11.29.2011

Christmas trees
I've been sick this week, but my family's pretty Christmas trees (yes, that's trees with an "s." One tree is not enough in this family) made me smile yesterday when I popped in for a visit. Our family does Christmas really, really big. My mom is big into decorating the inside of the house, and my dad, brother and Richard go crazy with Christmas lights around the house and yard. There is something so peaceful about Christmas decorations. I love the look of a lit, decorated tree with presents piled underneath, garland, ornaments and all of the creative decorations my mom has put around my family's house. Everything looks so cheery; this is truly my favorite time of year!

I'll post about my Christmas decorations this week, too. Do you celebrate Christmas? If so, do you go all out with decorating?
Trees!
Christmas tree #1
Carousel ornament
Old Pizza Hut ornament!
Stockings
1. What you see when you walk in the front door!
2. The big living room tree. 
3 & 4. Cute ornaments from my childhood.
5. Stockings on the mantel for my siblings and I and our pets. 

11.27.2011

Please excuse the mess.

mess

We just got back from a week-long trip two hours south to visit our families. We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving week, despite the fact that Richard's hometown flooded Tuesday night and many houses and businesses around town were damaged. We had the best time visiting with our families and friends. We ate so much good food (specifically Grandmother's cranberry sauce, Aunt Rin's sweet potato casserole, and, of course, my dad's deep-fried turkey). And, as you can tell, we did way too much shopping. (I'm not even sure how all of this fit in our car on the drive home!) 

I'm glad to be home, and I'm even more excited about the fact that I only have two weeks left of this semester. But I came home sick and am very worried about how I'm going to manage to accomplish all the things I have to accomplish this week when all I want to do is snuggle up on the couch with a blanket and a box of tissue.

How was your Thanksgiving? 

11.17.2011

Red cup.

Red Cup

I'm officially in the Christmas spirit, thanks to this little red cup and A Very She & Him Christmas. We've finally started our Christmas shopping, and I love bundling up, grabbing some coffee and heading out into the cold with my love to shop for our family and friends. It's such a happy time of year!

If you're wondering why I haven't been around lately, let me tell you. I had four tests and lots of homework. I have been working on three articles for the paper. My best friend came to visit for the weekend. We went to the opening of a world-class art museum, which opened in my town last weekend (more about that later); went to Eureka Springs; ate lots of good food and shopped for books; spent hours in my bed, talking and laughing about old times and reading David Sedaris stories to each other and drinking wine; and just had a really great time together. Basically, I've been super busy. It's that time of the semester when everything starts getting really stressful, and hard tests/projects/papers become a daily occurance. Sigh! Thankfully I will be done with this little thing called college in May.

How are you?

11.08.2011

I feel bad for people who don't like football.

There is nothing like college football (and more specifically, SEC football). Nothing compares to cheering on your favorite team alongside 72,000 fans, calling the Hogs and participating in all the other fun, silly traditions that countless University of Arkansas students and Razorback fans have been participating in for so many years. I'm so proud of where I go to school, our football team and the many traditions that are so important to our student body!

I went to the Razorback game with my mama on Saturday. We played South Carolina, and we killed 'em, 44-28! Although we were ranked 7 in the nation last week and beat a Top 10 team, our ranking is now 8. I don't understand that reasoning at all,
but I guess we'll take it. It was sooo cold, and we didn't have very good seats, but it was still so, so, so much fun!

So, the point is, if you don't like football, I feel bad for you. You really don't know what you're missing out on. Just saying. ;)




*I haven't charged my camera in over a month, so I apologize for all the poor quality iPhone pictures you've been seeing over here lately!

11.03.2011

treeeee

This week was so rough. It seemed like everything went wrong, although now I realize that it certainly could have been much worse. Still, it was a tough week for me. But I prayed a lot. And you know what? Those prayers were answered in ways that I couldn't have imagined, and for the most part, everything ended up working out. It was a hard few days, but it served as an excellent reminder that I'm not in control, and I need to be more faithful and trusting.

One thing that did make me happy, though, was walking out on my balcony and seeing how beautiful this tree is right now! I don't know how I didn't notice it until just yesterday. (And I didn't edit that picture at all... it's really that bright!)

11.01.2011

Happy November!





Can I just say how happy I am that Halloween is over? I never get really into Halloween, but this year, I was feeling it even less. I didn't dress up or put up any Halloween decorations or do anything exceptionally fun. But I can't tell you how happy I am that it's November! That means Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, which means I'll get time off from school and get to see my wonderful family. That also means that Black Friday is soon, and I'm one of those weirdos who gets sick enjoyment out of that. It means the end of the semester is coming up! And most importantly, Christmas is right around the corner, which means I can finally start listening to the She & Him Christmas album loud and proud without worrying about being judged. 

1. Driving home from Branson, Missouri last weekend.
2. My poor little panda sister sprained her ankle the day before Halloween.
3. Pretty leaves and watching the sunset from Mount Nebo.
4. Scattered leaves on the Senior Walk.
5. Sparkly pumpkins and homemade caramel apples.
6. The entrance to my parents' neighborhood is gorgeous right now.