See Ya November

The "Holiday Season" has arrived and is officially in full swing. I feel like this time of year rolls around, I blink then it is January 10th and it is all over.

The holidays always sneak up and then they go by so quickly. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love them but I would also be lying if I said that they weren't hard and that is just the truth. It is hard not having my Mom here, hard having my Dad 1,500 miles away, and this is the first year since our Mimi passed away. It just isn't the same but we make the most of it and it is typically still pretty wonderful. My Dad is actually coming to Richmond the 12th through the 19th of December and then I'll head home with him. I'll stay in Houston until January 4th and then head back to reality.

It will be nice to get home for a little while, I haven't been to Houston since last Christmas actually. With graduation activities, my trip to Ireland, and adult life I didn't get to make my typical summertime trip so it will be a nice little escape plus I always look forward to the warmer weather.

We plan on making a little trip to Waco while I'm home, I've actually never been and it is only around 2 hours NW of Houston. My family is a little obsessed with the show Fixer Upper along with Chip & Joanna Gaines. My Dad and I are going to make a day trip to the infamous silos and I'm pretty excited even thought I don't think my Dad feels the exact same way. 

I actually just finished their book, The Magnolia Story and it was a really good read! Definitely recommend if you watch their show. 

@joannagaines instagram

Nova. 

Oh how I love you and hate you at the exact same time. I've been going up to Tysons Corner for work on occasions recently as my team actually sits up there. If you know me well then you know I have the patience of a three year old, which is around 0. A trip that should take me 2 hours took me 4 and a half last trip, I might have decided to go to Nordstrom Rack instead of fighting it.

End of rant. I'm very thankful to have a job that I love with even better people. 

I've been pretty nostalgic recently as so many amazing things have been going on at Longwood. 

Good gosh I miss my time there. To think that this was a year ago blows my mind.  Soak it up seniors, after Christmas it is 80 mph to graduation and there is no stopping.

Holly Spree. 

Townley and I went to this fundraising yet wonderful even that Saint Gertrude puts on every year right before the holidays. I think that this was the 3rd or 4th year of doing it and it gets larger each year, there were over 40 vendors last night. 

The put tarps down in our gym and fill it with goodies, they have a pre-sale with a bar on Friday and then it is open on Saturday to the general public. I'm embarrassed to say that I had never been before but it didn't disappoint, it was great to see some people that I honestly had seen since I graduated, lots of familiar faces. Warmed my heart and it felt like I had never left, a very special place.

It was a really fun evening with one of my favorite people. 

Ashley Truluck. You read this on occasions, I think?

This was from forever ago but I found it when I switched phones. You never fail to make me laugh, everyone needs that friend that tells it like it is even when you don't want to hear it.

Speaking of Truluck, I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful/amazing/generous person in my life. You are amazing.

I actually spent Thanksgiving with Ashley and her family, who are equally as amazing. Thank you for welcoming me to your home (as always), treating my like one of your own (which I've decided I am), and loving me for who I am. You guys are the very best and I'm very thankful for you all!

And last but certainly not least Happy Birthday to my favorite person ever, my Aunt Peg!

You are amazing and I hope that you know how much I respect you. You've taught me many things in this world; that I am independent and can do whatever I set my mind to without the help of anyone else, to stop and enjoy the little things in life, and that every bad day is bad better with a latte.

I love you more than you know and I hope that you have had a wonderful day!

xo

making wine great again

This week was crappy and that is saying it in the most polite way possible. 

I think everyone was shocked with the results of our election, myself included. I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel a little naive as I honestly never thought that this outcome was a possibility but I also suppose things like that are what make our country so different. I took a few days to be sad, angry, and just plain pissed off but I've also tried my very best to be respectful and to move forward. So many people kept asking each other "what are we doing to do?". Well, you wake up, you get your coffee, and you go to work. That is just what we do, we are on this journey and we are on it together. It isn't red, it isn't blue, it isn't Republican, it isn't Democrat. We are Americans and for that I am very proud.

 _________

I had this past Friday off of work due to Veteran's Day and got most of my weekend to-do list items such as never ending laundry crossed off before Saturday arrived. 

After some spur of the moment decisions and gorgeous weather Natalie and I ended up in the car Saturday morning on 64 headed to Charlottesville. We ended up meeting Debbie and my favorite preggo, Lauren for Bodo's before we let Debbie show us around her town. 

We ended up at Trump Winery. 

I'm not necessarily proud BUT it was absolutely gorgeous. Plain and simple, this is God's country and that view is killer, I don't care who you voted for. 

Long story short, he has good wine and I don't even like wine. 

typical

But. 

Of course I had to get a little jab in. 

Cheers to Monday!

xo

Baby Washington & Carter's Mountain

I feel like I say this every single time I sit down to write a post but man does time fly. 

I literally cannot believe it is November 9th, where has 2016 gone?? 

Fall finally made it's arrival around here, we were still having days with 80 degree temperatures up until last week. I'm not really one to complain as winter and freezing temperatures just aren't my thing but I do love fall, sweaters, and a good cozy blanket. I've been traveling up to northern Virginia recently for work and I took the long way home last week for one of my favorite roads this time of year. 

I'm blonde now, not really.

Well this happened last week too. I was in desperate need of a haircut and took somewhat of a last minute plunge while I was in the chair. 

I've never ever colored my hair before in my entire life but I was ready for a little change. It has taken a little getting used to but I'm actually really liking it.

 

I headed to Charlottesville this past weekend and is was an amazing and much needed trip/re-charge.

Some of my very favorite people, Mario & Lauren are expecting a beautiful baby girl this January! We finally got the chance to spoil baby Quinn and Momma to be this weekend. 

Stephanie, our sorority sister and Lauren's soon to be sister-in-law and her very own Momma did an AMAZING job with Lauren's shower. It was perfect and very much a reflection of who she is, no detail was left undone and I think I can speak for everyone and say that we all had a blast. 

It was great to get to catch up with people that I do not get to see nearly often enough while celebrating my favorite baby girl!!

Stephanie, Katherine, and I stayed in Charlottesville for the rest of the weekend. As always it was so good to catch up, it is so hard to believe that just a little over a year ago we were all at Lauren's wedding. 

We ended up reliving Lauren's rehearsal dinner and heading back to our favorite place. No more words are needed, Guadalajara probably doesn't love us.

We woke up early Sunday morning, thank you daylight savings time and headed to Carter's Mountain which is around 5 minutes from Lauren's house. CM and always a must do fall activity if you ask me, I've gone at least once for years. The weather was perfect and it was an absolutely gorgeous day, we got there right as they opened and didn't have to wait for anything. 

It is a little past apple picking season but they had plenty to choose from that were already picked. I tend to stick to the apple cider and the donuts.

These pictures make my heart SO happy. I love these girls more than I can explain and my heart is so full. 

We might have drank at 9:00 a.m, this is a judgement free zone. 

Bold Rock's new Blood Orange, go try it!

I'm as sick of hearing people bitch about this election as you are, trust me. I'm also extremely honored that I was able to be apart of it. I'm honored to be an American and I'm honored to have had the opportunity to vote for a woman for the first time in history.

I was raised in an extremely conservative family and my morals/values typically align just right with the Republican party but things were a little different for me than they were in 2012. With that being said it didn't necessarily pan out the way many wanted but I think it is so important to remember we are not what party we align with, we are not red or blue, at the end of the day we are Americans. 

So think twice before you post a nasty comment on someone's social media, being kind doesn't cost a damn thing.

Happy Founder's Day to my very dear Sigma Kappa. 

Some of my very favorite memories, people, and accomplishments from college revolve around this wonderful organization. It truly is so much more than wearing your letters on Wednesday and your jumper on a Thursday. It is also so much more than 4 years, it is a bond for life. 

I sure hope that Ida, Elizabeth, Louise, Francis, & Mary had as much fun as we did.

xo