I Promise I'm Still Here...

Blogging can be daunting. Some people are really great at it. Others are hard to follow because they rarely update... like me. Oops. ;)

Just a few updates, perhaps?

I have a new work schedule. Starting in November, I was approved for a flex schedule. Now, I have Mondays off and I work 10 hour days Tuesday-Friday. So far, so good. My goal is to make a plan, a list of sorts, for each Monday of things to accomplish. I've been able to do that a little bit, but already see where I need improvements after only one month at the new schedule. Ideas?

Thanksgiving...
I didn't go home this year. That's the first major holiday I've not been with my family. Since my parents weren't going to be home for Thanksgiving again this year, (they are long-distance team truck drivers and didn't take off for Thanksgiving) I had decided to stay back in Raleigh and then a family at church asked if I would help with their house and dog while they were gone, so I did that. My roommate's friend, Megan, invited us both to eat Thanksgiving lunch with her and her parents, so I did get to have a really yummy, and beautifully decorated, dinner.
I did miss my family and felt okay about being in Raleigh... but the funniest of things trigger emotion, you know? Thursday night, back at the home I was watching, I was thinking about heating up my leftovers from Megan's and how I wished I had brought some of the dessert home with me, too... which made me think about my Granny's baking... and I just lost it! Isn't that the most pitiful think you've ever heard?! LOL... I cried for about 20 minutes thinking about pie and missing sitting around late on Thanksgiving with my aunts and uncles eating leftovers and pie. I guess I'll have to eat extra at Christmas? ;)
On Saturday, I got to go to Kristin's 4th Annual Happy Thanksgiving Saturday. I love that event! She gathers her family together and invites a few friends to enjoy an extended Thanksgiving dinner. The food is always so good, and I get to see all of her family! Love both of those things. :)

New Moon...
Pretty much every person in my life knows how much of a Twilighter I am. For a year now, it's been a big part of my "hobby" life. Through Twitter, I have met TONS of other Twilight ladies around the world, and several of them, I've become pretty close friends with. So, some of us decided we'd like to get together when the second movie came out in November. We planned it and talked about it for months! I couldn't believe when it got down to the wire that it was actually going to happen! Since two of us live here in Raleigh and another fairly close by in Charlotte, we decided it would work out well to have the other 4 girls come here. That way, hotel costs would be eliminated and we'd have two locals to plan things, not having to worry with a new city. Thursday morning arrived, and so did the drama! Planes were delayed, FTA computers were crashing... what a mess! No worries... every one got here just in time and we all spent the weekend at Erin's house. We went to the midnight showing of New Moon, then again on Friday and Saturday afternoons. We ate out together, had pedicures, sat around and laughed like crazy... we even got to take Sarah to the Super Target like she asked. ;) I'm grateful for the friendships and so happy we were able to all get together... Discussion have already begun for the June opening of Eclipse, the third film in the saga. I plan on visiting another friend out in California in the summer, so who knows where we'll all end up!

Holidays...
Christmas is coming and I can already see the hours and days flying by! My roommates and I were finally able to decorate last night. We went all out... it was a frenzy of lights, ornaments, candles... the works! We laughed a lot and even decided to try our fate at a few outdoor lights. Here are few shots I took with my phone. I apologize for the quality... but you get the point. ;o)

I'll be going home for Christmas on the 23rd sometime and because I have off on Mondays, I'll get to stay until the 28th. Alicia, Kristin and I had planned to try and go to Texas over New Year's to see Dan and Casey, Zoe and Jack, but tickets for air travel at that time are RIDICULOUS! Wow... almost 400 dollars!! Twice the normal rate. So, we're having to wait and have tossed around the idea of having a New Year's party like we have had in the past. We'll see what shakes down on Seawell Ave...

So... just a few updates. If you've made it this far, I'll send you a Christmas card... just comment and let me know you did. ha! ;)

Words.

I am currently in a home-study at my church. Those of us who teach a class during the Sunday School hour are encouraged to take most of these classes as they are offered so that our souls are being encouraged to pursue Christ in a class-form discipline... since we don't attend the adult Bible time. This is apart from our regular participation in the regular worship service and our small groups, of course. The work is takes time, but the reading is deep and the questions are thought-provoking and prick my heart.

The current class is a book study on Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp. I'm in the middle of answering a question about the power of words in relationships... and was overwhelmed by this section in the chapter:

The world of talk is a world of trouble

Nobody articulates this more powerfully than James: "If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check" (James 3:2b). Who can honestly say that all his words are well-intentioned and appropriately spoken? Who has not hurt someone with words or used words for a selfish purpose? Who hasn't used words as a weapon of anger rather than an instrument of peace? Don't let yourself back away from the troubles. If you are honest, you have to admit that your relationships have been troubled by words as much as they have been helped. James calls us to admit that our words are the most powerful and consistent indicators of our need for the grace of Christ. James say that if we were without fault in this area, we would be perfect in every way. So listen to your words. Don't they expose how deep your need is for God's forgiving grace? We stain our relationships with thoughtless and evil words. We are guilty of turning this gift into a weapon. We need forgiveness and we need help.

Wow. I am guilty. I know that you are, too, because none is perfect. None is righteous apart from Christ. I have seen some very, very strong relationships broken by one wayward word. One quick quip. One unthoughtful blurb. Words cut like a knife.

I want to be better. I want to wield this weapon of my tongue in an expert way that heals instead of hurts others.

Not much... just a short post... but something that was really heavy on my heart to share with you all.

California Love

Through the years, I've come to really enjoy the work of some great photographers. Two of my very best friends, Casey and Kristin work for Poiema Photography, based here in Raleigh. They are so good at what they do. Angey's on the team, too.

Because of them, I've learned about several others around the country - ones they love and follow and learn from.

Through Twitter, this year... and our mutual love for some various things (wink), I met this lady...

And if you're in Northern California, you need to book her. Pronto. Because she's moving to Ohio in just over a year (to be closer to meeee. ok. not really, but still). Check it out.

(click to reach her blog)

Follow her on Twitter.

Friend her on Facebook.

Be amazed...

Polyvore.

I have only just discovered this from a super rad friend.

But now I love it. Here's my "first" attempt... (first one that YOU'LL ever see, that is!)

Lucky by livingmercy featuring Charles David shoes

A Tagged Post To Bring You Back To Me...

I haven't posted in a few weeks... Sorry!  And Sarah and Erin both tagged me in this quite some time ago... sorry, ladies!

Here goes!

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. My Birthday!
2. My Birthday Cruise!
3. Visiting Friends in Memphis!
4. New Moon, The Movie!  EEEEP.  See Number 3.
5. To Finally Get A Chance To Read City Of Bones.
6. Paying Off All My Debt.
7. Reaching My Goal Weight.
8. Visiting Friends Overseas Again.

8 Things I did yesterday:

1. Went to Church
2. Went to a Graduation Cookout for DAWN!
3. Grocery Shopped... for only 2 things! YAY!
4. Played On My New Mac!
5. Grilled Out With Friends Next Door
6. Hung Out With My Aunt.
7. Watched The MTV Movie Awards and Life Chatted with Taylor Blue and Willow Raine - SO FUN!
8. Finally Got To See The New Moon Trailer!!!  EEEEE.

8 Things I wish I could do:

1. See New Moon Already.
2. Meet Famous People.
3. Have Better Disciplines.
4. Sleep More.
5. Spent More Time With My Friends.
6. Pay Off Debt.
7. Buy A House 
8. Master My Guitar.

8 Shows I watch:

1. Lost
2. Heroes
3. Survivor
4. The Office
5. Parks and Recreation
6. Grey's Anatomy
7. Private Practice
8. Friends


Now who do I tag: 

Hmm.  I won't be offended if you don't do this... but let me know if you do!  ;)

1.  Jessica

2.  Betsy

3.  Mara

4.  Chevy

5.  Meghann

6.  Alicia

7.  Nicole

8.  Myria

If I tagged you and you decide to follow along be sure to leave me a comment!

Saturday Day of Fun

Here are some photos of my day of Nicole fun. :)

First, I got to have lunch with Kristin and Brett and Baby Elliot! What a cutie. She's super cute and I'm excited to watch her grow and see how smart she's gonna be. Her parents are superbly smart!

Then, I went shopping a little bit... you know, for Easter. ;) There are no photos of this, but I bought some clothes, which is nice... including pants that are 5 sizes smaller than I was wearing 10 months ago. FIVE SIZES. whoa!

After I left the store, I grabbed a drink and started snacking on the treat that @genawilson sent me from Scotland... Wine Gums! My favorites are the purple ones, and my pack had THREE in there! yay!

Next, I drove over to buy some Twilight Treats...

Finally! My own PE! (p.s. - I got permission from Lauren to use that term...)

Sorry, I was lame and took the photo before I removed the pricetag. lol.

Then, I got home for an evening of fun and rest... checked the mail, and GASP...

a PACKAGE! @thebraysmommy is super fun and famous forever now!! Lookie what she sent:

And if that wasn't enough fun for me for one day... I got to talk with Gena on Skype since I downloaded the free app on my ipod Touch... She was talking and I was typing. It was so nice to hear her voice. Miss that lassie. I cropped me out of the picture because I just looked dumb... haha.

Now I'm home listening to some of the fun songs that people told me about for freshening up my workout mix... I'm gonna make some veggies for dinner and watch Bones Season 3 on DVD... just a few episodes.

Tweet ya later!

A Crafty Fun Giveaway!

I was FIRST (that's right!) at Sasa's blog for this...

The first five people to respond to this post will get something handmade by me!
My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

2- What I create will be just for you.

3- It will be done this year.

4- You will have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be photography or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may sew or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who follow the directions.
{Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!}

The Fear of the Lord

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7

I've been wanting to post this video on my blog for a long time now... but now I have a fun reason to do it instead of just "hey, look at this funny video."

A few months ago, I started having some trouble with one of my wisdom teeth. I knew that I only had 2 (the lower left and upper right ones) from previous dental x-rays. It would sort of "come and go" with pain and beginning to feel like it was actually coming in. Ugh. So, finally, I could start to see the tooth, and week by week, the pain was becoming more intense. I went to see Dr. Hall (who is also a deacon at our church) - who is SUCH a great dentist... so gentle and explains things so well! Not only was the tooth coming thru, but the area was infected. So, I started a run of antibiotics and schedule a visit with the oral surgeon.

Dr. Ken Benson, in Apex, was also so great! Very kind - even all his staff... all so nice and gentle. The date was set... Friday, April 3rd.

Super Julie took me in, since I had elected to have the full sedation for the surgery. I don't handle pain very well, so this was probably best. I was a little giggly before the surgery just because I didn't really know what to expect. Boy, that was just the beginning. They started the IV and I was going to sleep. I remember feeling them start on the first tooth and expressing some pain to them... then I remember starting to cry. Within "moments" the nurse was rubbing my arm saying, "Ok, Nicole... we're all done..." I said, "But you have to do the other tooth now." They had already done it. Ha.

Then, the laughter began. I just kept laughing. I felt weird. She kept saying, "Did you like the wine? We gave you a lot of wine, Nicole." Then I saw Julie and kept laughing. I could hear them talk about getting me in the car. The nurse had wheeled me to the handicap ramp and I got myself in the car. I really don't remember much about the ride home. I know I laughed a lot and I'm fairly sure I was talking.

Julie was great. She got me in the house and I got on the couch right away. She made me some pudding and went to get my medicine's filled. Casey came over and stayed with me in the morning while I dozed and changed out my gauze hourly. Around lunch, Kristin came home from work and she hasn't left my side, really. It's been great. Heather came in and checked on me, Alicia brought me a Coke from Cary's house. Lots of folks sent me Facebook messages and even checked on me via Twitter! Love those Twitter Girls!

So, Friday went well and I was laughing off and on all afternoon. I dozed some, but the pain wasn't so bad. Once, I was chatting with a friend on IM and laughing with Kristin. She and I both thought I was fine because I was just laughing and chatting online, etc... So, she decides to leave and grab a couple of movies at Red Box. The moment the door closed behind her, I burst into tears. I have no idea why, but I was overwhelmed with the fact that I was alone. So weird!

We watched a couple of great movies, Australia and Rachel Getting Married, so I got all my crying out and went to bed around 11. So far so good.

Today, the pain has been a little more intense and the emotions come in tidal waves. I'm feeling okay, but really ready to be healed. I'm fine with the smooth food diet and feel so cared for by so many! Dan and Casey brought me some super yummy homemade mashed potatoes and Kristin has been great all day again... even made me a super good Raspberry Peach Smoothie.

Thanks so much to all my fun friends who've called, texted, emailed, Twittered and come by! It's made this process great! It's only the end of day two, of course, but I expect great things for the rest of the healing process...

Oh! And here's the video I wanted to show you. haha...

Here I Go Again...

Changing backgrounds

and reminding myself that i haven't posted in so long!

I even gave that little tease of a post that I had things to tell you about... but alas, it hasn't happened!

However - a new time consumer for me... Twitter. So follow me already!

go here.

I haven't posted in so long!

Thanks, Lorie P. for reminding me that some times people do read what I write. Ha!

I haven't written in a long time... but plan to soon. I want to update this with some things from my winter:

~my most recent infatuation

~holidays with family

~New Year's Eve in Times Square!

~winter weather and adventures

~finally meeting Baby Elliot!

for now... Here's a photo tease of each event... :)