Checking In

Hello everyone! So sorry about my super long absence. I honestly can't remember the last time I wrote a real post. I've been enjoying my month off of school with my family and friends.

I'll be back in January with some holiday catch-up posts.

For the time being, I've enjoyed reading all of your posts.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Have a great New Years!

Talk to you in 2012!

Sibling Bonding

So Wyatt (youngest brother) has been staying with Zeb (oldest younger brother) and me since Wednesday.

Well really I should leave Zeb out of it.

He sleeps alllllll the time.

But Wyatt and I have been having loads of fun.

Movies, cookies, fro-yo.

Hope y'all are enjoying the last few days before Christmas!

Only three days left!

Ahhhh!!!

PS Happy First Day of Winter!

Luckily Too bad it's 70 degrees here in Georgia.

First Time for Everything

I just won my first giveaway!

Lisa, whom I have known for over three years, was hosting this giveaway. The prize is a gorgeous necklace from Shabby Apple.

Thanks for hosting the giveaway, Lisa!

Check out her blog here. She is super creative and super sweet!

Side note: I have known Lisa since my senior year in high school. I was her teacher apprentice in her second grade classroom. Ever since then, she has graciously allowed me to visit her classroom to do all of my field work. She's the best!

9 More Days!!!

Only 9 days until Christmas. 9 Days. 9 DAYS!!!!

Can't believe it.

Time for some Friday Favorites: Christmas Edition

Favorite Holiday Drink: Caramel Brulee Latte

DIY Project: Christmas Tree

I turned this tree into an ornament. It was the easiest DIY ever. I just found a small stick outside, tied some ribbons around it, then added a star and a hook at the top. Voila!

School Activity:

"If Santa was stuck in my chimney, I would..."

I bet there would be a lot of funny responses to this prompt.

Ornament Idea: House Keys

Movie: Elf

If you've posted about your Christmas traditions/ideas/favorites, leave a comment with the link below. I'd love to read all about it!

All images courtesy of Pinterest.

Ornament Swap!

I have participated in so many swaps for Christmas this year.

I just love Christmas so much!

It's so much fun spreading the joy to others.

This swap was from The Smitten Mintons and Mackey Madness.

I was paired with Jenny from Strickly Strickland's.

She was so sweet! She sent me not one ornament, but two! 

Annnndd she sent me Vanilla Bean Noel soap...my favorite!

How cute is this little guy?!

I absolutely love the little monkey. And the martini glass was perfect since I just turned 21!

We're going to get our family tree today and I'm so excited to put these ornaments up!
Thanks so much Jenny! So glad I found you through this!

Dunzo

Officially done with my first semester of Education School!

Let the Christmas Break festivities begin!

Also if you are a Harry Potter fan, this video is for you.

I may or may not have cried.

And bought the song on iTunes.

What can I say? I'm a Potter fan for life.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Woohoo! Party! Confetti! Celebrate!

It's my birthday!

21 and legal baby!!

I love birthdays. Love. Them.

And today is turning out to be a great one!

-I started my day off with some pattern blocks

{thank you early childhood education}

-Got a free bagel at Panera

-Caught up on my celebrity news

{speaking of...the VS fashion show was amazing}

Also I've been getting texts from celebs* all day

Like these two (along with their captions):

"Taylor and I are wondering when we can see you" 

"Happy Birthday from the sweetest
boy on Gossip Girl!"

-Got a brownie sundae at Chili's with my bestie

And the day is only halfway over!

Yay for birthdays!!

*AKA my best friend sending me pictures of hot celebs with captions

The Wy Man

Here's Wyatt circa 2002ish. I mean is he not the cutest thing you've ever seen?!

Love that kid.

Happy (late) Thanksgiving everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!

This past week was sooooo crazy at my house! Zeb and I didn't end up going home until Tuesday night because we both had to work in Athens. But boy were we met with a welcoming party at home!

My mom decided to start a new tradition and have a Thanksgiving meal for just our family a couple of days before the actual holiday.

Am I complaining? No siree bob. More food for me!

Wyatt wanted to set the table. So cute.

Fried Turkey. The only way to do it.

I'm pretty sure I am leaving a TON of stuff out but that's the gist of it. My favorite part? Chicken casserole with cranberry sauce. Don't knock it 'til you try it.

On Thursday, we went to North Carolina to have Thanksgiving with some of my mom's family. Big surprise: I don't have any pictures. But there was more good food. Also a precious baby. Can't get enough of babies these days.

Friday was spent shopping with Allie.

Annnddd because it's my birthday in two days (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), we had a Burton Birthday Dinner. Nanny always cooks once a month for the birthdays.

I even got to bring leftovers back to school with me! I'm currently eating the last piece of peanut butter cake* while I'm typing this post.

Fried okra. My fave. 

The cousins, plus Allie's boyfriend, and minus Renny Joy (who was just born!)
Also notice we're all stuffing our faces.

Birthday girls

It was definitely nice to spend a week at home with no school. Can't wait for Christmas Break! Only 7 more days!

*Peanut butter cake=caramel pound cake. When I was little, I thought the caramel looked like peanut butter. The name stuck and now everyone calls it that. I'm such an innovator.

The Voice of the Dawgs

Yesterday was a sad day in the history of the University of Georgia. Larry Munson, our beloved football announcer for 42 years, passed away from pneumonia.

This tribute video gives me chills every time I watch it.

This man was, and is, such a huge part of Georgia football.

His play-by-play calls will be remembered forever. Check out his Top 10 Favorite Calls here. 

{Number One is my personal favorite.}

He will be greatly missed by the Bulldog Nation.

We love you, Larry!

My cousin was just accepted to UGA last night!!

I'm so so so excited to be at the same school with her again!

Congratulations Allie! So proud of you!

Oh yeah

Totally making pumpkin chocolate chip muffins tonight.

Be jealous.

11-11-11

It's 11-11-11!!!

{and yes i did schedule this to post at 11:11}

I had never heard of the whole wish thing until I was a freshman in college.

But once someone told me about it, I never looked back.

"11:11 make a wish!"

It's engrained in my head.

Today is also special because it's Veterans Day!!

Thank you to the men and women who fought, and continue to fight, for our freedom.

Freedom is not free and I am so thankful to those who lay down their lives for us everyday.

"We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude."

-Cynthia Ozick

Enjoy your day of wishing!

Images: 1 2

Tomato Lover

Don't let the title confuse you...I really don't like tomatoes very much.

But I may be changing my mind.

I went to Panera last night and ordered the Tomato Mozzarella Panini.

Oh.My.Word.

Delish.

I didn't even have time to get out my camera before I started eating.

So a phone pic will have to do.

Have you had this before?

I'm definitely getting that next time.

{and maybe every time I go for the rest of my life}

Problem Solved

Christmas is my favorite holiday. Nothing beats it.

My favorite part? Decorating.

Only I have a slight problem this year.

I just bought pumpkins 7 days ago.

And by "pumpkins" I mean eight pumpkins.

{I tend to go overboard with holidays}

I realllly want to put up Christmas decorations.

But I don't want to get rid of my cutesy orange friends!

So I think I found a solution:

This is probably going to happen today.

Just because I'm so ready to get out the Christmas stuff!

PS I've been listening to Justin Bieber's Christmas album all week. So good.

Images: 1 2

It's been a while...

I haven't done Friday Favorites in a while so I'm bringing it back.

Favorite Dessert:

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pie

Get. In. My. Belly.

Favorite Dress:

So classy.

Favorite Fall/Winter Item:

Infinity Scarves. Especially ones with stripes.

Favorite Bag:

Vintage Gucci

Favorite Video:

(Created by my family. The boys are my brothers and the girls are my cousins)

Music by Carly Rae Jepsen

What are your faves this week?

Images: 1 2 3 4

Guess what.

It's November!!

Which means...

Happy birthday month to me!!!

Woohoo! And the countdown begins.

De Soto Falls

Every year, we go to the mountains for my mom's birthday.

This year, we went to Vogel Park and De Soto Falls.

Those guys.

Callaway. Such the model.

It was a good day all around. We sure missed Zeb, though. As my mom says...he's the life of the party.