i n • p u r s u i t

It's actually beginning to FEEL a bit like Christmas as well! Yesterday, I saw frozen precipitation that lasted for a whole 30 seconds. Tonight's low is 32º. You might think that's nothing, but the week of Thanksgiving? It was shorts and t-shirts here in SC! I decorated my tree the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Kristy & Kyle came over and hung out. Kristy & Mike made turkey soup while I decorated the trees (we have one little one and one regular one.) We also got a beautiful real  wreath. Oh, and Bella's been running around in her "Santa's Little Yelper" t-shirt. My balsam & cedar candle is lit up and making the whole place smell like Christmas too. Now, if we could only get ANOTHER white Christmas... ;)

Since I forgot to post a music video yesterday, I guess that makes this Music Tuesday. Anyway, saw the Muppets this weekend. Makes me want to watch reruns of the Muppet Show and old Muppet movies. When you're done with that, check out the Muppets' version of Bohemian Rhapsody .

The pain in my throat woke me up in the middle of the night, two nights ago. I was wondering if I didn't have strep and grabbed my phone to call my boss to ask her advice. Turns out L had a pretty bad sore throat too and was going to be swabbed to check for strep. So, I tagged along. Two positives. So, L and I were streppy together. And you know, with bosses like mine, working when you'd rather be home isn't so bad. It was a lot like I was at home sick. Tea. Soup. Lying on the couch watching Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. Janelle swabbed me at her work. Saved me the $100 the minute clinic would have charged me for an exam and a lab. L hung out at a (fellow streppy) friend's house almost all day and a neighbor volunteered to bring A home from school. (Due, I think, to Janelle calling them and giving them the lowdown.) Made my day much easier. Jeff brought D home from preschool and then worked from home so I could rest in the guest room. While I was at w...

Dealing with unmet expectations is basically the story of my adult life. That's a nice way of saying that I've been known to throw temper tantrums when life doesn't go my way. Sad. Pathetic. True. I'm learning to call it what it is. However, these tantrums are getting fewer and further between. I'm getting better at trusting in God's plan for my life. Trusting that He knows what is going on. But then, suddenly, another seemingly simple expectation is unmet and I'm struggling all over again. What am I talking about? See, I had this plan (oh, and doesn't it always start out this way...) that when Mike and I had been married for around 2 years and 9 months, we'd have a baby. My plan changed a little. By that, I mean that my birth control prescription expired and paying $70/month for it was getting rather expensive. We're not anti-baby, so we went with it.  At which time, of course, my brain shifted gears to BABIES!!! One thing it f...

I know I was going to post another Christmas song today, but this song popped up on my iPod today (genuis mixes are the best!) and I just had to share it. This was the last song played at my wedding. It's called "Love is All Around" and I wanted everyone to dance with us so we could be surrounded by the people we loved. :) <p><a href="http://tobylightman.bandcamp.com/track/love-is-all-around">Love Is All Around by Toby Lightman</a></p> The look in his eyes Tells me, just how I oughta look at the world So innocent, so easy to print on the face of paper doll While holding his hand Shows me, fair skin, now I know what’s really happening With all of the trees, and all of their leaves, they’ll never look the same again Cause I, I know that Love is all around The dream on his face Let’s me know the stars glow...

I'm only just now realizing that my knees aren't in this photo. Oh well. That's what she was doing.  She's a knee-sniffer.

Stole her toy so she would look at me for a photo. Yeah. That got her attention.

Blah blah blah, it's too soon. WHATEVER. This is one my favorite Christmas songs (on one of my favorite Christmas albums) and I'm already listening to Christmas music. I love Christmas music, it makes me happy! It's nonsense that you can only listen to it for one month.

Canon EOS 60D & EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 ISO 6400 | 52mm | f/10 | 2.0sec

She has actually commandeered both slippers in the pair. Which is okay, really. Because the cute squiggles fell off the top of the other one. And what's the point of wearing them if they don't match? I realized that I used to take a TON of photos just for fun! I don't do that so much anymore. I kind of wish I did. I love taking photos. So, that's why you are looking at a bunch of photos of my scruffy mutt. She's one of my favorite subjects. I guess we're boring her. So, we'll leave her alone. For now.

11/11/11 has been a great day! I had coffee with my friend Cathie  (who took the above photo), took some photos in the park, lunch date with my hubby  (who took the below photos), and then watched a creativeLIVE workshop ! I knew I wanted to have another SMP post and knew I wanted to wear my maxi dress. Everything else fell into place from there. I curled my hair and was just going to wear it like that, then decided that my cute great hat was just the accessory I needed to complete the outfit. :) I loved  this outfit and I loved my crazy curly hair. :)

There were a lot of names to choose from. Lizzie Lauren Cutie Pie The Kookenator Casper Spooky Lorelei Goethe (pronounced Gerta) Chaucer White Cloud Ricochet Ivory Flash Sandy Marshmallow Freiheit Foto Betty White Trudy Leisel Greta "Auto des Feuers"* Nail Salon  I was going to post a poll this morning to ask you to vote for your favorite. But then, I changed my mind. Why bother? Maybe it's because she knows me so well. Maybe it's because of her confidence. Because as soon as I saw this name, I knew it was it--even though I gave her a hard time about it. ;) Cute and quirky and exactly what I was looking for! Thanks to Lauren, Max, Leo, Gretchen, John, Adam, Mary, Amy, Brian & Holly for all your fabulous suggestions. :) *Car of the Fire

...well, I don't have a name for her yet. Its my new-to-me car. A 2004 VW Passat. Super cute and German. Sounds like someone we know? Hmmm...  Thank you to my super amazing husband for finding this car. And thank you to whoever bought that 1998 Toyota Corolla that we almost bought. ;)  For the first time in my life, I'd like to name my car. My sister has named her cars over the years (like Roxy the Ford Probe) and I've known others do to so as well. I'm in love with my new car and it needs a name. Went to Yankee candle today with a fabulous bogo coupon . Decided to also get something to put my car in the holiday spirit. Any name suggestions would be appreciated. Something cute.  ♥ Lauren suggested Lizzie, Lauren, and Cutie Pie. In case those are on the very long list of potential names you're about to submit, you should know that I didn't want any of them.

Excerpt from Abraham Lincolin, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith: Senator Charles Sumner lay unconscious on the Senate floor, facedown in a pool of his own blood.   The abolitionist had been attacked by a thirty-seven-year-old congressman named Preston Smith Brooks, a proslavery South Carolinian who'd taken offense at the Massachusetts senator's mocking of his uncle in an antislavery speech two days earlier. On May 22nd, 1856, Brooks entered the Senate chamber accompanied by a fellow South Carolina congressman named Laurence Keitt and approached Sumner at his writing desk. "Mr. Sumner," said Brooks, "I have read your speech twice over carefully. It is a libel on South Carolina, and Mr. Butler who is a relative of mine." Before Sumner had a chance to reply, Brooks began to beat his head with his gold-tipped cane, opening new gashes with each blow. Blinded by his own blood, Sumner staggered to his feet before collapsing. His victim now unc...

A. Age : 26 B. Bed size:  Queen C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning up dog hair. Its never ending. D. Dogs:  Bella. I love her. E. Essential start to your day:  Cuddles with the hubby. F. Favorite color:  Pink. Duh. G. Gold or Silver: Either. H. Height: 5 foot 2 I. Instruments you play:  I used to play the clarinet. J. Job title:  Super-nanny, photographer K. Kids:  Three. Not mine, legally. But they have my heart. L. Live:  Greenville, SC M. Mother’s name:  Veronica N. Nicknames:  Tiff, Tiffy, If, Iffy, Tiffizzle, Tiffster, Tiffasaurus Rex O. Overnight hospital stays:  When I was born. P. Pet peeves:  Slow drivers in the left lane. Q. Quote from a movie:  The first thing that I always think of is "Plastics." Name that movie. R. Right or left handed:  Right S. Siblings:  1 brother, 1 sister, 1 brother-of-a-gun-in-law (a.k.a. Kevin), 2 SILS and 1 future SIL. U. Underwear: Yes. V. Vegeta...