it won't be long

nothin' but good things. lunch with anna & michelle, way too much netflix, passion tea lemonade, & adorable toiletries from forever 21. tomorrow i'm driving up to tuscaloosa, finally. i'm truly enjoying my winter break, but being at my parent's house can get a tad boring, so i resort to shopping and baking a lot. i also took a 5 hour nap today, but i had to be up early to go with my brother to get his wisdom teeth out, so it's excused, right? right. i can take 5 hour naps on winter break.

2011 was an interesting year for me. plenty of ups & downs, including some of the most horrific moments of my life thanks to april 27th. i am so fortunate to be alive & surrounded by amazing people on a daily basis. i am proud of some of the choices i made this year. i am also happy about my growing interest in food, baking & wine; it's a real passion of mine that has grown immensely in 2011, & it's brought me (& my friends who hardly cook) great deliciousness & happiness. this year, i learned who my true friends are. i also learned that my choices matter. & most importantly of all, i've been reminded that my family is what matters the most. 2011 was a year of growth, difficulty & amazing moments. i'm truly one of those people that's pretty damn happy no matter what happens. there are parts of 2011 i wish hadn't occurred, of course. if i could take back april 27th, i would. but i am so fortunate to have the life i do, & i cannot wait for a new year to spend with the people i love. i'm also pretty excited for the national championship, duh!

this is the song in my head at the moment. maybe because i'm excited for the weekend? i hope everyone has a splendid new year's, & best wishes for 2012!

happy holidays!

i love christmas. i do the same thing every year, but i look forward to it so much. on christmas eve, i whipped up a quick batch of my go to red velvet cupcakes to take to my grandmother's. christmas morning, i opened gifts with my family, then we went to my grandmother's for lunch. mimosas, beef tenderloin & the most AMAZING mashed potatoes ever = the meal i look forward to all year, every year. i got lots of presents that i'd been wanting, including some things from my holiday wishlist! i am so in love with the coach poppy scent, i'll probably go through half the bottle before the new semester starts. my other obsession is the steve madden annie booties - i can't wait to wear these on new year's eve!

this week i'll be spending time with friends, working out, watching netflix, baking & doing a little shopping with mom. during the upcoming weekend i'll be back in tuscaloosa to ring in the new year with my boyfriend & spend some time with him! hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

it comes naturally

"your love" on repeat, my fortune when i got chinese last week, china glaze's "meteor shower", geekin' in a homemade facial mask with honey, nutmeg + cinnamon, my peppermint meringues, new velour hoodie from juicy couture after a day of shopping with michelle, making my favorite orange chicken stir fry for dinner tuesday night, homemade caesar salad + pinot noir wednesday night. i can't wait for christmas!

winter break at last!

on friday afternoon i drove to my parent's house for christmas break. finals week wasn't that bad! & i got to spend a few days with a special someone before driving to fairhope on friday night i went to my grandmother's birthday, & i spent all day saturday baking with my mother, grandmother & aunts. we made tons of cookies, including pecan sandies, sugar cookies, cranberry pistachio, peanut butter blossoms, peanut butter truffles, martha washington balls & lemon bars. i personally made chewy lemon snowdrop cookies & peppermint meringue! the meringue turned out way different than i expected but it's yummy!


it feels SO good to get a break after this semester. it was a difficult one as far as academics go, but i'm feeling totally refreshed already & ready for next semester's classes. i've got so many things i'm looking forward to, including cooking my heart out, shopping & spending time with family. oh, & netflix. & naps.

"dead week" in photos

relaxing on my comfy bed doing homework. playing words with friends. endless trips to redbox. studystudystudy. starbucks runs. new favorite boots steve madden boots that i wear constantly. having a girly drink at the end of a long day of studying. cinnamon roll study breaks. and sleep. hello dead week.

holiday wishlist 2011

starbucks giftcards, grey tall uggs, cath kidston iphone case, marc by marc jacobs turnlock necklace, coach poppy perfume, northface e tip gloves & tickets to the national championship

on monday, "dead week" begins. i've got a huge project to do, a portfolio to organize & an exam to study for, so i haven't had time to take photos. i am SO looking forward to exam week being over, spending a few wonderful days with a great guy, & then finally heading to my parent's house for 1 month. baking, family time & catching up with friends at mcsherry's will ensue!

also announced today: alabama is going to the national championship game in new orleans! am i going to be there? OF COURSE! i'm entering the drawing for student tickets tomorrow at 8am, & hotel reservations are in the works. whether or not i get a ticket is purely luck, so my fingers are crossed. even if i don't, i'm heading to new orleans anyway just to be present.

for the next 2 weeks it's coffee, instagram, studying, writing & no sleep. i'll be updating again on the other side of finals. happy december!