The Girliest Christmas Ever

Well, this Christmas season, along with being busy with school kids, YW and YSA, I helped my friend decorate her first apartment for Christmas. You may remember this scene as our awesome Halloween party, you are correct! Since she already had hot pink items in her living room, red and green would have clashed. She loved my suggestion of a pink Christmas, so we ran with that. We both love hot pink and butterflies, so we had our theme.

It was super fun for me to help out with this. I gathered up all the pink and silver things I owned, and we added some new things too. Shopping for pink Christmas things was fun- it's becoming popular, so it wasn't terribly hard to find things in the shades we wanted. 

Lots of pics...so you get the full effect! 

Overall view of the living room:

The girliest tree ever!

My silver trees clean up well- note the pink shoe ornaments!

Tree close ups:

We kept the mantel around- turned it from a spooky thing into a pink wonderland!

I loved how the mantelscape turned out! 

 I made this wreath- pretty simple but effective!

I also made the pink tree on the right out of foam and crepe paper- fun!

(See my crafty blog for the how-to!)

Hung this ornament in a doorway, so lovely!

Well, the "customer" was a happy girl! 

You can't help but be happy in a room of pink!

Who says Christmas has to be red and green? It's fun to be different!

I would have SO much fun as an interior decorator! Or a set decorator for movies.

Now I just need my own place. 

Merry Pink Christmas to you!

It's Rad to be a Grad

I graduated from college this weekend!

Can you believe it?

Part of me can't. 

It seems like I just started school...

...and at the same time like I have been doing school forever!

Who knew the end would actually come one day?

I had a great day. My ceremony was nice and I go to see my friends. I graduated Cum Laude, hence my red sash. I liked it better than the white or gold higher Latin honor sashes! Later that evening, my family and I went out to Red Lobster and I got a great meal. Cheesy biscuits were my motivation to make it through the week!

Dad and me before the ceremony:

Waiting for the ceremony with my friend:

The podium:

My fellow Art Ed peeps:

My family:

After the ceremony:

Merry Graduation Christmas!

Today represented so much more than 4 years of sitting through classes.

 No one sees the

Late nights

Early mornings

Commuting every day

Surviving blizzards

Living in the studio classrooms

Teaching clearances

Finding and buying art supplies

Presentations

Schlepping odd things around

Bratty 8th graders

Critiques

8 am meetings on campus

Many hoops to jump through...

and the list goes on...

It feels good to have accomplished this. 

I'm really thankful that I've gotten to go back to school and learn so much. I've really enjoyed it and I feel like I am closer to who I want to be.

I've met some great people while at school, people who inspire me. I've enjoyed the students that I've worked with. 

I'm thankful for the good weather we've been having. Outside was pretty today with just a dusting of snow. 

I'm thankful for my friends and family who have loved and supported me through all this.

I'm thankful to be able to breathe.

Everyone asks what my plans are now that I'm done with school....my plans are to enjoy Christmas!

I Love

I Love...

Bug bubble wands...for a buck!

I Love...

...old school Wagoneers...and 7UP!

I Love...

...making wreaths with the YSA (and making bows for everyone too!)

I Love...

...my crazy silly YW. They light up my life.

I Love...

...making chocolate cupcakes....and totally cute liners that don't fade when baking!

I Love...

...crazy pink flamingo lawn decor (my dad SO needs this!)

I Love...

...the awesome snowflakes at the elementary.

I Love...

...vintage sewing tables with a ruler built in the table! Sew cute.

I Love...

...my vintage Strawberry Shortcake advent calendar! Long live the 80's!

I Love...

...abstract apple paintings from my 8th graders.

I Love...

...hot pink curls! I need a wig like this for me!

I Love...

...extraordinarily cute furniture at Goodwill...but I don't love not being able to give it a good home!

I Love...

...wearing my vintage Christmas apron to make cookies with my friends!

Lots of things to love, especially this time of year.

And I really LOVE that I can still see the ground...it's unreal!

And oh, yes, I love you. ;)

What are you loving these days?

Grateful

I hope you all had a really nice Thanksgiving. I had a nice day with my family, and I've been having a nice break. It pays to live in PA- you get the first day of hunting season off from school! The weather has been nice and warm too- well, warm for November!

I made a chocolate pumpkin ice box cake for a potluck- yum!

It's layers of pumpkin mixture and chocolate graham crackers, with cocoa dusted on top.

Finally got my Halloween stuff back from the party- told you I had a lot of stuff!

Up until now, Dad has been the one to do the icky hard part of the turkey- picking it up, washing it, etc while I helped with spices or whatnot. This year it was my turn to do the turkey and it was so gross to touch- and heavy!

Here we are laughing so hard we're crying:

Ta dah!!

My grandparents sent us a Charlie Brown tree, we put it up on Thanksgiving. Closest we've become to those "Decorate the Day After Thanksgiving" families!

Dinner turned out great! YUM!

Turkey, potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, stuffing done with homemade sourdough croutons, fruit salad, etc. 

The fam:

Laura made her traditional turkey- cute! 

That night I went shopping with my friend- the Erie mall was open at midnight so we went and had a blast! Got to bed at 7 am!
I didn't buy much, some jewelry and a hat. And stripey socks. And a new shirt...and a cute wafflemaker! I was a good personal shopper for my friend, we found everything on her list, including a galoshes, boots, skinny jeans and a $30 BluRay player!

Loved this coat:

And this outfit:

Raelena rocking that hat!

Well break can't be all fun- on Saturday I got to help fill in dirt where my parents had uncovered the septic tank. And I moved some firewood- Dad used his chainsaw on a fallen tree on the property. He got the pickup truck stuck in the mud in the field- thankfully the neighbors heard and came and helped push it out!

Last Thanksgiving, Mom was laid up on the couch with the infection in her leg. I'm so glad she's ok now. I'm thankful that overall I'm feeling better these days. I'm thankful for good neighbors and friends. I'm thankful for my family and the love and support they give me. I'm thankful for the gospel and our little branch. I'm thankful to be in a good placement for student teaching and for my students. I'm thankful for naps on my couch. I'm thankful to get an extra day off for break- thank you hunters!

And I'm thankful that the snow hasn't stuck around!