I don't swoon

At least I don't often at my age, unless my precious husband has done something wonderful. I once was a swooner, though, back in my college days. If you haven't seen this group before, they are called Straight No Chaser, and they were an a capella group that started at my beloved Indiana University when I was a student there. I went to my first SNC concert after a Delta Gamma pledge event during my freshman year. I swayed. I guffawed. I was hooked.

SNC came several times to sing for us during dinner on random nights over the next few years. I'll never forget the time they came and brought this guy. My memory is all fuzzy with details, but it must have been like my junior or senior year. Due to my cyber stalking skills I discovered that this looker was born in 1981, making him 2 years younger than moi. My deductive reasoning tells me he was probably a sophomore and I was a senior. He sang " I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5, and I remember barely being able to finish my fudge bar dessert, which tells you just how mesmerized I was. I recorded this show earlier this year when they performed in Chicago, I believe. I found it on youtube, along with a newer video with this cat singing "Tainted Love" in musical video form. It's marvelous, I just couldn't get it to download here. I watched it over and over and over again. Am I in love with these men? No. Am I infatuated with them? Again, no. Rather I'm in love and infatuated with what they represent, a splendid time in my life when I slept in bed #45 , ran down the front steps of the DG house to retrieve our house's copies of the IDS at 6 a.m. and had not a care in the world. Straight No Chaser makes me feel 19 again, and I love them for it.

No Barbie Dream house

I was hunting on the FAO Schwartz website for a Christmas gift for my niece. I came across this beauty-

The Emerson House

This might just be the coolest toy I have ever seen. I want this dollhouse. I actually want this as my actual house. It is so lovely and modern. It can't be that much smaller than my actual house anyway-

Pat's Birthday and Christmas Soiree

We then drove to see Trinity's parents to attend their holiday party and celebrate his mom's birthday. The house was all decked out in Pat's 2010 theme, "They will bring him silver and gold."

The tree was lovely.

Here is the birthday girl

There was cake! One red velvet and one chocolate sheet cake. I had about 3 pieces.

T and his dad

Here I am demonstrating to Charlotte that I am so talented that I am capable of eating sheet cake with my fingers, brownie style. Lots of people gathered around to see my parlor trick. Charlotte was such a hoot. She is Pat's dear friend and an avid reader of my blog. She and her husband, Trevor(staring at me above) tore up the dance floor at our wedding!

My husband posed with me in my very subtle and unassuming mini dress. I'm sure it's normal length on most people. It also was a great example of my love of color. I'm also wearing tights. I did some breathing exercises to calm myself and I was fine.

I even sported matching earrings. In every shot one was obscured, thus making me look like I rocked a single earring like Boy George.

Yay for a fun night!!! Happy Birthday, Pat!

Louisville Trip

T and I traveled south to Louisville this weekend. We went to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of our first meeting back in 2007. We stayed downtown at the historic Seelbach Hilton Hotel, which was beautiful and free. I used my Hilton Honors points for a free night, or maybe it was my close personal friendship with Paris Hilton that afforded me such a luxury. As if! I would never be friends with that coke snorting train wreck.

We swooned at the foot of the lobby's tree. The lights were mesmerizing.

T checks out our bed. Hilton Honors freebies aren't for tall people. We got a queen sized bed. We started complaining to each other and then remembered that was what we have at home. It looked smaller with that antiquey headboard. There were no tags, either. I had my scissors poised and ready to remove tags and my husband's finger if he got in the way. I always do a little happy dance when I can't locate a tag!

We then started rolling on the Urban Bourbon Trail, which is just basically a bar crawl through downtown Louisville, minus the matching shirts that say "Delta Gamma Seniors Bar Crawl 2001." We started at the Galt House, site of my bachelorette weekend in June. They had this bunk display of lights that cost $17.95 per adult. Uh, no thanks, jerks. We did enjoy the outside and T snapped some pics of me. I channeled my inner jockey with my equestrian boots and leggings, sans horse and 115lb physique. Judging from this pic, I seem to totally be down with the bowlegged stance of jockeys. Awesome.

Jockey Silks bar

We also hit up the Bar at the Brown Hotel, The Old Seelbach Bar, and a fabulous restaurant called Proof on Main. Swanky and tasty.

The best part of the experience was the pink cotton candy that came with our bill. A perfect end to our circus like antics!

Johnny on the spot with my Christmas cards!

I sent out my Christmas cards already. I was a little excited. I can neither confirm nor deny that I ordered them in October. I have sporadically sent out Christmas cards over the years, and when I did I pasted that year's school picture to the inside. I always found that to be really funny. For my first "real" Christmas cards, I went the traditional and predictable route and used two of my favorite wedding pictures. Everyone expects that from newlyweds, right? I am ready to begin my December tradition of running to the mailbox every evening, hoping for some yuletide greetings. I thought I would share our first Christmas card together, 2010!

Why I love my BFF Nicole

She sent me my first Christmas card of 2010, with a beautiful picture of her darling 2 year old Madelyn. I gushed when I opened the envelope. Her daughter is gorgeous. Since Nic is one of my best friends, we all know she has to have a healthy dose of sarcasm in her personality. She brings it when it comes to being snarky with me. Now I know she probably only sent this to me, which makes it all the more awesome. Tucked inside the fancy professionally printed photo card was this:

I die.

Madelyn wasn't down with a little Kris Kringle.

I love you, Nic. This made my day!!!!!

Thanksgiving 2010

We all converged upon my parents' house for Thanksgiving this year. There was lots of eating, drinking and lounging.

Family of fools up from Tennessee? Check.

A terrible picture of most of us. Dad is sprouting out of my head.

Here I am posing my the huge bridal portrait that my mom ordered. T was a bit uncertain as to why the biggest picture didn't include the groom. I felt that I should draw everyone's attention to me. I did so while holding this lovely Tom Turkey. His waddle was a long crystal. Interesting decor, mother.

A portrait (totally unposed) that showcases my disdain for football and my ginormous nostrils.

T was the bartender for all.

T, Meg and Rob

Mom's gigantic cat, Finn

Robeghan

We wrapped up the holiday weekend by visiting my beloved Uncle Maurice. He will be 89 in March. He is my grandfather's youngest brother. He was the previous owner of the John Paul II flask. He may be elderly, but he's very social. Today he was headed to the Colts game to sit in box seats with his pal, Bob Rohrman. If you live in the Indy area, you've certainly heard of him. He sells cars. He has lots of ads on TV to sell cars. T and I found this to be hilarious. We're trying to figure out how we can be friends with Bob. It seems to have its perks.