Meet Blue

Blue lives a street over from my parents and makes her way around the surrounding  streets. She really likes my dad and the guy who lives across the street... maybe because they give her treats! Every morning Blue comes to my parent's front porch looking for her treat. She also comes to visit anytime outside activities like basketball are occurring. She is such a sweet friendly dong. We love Blue!

OMG, JP!

JP bought me a camera bag from photojojo.com. It came with the funniest receipt I've ever seen. Plus they sent a tiny little plastic dinosaur for free. So random. I'd recommend them for sure. They have a bunch of cool, unique camera related items. Not only does this company have a good since of humor, I love the camera bag!

Mooyah in Birmingham!

When I lived in Dallas, one of my favorite places to eat was Mooyah Burger. Once when I was recovering from the flu and my appetite started coming back, all I felt like I could eat was hamburgers. So, I ate a Mooyah many times that week. I also took any guests that came to visit me there. So, when I got a text from my friend Amanda- who I lived with in Dallas- that there was a Mooyah in Birmingham I was super excited. I looked it up and sure enough there is one very close to my house!

I went there on November 30 when JP was out of town camping with a friend. I was doing a No Spend November so I wasn't supposed to spend any money. However, I figured it was the last day and I had done well so since I was solo it was a perfect time to go. Since they just opened it was obvious they were still getting into the flow of things. When I placed my order their credit card machine was down. I had no cash so the guy said that I could pay once my order was done. I asked what would happen if the machine wasn't up by then, and he said it would be on them. And, that is precisely what happened. So, I did not spend any money! I haven't been back yet but am planning on going for sure!

Christmas 2012

This year we spent Christmas in Decatur with my family. I did not take a ton of pictures but here are a few.

Sarah and I did a lot of cooking Christmas Eve including pumpkin bread and haystacks. Sarah also enjoyed playing some basketball with our neighbors while I sat outside and watched- eating my favorite gelato that was on sale at Publix. Did you get that- I was eating gelato OUTSIDE in December. Christmas Eve was a beautiful day. The rest of Christmas break not so much.

That night we had our annual Christmas Eve dinner.

This year my cousin Brooke made the dressing. She was up for the challenge of making a dressing that would stand up to Granny's. Granny gave her some guidance - "oh you just put whatever you want in there"- and Brooke did a great job. It was super yummy!

Here we all are. Brooke had invited a friend who was unable to be with her family over Christmas so she took the picture.

After dinner we exchanged a few gifts and enjoyed chatting. Brooke's friend is not from the South and had never been to Alabama before. So, we took the opportunity to share Southern ways to her and explain to her the college football in the South.

I do not have any pictures from actual Christmas but I do have a few pictures of sock monkey. Sock Monkey was purchased at Publix for $2.50 and was quite entertaining to my family. He was Monkey on the Move. Every so often someone would move him to a different spot in the house and wait for someone else to find his new location.

Christmas Decorations

 Just like it was our first year to get a tree, the was the first time I felt like I really decorated for Christmas. I had done a few very small things at our apartment, but really there was not room for much. Since this was my first Christmas decorating venture, I did not have much. I bought a few things at Hobby Lobby and tried to work with things I already had.

 Got this great Christmas tree decoration from my Mom. Notice JP's snowman in the background.

This was probably my favorite, and it is still out because it doesn't scream Christmas. The birds I got at Coldwater Creek the day after Thanksgiving when I was shopping with my mother-in-law. They were on sale and then an additional % of the sale price so I paid $3 a piece. The platter and candles I already had. The berries I got from my parent's yard. 

 JP was the one who thought to put Santa in this pitcher.

I had been wanting a bird cage for a while so bought this at Hobby Lobby for 50% off. I figured it could be kept out all year long, just decorated differently. The Christmas light ornaments were a new purchase- again Hobby Lobby 50% off. I layered the base of the bird cage with trimmings from out tree.

Speaking of our tree, here it is. JP voted for colored lights, so although they are not my favorite, that is what we went with. I do like the colored lights we got though. We had purchased some at Home Depot on sale after Christmas 2011. I got to more strands at Hobby Lobby. They were not on sale but I did use their app to get the 40% off coupon.

 Our mantle. I purchased the Merry Christmas at - can you say it with me- Hobby Lobby 50% off. The nativity scene was one JP's grandparents had carved him out of wood when he was a child. The snowman  was also a JP childhood contribution. The glass piece was a gift from JP's grandmother that normally has a candle in it but I filled it with red and silver Christmas balls- also purchased at Hobby Lobby. Last but certainly NOT least, the stockings. I made these stockings. And by saying I, I really mean my mom made these stockings and I was there to assist. We made them in one day which was a little stressful, but I'm so glad we got them done. Much appreciation to her and her sewing skills- skills which I do not have. Note: we just got the tv- post to come- so that is why the yellow sticker is still on it.

I bought three of these ornament stands (green, red, and black) on sale after Christmas 2011 at Altard State. The light ornaments were the same ones that I put in the bird cage.

I made a few things as well.

And I purchased this chalkboard print on Etsy and framed it. This is one of my favorite Christmas song verses.

And finally, these sweet manger scene piece that my parents gave us our first Christmas. I wrapped some of the leftover stocking fabric around the base to add a little more to it. I'm hoping next year to have a Fontanini nativity scene as well. I really want one just like my Mom has so I'm searching ebay for a 1980s set. I was going to get one this Christmas but decided to look during the year to see if they go for less when it is not the Christmas season.

Although JP and I have been married for five Christmases, this was our first year to get a legit tree. The first 3 years we were married we were in our one bedroom apartment and there was no room for a tree. We had a little Charlie Brown Christmas tree. Last year we were doing so much work on our house that we did not get a tree other than a mini fake one.

We got out tree this year from Home Depot the first weekend after we got back from Phoenix. JP and I both had grandmother's who gave us ornaments each year for Christmas. As a child, ornaments are not always the most exciting gift to get. But now, I'm SO thankful for the ornaments my sweet Granny gave me each year.

Christmas Parties

JP's Work Christmas Party
JP and I had a lot of fun at his work's Christmas party. I enjoyed having a chance to dress up. The vast majority of people who work at his firm are our age. I actually know several employees/wife's of employees from Samford so it was fun getting to chat with them. The party was at a brand new venue- I don't remember the name- but this was the very first event at the venue.

 My sister works at the same place as JP so it is fun to get to have her there too. Wish we had gotten a better picture but this is the best we got. Pretty sister!

And I post this random picture to show my red shoes. JP picked them out for me when we went to Last Chance in Phoenix. We were about to take a picture and this guy walked up to JP not realizing we were about to take a picture. So, JP asked him to be in the picture.

Home Group Christmas Party

We had our Home Group Christmas Party at our house. We got pizzas from Whole Foods and I made oreo balls. After eating we played this really fun game that is kind of like Charades and Catch Phrase.

My Work Parties
At work we always play Secret Santa. We then have a party at someone's house where the Secret Santa's are revealed. This year we also played Dirty Santa at the party. I ended up with a pretty trifle bowl.  Everyone brought a dish with the star of the night being my Indian co-worker's Indian appetizer.

We also had a cookie swap at work one day during lunch. Everyone brought a batch of cookies and we left with a box full of all kinds of cookies.