back to reality...{somewhat anyway}

Christmas was a total blur this year. It came and went so fast that I do not even really remember what happened {until I reread what I wrote on my blog}. I feel like life is still not really back to normal routine yet though. I am living life right now with "no strings attached" because without studio I honestly feel as if I have NO obligations, appointments, places I HAVE to be...and it is wonderful. But come next Wednesday back to REALITY again, but no complaints because in some way I really do look forward to that. I mean, life must go one. Right? In the mean time I am spending New Years in Atlanta with friends,  finishing up reading a few books, headed to the beach for the weekend, enjoying the warm weather (after all remember that it is December), organizing my closet FINALLY, and going to the gym and pilates at whatever time. So look forward to lots of exciting New Year posts!

belated Christmas Cheer post

WOW! I guess as you grow older the thought of going through the whole "roll out your own Christmas cookies thing" isn't quite as much fun as when you were a child. Despite that we decided to "roll out our own Christmas cookies", and chose an even more intense recipe than just plain sugar cookies. Mom saw these cookies on the front of Martha Stewart Living this month {which I got a subscription to from my Grandma...yay!}. The recipe is for Spiced Cardamon Cookies from MarthaStewart.com, click here. They are a hybrid between an animal cracker and a gingerbread cookie. Unique I know, but quite tasty. The recipe is kind of an intense process. Honestly, the flavor {cardamon spice} is super intriguing. The wood grain imprint mat is what gives these woodland cookies such a special twist. You can purchase one for yourself for $12 from the Chinese Clay Art website. Oh and...if you are not really a "COOK", then you can still make these (difficult) cookies. Just got to Martha Stewart's website and watch her "How-to" video. 

Note: Despite some of my complaining about these cookies, they were worth the hard work. Mom and I had fun making them, and they were a hit! So give it a try. You do not have to make Christmas cutouts. Anything works! {Outdoors party?} Or we even purchased a mat with a floral imprint. 

And...we had another treat. Sweet Katie Compton came over to visit us, and we got to play with sweet Campbell. Who will tell you she is "twen-two months" old. She is adorable. It was a special treat to get to see them. Katie babysat Andrea and I all through her high school and college years, and became a best friend! Cannot wait to go visit them again in Birmingham. 

Let's play dress-up

Do you want a Santa beard to add to your Christmas attire? I dunno, just a thought. Click here, download the beard, cut it out, and there you have it. It is most definitely a splendid addition adding lots and lots of Holiday SPIRIT!

cHrIstMas TIME...and when I get my act together...a little more to come

and now introducing the NEW Radio City Rockettes...

we thought it would be funny to copy this pose from the 10 year old beside us! {laughter}

look at those long legs!

A Christmas Gift

This is a thought...a gift for my mom from etsy. It is a reversible camera strap from selller "cottancandybynatalie". She has some really cute fabric patterns, but I am really indecisive and I am not sure which one she would like. 

to come...

a weekend recap of my trip to Birmingham with Leesa Marie, Claire, Katherine, and Liz to see the Radio City Rockettes (yes for my 3rd time, but I still thought it was great)!!!!

art+nyc adventure

I have a long post about nyc that I am working on (yes...I will be there one week from today).In the mean time, here is one thing I am going to do...visit the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. The current exhibitions look really great: Solos Tulou/Affordable Housing for China, Wall Stories Children's Wallpaper and Books, Curators Select Recent Acquisitions, and House Proud 19th c. Watercolor Interiors from the Thaw Collection. 

The Museum was founded in 1897, and is housed in the Andrew Carnegie Mansion on 5th Avenue. If you want to know more about the museum, go here. 

And lastly, I might purchase this book from the gift shop, Piranesi as Designer b/c we will be doing Piranesi drawing exercise this January, pre-Rome. 

Any other must sees? Leave a comment on my blog. Although, I really do not have a hard time keeping my self entertained when exploring a BIG city. 

a few more

like a proud mom...

The final product....drum roll please! My portfolio and urban studio application. After lots of sitting in front of my apple laptop, a trip to Atlanta, a computer crash (aka me histaricle for a few hours...and later saved by tech support), a fight with the phaser printer in Dudley computer lab, an unsuccessful trip to Hobby Lobby and Office Depot, glue all over the kitchen counter, and me pulling my hair out...THIS!! 

As of 1pm tomorrow the portfolio is due for studio, and to be entered in a portfolio competition sponsored by Pella Windows. I will let you know how it goes. Then 4pm the urban studio application is due. At 4:01pm about 4,000 lbs will be lifted off of my shoulders! HOORAY!! Now off the our Christmas bible study dinner...I am about to be late!

Mmm, mmm goodness!

This is one of my familys' favorites, The Original Peppermint Bark @ Williams Sonoma. It is kind of pricey, but if you just want a taste, they always have it out to sample in the store. You can a least get a little taste of heaven. Though, I think there motives in giving out samples is to get you to buy it, so limit yourself. I am almost positive that you will end up splurging on one box of your own. I am not even a big chocolate person, much less "minty" chocolate...ugh, but for some reason this stuff if GOOD! It is a custom blend of Guittard premium chocolate and handmade peppermint candy bits.  

more love to go around

How dare I forget to post about the highlight of my Thanksgiving week. We got to babysit my twin cousins Lily and Whit. They are just about 4 months old, and the cutest little babies you have ever seen!

andrea, lily, and me

"bling" for babies

"i know i am cute" -whit

whit_andrea_lily_me