IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE

CHRISTMAS!

Decorations are up, lights are lit, and the weather is chilly; I love it!

Inspired by Gifted Magazine via the little things we do. 

Poor thing needs a tree skirt! (and don't mind the spotty lights, some sections are out and I can't find which light is burnt...I hate that!)

'Tis the Season, I hope you're all decorated too!

CHUBBY'S NEW DIGS

Finally a bed he can fit on (mostly :) ) and best of all, it was FREE! Thanks to the mom and the dad for donating it to Chubbs just in time for the chilly weather. This puppy will keep him nice and warm (not to mention comfy) through the night.

He loves it. Seriously, he's currently sleeping on it and snoring like a human...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I hope yours was as yummy and cozy as mine!


The morning started off with coffee, Christmas music, a few snowflakes (!), and warm homemade Cranberry Nut Bread (highly recommend this recipe):


Ingredients:
1T Ground Flaxseed
3T Water
1/4 C Non-Dairy Butter, melted and cooled
1t Vanilla Extract
1C Orange Juice
1C Non-Dairy Milk
4C All-Purpose Flour
1C Sugar
4t Baking Powder
1/2t Salt
2t Orange or Lemon Zest
1 1/2C Whole Cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1C Coarsely Chopped Walnuts


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.


In a small food processor or blender, whip together flaxseed and water until thick, about 1 minute. Add the melted butter, vanilla, orange juice and milk; blend until combined and set aside.


In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and zest. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry and mix in the fruit and the nuts. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a thin skewer inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Let cool in loaf pan for 30 minutes before turning it over to cool on a wire rack.


So Yummy (and easy)!


Later in the day I headed over to Kyle and Steph's for Thanksgiving dinner...

Also yummy; I'm still full! Thankful for this relaxing day, a warm home (with cute pets!), a full tummy and amazing family.


And of course, YOU; Hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving!


(...notice I'm not even mentioning the Texas vs. Texas A&M game...sad story.)

MY LIFE IN A BLOG??

I know it doesn't seem like it, does it? I haven't updated on my life in a while!


Well, my life has just been a whole lot of busy! Work has been keeping my days super busy; which is a good thing, I'd much rather be busy than bored out of my mind.


And in my time outside of work between nursing a sick pup back to good health (poor Chubbs got lymes disease!), traveling for business, skipping town to visit family, hanging out in west chester with friends, and spending as much time as I can outside before it gets too cold; this blog has definitely taken a back-seat.


Sorry friends! But not to worry, Thursday is going to be a high of 47 degrees and rainy, which means Winter is quickly approaching, which means I will now most likely have plenty of time on my hands for el blog :)


Now I just hope you're still reading...

THE MAN IS 1?!

It's true, my little nephew is one year old already! I feel like it was just last Christmas and we were all passing around the 3-week old little guy. But now he's movin' and groovin' and just like that he's become my little man :)


His mom and dad threw him a sweet lion-themed birthday party, so naturally we had to make the trip down to Virginia to celebrate!

Cute homemade card from Mackenzie

Aunt Kara with the Birthday Boy!

Best part -- PRESENTS

Anxiously waiting for his first cake

So goooooooood

Loving his new toys

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!

FRIDAY FOR ALL

1.   My Thanksgiving plans this year will include       family, food, fun and relaxation...some of the best things in life!   .

2.  My favorite Thanksgiving was   probably all the ones when I was little, before I knew or cared about calories! Just kidding, they're all pretty great, anytime my family is all in the same place at the same time is usually a good time :) Some of my favorite non-traditional Thanksgivings, though, include 2007 (?) in Cali with Kyle and Steph, 2005 in Houston with the Grosse's, 2008 with the Mak team in the Dominican Republic, and 2009 veg-style with The Dad  .

3.  My signature Thanksgiving dish is       I haven't hosted my own Thanksgiving yet so I don't think I have one, but some I fully intend on it one day being The Mom's stuffing .

4.  My favorite Thanksgiving food is   ,(per above), Stuffing :)   .

5.  Thanksgiving free association!      I just had to google Free Association, yikes... but for those who also don't know (I hope there's a few!), find out here.

6.  Thansgiving is        the best when started at 8am with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade !

7.  I am thankful for       so many things and people and memories; way too many to list     .



TWO FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT TODAY

THE FUZZY FLANNEL HOLIDAY SHEETS I SLEPT ON LAST NIGHT

(Yes, you might have had these when you were 8 years old...don't judge me! They're just so warm!)

AND MY FIRST EVER KOMBUCHA!

So so good.

The wallet doesn't like it (these puppies are expensive!), but the tummy sure does. 

68 HOURS AS A SINGLE MOM

Not even three full days and boy was I exhausted! I don't know how moms (and dads) do it; single or not, babies are tough! But so cute and cuddly :)


I got to spend a long weekend with my one-year-old nephew while his mom and dad took a mini vacay. I don't get too see him often enough so the one-on-one time with him was really nice. Besides his eat and sleep routine, we really had no schedule; we hung around the house in our pjs, ran errands together, and visited quite a few parks and walking trails. It was wonderful.


The man is full-on walking now so I didn't get too many pictures of him (it's hard to snap pics while chasing baby and diverting dangerous situations), but of course I have to brag and share the few I did get!

On a walk - One of my FAVORITE things about living in the North...Fall colors! 

Isn't the little man just the sweetest?!?

ZENNIS

I've always had horrible eyesight. I think second grade was my first pair of glasses. I remember I couldn't wait to get contacts; and the day I finally did in 6th grade there wasn't anything you could do to make me put those dorky rims back on.


It's funny how "uncool" glasses used to be and now people that don't even need them are buying clear glass just so they can wear them. Eyeglass wearers rejoice! Now we're the "cool" ones :)


I'm kidding, I don't really care if you need the glasses you're wearing or not, what's important here is that glasses are in style and there are some really cute ones out there! Best of all, sites like zennioptical.com make them super affordable.  


In a couple short weeks (and only $10 each + $5 shipping), I'll be sporting these fabulous prescription rims:

What do you think?? They might look silly on (only down-side you can't try before you buy), but at least they'll be fun! 

THIS GIRL'S BEEN BUSY

But I've got some rockin' blogs on the line-up, you just hold your pants.

Chubbs just fell off the bed...he's getting excited already.

THE MOM'S BEEN LOOKING FOR FITBF

This morning has been crazy; I'll blog about that later. Right now I need some fill-in-the-blank Friday!

1.   My last haircut was       in August, to FIX the haircut I got in May.

2.  My most daring hair moment was       the day last year I decided to let my hair air-dry on the way to work; needless to say, it went into a ponytail rather quickly.

3.  A hairstyle I'd never be brave enough to try is       a boy-cut. no way, no how .

4.  I've always dreamt of being a (blonde, brunette or red-head)   Neither? I can't picture myself as a blond or a red-head.

5.  My go-to hair do is       straight and down. Boring.

6.  My biggest hair disaster was      ...well, I think the picture speaks for itself (don't judge me!):

7.  A hairstyle I am dying to try is        the wavy/piecey look, but mine always just looks greasy and unkempt.

8.  My best hair day was     my 'do for senior prom...absolutely LOVED it .


9.  The worst hairstyle I ever had was   sophomore year of college when I thought it'd be a good idea to cut my hair off and donate it. Good cause, not such a good look.


10.  My hair is     tough, but I'm learning to deal with and embrace it .