nothing short of thankful

It’s officially Christmas season, so that means I really need to make a decision on Christmas cards. While lot of our friends are sending out cards with pictures of their babies and such, I love sharing pictures of us with sweet Denny. I know exactly what photo I want to put on them.

So now I just need to nail down the perfect card. We ordered our Thanksgiving cards from Tiny Prints last year, and they were so nice. I got our Christmas cards from another site that was cheaper but didn’t even touch the quality that we got from Tiny Prints. I just spent all night looking through almost 1,100 options for their holiday cards, and I’ve narrowed it down to six choices.

I first saw these Banner of Dreams cards on Pinterest a few months ago, and immediately loved them.

I think these Holiday Kisses ones are so adorable.

The cartoonish look of the Happy Winter cards is precious.

I think a black and white version of our photo would look great in these Traditional Tidings cards.

I also love the retro look of these Ceramic Wreath cards.

The final option are these Distinct Wishes cards that seem a little more masculine.

It was pretty tough to narrow it down to these six, so I’d love for you guys to chime in and help me choose! What do you think? 

(Note: I will receive holiday cards as compensation for this post, but the opinions are 100% mine. )

Update: previous post is more the result of weeks and months of thoughts and confusion rather than anything specific. Just thought people ought to remember to be nice.

Also, look how cute this puppy face is!

Should people even have to write posts about not being huge bitches to other people on the internet? Shouldn’t that just be common courtesy? When I read this post this morning, I immediately and wholeheartedly agreed. Then it hit me how sad it is that anyone even has to think that, or write it, or read it and say yes! exactly! I really thought everyone left as much of their petty ways behind in high school or college at the very least, but maybe not.

It has forever eluded me how it is fun to be a bitch in general. How complaining about things and making fun of people on the reg makes some people happy. This has been something I’ve had a hard time understanding all my life, and it seems that people on the internet are no different. I understand that everyone is snarky at times. That venting sessions are sometimes necessary. That some people’s Facebook posts are BEGGING to be ridiculed. I know I do all of the above more than I should. But all the time? Being an asshole with no regrets must feel pretty good to some people, but I’m just not one of them and I don’t think I could be IRL friends with anyone who is.

I love what I have found here on Tumblr. It took a while for me to build this blog from a place full of the things I wanted to buy and pretty quotes and dreamy home interiors (which, TBH, is still a big part of what I post) to slowly but surely becoming more of a space where I share what is happening each day with a group of people who can be more supportive than anyone I know. The random sweet notes I find in my inbox and the sweet replies and little hearts all over my dash truly make me happy. I think it’s important that we all find that, because most of us are in our 20s and 30s, and shit sucks sometimes during this age range, and everyone just needs to remember that. And I don’t want to let a few assholes ruin this great network of lovely, sweet gals in my life.

So I really don’t care if I sound “butthurt” (everyone’s favorite word that I’m sure will incite even more rage in the world, but oh well) because maybe I am butthurt. Who cares? And from now on, to prevent myself from spiraling into another potential rage stroke and wasting my time wondering why other people are the way they are, I’m just gonna stop. Stop reading things that are bitchy. Stop caring if rude people “like” me or think I’m cool enough for them. I’m not going to worry about whether or not a post that I enjoyed writing is “annoying” you. Straight up.

Long story short? Be a grown up, not an asshole.

obsessing over: what a perfect weekend of college football we had, this clutch that I’m kicking myself for not buying a Groupon for last week, and whether or not I should buy that Plum District deal for Paper and Ink

working on: finishing up Christmas lists before tonight AND eating all the left over mac and cheese from last night while clearing out my work to do list so i can do as little as possible over the next two days

thinking about:  how badly I want to be at home in a big soft sweater just lounging on the couch

anticipating:  my Erin Condren planner arriving, this short work week, seeing two of my besties on Wednesday for dinner and drinks, family time on Thursday, and a visit to Atlanta to see this lady next weekend (another short week for me!)

listening to: last week’s Grey’s Anatomy playing in the background

drinking: Diet Coke (always, always, always)

wishing: for a little time away, a little more cash to get everyone the perfect gifts, 20 pounds to magically melt off of me (see mac and cheese statement for reasons why,) and a big Alabama win this weekend against that other cow college in the state

I’m having a rager of a Friday night: trip to Old Navy, immediately put huge slouchy sweater on with fleece lined leggings when home, bundled up in giant plaid scarf and uggs, walked to the store, bought huge bottle of wine that I am now proceeding to drink while watching old episodes of Greys Anatomy on Netflix ( season two finale + beginning of season three, if you must know)

So, I am going to a Bob Seger concert tonight (you know who I’m talking about - Night Moves, Hollywood Nights, Roll Me Away) with Blake and four other friends.

If I’d thought about it ahead of time I would have gotten an awesome old Seger shirt online or something because I’m cool like that, but I didn’t, so now I’m trying to decide what to wear tonight in the next 40 minutes before I leave work. So of course I turn to you, dear Tumblr gals. Brooke and I are thinking just boots, leggings, big shirt and scarf. Any other concert outfit ideas from you guys?

Maybe this is why I feel stressed?

Obsessing Over: Making Christmas lists and to do and to buy lists for the house. We’re making a LOT of progress lately!

Working On: Finishing reports that I put off every month because they are so tedious and annoying.

Thinking About: Letting go of minor annoyances and wishing good things into my life. Life is too short to be hating on things - focus on the awesome!

Anticipating: This crazy week: Tuesday night- Bob Seger concert. Wednesday night - work event for Pinkberry opening. Thursday night - Southern Miss vs. UAB game. Friday - Sunday - the freaking weekend. And then on to a short Thanksgiving week!

Listening To: A conference call. But soon to be Pan Am in the background of working.

Drinking: My second Diet Coke of the day. Second of many. 

Wishing: My paycheck would magically double so I could plan so many fun things.

pileofmonkeys:

Give Thursday morning you a present from Wednesday night you: get your coffee stuff ready for the morning, or put your outfit together with all necessary components tonight. It might only save you two or three minutes in the morning, but morning minutes are like twenty regular minutes each.

“Well of course that’s the enemy’s slogan and chant, but I don’t hear that from any friend of mine because I don’t have any friend that went to Auburn.”

-Gay Talese, author and Alabama alum, on his thoughts on War Eagle

Between the Penn State mess and this film last night, I had a lot of thoughts that weren’t best to be shared on the internet last night. But I did want to say that I watched the documentary, and I enjoyed it, but by no means is that anywhere NEAR a full analysis of how deep the rivalry between Alabama and “the University of Auburn” (as Bo Jackson calls it) goes. They glossed right over huge parts of the rivalry and skipped right to the past two years, which have admittedly been pretty eventful and tumultuous.

If anything, the film definitely reminded me how much I love Mark Ingram, Greg McElroy and all the rest of the Bama players because of their pure unadulterated love for Alabama (and their poise.) It also reminded me how special that 2009 season was, and renewed my love for our team after the tough loss this weekend. (For what it’s worth, I am going to be all decked out in green and yellow and cheering on Oregon for the second time this year on Saturday, and I could let a little love for Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Notre Dame slip in as well. I still wanna go to NOLA, baby!)

I have a lot of feelings about college football tonight. All of which I’m afraid to put on the Internet because there are so many haterz.

I bought our first crock pot today! I’m super jazzed about it, as well as a front doormat and some more new blinds, and chose these items over striped sweaters and nail polish at Target. And I was so pleased to be doing it, which I think makes me a semi-adult.

Now I need to know your favorite slow cooker recipes so I can try them all! Will you share?

“We all know it’s silly and immature to seek self-esteem through identification with your college football team. We all know that football is far from the most important thing that any university should be judged by. Or rather, we say that we know these things, but deep down we know that all of the above is a lie. And University of Alabama fans know something even more profound, namely that everyone else in the country, whether they admit it or not, is jealous of us because the Crimson Tide has the greatest program in college football history…

After Alabama plays LSU, there will still be he formality of the SEC championship game on December 3, and, oh yes, the official BCS title game on January 9 in New Orleans. But if history is any indication, the question of who has the best football team in the nation will be decided well before then, and the winners will be wearing crimson and white.

This has its downside—people all over the country will be more jealous of us than ever. But everyone has their cross to bear, and the resentment caused by winning is ours. We promise to bear it humbly.”

How Alabama Became College Football’s Greatest Team

This article is the truth.

I really sucked it up as far as October goals went. I wasn’t able to join the gym (dang you bills!) so obviously I didn’t make a class schedule. Despite a few valiant efforts, our house remained a bit of a dump the entire month. My bike never made it to my house. Diet Coke was my life blood. Let’s focus on the positive, eh? I definitely ate out less, but still more than I should have. I got my bangs trimmed (still need to make a color appointment) AND schedule a lady doctor appointment that I’ve put off for a while. We BOUGHT the new blinds, but now we need to finish hanging a few of them that were being tricky.

Let’s take a look at what I’m hoping to get to work on in November!

• Join.The. Gym. This week is crazy (Tuscaloosa for the evening tomorrow, back to Birmingham then BACK to Tuscaloosa on Friday afternoon through the weekend for the Bama-LSU game), so I figure I will wait to join the gym next week. But it better happen this month for sure!
• Begin training for the Georgia Half-Marathon. Brooke slid this little tidbit in an update the other day, but we are both working our way through some Couch to 5K action this month and early December in anticipation of our actual training schedule beginning December 11. The race is March 18, so we should have PLENTY of time to train if we keep each other accountable. Will y’all help?
• Attempt the 100 Pushups program a la HTP. 
• Order Christmas cards - I already ordered the prints for them so I’m off to a good start!
• Choose a charity for this month. Last month I was so excited to be able to donate to Darcy’s DetermiNATION fundraising and I want to do something similar each month from now on. My donation certainly wasn’t large, but I imagine any group could do more with $20 than buy cheap wine and striped shirts like I would do. So if any of you have any ideas or personal causes, feel free to send them my way!
• Cleaning schedule set and posted on fridge.
• Keep a look out for new opportunities, but also enjoy each day that I have just as it is.
• At least one CamelBak of water per day at work.

What goals do you usually set before the holiday season kicks off?

If I weren’t leavin’, would I catch you dreamin’
And if I weren’t gonna be gone now, could I take you home
And if I told you I love you, would it change what you see
And if I was staying, would you stay with me
And if I had money, would it all look good
And if I had a job now, like a good man should
And if I came to you tomorrow, and said let’s run away
Would you roll like the wind does, baby would you stay

My heart is dancin’, to a November tune
And I hope that you hear it, singing songs about you
And I sing songs of sorrow, because you’re not around
See, babe I’m gone tomorrow, Baby follow me down

I don’t know why I have to, but this man must move on
I love my time here, didn’t know ‘til I was gone
November shadows, shade November change
November spells sweet memory, the season blue remains
November spells sweet memory, the season blue remains

Your yellow hair is like the sunlight, however sweet it shines
Bit by the cold of December, I’m warm beside your smile

Oh lady tell me I’m not leaving, you’re everything I dream
I’m killing myself thinking, I’ve fallen like the leaves
I’m killing myself thinking, I’ve fallen like the leaves