Secret Santa

Hey everyone!

The countdown is on...

ONE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS!

I hope all you little elves are done shopping.

I live very close to the mall and the traffic is out of control.

I would not want to still have stuff on your list with only a week left

The mall isn't the only place that is packed....

I had to go to the post office this week and mail some packages...

I thought i would be strategic and I went at 4 since most people don't get off for another hour...

WRONG!!!!

I had to wait in line 45 mins just to use the self-service machine! NUTS

Onto better news...

We recently had a Christmas party and I said I would post pics because I thought Jared looked so cute!

We even match! lol 

This was not acutally intended but just came out that way.

Turns out it worked pretty well together.

We went to the party with steve and annie

Well it turns out that Steve got my name in the secret Santa drawing.

NOW GET THIS..

he was not sure what to get me so he got on my BLOG!!!

How awesome is this!

He read my thirty for thirty list and saw that I wanted to learn how to make PHO (Asian soup)

He found me several recipes and then got me the authentic dishes to serve the soup in.

I  was so impressed! I thought that was so thoughtful.

I was speechless....love it.

I will be learning to make the soup soon and be sure to share it with all my followers.

In other news..

I really love hole in the wall dinners.

I think there is something special about it.

Well I found one called "Eats and Sweets" when I was in a little town for work this week.

I walked in and there was maybe 3 customers.

It was a huge piece of bologna and I eat like 1/3 of this sandwich.

SO CHEAP...all of this for $4.69...crazy

Super fast too.

Love little dinners!

Have a great last week of work before Christmas!!

The countdown to christmas begins!!

So excited!

This week is my last full week of work.

Next week since high schools are on shortened schedules...so am I

Cant wait!

I don't know about you but I've got lots of baking to do

I'm looking for some great cookie recipes.

If you all have some staples that people use please please please pass the recipes along

I plan plan to make cookie jars out of old pringles cans

found this on pinterest

Thought I would take a minute to brag on my wonderful husband.

I was out of town recently for work and my hubby had a giant surprise waiting for me when I got home.

before I tell you the surprise...I have to tell you the story leading up to this

So...this summer I found a old school solid wood giant desk on craigslist.

Someone had started sanding it to restore it but lost interested in the project.

They wanted 70 bucks and I ended up losing out of purchasing the desk.

Then...to my surprise two weeks later I got a call that they buyer fell through and if I still wanted the desk for 40 bucks they would sell it to me.

I agreed without even thinking.

Did I mention that it was a giant solid wood desk and we don't have a truck?

With much convincing I got Jared on board to do whatever it takes to pick up the desk

We borrowed a van from his work and went across town to pick it up.

We went tried to lift it into the van we realized it was solid wood and like 200 lbs!

Jared was not a happy camper

Then we got it home and since it was not finished it had to be in the garage till I could finish the project

Jared...again not happy since he values his manly garage space

well I got it like 95 percent sanded and have gone and got wood filler and was working on it very slowly...again Jared not happy still in the garage.

He was also convinced that we would not be able to get this upstairs into our office.

I was starting to consider finishing it and selling it but it seemed like that would be such a waste considering how in love with it I was.

Up until two weeks ago this is where that story has been stalled....

While I was away my husband finished my beautiful desk, got it upstairs and had it waiting with a super sweet note for my arrival

I almost cried I was so happy and it looked so great!!

Needless to say I HAVE THE BEST HUSBAND EVER!!

We also went to Jared's Christmas party this weekend.

Here's a quick shot from my phone...more pics to come

We were voted best dressed...but I think it was because we matched ;)

Have a great week everyone!

Don't forget to make time for family this holiday!

Christmas Season

Two weeks ago we helped build a Habitat for Humanity house. 

It was a pretty interesting experience. 

I thought it would be fluff work but that is not the case. 

I painted and ripped siding off the house.

This is us grabbing some quick lunch at panera.

Don't ask...why is Jared suck a goof in all our pictures!?

sweet painting action

The guys worked on this porch all day!

This is the font of the house...pretty nice. I think I need to get hooked up with habitat too!

We also went out and picked our Christmas tree.

They always smell so amazing.

so we strapped it to my car and wrapped it in an old blanket so it wouldn't scratch anything.

Well we totally pulled an idiot move.

We tied the tree to the top of the car though the windows....NOT SMART.

We wrapped the doors closed! IDIOTS!

So we just went with it and climbed in and out of the windows

Not our brightest moments!

Totally worth it thought.... I think this is the best job we have ever done decorating a Christmas tree!

Looks so good and makes me happy!

We are almost ready for Christmas now... got our firewood delivered! YES

On a non-Christmas related note... I went to a Columbus blogger meet up!

Big thanks to Katie and Holly for putting it together!

Everyone seemed super nice and I think there were like 20 people there.

Maybe you recognize these girls.

Dancing with Sunshine

In this beautiful life

To Columbus and Beyond

These were the girls I spent the majority of my evening with. 

check out Katie over at Keep Calm and Carry on....

I'm sure she posted the group pictures of all of us together. 

I hope you all are having a great few weeks leading into this holiday season.

I challenge you all to do something unexpectedly kind for a stranger or someone who would never expect it. Its is the time of year to bless someone if you have been blessed.

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

I'M BACK!

Hello Blogger world! 

My life has been CRAZY!!

SO two weeks ago they flew me to DC to do training for my new job with the Art Institutes!

I was semi geeked thinking I would get to do some sight seeing!

NOPE....NONE...Total bummer

I was in this area called Dulles- Which is super weird because they say it just like DALLAS.

WTH?

Anyway my flight was book on these tiny express planes.

It looked like a tuna can with wings!

It felt like the pilot was actually flying this thing..none of this auto-pilot thing!

I have never had to board a plane from the ground=surreal

This is a picture of one of my flights, but I flew on much smaller planes.

So I made it though training. Unfortunately I was in Dulles which is actually 45 mins from the city.

no trains.

I didn't see a single sight! total bummer

Not that I would have had time. 

I spent my nights studying for the next day

INTENSE TRAINING

So this week I have been back in Ohio job shadowing.

I went out with a girlfriend of mine which was actually pretty fun.

It does not feel like work when you can hang out with a girlfriend all day.

Well the school she was speaking at was under construction.

we didn't know where to park and ended up parking in this grassy abandoned area.

MISTAKE

Next thing we know the car got towed!

The teacher had to leave school take us 15 mins to the impound lot

We get there and they don't take credit cards for impound payments!?!?!?!?

WTH?

Katie had to borrow money from the teacher and write her a check to reimburse the amount

Paid 109 dollars to get the car back! REDIC

here is the tow truck

My IPHONE crapped out too!

something with the speaker. You cant hear a caller.

Its an apple problem so if you run into this go do the apple store.

They replaced my phone free of charge! 

Just a heads up!

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!!

BREAKING DAWN

Went to the mid-night premiere last night!

painful on the body but so fuN!

I read all the books and most of the movies have been a disappointment...

NOT THIS ONE

so good

They acting was way better and def. worth seeing.

Some pics of us in the theater 2 hrs early

Yeah...i'm wearing a twilight shirt and no I dont want crap about it :)

Miss you Ashley and Jenn!

Misc Monday

I'm Linking up with Charissa for Misc Monday!

We went to a Halloween party this weekend. I saw this idea on Pinterest.

I went as a bag of Jelly Belly's and Jared went as one of the Greasers from the movie "Grease." 

You should have seen us trying to get to the party....

I had to ride in the back seat sitting on my knees so that I would not pop any balloons! REDIC

Lauren dressed as a Geisha...ironic?!

  I went to a cooking class a couple of nights ago....it ended up going pretty long so I text Jared to tell him to go ahead a eat without me. 

This was his response!???? 

What am I the little house wife?

Congrats to Mike and Star who got married recently.

Here are a few pics from the venue.

I'm a bad photographer....no pics of the bride and groom?

They had a photo booth with different sizes of mustaches!

Hysterical and so fun. 

Wish we would have had one of these.

Jared was having lots of fun trying the mustaches...this one looks just like his dad.

Us at our table

I love fresh flowers on a cake.

Its so pretty!

I'm leaving today on a plane to go do new job training in DC!

Yikes....I'm a little nervous. 

Prayers would be appreciated :)

Hopefully I can see something cool.... Like this

I kinda doubt it though.

I hear training is long and that I'll have stuff to review/study at night.

Oh well....I'm really excited about my new job!

We Have A Winner!

 

 

 Well Folks...

We Have a Winner!

I'm not fancy enough to figure out how to use the random number generator and attach to my page yet.

If you have some tips for the future you will just have to let me know.

I use random.org 

Out of the 16 people who enter...

Lucky comment number 7 was the winner!

 

 

Heather at From Here to There said...

WOW! That is adorable! If I don't win, I'm gonna have to make one myself! I'm already a follower!j

 

 

Heather send me an email so I can your mailing address.

 

Thanks so much for everyone who entered!

26th Birthday!

Its a big day for me

Its my 26th Birthday!

Not that i'm happy to be getting older

I do really like cake and presents thought ;)

I plan to have lots of this!!

I think I will go purchase myself this birthday dress too

Other than it being my birthday... today is my last day at my current job

I start the new job Monday...I am very nervous

If you missed my post about working for the Culinary Art Institute you can find it here

I am very sad to be leaving some of the girls I work with

They are great and I love them lots

Ashley wrote me such a sweet card today to celebrate my leaving.

She even went out a got me a birthday present.

She is so sarcastic and hilarious and I LOVE HER!

you can even find her blog over here

She got me a candle...

....and cookie scoops...since I've been talking about how I need them. So week!

Last but not least...

Don't forget today is the last day to enter my GIVEAWAY to win this

Cedar Point and Giveaway!

Also check out my GIVEAWAY here

For you chance to win this!
Winner will be selected tomorrow the 18th

 Happy Monday everyone!

Tomorrow is my last day at my current job...BAHHH

I'm starting to get nervous about leaving now that I know my new job starts next weekend

VERY NERVE WRECKING

I recently went to cedar point with some of my friends.

I have done some recent posts about Ohio attractions so I would imagine your are tired of hearing about it.

So here are some pics instead

Melissa needed a pillow so dave was providing one with his hand

Outside the theme park...you can see the flags in the back

Me and the Hubs

Me and Melissa waiting in line for rides

Some of the group!

every time we go to a theme park Jared insists on dippin dots

We also got a chance to go downtown this weekend and - the crazy eyes....I thought this was a really great picture of the people I love! Heart you guys! 

Have a great week!

Fall Festival

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	7 for all mankind Roxanne low-rise skinny jeans $180 - net-a-porter.com Skinny fit jeans »
	Timberland Earthkeepers® Nevali Tall Boot $195 - zappos.com Slouchy boots »
	Handbag M.. Grey5-A C $110 - mango.com Woven bags »
	Rabens Saloner Cornaline Fleur Beads $220 - itsthenewblack.com.au Stringing bead necklaces »
	Small Carnelian Chandelier Earrings, by Siman Tu - Siman Tu on Taigan $200 - taigan.com Chandelier earrings »

Happy Friday Ladies!

So Glad it is the weekend....I have been loving all this fall weather and am dying to have some days off to play in it!

I am linking up with Long Distance Loving for Friday Fancies

I picked these boots...how awesome are they? Why are all the amazing boots suede?

I hate that I live in snow/rain country and suede just does not make sense!

Oh well.

Also check out my GIVEAWAY  here

For you chance to win this!