Merry Christmas!

'Tis the season to be jolly....fa la la la la .

I am especially joyous and jolly this Christmas season as this will be the first Christmas I have spent with my family since 2009. We were in Pennsylvania and Korea the last 5 years so this is a real treat.

It is tradition for my family to go to my Mimi's house (paternal grandmother) on Christmas Eve. We have a nice dinner (with dessert! usually a fourteen layer chocolate frosted cake, yummo!), exchange gifts and then afterwards we go out into the field and shoot fireworks. I am very excited to participate this year.

We've been enjoying the past few months with our family and friends but it's almost time to get back to the daily grind. My husband has found a job and we are relocating to my hometown.

I had a job interview today for a position I'd really like to have so I am hoping to hear back about that in the new year.

I'd like to wish you all a very merry and bright Christmas filled with lots of joy and cheer. I'm signing off until after Christmas.  Then I hope to share my 2016 word, my 2016 book list, a few book reviews and new recipes. In closing, I'd like to leave you with my Christmas poem that I am re-posting from years past:

‘Twas the Night Of Christmas

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

‘Twas the night of Christmas and all through the house,

 all the creatures were reverent, even the mouse.

 The baby was swaddled and tucked in with care,

 and the angels rejoiced that the Christ-child was now there.

A long journey it had been,

from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

On the back of a little old donkey, slowly rode Mary.

Though a virgin, the Son of Man, she did carry.

She was soon due,

but the rooms available were few.

The only refuge to be found was with the animals and hay.

The sign of a star, hung high in the sky, gave the objects below the luster of midday.

The shepherds traveled far from their beds,

while visions of angels and a Savior, danced in their heads.

The wise men also journeyed from afar,

sent out by King Herod, they followed the star.

Out on the street, there arose such a clatter,

Joseph sprang from his watch to see what was the matter.

The shepherds and Magi arrived to worship the newborn King.

Gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold they did bring. 

They played their harps and sang   

praises that proclaimed His mighty name.

Then the shepherds set out again,

to spread the good news to other men.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

PS: If you're feeling especially cheery try making these festive cupcakes.

PPS: If you are stuck for last minute gift ideas look here. 

Catching a Breath....But Only One!

kenYa'll days and weeks are flying by over here. Its like someone set SC on to warpspeed. I'm taking tests and turning in papers and attending meetings left and right!

I'm interning at Hub City Press, arranging service projects for a club at school and helping edit the school paper. And keeping up with wedding planning and social activites. It is darn near exhausting.

This weekend has been fabulous though. Mr. Groom came down Thursday after and we went to one of his favorite places for dinner- WAFFLE HOUSE. Ya'll those pecan waffles are pretty darn delicious. We just hung out and relaxed around the hotel room.

Friday we went and applied for a marriage liscense! And later in the day had dinner with my family. I was suprised at how well everyone behaved and how painless the entire experience was.

Today we went and picked up my cleaned and tightened engagement ring at the mall, bought him some pants, ate Korean food for lunch, took a long nap and then met up with three of my bridesmaids for dinner and conversation. (And the Amish baked goods that Mr. Groom brought down from PA).

He's leaving tomorrow after church to continue the job search. I've had such a great weekend I don't want him to leave just yet (This is the first time we've been together since we've been home from Korea) but I know that soon we'll be together for quite a long time. Keep him in your prayers as he drives back.

The Makings of a Fabulous Weekend

This weekend has been going great and looks like its going to keep on chugging in that direction.

Last night was Sparkle City's Collegefest, where students from all six colleges gathered to listen to 3 bands and eat free barbecue, pizza, fried oreos, candy apple, funnel cakes and beer. Okay, I ate dinner before hand so I could save all of my free tickets for the fried oreos, funnel cake and candy apples. Goodness, that does make me sound like a pig. I DID share the oreos with both roomies and the funnel cake with Lyric. And I brought the candy apple home for a movie night snack. Before we left for the night though, the waterbottle I packed leaked all in my bag and completely soaked my phone so now the battery won't charge. I have the worst luck with phones! Hopefully, I can find a cheap battery  to buy.

Today I did homework  (bleck) and went shoe shopping. I found a really cute pair of white flats with "crystals" on them, but they're $70 and I really don't want to spend that much on them, so  the plan is to hit up David's Bridal tomorrow to see if I can find something similar. Tonight the plan is to work on invitations with the roomies and Hotglue, watch Lifetime's polygamist move, eat some tenderwhite popcorn and my candy apple.

Tomorrow? Church, lunch with the girls and then a FREE cooking lesson at William Sonoma, updating my registry, more shoe shopping, more homework and the beginning of present delivering for K10's Big Sis/Lil Sis week.

What did you do this weekend? Any exciting plans?

Feels Good to be Home

Hi Ya'll!

I feel like its been forever since I've blogged.

My flight home went well and on my longest flight (Tokyo to the USA) I got a free upgrade to busines class. It was so nice- steak dinner and ice creamm sundae and a "bed".

The downside?

My luggage didn't arrive until last night, which is why you haven't heard from me. And on top of that my suitcase was busted in several places. Thankfully, nothing was missing. I've got Delta's Damaged Luggage claim form ready to go!

So, since I haven't had a computer to help my procrastinate what have I been up to?

Wii Yoga! I love doing yoga on the Wii. As balanced challenged as I am, having the balance circles on the wii really helps me out.

Wedding planning! I made the rehearsal dinner reservations at a local, Italian/American restaurant. I've met with the caterer-who is also our baker. We opted for a smaller wedding cake, since we are having a dessert reception.

To fit the travel theme, we are having desserts from a variety of places- think Baklava, NY Cheesecake and Cannolis and Mexican Hot Chocolate! We're also having a fruit and cheese table with tons of cheeses. I think that will be Mr. Groom's favorite part because he once told me he wanted to marry cheese.

This afternoon my grandparents from NC are taking me to lunch, I'm meeting with the florist and making Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies for my little sister! I'm hoping to send off my engagement notice to the newpaper as well, but we'll see how motivated I feel this afternoon.

Have a Happy Friday- I'll pick up with the featured followers next Friday!

Mono Induced Blogger's Block, AKA: I'm going to ramble today

Go figure. I'm expected to sit around and do nothing, so I think I'll have time to catch up on blogging and writing. Wrong. All I can do is eat popsicles and think about how much wedding stuff I'm not getting done.

Well, I'm starting to feel better and sleep less. Which is great because my sleep has been horribe. Interrupted and psychotic. I did dream about blogging. I got so mad with my blog in my dream that I shoved my computer out the window. And then I woke up.

I decided that taking vitamins might help my body heal faster so I've been taking my younger sisters Flintstone Gummies vitamins. Those things are just like candy. I have to make myself stop at the recommended dose of two for anyone over the age of four. I wonder if I'm over five times the age of four if I can have one more?

I maybe sorta kinda possibly found a photographer. He takes great photographs. His package (hehe): 2 photographers from the beginning of the wedding-end of the recption for $400. Amazing deal. He has another wedding at 3pm that day. He's told me he can be at my venue before 7 (ceremony start time) but he's not sure how much before 7. Should I grab the deal and find someone to take my getting ready and posed pictures? Should I turn him down? I've got one more appointment on Monday so I guess I'll be able to make a decision after that.

Updates

I've finally caught my books of 2010 list up to speed. Hopefully, I'll get the chance this week to write reviews/descriptions of the books. I'm cheating a bit and including some of the books I've read for school, because lets face it- I've a ton to read for school, and if I've enjoyed the books, why shouldn't I include them on my list?

The books I mentoned in my last ATM post have really paid of for me, at work and in school. I had to do a career project and Ogilvy's books gave me a jumpstart on the background I needed!

This week I'm hoping to squeeze in two baking products-some type of banana chocolate chunk cookie and apple pie cupcakes. I'd also like to make dinner one night but I'm not sure time will allow.

Well, off to do more homework so I can those projects underway.


OOPS! Just looked at the page, and apparently I deleted my books list.

Here they are and I'll try to set up the list tomorrow

Lawof Nines
Life of Her Own
Defying HItler
Kettle Bottom

Its been way too long

I apoligize for the HUGE gap in my blogging life, but the fact is -real life just caught up to me. I've got two more classes here then when I was in Scotland, paired with all of my social activities, my new job and managing a long distance engagement as just left me too busy to blog.

I got the chance to make my friend a birthday card today:

Outside text: Sweet Birthday Wishes
Inside: For my my favorite canadian
Envelope: Hi Cupcake!

After midterms this week it was a great stress reliever. I'm heading to Hartsvegas for Spring Break where I'm hopeing to catch up on the piles of homework I've been neglecting, finish my projects for work, read a fun book and make another card or  two for upcoming events. And I've recently won a copy of Falling into the Sun: A Novel by Charrie Hazard, that hope to read, in additon to sending out some internship applications. Oh and the bestie, her beau and I are hopeing to take a  day trip to Charleston!

Oh! And earlier in the week, my fiance sent me these:

(The bear is the size of a four year old!)