I'm trying...

to get into the holiday spirit but it's definitely been a challenge this year. I believe that it's been due mostly in part to an insanely busy and fully consuming work schedule which has demanded of me a fair share of travel and bringing work home almost every night. I believe this combination has somewhat robbed me of my normal enthusiastic outlook on this time of year. I believe this is the first time ever that I have NOT put up a Christmas tree or decorated the house. And I do realize for those that know me well...it's shocking!

All hope is not lost...I have been saturating myself with a lot of Christmas music lately and I think it's actually improving my mood. I have mailed out my first round of Christmas packages to friends, began working on Christmas cards, wrapping presents, took care of all my December birthdays ( i have like 6 close friends/family that have December bdays) and even took time to bake a dessert for a Christmas party that I went to on Friday night. Impressive for someone who feels like she is a borderline Scrooge this year.

Blah Blah Blah

I seem to have caught a case of the blahs...which is really unfortunate given this wonderful time of year. I've always loved the Christmas season for so many reasons but this year...at the moment anyways...I have seemed to lost my "joy". There are a couple factors that I feel have robbed this joy but I won't bore you to tears with my whoas. I just know that I have about 15 days to snap out of it and get it together before heading home for the holidays. Here's hoping...


I will leave you with a couple pics from our Sunday School Class Christmas party. Let the holiday parties begin...

Me and my friend Katie

We always do a Gift Exchange/Yankee Swap and Amy traded out her gift for a thousand piece puzzle of a map of Santa Barbara that just happened to come in this handy dandy suitcase.

My friend Patrick won the craziest Christmas Tie contest...his tree tie even had working lights (thanks to the clever battery pack that fit in his front pocket)

Terah, Katie and Amy = Group Hug

Highlights from November

Since I've been MIA in the blogging world, I thought it would just be easier to just share some highlights from November.

1. Work has been insane and I have made multiple trips to Parsons (West TN) and to Unicoi (East TN) for multiple events.


2. Took a spontaneous weekend-road trip to hang with Florida Friends


3. Got Bronchitis and spent about a week on antibiotics.
4. Was able to make almost every Monday night TR2 Running Group.
5. Went to midnight showing of "New Moon" with my friends Amy, Tammy and Julie.
6. Cleaned my room thoroughly and brought the rest of my winter sweaters and such out of storage including changing to flannel sheets.
7. Went back to Indiana for Thanksgiving with the family.
8. Ran a Thanksgiving Day 5k with my dad and thanks to the cold conditions posted a 30:30 finish time.
9. Started Christmas shopping.

Warning Labels

I know that warning labels can be very helpful and stear us from things that might bring us harm but have you ever seen this warning label?
This was the label that was on the inside lid of the storage bin I bought to pack away some summer clothes. I mean...really?? Are you serious?? Who thinks they can store away a small child? It's laughable but a child has probably suffocated to death from being placed in a storage container hence the need for a warning label. Just when I think I've seen it all......

It can't already be November?

I guess fall is officially here with the time change and all this weekend. I saw on some one's facebook status that Christmas was like 7 weeks away or something crazy like that. WHAT?!? Where did this year go? I was just getting used to summer and then I look at my calendar and it's already November. Whoa......

Life has been moving at warp speed but all is well. Just got back from spending time with my family in the sunshine state. It's always nice to take a little break and just get away. It's amazing what a change of scenery can do. I got to spend some much needed face-time with several friends, made some new friends and missed some dear friends. Seems like even when you go on vacation, there is never enough time to see or do everything you want to do.

So tomorrow is November 1 and it's going to be a crazy month. It's sad that when you are trying to organize a time to spend with friends and only have 3 days to offer out of a month that contains 30 days. Time to just buckle down and enjoy the most of this busy season of life.