fresh friday

Why hello.

I really feel terrible about how infrequently I have been posting to the blog.  There has been a lot going on and I would love to share it with you, I just do not really have the time.  And, for some reason, I seem to forget everything when I sit down and type.  I should really make a list throughout the week to remind me come Friday.

Well, the Spring semester started on Wednesday.  It was actually nice to be back and I really enjoy teaching a course for the 2nd time.  It is so nice to be able to anticipate questions and fix things that went wrong last semester.  Also, I am using my iPad to fill in the notes which a lot of fun.

Besides that, I have been trying to do more exercising.  I teach in the afternoons, so rather than having Devin drop me off at school at 6:45, I have been staying home to exercise and then I either walk or ride my bike to school (except on Thursdays).  So far, so good.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR HOCKEY TO START!!! 

But really who isn't???  I'm not sure if I will wear my 49ers shirt or Sabres shirt on Sunday.

I guess I will end with a few pictures.

We got the girls a belated Christmas present...a bird feeder.  One week later, and it seems to only be a squirrel feeder.

Deeley enjoying some sun.

It's that time of year again!

So Long!

happy new year

Well hello 2013.  It's a little bit bittersweet for me.  I don't think that I will ever have a year like I did in 2012.  It was the scariest, most difficult, most stressful, most rewarding, most incredible year that I have ever had.  With that said, I am looking forward to a quiet, happy and healthy year in our new home.  No resolutions here.  I have some things in mind.  We'll see how it goes.

I completely failed at documenting Christmas this year.  I did not take any pictures of Christmas cookie baking, but let me tell you, in was an intense 2 days.  The only pictures that I have are of a cookie platter I made when I had some people over before leaving for Hamburg.

I made a key.

For me for next year:  the coconut toffee cookies are always the best (3 batches), the lofthouse sugar cookies were amazing, the peanut butter blossoms turned out great using butter, and 3 batches of biscotti was a perfect amount.

I also took some pictures of the house the night before we left for Hamburg.  I had every intention of taking the Christmas decorations down tomorrow, but they just look so pretty and the tree isn't even losing any needles yet and I wasn't here to enjoy it all on Christmas.  I think it may stay up at least until the end of the week.  Devin says that he should have made me sign an agreement saying that I would take everything down today.

I think that I am going to like the house so much less once everything is down (sad face).

I have included a montage from Christmas Eve at my moms.  My favorite picture is of her freaking out when she opened up a bound copy of my dissertation.  She almost cried.  It was a great reaction!  Not sure how I am going to ever top that one.

Last, I have included a very silly picture of Janey.

Wishing you all the best in the new year.

So Long!

fresh friday

I'm sorry for not blogging the last two weeks, there has been a ton going on.  Plus, the blog wouldn't let me post pictures for some reason and that is exactly what I have for you.  Christmas pictures!!

Things are finally winding down and I am beyond excited for Christmas!  But as expected, I got really really sick on Monday.  I wasn't sure if it was a flu or sinus infection until Tuesday when I could barely move and my teeth were incredibly painful -> sinus infection.  I am in the stuffy/slight cough phase of it now, so things are slightly more tolerable.

We decorated the house two weekends ago and it looks wonderful!  It really is exactly what I wanted/was envisioning.  Because of the orange wall in the livingroom, I was a little bit perplexed about my colors/theme for my Christmas tree.  I decided on turquoise/brown/cream as well as a bunch of adorable owls.  We've named the tree topper Bernard (and if you can guess why, I am incredibly impressed) and the white owl on the right was already named Hedwig.  If you have suggestions for the others, let me know.  Have a look:

Bernard in the middle, Hedwig on the right.

The little guy on the right is my favorite.

lights on/lights off

I also decorated both fireplace mantles.

The Livingroom.

The Kitchen.
(the camera did not like the lights for some reason.)

We have candles in each window (except the huge ones) and a wreath on the front door.  I just needs some garland for the stair railing and we are in business!

I gave my last final exam yesterday and I have 48 of them to grade this weekend.  But besides that, I am done for the semester!

Next week I will be baking all sorts of Christmas cookies!  Get ready for that post!

Devin had his first concert at his new job this week.  It was fabulous as always!

And finally, here are a couple pictures of the girls.

Janey finally got a pretty awesome winter coat this year.

Deeley has been spending a lot of time lately in boxes that are way too small for her.

So Long!

thankful thursday

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

This year has completely changed my life.  Last Thanksgiving I had just finished mailing out my job applications and was anxiously hoping to hear from schools.  I was also pondering how I was ever going to finish my thesis in a mere 5 months.

Now I am a Dr. that just happens to have my dream job.  I am living in an incredible house with my husband (who also managed to get a terrific job) and my two sweet kitties.  I couldn't be more thankful for what this life has brought me, especially in the last year.

I am in Buffalo to celebrate happiness and health with my family and friends and that is another thing that I am so thankful for.

A special shout out to my sister Olivia, because she is the coolest girl that I know and I am so thankful to have you in my life.

Here's to another year of things to be thankful for.

So Long!

fresh friday

Hello & Happy Friday - 

I have made it a point this morning to take a little bit of time and get some pictures posted for you.  

As promised I have some (really badly taken) closet photos.

BEFORE: just an empty room (well it was full of boxes of clothes)

AFTER: plenty of space to hang things!

AFTER: still a ton of room to move in there!

AFTER: we have a couple cabinets for storage and shelves were
added to the mini closets that were already there.

We are still so in love with the closet!  It has made the mornings so much better, and the cats love it too!

Here are some other highlights from the past week:

Cute coffee place, decent coffee - nearly felt like Pittsburgh.

It was so warm on Sunday we opened windows.

So warm in fact that  I got my peppermint mocha iced.

We went to a BU basketball game which was a ton of fun!!  They are really good.

This text totally made my Wednesday!

These are the sunrises that I get from my office window.  Perfection.

Well that is all from me.  We are heading home Tuesday night for the first time in months, like nearly 5 actually.  It has to be the longest that we have been away.  I am beyond excited to see my family and friends and celebrate the holiday.  Plus once Thanksgiving is over, I can get really excited about Christmas!!!

I highly doubt that there will be a fresh friday next Friday morning as that's right, I have some Black Friday shopping to do!  Wish me luck!

So Long!

fresh friday

Welcome back -

I am so excited that Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away!  I was just thinking that at this time two weeks from now, I will already be hours into Black Friday shopping with Bridget and Liv!  

On another note, my dad did an incredible job on our closet.  It is better than I could have ever imagined.  I have yet to take pictures, so hopefully next week I can do a feature on it.  

That is really all from me this week.  I have 50 exams to grade this weekend, so I am going to go get started with that.

Have an amazing (warm) weekend!

So Long!

fresh friday

Very quick post today, I have lots to do this morning.

It has been a long week, but my dad is here which is awesome!   It is amazing to see him, and not only that, but he is so helpful with things around the house.  We are so grateful for all of the work he is doing.

So, that hurricane happened.  We are very fortunate that things were relatively calm here.  I mean it rained a lot and there was plenty of wind, but no serious damage, very few people even lost power.

Halloween also happened.  It was like 45 and sprinkling around here and that made for zero trick-or-treaters.  Could you imagine in Buffalo if 45 degrees and some rain kept people from trick-or-treating?  They might as well just cancel Halloween altogether.  This is the first year that I did not dress up whatsoever.  Sort of sad.

They released our faculty profiles.  Have a look!

I just have some pictures to share from the week.

All of Liv's friends say that Tony looks like Cake Boss,
so I had to get this pictures and send it to her.

My Frankenstein pumpkin for the Frankenstorm.

Growler of Souther Tier Pumpkin from my dad.
It is sooooo good!

The beautiful sky this morning (does not look like that now).

Have a terrific weekend everyone!

So Long!