Halloween 2010

October was probably my craziest month this fall. November was tough, but without Saturday classes and wedding festivities times two. One thing that is good for my soul during crazy times is to hang out with kids, not teenagers, but kids. So I happily agreed to watch Adam and Micah the day before Halloween. We created weapons (for the boys and my Halloween costume - see below), watched How to Tame a Dragon (great movie about Vikings - again see below), and carved a pumpkin! 

My costume has a little bit of a story behind it. Under peer pressure, I bought a fur vest to wear to Ashley's bachelorette party. To justify spending the money, I decided it would need to be part of my Halloween costume, so I was a viking. All I needed was my hardhat and a bunch of aluminum foil to create my outfit. Due to the lack of durability of aluminum foil, I engineered a different skirt for each day of Halloween weekend.
Friday night Sam and Danielle hosted a party, Saturday night was the MTR Fall Ball, and Sunday night my community group passed out candy at Nate and Kristi's (not pictured). 

The MTR Fall Ball was a bowling tournament. Each team had a picture taken with fierce faces. I don't want to misrepresent any of the costumes, so I'll just mention the ones I remember. The educationally themed costumes include a TCAP test, Phil the teacher administering the TCAP, and the MTR word wall (Right is Right, 100%, Data Driven, No Excuses).

The costume contest winners were Chris and Stacey who came as a camper and a smore. I think they won all the votes because Chris made everyone a smore with miniature marshmallows and a lighter in the bowling alley.  

2010 Wedding Festivities

Since starting MTR in June I have been to three weddings. One more before the end of the year!

JUSTIN & JORDAN - JUNE 26, 2010

My cousin Justin married Jordan at a beautiful outdoor ceremony in June in Alabama. Fans and shade made the heat bearable during the ceremony. Jordan brings the girl to boy cousin ratio to 7-1. It has been a long time since we were all together!

My dad is the oldest of four. His parents died when I was in high school, but it was fun and special to have his  aunt Carolyn there.

ASHLEY & BRETT - OCTOBER 9, 2010

Ashley is one of my friends from high school. She and Brett exchanged vows at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in midtown. The ceremony included a cantor and the cake included the Beatles:)

I got to attend a shower and the bachelorette party in Tunica. It was a fun trip full of sequins, fur vests, a mechanical bull, and Paula Deen. What else do you need for a good time?

KRISTIN & PAUL - OCTOBER 16, 2010

Kristin and I met volunteering at More than A Meal last year. I have had a blast getting to know her and Paul. They got married in front of her house in Mississippi. None other than a horse-drawn carriage delivered her to the aisle.

Their family dog helped to give her away. At the reception, I caught the bouquet. It helped that the competition was limited and the photographer said "Nobody move but Virginia" just before Kristin tossed it. He is lucky he got some priceless pictures of the moment. Kristin and Paul now have partial responsibility in finding Mr. Right!

LAUREN & CASEY - DECEMBER 31, 2010

Lauren and Casey will wed this weekend. Our entire community group will be there to celebrate with them. The girls represented at her shower where Kristi practiced being a bride during one of the games. (Her wedding is coming up in March!)

Cecelia Marie Halpert

When I got an e-invite to a Baby Shower a few weeks ago I was very confused. I wasn't aware anyone that Danielle and I both knew was pregnant. Then I was ashamed that I had forgotten about Pam and Jim's baby on our beloved comedy, The Office.

So we had to celebrate accordingly, with a baby shower for Cecelia Marie. [It is super cool that the baby is named after Virginia Cecelia and Ashley Marie!] We played shower games including a Purse Scavenger Hunt, in which we learned just how useful all the things in Sam's purse can be and even Brett was a good sport to play with us...

And I can't leave out the most excitement of the evening; Danielle perfected her macaroons. We are so proud of her!

Game Night

My family has been travelling a lot lately, so I have had the house to myself quite often. A few weekends ago I hosted game night. Friends I have known since high school and brand new friends came over for food, drinks, and games.

Ashley, Krista, Sam, Jennifer, Danielle

We watched the Olympics as we played Catchphrase and Apples to Apples, two of my favorite games. But not before we enjoyed Blueberry Lime Margaritas and Mint Chocolate Cookies. The Margaritas were only 125 calories per serving, so I didn't feel as guilty about the cookies:) The Margarita recipe came from Eatingwell.com:

Blueberry-Lime Margarita

2 cups ice
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup blueberry nectar (I couldn't find it, so I substituted with a Blueberry Smoothie Drink)
1/4 cup seltzer
2 tablespoons frozen limeade
1 tablespoon lime juice
3 ounces tequila
1 lime wedge
Coarse salt

Combine ice, blueberries, smoothie, seltzer, limeade, lime juice and tequila in a blender and blend until smooth. Rub rim of 2 glasses with lime wedge and dip in salt. Divide the margarita between the prepared glasses and serve.

2+4 & Mojitos

Last week we celebrated Danielle's 24th birthday. We also celebrated the premiere of Burn Notice the same evening. These events called for star candles and Mojitos. I've also been learning some new photoshop tricks.

Oh What a Night! Late December Back in 2009

Danielle and Sam hosted a great laid-back New Year's get together. It wouldn't have been complete without The Office Clue: Who Killed Toby? or pomegranate champagne for toasts at midnight.
The only thing missing was a central time zone countdown. Thankfully, I was wearing my watch to count down:)

On New Year's Day, Callie, Robert, and I headed downtown for the Liberty Bowl Parade. Callie and I did not have tickets, so we were on the lookout when we went downtown for the parade. Thankfully, the Razorback Ticket Office had some random tickets for sale when we went to pick up Robert's tickets, so we enjoyed the afternoon without worrying about getting tickets.

It felt good to call the Hogs and sing the fight song on Beale Street. We followed the parade with some good ole Memphis ribs on Beale Street.

_

Callie and I got to the game early because we found Free parking quickly. It didn't take long to understand why our seats were still for sale:

But we shifted a little, so we could see more of the field.That game was the coldest I have ever been. I heard the wind chill was 15 degrees. My mom had stocked us up with hand and foot warmers, so we survived and stayed through Overtime. [I even put a hand warmer in my hog nose.] And the Hogs pulled out a win. It was ugly, but it was a win.

Woo Pig Sooie!

2009 in Review

I was looking through photos from this year for a collage on Facebook, and I really enjoyed remembering all my adventures, so I'm sharing them here in a little more detail.

New Year's 2009: New Orleans

This time last year, I was on a mission trip to New Orleans. December is a great time for mission trips because the reason for the season is so real for me when I'm serving directly. We did it right by going over New Year's. We even got to see Blues Traveler for free on New Year's Day!

New Orleans Mission Trip #5

Last December I actually spent two weeks in New Orleans rebuilding. This photo represents the other extreme of mission trips: safety gear.

January: Northwest Arkansas Ice Storm

The ice storm was historic. Days of classes canceled:4. Days without power in our apartment:7. We went to the movies just to have a warm place to be for a few hours one afternoon, and then we just left town.

February: Valentine's Day Basketball Game

Amy and I were the most excited to wear shirts with our "boyfriend's" names on them. We made sure we got to sit on the front row, and saw the team pointing at us multiple times.

May: Graduation

After 5 years of Architecture School, these are the only girls left in a graduating class of about 30. It is such a relief to be finished with that accomplishment. I still don't think it has really sunk in.

May: Train and Sister Hazel Concert

Martha was my date to the Botanical Gardens for a Sister Hazel and Train concert this summer. It was a life experience to see a live performance of "Meet Virginia."

June: 2 Weddings

Neither of these friends got married, but two girls who were in the Bible Study I led for 3 years got married in June. Thankfully not the same weekend, but reasons for me to go back to Arkansas and visit!

July: Family in town

My cousin Christy and I have seen each other a bunch this year. There is more to come for 2010 because she is getting married in April and I will be accompanying my grandmother to her wedding.

July: Adventures in Arkansas and Sending Off Kidd

Frase, Kidd, and I made a little Road Trip to Eureka Springs before Kidd moved to Bulgaria this fall. We are enjoying Rocky Road treats in this photo, which I have learned to make this fall. Maybe I'll make some to send to them as a memory of this trip.

July: Road Trip to Brett(&Ashley's) house in Bartlett

One thing that I am so thankful for in moving back home is that I still have all these wonderful high school friends who I see regularly. This particular get-together included a few fun rounds of American Idol Karaoke.

October: Florida Trip

October brought a fun trip to Florida to see my sister's school and her play softball, and also go to the Florida and Arkansas game at the Swamp. More about that trip in this post.

October: Castle Creation

This photo represents two things. 1. An opportunity to fuel my creative side and make the castle. 2. The awesome opportunity I have to be around for all the excitement of Martha's Senior year.

November: Martha's official visit to Fayetteville

This picture is evidence that I had some fun of my own while accompanying Martha to visit the University of Arkansas. It was fun to visit Fayetteville without school hanging over my head and get to hang out with everyone is still there. Martha has not made an official decision, but my money is on her going to Arkansas!

November: Neighborhood Christian Center Chicken Strut

My parents were such good sports to go with me to walk the 5K Chicken Strut and then pose with the chicken. I am glad to have the opportunity to spend some more time with them since I moved back home too.

Since July: Neighborhood Church

It has been such a blessing that God has led me to Neighborhood Church this year. I have been amazed with all that he has done this year and I'm excited for what God has in store for 2010.

December: Family Christmas Traditions

Our Christmas cards are just on of our wonderful traditions. We re-vamped another tradition this year: my sisters and I used to sleep in the same bed on Christmas Eve and Easter Eve, but our double beds just haven't cut it in a long time for three of us, so this year we rushed to my parents king size bed when we got home from the 11:00 Christmas Eve Service.

Happy New Year!

Preparations for Christmas

Eleanor made her annual visit for Thanksgiving (she's the blonde on the left) and we got to spend some time with her a couple of weeks ago. She shared what she has been up to, and I have to mention that she dated a real-live Malaysian prince... and looking back all she has got out of the experience was the claim that she has dated a prince. But alas, he wasn't her Prince Charming:) But Ashley had her Prince Charming with her!

We ate at American Cafe, where our waiter was in a hurry to clear out table. He took my plate while I still had a third of my burger in my hand!
The funniest part of the evening was when we were leaving and Samantha started walking toward her car without saying good-bye to Eleanor. When Eleanor accused her of this, she said, "No, I wasn't walking away without saying Good-bye, I was just exercising." She was just exercising her lying abilities... unsuccessfully...

Since I'm not stressing out over finals, I helped a lot with decorating our house for Christmas. I made a new bow for the Christmas tree (my mom thinks I should go into the bow making business) and I helped put up our outdoor lights as well. I made a mess of the strand of lights I was laying out, proving I don't have a future in the light-hanging business!

I've also been doing some crafting getting ready for Christmas. Last weekend, we completed 30 wooden letters to donate to the Winter Wonderland at the local prison for the inmates to give to their friends and families.

Ashley and I quickly took over the kitchen and I recruited Martha to help finish. Since we did not know who they were going to be given to, Martha and I had some fun coming up with names that each of the letters represented.

These are some of my favorites! I'm volunteering at the prison to help them "shop" for their gifts and to wrap them and I hope these letters are a hit!