Alas, it’s not a “real” post. Just another random one. But I suppose they’re all pretty random.

I’m sure I’ve spoken about this before, but I just felt the need to reiterate my point. I spent tonight cleaning my room. Combining last week of shopping, laundry and packing for Cleveland, it looked like a train wreck.

Or, you know, a TRAIN. WRECK.

Really, it was bad. I just think so much clearer when my room is picked up. I hate having it hanging over my head. I’m sure my parents wish I had learned this when I lived with them. I’ll never be the type that makes my bed every morning or always has my clothes put away perfectly, but just the fact that you can finally see the floor in my room makes getting dressed for work a LOT easier.

So, here is Christmas Eve and Christmas with Mama’s family.

Christmas Eve, we went with Ryan’s family to Bistro VG. It was great and really nice.

Christmas Day, we celebrated with Daddy’s fam. No pics. :( Sad I didn’t get one of Daddy’s remote control cooler.

The next day we went to Charlotte to see Mama’s family and have dinner with them.

I had the whole week off work, so I hung out at home and headed back on Friday. Sarah and I took down Christmas. Truthfully, this was the first time I’ve ever been happy about taking down Christmas. Yes, I was sad to see all of our decorations get taken down, but I was just ready for a fresh start.

That night, Ryan and I went to see Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. He’s awesome and one of my favorites.

EARLY on New Years’ Eve, we got up and crammed in the car with Alec, Mikey and Caitlin to head down to Tampa. I slept most of the way down there, which was nice and we got to Tampa around 1:30. I complained about leaving so early but it was great to get down there early and have some time to hang out before that night. As usual, when Sarah’s not around, I don’t take many pictures. So these are all just super random.

I actually didn’t take a single one on New Years’ Eve. I’ll be honest. I hate New Years’ Eve. Too much pressure to have something to do and I guess I just feel like I should have this huge, life-altering experience, but I never do.

The next day, we slept in and then went and found a place for breakfast. Alec wanted Jimmy John’s, but it wasn’t open for business yet (thank God) so we found an awesome crepe restaurant. Seriously, it was so good! I still think about that crepe all. The. Time.

Then we just walked around and hung out and explore Tampa.

The next day, we went to the game and then headed home.

And with that, we are finally in 2012.

I’ll be back around May, probably…….

Last year, I was .75 for 3. I’m not quite done reading my Bible in a year, but I should be able to finish this month! So I’d say reading the Bible in 13 months is pretty good!

1. Read the corresponding chapter of Proverbs to each day and My Utmost for His Highest.

2. Write 1 letter each week to a random person. I got this idea from Katy at The Non-Consumer Advocate. I’ve already gotten it scheduled in my phone! Plus send more birthday cards!

3. Do some type of physical activity each day. Even if it’s just 10 push-ups and sit-ups or a quick walk. And go to hot yoga twice a week.

4. Make better food choices. Less fried, more grilled. More water, less coke. More fish, less beef. Less cake, more vegetables.

I think that’s good, for this year. I don’t want to do so many things that I can never do them. I’m excited to see what God has for 2012!

This past week at work was ca-razy! Seriously, working early and getting home late, at least 12 hour days. As a result, I was not very kind to myself. I didn’t get enough sleep, eat well, drink enough water, have adequate alone time, and I certainly didn’t make time to exercise.

Isn’t it funny how when you’re not kind to yourself, then you are not kind to those around you? I was mean and short with people, especially the ones I love. I was constantly on edge and on the verge of tears for absolutely no reason. It was silly, really.

So this week, I am going to be kind to myself. I’m going to get more sleep, take time to read my Bible and finish my book, eat better, drink more water (and maybe a few glasses of wine) and be sure I get to hot yoga. Also, I’m going to clean my room. ;) Because I’ve learned I function better when my space is clean. I’m going to take care of myself so I can take care of others.

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

Last Wednesday, Ryan’s mom threw her annual ornament exchange and this year, Sarah and I were invited! There were a TON of squealing women there and it was so fun and funny! Plus, the food was amazing!

Saturday, Sarah, Whitney, Annie and I threw the 3rd Annual Castle Christmas Party. Of course, this was only the first one I’ve been able to attend because last year Ryan and I were in Nashville for Garth and the year before that, it was the day after I graduated, so I couldn’t make it. Unfortunately, Ryan was in Arizona this year visiting his grandparents, so he wasn’t able to come. But you know it’s always a good time when you don’t take any pictures because you’re too busy having fun! Of course, I got pictures of the food before everyone showed up.

The only picture people I took. We didn’t even get a roommate pic. FAIL.

Monday, we had our work Christmas party. We had dinner at Latitude’s at Phipp’s. It was so super good! Then we had an ornament exchange and went to see The Descendants. The movie was good, but super intense. It was nice to get out of the office and just hang out all together and not talk about work.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

A guy from Canada redid the song and directed the video. I love his version!

I think what I love about it is the idea. This little boy, going with the Magi. They are bringing these expensive, sought after gifts. He’s just a young, poor boy. He has nothing to give that is ‘fit to give a King.’ So he gives what he has. He plays a song.

And isn’t that true for all of us? I have nothing that is worth anything to Jesus. What does He need? Um, He’s the Lord of all the earth. He doesn’t need anything I can give Him. All he wants is me and my talent. That’s all He wants of any of us. I only pray I give what I have and don’t waste it.

I’ve been super bad about posting regularly! It’s making me crazy!

I have challenged Ryan and myself to not spend any “extra” money for the rest of December and all of January. This is going to be super hard, but I think we can do it. This includes not eating out much. We did go out on Saturday, but Ryan had a gift card, so our entire dinner cost $1, tip included! But all I want to do is go to Target and Urban Outfitters and shop, shop, shop! I did buy some glue for $2 the other day, but that’s not too terrible.

Iz came over for dinner on Monday. I cooked spaghetti with ground turkey and we had a salad. It was super good and great to see her. And then we watched White Christmas, an absolute Christmas classic.

I unexpectedly had the day off on Monday (because I worked Saturday) so I decorated and did laundry! It was nice!

I’m working on New Year’s Resolutions. Yes, already. I kinda sorta failed on 2/3 of this past years’, but I have a renewed faith in myself! Isn’t that the best part of the new year and starting over?

It’s not really a secret that I’m not a Tim Tebow fan. I may or may not have something to do with the fact that I’m a Georgia fan through and through. (I’m not really going to go into it right now, but I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT believe that the Broncos are winning because “God is on Tim Tebow’s side.” Give me a break! God is on ALL of our sides! He loves all of his children and he is not just winning because he has a relationship with God. If he starts losing, are people going to say it’s because God doesn’t love him anymore? Um, NOT TRUE. Also, he’s not the first Christian in the world or in the NFL for that matter. So everyone needs to stop acting like it!) (Okay, I guess I went into it after all. Oops.) ANYWAY. I thought this article about him from the WSJ was kinda funny. He’s probably a good quarterback because he figures out ways to win, but I just don’t like him.

Suri’s Burn Book is absolutely a highlight of my day. So funny! If you haven’t read it, you should check it out.

I’m behind on my shows, so I spent last night catching up. Fortunately, Gossip Girl is over until January and I got all caught up on Glee last night. I LOVED the I Will Survive/Survivor mashup. I can’t wait til February so I can buy it!

I’m sooo close to being done with my Christmas shopping! Yay!! Just a few more things to buy. And I’ve got most of my cards mailed out. Yay again! Now I just need to finish cleaning up my room and getting ready for our Christmas part tonight! It’s the 3rd annual, but the 1st I’ve been able to attend. So I’m very excited about it!

We rent a house that was built around 1960 and hasn’t been updated since except to slap some white paint on the walls and throw down some cheap carpet.

One of the best parts about our house is that we have a real, working fireplace and mantle! I don’t know what I’ll do if I ever live in a house that doesn’t have a mantle. Sarah put up the greenery from our yard and the tree and some Christmas balls and I made a garland out of book pages. And then we hung our stockings with care.

I cut some holly out of the yard and put it on the window sill above the sink. It’s the little things, to me.

And the dining area! We decorated the loverly railing with a wreath I bought in college from the Habitat Home Store and some garland from Sarah’s mom and of course, my book page garland. I like the homey quality the wreath had. It seemed like something my grandmother would have had.

The door to the hall has a wreath that I made last year. It’s not perfect and it needs some work, but I still really like it. It has a kitschy 60′s quality to it, I think.

And the grand finale, our buffet and tree! I love our tree. I don’t really like theme trees. They’re just not my style. My mom has never really just gone out and bought a bunch of ornaments that match to put on the tree. We’ve collected them from places we’ve traveled and they all have memories attached to them, so I guess that’s where I get it from.

The buffet, we just added some garland and a poinsettia. (One day, I will paint that buffet red. And it will be like Christmas all year round! But I haven’t gotten to it yet, obviously.)

And our tree! We love it! Even our scraggly little angel on top. I should have taken a close-up, but I forgot. Oops. I definitely lusted after the flocked trees when we went and bought this one, but they just don’t smell.

I made these ornaments from paper towel and toilet paper rolls. So cheap and easy, but they took forever to paint! The paint just kept soaking right up. But I love the way they turned out, so totally worth it.

I LOOOOOOOOOOVE my owls! I think they turned out super cute! I want to make a lot more now! This little grey guy is my favorite, but I did them in all different colors.

I made this one from ornament I saw on Pinterest. Yes, the mustache thing is random and cheesy, but I love it.

Gotta represent the Griffindors in the house! Me and Whitney! Sarah’s in Ravenclaw and Annie could care less about HP.

Somehow, I started a squirrel ornament collection this year. I collect squirrels because they were our sorority mascot and I think they’re funny. Just when I find random ones around, I pick them up. Jamie got me the first one for my birthday, I bought the second one from our store, and Jillian bought me the last one when she heard I collected them.

And of course, my pride and joy, the garland! It was so easy! Just a book from Goodwill, a few Martha Stewart paper punches, red thread and my sewing machine. Our house is covered in this stuff!

Well, I think that about wraps it up! Thanks for visiting our little house!

I’m linking up to The Nester’s Christmas Tour of Home and also to Kelly’s Korner Show Us Your Life Christmas. Some people would call that cheating. I call it killing 2 birds with 1 stone.

Thanksgiving Day was the usual, awesome Rea Family Fest. Full of great food, holding babies and family. Including some potatoes al gratin that rocked my world and John, who is waaay bigger than he was when I first met him! This year there were 145 people at Thanksgiving, our biggest crowd yet!

Mama and I drove back after breakfast on Friday so I could make it to Atlanta for the Tech game on Saturday. Since the game was at noon, we just ate breakfast downtown and then headed in. I must admit, their stadium does have a great view. Even though I swear it is the worst engineered stadium ever.

Since Larry Munson had passed away the week before, the Redcoat band did a tribute to him during halftime. Of course those classy Tech students yelled ‘To H*ll with Georgia’ during it….

A win is always a great thing to see! Especially against Tech. I will say I don’t hate Tech like a lot of Georgia fans do, but I do hate losing to them.

After the game, everyone headed over to our house to watch the games and have a low country boil! It was sooo good!

The perfect way to wrap up the regular season!

On Sunday, we headed down to the Dome for the Falcons game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Sean Kingston performed at halftime. So random, but pretty cool.

It was a great weekend full of family, friends, food, and of course, winning!!!