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!