I love you, BABY DEER!

HAPPY MONDAY!!

So it's a well known fact that I LOVE mini deer:
You can imagine how happy I was when I found this mini deer at Borders last night:

No joke, BEST Christmas decoration ever!! How jealous are you??

Favorite Things

Happy Monday!!

Back to school for me (and Kate) - The day went quickly followed by an after-school work out session - I'm trying to do that whole work out thing again!

Kate! Remember when we ran outside in the SNOW last year to get beach bodies for Phoenix?

This is one of my favorite holiday things that has been in my life since I was a baby. This calendar was hand made for me (each ornament is hand made also!!) and you hang an ornament on the tree every day starting December 1st until Christmas!! Yet another tradition passed down from Momma Cooper :)

I have a super long wish list this year (and it keeps growing). This adorable print is definitely topping the list!

"I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may - light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful"

[John Constable]

Deck The Halls

Merry Christmas, Tis the Season, and Welcome to my apartment!!!

I must start by saying that this Christmas tree is the same Christmas tree that I shared with Kate Bing last year -- putting it up was very emotional and brought back some excellent memories (especially the one that I knocked all the ornaments down and ruined Christmas).

I love the tree and this little snowman. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these days leading up to Christmas!! Christmas carols, shopping, lights, high electric bills, and drinking lots of hot chocolate.

Nile obviously loves Christmas too.

We hung lights on the outside of my porch - my porch that overlooks the dumpster behind Kroger. Needless to say, my balcony is the only one with Christmas lights. Hey, those Kroger workers need some Christmas Spirit too!!!

Happy Birthday Jesus! My mini nativity:

Obviously, Santa was there the day our Savior was born :)

And, finally, just for you Kate Bing:

Your favorite ornament that I made last year :)

Happy decorating everyone!!!

Tryptophan Overload

Our Thanksgiving road trip was a huge success full of family, food, expandable pants, and driving. On Wednesday, us Indianasters drove in to Ohio to see Nile's brother!

We saw all the sights such as Lake Buckhorn (where Nile spent a lot of his childhood), lots of Amish, and lots of chickens.

When Nile was little, he used to get his picture taken in front of these trees on the first day of school every year. Naturally, I made him stand there to take his picture.

After our wonderful visit to Holmes County, we drove on to Follansbee, WV for Thanksgiving Day and lots and lots of food. I neglected to take ANY pictures besides this one:

I know, I'm terrible.

Overall, Thanksgiving was amazing. I am SO thankful!!

thanksgiving!!

So this Thanksgiving was the first Thanksgiving without my family. The thought of the drive from York to LI was too daunting...especially after crashing my car last year!! I went to Em's for an almost as good as family Thanksgiving. It was wonderful. It involved a little of this:

A little of this:

And a lot of this:

But I'm feeling super sick so this evening is dedicated to recording grades online and trying to feel better so school isn't horrible tomorrow :)

P.S. Did you see this on GLEE?

Thanksgiving Road Trip Preview

Our wonderful Thanksgiving road trip began on Wednesday morning November 25. First destination: Millersburg, Ohio aka Amish capital of the world, where Nile Smith was born and raised :)

Kate Bing, BE JEALOUS! So much Amish, so little time!

I am thankful for:

*My faith, friends, and INCREDIBLE family

*Bearded boyfriends

*My 7th graders (even the crazies)

*Indianapolis

*Green bean casserole

*Kate (I miss you!!)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Be sure to tell those you love how thankful you are for them!

so

I miss J. Coop so so so so so much!!

Hi, I'm Jessica & I'm a terrible blogger.

Do you ever feel like you get so wrapped up in life that you are too busy to do anything else besides your work?

The cool thing about it is, I LOVE my work and love being busy :)

Unfortunately, it puts a a damper on my blogging life ~ I apologize for my lack of blogs.

Things going on in my life:

1. I GOT CABLE! FINALLY! PRAISE JESUS!

2. SCHOOL ~ still so time consuming, yet so wonderful

3. Missing my friends (a lot)

4. Loving my boyfriend (a lot)

5. Can't wait until Thanksgiving!!!

1,001 Rules

Have you visited 1,001 Rules for my Unborn Son yet? If not, do so ASAP!!

There's some great advice on there such as:

"If you aren't hungry enough to eat an apple, you aren't hungry."

"Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it."

"Never eat lunch in your office."

"In her dad's eyes, until you marry her, you're not in the picture."

"Ask your mom to play, she won't let you win"

"If you have the right of way, TAKE IT!"

and

"You don't get to choose your own nickname"

Love.

There are also great photos throughout the website. I highly recommend.

My personal favorite (because I'm a busy girl) is:

"Keep a schedule"

(Great Gatsby style)

Xo, Jess

P.S. Thanks to my love Nile for introducing me to this website :)

Preview!!

Chinese wedding pics from Long Island this weekend!! More when Lare e-mails them to me!!