Oh, How Pinteresting - Christmas Stockings

I can't believe tomorrow is December! Slowly I've been decorating my apartment but I realized I don't have Christmas stockings!! I'd love to make my own.. or at least personalize some store bought stockings. Anywayssss for my Pinterest picks this week I'm looking at pretty and festive Christmas stockings.

Source: horchow.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: redheart.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: womansday.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: simplymodernmom.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Current Obsession

Apple Chips. I love these things! They're so expensive at the grocery store though.. anddd there's only like five in a bag. I need to try to make these someday. Someday soon.

Source: vittlesandbits.blogspot.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Are these good for you? I feel like they may be that kind of food that you think is good for you but really they're not... you know what I mean? Maybe I'm just a crazy person.

Iron Bowl

It's Iron Bowl day.. even though I'm pretty sure I know the outcome... WAR EAGLE!!!

I'm at work all day but I hope I get to catch some of the gameeee.

Thankful

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and is feeling sufficiently stuffed with yummy goodness! I've really enjoyed reading what everyone is thankful for this holiday season. Being thankful for all the blessings we've been given in life is very important.

Why though do we just recall all the blessings this time of year, let's try to be thankful everyday for the wonderful things we are blessed to have.

I am thankful for...

- a family who miss me terribly but understand why I love living down here and come visit!

- a boyfriend who really brings out the best qualities in me.

- finding a church that inspires me and makes me want to be a better person.

 - a silly cat who (I like to think) misses me when I'm a work and loves to snuggle.
- my friends up north. Even though we haven't seen each other in forever, when we talk it's like we haven't be apart.

- my blog and all the things I've learned and friends I've made through it.
- my education.

- coffee.

- sweatpants.

- days when I get to sleep in.

- and really so much more.

Happy Thanksgiving

Spending the day with those I am thankful for. My family is in town visiting.

Oh, How Pinteresting - Thanksgiving

Hope everyone is ready and excited for Turkey Day tomorrow! My family is coming into town, I'm reallly looking forward to it. I haven't seen them in so long! There have been some pretty creative Thanksgiving pins out there.. here are some that have particularly caught my attention.

Side note - if you're not on Pinterest you pretty much live under a rock. Just kidding. But seriously, you should be there! It's so much fun to have a virtual pin board to pin all the things you stumble upon on the internet and want to remember.

Source: craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: melondipity.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: womansday.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: ladolfina.blogspot.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

As usual, linking up with the lovely Michelle.

Four Eyes

Ok, so I'm thinking I need a new pair of glasses.. actually I needed a new pair of glasses a while ago but I realllly don't think I look good in them! The glasses I have now are too small for my eyes. I can literally see right over the top of them, if I push them up my nose my eyelashes hit them.. so uncomfortable! I need a cute pair like this - that fit!

I was contacted by someone at GlassesUSA.com and figured it was a sign to start looking into a new pair of glasses again. I'd really like to not have to wear my contacts every single day. 

My concern with buying glasses online is what they'll look like! This website has a nifty virtual mirror - basically you upload a picture, choose some glasses frames and you can "try them on". Ok, it's a little bit different than the real thing but at least you have something to go off of.  

Looking through, it's actually a pretty affordable site, eyeglasses can be sooooo expensive!! Not only are their prices reasonable, but they are giving us all a discount code!! How exciting :)
 
THANKS giving discounts! 
- 20% Off any frame in the iSee Eyewear collection and Free Shipping within the US. 
Use Code: iSee20FS
- 10% Off any order of prescription glasses.
Use Code: Blog10

If you were ever going to buy eyeglasses online now is defffffinitly the time to do it! I just made the plunge and ordered myself a pair and saved $108. Seriously, that's awesome.

PS. You can also get sunglasses on this site, too!

Ice Skating

Saturday night we went on a very special date, we went ice skating. I work for a hockey team and I can't even tell you the last time I laced up a pair of skates. That's pretty sad if you ask me. Jeremy decided he could pull out his skates one more time this week and head over to the ice house. 

To catch some of you up, he's the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Memphis Hockey team so he spends a bunch of time at the ice house. He's the best for taking me, especially because I'm really not that good on skates.

Woahh check out that dasher - looks pretty good if you ask me.. I wonder who made it ;)

Ice skating is such a fun thing to do!! If you're in the Memphis area, the Mid-South Ice House is a grrrreat place for some public skating. It just opened in Olive Branch and it's prices are very very reasonable andddd it's very fun. If you're anywhere else.. you should also go ice skating - it's such a great weekend activity.

Downtown Date Night

We went downtown last night for a much needed date night. We looked at the list of all the restaurants participating in restaurant week but went to an old favorite instead - Bangkok Alley. If you're in the Memphis area, there are a couple locations, it's sushi and Thai food and it's yummy yummy yummy. We love this one Thai noodle dish so much that we both ordered it.

Afterwards we headed over to Court Square to see the Christmas lights. They lit them last night and they were so pretty!

Fourth Quarter Loss

.... another one. Another Memphis Tiger football game lost in the fourth quarter. They were up pretty much the entire game then totally collapsed in the fourth quarter. Pretty much the same exact thing that happened last weekend!!

Hey Memphis football team, we were out there freezing our butts off for you!! Sure, there aren't many of us left, but some of us are still behind you even though this has been a pretty terrible season.

I was so bundled.. it was freezing. I thought the South was supposed to be warm? I pretty much sat like this through the entire game...

I reallllly was hoping U of M would make a move to the Big East so they'd have a chance to play Villanova.. pretty bummed that's not happening anymore. 

Moving right along, I hope you all have super fun weekend plans! I'm hoping Jeremy and I get to check out a new restaurant because it's Restaurant Week here in Memphis! 

Ps. All photos today were taken by the one and only Jeremy. My fingers were way too cold. 

What am I doing?

I got to be part of something pretty amazing the other night. Jeremy brought me to "Family Night". It's something Y-CAP does once a month for the children in the program. Basically all the kids and their families get together one night, pray together, have dinner together, and listen to a guest speaker.

Ok, here's a little background. Jeremy works for Y-CAP...

According to the Y-CAP website, Y-CAP:

- Is a faith-based program that works with at-risk youth (10 - 16 years old) and includes the entire family 

- Is a holistic program that emphasizes specific values such as caring, honesty, respect and responsibility

- Is recognized by local school and court personnel as being a highly effective prevention and intervention program

I am so proud of him for what he does. This is such a good thing to be working for. He's literally impacting the lives of these kids in a positive way. He said to me, even if you only reach one child, it's all completely worth it.

It makes me reevaluate things. I am blessed in so many ways yet I complain about silly things.

Sometimes I don't necessarily see a point in what I do everyday. I wish I did something that made a bigger impact on the world. Sure, I do think people need a place to go for entertainment, a place to hang out, and a place to have fun. But is this really worth all the stress that I put myself under? It sometimes feel like the reward isn't as great as the sacrifice.

Where do I go from here? Do I try to move in a different direction? Do I simply try to see the positives and focus on those? Maybe I'm just in a funk.. ugh I don't know what to do.

Source: embracegrace.tumblr.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Lately I've been seeing this alot.. 

"He has made everything beautiful in its time." - Ecclesiastes 3:11 

This has been keeping me going. I know it all happens for a reason.
Just gotta have faith that it'll all work out and be ok. In the mean time, I do enjoy what I do everyday, it could be a whole lot worse anddd I get to hear all of Jeremy's stories and be a part of Family Night.

Oh, How Pinteresting - Crafty

I am not particularly a crafty person but Pinterest is so inspiring! People are so clever, where do they come up with this stuff! I think these are some craft projects I'd actually be able to do... if only I had the time.

Source: hereinthewaitingplace.blogspot.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: houzz.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: readymade.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: sidebysideblog.blogspot.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

The Battle of the Bones

Sadly Memphis didn't win the Battle of the Bones this year meaning they didn't get to hoist the giant rack of ribs trophy. It was actually a really sad game... the Tigers had the lead through most of the game and then just couldn't hold the UAB Blazers at the end. Even though it was pretty much a downer to lose, we had a great time trying to stay warm and watching some football.

My car got a makeover for the game.. hah this tiger tail is still on my car. I keep forgetting and then wonder why people stare at me when stopped at red lights. 

 

The last home game is Thursday.. already the forecast says it's going to be freeeezing. You better believe I will have on a ridiculous amount of layers. We stuck by our Memphis Tigers this whole crazy weird not very good football season. Let's hope they can finish the season off on a good foot.

Looking Back on the Week

- Happy 11-11-11 and Happy Veteran's Day! Tonight, we're having Military Night at the RiverKings game.. all military personnel with a military ID get tickets half off.. pretty sweet if you ask me!

- Took a break from blogging yesterday, that was kinda nice.

- Doesn't my cat look cute with that festive bow? He hated it at first, but I think he's getting use to it. 

- I reached 100 Twitter followers! Whoa! 

- I'm finally feeling better! It only took alllll this medicine and a trip to the doctor and lots and lots of sleep.

- Tomorrow, we're going to The Battle of the Bones.. people, I can't make this stuff up. It is a football game between the UAB Blazers and the Memphis Tigers. I guess since both places are known for their barbeque, they call it the Battle of the Bones. I haven't even gotten to the best part yet - they play for a giant trophy that looks like a rack of ribs. Seriously.

- Side note, I sometimes still refer to grilling hamburgers and hotdogs as having a barbeque.. apparently down south that is absolutely absurd! They call that a cookout. #randomthingsivelearneddownsouth


*UPDATE* Just receieved this picture and was told to include it in this post... the Battle of the Bones trophy. This is for real.

Oh, How Pinteresting - Shoes

I honestly don't go crazy over shoes, however, some shoes that I find on Pinterest make me shoe-obsessed! I wish I had places to wear some of these...

Source: imgfave.com via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Alyssa on Pinterest

Source: freepeople.com via Alyssa on Pinterest