It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas

It's a little ridiculous how much I love this time of year. Every year I come home on Thanksgiving night and begin putting up decorations. I'm usually by myself in this endeavor as my husband is sacked out on the couch after a long day of eating. It doesn't matter though, I love it that much. Our house is already festively attired and I love sitting in our dimly lit living room with a fire in the fire place, looking at the twinkling white lights. Now, if I could just finish up the semester, it's off to my parents house to enjoy the holidays!

Decorations sitting in martini glasses

A little holiday brew kept cold in snow

Candles & Christmas lights strung in a dim lit room

Happy 4-Day Work Week!

Going back to work after a wonderful, three day weekend is never easy.  However, the wonderful memories I have from this weekend paired with the joy of knowing there are only four days this week instead of five, should help to ease the pain.  I hope everyone had a safe, and memorable, 4th of July 2010!

Summery Treat

image via Flickr

My apologies for the delayed post. I had some Blogger scheduling issues last week, which resulted in this post (which was scheduled prior to the 4th) getting posted after realizing it was still sitting in my queue as a draft.  

Anyway... 

A few weeks back, I shared some outfit photos that were taken in the kitchen right before preparing dinner. On the dinner menu that night: fresh guacamole. With grilling season among us, I thought it appropriate to share the recipe. Serve with your choice of chips and invite your closest friends and family to join you.  While the margaritas are optional, they are always a great compliment!  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

The Essentials

2-3 Avocados

2 drops of lemon juice

3 drops of lime juice

1 diced tomato

salt and pepper to taste

Good Reads

I have found that the first day back to work after a long holiday weekend is particularly difficult.  My creative energy dies a little and I'm not nearly as sharp as usual. Today was no different. With the wonderful 4 day weekend I just enjoyed, I knew Monday was going to hurt. Fortunately there were not too many people in the office and being one of only two analysts in the department for the week, I had my fair share of work to keep me busy. Here and there for a little pick-me-up, however, I enjoyed some cute reads and it is slowly getting the creative juices flowing again. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be back to my own original posts, but to end the day today I'll leave you with some of the reading that I enjoyed periodically throughout my day.

• If you don't read any of the other links, you MUST read about this little Christmas Eve miracle.  I love this post, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.
• So excited about the new SATC sequel!  Also a long time fan of the Golden Girls.  But, never noticed the similarities between the two.  If you are a fan of either, it's a must read.
• And, last but not least, I'll put in a plug for my newest collaboration.  Joe and I had a blast working on our new blog yesterday.  We've always said we needed our own show, we've decided to blog our way to Oprah's open spot! 

Enjoy!

PS - The hubbie and I are hosting (what is turning into) our annual New Year's Eve dinner party for the 3rd year in a row.  Stay tuned as I work on the menu and decor for the evening.  It is sure to be a good time!

A Little End of Year Self-Reflection

I was reading Joe's blog earlier this afternoon and it got me thinking a little bit about the year I have had and what I want going forward.  Every year about this time, I sit down and write out a list of goals and timelines for the upcoming year.  However, I honestly don't think I could ask anymore from 2009 which means 2010 has a lot of work to do to live up to the same standards.  In case you weren't around for the entire year, here's the run down in as few words as possible. 

January - entered 2nd semester of the Washburn MBA program
February - my BFF successfully got his lapband and changed his life completely (which I have been so blessed to be able to be a part of)
May - completed 2nd semester of MBA program, still with 4.0
July - made a career change, which I couldn't be more happy with
August - completed 1st upper level class in MBA program, still with 4.0
September - entered 4th semester in MBA; flew home to celebrate upcoming nuptials with friends and family
October - married the BEST man in the entire world!

November - went on the BEST honeymoon ever!

December - celebrated my husband's 31st birthday, celebrated my 26th birthday, finished my 4th semester in MBA program with an A and B and overall GPA 3.7 (not too bad for getting married during the same semester)

Like I said, 2009 has been about as good a year as I could have ever imagined, which means 2010 has high standards to meet.  So, I guess instead of looking back to set goals it is best to just look forward.  For the new year, I want only to continue learning about myself and striving to be the best I can be.  I am still learning how to be a good wife.  I am still learning in my new job.  I am still learning how to be a good daughter from 1000 miles away.  I am still learning how to be a faithful servant.  I am still learning how to be a good BFF.  In short, I am still learning how to do a lot of things, so I guess 2010 will be a good year to work on a little fine tuning. 

2010, look out... I am headed your way!

White Christmas

Earlier this month I shared my fascination and long time love of snow with you.  So, it should come as no surprise that I am an extremely happy girl right now as we, in the midwest, were fortunate enough to receive 8-10 inches of snow over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Receiving this much snow has left us virtually home-ridden for the last couple of days - which I have not minded at all.  The farthest we have been in the last 72 hours is to the in-law's house, 15 minutes away.  Gasp!  No Starbucks since Wednesday!  Even with the snow shoveling (my first time), lack of Starbucks, and wearing ski apparel everywhere, I will say that Christmas felt just a wee bit more magical with the snow all around.  

I hope everyone had a very happy holidays and spent it with the ones you love.  Here's some highlights from our first Christmas. 

We loaded up all of our gifts for the fam and headed over on Christmas Eve to open presents with Cory's family.  Opening presents on Christmas Eve has been a family tradition for them for a long time.

Look at that wrap job.  What talent! 

When we got home that night, everyone at our house got to open one present, too.  That has been a long standing family tradition for my family. 

Our first  gift exchange.  We set a $50 limit on gifts for each other this year since we have received so many wedding presents in the last 3 months.  For Cory: a card game, Battle of the Sexes.  For me:  nail polish remover (there is a funny story behind that but I just don't have the time)

We even gave the dogs a present.  But, they had to open it first.

 

One was a bit more persistent than the other. 

But, in the end... success for both!

So with the snow still gently falling and everyone satisfied with their one gift, we decided to hit the sack so that Santa could come and leave a few more.  On Christmas morning, however, instead of opening presents right away we decided to first prepare a feast of a breakfast for everyone in the house.  And, you're right if you guessed that the dogs didn't miss out on this either.  Even our cat decided to join in on the action. 

Gourmet pet feast a la Mitchell kitchen for the dogs & cat

And bacon, egg & cheese on a baguette for us! YUM!

So, with full bellies and gifts galore...

We left the dogs to nap while we journeyed back out into the snow to the 'rents house to spread some Christmas cheer!

All in all, I'd have to give this Christmas an A+.  The perfect combination of time spent with the ones that I love, good food, and of course, the snow! 

Yearly Decor

I love this time of year.  Something about the lights and the ornaments, and trees in random rooms of the house.  All of the decor is so festive that I can't help but smile.  Sometimes it makes me wish that I could keep it up year round.  While I'm not sure that I'd feel the same way come July, I do know that it's the second week of December and I can't keep my eyes off of the twinkling lights in our living room. 

After graduating from college I started using a blue and silver - you might say UNC inspired - color scheme.  However, over the last two years my blue and silver has taken on more of a modern twist.  The disco inspired ornaments are some of my favs.  And, this past year my husband and I received quite a few "Our First Christmas" ornaments as wedding gifts.  While these don't always follow the original blue and silver pattern, I couldn't be happier to welcome the new additions into our yearly decor.  Enjoy!

Martini glasses with disco ball ornaments

Confetti garland

Ornament tree on mantle

Disco ball ornaments on curly bamboo sprigs

Snowflake ornament with white lights and curly silver sprigs on the tree