3...2...1...

TONIGHT

I really wish I was getting a kiss from this boy at the end of a dramatic countdown.

Take Two

Please excuse the following plug.

A while back I started a little bloggie graphic design business.

Not a whole lot happened so I decided it needed a new look and feel.

I have upgraded Shannon Elizabeth Designs to it's own blog.

At my design blog you can view the services I am offering, the pricing and packages, and place an order. In addition a percentage of all profits will be donated to Safe Harbor Inc.- a local non-profit that helps victims of domestic abuse.

I will also post tips, tricks and links to inspiration for design projects and feature all the bloggers that I have designed for!

So if you are looking for a new blog look for the new year or you need some custom graphic design services for a reasonable price be sure to check it out!

As a special "promotion" I am offering a free header or button to a random commenter.

{If you want to enter leave a comment along with a link to your blog and say whether you'd want a header or button. Feel free to leave some love/encouragement even if you don't want to change your look.}

Daily Deals

I have been introduced to some awesome online deals and some great ways to save a buck-which is something all college students, recent graduates, and... well... everyone is looking to do!

livingsocial.com

Get deals, discounts and daily emails on weekend getaways, dinner out on the town, and hundreds of things to do around your hometown!

groupon.com

Like living social you get daily emails on deals around your hometown! Share deals with friends for further discounts. You can even get both Groupon and living social on your smart phones and save yourself the trouble of printing out coupons.

retailmenot.com

Discounts and sales on ALL your favorite stores. Print out the coupon or shop online at places like Amazon, Macy's, Old Navy, Victoria's Secret, Kohls, Target, etc. Get grocery store coupons as well!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I am still stranded in the smokey mountains. But boy, is it beautiful!

(I took these photos on my iphone using the app Hipstamatic. The setting: lens- John S; film- Blanko; flash off)

Flashback Friday: Christmas Edition

Tonight we will be doing what we have done every Christmas Eve since forever: Opening one gift, always pajamas, and listening to my dad (or possibly my grandpa) read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I will eat too many cookies and I will try my darndest to feel those butterflies and the pure joy of knowing that tomorrow is Christmas. Do you remember that blissful-overwhelming-can't fall asleep-will morning ever get here-feeling? I can and it makes me ache!

Rewind to 4 years ago..

The last time I celebrated Christmas in Tennessee was in 2006.

I was just a freshman in college.

My parents and sister still lived in England.

My hair was a lot longer than I remember & my cousins were a lot younger.

It was my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.

Rewind to 17 years ago...

Me Time?

My roommate left yesteraday.
Peter left on Friday.
Sister left on Wednesday.

I officially have a lot of time to myself until I get to leave. Not sure how I feel about that but here's how I'm spending it:

1. Talking to Charter for the zillionth time to figure out why my cable and internet are not working.

2. Meeting with a family I am hoping to start babysitting for in the New Year.

3. Hopefully talking with someone from World Vision about a potential position.

4. Playing solitare and Words With Friends on my phone.

5. Yoga classes! I'm committed to not sitting on the couch all day. Perhaps that is why Charter has decided to fail me.

6. Journaling, starbucks, quiet time. Lots to think about these days...

7. Packing.

8. Christmas shopping... ohh boy!

Conflicting Christmas Couture

Last week I went to Peter's fraternity's closed night

and I wore this:

On Saturday I went to his fraternity's "Grinch" party. It's their tacky outgrageous Christmas party.

I wore this:

Yes Peter's sweater has a fur collar and yes my dress is covered in multi-colored ornaments and lights, and yes it belonged to my friend's mom and was most likely a huge hit in the 80's.

Wish List

I may have been a little excessive this year, but I by no means expect everything/anything on it, but it's still fun to make a Christmas Wish List!

1. This lovely "Taupe of the Morning" colored coat from Old Navy.

2. Frye boots. My list had a few different styles.

3. A new daybed slip cover and bolster pillows from Pottery Barn.

4. Books and Movies: Pillars of the Earth, The Help, the final season of The Tudors and LOST.

Christmas Countdown: 10 days

1. What does it mean to have the holiday spirit?

I think it means that you are filled with the hope of the season and the promise that this time of year brings. I think means that you don't get caught up in the stress of travel plans, or the amount shopping or baking or cleaning you have to do. I try to focus on this...

"Long lay the world, in sin and error pining till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices. Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born!"'

2. What sits atop your tree?

An angel. Why, because it's the season.

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?

Probably when I got a positive response to my resume and cover letter from a potential future employee/contact. It gave me encouragement and hope!

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

My sense of smell. I can sniff out butter creams and candy canes from anywhere in the house! I also have to keep myself from sniffing out the presents!

5. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

Mis-matched Tupperware, and leftovers.

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big Meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?

Christmas eve we usually have a huge Thanksgiving-esq feast! Shrimp cocktail, turkey, stuffing and all the fixings. We open the cookie tins and have at it after every meal. Christmas morning we have a yummy breakfast casserole in between stocking gifts and under the tree gifts. Christmas meal is usually honey baked ham and left overs and more cookies!

7. What is the best thing about winter?

Snow days, butter creams, time off from work, and time with the family!!

8. Today is the last day of exams for people who have exams, which means Peter and sister are both leaving me here... ugh! On the bright side there are 10 days till Christmas Eve and then I get some holiday time too!

Cornbread Muffins with a Twist

Tonight I made chili. I just crave a big bowl of chili on cold days. Nothing better. I also LOVE cornbread with my chili. Here is my recipe for Pimento Cheese Sweet Corn Muffins! They are so moist and yummy and you don't have to like pimento cheese to love these. Really they are just a version of glorified corn bread. Here is the official recipe (but scroll down to the bottom and I'll tell you how I cheat to save time and money).

What you'll need:

1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour

2/3 Cups granulated sugar

1/2 Cup yellow corn meal

1 T baking powder

1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/4 Cup diced pimento

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 Cups of milk

2 large eggs (lightly beaten)

1/3 Cup vegetable oil

3 T butter or margarine melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease or line muffin tin.

Combine ingredients. Mix well. Scoop into muffin cups filling 2/3 full.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick cokes out clean.

OR

The cheating method:

You can use a box of cornbread muffin mix like Jiffy brand and then kind of ad lib the rest.

I use 1 egg instead of 2, a little less milk about 2/3 cup, only about 1-2 T of sugar (since there is already sugar in the packaged mix). Same or a little less butter. Add the cup of cheddar cheese and the pimento and then you can entirely leave out the flour, corn meal, baking powder, salt, and vegetable oil. It wont look thick but it's not supposed to. Scoop into muffin tin and bake 18-20 minutes. This recipe makes about 12 muffins, the original recipe makes more.

Enjoy!

Apartment Cheer

* I am reposting my apartment holiday decorations! So if you are visiting from Kelly's Korner or The Nester, welcome! Please feel free stick around and maybe check out my design page- top right of my side bar!

Here's a little story and some pictures about my apartment!

My roommate and I have been putting off turning on the heat in our apartment. Since both of us are pretty much gone most of the day it hasn't really been a problem. However yesterday was sooo cold and last night was brutal. So when I came home from work last night and saw my roommate sitting in the arm chair bundled up in a blanket, hoodie on with hood pulled up over her head, wearing a scarf and gloves. I said, "um.. we can turn the heat on if you want. I think we've put it off long enough."

Our cold apartment however, is looking quite festive, and I am quite pleased!

Restless Reflections

So I am still struggling with blog content and it's annoying. These days I am also struggling with feelings of resltessness-probably why I can't pin down anything interesting to blog about. I am frustrated with my job, with how I spend my time, with the same routine. I am anxious and ready for my life to get going! I feel like I am supposed to be doing so much more than I am right now.

Don't get me wrong I am still so thankful that I have a full time job, in a nice environment, with great people and benefits- it's a job I enjoy. But now...I'm ready for something new and more challenging, I just can't figure out what! I read about these clever people coming up with original wonderful ideas (like this one , shared by a fellow ADPi blogger) and then actually seeing them become a reality. Why can't I think of something like that?

In the mean time, while I patiently (or not so patiently) wait for the Lord's guidance and direction, I am looking for ways to give back and volunteer, basically add a little more substance to my life while helping the community. But if anyone knows about any jobs that combine design, with creative marketing and have a heart for service I'd love to hear about them!

Sleigh Bells....

1. Have you ever been on a real sleigh ride?

My family was blessed with a wonderful winter vacation to Austria, where we took a cozy, but cold sleigh ride to this beautiful castle:

2. What's your policy on chain mail?

Well... honestly, I pretty much just delete them all. If I do read one I pretty much never pass it along. Sorry to the people who send them to me.

3. Who is your favorite character in any of the Christmas movies? Why?

Probably my favorite Christmas movie is White Christmas! I love the whole awesome cast but I just LOVE the "Hayne's Sisters." My sister and I used to reenact their duet "Sisters." Plus Judy Haynes (aka Vera Ellen) is such a beautiful dancer!

4. Share a favorite quote.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

2 Corinthians 12:9

5. What is your favorite holiday scent?

I like the combined scents of the season. The warm fire, the dozens of different kinds of cookies we'll bake, and hot cider.

6. Does the Christmas season stress you out? In what way?

In the past the Christmas season has always been a relaxing, peaceful time for me. I realize that those times are probably behind me now that I am done with school and no longer have a luxuriously long stress free vacation. This year is a little different. I have to negotiate time off and that stresses me out.

7. What's the best thing about your life right now?

Wow, mom- this is a broad question! The best thing is that even though it may be stressful and not exactly like the years before, I WILL get to spend the holidays with my family!

8. Ok a friend posted this link on facebook and I shared it with some of my friends because I thought it was sweet, sad. However my friends thought it was totally cheesy! While I can't deny the cheesiness I still think that it's message is good. Love to know what you all think.

Tuesday Tunes: T-Swift Needs to Breathe

That's right folks, if you couldn't tell from the title, the best concert ever will be coming to a stadium/concert place near you in 2011! Needtobreathe (probably my favorite band) will be joining Taylor Swift on tour! Pause for screams of jubilation and much jumping up and down.....

I like Taylor even more than I already did now that I know she's a Needtobreathe fan! I am going to that concert!

Also, if you haven't already done so, go right now and download Needtobreathe's Christmas song: Go Tell it On the Mountain!

Holly Jolly Hodgepodge

Happy December!

I am home from my little Thanksgiving vacay and it was just what I needed. I will take time and go through some of the highlights later but right now I am just going to participate in the hodgepodge. And it's not too late for you to do the same!

1. What is the most interesting thing you've done in the last year?
Graduated from college. Not just the actual graduation ceremony mind you, but the whole being a senior and the culmination of 4 years of work and play. And then making the transition to the real world. It's been interesting to say the least.

2. What is your most meaningful family heirloom?
Well, in honor of the season I'll say that this time of year it's the pickle ornament. We have some very old ornaments that have been passed down and are really old, and the pickle is a favorite. Every year my dad hides the pickle somewhere on the tree (or as we've gotten older, anywhere in the whole house). Then sister and I race to be the one to find it and whoever finds it first gets to put it on the tree and they get a year of good luck. I think this is a German tradition but don't quote me.

3. What food festival would you most like to attend?
Well they all sound yummy. But I have to go with my mom's choice and say the Christmas Champagne Market in France.

4. I LOVE snow!!! It just reminds me of some of my happiest childhood memories. Sleeping with my pj's inside out and backwards, snow dances with the neighbors in the middle of the street. And then the moment of elation when you fling open the shade and see nothing but white. I love seeing my school's name run across the bottom of the news station under school cancellations. When we lived in Maryland we got tons of snow. Highlight of my childhood, and I'm not even kidding, was the Blizzard of 96! Peter was also living in DC at that time as well so we can share fond memories of endless snow days.

5. Can you ski? Do you ski? Are you good?
Yes I can ski. Yes I do ski-with my dad, preferably in Chamonix, France or Seefeld, Austria, but I'm not too picky. Am I good? Yes, sometimes- no tricks or super duper drops though. I have to start slow and build up my confidence, since there's so much time between each ski trip, but once I get going I'm up for most of the slopes and I really enjoy it (although I have been known to throw a temper tantrum on the top of a steep icy slope at the end of a long day-my dad can attest to that.) I also love the ski towns, food and shopping that comes with a ski trip!

6. What quality in your spouse or best friend are you most thankful for?
Sense of humor. And a sense of adventure-willing to try new things!

7.Describe the coziest place in your house.
I don't have many nooks and crannies in my little apartment but I love to snuggle on my couch/bed with a good movie and my honey.

8. So since I ended up not having work on Monday or Tuesday this week I got to change my flight back to South Caroline and stay an extra 2 nights! It was so nice to have little longer with my parents since I don't know what kind of time I'm going to get off at Christmas. ug. Oh! Also, I got to open the first day of my advent calendar and start putting up decorations today! I will definitely post pictures!

Give Thanks

Give THANKS to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures FOREVER!

Psalm 107:1

I am thankful for...

• my family and the people I love
• the big meal I'm going to help cook and eat today
• my home
• a great interview that really got me excited (plus, they read my blog!)
• the Lord's plan for my future
• time to rest
• Angel Pie-I know I already mentioned the food but this is serious, y'all
• text messages
• Beauty and the Beast on TV last night (they don't make 'em like that anymore)
• my goofy dog
• that I am not venturing out on "Black Friday"
• old family VHS's
• grace
• a whole lot of other things...
• a day that reminds us to be thankful!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Phone Post

I'm not feeling very wordy today so I thought I'd use some pictures I've taken on my phone recently to do most of the talking.

Harry Potter was awesome-best movie in my opinion, and the most true to the book. Sister and I got to the cinema around 10 ish. Obviously we had a couple of hours to kill and since all 20 theaters were showing Harry Potter we decided to check them all out to find the best seats. Once we had determined that theater 10 was the most crowded and should be avoided we wandered around and enjoyed some prime people watching. I stealthily (or not so much) snapped pictures of some of the best costumes on my phone.

(I think I may have been spotted by this girl with the sweet Gryffindor hat on...)

(This is Sister, barely containing her excitment!)

The movie ended around 3 and I had to be at work at 7:45 the next morning so needless to say I was exhausted, especially after I ended up working until 9:00pm-13 hours. The place I work was having a huge Junior League-esque Grand Shopping Day. I got home from work at 9:30 was in bed and asleep by 10:00. It was a loooonnng.... day. Sister had a long day too-she babysat 6 kids for about 6 hours all by herself. We had a bit of a tiff about whose day had been harder, (I still think it was mine.

The next day I did get to sleep in a little. Then I went and got some groceries and a couple of things I didn't need, like some garland with lights to put in my apartment or on my deck, I haven't decided yet. I also picked up a bin to store all my seasonal decorations. I haven't taken down my fall/Halloween stuff yet but I have gotten out my Christmas stuff and it is sitting in the corner ready to go.

I am restraining myself and not putting it out until after Thanksgiving-it's really been a struggle. Especially since my mom mailed me hands down the cutest Advent calendar ever. And I just had to set it up.

It's a Gingerbread House! And it's 3D!

I could feel it coming on yesterday, which is why I went to the grocery in the first place, but yesterday morning I woke up with a cold. Yuck. I always get sick around the holidays without fail. This will hopefully pass in a day or so but I pretty much stayed in bed until I had to leave for work later in the afternoon. I spent the morning watching the Food Network and drooling over Thanksgiving food. I can't wait to go home for a few days and be taken care of and have quality family time. I can't believe this month is pretty much over!

Happy Monday!

HP

So... tonight I am going to see Harry Potter. WooHoo!
My sister and I are going to the midnight showing, I am dork I know. But I don't care because it is going to be awesome!

Confession: I would totally dress up, if I knew my sister wouldn't be mortified and pretend she didn't know me...

Here's something that has been bothering me though. Fandango, where I purchased my ticket, and even some of the trailers I've seen think that people are stupid. They keep saying that the movie is out in theaters Thursday at midnight, when they really they mean Friday at midnight. They just know that if they said Friday people would assume tomorrow night. So when I bought my ticket I had to select the time I wanted as Thursday 12:01 am. If that was actually the case I would have already missed the show...Come on people!

I can't believe this is basically over. The first Harry Potter Book came out in the States when I was ten (which, if you didn't know, is a year younger than the age of the title character in the first book). I grew up with Harry Potter. The last book came out in 2007 when I was 19 (Harry is 17 in this book). I like how the books matured with the characters and the loyal readers who stuck with them. I am so thankful these final movies are rated PG-13 and that they didn't try to tone it down for the new younger audience. (I've ranted about this before..) This installment is especially dark and really isn't appropriate for children in my opinion. Whatever.

Look how much they've grown up?!

Anyways moving away from the Harry Potter topic. I did something stupid today. I got up for work at 7, left my apartment by 7:20 and got to work on time at 7:50. Sounds good right? Well, here's where it got stupid. I wasn't scheduled to come in until 11:00 am!! Are you kidding me?!! I could have slept for a whole 'nother 2 and half hours if I has just bothered to check my schedule. Tomorrow I am supposed to come in at 7:50, I got my days switched. And now I am actually back at home writing this blog post, killing time until I head back to work for real. I would have just stayed but I'm already working overtime this week so they wouldn't let me. So annoying.

Fortunately I am going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows tonight, so my day isn't completely ruined.

Volume Deux

Another Wednesday Hodgepodge is upon us. Jump on over to my mom's page, grab the button, answer the questions, and share your link!

1. What is the most amazing weather you have ever seen?

Aside from the indescribable sunsets in Marco Island the most amazing weather that I've ever experienced was on a church/ Habitat For Humanity trip in high school. It was in the evening and we were listening to the message from our awesome youth leader. He was using a cup and a pitcher of water to share with us how God's love alone can completely satisfy. As he was pouring the water into the cup he explained that His love not only fills us up but overflows. And I kid you not the second the water started to spill over the cup it was as if the heavens had opened and the heaviest, loudest rain pounded the roof!

2. What is a sound or noise you love?

Waking up on a lazy weekend to the sound of a thunderstorm.

The dead white silence after a huge snow fall and the creaking tree branches.

British accents.

3. What part of your day requires the most patience?

Um probably any part of my day that requires driving. I dislike it.

4. Do you like seafood? What's your favorite seafood dish?

YES YES YES! My favorite seafood dish is Maryland crabs! Specifcally those enjoyed at Cantlers-the best restaurant for crabs in the world. You dine outside overlooking the water just minutes from Annapolis. You order dozens of crabs that they dump onto brown paper covered tables. My mouth is watering...

5. What's your favorite shade of blue?

Blue hydrangeas (specifically the ones that grow wild in Stresa, Italy)

Peacock blue.

ADPi Blue.

6. Do people underestimate you?

Yes. I am only 5 feet tall so I think people write me off sometimes as too small or assume I'm too young.

7. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?

I get butterflies whenever Peter sends me a sweet, spur of the moment text, or surprises me with my favorite candy.

8. Random thought for the day.

I am going home in less than a week and that is giving me butterflies as well-I am so excited!

Buckle Up

I'm back. I really didn't go anywhere but for some reason I was feeling super uninspired and just couldn't sit down to blog. Plus, Peter has been borrowing my computer because his broke and he doesn't have Word yet. Now it's getting ridiculous though and I simply have to do a post before tomorrow's Wednesday Hodgepodge or I'm afraid I'll let another week go by. So strap in for a long post.

Last week my old roommate came to visit. Actually she came for other reasons but she stayed for me! It was such a nice little surprise visit, especially since it hadn't been that long since her last trip at homecoming. If all my friends could try to visit me regularly that would be THE BEST! She got to town late Tuesday night. Wednesday we got up and went to lunch together at an old favorite that never gets old. Unfortunately I then had to go to work later in the day but when I got home we ran up to the gas station and got candy and snacks and then we rented Sex and the City 2 on demand and had a fun girly movie night. I hadn't seen it since I saw it in theaters and I'll tell you what, I would not say no to a vacation in Abu Dabi or one of these:

The next day I had to work really early and it seemed like an especially long day since I knew my friend was just sitting around my apartment without me. Since she had been stuck inside all day, we decided to go out that night for a nice dinner at the yummy restaurant where my current roommate hostesses some nights. We split this great salad, a bowl of absolutely divine fried goat cheese balls (drizzled with honey and sprinkled with pistachios....are you drooling?) and shared some gourmet pizza. We were there for over two hours and it was perfect! Then we went back to the apartment where we talked some more and revisited every great 90's song (including but not limited to Scrub-TLC, Digital Get Down-Nsync, and the best of Britney Spears).

Sadly she had to leave the next day but not before she treated me to the best BBQ in town! It was a great visit-please come back and live with me again!

... moving along...This past weekend my sister and I got to spend some quality time together while our boys were camping with their fraternity. We (I) made dinner in my apartment and then we finally went and saw the movie Life As We Know It, which I have been wanting to see since it came out. It definitely lived up to my expectations and Sister will tell you I was crying or and laughing most of the movie.

Yesterday I had a lovely, long coffee date with a dear friend and then made the decision to re-read the Seventh Harry Potter. I haven't read it since the first time I picked it up-the day it came out I read it in less than a day in a hurried frenzy! I wanted to make sure I remembered all the wonderful details before I see the movie (which is out this Friday!!) Well, I started it around 4:30 and I only have a little more than 200 pages left so I don't if it was any less frenzied but I definitely feel way more pumped and ready to see the film (which will never be as good as the book but does a pretty decent job of satisfying my desire that this was real.)

Phew. I feel like I can now answer tomorrow's hodepodge questions since I no longer have this huge update hanging over me. Sorry to unload all of this in one post. Congratulations on finishing this epic post, I thank you for your loyalty.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you think you are more like your mom or your dad?

Starting off with a hard one, thanks mom! Hmm.. well, I think I am a pretty even combination of both of them. I have a lot of my dad's OCD tendencies. We are both perfectionists. Also we both kind of like to have the last word in a discussion/argument. My dad and I both have the adventure/adrenaline gene. On the other hand, I feel like I am really sensitive to the emotions of people around me like my mom is- I like to think we are kind of the peacemakers in the family. We are both go with the flow most of the time. Also we are both bloggers, we both sing out loud in the car, and I've found I talk under my breath to myself aka think out-loud like she does.

2. Do you like roller coasters?

Yes I love them! Except actually I used to HATE them. My mom and I would patiently wait and hold bags while my dad would take my sister on the rides. I couldn't handle the ones with spinning, big drops, or upside down bits. I can't pin it to a particular year or moment but suddenly I like all those things!

3. How did you name your blog and do you now wish you'd thought about it maybe another five minutes before you hit publish? Would you change your blog title if it were not a huge pain in the derriere?

I debated a lot of names and did a little research to make sure there wasn't a blog just like mine with the same name. The other name I seriously contemplated was Shenanigans. But there was a girl named Shannon with a blog and we have way too much in common. Back to the whole OCD thing that I got from my dad, I HAD to post my first post on January 1st so I was determined to pick a blog name in time! I am still very happy with Sincerely Shannon.

4. What is the best wedding gift you received? Not married? Didn't get any gifts? Then what is the best wedding gift you've given?

I've only really given 2 or 3 wedding gifts and I think the best one I've given was the recipe book I gave my friend the other weekend. I put one of my favorite recipes in each section. I think I am going to take this time to say that the wedding gift I am most excited to receive in the future is one of these babies:

5. What is the one bill you most hate to pay?

Well, my rent bill is the largest. However, for the past few months I haven't had to pay my energy bill because they've just been taken it out of my deposit so when that runs out it's going to be sad to have to make yet another payment. Growing up sucks!

6. Is the glass half full or half empty?

Definitely half full! Another trait I get from my mom!

7. What is your favorite word? Okay okay. Calm down. One of your favorite words?

And ending with a hard question as well. Hmm.. I like the word "sincerely" and I like the word "shenanigans." I also say the word "pardon?" a lot. I think it sounds so much nicer than huh? or what?

*8. Here is my random contribution to today's random.

I am thankful for the relationships, the recipes, the inspiration, the support, and the creative outlet that my blog has developed into!

Happy Hodgepodge Everyone!

Face Time

My mom is really quite good with technology. She set up her awesomely popular blog all on her own. However we did have quite a few laughs today while I walked her through some html code for her new blog button and helped her set up her new linky tools. But most importantly we set up her iChat so that we could do all of this techno-savy configuring face to face!!

It made my heart happy to talk to her and see her at the same time! It was also kind of a tease because I just wanted to climb through my computer screen and go to lunch with her. I have a countdown on my home screen till I get to see her for real: 13 days 9 hours 27 minutes and 36, 35, 34 seconds...

So in other news, my mom is starting a weekly random and everyone can participate and link up your blogs! It's called Wednesday Hodgepodge! (isn't that the funnest word?) She has posted the questions and instructions on her blog today, and tomorrow you can answer them on your blog and then share your link! Can't wait to connect with everyone and read all the different responses!

Monday Hiking Crew

I am thankful for the time I spent outside with my friends today! It was so nice to get off my couch and out from in front of the TV and catch up with these girls in the beautiful outdoors.

Brissy Trail was a 2.5 mile trail and I was pooped by the end of it. Part of it was a level 7 (on a scale of 1-10) and part of it was a level 9. Basically it really got my heart rate up....way up!

I got more exercise today on our hike than I have in the past year but I think it is going to be a weekly thing for us-I hope! Tomorrow (if I am not super duper sore) I am going to yoga with one of these girls too! Exercise is so much more fun when done with friends-although it is difficult to really chat when you are panting and gasping like I was.

I am thankful for friends who encourage me.

Fall Back

This may be a little tiny bit trivial.... but I am oh so thankful for:

The Time Change!

Thank you Benjamin Franklin, and whoever else had a hand in this, for that extra hour of sleep this morning. In case you didn't know, daylight savings time ended at 2am this morning when we set our clocks back an hour. I hope your alarm clock/cell phone automatically set itself and that you didn't accidentally get up an hour too early and show up at church before anyone else. One spring our family forgot to set our clocks forward and we showed up at church after it was over-just in time for donuts if I am remembering correctly....

Le Deuxieme Printemps

Even though I am dreading the rapidly approaching winter, today I am thankful for the beautiful fall season! One of my favorite french authors eloquently wrote:

"L'automne est le deuxieme printemps quand chaque feuille est une fleur."

Autumn is the second spring when every leaf is a flower."

-Albert Camus

Hope you are enjoying a beautiful Saturday in Fall!

Ok Go!

I swear that store employees everywhere lurk in the back of their stores and wait for the clock to hit midnight on Halloween and then BAM! Christmas tree!

I went to Walmart on Halloween and then the very next day and it was a totally different place. There were trees everywhere and all the check out aisles were wrapped in seasonal paper. There is not a single leftover fairy wing or Michael Myers mask. It's all ornaments and tinsel. There can be no doubt now that the holidays are upon us! Hope you are ready!

Normally I think this quick shift into Christmas is a little ridiculous. Plus I think it's sad that Thanksgiving kind of gets the short end of the stick (I really think someone should come up with a good thanksgiving song or something). But I honestly don't mind this year. In fact, I have to confess, on my way to work this morning I may have listened to Alabama's holiday hit:"Tennessee Christmas. I think I was in the mood because it's actually snowing not that far away from me in Asheville and apparently some areas in the Smoky Mountains may get some powder too. Crazy, I know! I thought this was the South.

Anywho.... this brings me to today's thankfulness. I am so thankful that I get to go home for the holidays! My mom sent me my flight information for Thanksgiving in a sweet email saying how much she couldn't wait to have both my sister and I home, cooking, relaxing on the couch, celebrating. I am ecstatic and so grateful that I get to fly home and be with my family. It really is a huge blessing and I hope you all get to be with your loved ones during this season.