The Friday Five

1. What I'm Reading:

From Amazon: Zack Dylan made a promise to God and his college sweetheart as he left his family’s horse farm in Kentucky to compete on the popular reality television show Fifteen Minutes: If he makes it, the fame won’t change him. Overnight, Zack is the nation’s most popular contestant, a country singer with the looks and voice of a young Elvis. As his star rises, Zack is asked to compromise and quiet his beliefs, and also some­thing more. Something Zack could never have imagined. Just as America is falling in love with Zack, just as he’s on the verge of winning it all, his choices lead him to the brink of personal disaster. Fifteen Minutes is a story of character, compromise, and the cost of having it all. A story that raises the question: Who are the real winners?

 

2. What I'm Eating:

Buffalo Pretzel Crisps - don't knock them until you try them. I've been snacking on them with cheese every afternoon. I bet they would be pretty delicious with blue cheese.

3. What I'm Listening to:

Christmas Hits from Spotify

4. What Recipe I'm Bookmarking:



Mushroom and Kale Risotto

5. Things I'm Loving:

Happy Friday!

Happy 30th Anniversary!

Happy 30th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Here's to the next 30 years!

Fun Facts Friday

1. I know this video is old news now that Thanksgiving is over but you still need to watch it.

2. Christina posted this personality test. I took it and it told me that I am a Reliable Realist. The description is spot on. Pretty crazy for a test with less than 5 questions.

3. I was brushing up on my bow tie tying skills this week and came across this video. I think it is hysterical. Never mind the subtitles.

4. Wednesday night we headed to Greenville to go to Jack n' Diane's Dueling Piano Bar. You should check it out if you are ever in town.

5. Now that we are almost halfway through December, the Christmas music is out in full force. I am loving the Mariah Carey Holiday station on Pandora.

6. We had our coworkers over last week before the president's Christmas party and I loved getting out all the Christmas decorations.

7. I decorated a gingerbread house over the weekend in preparation for our Cookie Swap. I'd forgotten how time consuming it is. I was also convinced that it was going to fall apart but thankfully it hasn't yet.

8. Sara and I have been working our way through all the Christmas movies on Netflix and the Hallmark Channel. Our favorite so far is The Christmas Kiss. Let me know if you have any recommendations.

9. I didn't mean to make this post primarily about Christmas.

10. Happy Friday!

What I Baked on Sunday

On Sunday, we hosted a Cookie Swap for about 12 girls. Everyone brought 2-3 dozen cookies and after mixing and mingling we swapped cookies. Everyone brought something different and we ended up with a great mix of flavors. 

I made the Pioneer Woman's Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies. The recipe was really easy and incorporated ingredients that I already had on hand. I accidentally used baking powder instead of baking soda but after a quick Google search I learned that you can double the amount of baking powder to balance it out. The cookies turned out great. You can see them in the top right corner of the picture below. 

It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and kick off the holiday season.

Thanksgiving Recap

Better late than never with this post!

It was so nice to be home for a few days over Thanksgiving. I took Wednesday off and was home before lunch time. I'd forgotten how pretty the marsh looks. I guess that is what happens when you are land locked. I loved reading on the couch with this view in the background.

For lunch on Thursday, we gathered with my dad's side of the family at the Yacht and Sailing Club. I loved the burlap and pumpkin table arrangements.

Carolyn pulled out her turkey costume, which I am pretty sure served as inspiration for these cupcakes!

It was so fun getting to see everyone and have ML and Lash home for a few days.



Thursday night, we cooked Thanksgiving for the six of us and I finally made this pie from Eat Live Run. I highly recommend making it!

The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying each other's company and cheering on the Gamecocks.



The Friday Five

1. What I'm Reading:

From Amazon: Every girl has her version of “The List,” a handful of goals she wants to achieve (school, travel, career, marriage, children, etc.) by a certain age. But if those dreams don’t come true according to schedule—or they do but don’t meet expectations—what then?

Marian Jordan says there’s a better list to live by, a God-honoring, in-the-moment set of priorities that makes every season of life beautiful however long it may last. If a girl can embrace this list above all else, she may find herself already in the midst of her happily ever after.

2. What I'm Eating:

source

I have been on a big apple kick lately. For breakfast, I've been eating a diced apple with cinnamon, cottage cheese, and granola. For lunch, I've been making grilled turkey and cheese sandwiches with apple slices.

3. What I'm Listening to:

Used Up - Logan Mize

4. What Recipe I'm Bookmarking:



Sweet Potato Chili Cheese Fries

5. Things I'm Loving:

This weekend will be my first free weekend in 10 weeks!

 

Happy Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Weekend Recap

This weekend I hopped in the car to spend the weekend with ML and celebrate Kristen and Chandler. Friday night, we ate a delicious take-out dinner from Crust (try the butternut squash pizza) before heading to the rehearsal after party.

Saturday, we spent the morning on King Street knocking out some Christmas shopping. Pottery Barn was all decked out for the holidays. As much as I love getting in the Christmas spirit, I wish stores would wait until after Thanksgiving.

My favorite find of the day was this pair of boots. They were supposed to be for Christmas but I couldn't wait to wear them.



We decided to stop at Co for lunch to refuel and we were not disappointed. In Vietnamese, Co means feast and that we did. We split the pork and ginger gyoza. ML had the beef pho and I tried the bun xao. They make their own hot sauces and I think the hot one may rival Sriracha.

When we got back to the house, I wrapped some Christmas presents. My favorite part was making this bow out of extra wrapping paper. I can't find the tutorial that I used but it was super easy. 

That afternoon we traded our walking shoes for our dancing shoes and heading to Kristen and Chandler's wedding. The wedding was at St. Andrews and the reception was on the water at Alhambra Hall. The setting was absolutely beautiful.

Kristen did a great job planning the day and you could definitely tell she spent a lot of time on the details. The fireplace filled with mirrors and candles in the center of the room was gorgeous.

She also wore her grandmother's dress to the ceremony and her mother's dress to the reception. Both were beautiful.

I had a great time celebrating with everyone before heading to Georgetown to spend the night with my parents. It made for a long drive back on Sunday but thankfully this week is only a two day work week for me.

Fun Facts Friday

1. Apparently, I live in one of the most miserable cities in America. Clearly, they did not poll Wofford students or employees.

2. This toddler napping with his puppy is the cutest thing I have ever seen.

3. I was telling someone the other day that I have laughed more in my new job that I ever did in DC. And not just laughed, laughed until I've cried.

4. We had a work event in Greenville last week and while we were there two different people asked me if I was married to two different colleagues. It was pretty comical. Never mind the different name tags or the fact that I don't wear a ring.

5. It's not surprising that everyone from the office was entertained by our story from Greenville. My love life is a typical topic of conversation at work.

6. I found a new dessert that I want to make for Thanksgiving. How delicious does this look?

7. I had my first red cup of the holiday season from Starbucks recently. You can't beat buy one get one holiday drinks.

8. Baby it's cold outside. The winter weather came in full force this week. I am not quite ready for it to be 20 degrees. Thankfully it is supposed to be warmer today and tomorrow.

9. I have a new obsession with the song Timber. I can't stop listening to it.

10. I had quite the kitchen dance party Wednesday night while making dinner and doing laundry. It's been a long time since one of those has taken place.  I guess that is what happens when I spend little time in the kitchen these days.

11. I am thinking about cutting my hair. Nothing too crazy but at least an inch or two or maybe more...

12. I have high expectations for this weekend. Thank you in advance to May Lo for putting up with my crazy antics.

13. We went to see Catching Fire last night. It was so good. Go see it!

14. Happy Friday!

Lately

We celebrated Sara's birthday in Greenville with a delicious dinner at Soby's followed by funfetti cake. I would highly recommend that you try Soby's if you are ever in the area. Everything was delicious from the fried green tomatoes to the shrimp and grits.

I love working on a college campus. Our weekends are few and far between with all of our events but we try to keep things entertaining. Ashley and John played an intense match of ping pong while waiting for our overnight hosts one night.

I started getting into the Christmas spirit after working the Junior League's Santa's Shoppe. I feel like Christmas will be here before we know it.

Sara volunteered to chaperone a sorority semi-formal and I tagged along. Little did we know that when the band from McCown's wedding said they were going to be playing at Wofford that we would be there.

My last event of the semester was this past weekend. It is hard to believe that the fall semester is coming to a close. I could not have done it without these two. I am blessed to have them as coworkers and dear friends.

The sunsets in Spartanburg have been beautiful the past few days. One of our staff members captured this photo.

And these are just a few things that have been happening lately!

Fun Facts Friday

1. How are we already through the first week of November? Thanksgiving will be here before we know it. I can't wait!

2. This week has been rough in the sleep department. Monday night my neighbors were super noisy. Tuesday I got woken up at 3 am by the smoke alarm alerting me to a low battery. Someone please tell me why those things never start beeping during the day.

3. My roommate came home yesterday for good! Woo hoo! I've basically been living by myself for the past three months. I'm so excited to have her around again.

4. The sun setting early has put me in such a nesting mood. I just want to come home from work and curl up on the couch.

5. Speaking of curling up, I starting reading Divergent and could not put it down. I stayed up until midnight one night reading it. I don't know why I was so late jumping on this train but I highly recommend that you read this trilogy especially if you enjoyed the Hunger Games.

6. You should try Bark Thins Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Seed with Sea Salt. Head to Costco and pick up a bag before the seasonal item disappears. You will not be disappointed.

7. Who watched the CMA awards? In my opinion T Swift was robbed of the album of the year award. It was certainly my album of the year. Just ask Marg, Chloe, Sara and Ashley.

8. Read this.

9. This weekend is going to be a busy one between work and junior league.

10. Happy Friday!

Weekend Recap

This weekend we celebrated the marriage of McCown and Jeff. It has been over a decade since I have been to Edisto and I loved being back on the island. I apologize, this post is rather picture heavy.

The setting was absolutely gorgeous at Cypress Trees Plantation.

\

The beautiful bride.

Two of my dates for the evening. They were celebrating their golf win.

These pictures capture our personalities pretty well.  

First dance.

Their French inspired wedding cake.

The Wofford crew.

Congrats you two!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is a big deal at work. Everyone dresses up and brings a covered dish. I brought a spooky Mexican dish that seems to be a big hit. I made the tree and tombstones out of a tortilla and baked them at 350 degrees until brown.

I also liked the witches brooms made out of cheese sticks and pretzels and the pumpkin shaped cheese ball.

I was shocked at how many people were not familiar with the game Guess Who? I played it all the time growing up. But apparently I wasn't the only one who thought it was a clever costume. Lisa and I ended up dressing alike and no it wasn't planned!