Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

This morning's bundt pan success. Hank's sisters gifted me the bundt pan from our registry this Christmas. I can't wait to have a slice of this tonight at the NYE party!

You can find the recipe here. It will rock your world - whether you like chocolate or not... True story.

Happy New Year... New Year = Renewed & Improved YOU! Raise the bar in 2011!

Gingerbread House - Birthday Party Style

Hank is turning 25 on January 1 - He's a New Year's BABY! We started off his birthday week by creating this birthday themed gingerbread house. It's what you do when you forget to make it in time for Christmas ; )



Also, here's a picture we break out of Hank every year :



Happy Birthday Week, Hank!

Winter Wonderland

Backyard.



My dad.



Me & Hank.



A snowball to the back of the head, walking along the woods and water, a snowman built and a lovely drive all to celebrate the arrival of this too pretty snow.

Smile Friday (It's my work week Friday!)

Pure flying excitement.

Christmas is...

Putting this year's ornament (from my parents) on the tree on Christmas Eve for Hank and my "big event" this year... Getting engaged! Then opening relative gifts : )

A reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'

Getting ready to head to candlelight service with both sides of the future families!

Cookies for Santa made from a recipe my mom has had since home ec in high school (and decorated by dad)!

The excitement of Christmas morning and the hopes that it will last just a little bit longer this year.

Opening presents.

Playing with presents.

Time with family and friends.

Being thankful and savoring these precious moments.

My Current Jam

Knee deep in the water somewhere
Got the blue sky breeze blowin' wind through my hair
Only worry in the world
Is the tide gonna reach my chair
Sunrise, there's a fire in the sky
Never been so happy
Never felt so high
And I think I might have found me my own kind of paradise

Knee Deep by Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett

Mmm... Spicy!

It's that time again! Make sure to sign-up to try Chic-fil-a's spiciness... Biscuit style this time.



Today is the first day to make a reservation for you to try this free the week of January 3-8, 2011... getspicychicken.com. You should pick up the Chic-fil-a calendar while you are there trying. It includes over $30 worth of free coupons for only $6. The coupons this year are the best... All free with no purchases necessary! Thank you Santa for bringing one to me.

Who needs a cooler?

Snow day!!

Smile... It's almost Christmas!

Yule Log

One thing I wish I had is a fireplace. I think they are exceptionally romantic and most of all cozy. Time Warner Cable provided this year - maintenance free!

HD Showcase on Demand (channel 1042 in my market and maybe yours too) has the HD Yule Log. It crackles and plays instrumental Christmas music... It's amazing!! You really can have it all - Sometimes it just takes a little improvisation!

A Bestie Christmas

I met May at CTOPS (Carolina's first-year orientation) the summer before college. We were in the same orientation group, so naturally, it was love at first sight (just like Hank and I!). During orientation, we traded wallets of our senior-year pictures, because well, we both brought them because we thought it was the cool thing to do. We were in rocks for jocks (geology) together first semester, and by second semester, we were inseparable.

On a relevant note, my freshman year roommate let me know she would be living off campus our sophomore year. This was sad because I knew I wanted to stay on campus. I had no clue what I was to do. Then all of the stars aligned: One day I randomly instant messaged May and asked, "do you know anyone who is looking for a roommate for next year?" She replied, "MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" ... Just like that (true story). I was so thankful - we both had no clue the other was even searching.

We laugh now because looking back, every day in our dorm room was just like Christmas. So naturally, when Christmas time comes around, we are sure to do it up big, Andrea and May style. Here we are celebrating our first Christmas back in 2005:

Here we are celebrating our sixth Christmas this past weekend:

Here is every Christmas in between:

We have a signature pose we break out each time we get together as well. Of course we have the same 'best side' so we always fight over who gets it (May got it here):

I love traditions, and A Bestie Christmas and a bestie pose are two of my favorites.

Donation Surprise

Some people may have a donation to a cause on their Christmas list this year. A fun way to present this to them is to turn the contribution you made on their behalf into a wine label. This way they will be a bit surprised when they are pulling their gift out of a wine bag.

It's easy to do, just size up a piece of paper and decorate it. Include the transaction receipt on the back similar to how ingredients are presented. This allows your recipient to have their cake and eat it too!

Tacky Christmas

... I won!!!!



Last night I was coming down the steps, and I said Hank before you see me on a scale of 1 to 10 how tacky do you think I will be? He said a three. Then once he saw me he said ohhh... A thirteen!!!! I was tacky enough to win our competition today, and I received this lovely leg lamp bobblehead as my trophy. So excited! Celebrating at a Cookie Exchange tonight!!

P.S. My pet in my bag may have sang carols, danced and moved his mouth! So realistic ; )

Secret Success

I love everything from my Secret Santa this year. They truly did an impressive job, and I think I have an idea of exactly who it is (they may have accidentally left a clue). I will at least be able to guess them in two or three I think!

We play for three days at $3-$5 per day, and today ended with this Old Well piece on the left (that matches one of South Building I have) and a bar of Parisian soap with a sparkly Eiffel Tower on its packaging. Too cute, Secret Santa!

A Fashionista Christmas

This year we are having holiday 'Offices on Parade.' Here are my office decorations to theme of, A Fashionista Christmas.

My snowman welcomes you:

A tree with diamonds surrounded by some lovely ladies.

In the tree there are different items from the song, Santa Baby... checks, duplex, a blue convertible too... light blue, a deed to a platinum mine, and a yacht, because really that's not a lot ; ) I'll have the song Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt playing on repeat once the parade begins.

My holiday treats are fashionista cookies. There are dresses, tiaras, hats and pumps!

There are fashionista snowflakes too... A tunic and heart socks! There is also a sweater and pants (not pictured).

Merry Fashionista Christmas!

SS Day Two

My Secret Santa has hit a home run with me so far this year! Today I received peppermint bark and Lilly Pulitzer Guest Towels.

Carol of the Bells - Favorite Line

Hark! how the bells, sweet silver bells

All seem to say, throw cares away.

In the Spirit of Giving

... I gave blood today!

My sticker says... "Be nice to me. I gave blood today."

I gave in 5.5 minutes, but my lady said she had someone give in 3.5 once so that's my new goal. Last time, which was my first time giving, it took me seven minutes. Here's to saving lives... Quickly!

SS Has Begun

Secret Santa at work has begun! Some coworkers go crazy by even decorating their recipient's office space like so:

Oh la la. I received some Southern Parisian style today!

Run, Run, Run

I feel infinitely more bad-a when running in Under Armour.

Smile Friday

I've been eating bananas* for breakfast all week edition.

*Plus a banana and banana flavored yogurt in one sitting.

Book Clutches

They look like books, but they are clutches. Looking smart and sophisticated really has reached a whole new level.

via kate spade

Get Lit - Holiday Style

December Book Club was so much fun! It even involved an impromptu game of Catch Phrase. During Catch Phrase someone said, "It's a vegetable that is green," and someone yelled out, "Carrot!"

Here I am with my tablescape:

The menu included chicken salad with croissants, bacon wrapped water chestnuts, beer swiss fondue with bread and apples, veggies with dip, black bean and corn salsa with chips, hummus with pitas, deviled eggs, a cheese ball with crackers, cucumber salad, candies, cookies and petit fours.

I sprinkled cover printouts of the books we read throughout the year on the tables. We had lots of wine and a pear cider spiked with rum. The first person to say cheers received an edible peppermint shot glass, and whoever found the Christmas napkin under their seat received a Lolita martini ornament.

Everyone toured the house, and the most fun of all (and why we were all there), was to each read our favorite children's Christmas book. We heard Madeline's Christmas, Twas the Night Before Christmas to a cajun style Twas the Night Before Christmas and everything in between. I was introduced to The Twelve Days of Christmas in North Carolina, and it really was a cute one - definitely on my list of Christmas books to own. I had a blast hosting this event!

Decorations are up, up, up!

Well, they've been up since November, but they are on here now!

Avenue Q

Here we are waiting in line for our Broadway show tickets -

We went to see Avenue Q!

It was far different from anything I have ever seen... And it was hilarious! Just what I was in the mood for that night.