Auld Lang Syne

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This is my all time favorite version of Auld Lang Syne. I first heard it on the first Sex and the City movie and to this day it is still one of my favorite parts of the movie... when I think of New Years, I think of this song! Enjoy!

&

Until Next Year

Happy 2011

swing wide, swing free, swing open

While browsing through Pinteres's A Whole Lotta Doors this morning, I was struck with the bold contrast but simple beauty each door exemplified. I found myself taking a closer look & was impressed by their many different shapes, sizes, surroundings while still holding true to their same function. I have always been a huge fan of a lovely front door, having grown up in a home which sported a bright red door most of my 26 year; they have the possibility of playing such a vital role in representing the nature, feel, and attitude of their home. Shouldn't a front door beckon one into their arms in welcome? Shouldn't they say, "Please come in! Stay for a visit & tea, won't you?"

Doors carry with them wonderful representation. They are able to close a dark foreboding past, open fresh, unearthed possibilities, or simply say welcome to the future, your past is no longer an option. In some ways I feel like the doors of 2010 are closing before I am ready. In some ways I don't wish to say goodbye. It was a wonderful year! Full of firsts! My wedding, honeymoon and... {you know}, first home together, first Christmas "really" together.... But with a new year right around the corner, what opportunity is your door holding? Or what are you closing the doors on forever? What do you want to hold on to forever? Or run wild into with open arms? Anything?

This poem makes the corners of my lip dance just a little...

I'm a Wildflower

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I interrupt this winter season to bring you one of my new favorite songs that has completely put me in the mood for summer! {i do apologize, especially since my last post was all about the snow, how fabulous it was and winter just began, but in my defense, it really is a fabulous song... and I heard it today!} I haven't been listening to anything much on the radio but Christmas music for the past month; however, I just stumbled upon this group call the JaneDear Girls {i think that's cute... JaneDear} and am in love with their song Wildflower. {if you need just a little break from winter, take a peek!}

Snow Day

It actually snowed Christmas Day here in SC!! The flurries began Christmas night so we actually were able to enjoy a nice dusting the day after Christmas. My siblings and I had such a fun time playing in the snow{You'd think that we were all 10 years old}! From building a huge snowman to a fierce snowball fight, it was a Christmas gift we will always cherish and remember.

miles to go before i sleep

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The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

-Frost

Until next year dear friends!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

who put the stump

Bahahaha! has this song been around for a while? I just heard it for the first time a couple days ago and about died! Huuularious!

Heavenly

How absolutely fabulous does this look...
Almost too perfect...
This is where I want to be this Wish I was here Wednesday...
Out in the country...
On a pond...
No one around...
Reading a fabulous book...
Heavenly...

his death reset the clock of time...

He was not born into a royal family, but He left a royal impression on the world.

For 30 years, He learned the ways of the world without becoming of the world. He then changed the world for the better.

He led without a mandate. He taught without a script. His common sense parables filled people with promise and compassion, His words forever inspiring.

He never condemned what others believed – just sin, evil and corruption.

He helped the poor without one government program. He healed the sick without a government health care system. He feed the hungry without food stamps. And everywhere He went, it turned into a rally, attracting large crowds, and giving them hope, encouragement and inspiration.

For three years He was unemployed, and never collected an unemployment check. Nevertheless, he completed all the work He needed to get done. He didn’t travel by private jet. He walked and sailed, and sometimes traveled on a donkey.

But they made Him walk when He was arrested and taken to jail, and no, He was not read any Miranda Rights. He was arrested for just being who He was and doing nothing wrong. And when they tried Him in court, He never said a mumbling word.

He didn’t have a lawyer, nor did He care about who judged Him.
His judge was a higher power.

The liberal court found Him guilty of false offences and sentenced Him to death, all because He changed the hearts and minds of men with an army of 12.

His death reset the clock of time.

Never before and not since has there ever been such a perfect conservative.

For over 2,000 years the world has tried hard to erase the memory of the perfect conservative, and His principles of compassion, caring and common sense.

His followers are now millions and millions the world over, as those who resent Him have intensified their attacks on who He was and what His followers believe.

The attacks are disguised as political correctness, or a misunderstanding of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Separation of Church and State does not mean Separation of Church from State. The State cannot impose Church on the people, but the people can display and say as much Church in the public square as they desire.

Our Founders recognized that distinction, which helped to inspire the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the founding of this nation – The United States of America!

We must be the Defending Fathers and the defenders of the perfect conservative.

That’s why I proudly wish one and all a very Merry Christmas!

by Herman Cain

Sleigh Ride

I would LOVE to one day go on a sleigh ride! A sleigh ride in the bright, white snow pulled by these beautiful large horses! Has anyone ever had this experience? Was it wonderful!? While I've gone on many a hay ride down here in the south I have NEVER gone on a sleigh ride! {it may be another bucket list item... if i had one that is... :D}

Soak In...

Baby its been cold down here in the south this past week. Hope everyone has a relaxing and cozy weekend {and not going completely crazy this last weekend before Christmas}. I hope you can sit back, relax, take some time for yourself... let this special holiday season soak in... I'll be taking care of my patients all weekend and possibly going completely crazy myself! :D

Telluride

You know how when you hear a certain song it brings back a flood of memories? It can completely transform you back into that time, that place, that feeling... don't you love those types of songs!? Well, when i saw this picture and discovered where it was located I was immediately flooded with memories of listening to Telluride by Tim McGraw back in my high school days. Because of this song, I fell in love with this "sleepy little town" of Telluride and have dreamed of visiting (if i had a bucket list it would be on it!). Do you have one of these songs?

wish I was here wednesday

Where do you wish you could be today? Olivia over at For Me has just started the wish i was here wednesday and I'm joining in! :D

I'm working today (Wednesday) and I probably wish i was pretty much anywhere but here. It has been so very hard and frustrating at work lately. Understaffed, overworked... with 7 patients as my normal load... its been difficult. Difficult for me to try to keep smiling and show compassion to patients, difficult for me to try and do 25 things all at once, and difficult for me not to hide my irritation toward my fellow coworkers at times.

So while browsing over at Bliss I discovered this winter wonderland... how I wish I was here!

Wisteria

Oh, just a few items I liked while browsing through my new discovery: Wisteria.com
{i just have never heard of it, have you?... super cute items for the home, and gifts!}

TLC

So My Love and I have been so busy! And now he's sick... very sick! Vomiting and... well you know, running to the toilet. So i'm definitely showing some TLC his way.

waffle iron or...

Am I behind the times? How long has this and this been going on and I'm just now finding out about it! {sigh} Who's tried them before? I'm trying them both out asap!

a wild thing

My dad called me wild thing growing up. I was never wild as in bad, crazy, or rebellious. Yet, he called me wild thing...
Sometimes I see/feel why...
And sometimes looking into my husband's eyes I see his frustration in understanding me...
He can probably relate to this...
But he loves a wild thing anyway...

I'll have a blue Christmas...

*****

Is everyone's front door decorated with Christmas cheer? Mine currently is not... My Love and I have not had a chance yet to get a Christmas tree so I haven't officially decorated for the special holiday season {sad}! And he's going camping with his boys and I'm working all weekend so it looks like it will just have to wait till next week. I definitely wish I had this beautiful front door to welcome me during the Christmas season {where can I get that wreath!}! Really love it! I'm generally a red front door kind of girl but this blue may just be changing my mind! Happy weekend to you all!

goat cheese rant

goat cheese torta

Oh Martha... how you do make my mouth water. Was browsing over at marthastewart.com this a.m. for a little holiday inspiration and I got completely side tracked by her goat cheese. I can't seem to get enough of it these days. I've decided that everything taste better with a little side of goat cheese! Last night for supper I made a My Love and I a pita pizza {sort of thing} and sprinkled the top with caramelized onions and goat cheese... delish! This past weekend my family and I spent some time up in Saluda/Hendersonville NC {I love that place!} and went to a charming little bistro in downtown Hendersonville called Mrs. G and Me. I ordered this goat cheese torta very similar to Martha's above {for my meal} and almost licked the plate afterwards. I am definitely a fan. That warm goat cheese appetizer above looks amazing! Pair it with that beutiful cracker ...Yummy! If you're deciding on an appetizer for your holiday gathering... go with the goat cheese friends!

dreams come true

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"A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling through
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true."

~Cinderella~

*{this dreamy little girl's room looks like somewhere where magical dreams come true}*

Winter Wonderland

Its officially Christmas time once again! I have sooo much to do. I have bought once single present and hung one single stocking on my fireplace and that's all... Yes, I have a ways to go! But I'm so very excited to be spending my very first Christmas with My Love {sigh, I just love him} as husband and wife! I just stumbled upon these beautiful pics at this beautiful blog. Really got me in the Christmas spirit! I'm dreaming of a winter wonderland just like this!

{on a side note, my sister recently braided her hair like this and our waiter kept touching it and asking her if she was from a different country. it was funny, he was enthralled}

See more beautiful Winter Wonderland pics at allthebeautifulchristmas.blogspot.com

house crush

I am a little in love with this house... maybe a lot in love... or maybe the beautiful white blanket of snow has cast a spell on me... or maybe I'm truly in love with this house. Its interesting too because generally I don't love a ton of windows in a house. I do like some! I love natural light streaming in! But there is something that freaks me out a little about the idea of too many windows allowing someone to take a little peak at me {especially at night, with all my lights blazing and me not being able to see them... peaking at me... through the windows. Do I have a phobia? All that to say, there must be a sensible balance of windows/curtains in my house}. But I love this house. I am drawn to just the build of it! I keep staring at the roof! And seeing it builds up my anticipation of dreaming of a white Christmas. Its difficult in the south to keep that dream alive sometimes... but I'm still dreaming!

Gobble On...

{*****}

to find joy in the common things,

to do our best with what life brings,

to trust that God will lead the way,

to count our blessings day by day,

to love by sharing and forgiving,

this is the secret of thanksgiving.

~Esther F. Thom

happy thanksgiving to you all! gobble on!

the best is still to come

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I am reminded this morning by Town & Country Mom of the truest meaning of thanksgiving. Isn't it a true test of thanksgiving to still be thankful during the harsh times, the valleys... She explained, "It was faith, courage, and bravery that brought us to the first Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving came after leaving home, after suffering, after sickness, after grief. The celebration came after hard work, after toil, after struggle, after compromise. And still after such hardship and loss, people gave thanks and were grateful to God not so much because the worst was over, but because—in their faith, they knew the best was still to come."

I hold tightly to that faith, the best is still to come! And I do have so very much to be thankful for. God is good, through the valleys & the peaks! Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

heavenly peace

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Today my grandmother decided to take a walk in the clouds... its been a bittersweet day, filled with bittersweet tears...

‎"Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish." John 11: 25 & 26

please stop beating down my doorway...

Remember Just call me Jennifer Hudson... once upon a time ago. Well, lets just say I've been living by a new quote lately {ahum, see above}... and it ain't good! and Thanksgiving and Christmas are beating down my doorway along with the pizza delivery guy! Whats a girl to do! Go clothes shopping and get depressed b/c nothing in my size still fits then get inspired to join the Jennifer Hudson crusaders again? Ok, its a plan...

cozy little kitchens

{Love}

{Love}

{Love}

{Love}

I keep thinking of my future little barn, with our little apartment upstairs... my little space... and my cozy little kitchen I hope to one day have. I go back and forth between my love for white vs. lots of different random bright colors. Its a debacle {i just like that word!} I'm sure many people have. This neighborhood seems to be smothering me everywhere I turn lately. I'm ready for wide open spaces, my little barn... and my cozy little kitchen. Have a cozy weekend!

by the light of my chandelier

Yes, I'm not a big fan of laundry. I'm not sure when it happened. I never minded doing my own laundry when I was single. I used to come up to My Love's house and see clean laundry piled high on his guest bedroom bed and couldn't understand why at all... well, guess what I've been doing lately! Yep, piling clean laundry on the guest bedroom bed! I'm very ashamed... Maybe if I had this laundry room I'd be more inspired! Yes, I'll be folding my clothes by the light of my chandelier in no time! {i can dream anyway}

Butternut Squash and Mushroom Wellington

This article/recipe from The New York Times made my mouth water. My Love and I have been a bit all over the place lately, therefore cooking has been the last thing on our minds. However, I believe I just found some inspiration! I'm off to the grocery store! Planning to surprise him with a delish meal and possibly a little candle light tonight I'm thinking...