Grits & Gossip: 2010

The Roller Coaster of 2010

If you've read this blog at all or know me in the slightest, you probably already know the type of year it's been. And if you're new to these parts, or my life, lets just say that it's been the biggest, scariest roller-coaster-ride-of-a-year that I've ever had. There were some happy ups, terrible unplanned drops, and plenty of unexpected turns.

There was total determination to move back to SC after 6 years in DC. There was the challenge of finding a job in a bad recession. There was the absolute joy when the right thing happened at the right time. The move, like any big move, was stressful- but totally worth the car trouble we endured that turned into an all night drive.

There was total peace about my decision to move back and big plans for my first official weekend back. An over-due date was planned for that Fri. night, shopping with my sister, and going to pick some delicious fresh strawberries. And then there was April 30th. There were sleepless nights, endless tears, and pure heart-break.

There was a big move, a birth, a death, two weddings, two graduations, a Cancer diagnosis, two major surgeries, and an engagement all within my family this year. There certainly was a "Time for Everything" for us this year. There are too many life lessons learned to even list.

But I like lists, so I'll take a stab at it.

1. Everything really will work out exactly how it's supposed to, exactly when it's supposed to.

2. Southern hospitality makes life happier.

3. Being snowed in for 8 days or so is totally overrated. It's all hot chocolate and "look how pretty" until you have to shovel it.

4. Old friends are always there when you need them.

5. New friends are pretty cool too.

6. Long distance job hunting in a recession is really, really hard.

7. The stars are sooooo much brighter in SC.

8. Faith and Family means everything.

9. Sweet tea can make a bad day a little better.

10. Cancer Sucks. But have lots of hope!

11. Keep Climbing.

12. Let it out.

13. A White Christmas really is something to dream about.

14. You have to eventually pick up the pieces.

15. A lot of little, makes a lot of lots.

16. Goodbyes are hard.

17. It never really gets easier. Randy's memory and sweet spirit will be close to our hearts forever.

And the ultimate lesson learned: Life is short....take the pictures,

tell people you love them, go on vacation,

take a chance, make memories, ask for forgiveness, forgive others, do what you love, dance

go to the reunion, get the dog, love, catch up with an old friend, flirt, celebrate everything, and keep in the sunlight.

That's my moto for 2011- to "Keep in the Sunlight!" It comes from this quote:

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." -Benjamin Franklin

Key Ring Thing

Sometimes it really is the little things! Since I moved back to SC, I've acquired so many of those little key ring discount cards. I could hardly get another key on my keyring and couldn't stand the clutter.

I saw this KeyRingThing product on some morning show a while back and looked it up. I was a little skeptical, but it turned out to be the solution to my key chain mess. It's a card the size of a credit card that combines up to 6 different key ring cards and their bar code. Genius!

Game Night

A few weekends ago when I was supposed to be shopping for OTHER people, I picked up a new game for myself. (That's pretty much how my Christmas shopping has gone...for every one gift I buy, there seems to be one for me as well!)

I have this closet desire to have fun game nights with my family and friends. But it's hard to find a game that my parents and 8 year old niece can equally enjoy and play together. And then there's the issue that part of our blended family is not much for trivia heavy games- so that knocks out a few options.

But I think that Dicecapades will be perfectly forced family fun! Just one potential issue with this game...and that's loosing some of the 100+ dice! It's bound to happen.

I played it once with the bf and we had fun on a particularly cold night in front of his fireplace with some homemade beef/vegetable soup...

So this is fair warning for my family to get ready for Dicecapades! Even though I'm keeping this for myself, I highly recommend it for a last minute Christmas gift or family activity when you're couped up together this weekend!

Falalalalalalalala

I got my first ever live Christmas tree this year! I love the smell every time I walk in and don't ever want to go back to a fake tree! I've had it up for a few weeks, and have so enjoyed the extra Christmas sparkle around my apartment.

I've had a purple/silver theme for a while and was thinking it would be my last year with this stuff. But it turned out so pretty, that I might have trouble switching themes!

I love the subtle purple snowflakes and sparkly silver stars!

The extra clippings from the bottom of my tree helped spruce up the Santas on my bookshelf...

Pine cones may be my new favorite thing to decorate with! I've had these since October and they transitioned nicely from my fall decorations to Christmas...

I even have a mini-tree with a DC theme....

This is a wreath that I put together for my front door. I just used a bow I already had and added some red ornaments....

One rookie mistake I made was buying lights that have a white chord. Ooops! Otherwise, I've been extremely happy with how my holiday decorations are right at home in their new home!

I'll Be Home for Christmas!

After visiting 7 or so houses on the Homes for the Holiday Tour last weekend, I think we were even more convinced and proud of our own family's traditional Christmas decorations.

I helped my mom decorate last week, and it was amazing how she can remember where almost every single ornament came from- a child in her children's choir from years ago, a gift from a friend the year she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and so on. There are soooooooo many ornaments on her tree. It's so colorful and meaningful...

There's the handmade Santa and reindeer paper garland my mom cut out herself years ago....paper doll style. You may wonder how delicate paper like that has survived. She carefully folds it and wraps it in tissue paper every year.

There are some other handmade ornaments by my mom....

Others by us when we were kids.....

And of course our "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments....

Quite frankly, I can't remember a Christmas tree at her house without the toy soldier, red and gingham bows, and candy apples on it!

This old Santa was a special gift to my mom when she was a child. She was at a Christmas party with my grandparents when she was about 3 years old. All of the other girls got dress up high heels, and my mom couldn't wear them because she had some feet problems and had to wear corrective shoes. The host of the party saw my mom's dissapointment and ended up giving my mom this Santa instead. It's been a part of every Christmas since!

And then there's a second tree that has only gold and white ornaments. It's always so pretty!

The nativity scene that my stepdad's mother hand painted....

Her simple display of angels....

Hmmmm, something is definitely missing. Ah, yes...my mom's real life angels! Pictures she had made of my sister and I when we were younger....

And I guess that's what this time of year is about for me....memories, traditions, and family.

Cute DIY Christmas Magnets

My sister saw this easy DIY Christmas idea somewhere last year. After Christmas, we got mini ornaments and magnets at like 80% off. Cheap AND Easy...just my style. So while my sister and mom were busy filling adorable Spoonful of Stitches orders, I finished this Christmas magnet project.

Supplies...

EASY!

Out with the old (but probably useful) HVAC repairman magnet at my mom's house(and yes, the guy mispelled "Cell" when leaving his number)...

And in with the cute new Christmas magnets!

I found a bunch of old family Christmas photos and put the rest of these to use....

There were plenty to share! I plan to use mine to display the Christmas cards I get this year!

My Weekend....

...was restful, lazy, and rejuvenating! I was fighting off a cold of some sort and took it very easy.

Saturday morning, the rain held off long enough for my mom, sister, and I to go on the Homes for the Holidays Tour in my hometown. It's the first year I've been able to go. It's always fun looking at other people's houses, but overall this year was quite underwhelming. The houses were historic and beautiful, but the actual Christmas decorations were surprisingly sparse.

How awesome is this outside fireplace at one of the first houses we toured? I mean, couldn't they have slapped a wreath on this thing or something?

One house stood out as our favorite by far...

Loved the mailbox. I wonder if it's free of lizards?

A dreamy southern porch...

There were SO many fireplaces in this house. This was in the front den. It's hard to see, but they had pretty candlesticks with a simple silver balls sitting on top...

I loved this wintry kitchen window...

Yet another fireplace in the dinning room...

I also loved the collection of Santa's and the antique Christmas card garland....

And if all of that weren't enough to seal the deal as my favorite house of the day, there was an ENTIRE room with a Braves theme! Pendants, signed baseballs and photos displayed proudly....