Holiday Blog Challenge: Days 1 &2

Hello There!

   I'm back from the holiday vacation, and yesterday, well lets just say Monday was Monday and I don't have to have class with Bogue again and I only have two more classes to attend this week. With that being said head over to Brunch with Amber and link up with this Holiday Challenge! 

{Day 1} Favorite Gift Received

I think I am the WORST at remembering what I get from people but I'd have to say that at the top of the list is the Barbie Jeep I got when I was five. I rode that thing up and down our street and in my driveway, and just thought I was princess of the road. Thanks Mom and Dad, I have great childhood memories!

{Day 2} Favorite Tradition (New or Old)

My Mom and Dad have been making us Advent Boxes since I was three. (I've written about them before) It started in an egg carton, and I got a small present the twelve days leading up to Christmas. My father, as I'm now calling him with wedding to dos, Diva Dang, decided it should be bigger and better so being the bartender that he is brought home a beer box. With twenty four slots, we get a present every day from December 1st through December 24th. My Mom STILL makes these for me, and I don't know if she ever will stop. I have made Bran one every year since we started dating and this year is no exception. The neat thing about the boxes is that a local business woman in South Carolina came along and wanted to patent the boxes! My parents don't have the time or money to invest but if they ever really take off we get a percentage of each box. Check out this website, it's so weird to think something that was once just a family tradition has turned into a semi-manufactured item others can buy and enjoy. Let me know your thoughts, and we have quite a few laying around the house so let me know if you'd like one!

Here are the home made ones

And here is the website and an example of the ones you all can buy! 

Guest Post!

BrandontheFiance's Christmas List
Hope this whole guest blogging thing ends successfully! And by successfully I mean everyone who reads this doesn't stop following, and that I get some of this stuff.

Weightlifting shoes help you keep your weight on your heels, which helps you lift more weight. More weight = more fun.

I, like Becki, love new tennis shoes. The more I have the less they have to be "just gym shoes." Both on clearance so act now!

I'm kind of addicted to CrossFit, and I hate to run so these shirts apply to my life.

There's just not much better than Fenway Park.

Need a thin case for my 13" Mac to keep it safe traveling to the lab every day.

Classes will eventually end and I'll need something to do when Becki isn't around. The picture is for Forza Motorsports 4, which is currently on sale, but 3 or a previously owned copy would work :)

To go along with these possibilities I can always use the staples: Socks, Stafford white t-shirts, t-shirt fabric sheets (light brown?), and a subscription to ESPN the Magazine sent to Chapel Hill.

Weekend Words

Welp, we survived our first big family as an engaged couple and are about to head out to do some Christmas shopping. It has been amazing to see him for longer than two days, and while our families are crazy and wild I couldn't' ask for anything better. I'll be back on the blog wagon soonish but until then go link up here!

Love to all! 

Target Tuesday and some Random Thoughts

Before I link up with Tara at Fabulous but Evil I wanted to thank everyone who has joined and commented in the past few days. I've really been trying to get my followers up to 50 by the end of the year and I might just do it! I'm not very tech savy so I'm not sure how to make a button and all that good stuff but you all seem to think things are decent the way they are =) So thank you!

On another side note, just finished page 21 of my last paper for the semester. It felt real good! The fiance and I will be on our way to Charlotte to see his family for a few days, and then it's off to the mountains for us. I'm hoping to see my Maid Of Honor while I'm down there and maybe even get some Black Friday shopping done! Keep an eye out for Bran's guest post because I know he's just oh so eager to get his Christmas List out here for all to see ;)

Keep an eye out for the Fabulous Holiday Blog Challenge  with Neely and Amber. It started December 1st, and I'm so excited! I wish I would have had more time to participate in an ornament swap.

Today I'm lovin' the accessories arena 

This red would be pretty for a Christmas outfit =)

I keep seeing these infinity scarfs. I think I'd like them! The teal one looks so bright and fun!

Can't go wrong with Zebra. 

I'm not sure what it is about driving gloves, but I've wanted a pair since I went and visited a friend in Kentucky. 

Tell me this wouldn't be classy with a hint of fabulous with a monogram on it ;) 

Go over and link on up. I promise you won't be disappointed! 

Sometimes and Always

As we anxiously await for Brandon to have enough time to post, I thought it would be fun to do this that I saw here at Mackey Madness. I think she should do a link-up. I know I'd join.

Sometimes: I think I'll get coffee from Starbucks. But then if I do I take one sip and throw it away.
Always: Stick to the green tea! It's much tastier and possibly even better for me =)

Sometimes: I wish that I could quit school and move to Chapel Hill already
Always: I will finish my Masters. I will, I will, I will.

Sometimes: I wish we did a price limit on gifts
Always: It's just way more fun to see everyones faces when they open gifts that you spent time and money picking out. It's all worth it then

Sometimes: I wish that I could lock my computer to not allow me on blogger, facebook or pintrest.
Always: I somehow end up here (as I am posting now) instead of finishing the task at hand


Sometimes: I think that I'll be able to just go the mall and spend money like it's water
Always: I get there ready to spend and can't find a darn thing that I want or like! So annoying!

Sometimes: I believe that I'll be comfortable in the kitchen with all of Bran's family.
Always: I chicken out, and want to sit down on the floor and throw a temper tantrum that I will never be a good cook like them. I don't actually do it, but darn it I think about it. I'm sure I'm setting myself up for failure again this year. Oh well, this is what I'm bringing. It looks pretty fool proof.

Sometimes: I think about running a half or even a full marathon

Always: I realize that I don't enjoy running enough and that's why I do 4-5 miles once or twice a week and not a crazy amount every day.

(and I just love dessert)

Happy Monday! 

Guesssss Who's Coming

Hello there, I'm now in day numero uno of my fabulous vacation that is Turkey Break! So while I'm working on papers (and trying to make my own Christmas List) I asked and begged a little for Bran to get on her and post what he wants for Christmas. Mostly for the benefit of his family but obviously I will be excited and probably humored at what he posts. I don't think it's manly to have a blog, but I know that I would LOOOVE for him to have one. Stay tuned because he's currently not doing his bioanalytical doodad insert long big word here papers that he should be and trying to figure out what he wants for Christmas.

Here's the good lookin' fellow to keep us amused until further notified

Thursday Thoughts

Do you ever feel like the busier you are, the more you actually get done? My semester is winding down and I don't have as many assignments, meaning that I don't have as much motivation to get things done really early... So here I am blogging and wishing that I hadn't missed Target Tuesday and Pintrest Wednesday. Actually I think I may go ahead and do Pintrest Wednesday...

So instead of working on my 25 page paper before the Thanksgiving Holipalooza begins Friday, I'm going to pin and blog.

'Nuff said ;)

Please please please! 

The engagment photos are quickly approaching...

Yeah! If only Bran drank...

I could continue procrastinating with a nap...

Made me think of my Sigma Sisters

I don't know how this works exactly, but I'd say this is a great way of handling when life gives you lemons!

Have a good Thursday. Crazy tales from the 9 day vacation away from Knoxville to come soon. We begin with a quick day spent at home to see the twins in Peter Pan, (this is Ryan as an Indian) 

and then off to my very first wedding! I'm sure I'll have lots to recap, hopefully on Sunday when I'm in Chapel Hill with the Hunny.

xoxo

Dear...

I've seen this a few places so I thought I'd put it out there, and join in what looks like fun.


Dear Santa Baby,
   May I please have Toms size 8, some new jeans (that dont' show off my extra high butt), and possibly a monogram I-Phone case? Please and thank you. 


Love, 
  The best-behaved girl around


Dear Girl who is late to your conduct appointment,
   Do you think all I do all day is sit around and wait to talk to you about your poor choices in places to consume alcoholic beverages? You are mistaken. Hurry up and get here so my Monday can move forward.


Love, 
   Annoyed Assistant Hall Director


Dear cloudy 65 degrees weather,
   I enjoyd running in you this morning, but I won't enjoy walking to class in you if you decide to drop water from your clouds. Please keep that in mind.
Love, 
   Girl who hates wet pants


Dear Next Week,
   Would you hurry up and get here? I miss my fiance and my family. I am looking forward to the massive amount of food and time spent doing very little but smiling and talking and being happy. Oh and probably shopping =)
Love, 
   Girl who hates Mondays


Dear Mel the Wedding Planner,
  You did absolute magic on the wedding prices and I am thrilled beyond thrilled. Dad may think we can keep going lower but I can't believe you managed to take 1500 dollars off. That's magic in my book.


Love,
    Girl who gets to have the wedding of her dreams, at a dreamy price




Hey, that was pretty fun! Maybe someone should start a link up of this kinda thing! It didn't take up nearly enough of my Monday though, so now I guess it's back to work. Have a great day. 
xoxo

It was a good weekend

One of the better ones I've had actually in Knoxville. One of my bridesmaids and good friends who is also in Grad school at Appalachian State, came to visit me. It was a good old fashion girls weekend, complete with bridesmaid shopping, eating bad for you foods, crafting, and wine. It was really late nights, and kinda early mornings. It was really what I needed.

I ordered my wedding dress! Now you may be saying, why so early? It takes quite some time for it to arrive AND we ordered a size that may or may not work so I wanted to make sure there was PLENTY-O time for this baby to be absolutely perfect =) I've also been learning that things take longer than you think.

Did you know save the dates should go out 8-10 months before the wedding, since ours will be a destination wedding? Sheesh, there bumped my time line. Most days I am quite thankful that I have had a long long engagment. Between school and life things always get in the way.

I've introduced quite a few people in the last week to Pintrest. Is it a regional kind of thing? It's all the rage here, and has been since around August I believe! There have been many a rainy day or procrastinating paper that I've been very glad to have a Pintrest!

I can't believe it's only a month until I'm officially on Christmas Break and that I'm almost done with my first semester of Grad School. It's been wonderful and complicated really slow but extremely fast all rolled into one. I saw this quote today and it made me laugh a little.

"I can sum up all I know about life in three words; it goes on."
<3

It's Okay, Thursday.

I'm linking up with A Complete Waste of Makeup, so head over there and link up too!

• It's okay that I have been linking up a TON and can't seem to find time to create my own ideas so I just borrow what's currently going on.
• It's okay that I heard my alarm, thought I pressed snooze and somehow turned it off and didn't make it to the gym. 

• It's okay that I can't seem to get motivated on a huge paper, I keep reading articles but can't bring myself to open word and begin it.
• It's okay that this weekend one of my bffls is coming into town and we already have plans to drink wine and work on papers. We are also doing wedding things... eek! So excited =) 

"Tie the Knot"

• It's okay that I don't plan on doing the reading for tonight's class, and that I'm excited for cleaning and getting my little apartment ready for Emily to come. 
• It's okay that I'm little scared for my dermatologist appointment tomorrow afternoon. I am totally okay with my little friends being removed, but I just don't really want to hurt (or scar)! 
• It's okay that I really want to go shopping and but not for other people, for myself. Gah but I know that Christmas is just around the corner so alas I will be shopping for others this weekend. 

Mmm Pintresting

Wednesdays are probably one of my favorite days. It means that we are halfway through the week AND that I get to link up with The Vintage Apple for Oh, How Pinteresting. I'm also pumped because my big presentation is over and done and my life can now be resume normalcy, and maybe even be a little mellow. Head on over there and link up!

Go Big Orange! 

This is oh so crafty, and a GREAT way to keep up with all the birthdays in my life! 

Only 10 days til I see my hunny for a WHOLE week! 

Have a happy Wednesday!