I hope y'all had wonderful Thanksgiving celebrations. Ours was fabulous. As you can see, we also decorated for Christmas this weekend. This is our tree all lit up with our stockings.
We had a lazy Sunday morning since we decided to go to the 4:00 service at church. Here's our breakfast scene: The Office, pancakes with blackberry syrup, tea with honey, a cat in the window.
This is the only piece of my Christmas china that I have. Isn't she lovely though?
One of my orchids has eight blooms on it!
And here's the Christmas tree and stockings in the daylight.
Here's a fun banner I made. I think it turned out really well!

Ready for some pictures?

Two weeks ago, Nathan, Alicia and I made pumpkin fondue using the recipe from Laura's blog. So yummy! Here is what was left over after we were cheesed out.


Here's a shot of some veggie fried rice we made last week. We cooked the rice with a chai tea bag in the water. It sounds weird, but it was so yummy!
Here are Nathan and I at Baby Girl's birthday party this past weekend.
Here is our pumpkin fondue baking (next to a delicious apple crisp).
Nathan whipped up some cream to accompany the apple crisp. So yummy!
This little kitten cat wouldn't stop flopping around and looking cute on our bed this morning, so I indulged her and took a few pictures.
This is a close-up of Miss Marple chewing on her paw. Her favorite comfort thing to do is grind her teeth next to something--her paw, your hand, BabyMac. It sounds gross, but I promise it's not!
And here is one excited Birthday Girl at her party this weekend.

Sorry the pictures are all out of order. If it helps, my brain feels a bit jumbled now too.

Every morning, I ride the first car of the T into work. I don't have any particular reason to always choose the first car. Rather, I just like to stand in a certain place and the first car always stops there.

Usually, there's nothing particularly special about my commute, where I sit or what I hear. Mornings are quiet on the T. Everyone is sleepy and, on my line, few students are up yet for classes. I mostly ride in with other young professionals who live in my neighborhood and work downtown.

You could say that I ride in with people that "have it all together." They at least exude professionalism, class and control. Control seems to be a big deal with my fellow commuters. Isn't it a big deal for all of us?

This morning, one of the doors of our train was malfunctioning. I happened to be sitting next to the driver and heard his conversation. We almost hit a car, the train went into emergency mode, emergency mode keeps the doors from opening, etc. Well, a malfunctioning door, in my mind, is nothing to get too excited about. Did I tell you about the time last month when the brakes of my train went out? That was something to get excited about.

I chose to spend the extra time we had being thankful that I had a seat, thankful we hadn't hit the car and, truth be told, making a to-do list of the myriad things I need to get done this weekend. My fellow commuters, however, took the time to roll their eyes, sigh heavily, give themselves wrinkles, and take turns hopping up and starting into the cockpit area of the train. Did any of them have great insights into why the train doors wouldn't open? No. Not at all, but they wanted the control.

I get it. It feels good to have control over parts of your life. I'm glad that I have control over whether or not I get enough sleep or go to the gym or spend all of our money on handbags and shoes. Still, you hit a point where you've got to realize how little you have control over and just let it go. I hit my point in Europe and I highly recommend international travel with very little money and a new husband in a country where you don't know the language to teach you a few lessons about what you should actually freak out about. Listen, I didn't get worked up when Nathan and I were told we were going to be arrested in Bulgaria and I'm not about to get worked up over a malfunctioning door.

Things are a little rough right now. It's true. We've got front-row seats to all sorts of crazy happenings: significant problems in the financial sector, changing views of America at home and abroad. Heck, I've got wild turkeys "terrorizing" my neighborhood.

Personally, Nathan and I are waiting on all sorts of things. Does it drive me crazy a bit? Do I wish that I could press fast forward to get to the time where we'll have all the answers? Sure, but I will never be able to fast forward my life. I can choose to give myself wrinkles and high blood pressure like the rest of the Green line commuters, or I could simply admit that I'm not in control. More than that, I can choose to still be productive with the time that I have right now and anticipate the beauty of seeing God's plan unfold in my life.

Today is Baby Girl's 6th birthday! I'm a bit overwhelmed by this. You see, when she was born, Nathan and I were juniors in high school. We had been hanging out a bit, but we had never really been on a date or anything like that. We were 17, for crying out loud.

That afternoon, my mother was going to give Nathan a ride home from school when we got the call that Bro and Sis-in-Law had gone to the hospital. We left him at school and drove over to Durham to wait for the birth. On the way, we stopped by Burger King and bought veggie burgers for dinner. Burger King had just started selling these. So yummy, but I was hungry (and cold--the waiting room was freezing) hours later.

Baby Girl was born around 10ish (I think). I really wanted to call Nathan to tell him all about it, but I didn't know if we were at that point in our relationship/friendship. I just didn't know if I could call him, so I didn't. I told him the next day at school.

Anyway, Baby Girl is 6 today and I'm married. It's a sweet time of year--full of birthdays and Christmas and all kinds of anniversaries.

I just logged into Boston.com to check out the news.

The first headline? About Northeastern not building a dorm.

The second headline? Tips: Stop being terrorized by wild turkeys.

This ranked higher than the resignation of a state senator.

Love it.

PS--I also love the pics of the state senator stuffing money into her undergarments. Seriously! FBI surveillance, y'all.

Also, that photo in the wild turkey article is from my neighborhood!

I'm feeling good. Want to know why?

--Our bed is amazing. Amazing, I tell you. Feather bed, down comforter, down pillows, nice sheets and duvet. Love it. Thank you to everyone who bought us bedding or BBB gift cards. I think of you every morning.

--Chai tea K-cups are where it's at. My office stocks these and I love them.

--Christmas shopping! I love taking the time to find gifts for everyone and I love Christmas shopping with Nathan. He actually really loves shopping here in Boston because we aren't in a mall. He can grab a coffee and just walk around downtown with me. Meanwhile, I'm getting my shopping done.

--Budgets. Knowing that we're making good decisions. Also, we re-evaluated our budgets last week to figure out how much we could cut if the need arises. The good news? We are so blessed right now that there are many areas that we could cut if we needed to.

--The anticipation of craft shopping for my swap partners tonight at Michael's. It's been a while since I've been to a Michael's. I'm jazzed.

--Baby Girl 1's birthday is tomorrow. Know what that means? Dinner at our favorite Boston eatery: UBurger.

--My space heater at my desk. It's getting cold, y'all!

--Goat cheese. Yum. End of story.

--Thanksgiving is almost here and that means my parents will soon be landing in Beantown!

--Being married. It's awesome.

--Squashes. I'm probably about to turn orange. I'm trying to eat them all before they disappear for another year.

--This elliptical interval workout. I did it last night and loved it!

--Sunshine!

--Hummus with roasted garlic and fresh pita.

--Oatmeal. Also, the image I have in my head of the sticky oatmeal in my veins getting bad fats stuck to it and out of my blood vessels. Gross? No! It's cute. The sticky oatmeal helps my blood vessels be healthier.

--The anticipation of tonight's burrito.

Before I get on with my daily brain drain, I need to share a fun deal with you.

This week, Preppy Monogrammed Gifts, is running a deal on their monogrammed keychains. I won one of these a few weeks ago and I am beyond impressed at the quality. I'll try and remember to take some pictures to show you.

I purchased a keychain like this at a shop in Raleigh a few years ago for $15. PMG's quality far exceeds my prior keychain and this week they are ON SALE at the price of 2 for $13. This is a steal, y'all! If you need small gifts for the women in your life, these keychains would be perfect. As a bonus, you also get to support a female-owned small business. Love it.

Now...on to other matters...

I had two cups of tea this morning and now my brain is buzzing. Truly. Buzzing.

I like to make really long lists of things I might actually like to accomplish someday and BlogWorld is not helping one bit at making my lists shorter. Someone is always posting a recipe, a craft, a furniture arrangement that I want to try. Right.Now.

My lists are growing exponentially. I bet that we could go 6 months eating only all new meals that I have bookmarked (and carefully organized into folders) without including any old stand-bys. This would be expensive, time-consuming and a bit sad, but we could do it.

I could make a new craft every weekend for a year I bet.

You ladies are killing me. Keep it coming though, because when I have two cups of tea and my brain is buzzing I feel like I can take on the world. I might have to modify my schedule* a bit, but I can do it!

***Oh yes, my life is as scheduled as a preschooler's. I schedule daily cleaning time, daily meal prep, daily crafting. I even schedule my sleep, I kid you not. Otherwise, how can I get everything done?

This weekend I did something I rarely do: I rebelled against my list. Will I be regretting this later? Probably. I have a busy week ahead and didn't put together packages, bake bread or cookies or fold laundry.

Can we level about how miserable folding laundry is? If I don't fold it while pulling it out of the dryer it becomes an insurmountable task in my mind. Good gracious.

Here's what I did do this weekend:
Christmas shopped!
Addressed our Christmas cards.
Napped extensively.

This week is going to be go, go, go and I couldn't be more excited. Today and tomorrow I have set aside to do all the things I neglected to do this weekend. Wednesday I'm going craft supply shopping for the many swaps I have coming up. Thursday is Baby Girl's 6th birthday. Friday we have tickets (3rd row!) to see Spamalot! downtown and then Saturday will be filled with Baby Girl's birthday party, more Christmas shopping with Sis-in-Law and some baby-sitting that evening.

In an unrelated note, does anyone know anything about dreams? I keep dreaming of green beans. Yes, you read that correctly. Green beans. Specifically, I keep dreaming of eating green beans that have been mixed with stuffing (a food that I absolute loathe). Anyone have any interpretations on what this means? For the past three nights, everywhere I go in my dreams, there is a bowl of green beans there. Is this a sign of my future? Should I become a green bean farmer and enter into the world of agri-tourism ala Schrute Farms? Let me know.

I usually never do this, but I am actually counting down the hours until I get to go home. It's drizzly here in Boston today and I am beyond sleepy.

My big weekend plans? Bake, bake, bake (I'm thinking bread, bagels and cookies for gifts), watching The Tudors: Season 1 and folding laundry.

I know we have to go to the post office tomorrow, but other than night I am so looking forward to sitting at home and chilling out with Nathan. He had a business trip this week, I had a huge event at work that I was working early and late for and it'll be so nice to sit, relax and smell baking bread.

Only an hour and a half to go.

I really love my teeny tiny apartment. I do wish I had a larger kitchen and maybe a guest room, but it really is a perfect size for Nathan and I.

Here are some of Barbara Kingsolver's thoughts on small houses that she expressed during Duke's commencement one year:

"The rule of 'success' has traditionally meant having boatloads of money. But we are not really supposed to put it in a boat. A house would (be) the customary thing. Ideally it should be large, with a lot of bathrooms … but no more than four people. If two friends come over during approved visiting hours, the two children have to leave. The bathroom-to-resident ratio should at all times remain greater than one. I'm not making this up; I'm just observing, it's more or less my profession. … Rethink the big, lonely house as a metaphor for success. You are in a perfect position to do that. You've probably spent very little of your recent life in a freestanding unit with a bathroom-to-resident ratio of greater than one. … As you leave here, remember what you loved most in this place. … The way you lived, in close and continuous contact. This is an ancient human social construct that once was common in this land. We called it a community."

This year for Christmas, I'd like some fabric. That's right--fabric. I'd also love more pieces in my china pattern and my Arthur Court pattern, but mostly fabric.

Why?

Well, I'm at a point in my life where if I want some shoes I'll buy them. If I want a sweater I'll buy it. Granted, I will most likely buy it on ebay and will certainly never pay retail, but I'll get it, you know? I don't have to wait for things as gifts.

What was so great about my birthday this year is that I received things I didn't really ask for. My parents got me a gorgeous photo album in my Arthur Court pattern. Bro and Sis-in-Law took me out for a fabulous dinner (and bought me a cute tshirt!) and my Absolute BFF flew up to spend a few days with me. My birthday was experiential and it was fantastic.

The one thing I seem to be incapable of buying for myself is nice crafting supplies. I bought some nice yarn last month to make some winter necessities with. I was proud. Still, I can't bring myself to buy papers or fabrics that I really want. So, this year for Christmas, I'd like fabric. Or gift certificates for nice fabric stores so that I can buy some Sis Boom and Amy Butler fabrics. I miss sewing and I would like to make another quilt. I miss crafty Rachel Ann. Let's bring her back, shall we?

So, parents and Sis-in-Law, take this as my official gift post. I also welcome donations to Heifer Project International, recipe cards from Monogram Chick, and ebay/PayPal gift certificates so I can buy things like:

Arthur Court Trays
Arthur Court Chip and Dip Platters
Kate Spade Teapot
Kate Spade serving bowl
Kate Spade sugar bowl (I have the creamer and could really use the sugar!)
Kate Spade ornaments that match my pattern

Most of all though, I want to spend time with y'all. I miss everyone in NC a lot. I haven't seen my parents since June. It's been almost 6 months! I'm dying, y'all. I can obviously never get enough of those baby girls and I'm pretty much counting down the days until we get to eat tofu burritos with Princess and EC. The gift ideas are only if you want to give me something besides yourselves. I'm going to honest and say that if I've ever said "all I want for Christmas is to be with the people I love" that I was lying. Not that I would've been mad if that's all I received, but I still really wanted some things in all the previous years. I'm actually telling the truth this year. I just want to be with the people I love. I would live a great life without any more Kate Spade china, but I'm not sure how I'd fare without my family.

This sounds so fun!

AGH is hosting a recipe swap. If you sign up, you'll be responsible for sending out your favorite recipe one week. All of the other weeks, you'll receive another blogger's favorite recipe. So great! Head over to her blog and check it out!

I'm so excited to see the recipe cards everyone uses!

I had quite the excellent birthday this weekend. It was super low-key and fun and relaxing.

We scrubbed the apartment this weekend to help clear my mind. I ran errands on Saturday and we took a walk through one of my favorite neighborhoods with some holiday beverages to celebrate the day. It was absurdly beautiful on Saturday. That evening we had dinner with the local family at Antico Forno in the North End and it was delicious. I had a dish of fusilli with squash, eggplant, zucchini, roasted tomato sauce, goat cheese and basil. Mmmm....

Then we headed back to our place for Cheesecake Factory pumpkin cheesecake leftovers from my office birthday party on Friday. Our neighbors were less than pleased with the continuation of our party. Mr. Heckles beat on his ceiling (our floor) to get us to quiet down. Granted, our apartment was a lot noisier on Saturday night with the addition of two wide-open little girls, but it was 8:00 on a Saturday night! Give me a break, Mr. Heckles. It wasn't even late yet!

Yesterday we did typical Sunday stuff and I started a new knitting project, finished a book and spent most of the day with a cat in my lap.

My present my Nathan should be delivered today, so I can at least extend my birthday at least one more day!

Whenever I read about the tackiness of Hollywood movie stars, I always wonder what their parents are thinking when they hear about these shenanigans.

Whenever I read about the Olsen twins, I imagine Bob Saget as their disappointed father.

Am I the only one?

Confession time:

I love alone time. Love it, love it, love it. I love sleeping with the cat or reading or knitting or sipping tea and watching Friends alone. I love shopping alone (especially early mornings in the grocery store or at bookstores). I can spend lots of time by myself and can do most things alone (even go to the movies!).

I cannot, however, clean alone.

I really don't need anyone to help me clean, but rather I need someone to sit and talk to me while I clean. Occasionally, I can get away with watching Friends or The Office while I clean (other shows just don't work), but I usually need to have someone to be there. I've been this way since I was a little girl--I used to beg my parents to sit on my bed and talk to me while I cleaned my room. When I used to clean my room in my college apartment, I would keep the doors open and talk to my roommates. Now, I'm always trying to get Nathan to follow my around and talk to me.

The point of this? Nathan's been working some late nights this week and I've been all alone. This means I haven't been cleaning. My house is a wreck. I begged him this morning to please come home tonight so that our apartment can be sparkling before my birthday.

Are you a grown-up with everything you ever dreamed of when all you want for your birthday is a clean house and dinner with your family? This will be my first birthday ever without my parents and I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't bummed out. They are flying up for Thanksgiving, but it's not quite the same, is it? Still, I'm having dinner with my local family members on Saturday and, hopefully, my house will be clean by then!

My house has seriously descended into squalor. Absolute BFF + sickness + sleepiness + general messiness = squalor. My house is disgusting.

Also, I have no clean laundry. Seriously--how did I get to this point?

The good news is that I'm cleaning tonight while watching Please Don't Eat the Daisies. Hoorah for Doris Day!

Then we might watch Get Smart. I doubt it, but hoorah for Steve Carell!

In other random news,

Laura--I did vote to ban dog racing and I'm glad it passed. Hoorah for no dog racing in MA!

Also, this weekend I purchased:

-Black turtleneck from H&M

-Black fleece pants from Old Navy (don't hate--they are so comfy post-gym)

-New black Fossil purse from Poor Little Rich Girl (fun Boston consignment shop)

-Black dress pants

-Trouser jeans

I'd say that was a productive shopping weekend.

I'm glad this election season is over. I bawled like a baby last night through both speeches. I love America. Seriously. Hoorah for America!

In other much less important news, I need answers to two questions:

1. What happens in next week's Hills preview? It wasn't online. Is Heidi really fired?

2. What's your opinion on big hair via hot rollers?

Visit from my Absolute BFF was wonderful. People at my office actually asked me today why I'm so mopey because it's evident I miss her. Oh well--at least I'll see her again at Christmas.

I waited in line for an hour this morning (when the polls opened!) to vote and, thus, was late for work. C'est la vie.

I had a choice of a Republican candidate for President and for the Senate seat John Kerry currently occupies. Other than that, all of the candidates were unopposed Democrats.

We also got to vote on lowering the income tax, eliminating dog racing and whether to not to change the penalties for possession of an ounce of marijuana. Good times.

Also, so many people voted in our ward that we didn't get "I Voted" stickers. Bummer!

Since we don't have a television, we won't be watching the returns tonight after 6:30 (when I leave the gym). Nathan is excited about his old-school method of waiting to read about it in the paper the next morning. I have a feeling I'll be watching politico.com/kotecki. This is a guy I went to high school with who is really, really funny and he'll be doing a streaming feed all night.

Or, I might do laundry. We'll see.