i don't think it's swine flu, but...

i woke up with a sore throat tuesday morning. i guess it's about that time for the annual change of season yuck. but, really...the week before thanksgiving? somebody give a girl a break : )

anybody want to volunteer to work for me today so i can curl up in these darling "traveling circus loungers" (courtesy of anthro, of course),

and read this,

with these on my feet...

and hot tea in my hands. i think that'd show this sore throat who's boss. yep.

i think i'm gonna like it here.

forgive me, little blog and my small, but precious readership, for neglecting to update over the past week.

i'm still new at this, remember? : )

things at anthro are starting to look a lot like the holiday season and i couldn't be more excited about it! it's a magical winter wonderland, the air filled with scents of sweet pine and pumpkin spice, tables and racks donned with beautiful clothing and the most precious holiday trim perfectly placed throughout the store. can you believe that thanksgiving is next week?! ay yi yi...black friday here you come...

i've had my hands in a few crafts over the past few days as i prepare for my darling holiday team at anthro and help plan a little christmas shower for my dear claire who will be wed to justin in april. i'm really excited about this sweet get together and the invitations i'm working on! (i'll be sure to post a picture after claire receives hers.)

there's a lot to look forward to over the coming weeks: plans to spend time with dear friends, thanksgiving, baked goods, the holiday season in retail, baked goods, gift giving, baked goods, family, moving into my new place!...the list could go on and on...oh yeah, did i mention baked goods? : )

i broke bread with lauren (soon-to-be-roommate) and raechel (soon-to-be-married) tonight. we laughed so hard i felt weak. sweet friends. really. what a blessing. as a child i had dreams of starring in "Annie" and on my way home felt like i understood that sweet, little, curly red-headed dollface. i wanted to break out into song and dance just like this. i guess that dream never really faded, huh?

homecoming...x 2.

the weekend was one of the best. refreshing, indeed. got to laugh with some of my faves in athens for UGA's homecoming and celebrate with OL 08 darryl being crowned 2009 homecoming king. left the weekend with a grateful heart for the precious friends in my life. and for the four years i was able to spend in athens. but i also left confident of where i am right now, looking forward to coming back to charlotte.

perhaps it was out of anticipation for the AG event and fashion show we had at anthro this morning. i sported two different looks during my modeling debut (okay, so it wasn't that big of a deal but a 5" 3' girl can dream, right?) and even won a pair of AG denim! this company is legit, y'all. check it out.

more pics to come, but here is a pic of us before we "derobbed" and revealed our outfits. it was so fun! i love that work includes fashion shows, quality fabrics, companies that take care of their employees, fun girls and door prizes. : )

a few of the dolls i get to work with everyday : )

blog title.

the sweet Truth that christy nockels has to share in this little talk has been pretty valuable in a few different stages of my life. this week has been no different. bring it, sister.

"use iodized salt to ward of zombies, witches and old boyfriends."

how much do I miss being any elementary school student today! halloween eve on a friday...that's like every child's dream! remember how fun the homeroom halloween party was? and that today children got to go home for a whole weekend of halloween festivities. what fun! i can only hope that homes are filled with halloween eve traditions and anxious children just itching to sport their costumes tomorrow night.

today's been a great day for this big kid too:

slept late. cooked breakfast. a new favorite thing to do. drove over to the sweet place on bay street and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned! visited harris teeter to pick up a few items for some baked goods. whipped up the cutest owl cupcakes you've ever seen! washed clothes. cleaned my room and bathroom. washed sheets. baked pumpkin bread for tomorrow's neighborhood halloween party. now, my orange dress is neatly laid out to wear to work tomorrow, pumpkin bread is baking in the oven, my sheets are in the dryer and i'm watching hocus pocus. you can just call me martha stewart...or june cleaver... : )

i told you they were cute! happy halloween, little owls! : )

hold your horses, rite aid.

last night i went to rite aid in search of brach's pumpkin candy corn things only to find that the pumpkins were now on clearance and christmas decorations had taken their place on the display.

there are a couple of things i found wrong with this picture:

1. halloween is saturday. pumpkins should still be the priority, people!

2. thanksgiving comes before christmas! you think these people's calendars got out of order this year? i sure hope so. that'd be the only excuse.

nonetheless, if you're looking to start picking out the perfect christmas card, maybe you should choose this one. now that's a good lookin family right there. : )

(p.s. photo: circa 2007 at T and Sissy's rehearsal dinner. maybe i look like a baby? and maybe i covet how tan i am here? alsoooo, look how creepily alike my mom and i look...yikes!)

familiarity.

It was a sweet weekend filled with a lot of familiarity. I must admit that it was good to rest from all of the change and uncertainty of my new life in Charlotte. (Not that they are bad changes. I'm learning to love them. : ) )

3 days. 3 cities. Clarkesville. Athens. Columbia.

The familiarity of the I-85 drive to the Peach State and honking the horn as I crossed over state lines.

The familiarity of the Bluster fam and the warmth that fills their home.

And laughing with Mere. Oh, what a joy she is.

And exchanging a firm handshake with Coach Ak.

The familiarity of Athens in the fall.

The yellow gingko tree on University Drive.

The smell of football season in the air.

Jittery Joes in my hand.

The intersection of College and Broad. And the arch.

The familiarity of sweet friends.

And my Dripolator mug in their cupboard.

And not having to worry about being a bad bed partner or hogging the covers b/c you've shared a bed with them so many times it doesn't matter anymore.

The familiarity of the drive between Athens and Columbia.

And driving into my childhood hometown.

And being greeted by my family. Who know me.

And who love me.

And celebrating Mom's 90th birthday.

And her pulling me aside and holding my hand, telling me how proud she is of me and how much like Pop I am.

And looking at photo albums, laughing with T and telling his sweet wife about our childhood.

And him pulling out a beanie baby he bought me Friday because I used to love them. I squealed.

And now, the developing familiarity of Sunday nights in Charlotte.

Preparing for the work week at a place I really love.

And making plans to spend time with sweet new friends in the coming days.

And dreams of home projects for the new place on Bay Street. (Stay tuned!)

And committing to exploring, loving and learning this new city. (Yikes. When did that attitude shift happen?! : ) )

"Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces,

calling out the best of who we are." -Sara Groves