A Long December

I lied.

Okay, it wasn't so much a lie as a non-truth. I haven't gotten around to going through holiday pictures or posting about holiday fun. I'm a terrible, terrible person. After the New Year, this will all change.

I'm leaving tomorrow to go to Abbie's parents house in the metropolis of Rayle for our annual New Years party. Okay, so it's not so much a party as it is me hanging out with Abbie's family putting a puzzle together. But it's our tradition. We've done this every year for 12 or 13 years (we're not exactly sure when we started). When I get back, I will make one looooong post about the holidays and that will be that. Then I can get back to posting about regular, everyday, nerdy, boring things.

I leave you now with my favorite band, and a song that is just perfect for this week between Christmas and New Year's.

Counting Crows "A Long December"

"And its been a long december and theres reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last"

100; Pinky Promises

Okay, I really promise to post all about my Holiday festivities, but it's been a long week. There was much travel, some presents, good company, and enough food to feed several armies.

I have pictures, but haven't bothered to get any of them off the camera yet. It will all be done in the next few days. Pinky swear.

On another note, this is blog post number ONE HUNDRED. I meant to make it a much more exciting post, but it's just not going to happen.

For now, I will leave you with what I'm looking forward to tonight. As we speak (as I type) I'm downloading the new Doctor Who Christmas Special and am sooooo excited about it. I can't wait to sit down tonight with Chris and watch it. Eek!



I hope everyone had as Holly Jolly of a Christmas as I did.

Guilty Pleasures

I know, I know! I've been MIA for a whole week! I've missed you blog-land. I've missed you more than you know.

I've had no time to blog, my dear friends, no time at all......

Okay, that's a lie. I've had plenty of time, I've just been doing other things. With Christmas peeking out from behind the corner at me, staring me down (almost accusingly) I should have been working on Christmas gifts like the insane, super-obsessed crafter that I am. Instead, I have been lost in the world of books. The teenage fangirl vampire book world, but still. Let me explain.

I have always been one of those people who just gets pop culture. I was an MTV kid right from the start. I even know that the very first video ever played on MTV was "Video Killed the Radio Star." I'm full of random trivia like that. I don't really miss much. As I get older, I'm slowly figuring out that kids have weird taste. I mean, really.... Hannah Montana? High School Musical? I don't really understand them, but I didn't miss them altogether.

Now, a couple of months ago, in a letter (yes, an actual letter, postmarked and everything), Callie asked me if I'd read the Twilight books. I didn't even know what she was talking about. I'd never even heard of them. A quick Googling revealed that they were apparently the "cool new thing." They even made a movie of the first book. I suppose Callie thought I would have read them since I'm so very obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer... it being my very favorite TV show and all... and Twilight also being about teenage vampires. I guess most people don't get that my love for Buffy has alot more to do with the writing and the witty diologue than anything else.

Anyway, I was really only marginally curious about the whole Twilight thing. I dismissed it as silly vampire books for "tweens." I didn't know anybody who had read them. I mentioned it to Jessica, ex-roomie and Buffy comrade. She knew about as much as I did, that it was the "new thing" and that 14 year old girls were going crazy over it. But when she came to visit the night before my birthday and happened to have the first book in the back seat of her car after she'd read it that week, I decided to give the whole thing a try.


A week later, I've read all 2500+ pages of the four books and seen the movie with Jessica. Ha! If you know me well, you should know that it really doesn't take me long to get into something. So, what's the verdict you ask? Twilight is not the new Harry Potter. It's not the new Buffy. But it sure is fun. And what else can you really ask from a book? Just a little time away from real life.

Twilight is my newest guilty pleasure... even if it does mean that I have the same literary taste as a 14 year old girl.

Now, I'm off to pack for this year's round of Christmas hopscotch. First to Jasper with Chris' family, then to Tignall for mine, with lots of holiday baking in between. Mmmmm..... peppermint bark and homemade marshmallows. I can't wait.

They Say It's Your Birthday...

No, wait... It's my birthday.
Just look at all the cards I got!

It was a nice quiet birthday, just what I wanted. I did get some pretty sweet goodies, though.

Ex-roomie Jessica and her mom stopped by last night and we went out to eat. Jess gave me the funniest gift... It was bag full of all the things that I love, but are bad for me. A 2 liter bottle of Sunkist orange soda (my favorite), a giant Hershey bar, a bag of Cheetos, some tasty coffee, and a cute little penguin mug. I've already had one square of the chocolate, a hand full of Cheetos, and two glasses of orange soda. Moderation be damned!

After Chris got off work today, he gave me my gifts. The first was Chocolate Monopoly. It's Monopoly, but all the pieces are chocolate! So fun. There were also some other goodies, like Twizzlers (the pull 'n' peel kind, of course), a Hello Kittly marshmallow pop (I have an unhealthy love for Hello Kitty) and a sweet little snowman globe.
The big gift was this American Eagle bag that I've been coveting for about a month:
As you can see, I looooooove it. I immediately dumped my other purse out and put everything neatly into my new plaid bag. I'm going to take it everywhere with me. Yaaaaaay!

After presents, we went to my favorite fast-food place, Goodbird's, which only exists in Statesboro, but has the best vinegar fries in the universe. My Birthday cake wasn't so much a cake as it was banana pudding... which I still haven't eaten any of.

All in all, a lovely Birthday.

Tonight I'm going to finish up some Christmas gifts and get them wrapped, then crawl into bed and read until I fall asleep.

Since it's my birthday, I'll leave you with my favorite song in the entire world. The Dire Straits "Romeo and Juliet" from 1980. The video is quite ridiculous, but the song is amazing.



And if you're into it, my favorite live version of the song.

Greg the Sock Creature... and other things.

Just a few things to share tonight.

Lydia left for home today but before she went, she dropped off my birthday presents. My aunt and uncle gave me my very own copy of Paula Deen's Just Desserts! I am going to bake everything in that book. I can't wait. And Lydia gave me a new super-cute pair of embroidery scissors!
And this ornament that she hand painted. It's the sign for 'W'... since that will be my new last initial in a year. It immediately went on the tree.

And finally, I made a sock creature! It sort of has bunny ears, but it's not a bunny. He has big button eyes, a little pink smile, long legs, wee little arms, and I named him Greg.... since we were watching House when I made him. His head is a little lopsided, but it's not his fault.


And now, Mark Wahlberg Talks to Animals. Say hi to your mother for me, okay?

Christmas Crafting and Cute Things

Wow! I have been crafting like crazy in the last couple of days.

First, I finally decided that a store-bought tree topper just wouldn't do this year. So, taking a cue from my dear Lydia, I made my own.


Pink on the front, purple on the back, with contrast stitching. All made out of felt, thread, cardboard, stuffing and a little patience. I owe that fab blanket stitch to Lydia.

Next, I have been making Christmas gifts like one of Santa's elves. I don't want to spoil any of the surprises in case any of the (very lucky) recipients are reading this, so I'll just give you a little taste of what I've been working on. I'll post the full projects after I've given them.

I just looooove that plaid.

In other news, I had a bad headache this morning and just as I was feeling better, the mailman knocked (rather loudly) on my front door to deliver a package. I cringed, threw on a hoodie, and opened the door. It was a birthday present from my Dad! He gave me this super-cryptic hint about saving old socks at Thanksgiving and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what he was going to give me. As it turns out, it's a book on making the sweeeeetest little sock creatures. See those toe socks? Those are destined for sock-creature greatness. I'm so excited.


Next up, a picture of Lucy the hamster, after taking a nice little pile of bed fluff to her wheel and curling up to go to sleep. Precious.


Since we're on the subject of tiny cute animals (I've been waiting for an excuse to post this!):

Meet Rupert, the single cutest thing that ever happened.
All together now... "Aaaaawwwww!"

(This is for you, Lydia)

Neil Patrick Harris, I Love You!

This made me laugh. You know, one of those really good knee-slapping laughs.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like....

Well, you know.


After Thanksgiving, Chris and I drove to Jasper where his parents live to spend a few days. If you don't know, Jasper is in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains. It's beautiful up there and they even have four seasons! The leaves change colors and everything. Here in Statesboro we only have two: hot.... and Christmas.

We we went driving up through the mountains on Friday afternoon and we took these:
On Saturday night, we put up the Christmas tree... which was a big deal for me since this was the first time I'd helped Chris' family put up the tree.

Here's me with my family-to-be putting the ornaments on:

The finished tree:

A blurry-but-still-good picture of Chris and me in front of the tree:

All this holiday cheer must have rubbed off on me. Apartment 22B is now a Winter Wonderland.

Chris' mom made me this wreath for my door:

I got a doormat at Kmart for $2.99:

And then I got a tree. I've never wanted anything but a traditional green tree with clear lights, but something hit me tonight and I went for the white one. And I must say, I think it's beautiful.

Fluffing the branches is hard, mentally-demanding work:

Chris helped decorate:

Pretty, glittery ornaments:

We're very proud of our work:

A pretty glowing tree is so much fun to walk around the corner to. It makes me smile every time. The only thing missing is a star. I couldn't find one I liked enough at Wal-Mart or Kmart. I'll try Hobby Lobby tomorrow, but for now my tree is star-less, which I don't really mind all that much. It's my tree and I love it.

Happy Tuesday to all.

PS.... check back tomorrow for new crafting goodies!

Gobble Gobble: The Post-Thanksgiving Recap

As this is our last Thanksgiving pre-wedding, Chris and I were at a crossroads about whose family to spend it with. Or should we just each go our separate ways? Well, since we hadn't seen my Dad's side of the family at all since we got engaged, we decided to go there. I baked pies. I wish I could say I had pictures of my family or something, but alas... I was too busy enjoying the food and good company to take pictures then. All I have are pictures of the pies. Does that say something about me?

This is the tastiest my kitchen has ever looked. I made two pies: a Sour Cream Apple pie and an Apple Butter Pumpkin pie.

Apples for the Sour Cream Apple Pie

The actual Sour Cream Apple Pie, with crumbly brown sugar topping.

And I saved the best for last... Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie.
This is the best pumpkin pie I have ever made or eaten. Another Paula Deen recipe to hang on to. Click here to snag it for yourself.

Oh and I almost forgot... before Thanksgiving, Chris' sister Emily came down to the ol' 'Boro to spend a few days with us. Chris has wanted a pet for a while but since we both live in apartments where pets aren't allowed, it had to be something small. So, as an early Christmas present, Emily got him a dwarf hamster. Here she is looking quite sleepy.
We named her Lucille and we call her Lucy. She's so small and cute. She likes eating, running on the wheel, pooping, and exploring the apartment in her purple hamster ball. Her dislikes include: being woken up or bothered in any way. Who knew hamsters were so persnickety? We even took her to Thanksgiving with us since we were going up to spend the weekend at Chris' parents house after.

Okay, that's the Thanksgiving lowdown. Stay tuned for more holiday fun!