a little gratitude...

Thanksgiving vacation - those 5 glorious days and 4 wondrous nights of pure glutinous goodness - was a week ago, if you can believe it. Now I have pulled out the neon lit tree and ornaments, stockings and garland. It is Christmas time! As lights start coming up in the the yards in my neighborhood, I am trying to hang on to every second of this special time. I am pretty sure no time throughout the 365 days of the year  goes by faster than the next 3 weeks. The calendar fills up with parties and get-togethers, the Shreveport streets are at its most congested with lanes of people in search of the perfect gift...and, hopefully, there is a nip in the air. I have no problem keeping my car radio on the local station that plays nothing but Christmas carols 24-7 or keeping Christmas Vacation in my dvd player.

Before I get too far ahead of myself and end up in the North Pole, let's reminisce on Thanksgiving.

{fried turkey, biatches}

{Tison's potato salad was amazing and included bacon,yes, bacon.}

{This was us prepping for the Thanksgiving meal the night before.}

{Hey Miss Bailey!}

{After gorging ourselves with an amazing display of food at the Tison's house, we went to my parents to catch up with them for some post meal card making. My mother is better than Hallmark, people. She is literally a professional. Any kind of card making tool you are looking for- this woman's got it!}

{Mom bundled up some Thanksgiving leftovers of turkey, stuffing and homemade rolls so I could make my all time favorite Thanksgiving dish- the leftover turkey sandwich!}

{We ended the night with some wine and dominos. I wasn't lying about these glorious nights.}

{Friday was spent recovering from a food coma and watching the LSU game, but Saturday was Friendsgiving!!! Beginning at Superior, then Vintage, and ending at Wine Country.}

I want to say thank you to all of the people that come and visit my little blog about my life with my family and friends. This little corner, my tiny sliver of the enormous piece of the internet pie, is one of my favorite hobbies and it makes me so happy that you visit every once in awhile. :) Happy Holidays!

{see previous thanksgivings here}

"I just can't deal..."

"I just can't deal" is the phrase Katie K. and I have been saying non-stop for the last month at the work place. So much change has been happening to our little island of happiness. Lauren moving to Kinston, North Carolina with her fiance, Justin, really rocked my boat. For two and a half years we greeted each other every morning in our office we like to call "the hole." For two and a half years we sat next to each other sharing life's trials and tribulations, comforting one another and trying to keep each other positive. I can't even express to you how much I miss having her around. I have realized just how precious it is to find someone in life that completely gets you. Like they say in Bride Wars,

"Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you will find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding. But there's also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who's been standing beside you all along."

Here's our Adios Luncheon for Lauren at Superior Steakhouse:

Just when I'm figuring out the new routine of my daily work life, Diane's husband, David, is accepted into the family medicine residency in Columbia, South Carolina. Her last day at work was Friday. Even though I knew it was coming, (she gave a 60 day notice for pete's sake) I denied the reality of change. See, the thing is, I'm not only coworkers with these lovely ladies, but real, honest-to-goodness friends. I am so thrilled for their opportunities to begin anew in a different city, but sad knowing that I won't get to spend as much time with each of them as I would like. Change is hard, man. Go ahead, call me melodramatic, but I've been in a real funk as of late.
 
Our farewell dinner for Diane at Wine Country:

Best of luck my lovelies! I'm planning my trip to the Carolinas soon!

two are better than one...

Every where I look people I know are turning up pregnant! The stork must be very busy these days. My friend Chessi is expecting on Christmas Day. I am very excited for her and Walker. My friend Mary Eileen recently delivered baby Davis. I celebrated these wonderful miracles with them on Saturday.

{This baby shower at Wine Country was sweet without being too baby-y, just like Chessi -elegant and warm hearted.}

{The world's smallest North Face vest you've ever seen!}

Later that evening...

{Mrs. Lassiter recently remodeled her house. Isn't it fabulous!}

{This band was the perfect accompaniment to the whimsical and woodsy surroundings.}

{One word- ADORABLE!}

{I recently discovered Prosecco. It is an Italian fizzy wine that is divine. I could only drink this for the rest of my life and be in heaven- no exaggeration.}

See, I told you two baby parties are better than one! :)