Christmas Thyme

Christmas in North Carolina was so fun, even though I got sick. My in-laws are so sweet, and I had a great time just lounging around with them, playing games, watching TV, and taking it easy. PLUS!! My lovely sister in law, Melissa, is pregnant! She hit three months this week so I'm now finally allowed to talk about it. I'm so excited to have a niece or a nephew.

Okay, time for pics!

Nathan's granddad does an amazing Christmas display in his yard...it's literally covered with lights, santas, singing elves, reindeer, it's quite a sight. Notice that I'm in a jacket and Nathan is in short-sleeves? It was about 70 degrees but it didn't feel right to me to not bundle up a little:

Melissa and Al on Christmas morning (sorry, Al, I didn't have many good pics!):



Everyone got together at Nathan's granddad's place on Christmas day for lunch, where Nathan and his little cousin got into a silly string fight. Apparently, Nathan has no mercy for a 7 year old girl.





It was a very jolly Christmas! Tonight is New Years eve. The Flaum's are coming over for dinner and then we're off to Trois. Happy New Year!

Updates, Updates

I have a million things to update you on, but I'll start from the beginning and work my way through the holidays.

First...Chicago!

We had an amazing time with Brian and Meghan in snowy Chicago. We got in relatively early on Friday night, went to a fun Mexican restaurant, then saw the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir at this very cool concert space. Brian is constantly sending us new music to check out- he is quite the music lover- and it's always fun to watch live music with him.

For some reason, we were all pretty hungover on Saturday. Hmm...I have no explanation for that.

But, there was more fun to be had: Carolina Basketball, of course. UNC was playing some random school that I've never heard of (Valparaiso?) and we just had to go, because really, when you get a chance to see UNC basketball, you do it!

Saturday night was a BLAST. Brian and Meghan had a joint birthday party, and Nathan and I must have earned some good karma because the party was at their home, meaning we didn't have to venture out into the SNOWY, ZERO degree weather.

Brian and Meghan's friends and family were all so nice, and we had a great time partying with everyone. What did we love the most? Finishing off the night playing Rock Band. I'm addicted. I'm also a very talented drummer, if you must know. My courageous, talented husband was the only one willing to do the singing, and did so happily until the wee hours of the morning. I fell asleep in the guest room listening to him sing in the other room: Baila bailaa la bamba!...

We love hanging out with the Dursts. We'll definitely be back to Chicago...in the summertime.

Chicago!

It's 70 degrees today in Atlanta. We are taking off for Chicago in a few hours, where it has been snowing, with a projected high today of 32 degrees. Fun! Nathan is already starting to shiver, I just know it.

We have a packed weekend...concert tonight, Carolina basketball game tomorrow, Brian and Meghan's birthday party tomorrow night. It's going to be non-stop and I am so excited. I have my camera battery charged up and will post pics on Sunday!

Have a good weekend!

P.S. This picture is a reflection of my mood for this weekend, not of what I'm actually packing. Although, leg warmers might be a good idea?

Week Before Christmas

I've been waiting to post until I got back some pictures from our weekend in NYC, but haven't received any yet. We had an amazing time...it was so nice to see the UVA girls at Elizabeth and Brett's engagement party, and then of course to catch up with the HBS crowd at Patty's party. We were out Saturday night until 4am, which is the craziest we've been in a long time. Pictures to come!

This last week of work before Christmas has been a bit frustrating, and slow. Mostly because I feel like I should be busy with work, but there isn't much to do. I sort of feel like a slacker.

So, to make up for that, I've decided to go through all of my home design magazines (collected for the past two years), and tear out what I love for my design book, and then throw the rest away. Like Spring cleaning, only earlier!

This weekend we are off to Chicago to see Brian and Meghan (and UNC basketball!), and then to North Carolina for Christmas. Exciting!

The Post in Which I Inundate You With Pictures of Flowers

Last night was Nathan's firm's Christmas Party. They always hold it at the Piedmont Driving Club, which is walking distance from our place, so Nathan invited all the younger guys over for drinks beforehand. Having guests is usually our motivation to gussy up our apartment, and for me to buy tons of flowers to decorate with. Here are a few pics of our masterpiece:

Still life with fruit and paper towels.

Lopsided Christmas Mini-tree with Clementines.


A little bit of Shabby Chic.


Danny gave us this gorgeous vase. I love the stark contrast between the white, the dark wood, and the bright flowers.

Tonight we are headed up to NYC for a fun weekend. Elizabeth and Brett are having an engagement party at a gallery, and then we are going to Patty's place for an HBS get together. I'm so excited (and a little overwhelmed) to catch up with everyone.

Love to all from Atlanta.

Bust a Move

There is nothing more fun than an 80's party.

Last night we went to an 80's party to celebrate our friend Rhea's graduation, which was in a private club in the Virginia Highlands. We had way too much fun. The music was fantastic, the costumes were totally rad, and we stayed out dancing way too late. It was perfect!

Seriously, Everyone is Pregnant

Don't worry, not me!

Yesterday I got a phone call from my friend Alexandra, whom I've known since the 8th grade. She's pregnant! She's engaged to a nice guy named James, and the wedding was supposed to be in May, but has been moved to December. So, I'm not sure I'm going to make it (December 26th is a hard day to work around), but I'm so excited for them.

But really, at this point, I feel like I'm getting weekly phone calls from friends telling me that they are pregnant. I guess we are at that age. Weddings, babies, weddings, babies.

We have a fun weekend ahead of us. A dress up 80's party tomorrow night in the VA Highlands, Handel's Messiah at the Atlanta Symphony on Saturday, and Brooke's baby shower on Sunday. I need to figure out something to bake for that.

Pictures to come...