Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year!

What are your New Years resolutions? I don't really make any. If I had to choose something, I think I'd like to be more organized (and a bit more fit).

Enjoy the holiday! Don't forget to "drink a cup of kindness yet."

Nine

Has anyone seen Nine yet? I can't decide if it's worth the $10 to see it in the theater. What do you think?

Niiiice

Chance and I ended up doing quite well for ourselves this Christmas. Not only did we receive lots of necessities for our apartment (pots and pans, a couch, etc.) but our families were also nice enough to give us fun stuff too (movies, candy, etc.). I am so grateful to have such a generous family and to be so welcomed by Chance's family - and not just because they bestowed a bunch of loot upon us. We're lucky people. I should really say that more often.

What Christmas gifts are you must excited about? Who are you most grateful for?

It's Complicated

This looks so cute!

And I'm Off

The Christmas celebration continues! I'm off to Alabama for a few days to visit family. I hope you enjoyed your holiday! I'll leave you with one of my traveling companions, Bailey.

Sex and the City

The trailer for Sex and the City 2 has been released. What do you think? I'm rather skeptical about this one...

Merry Christmas

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Peace on Earth and good will to men!






(Image courtesy of Joshua Davis)

I Wish It Was Christmas Today

Merry Christmas Eve! Enjoy this adorable video of Julian Casablancas on Jimmy Fallon's show.



I hope you have a happy Christmas Eve! It's my father's birthday today, so a very "happy birthday" to him as well.

My Sister's Keeper

At the encouragement of a friend, I am finally getting around to reading My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It is quite sad but definitely worth picking up.



What have you been reading lately?



(Image via http://www.ala.org/)

The Lovers

Would anyone like to buy me this print of Otto Mueller's The Lovers? It's one of my all-time favorites. It needs to be in my bedroom.

(Image via http://www.art.com/)

Peonies

On a brighter note, I have turned to googling gorgeous springtime plants to pass the time while I am snowed in. I am particularly taken with peonies. Whenever I see them in my grandmother's yard, I know that spring is in full swing. Unfortunately, it's rather early for me to already be thinking of a warmer season as it is just now officially winter. Not to worry, winter, I cherish you too.

(Images via Oh Joy!, Sweet Fine Day, and Ruby Press respectively)

RIP Brittany Murphy

I just heard news that Brittany Murphy has died.

(Image courtesy of movies.about.com)

This girl seriously affected my preteen self (hello?! Clueless). I also loved her in Uptown Girls, Sidewalks of New York, and Girl, Interrupted.

My thoughts are with her family. I think it is very sad to hear of young people dying for no good reason.

James Franco

Can anyone tell me what this fella is doing on General Hospital?


(Image courtesy of hollywire.com)

Survey Time!

Well, we're officially snowed in with about twenty inches of snow and counting. Chance and I ventured out into the snow to make some snow angels and throw clumps of snow at each other (it's too soft for real snowball fights). For the most part, we've been cooped up inside watching the local meteorologist freak out about "crushing the records" for the most snowfall for a Virginia December and some bad Lifetime movies Christmas style.



Getting snowed-in can make you feel a bit stir crazy. Thus, a survey:

What’s your current obsession?
Christmas. Thinking about the new apartment (did I mention I’m moving at the beginning of January?)

What’s your weirdest obsession?
I suppose my magazine obsession is a little weird – it can be rather costly.

What are you wearing today?
Comfy pajama pants and a sweater. The essential snowed-in outfit.

Why is today special?
Because it breaks the record of total snowfall in Virginia. It’s the first day Chance and I played in the snow together.

What would you like to learn to do?
Cook, knit, and various other domestic activities that I do not do.

What’s the last thing you bought?
Christmas gifts for my mom and Chance.

What are you listening to right now?
Serendipity. An appropriately cheesy movie.

What’s your favorite weather?
I love the first warm days of spring. They’re shockingly refreshing. Snow feels more magical than any other weather though, so I love it too.

What’s your most challenging goal right now?
Finish Christmas shopping, wrapping, cleaning, and packing up all my stuff prior to Christmas

What do you think about the person who tagged you?
I wasn’t tagged. I happened to find this on a gorgeous blog that I just discovered today, Sweet Fine Day.

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
I’d either like a farm in the country or a spacious apartment in the NYC’s West Village.

Favorite vacation spot?
My favorite places to go: New York City, Savannah, New Orleans, Munich.

What would you like to have in your hands right now?
A warm cup of hot chocolate and some popcorn.

What would you like to get rid of?
Just a little bit of snow so I can actually get out for some food!

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
London, to see it sparkle at Christmas.

Which language do you want to learn?
I’d like to refresh my German.

What super power would you like to possess?
I’d like to be able to travel and get things done at warp speed.

What’s your favorite thing about the city you live in?
I love seeing the mountains. I love that we have a lot of fun stuff to do but we still have a small town atmosphere.

What’s your favorite piece of clothing in your own closet?
Jean skirt. Simple, comfortable, wearable with anything.

What’s your dream job?
Editor for a great magazine, children’s book writer, and co-owner of a café/bookstore with my best friend.

If you had $150 now what would you spend it on?
House wares.

Do you admire anyone’s style?
Yes - I love Zooey Deschanel, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Drew Barrymore.

Describe your personal style.
Simple. I adhere to the less-is-more philosophy.

Who’s fashion show would you want tickets to?
Stella McCartney.

Who’s closet would you want to raid?
Zooey Deschanel’s for sure.

What are you most proud of?
That I’m actually starting to achieve goals that I’ve set myself (especially the fact that I’m able to write for a magazine right now)

Let It Snow!

"What a lark! What a plunge!" After staying in all day to wrap presents and clean, Chance and I ventured into the snow because his mom and sisters were stuck in the road. Several hours later, we're finally back home. The snow is now up to my knees! It finally feels like Christmas. I am in love with snow.

Christmas Time in the Country

A celebration is in order because I officially started my Winter Break at about 3:45 this morning. I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Now, it's Christmas decorating, shopping, and wrapping around the clock.

My lovely friend Alison has already spread the Christmas cheer by bestowing lovely gifts upon me today. Not only does she make the best salad-and-bread combo but she knows exactly what gifts will fill my heart with joy.

(Image courtesy of http://www.creativelydifferentblinds.com/)

Beatrix Potter never gets old for me. I don't care how old I get or how many books I read, I don't think I'll ever like any author as much as Beatrix Potter. The Tale of Little Pig Robinson is shockingly one I have not read. Illustrations of pigs in proper little outfits. What could be better?

(Image copyright Sharon Montrose)

Sharon Montrose's animal prints are so gorgeous. Alison knows that I have a weird love of cute animal butts, so this could not be more suitable. It will adorn my walls very soon.

I absolutely adore winter days.

Vogue

I didn't get any farther down my to-do list today. Sorry for the short post, but I'm intending to begin my last exam in a few minutes. I'll leave you with my most recent distraction:



(Image courtesy of nymag.com)

To-Do

To-Do List:

Haircut for the holidays
Anthropology Exam
Austen and Woolf Exam
Christmas shopping
Present wrapping

I'm slowly working my way through my to-do list. I'll complete my last exam tomorrow and then I'm free to shop 'til I drop. Can't wait.

Countdown

It's only Monday and I'm already looking forward to the weekend.

The countdown has begun; I'm approaching my last days of fall semester. I completed one exam today and feel exhausted (History of Literature III, for those who are interested). That means three classes down and two to go. I have take-home exams (my favorite kind) in Anthropology and Austen & Woolf. I can't wait to be done! Let's hope I stay good and productive and get them done by Wednesday.

It's been hard to focus on studying when I have Christmas shopping on my mind and carols on the radio. I have been especially distracted by the Charlie Brown Christmas song this year. Any particular song getting you in the Christmas spirit?

Christmas List

What's on your Christmas list this year? I've just started making mine (I know, late as usual). My wishlist includes:

(Image courtesy of www.amazon.com)

(Image courtesy of listal.com)

(Image courtesy of ikea.com)

I have exams tomorrow, so I'll see you on the other side. Enjoy what's left of the weekend!

Checking In

It's a busy time for me right now. I have three exams left and a big change has just presented itself. I'll try to share more soon. For right now I can just say that I'll be running around like crazy for the next month.

For a quick break, I keep picking up this:


(Image courtesy of www.rightcelebrity.com)

I freakin' love Natalie Portman. Have you seen Brothers? It's one of the most intense movies I have seen in a long time. If you haven't seen it yet, GO!

The Triumphant Return

What do you do when you're feeling really uninspired?

I'd love to know, as I've felt that way for the last couple of months (perhaps that's why I've let my regular posting fall by the wayside?). I have felt drained and like I have nothing of significance to say. Do you ever get that way? Maybe it's because the weather is getting colder, the days are shorter, and school just won't end (except that I'm only three exams away from the end of my second to last undergrad semester). I know that it's a selfish kind of sadness, but I just can't help it.

I'd like to kick my butt in gear and knock myself out of this funk by borrowing an idea from someone else (someone in the blogosphere, not sure who): I'm going to try to write something everyday for a month. 31 days.

This counts as one. Just to be clear.

So, I'm back. Again. Good tidings to you are in order. Can you believe it's already December? We're approaching a new month, a new year, a new decade. Already. Time passes way too quickly. In the midst of the Christmas shopping hubbub, I'm hoping to slooooow dooooown and appreciate one of my absolute favorite times of year.

My favorite things about this time of year:
-lights cover things that are generally not covered in lights - trees, bushes, porches, etc.
-snow! (we've had snow BEFORE Christmas for the first time in years)
-my mother breaks out her holiday sweaters and socks and wears them well into January (one of the most endearing things about her)
-gift giving reaches new heights (I find shopping for others more satisfying than shopping for myself)
-I don't seem weird for only ordering hot chocolate at Starbucks
-fun Christmas lists fill the pages of magazines and are featured on blogs (a la A Cup of Jo)
-it's the time of resolutions, new beginnings, showing your appreciation for others, and spending time with the people you love most

See you here tomorrow.