Coffee Date

     I have been reading these coffee date posts over at Rags to Stitches for awhile now, but until now I haven’t taken my blog out for coffee.  So here goes.

     If we were having coffee today, I would suggest that we stay in our pajamas and drink coffee on the couch…preferably out of Christmas mugs.  I would let you choose from our fairly gigantic selection.  I would drink out of this one.

DSCF3294

     I would tell you how I got this on sale at Kohl’s last year after Christmas and how I would never have paid the full price.  Then I might tell you how my mother used a coupon to buy me the matching platter.  I would probably start telling you all about my mother.  She is such a giver – definitely her spiritual gift.  After talking about spiritual gifts, I would tell you that I’m not sure I know what mine is.  I would definitely crack some sort of corny joke like, “Is micromanaging a spiritual gift?”
     I would ask you about your Christmas and tell you that it all sounds so fun!  Christmas talking would lead right into talking about all the delicious food we ate.  What did you have?  Was it incredible?

DSCF3287

     I would show you this picture and tell you that I made this adorable burlap wreath for my sister.  I would tell you I wish I could just hang out and make wreaths instead of job hunting.  Job. Hunting. Is. Lame.  I knew finding a teaching job at this point in the year was sort of a long shot.  I’m ready to take any available teaching assistant job, but you can’t apply for a job that doesn’t exist.  I would be totally honest and tell you that I’m really discouraged right now.


via

This encouraged me yesterday.  I would share it with you and hope it encouraged you too.

     When we finished our coffee I would tell you that you are more than welcome to hang out for awhile.  If you have to go I totally understand.  I would remind to come back soon for more coffee and chance to see some new exciting stuff around here.

I’m a Real Blogger Now

     What is it about a holiday that makes us feel like we’ve lost five days and haven’t slept for ten?  I love Christmas (duh), but I’m writing this post at 7 p.m., and it feels like midnight!  I’ve been Christmasing for days and days and days, and taking just a few minutes to rest is so nice (understatement).
      You know what’s not so nice?  The fact that I Christmased all that time and made it out with not a single picture.  Not one.  Blog fail.  On the bright side, we woke up to snow (“snow, snow, snow, snoooooow”)!  Not a lot, and it melted by the afternoon, but it was so pretty while it lasted.

DSCF3292

     In other news…I’m a real blogger now.  I got not one, but two, statement necklaces and some adorable gray Toms for Christmas!  Pictures soon.  Definitely.

Final bit of news?
I did it.
I bit the bullet.
I swore I never would.
But I did.
I don’t even have a smart phone.
But…
I joined
@allycami

Let’s hang out there too!

Christmas Tree Love

     Things have been a little busy lately, and I’m just not sure if I’ll be able to post much between now and Christmas, but I did want to take a little minute to wish all of you a very, very Merry Christmas!  This has been a big year for my little blog, and I’m so glad that I got to share it with y’all. 

Christmas tree, 1957
via

Walter Dymond, groundskeeper of Harold Lloyd’s estate, Greenacres, with the Lloyd Christmas tree.  He was responsible for the construction of the Christmas tree from two trees (wiring the branches of one into the other), and placed the ornaments where Mr Lloyd directed.  The tree remained up, all year ‘round. - (1972)
via

Merry Christmas!

100% My Heart

     So excited for this Girl Behind the Blog day!  First things first, I love Ashley from 5OhWifey and Kerrie from The Williams Post.  If you don’t read their blogs…go now. 
     Back now?  Good.  On to today’s post.  Today’s prompt is about our favorite holiday traditions, and oh boy is that right up my alley!  I. Love. Christmas.  Naturally I have to share my faves with y’all.  Full disclosure: my video is a little too long (not too much).  Also full disclosure: I’m not apologizing for the length, because what I shared is 100% my heart at Christmastime.

Let’s have a little introduction for all you cuties who are new here!

     I’m Allyson.  You can read the condensed version of me here.  The longer version is shared in drips and drops all along the way.  I love getting to link up and meet new bloggers.  I hope you’ll stick around for a little bit!

Without further ado…



Thanks for hanging out with me today!  I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas.

5ohwifey
    
Also...you must go check out this adorable DIY teacher gift from my sweet sponsor Kristin!  Loving it!

Pomp and Circumstance…and Chocolate

     It’s been a quick three and a half years.  I feel about a hundred years older.  I have met some of the most wonderful people and the one I’ll be spending the rest of my life with.  I’ve accrued twice the amount of stuff.

But.

I GRADUATED.

     Saturday, I graduated college.  I expected to be really emotional during the ceremony, but I was much more controlled…and so happy.  To be quite honest, I don’t feel all that different yet.  It doesn’t feel very real…I expect that will come when I get a big girl job.  I’ve been sending applications and interviewing but haven’t heard back yet (hopefully soon).

DSCF3270

     According to our pre-Christmas calendar meeting, my mother, sister, and I had decided to do our annual chocolate-covering day the afternoon of graduation.  In spite of total exhaustion, we each had a Coke, hopped into our pajamas, and toughened up.  The rest of our night looked something like this:

120 mini Rice Krispies
5 packages of Oreos
5 packages of Candy Kwik
2 bags of pretzels
and 1 go-pack of mini Oreos

DSCF3276DSCF3277DSCF3281DSCF3282DSCF3283
(From top left: candy bark, close up, rice krispies, close up, our stash of goodies to give away)

     We tried to come up with some new ideas this year since we do tend to give these to the same people each year.  The candy bark was so simple and turned out so cute. 
     Recipe?  Melt chocolate.  Pour it on parchment paper on to the counter.  Spread until fairly thin.  Cover with whatever you want.  Cut.
     Even though 120 may be a little excessive, the rice krispies might be one of my favorites this year.  They’re different from what we usually do, and they give a little break from the chocolate overload.
     Recipe?  Buy mini rice krispies (they come in a box of 40).  You could make them…but we didn’t.  Dip in chocolate.  Dip in sprinkles.
     We also did big oreos – tradition, and I did a go-pack of mini oreos because Keith said he likes those better…  We did one bag of pretzel twists, which is a definite downscale from last year (…I think we did four then).  All told, we made 12 plastic containers, about 30 treat bags, 1 assorted tray, and had plenty left over.
We tend to go overboard.
     This is one of my favorite things to do for Christmas!  These little tins (or plastic containers) are the perfect thing for Sunday school teachers, coworkers, your hairdresser…everybody.  What’s great about these is that we aren’t giving cookies (which can go stale) or huge portions of anything.  It’s just a sweet little snack that doesn’t take a lot of time to do.

I hope your houses are filled with delicious Christmas goodies…
and if they aren’t
please take some of the million rice krispies of my hands (before I eat every single one of them)!

Prayers for Connecticut

     I was fully prepared to spend the next few weeks posting about Christmas and all of the fun things going on, but before we can get there, I feel so led to post about the tragedy in Connecticut.  To put it lightly, like all of you, I am overwhelmed with sadness at this senseless act.  I am in the middle of applying for teaching jobs; I just finished student teaching, and I cannot even begin to fathom losing my sweet kiddies to this kind of event.  My heart is just broken over the loss of such innocent lives.
     I just graduated, but I will always remember that one of the first things I learned in my education classes is that children should feel safe at school.  We are not always sure of their home lives, but we should strive to make school a safe place.  How devastating that the safety of the school building has been shattered for so many children.  For the past few days, I have been in almost constant prayer for the victims, their families, and the community of Newtown.  Overwhelming is truly the only word that comes to mind.
     My heart hurts for the families and for the community. I don’t yet have my own children, but I have been in so many classrooms. I may not know the love a mother has for her child, but I know the love a teacher has for her students.

Heavenly Father,
I pray that You will give the families of the victims
and the community of Newtown
that peace that only You can give…
the one that passes all understanding.
I pray that out of this tragedy,
You will create something so beautiful.
Heal those who are broken.
Shower them in Your love.
Fill them with peace and hope.
Fill our nation with hope.
Do Your will.
Comfort the parents and the families;
let them know beyond a shadow of a doubt
that those sweet babies are in Heaven.
They are being held by Your Father
and will never hurt again.

     Regardless of where you fall politically, this is a tragedy.  Lives are shattered,and their hope does not come from legislation.  Their hope can come only from the Lord.  These families need an outpouring of love.  I am committed to lifting them up in prayer.  Please pray; that is the most far-reaching, powerful thing we can do for them right now.  Pray, pray, pray.

Dear Jesus,

It's a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.

These killings, Lord. These children, Lord. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.

The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?

Your world seems a bit darker this Christmas. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, Mary and Joseph needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod's jealousy. Dark with Roman oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.

Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. Joseph took you and your mom into Egypt. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.

Oh, Lord Jesus, you entered the dark world of your day. Won't you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.

This Christmas, we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.

Hopefully,
Your Children
via

Oh Christmas Tree, Tree, Tree

     I know…I’ve been leading you on.  I’ve been talking about decorations for weeks, and promising to show them to you…and I haven’t.  Until today!
     We’re pretty obsessed with decorations around my house.  We do quite a bit the same from year to year, but our main tree is always something different.  The ornaments are basically the same, but it never looks the same.  Somehow we always end up with the most interesting looking trees.  They either have a hole in the back, a weird lump on one side, or a shape never before seen on a tree.
DSCF3211
This tree will never be in Southern Living…but it will always be in our house at Christmastime.
     In case you can’t tell (sorry about the photo…I live in the most poorly lit house in America), this tree is humongous at the bottom and super skinny at the top.  It looks like the Grinch’s head, and I love it!  I’m thinking I’ll do a post soon on the ornaments.  A few of my favorite details:  the icicles thrown everywhere, the stuff-ins and sparkly picks, and the paper doily angels at the top.
DSCF3198
     This is one of my favorite things ever.  The glass ornaments keep it looking very vintage and classy.  I love the sparkly mesh underneath; that’s new this year!
DSCF3188
     This one is mine.  While I wouldn’t do a white tree as my main tree, for brightly colored funsies it’s perfect.  I added a couple of new ornaments this year…I’ll have to include them in the ornament post.
     There you have it…well, the main trees that is.  There is plenty still left to show, and I will definitely be doing that.  I hope all of you have decorations up and glowing.  How many trees do you have?
P.S. Don’t forget to enter the Graphic Image giveaway going on!

Giveaway - Graphic Image

     I have this planner.   I use it to keep track of pretty  much everything going on.  Every once in awhile, my mother, sister, and I sit down with our planners and have a “calendar meeting” just to make sure we have our ducks in a row.  These last few months I would have been a total mess if I hadn’t kept things written down.
DSCF3248 
     My planner has been good to me…so I almost feel bad for this next statement…but she’s just kind of…plain.  Granted she was free, and didn’t fall apart when I spilled water all over her, but still plain.
     With a new year starting so soon (…I know), it just makes sense that I start fresh, right?  Right.  That’s where this story gets interesting.  Y’all know how much I love GiGi, right?  I think we may have discussed it before (here, here, here).  Well…a few months ago, Graphic Image sent me the prettiest, sassiest little datebook you have ever laid eyes on.  It’s like they know me.  I have now gone from this:
DSCF3252
to this:
DSCF3253 
     I am beyond excited to start filing it with dates ( *June 22*)!  Like all of their other products, this planner is leather bound and so classy.  Of course I opted for orange, my fave, but they have so many great color (and metallic) options to choose from.  I got the week-at-a-view option, but there are several layouts and sizes to choose from.  If I were you, I would hop right over there and start picking your favorite one because Graphic Image has graciously offered to give away a datebook to one lucky reader!  All of this:
DSCF3254DSCF3255  
    could be delivered in a cute yellow box right to your door.  All you have to do is use the Rafflecopter below!  The giveaway will run through next Wednesday, and I’ll announce a winner toward the end of the week.  Good luck!
P.S.  There was a winner from the last giveaway…I emailed her directly, but forgot to give her a shoutout here.  Congratulations, MC Chau!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Am I Old Enough for That…

     Today…I am no longer a student teacher.  I have to admit…it’s bittersweet.  I loved both of my placements, and even though I am so ready to be done, I’m going to miss my sweet kiddos!  One of boys cried today…twice.  As if I can handle that!  He said, “I’m going to miss you because when I smile you smile with me.”  Unless you’re made of stone…that might be one of the most precious things you’ve ever heard.
     The day didn’t start that precious.  I was running a few minutes late.  I forgot the cute little Christmas pencils I had for my class.  I stopped at the drugstore to get some more; of course they didn’t have any.  It was raining.

In spite of all that…
     They were as precious as ever, and I barely kept it together.  To top off the day, I got a call to schedule a job interview! (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)  Please say a little prayer for me next Tuesday.  It’s going to be a pretty busy week – moving home on Monday, interview Tuesday, graduation practice Thursday, and graduation (!!!!!!) Saturday.
 
Am I old enough for all this?
     I guess if I’m old enough to get married I can do the rest of it.  On that note, when I get  home, I will be in full wedding planning mode.  I need to get my flowers nailed down, my cake figured out, my veil, my shoes, what everyone else is wearing…basically everything except the date, the photography, and the dress (love…I want to wear it every day.  No seriously.).
I think I’ll start with a nap.
DSC_8993

Oh the Weather Outside Is…

…totally disgusting
     I mean really.  Four days into December (Christmas, Christmas, Christmas), and the highs are pushing 70.  I think that’s gross.  I can’t even wear my sweaters!  I saw someone today in flip flops, flip flops.  I don’t care if it’s 1, 000, 000 degrees…in December, we wear real shoes.
I know I live in west Tennessee and will never see this all December,
but the humidity has got to go…got to.
I’m boycotting everything until it’s really December

that’s not true.
I’ll be back in day or so with the Christmas decorations I’ve already promised to post about.

Eat and Be Merry

     Get ready…because this cake is going to blow your mind.  My daddy doesn’t even really like cake (he’s a pie person), but he seriously talks about this all the time…how could I not make it for him?  Over Thanksgiving break, he and my mother went to a cabin in the mountains.  I planned to have this waiting on him when he got back, but due to some rather unfortunate plumbing problems (lame), they had to come back early…so he obviously needed a feel-better cake.  My sister and I spent the whole weekend wreath making, movie watching, and cracker baking.

DSCF3177

You will need:
3 c. applesauce (sweet)
2 c. sugar
2 c. raisins (not necessary…but delicious)
4 c. all purpose flour
1 c. chopped walnuts (optional…but also delicious)
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
4 tbsp. shortening

DSCF3157

…to be quite honest, the recipe I used didn’t have actual directions…so I’ll tell you what we did (which worked perfectly).

1.  Mix all the dry ingredients, and whisk together.
2.  In a separate mixing bowl, mix applesauce and shortening (you may need to use a hand mixer to break up the shortening).
3.  A little at a time, mix the dry into the wet and mix well.

DSCF3159DSCF3161DSCF3168
Steps 1, 2, and 3…adorable helper not optional.

4.  If desired, mix in raisins and walnuts. 
5.  Pour batter into well greased pan or Pyrex.  I used Crisco to grease them, but I’m sure you could use parchment paper or another method.
6.  Bake in preheated oven on 350 for about 25ish minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  (Note:  We made two smaller cakes, so the cooking time may need to be adjusted.  I would start at 25 and move up as needed).

DSCF3173
At this point, your cakes should have pulled away from the edges of the pan, and your house should smell like Christmas!

For the icing, you will need:
2 c. sugar
1 c. milk
1 tbsp. butter

1.  Cook on stovetop until creamy and spread on cake.  (Note:  This will not thicken up like frosting.  It’s more like a glaze that will need to be poured over the top…it would work as a poke cake too!)

Eat and be merry!

     In case you’re hesitant about the applesauce, this is not a slap-you-in-the-face appley kind of cake.  It really is very similar to a spice cake.  Basically…Christmas in a Pyrex.  Make it…go now.

P.S.  We finished decorating today…pictures soon!

Pretending

     When I started this little blog of mine, I thought I would be sharing fun little crafties all the time.  Then…I realized that crafting is hard, and I have a limited skill set.  After this realization, I revamped and let you all follow me through life and watch me realize how it works.  In spite of all this, I still love crafties, and desperately wish I could just whip up beautiful things like so many of you.  It has been so hard for me to keep up with pretending to be a crafter while I’ve been in school, but this weekend got me back into the swing of things!

My sister and I made…

DSCF3152
an ornament wreath…which I love,

DSCF3156
a poofy wreath…love,

AND

DSCF3177
applesauce cake…stay tuned for this recipe.

     This cake…is incredible.  I have a feeling I’ll be making it more often…or never because I could eat the entire pan.  Oh!  I almost forgot.  Do not ever make these…

DSCF3150
because you will eat entirely too many.  I’ll have to share this recipe too!

     I hope your Thanksgivings were incredible!  Mine certainly was, and now I am 10,000,000% ready for Christmas (…let’s not kid…I’ve been there for awhile now).  This weekend is tree weekend; after that I’ll be revealing all the decorations!

Gray Thursday

     I ventured to Wal-mart last night…and came back empty handed.  While the rest of you are fighting the masses today and for the rest of the weekend, I’ll be on the couch watching Christmas movies…and baking an applesauce cake.  In spite of my Wal-mart experience, my Thanksgiving was wonderful, and I hope yours was too!
Get ready…it’s about to be all Christmas all the time!

Project Thanksgiving

     Yesterday I started my little thanksgiving experiment.  I made it a point to stop several times during the day just to thank God for His timing…even when I don’t like it.  Results?

It worked.

     The more time I spent just thanking Him (as opposed to asking Him to fit His plans to mine), the more thankful I became.  To be honest, the first few times I stopped to pray were pretty hard.  I found my mind drifting to the questions instead of the thanks.  The more I did it though…the more I liked it.
     For day two…

Tuesday
God’s Provision

     provision.
via

     Whatever God provides…is enough.  That is the truth.  In whatever situation, I must be content…because it’s His will.  I know these sentences are sounding choppy, but there is so much truth in this kind of simplicity. 
     I can be thankful because His provision is always enough.  I am called to be thankful.  I’m spending today being thankful for God’s provision simply because it is enough.  Always.

The Thief of Joy

     Hold on everybody…this week I’m going to get really honest.  Yesterday our sermon was about thankfulness…not a surprise.  What did surprise me was how thankless I’ve been feeling.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving, but the last few weeks have really been a struggle for me.  Given the season (and because I need this), I’m going to focus on thanksgiving (the act, not the holiday) for the next week.  I’m choosing one blessing each day, and I am going to meditate on that and pray on it and thank God for it with my whole heart.  Let’s get started…

Monday
God’s Timing

     I’m jumping in with both feet.   I’m also anticipating that this won’t be the easiest ever post to write…so I’m going to start with a list.
     1.  Salvation
     2.  Keith
     3.  College
     4.  Job
     5.  Marriage
    
     These are gifts, blessings that I’ve been given, and I really am thankful for them.  What I don’t have is an attitude of thankfulness about God’s timing in blessing me.  I’m a planner…I like to know what’s going on all the time, so to not know everything is a struggle for me.  I am really having to work on trusting in His timing.
     I believe that God is going to provide, but I also have to believe that He is providing in the right timing.  The hang up?  Comparison.  Hence the title.


     God’s timing for everyone else is not God’s timing for me.  I may tattoo that on my forehead.  What He is doing in my life is right because it is His plan.  Is it hard to look at my life and realize that I’m not exactly where I thought I would be?  Yes.  Is it hard to look at my life and see that it isn’t following the same timeline as most people in my family?  Yes.  Is it God’s will that I compare what He is doing in my life to what He’s done for others?  No.  I’m spending today thanking God for His timing…even when it isn’t my timing…and even when it doesn’t match other people’s timing.

Sparkles Everywhere, Y’all

Hold on to your hats people!
Today I am so excited to be sharing such a fun giveaway with you.
     Several months ago I won a fabulous purse from GiGi New York.  To say this sparked a fire is an understatement.  There is not a single thing on GiGi’s (yes…we’re on a first name basis) website that I am not drooling over…namely this.
     If that doesn’t show you how fun their products are, I don’t know what will!  I can tell you from experience that everything they produce is quality, quality, quality.  And is if that wasn’t enough, their customer service has been practically a dream (no exaggeration)!
     Before I even get to the giveaway, you should hop right over to GiGi New York and spend a little time window shopping…or actual shopping.  To make matters even more exciting…the holiday collection is out!  Sparkles everywhere, y’all!
While you were there did you notice these cute little things?

via

   Are you kidding me?  I would be hooking these key chains onto everything…everything.  One of you lucky readers is going to have that opportunity.  Use the giveaway widget below for tons of chances to win this little cutie!
Good luck!  I’ll announce the winner next Wednesday!

P.S.  As if the giveaway wasn't enough fun...GiGi New York is offering a 20% discount on all orders today using the code CANDYCANE

Hang On

     Y’all, we did it!  Christmas decorations (minus the real tree) are up at our house!  For my mother’s “birthday palooza” (a term/concept she created) we turned our house into a winter wonderland.  Of course I forgot to take a single picture…but you can get an idea of what it looks like here.  This year it’s even better…obviously.

As per usual I’m going to change subjects about five times in this post.  Hang on.

     Three weeks and two days left of school.  That’s all…but…I was fingerprinted/interviewed for a job on Friday, and I am feeling really confident about it!  I would love to graduate and have some idea of what I’m doing…other than taking a well-deserved rest.
     My.  Engagement.  Pictures.  Are.  Here.  At the 11th hour…seriously, as I was about to walk out the door, the mail came with my picture disc and I could have just hugged the mailman!  If you are in West Tennessee and considering having pictures made, you should definitely give Oh Snappy Day Photography a looksee.

DSC_9025DSC_9089DSC_9183
I’ve been looking at them constantly!

     I hope all of you will be sticking around this week because I have a super fun GiGi New York giveaway on Wednesday!  Since I’ve been blogging, I have “discovered” (not on my own…obv) all of these incredible new companies and products, and GiGi New York/Graphic Image might just be my favorites!  I am so excited to be sharing a fun, new product with you soon.
     Last but not least…if you do something really stupid about a month before you graduate…like forget to turn in a paper…the world. will. not. end.  I had a “mini meltdown” (I put it in quotes because it’s a lie…) yesterday about a little reflection paper that I forgot to turn in, and even though I could just kick myself for being so dumb…when I woke up this morning the earth was still spinning, and God is still God.  I may not get to have a certain seal on my diploma, and I’m not sure what else will happen (surely it won’t be that bad…), but I’m going to let go.  As believers we are called to cast our cares upon Him…and leave them there.  This little snafu is not going to keep me from graduating, it’s not going to affect my health, it’s not going to affect any job I may get, and it is not going to affect the fact that God is in total control.  Am I happy that I made this  mistake?  Well of course not.  Do I wish I could just fix it, no problems?  Well obviously.  Am I going to let the enemy tell me that I have ruined everything?  Absolutely not.  I am not defined by the stamps or seals on my diploma…I’m not even defined by the diploma, so I am not letting this bother me anymore.

*sigh*
I think I’ll alternate between Christmas music and choir music for the rest of the day.
How about another picture…or two?

DSC_9057DSC_9132

See you soon!

Sunday Social

It’s been such a long time since I did Sunday Social with Neely!
Sunday Social
 What is currently on your wish list?
    
I have been having a really tough time coming up with ideas for my Christmas list!  My mother has been begging for ideas, and I just now got a little list to her.  I think I’m finally ready to join the bandwagon and get some black Toms (or Bobs…I’m really not stuck on brand names) and a triple barrel curling iron.
   On my  imaginary wish list………


Share a new iphone, droid, ipad app you have recently discovered that we all need:
     Would y’all believe that I still don’t have one of those fancy, outer space phones?  I’m sucking the last little bits of life out of my LG enV3!

What is a new Fall TV show you have added to your DVR?

     I just did not get into the new fall shows this season.  I’m still keeping it classic with Big Bang Theory and Criminal Minds.

Share your Social Media links for us to follow you on(pinterest, twitter, facebook, etc)
Tell us which is your favorite and why? 
     They all have their benefits.  For personal use, I love Pinterest!  For networking, I still like Facebook over Google+…which I haven’t quite figured out yet.

What is a TV show or Movie or Song you could listen to or watch over and over and over and never get tired of…feel free to name one of each:

     TV Show…so many.  I love Criminal Minds, Paula Deen, Big Bang, Friends, The Nanny, Law & Order: SVU…pretty much all of it.
     Movie…Oooohhhh, how could I choose?  I like all of the Harry Potters, A Time to Kill, Hocus Pocus, The Santa Clause, etc.
     Song…probably one of my favorite songs of all time is If I Had a Boat by Lyle Lovett.

I can’t wait to link up and meet all you new fun people!







I’m Ready

Today...

DSCF3129
was a good hair day,

and that makes up for yesterday.

     I got totally ready today, and almost left before I realized I had on not a stitch of make-up.  This is a sign that Friday is a few days late.  It has been a long week in my world.  We took a field trip on Tuesday to the Fun Farm.  We had a ball (pig races, corn mazes, animals), but I left cold and exhausted.  Then we had a guest speaker, Halloween, and the full moon.
I’m ready for a nap.

     Also, now that Halloween is over, my mind is all Christmas all the time.  The crazies (i.e. my mother, my sister, and I) will be decorating next weekend (minus the tree).  Before you think we’re crazy…there is a good reason.  My parents will be going out of town for Thanksgiving, and who wants to come home to an undecorated house?!  No one.

Can’t wait!

     Happy weekend!  It’s been a long time coming this week.  Stay tuned for more about Christmas, engagement pictures, and my veil (which I’ll be buying January…I don’t think it’s too early to start thinking about it)!

Out of Touch

I promise I’m alive!

     I feel so out of touch with the world right now.  Everything has just been going a million miles an hour right now, and I’m struggling to keep up.  I won’t go so far as to say that I’m taking a hiatus from blogging, but if I were you, I wouldn’t be surprised if I wasn’t as familiar of a face for the next little bit. 
     I’ve got about six weeks left of school, and I’m doing all I can to soak up every bit of it.  I know I’ve said before that college has been sort of a mixed bag for me, but I did not realize that I was just not ready to go yet!

DSCF3104
Not seeing this guy every day will not be fun.

     Speaking of Keith (which we sort of were…), we are 98% sure that we have the wedding party figured out – groomsmen, bridesmaids, ushers, and attendants.  That’s all the news there is on the wedding front…except that we still don’t have a florist (not for lack of trying).  I so like to have all my ducks in a row, and having a florist would get me about twenty steps closer.  I’m not going to stress though (for another week or so). 
     Switching gears again…kind of…it’ll probably be another week or two before I can show you any engagement pictures!  I am getting so antsy!

DSCF3108DSCF3118DSCF3114DSCF3117DSCF3120
There’s a little preview for you!
So antsy!

That’s about it for today, but I promise I will be back soon…and I mean it this time!