Ali. I couldn't stand that I was hurting the people closest to me.

And one miraculous day, in a church office, with my Pastor's help, I gave my life to God. And everything changed.

It didn't happen overnight. But little by little, I started living my life with a purpose. A purpose to be a better person.

It took a lot of time, patience, learning and love. I fell at least a hundred times, but I kept getting back up. And I changed. I went from destructive to productive. I finally found some peace within my soul. I mended every bridge that I could. And I still know I have a lot to learn.

And if you question my purpose in writing this, know that it is only because I want you too to believe anyone can change. Never, ever, give up on someone.

Precious Dexter ♥

For those of you who haven't yet met him, this is Dexter.

Dexter was brought into my life when Brad & I decided we wanted another dog to add to our family. We wanted to be sure it was a dog that would be a good fit for us, and for Layla - our 6 year-old beagle. We knew we wanted to adopt, so we could give a dog that didn't have a home one filled with love.

So I started searching.

And in doing so, I came upon a website for Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota. One that rescues dogs that are 20 pounds and under from all over the country and rehabilitates them and finds homes for them. We live in an apartment and cannot have dogs more than 60 pounds, so I thought this would for sure be a great start. I originally found another beagle that I thought was really cute, and applied to adopt her. I received a response from a volunteer within a day saying she thought Millie (the beagle) would not be a good fit for us because she has separation anxiety and would not do well in a crate. And then she suggested 3 other dogs that would probably be a great fit for us. One of which was Precious.

Brad & I looked at his picture, read his bio, and talked it over. He seemed great for our family! So we set a time for a home visit. The foster parent brings the dog to you, so they can be in your environment and see if it's a fit. I thought that was pretty cool.

A wonderful lady named Laura - Precious' foster mom - brought him over. I remember being so excited, and a little nervous at how Layla would react. She brought Precious in and Layla was not too thrilled, to say the least. Layla is very stand-offish to other dogs, but warms up to them with time.

We loved Precious right away and were sure we wanted to keep him. So he got to stay with us.

He started out really jumpy and nervous. He was sad that his foster momma left, and missed her. But he was still full of affection for both of us. He gave us kisses and snuggled as often as possible. He adjusted to his new home, his forever home, pretty quickly.

We changed Precious' name to Dexter, because we thought he should have something a little more masculine. He took on the new identity well. :)

And now I get to wake up to, go home to, and snuggle with 2 adorable dogs. Dogs that have now become buddies. Layla wants to chase him all of the time. She also started kissing him a lot recently. He's not so sure about that but let's her get a few in from time to time.

They sleep next to each other and follow each other around. They truly are family.

Dexter gets so excited for so many small things, it's so cute. He jumps really high when he is excited! He always is the first to greet me at the door, follow me to bed, and give me kisses in the morning. He has a heart full of love for humans and I can't believe we got so lucky to get him. He is my little man and has a place in my heart forever. He is my precious Dexter. ♥

For more about Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota, visit their website at :http://smalldogsminnesota.org/index.cfm

I encourage you all to take a look. There are many dogs that need homes. Who knows - you may be the next person to write about your new addition!

Turn it around.

Hi friends,

Thank you for taking the time to read about someone you may not know much about. I hope to make it a little to somewhat entertaining for you!

I am Ali. I have had a life filled with surprises. Some good. Some bad. Yet I never cease to be amazed when I find myself surprised. 

So let me tell you about today.

Today I woke up in a funk. Just rolled outta bed knowing I was not in the best of moods, and far from it. All I felt like doing was going right back into that bed I rolled out of and hibernating the day away. But that was not an option. So I took a shower, tried to make myself presentable and headed off to work. 

At work, I was given a project I was pretty excited about, but managed to screw up from the get-go.  I also found out the dress store I was planning on going to with all of my wedding party was closed on Sundays - the day we were planning on going. So, I let the day make me feel worse than I did when I woke up this morning. (Que the violins, please.)

I went home for lunch, laid with one of my dogs, Dexter, and contemplated taking a half day and sleeping it away. But I didn't.

I went back to work.

I found myself working hard at finishing that project, and unusually busy. (Note about Ali: when she finds herself busy, she finds herself useful.) I finished my projects just as the work day ended, went home to two adorable pups, and an equally adorable fiance. 

I was beginning to feel better.

I changed into comfy clothes (aka cotton bliss) and went to wash up. To my surprise, there was a Sephora bag on the bathroom counter. Clearly a gift, since my fiance would not be able to find a manly product in that store if it hit him in the face. It was perfume I have been getting free samples of for about 2 months now. That boosted the happy meeter up a notch.

Brad, the fiance, was also going to cook dinner. Very lovely.

And so he cooked. And so I found it a nice opportunity to have a couple glasses of red wine and watch a couple episodes of a favorite show.

As the wine sent feel-good bubbles to my brain, and the aroma of Parmesan chicken filled the living room, I was attacked with affection from two wet-nosed doggies. Kisses covered my face and I couldn't stop laughing. And in that moment, I realized: this is not by chance. 

It was not by chance that my day went from crappy to lovely. 

There is someone who looks out for me. Who taps me on the shoulder and reminds me life isn't too bad. When someone asks me for proof, or why I believe, it is as simple and as amazing as a day like today.

GOD IS GOOD.