Lately...

Happy Friday! I can't believe how quickly the summer flew by. Fall and football is about to be in full swing and I've been able to see Derek's coaching skills in action - Go wildcats! Although I don't know much about the game of football (yes, I'll to admit that), I thoroughly enjoy the company of friends and family and the beautiful fall colors that accompany football season! Bring on the boots, sweaters, & hot beverages :)

 A few things as of late... I made a trip to Michigan with Derek & his family Labor Day Weekend. Next I made a much needed Cedar Point trip with friends & co-workers. Then adding to my travels and fun, I have a friend's wedding this weekend. Yay! I will certainly enjoy celebrating an adorable pair of newlyweds with my friends! There will be lots of wonderful people I haven't seen in awhile.

2013

Hope you all had joyous holidays and a happy first week of 2013! Let me tell you; 2013 is going to be a great year folks! I have some big plans for this year. Lots of travels and hopefully lots of changes! 

The holidays, as usual, were filled with lots of family & friends. Cleveland for Christmas and Chicago for NYE! Thankfully the construction on our kitchen re-model was complete in-time for Christmas Eve dinner!!

Here are some highlights :

{ my brother and i : Christmas Eve }

{ after dinner chit-chat with the fam }

{ dad & brother sleeping off dinner... not sure why they thought this was cozy! }

{ i love this little girl }

{ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame visit with family }

{ Pocketbooth iPhone App-fun with Meg }

{ puppy-dog getting cozy }

{ check out that snow-dino kids }

{ cousins & brother with our giant snowman, it was a busy day }

{ my dayton friends in chi-town }

{ NYE with my roommates... tradition 4 years strong }

{ NYE: Courtney and i }

Some of my resolutions include; 

1. Understanding more of what I am putting into my body. This means: Splurging on the organic stuff, ridding my freezer of the frozen junk, & drinking more tea ( no I cannot abandon my love of coffee. not a chance – lent was hard enough! )

2. Less couch time, aka watching TV, more reading!

3. Portfolio, portfolio, portfolio!!! Which then brings job searching... in Cali :)

4. Create a web-presence for myself

5. Start selling on Etsy

6. Stay positive!

Part Two: Candi Cane

West Side Market involved a little more of an adventure, which included a strange stuffed animal I came across in my mom's car... why she had "Candi Cane" I will never know! And yes, these are child-ish things to do... but quite fun! Everyone needs to let their inner child out on occasion!!! Enjoyyy!

Meet Candi Cane via her adventurous West Side Market trip:

1. Meg & Candi Cane - they have similar eyes
2. Candi thoroughly enjoys candy.. duh!
3. Brother Michael decides to be-friend Candi
4. Candi says hello to her cousin Michelle!
5. Candi enjoys a clementine sample from the market
6. Can you spy Candi making a few more friends?


Happy Holidays <3 Candi Cane

Part One: Lunch

I was only in town for all of one week — but I was able to pack in as much as possible! One of my favorite days was lunch at my favorite restaurant in Cleveland, TYFUN, and walking around the West Side Market!

Christmas

My time at home was a whirl-wind of family love and fun times! I'm sad it all happened so fast... but I guess you take what you can get in the working-world! That's something I am definitely going to have a hard time adjusting to. 

I got home last Friday in time to meet up with my high-school dance team for lunch- which was delightful! It's been a long time since we have all been together and it was so wonderful to see all their lovely little faces :) 

Then I made it home in time for dinner with my family and I spent the evening wrapping my Christmas presents and creating a little something for all my aunts and cousins! It's a super east recipe for hand/body scrub! Found here, it smells eatable!

And finally it was Christmas eve!!! It's my favorite because my whole family of 30+ somehow fits into our house for dinner and a small present exchange. My dad always cooks... and let me tell you – HE IS THE BEST! Ask anyone in my family! haha. Here's a little recap of my very favorite holiday:

1. Christmas table decor      2. Fun gold shoes
3. Cousins 4. A festive red/green Meghan & I      5. Cousins with Santatize APP
6. Cousins: Sarah, KC, Meghan, Me & Claire
7. Meg and our new addition Owen      8. Sleepy baby Owen
9. CHRISTMAS MORNING :) Hot cocoa! 

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday with loved ones! I certainly did... I am already excited for next year!

Missing the colors of fall

I get to head home to Cleveland today :) yay yay yay!!!

I dont know about Cleveland, but here in Columbus... zero snow! This only makes it feel less like Christmas, it makes me so sad! Today, I miss the beautiful colors of fall as I stare out my very grey window, counting down the hours till my drive home...

I wish the rain into snow and a much happier friday to all!!

Gobble gobble gobble

Thanksgiving at home was simply divine! I love spending time with my family... especially over a delicious meal!

My baby Nikki!

THE BEST: Christmas Ale before dinner

salad, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and corn bread= perfect turkey day meal!

finish it off with peanut butter pie YUMMY

Love that I am near the lake at home... its beautiful no matter the weather!

Decorating before heading back to Columbus!

Dad, Michael, and Mom

Did you have a fulfilling Thanksgiving!? What were you thankful for?

 First, I am so incredibly thankful for my family and friends :) 

Second, I am thankful for my college experience that led me to an amazing job right after graduation!

D.A.N.C.E

Pause for inspiration and pure jealousy 

(or amazement, awe, love, envy, joy.... adjectives for these wonderful pictures are endles...)

click here for more <3

Dance is truly an amazing sport and way of life! I danced from about age 3 until almost 20 — at 23 I really miss it! I miss the lifestyle, the constant movement, the passion, the pain of rehearsals but the pure joy of performing all that hard work!!! This post goes out to a special group of ladies... my dancing family — CAD GIRLS from Emjaez Dance Studio in Cleveland Ohio! Most of us are in such different places now... but they will always be family! There are a few are still dancing!! I am so proud of all of you!!!

Rock on girls :)

Home sweet home

Oh home... my mom sent me this picture of our house all ready for Halloween and it made me miss home a lot! I love that she decorates for every holiday under the sun. Even in college I would get frequent care packages for Valentine's day, St. Patricks Day, etc. full of little things to decorate the dorm or my campus house with! I'm hoping she continues this tradition forever because it makes me smile!!

Labor day relaxation

A calm afternoon at home in cleveland is the way I chose to spend my labor day!! Erie island coffee provided my mom and I with a wonderful, hot latte on a crisp September afternoon! Coupled with a much needed mom/daughter chat... It was a lovely afternoon!! Now for my dads good home cooking for dinner and headed back to Columbus :)

You can't teach an old dog new tricks

Although there is no way of getting my dog to do new things, I can get her to sit, lay down, and jump for me and photograph it, all with the help of some kibbles!

Meet Nikki!

A few weekends ago, I had the chance to go home and spend some time with my family and our dog, Nikki. She is a 9-year-old yellow lab, who is much more white than yellow! Every summer, my mom takes her to the groomers and gets her hair shaved (mostly so she stays cool through out the hot Cleveland summer, but she also looks younger). I find that this makes Nikki feel like a puppy again and used this to my advantage when I photographed her in our backyard! She was a lovely little model and I'm excited to see her again for labor day weekend :)

All things small

Simple joys of living on the lake

City of Cleveland in the distance

Meet my beautiful cousin Michelle! We celebrated that belly she is proudly showing off recently! I was able to go home for the baby shower and see some family, which is always lovely!

I believe she is due sometime in September and I cannot wait to meet the little guy! I'm lucky she's in Columbus with me, so I will be able to help out and babysit!

Beth, Michelle, Aunt Cindy, Mom, and Mrs. Buckley

I adore these earrings Beth! I love most feather jewelry! I recently bought an awesome feather necklace that I will post soon :)

The perfect ending to a perfect baby shower includes some delicious sweets— these cookies were hand made  by the hostess, and were a very nice touch considering Michelle is going with an animal theme for her baby boy's room!