Pajama Fun + 2018 Goals

Robe and pajamas: Lilly Pulitzer (c/o) wearing size small

Our 12th annual pajama Christmas party was a Friday night and the next day I had to hop on a plane back home to Nor Cal, it’s been a few years since I’ve had to rush like that but it’s the night that worked for everyone’s schedule!

After dinner, we ventured to Total Wine in our pajamas because the girls wanted wine. Our matching pajamas got us a lot of stares but it was such an adventure, there’s a story highlighted on my IG (@dianaelizabeth_) if you want to catch us walking in. And cue the circulating pajama thought –

Definitely living it to the fullest, just look at our stories.

We were so cozy in our pajamas – a big incredible thank you to Lilly Pulitzer for sending them over, what a true indulgence for us. Thank you, thank you we loved them.

This year I was more ambitious and did most of the cooking – banana pineapple punch, mashed potatoes (thanks Trader Joe’s and the microwave), garlic sautéed spinach, Gruyere mac and cheese, appetizers (this toffee fruit dip and a cheese board), and ordered the meat from a local restaurant because I just wanted one thing to not worry about.

I think I can handle making meat but I had two types of meat and I just preferred to let that part be purchased! If you wanted to see the tabletop decor I did, this was it!

One of the best parts of the night is eating and catching up around dinner just laughing for hours. After our Total Wine trip, we took photos and that’s like the absolute highlight of the night, I think all the girls would agree.

We are laughing so hard and having the time of our life and capturing it.

Then you realize, you are not only wearing the same pajamas clothes, you are cut from the same cloth.

We all met through pageants – Brenna was Miss Arizona USA (third from left, part of Miss Universe organization) and Nicole was Miss Arizona (far right, from Miss America organization). My first semi-pageant taste was when I was Fiesta Bowl Princess in college and then I decided to into pageants (I did one when I was 15) and I started to compete in both and crossed over pageant organizations with different local titles.

We pretty much all just met through pageantry let’s put it that way and it created a bond and we have been such good friends for over a dozen years – being bridesmaids at one another’s weddings. We were sad Sommer didn’t make it this year, there’s usually six of us.

We’re putting together an album and here’s our cover – Lilly and the rockstars.

^^ What happens when you find a mini piñata in your photo studio and pretzel rods. LOL we just make it up.

After a gift exchange, playing a colored Jenga game (and realizing we can’t tell the difference between orange and pink – are we losing our eye sight with age??), the party ended at 4 am.

Two stayed the night and all helped me clean up like a mad woman so I could return to a nice clean house. I love my girl gang so much, we are like a true sisterhood and I am thankful for each of them always willing to bring things, help out, make the drive, stay the night, just make it a special night for all of us!

Ok so now the new year.

I loved everything about 2017 so letting go of this year isn’t something I necessarily want to do – but I can definitely look forward to 2018 with some goals in mind!

If I can be quite honest, the older I get every new year I get bit more frightened, like, please be a good year, no losses, tragedies, sadness, ok, please? And I know I can’t do that, I know fear is not of the Lord. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 NIV. I used to cry every time I left my parents at the airport and I teared up when I left to head back to Arizona recently. So I’ve decided to have 5 goals for 2018 – resolutions, whatever. Just things I don’t do well with that I really need to work on.

1. Let go of expectations. Let things turn out the way they do, let people be who they are. I will no longer sweat what I cannot control.
2. Move my body, fine, I’ll say it – workout. So I can feel my best.
3. Don’t feel obligated to say yes. I will always try to give my best yes to help a friend, be a good friend, or serve but when it comes to business, if I don’t want to do it, I don’t have to say yes.
4. Let go of fear. I have my fears. Most of it has to be with the future, loss, worried about being lonesome, and fearing the things I cannot control or the expectations I have allowed society to tell me things should be.
5. Not overthink. Overthinking can lead to being psycho and totally making something up in your head that doesn’t exist. I have overworked myself about things that are silly, trivial or doesn’t even exist! Instead I will concentrate on the condition of MY heart and the rest will be what it is, no expectations ;)

Do you have any goals for 2018?

Wishing you a safe and Happy New Year!