Embracing the holiday crazies!

Last weekend, I had a fabulous time with my BFF for our annual girl’s night away. We met up around 5 on Friday and started off our adventure with a welcome reception at our hotel. We then headed off to a fabulous dinner at an Italian place nearby. The atmosphere is great and the food was even better. On Saturday, we headed to another nearby village for a traditional Christmas shopping stroll. There were Dickens’s Christmas Carolers all around and beautiful shops. I found the perfect gift for my mom too so that was a plus. The best part of the whole adventure was just getting to be myself and catch up with a great friend. She is the one person (besides my hubby and immediate fam) that I can truly be my silly self. I can tell her what’s going on with me without fear of judgment or disappointment. She loves me for me and always seems to make me feel better about whatever is going on in my crazy life.
On Saturday night, when I got home, we finished decorating the tree (I keep forgetting to post picture of my holiday décor but will very soon) and headed out to my niece’s 1st birthday. We also had an unexpected visit from my sister. She came out early in anticipation of the family baking day on Sunday. For the past three or four years, my mom, sister and I have tried to get together to make Christmas cookies. We make about 12 dozen and then split them up amongst each other. It’s a nice tradition and I am glad that we got to do it – even though the weather wasn’t cooperating (freezing rain and snow! Boo!) After a long day of baking, the hubby and I headed to our friends house to meet their new baby boy, Cole John. He was such a good baby and so cute too!
After a very busy weekend, I now realize there are only 10 days until Christmas! I am not much farther on my shopping as I was last week but know exactly what I need and where to find it. Hopefully on Friday, I can finish up. The next task is going to be wrapping! I bought a bunch of paper and am going to try and get a jump start tonight or tomorrow. Holidays are usually really stressful but I am trying to embrace the craziness and enjoy it. Life is too short to worry about the small things, right?
Until next time,
Fabulous KT

Snow

Winter has arrived and I cannot honestly say I am super excited. I am a warm weather girl who needs temperatures above 70 and abundant sunshine. However, I live in a climate that is far from this ideal. While I like a little snow for Christmas, I would be happy if it didn’t start snowing until Dec. 20th and stopped by January 1st. This morning as I watched the school closing scroll across my screen, I wondered what it would be like to get to stay home from work (and still get paid) when the weather didn’t cooperate. Then I saw it, my community college work place…CLOSED. Yippee but then I read the next line only until 10 a.m. Guess who starts at 10 a.m. normally? Yup, me! Oh well, I don’t mind the new gig and its warm and toasty inside the library. My hubby, who works just down the street, decided to go in late and drove me in. He’ll be picking me up at 3 before I head to Job #2. So I can’t complain too much really – a personal chauffeur and happy co-workers who got a two-hour delay.

Despite the wintery weather, tonight we have plans to check out a new restaurant with some friends. It is a Japanese/Hibachi style restaurant that I have never experienced so I am super excited. I am a very picky eater so it could be tough to find something I normally would like, but the overall atmosphere and company should be fun. It is such a busy, hectic time of year; it’s nice to take time to catch up with friends.

I can hardly believe that it is a little over two weeks until Christmas. I am probably 90% done with my shopping after some online finds and Black Friday deals. I still need to buy presents for my mom, my sis and future bro-in-law and my dear hubby. Hopefully this weekend I can finish up and do some wrapping. Our tree is up (not fully decorated yet) and I love to have presents under the tree.

Coming up this weekend, I have another fabulous adventure planned with the BFF. We are heading to a cute little town between both our homes for a girls night away including some yummy dinner, holiday strolling and of course shopping. I head out Friday after my library gig and can’t wait to relax and enjoy our time together. The fun continues on Saturday evening with a birthday party for one of my nieces who turns one on the 15th and possibly a sleepover visit form my sis. On Sunday, my mama and sister will join me in the kitchen for some holiday cookie baking. As I said, it’s a busy busy time of year, but I am looking forward to enjoying every minute.

Until next time,
Fabulous KT

Live your life! Wedding weekend recap!

After months of preparation, last weekend was my BFF’s wonderful wedding. The weekend couldn’t have been better. It could have been a little warmer, but all the festivities were beautiful. As I’ve mentioned before, my hubby and I made a weekend getaway and were so happy to have some time off. We arrived on Saturday, just in time for me and the bride to get a little pampering done at the local spa while the boys got ready for the big rehearsal dinner, which was being held at my BFF’s now hubby’s restaurant. After a brief and breezy rehearsal at the ceremony site, we headed over to the restaurant for a dinner filled with lots of yummy treats and of course, lots of vino. My BFF gave me the most beautiful matron of honor gifts. Now, usually the bride might give some jewelry to wear during the ceremony or maybe a shawl for cold weather. They might even through in a cute clutch or purse for the big day. My generous friend did all three plus a few cute gifts to make me laugh. The clutch was a gorgeous gold Coach clutch that was amazing and an equally as impressive silk wrap. Both the BFF and her hubby are super generous and love to buy special gifts for their friends and family. The rehearsal was really a nice thank you to all the friends and family who have made the journey with them so far.
On Sunday, the day of the wedding, we woke up to sunshine filled skies and we super excited. You see, the forecast was for rain and even the chance of SNOW. But we lucked out and the sun shone all day long. The stylist came right to my BFF’s house and we had hair and makeup done. I love to be pampered so I was really psyched for this. My friends dress was amazing. It looked like it was custom designed for her. She had a long cathedral veil that skimmed the floor. She looked beautiful. The day continued on without a hitch. The limo was on time, the ceremony went smooth and the reception was a party to meet all parties, complete with a five piece Italian band and chocolate cordial cups. My speech was well received and I only got choked up once. But I took a deep breath and continued on – even though I couldn’t look at the bride the whole time I was talking. Haha!
On Monday, we took the day to relax. First, the newlyweds invited any out of town family and guests to their home for a nice lunch. My parents who were also a part of the celebration also attended and we spent the rest of the day at the near by outlet mall, where of course, I found some killer deals.
This weekend was definitely what I needed and I told my husband already, I am ready to go back. I think its always important to celebrate with the ones you love and to not lose touch of what really matters. Today I saw a cute wall decoration that said, “Don’t get too busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” After the summer we’ve had and the weekend past, this is definitely the truth. A job is a job but your life is what is really important.