Thanksgiving Day

My Thanksgiving break kicked off a little early - on Wednesday. Technically we had school, but 3/4 of my professors cancelled class since apparently most people just skip class anyway.

I did go in for my one and only class, and I was super happy when it only lasted half an hour! It was snowing and deserted on campus.....

My mom and I headed out to the mall afterwards to do some Christmas shopping, which was so fun. I even ran into some old high school friends I hadn't seen in a long time!

On Thanksgiving I got up early to run to the store before the parade started. I picked up the newspaper so I could look through all of the Black Friday ads....

....and I also picked up a few doughnuts for myself. I couldn't pass up the one decorated to look like a turkey!

I then proceeded to plop myself down in front of the TV with the parade on, snuggle with Coco, eat my doughnuts, and look through the ads. It was glorious. My family was doing a 10k walk, but I liked being lazy better ;)

Before leaving the house for dinner!

We alternate eating Thanksgiving dinner every year with either my mom or dad's side of the family. This year it was my mom's side, and we always go out to eat at a restaurant on a golf course.

Nothing is more American than apple pie on Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2007 vs. 2013. It depresses me a little to see how much Maddie and I have grown up in these past six years. My mom said we'll have to take another Thanksgiving picture like these together in six years, which depressed me even further because in six years I will be 24 and Maddie will be 13. If someone could come up with a way to slow time down, that would be great.

After dinner we went over my aunt's house to have dessert with my dad's side of the family, where we finished up our Thanksgiving celebrations.

I'm so thankful for my family!

Meeting The Pioneer Woman (Again!)

Monday night The Pioneer Woman was in town doing a book signing. She was here close to three years ago, and I got to meet her then, which was before her show had even started on Food Network. I've just been reading her blog for years, and she is just as sweet in person as she is on her blog and on TV.

I met some of my family at the bookstore, and I got lucky because they were already in line close to the front (I was late), so I didn't have to wait hardly at all!

So fun!

Even Savannah had fun!

After we met Ree, we went over to the kids section, and I thought it was so cute how the girls were sitting around listening to my mom read them a story.

Then my mom and I grabbed Piada for dinner (which is basically one of my favorite restaurants!).

Overall, Monday was a pretty awesome day!

Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! It's hard to believe it's already here, isn't it?

This day always makes me take a step back and think about the things I'm thankful for.

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A lot of things come to mind. I'm thankful for my house, my car.......

But those are just material things, and although I am thankful for them, I'm even more thankful for the irreplaceable things.

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This year, I'm thankful for the relationships in my life.

For my family.

For my old friends.

For the new friends I've met since starting college.

I'm just so thankful for all of the blessings God has given me!

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Sweets, Shopping, and Initiations

This post is just a little bit of everything as I work to catch up.....

The mere fact that we live in a world where things like Red Velvet Dark Chocolate Covered Santas exist is a reason alone to be happy and believe there is a God ;)

Last weekend I made cake pops for my friend's sister since it was her 13th birthday. I then proceeded to feel extremely old thinking about my 13th birthday and how long ago it was.....

My mom made the Pioneer Woman's homemade French Toast for dinner last weekend. It was absolutely delicious.

This is what I like to call a diva dog. I wish I could say that this photo was staged, but it wasn't. She really just laid her head on the pillow herself.

This is my schedule for the Monday after Thanksgiving. I cringe just thinking about it.

These are wonderful. If you haven't had them, you must try them!

I was officially initiated into Kappa Delta Sorority on Thursday (11/21). I'm so happy to be a real member and to know some of the secrets of KD :)

When I came home, I found a bouquet of white roses sitting on my kitchen table from my parents, since our flower is the white rose. Loved that!

One of my cousins was also a KD in college (at UC too!), and she dropped off a surprise little gift at the KD house that I got the night of initiation. It was this sweet picture of her girls!

After class on Friday I headed out to the mall just for fun. Why not? I had some time to kill and what better way to spend my time than walking around my favorite mall?

I basically want all of the new Formula X for Sephora nail polishes for Christmas. All of the colors are so pretty and unique.

I couldn't stop smiling as I walked around the mall since it was decorated for Christmas and Christmas music was playing.

I even spotted Santa ;)

I went in Nordstrom to try on this cardigan (aka the blardigan). If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you're not reading Pinterest Told Me To, and you really should be! This piece of clothing was super soft and comfortable. It was also really cute (just ignore the fact that my legs are awkwardly crossed - ha!).

 Macy's all decorated for Christmas. What could be better?

I only had about an hour at the mall before I had to grab dinner, so I went across the street to Noodles & Co. - one of my favorite places!

I also picked up Yagoot on my way to a holiday fair/event thing at a local salon. Basically they had a bunch of vendors selling different gifts, which was fun to look around at.

My mom and I also started putting out our Christmas decorations Friday night too. Wahooo! We usually wait until after Thanksgiving, but with Thanksgiving being so late this year and the fact that it is already super cold out and snowing as I actually type this sentence, we decided to decorate early.

On Saturday I was initiated into Alpha Kappa Psi (my business fraternity) in the morning, and then I went back out to the mall with my parents in the afternoon. It was another short trip, but we did get shakes at Chick-fil-a.

I also went to Hobby Lobby that night, which is one of my favorite stores for Christmas items. I loved this huge display of nutcrackers!

Sunday was actually the first Sunday in THREE months that I didn't have anywhere I needed to be (besides church). So after I got home from church and visiting my grandpa, I put on my pajamas and spent the rest of the day finishing homework, watching a Christmas movie, cleaning my room, and just getting a lot of stuff done overall.

I'm so excited this has been a short week. I only have a 0.25 day of school today (3/4 of my classes were cancelled), and then it will finally be Thanksgiving break!

Holiday Spirit

Christmas is finally {almost} here, and I couldn't be more excited!

Last weekend I had a fun holiday themed Saturday that got me in the Christmas mood.

My mom and I met my dad downtown for lunch at Potbelly on Fountain Square since he was working, and then my mom and I hit the Holiday Market.

Every year my city hosts a Holiday Market at the convention center downtown and basically a bunch of different vendors come and sell things you can either buy as gifts or Christmas decorations. We've gone in the past, but it was so much more fun this year, especially because they had a lot of food vendors too.

The only downside is that it's crazy crowded.....

One of my favorite booths!

BonBonerie doesn't have their Christmas cookies out yet, but the fall ones were just as good.

I loved this UC American Girl outfit. I needed this when I was younger :)

My purchase of the day was this Christmas canvas that I am obsessed with. I think the postcard look is so cute, plus you can turn it on and it lights up (which is why the church looks like it's glowing in the background). I already put it out in my room, and I think it is just such a unique decoration.

They also had a cake decorating competition, and I loved seeing all of the pretty cakes.

My mom and I then grabbed Starbucks (they were having a promotion - buy 1 get 1 free on their holiday drinks!) and then did some shopping at Macy's.

We stopped at Target on the way home too - my favorite!

I am SO ready for Christmas to be here!