tuesday picnic on the porch, complete with orangina and 75 degree weather

{perfect}

p.s:  I now have New Years bangs thanks to Janie :)

Rabies and Tetnus and Yellow Fever, Oh My

We're back in Charleston with 3 sore arms and 1 step closer to our trip to Ethiopia!

This morning we got pumped with every disease imaginable and unimaginable.  {And by "we" I mostly mean Ben:( }.  One of the many perks of your maiden voyage to Africa.   He got both his arms poked- several times, but I lucked out with only having to get Tetnus.  

And now we're back Home...nursing our wounds, eating doro watt and getting just a little bit excited about our upcoming trip:)

Christmas at the Hardings

We chugged along the highway in torrents of rain as we made our way to Charlotte for Christmas with the Hardings. We snuck into the house at 12:30 to find the tree aglow and the packages nestled beneath it.

In the morning Ben and I woke Kristen up and we went downstairs to begin the festivities.

And, in true tradition, Dad read the Christmas story

Presents were exchanged....

Looking over the wedding album Ben and I made for Mom and Dad

Kristen got Ben and me matching Patagonia pullovers and a beautiful framed black and white picture from the wedding with her prayer for us, that she shared at the reception, written beautifully on the matting.

We got her a wooden recipe box with filled with copies of three generations of famous Harding recipes. And of course, a Real Simple subscription.

I also got a stellar embosser and my favorite scent in the world- Ahava lotions among other goodies.

The family (+ a temporary addition)

So we didn't get a puppy for Christmas, but we got to take care of one before she was given. And maybe we pretended like she was ours...just for a little bit:) Kyle got this "little" St. Bernard for Margaret for Christmas. She made our Christmas morning even more exciting.

Then Pawpaw and Betty came over for Christmas Brunch.

Then we relaxed, went on a walk, and headed to meet up with the rest of the Harding gang for Christmas dinner.


Parting shots...

I want one.....

Merry Christmas from the Taylor home...

to yours...

Christmas at the Taylor's is coming to an end, and late tonight, after dinner and the Christmas Eve service, we'll jump into the car and head to Charlotte to continue the celebration.

 

Merry Christmas!

Behold, the virgin shall be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means "God with us"

Matthew 1:23

Coquito

So, maybe I'm sitting at my desk drinking Coquito from our Puerto Rican Librarian, and maybe it's very, very spiked with delicious Puerto Rican rum.

Ok, so maybe it's only 9:30am on a weekday.

And maybe I feel like this is completely acceptable behavior.

Sometimes I don't mind my job at all.

Cheers!

'twas the week before christmas...

Merry Christmas!

Even though it's a week away, we celebrated a wee bit early by opening our stockings...we just couldn't wait. (And by "we", I definitely mean Ben)  Have I mentioned that I am married to the Christmas Spirit himself? Yup.  It's true.

Our presents are made and wrapped and ready to go, and I have ONE more day of work before a glorious 2 week break!

 We head up to Raleigh on Saturday for the Taylor family festivities.  And the to Charlotte on Christmas Eve to join the Harding clan.  

Our very first christmas together..... 

Hope you have a very, very merry one!

Stockings

Today we got our Christmas stockings in the mail from PB!

the fireplace is now complete.

May the stuffing begin:)

December in the South

It's December 10th and it's 72 degrees and m-u-g-g-y.

and the AC in our office isn't working (it's December, it shouldn't need to be working)

So i'm sitting here, at my little desk...listening to Christmas music, writing Christmas cards, and sweltering.

That bottle of wine sitting by my desk is starting to look really tempting. Hot Yoga (the original plan) does not sound so appealing.

Happy Holidays from the South.....

sunday night

On Saturday we did some Christmas shopping at the market and on King st. and came home with this little guy...
So naturally we had to make gingerbread men last night....

and used our fancy crockpot to make a big batch of chili and old fashion cornbread

and danced in the kitchen to my new favorite song (so maybe I danced and Ben stood there and laughed)

and had dinner and watched Home Alone with this character
and ate these guys...and lived happily ever after....

celebrations

Last week my beautiful sister turned 25. 

 {She thinks she's old}  

{I think she's crazy}

Last night we threw a dinner party to celebrate her 

youth  

Complete with a winter feast, blueberry wine, champagne, and cupcakes

i believe a good time was had by all.....

the end.

Christmas at the Taylors

Christmas has finally arrived to our little charleston abode.  Our first as mr. and mrs.

It's quite the process.  Especially because I apparently married Father Christmas himself.  It turns out B is quite the Christmas fanatic.  

So here is how it happens around here....

Step 1:  Find the perfect tree.       

Step 2:  Light it up.  (Holiday attire and tunes mandatory)

Step 3:  Turn the other lights off and... TaDa!   

Step 4:  Build a scrumptious looking gingerbread house.  Complete with fishing pond and pimped out car:)
 And that is how Christmas begins at the Taylors....

{grat·i·tude}

Another Thanksgiving for the books......

There's something I love about this holiday.  Family getting together simply to enjoy each other and delicious food.  And one thing's for sure, we never lack loud and crazy family members and turkey with all the trimmings.  We are so blessed.  

This year at the Harding (now Harding-Taylor) Home:

Harding ladies cooking in the kitchen.  Obviously we take it very seriously. 

maybe I like mashed potatoes....a whole lot

And no Thanksgiving would be complete without a pumpkin shooting contest.  

quite possibly the scariest part of the whole day...kristen and the gun

B showing us how it's done:)

examining the target

Please note that Kristen and I were the obvious winners.  

dessert and football with the cousins

I'm down and out with a killer cold, so the rest of the weekend has been filled with scrabble, old Christmas movies, I love Lucy, and lots of tea.  I'm not complaining, I have the best nurses around.  Except I'm missing B- he had to go back home for work yesterday.  Boo.  

ps.   I can't wait to get our Christmas tree.

have a happy, happy thanksgiving.

adventures big and small

we're heading to Raleigh tonight....late late tonight.  Ben has to work this evening and we're tailgating in the am.  can't miss that.  oh i miss the Hill.    

i think i'm starting to like these midnight road trips...we're certainly getting our fair share this year.  i can't think of anywhere i'd rather be at 2 am.  um. scratch that. bed would be nice.  really nice

tomorrow morning we get to bundle up and watch our tarheels beat state in the freezing cold.  then we get to relax and celebrate thanksgiving with people we love and miss. and then we get to drive all the way back on sunday.  

i guess adventures come in all shapes and sizes.  this little adventure is just perfect for this weekend.  

and we have a BIG adventure coming up.... we're going to ETHIOPIA in January!  I can hardly wait.  it will be here before we know it.  i love how perfect His timing is.  I think B and I both really need this trip--for a whole lot of reasons.  one being, i miss it terribly and I can't wait to show Ben that piece of my world.     

ps.  i quite possibly have the nicest boss in the entire world.

pss.  today was national hug-a-kenyan-day.  what, you didn't know that?  maybe I'll get smothered by hugs later tonight.  i could use a few.  

have a wonderful weekend.  

         

There is something aching in my heart that longs for a great adventure...

baked

It's been a while....  Consistency has never been one of my strengths.   C'est la vie.  

Today was Wednesday--even though I thought it was Thursday up until lunch time.  A not-so-pleasant surprise.  I met up with Kristen and the girls for a quick lunch in the dungeon that is the MUSC cafeteria.  I savor lunch breaks...sneaking away from work and being with laid back, funny and fairly likable people:) 

This afternoon Ben and I had planned on going to the gym, but after a little

 "what-are-we-doing-with-our-lives" breakdown, Ben had the brilliant idea of drowning the unknown in sugary deliciousness with a trip to Baked.  Some would disagree, but i think it was the perfect cure.   

Baked just opened up on East Bay St. and have just about every bit of baked goodness that you can imagine.  Along with these cute little cupcakes.  The figurine on top reminds me of my grandma, Nana,  and the little seashell box of treasures we would play with when we went to visit.

This weekend we are heading to Raleigh for the UNC v. state football game and thanksgiving with the Taylor Family.  Ben is especially excited about this trip.  For him watching football in freezing cold weather = glorious. Maybe I'm a little bit excited too (minus the freezing cold) And in one week its thanksgiving with the Harding clan.  I love this time of the year.  Now to plan the menu...MmmMmmm.  

p.s- Ben and I are going to Africa!!!  More details to come...

weekend to weekend

We got back on Monday night from a w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l weekend in D.C. It seemed fitting to be in the capital for the days leading up to the election. You couldn't help but get swept up in the anticipation. My motherland- kenya, is going crazy. Maybe I'm a little excited too. Shh, don't tell my family:)

Tomorrow we head to Charlotte to see the fam and celebrate Susan and Jason's wedding. Before we go, here are a few snaps from the weekend.

the cap

my travel buddy for the weekend/ life

national cathedral

beautiful

paroozing the galleries

a glimpse of fall

off to pack, pick up coffee...lots of coffee and b and head to the queen city

i'm so excited to go home!

D.C- Bound

We're off to D.C for a long weekend!

Have a good one!

Happy halloween!

10 things

10 things i loved about the 28th

1. green lights on the way to work
2. a waterfront picnic with with B 
   
3. our new blue turtle yoga membership 
   
4. a husband that will do yoga with me:)  
5. spur-of-the-moment dinner at Basil with mom, dad, and kristen
   
6. dreaming big about traveling the world
7. hot pumpkin mistos on the way home
8. a bundle of fresh oranges straight from florida
9. comfy sweatpants 
10. crocheting with janie
11. feather duvets

ok, so that's 11.  what can i say. i'm pretty fond of tuesdays.  

Meet Eddy

This is Eddy....

he is probably the closest thing we'll have to a pet for quite a while.

needless to say, we're pretty attached:)

We made Eddy last night at the harvest extravaganza at Kristen's house.  The party was complete with roasted vegetable soup served in a pumpkin, hot apple cider, pumpkin cookies, puppy chow, ranger cookies and pumpkin carving on the back porch.   It was good way to end the weekend.  

Today was a Monday.  Monday's always so mondayesque- blah?  Oh well, I got a raise- so I shouldn't complain:)  I think that Blue Turtle yoga membership is calling my name.

We ended today with pumpkin soup (courtesy of the Taylors and a little soup joint called Ladles:) and grilled turkey, apple, and cheddar paninis. 

 

I ran across this picture from Bryn and Reed's visit to Charleston last weekend.  

Check out those mugs.  What did we marry?