Cheers to 2013!

Can you believe it's already New Years Eve?!
2012 was definitely a whirlwind year! Some of the most memorable events include: - Philadelphia Flyers game with Steven - San Francisco with my family and Steven's family - John Legend came to VT - James left on deployment - Week long trip to D.C. with Steven, including Nationals game & seeing Third Eye Blind - Wine Tour with my Dad - Adopting Belle into our family - Moving out of Maple Ridge and into a new apartment with new roommates - VT season opener on a Monday night - winning in OT against GT - Victoria's Secret Pink Party comes to VT - James returns home - Army v. Navy football game - 22nd birthday
Overall, I feel very blessed with everything 2012 brought me, but I'm also very excited for everything awaiting in 2013! The biggest thing I'm looking forward to? Graduating! I'll do a post tomorrow on my resolutions and goals.

  I hope you all have a happy and safe NYE! Thank you for your continued support of my little blog!

Happy Birthday, Steven!

Happy, happy birthday to youuuu!

Decked out for a Christmas party

  I am so glad Steven's birthday falls over winter break so that he's home to enjoy it! So thankful to get to spend the day with him :) Love you SB!  

M&M Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Also known as: heaven   I borrowed this recipe from a teacher that used to work at my mom's school.  They are so delicious you can't just eat one! Or two, for that matter.  You might just want a plate of 5.

You can use any m&m/chocolate chips you would like.  I used the Christmas colored m&ms and plain chocolate chips.

I used a mixer for most of the ingredients - decided to stir in the chocolate chips and m&ms. Once you get to the peanut butter and oatmeal, the mixers get stopped up. I also used parchment paper for easy clean up :)

The "batter" all ready to put on the baking sheet.

 Fresh out of the oven!

This recipe makes lots of cookies.  Unless you have friends coming over or a party to go to, I would recommend cutting the recipe in half :)

Happy baking!

Friday Five!

1. Shamrockin' Run It's official...I'm signed up for the Yuenling Shamrock/Anthem 1/2 Marathon!

It's on March, 17 in Va Beach! I'm running with my older brother and my goal is to beat my time from my first half- 2:13. I'm really excited! If any of my running friends will be there, holla!
2. She Reads Truth

I recently discovered "She Reads Truth"...anyone following this reading plan? I'm still getting a hang of it all, with the YouVersion app and everything, so I'd love to hear any tips y'all have.  I started late in the Advent reading plan so I'm trying to catch up so I can be more engaged in the conversations online. So far I love the short passage readings and devotional content! Really makes me think!   3. Carrie in Concert! My big Christmas present was...two tickets to see Carrie Underwood in March!! Hunter Hayes will be there too!

One week after my half-marathon, I'll be jammin' in the 15th row on the floor! THANK YOU MAMA!!   4. GO HOKIES!! Today, my Hokies take on Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl down in Orlando! I wish I could be there (where it's warm and sunny) but you bet I'll be screaming and cheering in front of the TV here in Blacksburg! Hoping to end this season on a good note!

I know all of my Hokie girls out there have goosebumps.

P.S. Is it weird that I shed a tear when I think about only having one more semester here?!?!

5. Bean Boots

My other big Christmas gift was from my boyfriend & his mom...bean boots! I had them on my list and my mom relayed the information to him, I guess! Anyway, I lovvvve them! It snowed here on the 26th so I was able to try them out yesterday when he gave them to me :) They are going to be perfect for any nasty weather that may be headed our way. So happy with them!
TGIF! Have a great day! Annnnnnnd GO HOKIES!!!!!

Keeping Strength

This quote, which I found on Pinterest, is perfect for something I am working on. Too often I find myself worrying over things that are coming, things I know will happen in the future, such as someone having to leave town, a doctor's appointment or a big test, among other things.  I'm definitely a worrier. I am desperately trying to keep those anxious thoughts from my mind until I need to be thinking about them.  There is no point in me getting upset that someone is leaving in a couple of days when I could be living up the time that we have in those last couple of days. Whatever is meant to happen is going to happen, and while I can't change a lot of things, one thing I can change is my attitude.  I know that God's plan for me is right, I just need to give it time to unfold and make sense.  I need to stop trying to change His plan for me -- I know he won't put anything on my path that I cannot overcome.  Especially because worrying doesn't change anything.  Worrying won't make those "not-so-fun" events disappear, it will only make them harder to deal with. I'm going to (try) and stop my unnecessary worrying because it is starting to take toll on my relationships, health and overall happiness.
This is one of my new year's resolutions!
Any advice to control stress, anxiety, worrisome thoughts? Anything you're trying to work on for the new year?
Have a positive day! :)

5 December Favorites

I've been trying to catch up on reading blogs -- it's almost impossible! I've missed a lot. I've been doing lots of reading, not a lot of commenting. Once I'm caught up, that will be easier :)   I wanted to fill y'all in on 5 fun things I've done so far in December!   But first, I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!   1. 22nd Birthday For my 22nd birthday, I had...lots of studying to do. BOO! But, I did get to start my day in kindergarten! My sweet teacher and students had a card, balloons and gift waiting for me! They are seriously too good to me.  I am so lucky to be with the best kindergarteners in the world :)

After class it was time for our family dinner! Here's what I wore:

 Lilly Joycee tunic, giant teardrop necklace from Groopdealz!

We went to dinner at a local restaurant, 622 North. Yum, yum, yum.

  2. Army v Navy Football Game Steven's family invited me to tag along for football game between Army and Navy.  One of Steven's brothers is at the Naval Academy and we went to last year's game, too.

 GO NAVY!

3. Hokie Basketball

I'm somewhat embarrassed to say it, but I hardly ever go to basketball games.  Of all the sports to watch, basketball probably isn't in my top 8.  However, once finals were said and done with, we headed to one of the weekend games vs Georgia Southern! Although the Hokies lost, I still had fun and I have high hopes for the team this season!   4. Picking out our Christmas tree

 We went to a family farm down in McCoy

 James starts the cut

 And, I had to help ;)

Taking our tree home!
5. Playing with my crazy, and most of the time sleeping, pets

 Belle peeking outside

 sink cat.

 Best friends and pet sisters

Snoozing, waiting for Santa

 Belle's 1st Christmas!

 Worn out from opening presents.

Seriously - they have slept all day! Oh, the life of a dog...

My December has been full of many blessings! Not to mention Christmas day, which was simply wonderful. Another post on that tomorrow, maybe!
Today is my Mom's birthday! We're going to see Silver Linings Playbook and then having dinner in Roanoke. I'm excited! Anyone seen that movie? Steven and his family are also heading home today. We still have to finish our gift exchange! Lots of fun :)
Have a wonderful day!

O Come Let Us Adore Him

I've been busy as a bee finishing my shopping, wrapping, and just thinking about baking!
Tonight we're having a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner of seafood, pasta and salad.  Yummm! We're going to mass at 11 pm - which I can't wait for.  They decorate our church beautifully and I love the Christmas music. Then it's home to sleep so Santa can come :)  

I love this canvas I found on Pinterest. Maybe next year I'll find some time (and patience) to make it.

The 26th is my Mom's birthday so we have more fun then, and Steven's is the 30th! I seriously have had a lot of shopping and wrapping to do ;) I'll share with you their gifts later in case they read this!

I hope you all have a peaceful Christmas and enjoy time with your families. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Ringing in the New Year with Sequins

I feel like the only time I can pull off sequins...lots of sequins...is at New Years! This year I'll be ringing in 2013 with some friends here in Blacksburg -- so not exciting, but I'm determined to make it FUN!
Haven't picked an outfit yet, but here are some sequins-y pieces I think would be a sure way to have some fun!

Forever 21

LuLu's

Target

J. Crew

Francesca's

What will you be wearing this New Year's Eve? Only 11 more days!

Happy Thursday!

Christmas at God's House

This will be my only other post about Newtown.  I just can't help but think of that community tonight, especially after listening to the President speak on TV.   I found this little passage on Facebook.  I had tears rolling down my cheeks quicker than I could blink them away.  It definitely brings me some comfort.  I hope it does the same for you...

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious; their laughter filled the air,
...they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say,
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"This is heaven." declared a small boy, "We’re spending Christmas at God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same,
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
As they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
As if He could read all the questions she had,
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below,
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools",
"I'm taking back my nation, I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound,
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran,
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT!"

I don't mean to exclude the adults that were lost in this tragedy. This post just warmed my heart. May they all rest peacefully.   Prayers and love to everyone in CT.

Hello, again :)

I can officially say it...my semester is OVER! I have time to BLOG! I have time to READ! I have time to CATCH UP ON SHOWS! I have time to SLEEP IN!
If you can't tell, I'm very relieved to be done with the fall semester. Overall, it was a great semester and I can't believe that in 5 months I'll be preparing for graduation. Unreal.
I am so happy to get back into blogging. There is a lot I need to catch up on!
However, today I only want to say one thing: My heart is broken for everyone involved in the tragedy that unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary.  I heard the news as I left my exam yesterday and I held back tears as I walked home. As a future teacher and someone who spends a part of every day with elementary students and interns with kindergarten, I could only imagine the precious faces that I see and think about never seeing them again. It's a sickening feeling and I cannot imagine that that feeling is real for so many people in Connecticut today. My heart is heavy, my thoughts and prayers are with them today and always, and I hope they know how many people are sending them love.  It may seem unlikely now, but the sun will shine again in their hearts. God Bless them.
Of course, it brings back memories of April 16, 2007 for me. I, along with the entire Blacksburg/VT community, will never forget the enormous amount of love and support we received from everyone all over the world.  I hope to 'pay-it-forward' and send my support to Sandy Hook this weekend. I encourage you all to do the same.  Although there are no words that can heal the pain they are feeling, just letting them know that they aren't alone can mean all the difference in the world.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!