Standard Time is Back

Today is the first day that I can officially start writing PST on my Outlook Event Invites again!

A lot has happened, is happening,
and will be happening around here.

Yesterday, marked one year since my Mammaw passed away; and tomorrow marks 9 months since my dad passed away, which is definitely making this season a bit more emotional than it has been in the past.

Though we are so excited for it to be my (30th!!) birthday, Christmas, and our London vacation, the loss of such important people is very much felt right now. I always especially feel the loss of my mom at this time because she always loved celebrating my birthday.

To make things EVEN MORE emotional, the time has apparently come for massive layoffs at Warner Bros; and no one is safe. By the end of this work week, i should know if I am safe from this round of cuts, or if I will need to start the ever enjoyable interviewing process.

Though all of this is going on, I am blessed to have an amazing husband, and to have had this job for the last year and a half. Jayson and i have looked at our finances and our travel plans, and know that no matter what happens, we should be okay.

PLUS, today we set up our THANKSGIVING TREE!

Yesterday, we bought our new artificial Christmas tree, and today we figured we would set it up and test it. Then somehow it turned into what i hope is a forever tradition for us!

We are planning on trying to come up with things we are thankful for and hang them on the tree leading up to the happy day!

Man, trees with lights on in the house immediately make it feel cozier. :)

Our Thanksgiving "Angel"

The Day of Looooove...

I'm not a big "romantic" Valentine's Day girl....I'm more of a $1 bin at target (gel clings anyone?), cheap chocolates, lots of bright colored balloons & stuffed animals Valentine's Day gal.

I don't actually need to own any of these things, or even be given a gift at all, I just like being surrounded by it.

I like holidays because I like themes and I like when people are happy (I've noticed themes either bring out complete joy or utter disdain from people, no matter the occasion.)

Today I woke with a smile because i found homemade cards and snickers from Jayse. He also gave me wild flowers from the Farmer's market a few days ago.

I love all of these things, but don't associate them with Valentine's Day. I'm a lucky girl that gets notes throughout the year, and flowers on occasion because he knows I think flowers makes our place feel homey.

So yes, "romantic" gestures should be year round, but why not take this holiday and have fun with the theme?

Red, pink & hearts for everyone!!

s

What I've learned in the past 2 months:

1. Disneyland really is the happiest place on Earth... and I am in love with it.

2. Blogging can be a drag, when it becomes a chore.

3. It can feel like Christmas no matter where you are, as long as you don't try to force it.

4. It is better to write a FB response/blog post/email and then delete than it is to actually send it.
(i've not-sent more than a few things in the past couple of months)

5. Apologizing is always worth it (but you have to mean it).

6. It's not about where you are (location/timeline/emotional state) at this moment, it's about how unwilling to change you are. Inflexibility can be your biggest stepping stone, and complacency is always the enemy.

7. Reading is more fun than watching TV (this is more of a reminder that I received from getting a Kindle for my birthday)

Favorite Friday: Holiday Season

Let me take a second and admit something...

I am currently listening to Christmas music.



I love it, and I am excited that we are nearing my favorite few months. To me there is no better time than that which runs from the end of September to the first week of January. I absolutely love everything about fall. The weather, the pumpkin flavored everything, the need to have warm drinks in hand (i love apple cider), my wedding anniversary, then my birthday, and knowing that Christmas is just around the corner! It's all perfection to me.


The view looking up from our backyard last December.

Living in LA it feels like Fall nearly every night. In fact, it is the one and only thing that has made me truly home-sick. At night, when we walk Adler in the cute little neighborhood beside us, i yearn for the few precious months in Fort Worth that I love so much. The months where friends sit outside for longer, the months of decorating our house, and the months of spending way too much time at the University Park Village Starbucks visiting the baristas. This year, as Fall approaches in our new city, I am nervous about how Fall and the Holiday Season will feel to me. I'm excited for new memories and new traditions, but for a few years Fort Worth in the Fall & Winter months will always be the standard by which everything else is measured.


Could this be a preview of our new stockings?

When it approaches, I will definitely let you know what it feels like to have L.A. weather in place of my beloved Southern Fall and Winter weather. But just to give you a little insight of what it's like here, I have borrowed a climate chart from About.com.


When time comes please feel free to post lots of Fall and Christmas photos no matter where you are in this world. Send me links!

It's only the most wonderful time of the year!

-sass

Hamilton Happenings: Doctor Who

Hello all,

If you know me, you know my great love of sci-fi/fantasy and comic books. Living in LA has been a great place for seeing a lot of my favorite stars from the "Nerd" world, and yesterday I had the chance to see one of the biggest... The Doctor.

Doctor Who is one of my favorite shows of all time, and every episode makes me love it even more. As a great fan of David Tennant, the 10th Doctor (and the one that kinda looks like Jayson... look it up), I was nervous about the 11th Doctor coming in; but immediately Matt Smith was absolutely charming.

He and Karen Gillan (who plays the 11th Doctor's companion, Amy Pond) had a signing at Amoeba Records yesterday. Now to actually get something signed you had to go a week before, and be one of the first 200 people to buy a copy of the Series 6, Part 1 DVD set. Apparently, people lined up as early as 5 am... and the store didn't open until 10:30! Luckily for us, we didn't have enough money to even attempt to buy the DVDs; so we just went yesterday hoping we could find a good spot, just so I could SEE the Doctor. It worked.

While these pictures below are not the best (horrible lighting and my cheapo camera) they show how close we were... i only wish they could really show how exciting it was!









And here is a video of the signing (if you listen closely you can hear Matt Smith's voice):




In other news, this is the album we bought:

yes, that's a dinosaur in a boat with George Washington, Davy Crockett, and of course, American Children.

Life sure is exciting!

-sass