Happy 2010!

I have to say that I am getting a little too used to this holiday schedule at work!! I like having two short weeks with Christmas and New Years back to back!  Things have been a little slow around the office lately, but I have enjoyed the quiet as I have been able to scratch some things off the 'to do' list that I have been meaning to get to forever.

I'm heading off to Cola for NYE tomorrow night and plan on hanging out in the lowcountry for the weekend.  I can't believe that 2009 is already coming to a close.  What a year it has been!  For starters, I graduated college, got a job, moved to Charleston, and got my insurance license.  I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store. . . though I do still have to work on my new year's resolutions!!

Happy New Years everyone!

Merry Merry!

Hope Christmas was a wonderful holiday (and holy-day) for everyone.  My family and I had this incredible devotion on Christmas morning about making sure that Christmas remains a holy-day, and not just another holiday.  I know that even in my short 22 (almost 23!) years, I have definitely noticed how our "politically correct" secular society has replaced the nativity scene, Gabriel, and shepherds with snowmen, sleds, and nutcrackers.  It is saddening, for as Christians, we have an amazing reason to rejoice!  The Promised One, the Son of God, is here!  He has come to save us from our sins!  I pray that each and every one of you were able to remember that He alone is the reason for the season, and keep the Christ in Christmas!

We had the best Christmas at Laurel Spring.  All 21 of my dad's family (cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents) were there, and it was wonderful (and chaotic!!) to all be together under one roof for the better part of a week and a half.  There's nothing like family being together- the close relationships, good food, and tons of fun.  My dad's fam is quite the active bunch so our many activities included: shooting skeet, quail hunting (I got two!!), having a ladder ball tournament, playing games, walking twice a day, going to a debutante ball (all 21 of us), four-wheeling, and horseback riding.

It really was incredible to be away and have family time. . . especially since many of the cousins now have graduated, gone to college/ graduate school, gotten jobs far away, etc.  We don't get to see each other as often as we used to so the time together is certainly appreciated.  Also, several of the cousins' "significant others" (including Lash :)) were able to join us for a few days.  And, big news, my cousin Dargan's boyfriend proposed to her while we were there!  It certainly was a Christmas to remember.  I know we are all excited about the wedding and being together again this summer for it and our week at DeBordieu.

I'm now back in Charleston, unfortunately down for the count with a pretty nasty cold.  Too much fun and Christmas I guess, but thankfully the doctors in the fam were able to give me an antibiotic and other drugs so hopefully I will be on the rebound in no time.  (Specifically before NYE If I had it my way! I'm trying to find a miraculously cheap flight to Chattanooga or possibly be able to drive 7 hrs. .. .)

Anyways, I'm flying solo in Charleston this week and don't have any plans so I'll probably be blogging frequently. Lash is in Nebraska hunting with his family and Leah is skiing in Colorado. So, anyone have any good movie recommendations???  (Ahem, you should leave a comment--- this is my shameless plug).  I recently joined NetFlix and am definitely going to be hitting up that membership this week!  Hope the last few days of 2009 are wonderful for everyone!!

Police Report

Well, thought I was taking a blogging hiatus, but today's events deserve recapping!

As many of you may known, I never check my VM. However, today I was at work and received a voicemail from an unknown number. Because I had no idea who it was from, I figured I probably should check it out. Well, good thing I did because it was from the Charleston police department saying that they are investigating an incident that happened at my apartment.

(First, why would they ever leave that on someone's VM recorder-- that's a recipe for a heart and an anxiety attack!!I)

Naturally, I start freaking out, thinking someone has broken into my apartment, something is terribly wrong, someone has been hurt, or worse-- terrible things are running through my head. . . My fingers are shaking and my heart is pounding as I call the number back for an hour trying to get in touch with someone. No one answers, I leave two ovoicemails, call every number listed online for the police department. No one can help me figure it out. They have no record of an incident at my apartment.

I call my landlord, she has no idea anything is happening. I call my roommate Leah, and she has not heard anything. Luckily, she works downtown so she runs home, but nothing is wrong at the house- no windows are broken, the doors are still locked, and her bike is still out back. I am clueless (and still terrified haha).

I finally got in touch with someone almost two hours later. I have been near tears at the office trying to figure out what the hell is going on and feeling helpless. Well, it turns out that the property management group at the place I lived this summer on James Island still has my name on the lease agreement as the current tenant, even though I never signed the lease (remember that's why I moved out). I told the officer that maybe my name was on it because maybe they had not replaced it because no one had moved in yet... However, he laughed and explained that someone is living there because this new tenant had a raging party last weekend and something bad happened so the police are investigating the incident.

I am finally breathing one big sigh of relief! It was so frustrating not being able to get any information and answers. Understandably, I have not gotten a thing done at work this afternoon but thankfully everything is okay and I am not involved in the situation at all!!

Merry Christmas!!

Hope everyone has a very, very Merry Christmas!!  I am heading to the country for a week and a half and will definitely be taking a blogging hiatus. I still have to come into Charleston to work for a day or two, but other than that, I have fun holiday plans of a Christmas party, an oyster roast, a debutante ball, and lots of family time. I'm also hoping to knock down my first quail Saturday afternoon!  It is certainly different not having a Christmas "break" like you get in college, but I definitely am not going to complain since we get to be at Laurel Spring for two weeks. . . not to mention that I also love my job. :)

Anyways, I hope everyone finds time during the busyness of the holidays to remember the reason for the season! Thanks be to God!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Tiger Tiger Tiger. . .

Hehehe... Courtesy of Dargan :)

Informercial Gold

After thoughtful infomercial consideration (gosh, so many options to choose from), I have finally decided on my gift for the white elephant gift exchange:

An Obama Chia pet!!! Of course, this is a special edition item so if you want one for yourself, I best suggest you hop on Amazon asap! And, this one of a kind treasure comes in two versions-- a happy or a determined face so you can pick your prez's attitude. . .

I can't WAIT for the gift exchange!

Online Shopping

I have a love/ hate relationship with online shopping for clothes. I don't have a similar relationship with places like Amazon (love it!), but when I'm ordering clothing online, I never know what I'm going to get!

Sometimes, I get lucky and find items that I end up wearing to death. Other times, I place an order online, and ultimately discover an internet shopping disaster when I go to try things on.

I guess that's the risk I take when browsing the web, but I hate it. I get so hyped up about my online purchases that I am so disappointed when they don't pan out. Someone has to be able to relate to me here, right??

Well, last week I ordered an impressive amount of merchandise from Forever21. I wanted some cute tunic-y dresses that I could layer over leggings or tights that I wouldn't hate ruining at a bar or similar event, or a cute, easy outfit that I could just throw on and go. Well, my items came today, after I have been stalking the FedEx.com shipment status hourly, and none of the items that I had been so excited about worked. The only thing I'm keeping is a $6.00 pair of skinny jeans... and I ordered those because I have never had a pair and wanted to see if they worked on me. Go figure!!

Best Macaroni and Cheese Ever

Courtesy of Alton Brown on the Food Network. This recipe is delicious!

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon powdered mustard
• 3 cups milk
• 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 large egg
• 12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• Fresh black pepper

Topping:

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Merry Christmas from PURE

Do you like our office Christmas tree? The "skirt" is bubble wrap and the ornaments are hung with paper clips-- I think Dwight and the rest of "The Office" crew would be proud!

P.S. That's also my desk behind the tree so I will basically be in heaven for the next 3 weeks smelling the tree all day! :)