2013

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Hope you all made it through the Christmas holiday and are now starting to gear up for the new year. I am pretty excited about the upcoming year. It's a new feeling to me. I typically look at New Years Day as just another day; however, I'm really excited about next Tuesday and the new year it brings. There's not a particular reason for my excitement, I'm just looking forward to the start of a new start. A fresh start, a clean slate, and a new beginning. 

I've had a couple days away from work, which I have to admit, has been refreshing (and awesome, and I miss my free time and sleeping in - and I could definitely get used to it). Sometimes we need a break and I was due for one. I was able to spend quality time with Chris, my family, and my other family (my in-laws). Tomorrow I'm back to the grind and I'll be working the next eight days straight. Not ideal, but it's manageable given this nice break Ive had. 

Hope you all enjoy the last few days of 2012 and welcome 2013 with open arms! 

I'll see y'all next year! 

Merry Christmas

I wanted to pop in (I know, I know - it's been a while) and tell you all Merry Christmas! 

At out church, the pastor is currently doing a series on "How I Met Jesus" - recounting how different people came to meet Jesus. Yesterday the message was focusing on how the Shepherds and Angels met Him. During the message, there was one verse that really captivated the meaning we celebrate this time of year and what Christmas is all about - Luke 2: 8-14. It was printed out in our outline, but he played this clip below instead of reading the verse out loud. 

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

In the hustle and bustle of buying and wrapping presents, cooking sweets, and traveling house to house to eat meals with all of the family, be sure to take some time and dwell on why we celebrate this time of year. It's not Santa, gifts, or family - it's Jesus. 

Merry Christmas!

Song of the Week: Trouble

I think in general, people either love or hate Taylor Swift. I'm just going to keep it real, I'm a big Taylor Swift fan. Do I think her vocals are the best around? No. But I do think she has an amazing talent and creativity for writing songs and making music - I like that she's consistent with her work, but is moving in her own direction. Plus, I've seen a few documentaries and interviews with her and she seems fun. Definitely on my top 10 list of people I'd like to spend a day with (quit judging me). 

I bought her new cd this weekend. I'm not sure how I feel about sharing that with the world (since I am a professional woman in her late 20's), but I've wanted it for a while and I forgot to put it on my Christmas list. 

I'm currently obsessing over this song (and performance). It's a little different than her usual acoustic ballad, but there's still an underlying love story (more of a tug-of-war) and it's been in my head since the AMA's. Enjoy!

J Crew Inspired

sweater: Target, pants: GAP, shoes: Urban Outfitters

I put this outfit together and immediately felt like I stepped out of a Spring J Crew catalog - and I love it. We've all seen this pin, so I made sure to drop into all the larger stores in our town. No biggie, I needed to shop around anyway. So while some of you are all bundled up in your gloves and parkas, I'm over here prancing around like a Spring-Edition, J Crew girl.

A Dress for the Season

{dress: c/o Karen Kane, necklace: Versona, clutch: vintage, heels: Belk}

The holiday season is upon us. For many that means events, parties, and get-togethers for the next few weeks. If you're like me, the first thing I want to do is run out and get a new dress and/or outfit for each occasion. My suggesting is investing in quality pieces that are versatile. 

I'm in love with the dress above because it's so easy to dress up with a fancy, statement necklace and heels, but I also could have put on a pair of my favorite black flats and a leather jacket and gone for a ladies' brunch. This little number will definitely be seeing its way through the season!