Peace Out 2011!

Before I leave 2011...I must do a review of the events that took place this year.  So many memories to recap!

January...

Rang in the New Year with some of my single gals in Nashville, TN.

Celebrated my BFF's  27th birthday downtown.

February...

I got the flu.  (I also got my flu shot later in the year).

March...

Kennedy was born.

April...

Mandy and I took a little trip to Puerto Rico!

May...

Mandy, Sandi, and I saw Usher in concert.  If you ever get the chance to see him in concert...GO!

Attended THE BEST Bachelorette weekend, I've ever been invited to...

and in the same weekend went to my 10 year High School Reunion.

June...

Mandy and I went to ATL to see Katy Perry.  So much fun!

My best friend Kelly got married.

Katie Langley Photography

I turned 28.

On  my birthday, Sandi revealed to me that she was pregnant!

August...

I flew to Dallas to meet The Bargain Blonde for her birthday!

My friend Kristen turned 30 and we celebrated by taking over a 3 story cabin in the Smokies.

October...

The Bargain Blonde and I met again for some shenans in Nola!  Who Dat?!

December...

I went to Myrtle and hung out with my first blog friend...ever...Jennifer!

What did YOU do in 2011?

I have an enemy and his name is "Pop Pop"

This is a story for the ages.

A few weeks ago, I was coming back from out of town and there was a box at my front door.  I was expecting a package from a friend, so without even looking at the label, etc I kicked the box in my apartment and immediately opened it.

This was inside.

As I was pulling this stuff out of the box I was thinking, "if someone really gave me this I'm going to be pissed."  Then I found a card that said from "Pop Pop and Jewell" and it was addressed to two people who obviously did not live at my address anymore.  The FedEx label only had my address...no names.

About a week later, I got a Christmas card from Pop Pop and Jewell and put a note "no longer at this address" and dropped it back in the mail.

Then last night I received a letter addressed to me...

Before I opened it, I thought it might be from one of my guy friends.  I mean...what girl has penmanship like that?

Enclosed was a two page typed letter:

Really Pop Pop?! 

1) I'm sure you just google "white supremacist mug shot" and copied and pasted that into this letter.

2) Do spellcheck before sending these types of letters.  Your grammar is laughable.

3) You live in the Grand Cayman Islands per your stamp and PO meter.  If you couldn't even hand deliver a present to your niece are you really gonna pay for a flight to come and "dance" with me?

4) It's not my fault that you don't know your nieces new address.

5) If you show up at my doorstep, I will first call the police, then I will slice you with my bad ass butcher knife, and then i'll throw that dumbass jelly and sauces on your fat ass.  I still have it.

6) Quit being a damn cry baby.

Honestly, I would be lying if I said that last night every time I heard a car door slam I didn't think it was Pop Pop coming to kill me.

So if I turn up missing or dead...he did it.

Merry Christmas!

I realize it's Christmas and no one is probably going to even see this but I just HAD to share.  

It was this years Christmas card from my (former) boss.  I don't think I've ever seen a more precious/perfect card.

Sorry I've been so M.I.A.  I just started the new job and so far so good.  Trying to get settled in and the fact that I have no wireless to steal at my apartment doesn't make my blogging sitch good.

I hope Santa was good to you all!

i'm so excited!

I wanted to let all you gals know that I'm starting a new job today and will probably be out of commission for a while.  It's probably not the best thing to blog from your work computer during your first week.

But this post is more about my upcoming blogger meet-up I have next month (like 3 weeks away).

With this gal...  

Isn't Kate gorgeous?!  Um...I want to be her when I grow up!  You can find her blogging over at Every Mile a Memory.  She is always posting about her fun adventures and travels with her and her handsome hubby Bryan.

Just a warning...they are so darn cute it's almost nauseating.

Back to my story...we got to be blogger besties real quick.  She is a born and raised Californian but recently made her home in Charlotte, NC.  Um...that's like less than 2 hours away from me so a blogger meet-up is definitely necessary.

I'll get to spend time with her and her cute little Yorkie, Cali while Bryan is away.

It's kind of like a blogger babysitting situation. :)  Juuuuuuuuuust kidding.  But fun girl time will be had for sure!

Also, can y'all please back me up and tell me that Kaitlyn TOTALLY looks like Kyle Richards daughter, Farrah.  She'll probably get mad if you say so, but Farrah so reminds me of her every time I see her on the TV.

what christmas looks like in my apartment

I was pretty sad to put away my fall decorations because I love fall colors, but now that I live in my own apartment I was really excited to decorate for Christmas.

Being that I live in a small space, I didn't want to overwhelm myself with too much Christmas...so I think for my 12 x 12 box I have just enough.

My mom got me this Welcome sign. I'm pretty sure her intention was for me to put it outside by my door. But...I'm not running the risk of someone janking my beautiful $1 store sign.

Normally, this bookshelf houses my Univ. of SC / Gamecock paraphernalia on top, but I moved them to the wine bottle rack and put a few little whimsical Christmas things.

I really love the plaid Christmas tree...Hobby Lobby. The snowman and reindeer are from Dollar General like 6 years ago.

During the fall, I had moss and baby pumpkins in this hurricane glass on my kitchen table. I was excited to change it out for Christmas.

I plan to change it out for each holiday.

Usually I put my garland and bows on my balcony. But this year I was too lazy and really wanted to bring the outside in and I knew my new stocking would go perfect with my hanging garland.

Yes...I still countdown to Christmas.

My little Charlie Brown tree. This beaute costs me like 25 bones 5 years ago at Wal-Mart. She's still going strong. However, my ornament collection is getting to be too much. I might need to upgrade to a bigger tree next year.

I'm not one of those people that has a "theme tree" or only decorates their tree in certain colors. I grew up helping my mom put up our tree and every year being so excited to hang my "favorite ornaments."

Now, I collect my own ornaments. My thing is every place I visit I get a new ornament. My friends and I also exchange ornaments every year instead of getting each other big fancy gifts.

This year I added 3 new ornaments to my tree. I got one in Puerto Rico (not pictured), one from when I visited Lindsey in Dallas and one when we went to New Orleans.

I'm really sad because I never got one when I went to Louisville, KY or Knoxville, TN last year. So if any of you readers have access to such ornaments I'll pay $$ for you to pass one along to me. :)

what was I thinking and other questionable photos...

Lindsey and I were discussing our horrible fashion choices in the late 90's / early 2000's and I found some pretty gem quality photos.

Would you make out with me back then?

For our church directory circa 1998.

I had those bangs longer than I'd like to acknowledge.

I remember that tube top...it was reversible and made of the same material as bathing suits.

Side Note: That was my outfit for the "club" on our High School Senior Cruise.

Yup...that's me. You know how some people say "gingers have no soul." This is proof.

12 years old in L.A. with my Dad.

The hair, those fray top jeans, that tank top, that purse! Ugh!

To Keep You Entertained...

I live a boring life and even when I do something "fun" I neglect to take any photos.

But last Wednesday, a few of the gals and I went to see Gavin Degraw. We had amazing seats (thanks, Sandi)!

This was Cade's first music concert...he was loving it...I felt him kick to the beat.
(um...can't get that damn thing to rotate...sorry friends)

My first concert while in utero was Willie Nelson and now I hate country music...coincidence? My first concert outside of the womb was a free concert in Charlotte when I was 14 to see Hanson. I was OB-SESSED with those long haired boys.

These days I've been to so many concerts I can't even count or remember some of them. Maybe I should do a post on the BEST and the WORST concerts. I definitely have them ranked in my head and my love Justin Timberlake is at #2! AHHH...the horror!

Saturday I woke up bright and early to watch my "Cocks" beat Florida at a noon game.

Those noon games are tough let me tell ya. I'm more privvy to 3:30 games. So whoever decides the times...please keep that in mind.

Baby Shower for Cade

This past Sunday, some friends and I hosted a baby shower for our sweet friend Sandi and her bun in the oven, Cade.

It would be safe to say it was a huge success.

We all know what happens at baby showers...people show up, eat, open gifts, etc. So I won't bore you with those details. Instead just enjoy the following picture dump.

And um...how adorable is our sweet expecting mother? So cute...as always.

Not to mention...Devin (to the right with the scarf) is expecting her 2nd child...a girl...in March. Can you even tell? Yeah, didn't think so!