Guess Who's Back? Back Again...

Happy New Year, G&G readers! I am extremely remorseful for falling off of the blogging bandwagon for a bit. I promise to do better in 2015!

Here is a quick summary of what has happened during my hiatus: Thanksgiving, Christmas, NYE, quality time with family and friends, a smashed car window and stolen tablet, over-consumption of craft beer and holiday treats. Throw in some holiday parties and lazy days on the couch, and there you go. Moving on! Just kidding...here are a few pictures from the break.

I made some pumpkin spice puppy chow over Thanksgiving that was to die for

We got our first live X-Mas tree as a married couple! It never smelled though which was a bummer.

We celebrated Christmas Eve on our own and made a gourmet meal: homemade bread, balsamic roasted brussels sprouts, red-wine braised short ribs, parmesan risotto, and champagne. Hello, food coma.

I assisted a Coca-Cola merchandiser out in the field and helped stock some of Buckhead's stores!

Leaving my job in public accounting this past June means that this is my first winter since 2011 where I am not working busy season hours! I can actually enjoy my Saturdays, exercise after work, eat dinner at home with my husband...you know, the little things that you take for granted when you don't have to work 80+ hours for 2 solid months. Sayonara, busy season!

With all of this free time, I have taken up some new hobbies to spice up 2015:

1. On the fashion front, I am obviously sporting the super-popular blanket scarf, or "blarf" as my co-worker and I have come to call them. I got this baby from China via Amazon for $10, and it only took a few weeks for the weird smell to dissipate before I could wear it!

2. Since Serial ended a few weeks ago (side note - I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and thought it wrapped things up nicely), I had to find a new podcast to entertain me. What better podcast to fill Serial's void than....Gilmore Guys! I am still depressed that Gilmore Girls is over (this is not healthy, the show ended in 2007), and now that I have hijacked my parent's Netflix account and started watching the show anew, Gilmore Guys seemed like the perfect fit. Listening to two dudes crudely discuss each episode is pure magic. I have even developed a personal relationship with the hosts via Twitter, soliciting not one but TWO responses to my tweets. Next stop, Hollywood.

3. I wanted to become more involved at our church, so I signed up to lector at the 7:15 pm mass once a month. Ensuring that you say everything correctly, fluctuate your pitch, and make eye contact with the parishoners is no easy feat. I have only lectored twice so far, but I am hoping that the third time will be the charm and I will remember to take a breath.

4. I volunteered to interview high school seniors who are applying for admission to W&L, and I had major flashbacks to my own interviews and how nervous I was. I was also extremely jealous that many of them will be starting the best 4 years of their lives at the greatest place on Earth in just a few short months. Oh well, I have the Atlanta Chapter Lee Party coming up in a few short weeks! We may be alumni, but we still know how to throw a good party...

Here's to a great 2015!