updates

- Christmas eve I woke up feeling fine and within about 3 hours I was sick and in bed.

- Despite being super sick, I had a very nice first married Christmas with Ray. We spent the morning at my parent's house, the afternoon at his and Christmas evening at his grandparent's house. Highlights: showing Ray's parents how to use a Roku, my sister gifting my dad a spear she got in Kenya, Aunt Paula's buffalo chicken dip.

- A few super awesome gifts we received: cannon rebel t3i, projector screen (finally, now we can watch movies!), new shoes, new make-up, lots of native american earrings, various guitar/recording things, etc.

- I've spent the last few days trying to recover and was finally able to go back to work yesterday. So much nyquil. So much vitamin C. So much soup.

- New Years Eve fancy date night! Last year Ray and I attended a sweet little New Years party at a friend's house, but prior to the party we went to our favorite restaurant and had a fancy dinner date, something we don't do very often. I'm definitely looking forward to it!

How was your Christmas? What are you planning for New Years?

Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas eve! Remember a few weeks ago when I posted about my missing tree? Well, Ray surprised me with a trip to pick up a live tree! It's been really nice to walk into the living room and have that fresh pine smell greet you. Tomorrow will be a really full day for us so we're trying to take it easy and rest today. What are you doing on this Christmas eve?

Georgia Aquarium

Yesterday, Ray and I woke up before the sun to drive to Atlanta to visit the Georgia Aquarium! It was a late birthday gift as his was on Wednesday. Several years ago Ray had a huge salt water aquarium in his tiny little apartment. He would literally sit and stare at it for an hour like it was a tv... so I knew he would love going to the real thing. We saw thousands of fish (including the guitar fish), penguins, whales, and I think we even spotted a Jaguar Shark.

We had lunch at The Vortex in Five Points and if you're over 18, like hamburgers and aren't easily offended, I definitely recommend it. We also walked over to a little record shop where we unfortunately found nothing we desperately needed. Have I mentioned Ray has a record collection of literally hundreds and hundreds of records? It's kind of ridiculous. We spent the rest of the day taking our time driving home, drinking coffee, watching the pretty pink sky (ok, that was just me) and doing some last minute Christmas shopping. It was such a great day.

Favorite Blogs of 2011

As you probably know, reading blogs is one of my favorite things to do. I was introduced to the blog world around 2007 (late, I know) and have never looked back.

10 of my Favorite blogs from 2011

Cakies
The Daybook
Dear Friend
The friendly Fox
Hi-Fi Weddings
Inside a Black Apple
Rockstar Diaries
Skunkboy Creatures
Vanilla and Lace
The Very Worst Missionary

I'm always looking for a new favorite blog. Please share your favorites from this year!

weird-o

Things that happened last night:

- I held a 3 hour old baby.
- Someone told us that their favorite character on Parks and Rec is Ann. ANN, the most boring person on the entire show. My mind was blown.
- I had buffalo chicken strips for dinner. This may not seem weird or exciting, but I was a major buffalo sauce hater for the better part of my life. Like up until 1 month ago.

sad tree

Several years ago I bought a beautiful white pre-lit Christmas tree at a sale after Christmas. I loved it. It was the first Christmas tree that was my own. Last winter I was living with 2 other girls in a very brownish blah house, but the tree made it wonderful and festive. Somehow, in the midst of me moving or my previous roommates moving, the tree went missing. Or maybe it was stolen. We have no idea. I'm not really sure how one loses track of a 6 foot Christmas tree... but I managed to do it. Being part of a young newly married couple who bought a house in the last year, it's hard for me to justify spending $70+ on a tree that will be around $30 AFTER the holidays. I know we could purchase a live tree, but is it silly to do that and then turn around and buy an artificial tree for the upcoming year? I don't even know. Isn't that the saddest Christmas tree story you've ever heard?

neglectful

Dear friends/readers/bots,
I know this blog has been somewhat neglected recently and for that I am sorry. I could blame part of this on the packing, preparing and actual leaving of the county... but that was last month. I could also blame this on busy work days and only wanting to be lazy at night. I could also blame my neglectfulness on sickness and holidays. But whatever the reason for my absence, I'm here now.
Here's a little phone photo update.















Happy first day of December!