Can It Be?

I think I have taken for granted all of the wonderful, warm and fuzzy Christmas classics I get to experience each year. Frosty, Rudolph, Yogi Bear, the Grinch, Charlie Brown(even) Ernest saves Christmas (anyone?)! These animated/claymation gems have been part of each of my (now) 24 Christmases. I can't even remember the first time I saw each of these - they have always been present.

Would you believe that my beloved roommate has not seen any of the above mentioned holiday staples??

We have each filled our Netflix queues to remedy this. And fast!! For the next several nights, we are trying to squeeze in at least one Christmas special.

Last night we got in our PJ's, brought out our fuzzy blankets and watched Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Tonight's feature will include Frosty the Snowman!!

There is a charming theater here in Chicago called the Music Box Theatre.
They typically play independent and foreign films and occasionally feature old classics.

This Christmas season they are featuring several showings of White Christmas and It's A Wonderful Life. Sarah does not yet know that we are going to see both of these this Saturday for our roommate Christmas date!! She will finally get to see these beloved films for the first time on the big screen!!!

So so excited!! Hopefully pictures to come soon!

Me to you, the merriest!!

Resolutions a bit early

After being in a different state every weekend for the last month, having commitments out nearly every night, hosting get togethers, etc (none of the above mentioned activities are to be complained about. I am so thankful to have people I love dearly to spend time with, resources to travel and a home to have people over). I decided to put together a list of MUSTS for 2010!

These are my resolutions (and the list is growing)

1. Hibernate

2. Become movie buff

3. Blend in with my couches because of frequency of lounging on them

4. Introduce more comfort food into my diet (i.e. mashed potatoes and gravy)

5. Go to bed earlier

6. Wear wooly socks and sweatpants (this is not limited to just in the confines of our apartment – extends to social occasions, errands [and best of all] to work).

7. Have at least one container of ice cream in the fridge at all times (in case of emergency).

8. Bed is considered made if more than 4 blankets are piled on top

9. Comment on dumb movies with the roomsie (thus, improving our advanced sense of humor)

10. Have more wine + cheese + snuggie (or slanket, if you will) nights!!

Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All

Such an enormous fan of this movement.

So thankful that my friends and family are buying into this as well.

Check out the video here

Happy Advent!!

Update

Denver Seminary has confirmed that they have received everything.

Just 2-3 weeks until they make a decision and let me know.

Until then, just breathing in and out and enjoying life.

Will keep you posted!!

Tis the season

For those of you holiday naysayers...

I glided in to my usual Starbucks and was greeted with the pleasant surprise that the holidays have indeed arrived!!!



Thanksgiving blend coffee in a Christmas cup - Made my heart warm and happy.

Hats off to you, Starbucks! Many thanks!!

One More Do

Also do be on the lookout for this new Wes Anderson flick.



I am excited to see how the writer/director of The Royal Tenenbaum's and The Darjeeling Limited is going to pull off an animated film. Previews are very promising! (Then again, I will go see any film that has Meryl Streep in it...)

I believe it releases around Thanksgiving.

P.s. Do's and Don'ts

DON'T pay to go see An Education Monumental disappointment! However, decent soundtrack and fantastic wardrobe.

On the other hand, DO pay to go see Whip It!! Surprisingly delightful! The soundtrack is also a winner!


DO be on the lookout for Pirate Radio. Also an outstanding soundtrack and spectacular cast (I do love the Brits)!!


And... Done!

23 turns 24

In the meantime, I turned another year older.

Pics and stories to come of one of the most memorable birthdays!!!

I still don't know how to express enough thanks to Sarah, Rachel and Hannah for doing ALL that they did!

Very blessed.
Very thankful.

Update

Application to grad school was mailed one week ago.

I actually feel good about how my essays turned out.

They'll be able to make a decision once my references make it to them and my transcripts as well.

Now all I have to do is wait and see...

Everything but what I am supposed to be doing

Here I am at Panera in Skokie...

Trying to write my essays for grad school.

Well, not even trying, yet... Mentally preparing...

I managed to run some errands - (nothing like a trip to Sephora to ease the stress...), download some Hendrix, the Who and the Kinks, caught up on some e mails before even revisiting the essay questions again. I can't even eat the food I bought. What is wrong with me??!

OK, now I am accountable to the world wide web... I am here to write my essays and write them I shall. I can do this!! To borrow from Rachel Monfette, NO ONE IS PANICKING!!

Always so dramatic... I know. I really am making a big deal of this unnecessarily. I just need to buckle down and hammer this out.

OK, and break! Here we go! Boom baby!

Randoms I Enjoy

Here are just a few things that give me enjoyment right now.

1. COOKING!

I must be incredibly midwestern because when a recipe calls for shallots, I think I am cooking some sort of exotic dish. Additionally, the more steps involved, the more gourmet the dish (duh). The level of gourmet-ness also applies to the number of terms you have to look up while attempting the recipe (roux, anyone?).

Last night I got to cook for some dear friends. It was a blast. Some talented people paint and sketch - I create with my hands as well, but end up with a very different product. It gives me so much joy to create something wonderful that can be enjoyed by others. I attempted a recipe for the very first time and it ended up being mahhhvelous!

The dish: Chicken Bacon Roulades
The description: Chicken breasts, pounded thin, stuffed with bacon, shallots, and Parmesan, rolled up, browned, roasted, then served sliced, with a creamy white wine sauce.

Want to come over for dinner? I promise to put away my Julia Childs impersonation when in polite company...

2. Random Song

All My Days by Alexi Murdoch. I just can't stop listening to it.

3. This most random picture.

My fear is that it may cause people to think I have a very immature, underdeveloped sense of humor (possibly true). I would like to blame it on working in an office. Things become 10x funnier when you have to be "all business" and stifle all snickers.

4. 30 Rock!!

For all of you out there who still think The Office is the best comedy on TV, you are mistaken. 30 ROCK is where it's at!! Liz Lemon just kills me! It is probably very telling that I can relate to her as much as I do... wahw wahw.

5. This is old news, but it still is a great part of my day: http://failblog.org/tag/g-rated/

And that's it for right now...
Enjoy!

Misplaced

1. North Face Jacket
2. CTA Pass
3. Work ID
4. Favorite scarf

Long gone, I am afraid.

Reminding myself that God knows what I have need of. This is not unseen by Him.

It's a good day

The sun was out this morning when I left for work. A first in several, here in the windy city = cause for celebration!

Right now the best part of my day is pulling together a just right outfit at the last minute because the one I originally envisioned just was not working. A change of cardigan and a different pair of shoes makes all the difference between “I put clothes on this morning” and “put together”. Has that ever happened to you? Momentary panic of “I need to be running out the door 30 seconds ago and I still have to find something to wear. Why isn’t this outfit working in real life??” to “Sigh. Boom baby! Let’s rock this”. Especially when the "boom baby" outfit is not flashy, but classic, comfortable and makes people think you put no effort at all into it. Holla! ( I do recognize this can come across as trivial and shallow - probably true. But feeling comfortable and appropriate in what you have on makes a big difference, at least for me.)

Second best part of my day, inching up to first, would be the free bagels in the break room this morning. I say bagels plural because I may have wrapped one up to go with my soup at lunch. No shame.

And third best, the piping hot coffee that will keep me going all day long. Es magnifique!

May I also add that I heard my boss sing g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s in the break room this morning?! Top that!