...chicken for everyone...

I must say, tonight was one of the best and worst New Years Eve's I've had! 

The worst part:

I have a very bad bladder infection.  It's extremly painful and probably one of the worst the doctor has seen in awhile.  Apparently I had "a very high volume of blood" in my urine.  Sorry for the gross factor, but that's what they told me.  Anyway, I'm on the strongest antibiotic they can give me in hopes that it settles down before I head back to the frozen tundra on Monday. 

The best part:

Photo Credit : http://www.classicnoles.typepad.com/

Gamecocks: It's what's for dinner! Yep, that's right folks, Gamecocks had a 3 point spread on us prior to game time.  By the end, I think everyone was plucking out a few feathers to cook up some chicken!! Yum yum! We won the game 26-17.  Um boys, might want to get your spread right next time!  I think the Seminoles are finally waking back up!

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...my first snow-woman....

So I've been determined since I've been up in New Hampshire that the first snow, I'd make a snow-woman.  Well today it finally happened.  I was upgraded, of course, to a suite that had a balcony.  I went outside and to my surprise, PLENTY of snow on the balcony to make a snow-woman.  We received about a foot and a half here in Manchester, NH over the weekend. 

Oh and to top it all off, on lunch Tuesday, I was invited to go sledding on the snow banks that the snow plow's had pushed up at the hospital.  It was a blast!! 

Here's a short video of me trying to climb up the non-compressed snow (that is super hard by the way), and eventually sledding for the very first time, ever!

(I'm the second one that goes - the one in all black)

And driving back into Manchester today, I came across a covered bridge.  It was beautiful all covered in snow.  I had to stop and snap up a few photos of it as well as walk through the two foot of snow they received out in Lebanon, where the bridge was located. 

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...hot cocoa anyone?...

So for Christmas, I hit up the grocery stores! 
Yep, that's right. 
Grocery. Store.

I decided to make hot cocoa and spiced tea in mason jars. 
It was my first time mixing both up but I found great recipe's!!  Check them out and make them yourself!

Spiced Tea - http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,163,157170-236206,00.html

Red patterned paper for the Spiced Tea

Hot Cocoa - http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Hot-Cocoa-Mix-in-a-Jar/Detail.aspx

Brown patterned paper for the Hot Cocoa

Both had great reviews from my family and friends that received these! 

 

 I think the most fun was in the packaging of them.  Traditionally you  see them with pieces of cloth under the lid, however, I grabbed some scrapbook paper to stick on the top of the jars along with coordinating reciepe tags tied on with a little jute.  I think they came out perfect and well worth the time making them!! 


...a...

...it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Best part of New Hampshire : The Seasons....

It's beautiful up here this time of year. 

I have my favorite house... (I wish I would have gotten a picture during the Autumn leave changes)

And my favorite road....

And just a few more pictures...

Just so pretty!

I'll try and add a short video of this little stream, so peaceful!

The trees were covered with snow!

It was snowing through this picture



Freezing my butt off!

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...a scarf by any other material...

So as promised, I decided to show you the scarf I made for my aunt.  My sister let me borrow a circular knitting tool, sized 18, I believe?  Perfect size for a QUICK scarf!!  We picked out some  amazing material to use, a wool blend.  Not scratchy and super duper warm!  Within a few hours at my sister and brother in law's house and 3 plane rides later, the scarf was done.  In the end, it looked too plain, so I added a few tassels on each end.  It came out perfect!  And in the end, I made sure to test it out in what better than some gorgeous heavy falling snow in New Hampshire....

Try 1 : Snow  pelting me everywhere

Try 2 : Not great, but at least I was able to keep my eye's open in this one!

 Snow tested, Niece approved!

...a...

...hands down, my favorite nephews...

I'm totally getting into my creative side.  I guess sitting in hotel room's 4-5 day's a week has  me jumping online searching  for the cutest, yet most creative things I can do.  A few months ago, I came up with the idea to copy a blog I found online. 

http://www.redtedart.com/2010/10/08/how-to-make-a-no-sew-handprint-applique-t-shirt/

Making a t shirt with an animal on it, using the outline of my nephew's hands. 


AREN'T THEY ADORABLE???!!!

While I was home over my one week vacation, I traced Aubrey's hand, and then he helped me (my little helper!) trace his baby brother Anthony's hand's.  He even offered to draw smiley face's inside both hands *giggles and smiles*.  It was the cutest thing!  Although I didn't keep the traced hands (Angela do you still have them??) I did cut out the material.  But that's as far as it went......

Then, knowing my stint of flying back and forth, and therefore, free trips to my sister's house in Texas was  coming to an end, I made a plan to go see her!  We went shopping for Christmas gifts, worked on craft projects and I even worked on a brand new scarf for my Aunt (post coming tomorrow!) But thank goodness for my big sister!  I realized quickly, sewing down the hands was going to be difficult.  
                                Note: Unlike the tutorial online, I chose to sew the hands down for added durability and possibly something their mom would keep to remember the babies when they were smaller. 

It's been forever since I've sewn anything (Freshmen year of high school to be exact) so I let her take the reign's on that one.  She did an amazing job and when she was done, I sewed on the buttons and made the fish smile (Yes, I created that one on my own and have plenty more ideas where that came from!)! 

I can't wait to show Lisa (the boys' mom), I think she's going to love them!! 

Aren't they the cutest??

I'm in love with the hedgehog, because he's SOOO darn cute, but Aubrey LOVES fishing with his Uncle Chris and Uncle Jason, so fish was the perfect animal for him (besides, I did orange and blue just for daddy - You're Welcome Shawn!)

...a...

...Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

So one benefit to working up in New Hampshire in the middle of December?  I'll get to see it snow like crazy!  So hopefully soon, I can post some pictures.  And yes, since I'm in New Hampshire, the sun goes down around 3:30 or 4pm in the afternoon, so this will mean I'll have to take a quick sneak peak outside with my camera...I think it can be done!  And I'll have the perfect shoes for it.  I bought some snow boots last week, to walk in until I get inside work.  Considering I'm a Florida girl and accustomed to wearing leather flats or anything with a slick bottom, snow boots for walking was a perfect addition to my work outfit.  Take a look, aren't they addorable!!??

I love the little snowflake detail on the sides!

So warm and fuzzy inside, so weather proof outside!

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