A Christmas Miracle

Image via Maaco on Flickr

Sometimes I'm a really cynical person and I wish I wasn't. Normally these Associated Press heart warming stories make me feel silly if I find them inspirational, but this one made me so glad I thought I'd share. At K-Marts across America needy families are having their layaways paid off by anonymous donors. Though I'm hardly ever very personal on here, I remember some scant Christmas days as a kid where my lovely family was only able to have the small presents we did get because my mom was diligent with her lay away plans. While I know money is always scarce to for so many, I thought I'd share in case it encouraged even one more person to take part in this.
(Via Annilygreen)

A Christmas Pickle

Well, no "Weekend Plans" because I accidentally left my camera at my friends' home on Saturday night. Ooops! In lieu of Weekend Plans, I bring you, ye' olde Christmas pickle. I took this picture with my phone luckily! Shwew! What did we ever do before smart phones? Anyway, back to the pickle. A few weeks ago, Grace from Design*Sponge mentioned on Twitter she was seeing pickle ornaments everywhere. This meant that I too, from that moment on, began to see them everywhere. "What is up with this pickle, shizz?", I wondered. Well on Saturday, R. returned from shopping with his brother and had this little pickle ornament from his beloved K. Mart. On the back of the box it said it was a German tradition to hide a pickle in the tree on Christmas Eve and whoever found it the next morning was going to have good luck for the next year. By placing the pickle in the tree, children were reminded to be grateful for the beautiful ornaments and the tree itself rather than just looking at their presents. This seems strange, but that ornament is hilarious. Happy Monday!

P.S. Woah, can you believe Christmas is this Sunday!? I still haven't finished everything, but luckily have a short week at work.

A Minimalist Christmas

Image via Frames of Reading Road

Today I ventured out for my first foray into Christmas shopping and (YIKES!) I wasn't feeling it at all. I love my friends and family, I really do, but that type of madness does not bring warm feelings to my heart. I'm thankful that a few years ago my smart brother suggested that we stop giving adults presents and just gift children. I guess, luckily for my niece Munchie, who just finished her first semester of college (WOO HOO! Go Munchie!) we define you as a kid until you graduate college. Don't get me wrong, I'll be doing some online damage tomorrow for Free Shipping Day, but it is nice that I don't feel the tremendous pressure to go out and shop just to buy. I don't know at all what to get R., but I hope some Christmas inspiration will hit tonight. I'm also confused about what to get my younger nieces who are ages 11-7. I'm going to do some gift guide browsing tonight . Suggestions? Is anyone else a little overwhelmed by actual brick and mortar shopping this time of year too?

3 Little Nail Polishes

Image via Quindome on Polyvore, Nail Polish via Nordstrom

I've been trying to decide if I should do a quickie gift-guide. Perhaps an all-what-you-can-buy-online-at-the-last-minute type thing... Maybe tonight.  Either way,  I spotted this adorable nail polish on Village and had to see more. I've read that Butter makes great polish, but I haven't been able to pull the trigger because it costs a little much for my cheap heart. Maybe I should treat myself!*
*If you haven't seen that episode of Parks and Rec, go treat yo' self.*

Reading Time

Image via DougsWordClocks via Making It Lovely

A little flu has descended upon my post-thesis euphoria to bring  me back to Earth. Taking the day off of everything to get some rest, but I spotted this cool clock on Making It Lovely and had to share. I'm a loser who never learned how to tell time like this (Ex. Quarter till 5) until a few years ago and then used it like it was going out of style. *cough, cough, sniffle, sniffle* Now back to bed/couch.

Weekend Plans

Images 1, 3,4, 9, 10, 11 from top right courtesy of R., who used the digital while I busted out my Instax.

This was my first weekend in at least 2 years where I didn't have to feel guilty for doing fun things because I'm finally done with my thesis and it was wonderful. R. agreed to do anything I wanted on Saturday as part of our post-thesis celebration and I chose to go to Eastern Market in Capitol Hill. I've never actually been during the winter, so it was fun to see of the the Christmas stuff they had. We spent the whole day walking around, having snickey snacks, drinking coffee, browsing the flea market, looking for used books and taking pictures. We had brunch at Montmarte and finally got around to dinner at Ted's Bulletin, both of which I would recommend to anyone visiting DC. We've been to Montmarte many times, but Ted's Bulletin was something I'd wanted to do for at least a year, but had been too busy. I loved the decor and the old movies they played, not to mention the food was delicious! Sunday was filled with nothing really, so this is really only my Saturday. I just didn't think anyone would want to see my laundry or the giant blister I got from a pot of bubbling, hot butternut squash soup that we didn't like anyway because of too much sage. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are off to a happy Monday!

Friday At Five

Image via Angela Hardison via Black*Eiffel

Happy, Happy Friday! I will be basking in the glow of post-thesis joy! I just spotted this free PDF, inspired by Emily's craft on Secrets from a Stylist. I do believe this sweet little number will be printed and put up, along with the rest of my Christmas decorations. This week has been all over the map, no pun intended, and I need to take some time to mellow out. Happy Friday!

I Wood Wear These Out!

Image via Shwood via A Pair of Pears

These are obviously freaking amazing. Yes, please.

Finally- A Final Note on Thesis

Today, 2:28 P.M. I turned over my thesis to the university library. It was 26,831 words and 100 pages long. As R. and I walked it to the library, I finally realized that I had finished this giant thing in my life. A natural at self deprecation, I was finally able to be proud of my hard work.
Now, bring on the champagne and roses suckahs' 'cause it is relaxy time!

Leisure Time

Image via Oh Happy Day

As it slowly dawns on me that, for the first time since I was five years old, this weekend doesn't include any homework... I'm feeling a bit odd. No guilt over doing something fun when I could be thesising? You jest, sir! So when I saw this rad idea for a Leisure Time Reference Guide in Jordan's gift ideas, I thought what an awesome idea this was. I know there are 20 movies I've wanted to see over these past few months of intensive thesis work, 9 different books, and at least a million new albums to listen to, but.... uhhhhh.....What were they? Problem solved!R. better look out- We are about to be the most weekend loving couple this side of the Mississipp'...Or at least, you know, in NoVa.

The Great Necklace Exchange

Image via Fashion Loves People

Just this morning I bemoaned the fact that my sweater didn't really allow for a necklace, but instead called for earrings. It is true. I love necklaces most of all jewelry. Earrings can get too heavy, rings are nice except that I'm a clean freak who washes my hands all day, and bracelets usually get in the way of my busy typing all day. A few weeks ago I took part in the Greedy Girl Calendar swap. I love good old fashioned mail and how blogs have opened up these new fun exchanges so when I saw this Necklace Swap, I knew I had to sign up. So much fun! I'm already thinking of what to make!

Weekend Plans

Yeah, it is Tuesday and I'm just getting around to my Weekend Plans, but I feel okay with that. This weekend was rough! What? You don't believe me because it looks so relaxed and I made a frittata? Well then let me explain. I waited all weekend to find out if my thesis was finally approved and (cue mental drum roll)......... IT WAS! Finally my sweet, lovely advisor said I was ready to get all of my signatures and graduate. More drama to come about that, but the rest of the weekend was nice.
We saw Marc Maron at the Arlington Draft House. If you don't listen to his podcast, WTF, you are really missing out. He was hilarious and really did some amazing crowd work*. We started putting up our Christmas decorations, but to be honest didn't finish because due to said anticipation stress, I got overwhelmed. Yeah, I'm one of those nerds. It was a stressful weekend, but offically the last one I will ever to thesis edits in! YAHOO!

P.S. The drama? While I'm done and just need signatures to graduate, one of my committee members is unexpectedly unreachable in Japan. She has no proxy signer and I've gotten no e-mail. OH THE ANXIETY. Oh, well, I keep trying to tell myself that it is okay, cause I'm done with all my writing and now it is just a waiting game.

*Just a tip, ladies- Please don't take your entire drunken bachelorette/drunken birthday party to a comedy show. You will be made fun of or at least annoy the rest of the crowd. Take that stuff to a bar where it belongs and let the hardworking comedian do their job.*

Friday At Five

Image via This is Glamorous via Another

 This weekend, aside from finding out what's happening with my thesis (*Fingers Crossed*), I hope I can put up my Christmas tree. I need a little holiday cheer. Earlier this week, I found myself being a holiday Grinch because of too much exposure to gift guides, already packed stores, and general early December overkill. I need a pick me up and I think white Christmas lights are just the trick.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, filled with hot cocoa, punk Christmas songs, and general good times.

P.S. Lately all R. and I want to drink is Champagne, mostly as a joke, but also somewhat seriously, I'm embarrassed to admit. We usually buy cheap Prosecco or whatever is on sale, but I think for my graduation I'd like a nice fancy bottle *hint,hint*. It is always a delicious celebration!

(Holiday) Music to Your Ears

As the holiday season approaches, I always find myself enjoying  traditional songs with a nice mix of new punk classics. I love Dean Martin and Judy Garland Christmas songs, but they get played out in stores, so it is nice to have other Christmas jams. I really wanted to put up Face to Face's song, Merry Christmas, but the video was lame. I didn't think I would go wrong with the Ramones though. 

Babys in the Modern World

Image via The Hangover

When my sister was having my nephew last year we all tried to come up with names for him. Little did we know that we should have been using Google! I recently read that new babies have an online presence typically within 29 seconds of being born! For a fascinating read on how parents are using modern technology to choose baby names, read this New York Times article. I'm not even in the market for a baby, no siree, but I'm fascinated by how people pick names. Remember this awesome site from Cup of Jo a few years ago? So weird. I think I should ask my mom how she came up with my name... What about yours?