weird things happen to me.

the strangest things happen to me...

so I don't know how to even know how to preface this story.

but,

all I wanted was my house 

DEEP CLEANED.

not like a precious feather duster clean...

like things I don't think about,

the oven/stove/behind the washer/etc.

I have lived here 2 years,

and I will be perfectly honest in saying I have not cleaned under the stove.

at all.

not once.

____

so of course I think it is a little strange to pay someone to do something,

that I obviously can,

but sometimes it is worth it!

so I find a lady.

she seems legit.

we text a few times,

she shows up,

calls her husband to tell him she made it last Friday.

(said they check in with each other when it is a new place, smart!)

well I got ready for work,

she went and got some supplies and came back,

and I was so excited to get home that afternoon to a spotless apartment!!

except I did not...

this is what my kitchen looked like,

as of 5:30pm

literally got home to all her supplies at the front door,

they money still sitting there (that I left to pay her),

stove open,

microwave open,

clothes in the middle of a washing cycle

(with the lid open).

SO STRANGEEEEE.

she literally disappeared. 

no trace.

and no acknowledgment that she was 

1.done cleaning

2. was coming back.

____

I, of course, called her.

no answer.

so I locked up my apartment and headed to the gym.

called her a couple hours later.

no answer.

and now I am beginning to think something earth shattering happened.

death/house burning down/emergency with family/etc.

and then,

11 hours after I met her,

I get this text:

now, I will be the first to say that if my pet was hit by a car it would be a 

HUGE EMERGENCY!!!

but,

no text,

no call,

it was just super strange.

It is weird enough to let a stranger in your house.

but then when they straight up disappear of the face of the earth, it adds a new dimension.

lol

______

so yeah, 

the cat lives.

my house got put back together,

it ends well!

christmas cheer.

I got in the Christmas spirit this week!

I think the anticipation for the holidays is often a lot more fun than the actual day,

which is okay.

___

We went to Santa's Wonderland in College Station Tuesday.

it was cool, but not freezing, which was really nice!

it is so cute there and they have done a really good job with it.

It is something you could have fun doing every other year or so.

and the hot chocolate was great lol 

J is so handsome :) 

_____

last night I hosted our 

3rd Annual Wine Swap!

It is one of my favorite friend activities we do.

I think because:

1. it is so Christmasy

2. we swap wine, so that is winning.

3. I get to have people over 

(I love to entertain, my mother taught me right!)

4. we are all in the same room together & it is 

sometimes rare that we all can do that as often

5. also, good food lol 

so I went a little "pinteresty" on the food table:

I had the wine on the bar, we had all wines made in Texas!

I wrote what everything was on the table, and what wines pair best with them.

(of course, we all just drank/ate whatever haha, but it looked pretty)

I cheated on the sangria:

1 Bottle of Mesina Hof Sangria Wine

1 can of Sparkling Lime Water

Orange

Frozen Cranberries (for looks lol)

Cut Up Pears and Apples 

(left over from what wasn't for eating with the cheeses) 

why did I sorority girl pose so hard? lol

the "ellen selfie" happened and ended up making my chin look like Jay Leno,

don't mind that lol 

___

so we played a few games and then did the "wine swap"

basically like an ornament exchange, except you really like what you get haha

I feel really blessed because I don't know what it feels like to not have a 

honest, supportive, caring, ridiculous 

group of friends.

seriously, within the last couple of years we have seen so much together and went through it all together! the good and the not so good.

and here we all are,

somehow still standing,

and still loving each other. 

and I won't apologize for the cheesy post lol

Merry Christmas month!!

do something festive this weekend.

(even if it is just watching Elf on the couch, with a large pizza)

goodbye november.

let me just take a minute to be really cliche and say

November flew by reeeeeeally fast.

and

Happy December!

I had a busy last few weeks with work & fun:

_____

-got to see this pretty girl in College Station

 _____

Preston got older...so we decided to act younger lol 

 ____

PLT participated in a blanket drive & we got in the Christmas spirit

 _____

I tried out the new place 

Michael's Coffee & Wine Bar in Fall Creek,

it is adorable in there, pretty small though, so don't take your loud friends lol

____

I finally got to see my little sister,

every time I am off work, she is in school...

responsibilities lol 

_____

I got some of my Christmas decor up.

yeah, I am going to add some more to my tree, it is a little bare.

this picture of Ginger, just because she is perfect!! 

_____

Thanksgiving came and went!

we ran the Turkey Trot that morning & it was a nice way to start the day!

and before you think I am trying to be all "fit"... I think the run made me actually eat MORE haha

(oh heyyyy, I finally got see J... #retaillife)

____

work has been nuts!

which I happen to LOVE, except for the fact that it makes me a little nuts 

we had a record breaking day on Black Friday!

I couldn't have done it without my mom's help though.

I love that she doesn't mind helping, and she will run and get ice, steam, take out trash...

whatever is needed. I appreciate that, bc it takes all that to make it look pretty and effortless.

some people think they are "too good" for the dirty work,

but that work is really the only thing that keeps it all running.

so THANK YOU MOTHER!!

and of course my girls :)

Small Business Saturday was also wonderful!

love this community and my sweet friends

____

Brittiny and Brittney had back to back birthday celebrations this past weekend

always a great time with these people.

I never try to take it for granted how lucky I am to have

such life long friends. 

_____

and now it is December!!

cheers to all the crazy, all the shopping, 

but most of all remember the reason for the season 

and try to not let all that "other stuff" shadow that.

I am so guilty of getting "busy" and forgetting the true blessing of 

family, friends, and all the relationships we have.

be nice to all the grinches and people with road rage also!

mondayyyy

Monday Randoms:

-I got bit by chiggers last week.

and before you think I am just really gross,

chiggers don't in fact bury themselves into your skin.

it is poison...and it itches like no other.

however, I am now doing better... lol

___

-This is apparently what high school girls look like in 2014.

I surely didn't look like a model in my senior pics,

 but Chelsea looks so good & represented PLT so gorgeously. love these pics.

___

-Here is how to not look like a model in said Senior pics:

KBagel in all its deliciousness 

found out it is 1.3 miles from my apartment, so that makes the bagel not seem as bad,

Saturday morning before work, we walked to get bagels, it was lovely.

___

-Saturday night Randy celebrated getting old

and I just took the role of a peeping tom I guess...

___

-Speaking of successful lawyers,

this girl PASSED THE BAR!!!!

we are all SO proud of her and all the hard work she has put in,

all of her success is more than well deserved. 

___

look what tomorrow is...

have a good week everyone! 

halloween and things.

Halloween

2009

 2010

2014

we hadn't all celebrated together in a couple years (after college),

and it will probably be one of our last for a while,

lots going on.

but it was fun to act like our previous college selves again.

except we all had crap to do the next day.... lol

_____

the guys obviously took the night seriously.

 

____

Sunday I literally spent half of my day @ Hobby Lobby looking for Christmas decor for the boutique.

I don't know what it is, but I have become so dang indecisive lately.

so we bought some things,

took them back and bought some other things... lol

it will work out.

____

yesterday, I felt like a champion.

I really enjoyed that extra hour thrown in there.

we went to church,

we watched football,

(yepppp. my team was the ONLY winner!)

and then I worked on the decor for the store,

Ginger helped a little too.

no, but really I am so thankful for my mom's help!

and today...

today started the first Monday that PLT is open.

yeah, open EVERY.SINGLE,DAY.

 (except Thanksgiving and Christmas)

for the rest of the year.

Although I am obviously not working that whole time,

it will be kinda crazy knowing the store is always open.

luckily I have some very awesome employees that I am so grateful for. 

(but I'm taking a weekend in January lol )