The one who isn't slow.

 My family has this game that we play in the car.  We call it the "Artist Game".  When we ride in the car, the radio is guaranteed to be on and the first person to get the artist singing the song gets the point.  I think we started out with the titles of the songs but it wasn't a big enough challenge for the music junkies we are.  There is no reward other than the self gratification of knowing more artists than the rest of your family for a day.  Not to brag, but me and my dad own that game.  Mom, Ashley and Ryan really don't stand a chance when Dad and I are in the car.  Again... not to brag. :)  However, when a certain season comes around, Dad and I are quickly dethroned by Mom.  She owns the Artist Game - Christmas edition.  Which I believe is a true testament to her love for music.  Because a lot of times, you hear a song that is familiar and you just remember who sings it... where as with Christmas music, ALL musicians sing the same song, so you have to have a talent for figuring out who is singing that version O Holy Night or that version of The Little Drummer Boy

My mom loves the holidays.  Every single aspect of it.  And I have happily inherited her passion for home, cozy things, and all things red and green.  But this year, I have seriously caught a disease.. and it all started with this sucker. 

 

My roommate brought some pine cones from home to decorate for the Thanksgiving season.  I started playing around with them but wasn't satisfied with a bowl of pine cones. So I found some green burlap and really liked the touch.  Then I found a red candle.  Loved the colors together.  Found some twine.  Loved the rustic touch.  I happily slid this little beaut to the center of the table and before I knew it Michael Buble's "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" was playing on my Pandora station.  That was October 29th.  Halloween was still on deck.  But I still cannot seem to change stations. 

 

I told mom about my holiday felony and that following weekend she bought me a Christmas candle.  (P.S. Chestnut and Clove from Bath & Body Works smells exactly like Christmas.  Smells so dang good)  She gave me the go ahead to start celebrating Christmas.. I just have to start out slow.  

Last night, I went to Target and somehow Christmas lights ended up in my bag.

  

And when I got home, somehow my Christmas mantle piece came out of the closet.

 And then somehow Christmas colored peanut M&M's filled a glass jar.

 And then somehow stocking holders found their way out of the closet.

 

And now.. I am about to go paint my nails a "Berry Naughty" color that somehow came home with me from Target.

 _______________________________

Whoops.  Slow is obviously out of the question.

the one born in a stable.

So I had a long Thanksgiving post planned in my head.. but it is being pushed to the side by the frustration I have with my camera right now.  When I try to upload some of the pictures.. it says there is an error and the pictures look really blurry. :( Sad news.  But anyway.. I'll figure it out - in the mean time, I changed cards in my camera and I can easily upload the pictures our Christmas decorations and of Christmas morning at Joby's Bed & Breakfast!

First off, I found this saying on Pinterest, and decided to make it a little more rustic.  With the help of my dad & sister, this is what we came up with.  I think it is so profound and really adds to the Christmas spirit in our house!

We are ready for Christmas at Joby's!

Yesterday morning, my roomies & I planned our Christmas exchange.  We got up early, started brewing the coffee, finding the right Christmas Pandora station, and started cooking a big ol' breakfast that included Flying Biscuit's grits, bacon, eggs, and blueberry breakfast cake.

Then we reveal our Secret Santa's!

Jenn started all of us off on a fun foot.. we had clue which reveal where our gifts could be found!  They were precious! :)

&& then we just started exchanging our bigger & smaller gifts! I feel like we all did so well! It was so much fun and I love, love, love all of my stuff.  My roomies know me so well.

Sarah & Jenn were each other's Secret Santa's...

&& Liza & I were each other's Secret Santa's.

our DIY projects for one another!

I just love these girls so very much.  They mean more to me than I can express!  I am very thankful for them & their heart for sweet baby Jesus.

So, then we took showers, & went to an amazing church service.  

&& then came home...

to this...

The Christmas tornado had hit hard.  Which in turn makes for an incredible Christmas morning.

Again,  I love my girls.  I love living with them..  

We are just a happy ol' family living in a sweet little ol' home.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

the one to apologize for being MIA.

Okay, so I realize I have been MIA and inconsistent with my blog posts.  Im so sorry!  Truth is I have been insanely busy.  Tomorrow is my very last day of EMT class.  This past weekend I passed my test & practicals; which is exciting.. so in a couple weeks hopefully I will be state certified!

& when I wasn't in class I was taking on MULTIPLE projects for the Raleigh house

 and babysitting these cutie triplets!

(iphone photo..)

&& I have held off my before & afters of my mantle and bed because I seriously have been so incredibly busy.   My dad left today for a business trip to Alabama & we need his man power/architectural knowledge for setting up my bed, mantle, table, & a wall design project (way cute!  pictures to come soon!).. so we all took a day trip last Sunday to Raleigh to set a bunch of stuff up.  I am moving in for good this Wednesday (where did the summer go!?).  

So before & afters, the cute wall design project, full intros of my new roomies, life updates & fun posts are coming in the next couple of weeks!  PROMISE.  But in the mean time.. I took this picture of my mantle on my phone right before we left Raleigh... what do you think??

Also, quick update on life.  I am Jack Roger-less because I did not meet 2 of my goals. :(  Soooo close!  But a deal's a deal.  Anyways, lots of stuff are going on right now.. so my August goals are incredibly small.

Don't start a snack/meal past 9 pm.

Cook a meal for my roomies.

Set house and room up.

Donate clothes.

Train for Run to Victory 5k with sister.

twice new [dining room table].

So before we start, you must know I am terrible at before photos.  I completely forget about them until it is just about too late.  These chairs were the very last ones.. & I about forgot to take the before picture - which could have been an absolute tragedy, I mean you wouldn't have had the chance to see them in all their original glory.  But luckily my mom came outside just in time to remind me!  Thanks mom!

To me, the cool thing about this dining room is that my parents bought it when my mom was pregnant with me!   :)  Now 20 years later, they have passed it down to their grown-up little fetus!  Haha... weird.

So without further ado, here is the before shots of the dining room ensemble...

Also, before of the table.  BUT remember I am terrible at before shots, so I had already taken out the middle sleeve to paint separately.  But anyways, maybe you can get the gist of the table from my crappy little snap shot...

So once the old sheets were laid accordingly, primer & paint was sprayed on the chairs & painted on the table.  Then with small sheets of sand paper, we distressed several edges & sealed it with a clear lacquer.  Voila!

the after:

I love how it turned out!  I hope my roomies do too! 

Let me know your thoughts!

the one to start off july.

During the summer, my parents grill out almost every single night.  Also, every single day & night of summer we have the outdoors speakers blaring oldies. Unless my brother is playing basketball outside, then of course he controls the stations to rap... whatever.  Grilling out & music constantly playing is why I absolutely love summer nights at home.

So as far as I can remember, we have never made homemade ice-cream.  A couple weeks ago my dad came in with a homemade ice-cream maker that him & mom bought when they were dating (precious, right?)... so we decided to put it to good use.  && since then, we have homemade ice-cream once a week!!  Another new reason to love summer nights at my parent's home. :)

Since both of my parents were home today.. we got some work done.  

My parents started staining their kitchen table... finally.

&& I finished painting my dining room table for Raleigh...

&& stripped the paint from my great-grandpa's old mantle...

This mantle is my major piece of art that is going in my room in Raleigh.  I am very excited to see how this turns out! :)  I will show it to you guys once my dining room tables are seal, this mantle is painted & sealed, and my bed frame is painted & accented.  I still have LOTS to do before I move back to Raleigh. Eeeek!  But anyways.  July is going to be a busy, busy month.

So hear goes some simple goals...

Finish all furniture for Raleigh home.

Study for & take GRE.

Make bed every week day.

Finish Today We Are Rich (I have put it on the back burner).

Go to the beach.

Eat less sweets.

Make peach homemade ice-cream.

Donate clothes.

So the reason I started monthly goals was to push towards something.  && I have been slacking with my goals the past two months because ultimately I didn't have anything to work for... other than the feeling of accomplishment.  I guess I just need something to push me a little further.  So if I complete ALL my July goals I will allow myself to buy me a pair of Jack Rogers.  I have been wanting to buy them for months,  so them being my reward for completing my goals seems like the perfect reason! :)

Happy 4th!  && the Zac Brown Band puts it into perspective perfectly...

I thank God for my life,

for the stars & stripes.

May freedom forever fly,

let it ring.

Salute the ones who died,

the ones that give their lives,

so we don't have to sacrifice

all the things we love. 

the one about this weekend & on tap for today.

So for most dates this is the conversation.

Sam: what do you wanna do?

Me: Im not sure... what do you have in mind?

Sam: I don't care, whatever you want to do.

Me:  Well, do you wanna go out to eat?

Sam: Yeah, where you wanna go?

Me:  Well, why don't you choose between (3 or 4 places)...

Sam:  Court, I don't care.  You pick.

Me:  Okay, pick between these two places...

Sam:  Do you just wanna go to Chili's? (Chili's is not one of his options)

Me: Let's do it!

Lesson to live by: if in doubt.. go to Chili's. :)

But this weekend, I decided I would plan the date in full.  From picking him up at his house, to picking the restaurant, to after supper activity, to giving him a gift towards the end of the date.  All he had to do is show up.  It wasn't insanely eventful... rather simple.. just like we like it.

Walked around downtown Winston after supper...

& then because Sam is very impatient.. he opened his surprise in the parking deck..

Sam is a super fan of the show, The Office.  He absolutely loves it.  What I love about watching it with him is that we NEVER laugh at the same thing.   Which is good, because it keeps us interested & laughing collectively during the entire show! :)  So his gift was The Office board game filled with trivia.

Our game pieces... Meredith (Court) & Kevin (Sam).

We had a big ol' time.   Also, this weekend I went on a yard-sale date with one of my future housemates, Liza.  We had a great time bouncing around stranger's yards rummaging through all of their old goodies, stuff (I wouldn't say that old hairbrushes, & underwear are considered goodies! Ha!)  But Liza & I had a good time riding around town, catching up, & getting our selves wayyyy too excited about our house this coming fall!

Also, sidenote.. this man saw me taking pictures with my Canon SLR.. & wanted me to sale it to him for $100!  I nicely declined his wonderful offer, but in my head.. I was like puhh-lease!  I didn't spend any of my high school graduation money for a reason!  && no, this camera is my baby.  How dare you take away someone's baby!!  My cheezy grin & kind rejection covered the anger & confusion that was going on inside my head!

Also, busy Tuesday.. on tap for today:

Go to Walmart - buy paint.

Burn Graduation/Awards Day pictures onto CD's & External Hard drive.

Antique all dining room chairs.

Paint dining room table with paint bought at Walmart.

Clean out shower.

Do at least 5 loads of laundry.

Make bed.

Go run.

Sign up for a 5k or 10k.

Help mom & dad stain new kitchen table.

Study for EMT class.

Geezzzz, I gotta get on the ball!

 What is on tap for you today?