My 2013 Christmas List!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve, Everyone!

What better time to post my Christmas list for this year?! Of course, this list simply serves as a guide, but receiving any of these items would just make my day! You can definitely tell I’m getting older by the types of items I’ve asked for this year! Hello, frying pans and furniture!

The IKEA EKTORP Sofa in white

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I had planned on buying this couch for myself in August, but invested in a new MacBook Pro for grad school instead. I'd love to pair it with pink and gold accent pillows!

The IKEA Premiar Flatiron Building Picture

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I am absolutely in love with this mural! It features the Flatiron building near Madison Square Park in Manhattan, just a few blocks from where I stayed at the Appalachian Loft! At 6.5x4.5 feet, this would be an amazing statement piece in my living room!

Target 7x10 Maples Fretwork Area Rug in charcoal gray

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This would go perfectly with the couch and mural that I’ve already picked out. Plus with such a great price, I couldn’t resist!

White Pinch Pleat Bedding

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I was on a roll with the other home products, so I figured why not? If I get this new bedding, I plan on taking the pink lattice duvet that I’m using in my apartment to my bed at home. This would also compliment the couch, rug and mural that I've asked for on my list! I found a duvet in a size full on Ebay, but similar styles are sold at Target and Overstock.com.

Teen Vogue Polka Dot White Party Skirt

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This is extreme wishful thinking on my part, but a girl can't help but dream! I’ve loved this polka dot Party Skirt ever since its release in early December! It's sold out now online, but you just never know!

For a more affordable skirt option, look no further than this Space46Boutique Wendy Tulle Skirt

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I am obsessed with this skirt, and would love to have it in black, white, or BOTH!

Though presents and wish lists are fun, Christmas is truly about giving, and spending time with family and friends, which I plan to do tons of during these next couple days! This morning, I'm off to the mall to finish some last minute Christmas shopping!

What are you asking for this year?!

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Life as of Lately!

The semester is finally over, and I have two graduate classes under my belt. With only 12 classes in my program, that means I’m 1/6 done with graduate school. Though it may be a stretch, I'm that much closer to finishing my master’s degree, and being done with school forever! Commencement has also come and gone (as of yesterday at 6PM,) so things are finally slowing down, just in time for Christmas! 

Let me fill you in on some super fun things that have happened these past few months!

In September, I went to Charleston to celebrate my 23^rd birthday with four girlfriends, and it was fabulous! Read part one and part two of my trip here!

In October, I celebrated my second Homecoming at Appalachian with some great friends, and got my GGG-Littes! Yes, that makes me really old!

                     

For Halloween this year, I used the amazing red dress that I found at JCPenney to be a sassy devil for my friend Marcia's Halloween Party! My eye makeup looked bold and fierce, thanks to my friend Frances at work!

For our office Halloween festivities, a group of us dressed up as the “Spice” Girls! I was a yellow mustard seed! We even choreographed a dance to "Spice up Your Life," and did it in front of the entire office! We won the contest for best group costume too!

  

I was even able to attend a few football games this season. My favorite was the Black Saturday game against Georgia Southern with my Dad! He loves football, and thanks to a little help from a grad school friend, we were able to get really good seats and passes into the field house for the day! We tailgated, watched the game and had so much fun!

In November, I attended Pig Dinner with Andrew and got to wear the cutest little black dress! I bought it a while back, but was saving it for the perfect occasion. The fraternity alumni function was it!

A few weeks later, I jetted off to New York City for four days with my friends Danielle and Alex. Talk about the trip of a lifetime! We packed so many fun things into the short time that we were there, and I am already planning my next trip back!

 

 

During the Thanksgiving holiday, I got together with family, ate way too much and shopped my little heart out. I even scored some fab Black (Thursday) Friday deals!

 It was also during Thanksgiving break that my family celebrated both my Mom and Dad’s birthdays with good food, presents, Dewey’s cake squares and Gigi’s Cupcakes!

  

This month, though busy with final exams and such, I made time to decorate the apartment for the holidays. A silver glitter monogram was the perfect touch to my white tree with pink and purple ornaments!

There you go! Consider yourself completely updated on my life…or at least for the most part!

There are so many things coming up in the next few weeks, and I can’t wait to tell you about all of them! 

Until then, I'll be shopping... 

and drinking drinks like these from time to time!

 

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As always, Have a Sweet Day!

My 2012 Christmas List!

With Christmas Eve just six days away (goodness, it doesn't seem real,) it's high time I shared my 2012 Christmas list!

This year, I asked for an array of items from board games, to clothes, and even apartment things!

1. Quelf
One of my friends got this board game as a gift from her parents, and it is SO much fun! I cannot wait to play it again with a group of friends!

2. The Carrie Diaries & Summer and the City by Candace Bushnell
I have a slight obsession with Carrie Bradshaw, hence my need for these two Bushnell books.

3. Lilly Pulitzer "Critter" Earrings in pink
I love bows, presents, and pink, so I couldn't help adding these sparkling beauties to my list!

4. Sex and the City (The boxed set)
I've never seen the show, but after hearing so many good things from friends, I'm ready to dive in the the world of Sex and the City. I asked for the boxed set, so I can start from the beginning.

5. Nike Tempo shorts
A colorful staple for anyone who enjoys working out (or laying around) and being comfortable doing it!

Extra suggestions:
I also suggested a few items for my apartment such as a microwave, toaster, or new coffee table, as well as some clothes that I liked!

What are you asking for this Christmas?!

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

"Good Things Happen to Good People"

I have never been more excited to give this Christmas.

This is partly because it's the first Christmas that I've had a full-time job and can somewhat afford Christmas gifts, but the other part is a little different. This is the first time that I've felt like each gift I've picked out is something that the recipient will treasure for years to come. 

There's one gift in particular that is extremely important to me, because I know the person receiving it will be able to do something that probably would have never been possible.

This is what Christmas is all about. Giving. Joy. Happiness.

Every year, at the restaurant where I've worked since I was a teenager, we draw names for Christmas. About a week before Christmas, we have a party where everyone brings a dish and their families. We eat together, play games, and go home with a present from our secret Santa. 

This year, I drew Lindsey's name. Lindsey is a sweet waitress, that has worked at Sam's for years, much longer than my six, and has five children. Five boys. Lindsey is so wonderful, and I knew I wanted to do something special for her.

At first, I started thinking about a manicure/pedicure gift certificate. We're only supposed to spend about $20, but I wanted it to be something that she could do for herself. With five boys, she doesn't have much time for that. Then, it came to me.

A few weeks before I found out I was coming back to Appalachian, Lindsey mentioned that if I ever had tickets to an Appalachian basketball game, she and her family would love to come. She said it wouldn't be all of them going (there are 7 total!), but that whenever it was, she would "make it happen."

When I drew her name that night, I knew it was my chance to "make it happen" for her. 

I started talking to people and brainstorming. How could I get 7 tickets to a game, and not spend an outrageous amount of money? Then I spoke to Marcia, my old boss that I live with, who happens to work for the place where the Appalachian basketball games are held. She told me she'd work on it and get back to me. I started working on my end too, and had someone else from the restaurant at home ask Lindsey what day her and her family were available for an unknown activity. I got the date and told Marcia. 

About 30 minutes later, I received a text from Marcia saying:

 "There are seven free tickets waiting for you in the box office." 

I couldn't believe it, I started crying at my desk thinking of Lindsey, her husband and her five sons that will now get to attend a men's and women's basketball game on a Saturday in January at Appalachian State, completely free. I told Marcia how eternally thankful I was for her generosity and she simply replied:

"Good Things Happen to Good People."

With the $25 that I had allotted for the tickets, I purchased Lindsey and her family a gift card to Pizza Hut, that they can use when they come. I had found out that though don't get to eat out a lot, they all love pizza.

Tonight is the night that I will give this gift to Lindsey. I cannot wait to see her face full of happiness. She deserves every bit of it and more, for being a great mother, wife and friend. 

I love these tickets even more because each one is labeled with the title of our mission that Marcia came up with: Operation Christmas Tree

This made my Christmas, and I hope it makes yours too.

I couldn't have done it without you, Marcia. You truly are a guardian angel.

Thank you.

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

Black Friday Deals!

It's a tradition in my family that we go shopping every Black Friday. That used to entail getting up super early on Friday morning, but since the sales keep getting earlier, we have to continue to adjust our shopping schedules. 

This year, after consulting my right-hand shoppers (my Aunt Robin & cousin Jessica), we decided the only place that we really needed to go to was Target. I had my eye set on a 32" Apex TV that was on sale for $147.00. The TV would look perfect in the living room of my new apartment!

We got to Target about 8:30pm for their grand opening at 9. I bet there were 500 people already in front of us, but this didn't deter our spirit. We were all so excited, and knew that we were on a mission.  My Aunt was to locate a cart, I was to run and find the TV, Jessica had to help me move the box out of the way and my cousin Patrick had to the guard the box once it was secured, so another crazy Black Friday shopper could steal it. We had this plan down to a science!

I think my tweet on Friday night describes it all: 

"I CAME. I SHOPPED. I CONQUERED!!!"

I don't think I have ever had SO much fun! Not only did we score the TV that I wanted (there were only 4 left when I got there), I also scooped up a new DVD player for $20 and The Hunger Games movie for $10. Throw in a bottle of wine and I'm ready for my next movie night!

We met up with a few other family friends that night and decided to share one cart between the 6 of us! This was just enough room for the new Xbox, 24" TV, six foot Christmas Tree, game controllers and flannel pajamas that we were also buying.

Since Thanksgiving is about being thankful and spending time with your family, I am so glad I was able to spend my Thanksgiving night with these wonderful people! It is a memory that I will treasure and never forget!

Did you have this much fun Black Friday shopping?

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

My First Christmas Card!

I have been looking at Christmas cards for a few months now, yes months! This year is the first year that I'm sending out my own Christmas cards! It was one of my post graduation goals, and I have been waiting for it all year!

With that said, I had no idea just how many choices there were for photo Christmas cards. You've got to decide where to get them, will they be flat or folded, how many pictures will you use, etc! There are so many options!

A few weeks ago, I came across a company called Fresh Ink. I looked at their website that day, and though I wasn't ready to order, I fell in love with their photo cards and return address labels!

After looking through almost 20 pages of choices, I think I picked the perfect card for Paisley and me. It's super cute, fun, and incorporates one of my favorite fonts (Carolyna)!

I won't show the one I chose just yet, but here are a few of my other favorites from Fresh Ink!

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Fresh Ink is the perfect place for a pink and green lover like me!

After a special trip to Target yesterday, our Christmas card outfits are picked out, coordinated and ready to go! My Mom will be taking the picture on Thursday afternoon around our house! I can't wait to see how they turn out!

Have you chosen you Christmas cards yet? Where are they coming from?

As always, Have a Sweet Day!

My Sweet Christmas Gift

On my post a little over a week ago about Jake coming to visit, I promised to share with you the adorable gift that he made me for Christmas! I didn't think people really cared whether I told them or not, but believe me, they do! I've been asked twice since then if I was ever going to share. Good news readers, the wait is over!

When someone puts time and hard work into a gift, it means so much more than if they just went out and bought something. At least this is the case with me! Jake had mentioned a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to make something that he'd seen me pin on Pinterest.

Excuse me?
I was just amazed that he noticed what I was doing all those hours that I mindlessly pin away! (Everyone can relate to that!)

I'm sure many of you have seen these adorable jewelry holders made with antique-looking knobs.

Well, Jake decided he wanted to give one of these beauties a try!

Not only did he craft my gift, he made it completely from scratch and was sweet enough to take pictures along the way for you all! I was beyond impressed.

First, he found a piece of pine that he already had around the house. He wanted to create a combination of what I said I liked and the things that I had pinned on Pinterest.

He cut out the wood using a table saw and used a dremel to bevel the edge all the way around.

 

He picked out an off-white colored paint to use as the main color, another item he already had at home. This color was a perfect match to the furniture that I have in my room!

 Here it is drying after being painted.

 After the base coat was finished, he painted a glaze over the creases in the wood and then wiped off the excess. He wanted to make the wood look distressed, another aspect of the furniture I already have.

 Prior to Christmas break, we made a trip to Lowe's together and I got to pick out all the knobs that I liked. I chose seven different ones that he bought and applied to the wood. He drilled each of the 7 holes, 1.5 inches apart and attached them to the wood piece.

 After many hours of carpentry, painting, etc., my present was finally done!

Now, I have something beautiful to hang my jewelry on in my room and of course, I'll always think of him when I look at it!

What I'm Loving....Thursday!

Okay everyone, I realize that today is Thursday, but yesterday was so busy with Jake coming to visit, I thought I'd tell you about what I'm loving anyway!

1. I'm loving that yesterday morning, Jake and I were finally able to see each other since we started Christmas break eleven days ago! I have missed him beyond belief and I was jumping around waiting for him to arrive!

2. I'm loving that he loved all the gifts from my family and I!

3. I'm loving the present that Jake made me for Christmas!

(More on that later!)

4. I'm loving that we got to go see New Year's Eve together last night, since we don't actually get to spend the occasion together.

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5. I'm loving that today, I got to visit with some family that hasn't seen me since I was seven years old and then more family that hadn't seen me since I was a baby! Hopefully I've come a long way since those bangs and crazy teeth!

6. I'm loving that I'm just about finished with my 2nd book of Christmas Break!

7. I'm loving all the new faces around my blog! I can't wait to get to know you and you get to know me as well! Happy Wednesday (since I missed you yesterday) & Thursday!

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