Snow*

We got a TON of snow here in NC on Sunday, about 8 inches -- by far the most snow that I've ever seen in the five years we have been living here. As a Pacific Northwesterner, and a former resident of Colorado, I always love when we get a real winter around here.

Because neither myself or my husband are afraid of a little snow, we decided to bundle up and head out. Typically, I would avoid exchanging any Christmas gifts the day after, but in this town the minor threat of snow is enough to shut everything down. We had a couple of things we needed to return, so we took to the streets. It was perfect.

Sadly, most of the snow has melted, and only a few piles remain with no more in the forecast anytime soon.

I have this entire week off of work, which has been glorious. Sadly, I'm using my free time to do things like clean out my closet and the pantry. Things that desperately need to be done, but that I have not had the time TO do due to my insane work schedule. But in a weird way, I am sort of enjoying the purging that is happening in our house!

We have WAY too much stuff!

But mostly, I'm just enjoying the time off. And the cold weather. The south really isn't a place for me -- too hot. I'm not a fan. So when we do get a wintery blast, I LOVE love love it!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

photographer mittens*

As a photographer, I've been doing a lot of Christmas sessions in the last couple of months. And it's oh so cold. But, since I sort of need my fingers for the clicking of the camera, my hands often suffer.

This, however, is pure genius. I really need to pick up my knitting needles again and figure how to make these wonderful items! They would definitely go to good use!

My Christmas Wish*

Last week I mentioned going in for my hysterosalpingogram (HSG) test, which I was more than nervous about. After a very uncomfortable 15 minutes (although not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be) and a fabulous doctor who talked me through the entire process, it's official -- I have open tubes.

Hooray!

So the next step is a follow up with my primary doctor, and hopefully a prescription for clomid to begin on the next cycle. Of course, in between all of that is the dreaded two week wait and the wondering if I'll be that lucky soul who gets pregnant following the HSG.

I hate waiting. I have a major instant gratification problem, so this month to month thing doesn't really suit my personality. But, it is what it is, and we will push through. In the mean time, I'm focusing on the holidays. While we didn't get our Christmas Miracle that we were so hoping for, I'm trying to look on the positive side of things, like a nice long vacation and spending time with my husband. This may very well be our last Christmas together alone (hey, I'm trying to be optimistic!) for a while, so enjoying each other's company and being grateful for the things we DO have is important to both of us. Plus, we have three very loving fur-babies who we enjoy spoiling immensely.

And I will admit that I am looking forward to 2011. I am hoping that while 2010 wasn't our year, that 2011 will be. That all this effort and wanting will not go to waste, and that somewhere down next year's path, we will get that beautiful pink line that we are dreaming about. I turn 30 in just a couple short weeks (eek!) and I know that age brings a level of difficulty to this whole conceiving a child thing; hopefully things will be on our side next year, and everything will fall into place.

That, my friends, is my Christmas Wish.

new blog design*

As you may have noticed, I have a pretty new blog design! I want to give a huge, huge shout out to Shay, over at Dumplin Design Studio who whipped this thing up for me. She was so fabulous during the whole process [and hey, I'm easy to please so hopefully I wasn't a difficult customer!] and really listened to what I wanted.

She is super duper affordable, and you must go check her out for all your blogging and business needs. Her style is everything that I love about blog design, & I will definitely be using her in the future.

Thank you, Shay, so much!

Christmas in NC

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. I love sitting on the couch, bundled under blankets and furbabies, husband by my side with a fire going in the fireplace.

I love the tree, and the decorations, and always end up going through Christmas decoration withdrawls after I take everything down.

This year, Marshall & I opted to stay here in North Carolina for the holidays. It is the first time that we haven't travelled somewhere for Christmas since we have been married and honestly, I'm really looking forward to it. We haven't had a chance to set our own traditions, or do our own things. So this year will be a first for us.

The gifts are also something that are sort of new to us. We have always given each other one gift, but because we are not travelling anywhere this year, we are financially able to do a little more for one another. Which means the Christmas tree is looking very full underneath!

I don't really know what we are going to do on Christmas Eve, or Christmas Day for that matter. But I do know that it will be very relaxing, with lots of wine, Christmas music, and I'm pretty sure I will stay in my sweats all day. :)

How about you? What are your plans for this weekend?