Gibson Park

Today I'm getting ready to pack and head on up to my grandparent's house in Greenville with Patrick. I'm so excited my heart is about to beat out of my chest (I'm pretty sure you're tired of hearing about it by now...sorry). I already planned out my outfit that I'm going to wear to the Biltmore earlier in the week, and I've been having dreams about being inside the house. If that wasn't enough, afterwards I'm going to see The Hobbit and eat dinner with my Nana and Papa and Patrick- I had a feeling this was going to be one of the best Christmases. Because I'm going to be busy the next couple of days, I have decided to post posts I've had saved up in the draft section for occasions like this. I took these pictures last year of Gibson Park, a park that is close to my house that has been around for a very long time. My dad used to visit and swim at this park when he was younger with his brothers.

It's neat looking at photos you've taken a while back and seeing how much you've improved. This was around the time when I had just gotten my new camera and was figuring out all the different bells and whistles. I can't wait to visit the park again and take some newer pictures that are hopefully a bit better.

Till next time,

Jess

Anna Karenina

Here's you a blurry, cell phone photo post brought to you from the corner of a Starbucks. I've been reading Anna Karenina and I LOVE it so far. I've been reading it while Patrick plays video games, and I've actually taken more time reading this than normal. Usually I read really quickly through books and in no more than a week I'll be finished with them. I'm excited to find out that there's a movie of it out now by the same director of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley, what great timing! I'll have to watch it after I'm finished reading.  

It's a cold and rainy day, but I don't mind it because it's been in the 70's lately and not feeling a lot like Christmas. I, like so many other people, have come down with a little cold I believe. I've been sniffling and sneezing and my throat is a little sore, but I'll be spry as a spring chicken for the Biltmore Friday. I've been taking my time to admire the tickets every chance I get. 

Patrick and I have been scrambling about finding Christmas presents for people, and I ran across this little weird blow up penguin with teeth that I had to get a picture of. I hope everyone is having a good week. I'll be on my way to Greenville, SC with Patty Melt tomorrow to visit my grandparents since they are on the way to Ashville where the Biltmore is. Be expecting tons and tons of photos.

Till next time,

Jess

Deck the Living Room

Patrick and I went to my parent's house Saturday and helped decorate the tree. It's my second favorite thing to do at Christmas, and I love revisiting old memories that accompany old ornaments. We played Christmas music, teased each other and the cats, and I made some bows and snapped a few photos along the way. My family cat Tiger enjoyed playing in the ornaments, but my cats Sheik and Lilly slept through the decorating of the tree which is a shame, because they absolutely loved it last year. Our dog Sweet Pea also decided to nap instead of helping, the buggers!

 I hope you all are enjoying the decorating part of the holidays as much as I am. There's nothing better than spending quality time with your family. Next on the list is making gingerbread houses! Oh gosh I almost forgot to tell you, PATRICK AND I ARE GOING TO THE BILTMORE ESTATE FRIDAY! Aaaaah! So you will definitely be getting pictures and a post about that. I'm getting butterflies in my stomach even now just talking about it. I hope you all had a wonderful Tuesday, I'm sitting here watching Patrick play Dishonored and then we'll be watching Parks and Rec on Netflix.

Till next time,

Jess

Circle Circle Dot Dot

Well I'm back home now and have been since Friday. I'm so happy and relieved to be done with my final exams and here with my family and friends. It's always so revitalizing whenever I visit home. Just like Scarlett O'Hara, I get my strength from my home *cue Gone with the Wind theme*. I wore this number a day before I left and it was mighty comfy. I will never ever be without a big old warm sweater ever again. 

This scarf is my great-grandmother Christine's that was given to me by my grandma. I'm so fortunate that my grandma kept a lot of her mother's things, and was nice enough to pass a good bit of them on to me. I was just talking about my great-grandmother to Patrick's dad yesterday and how talented she was at playing the piano. That's one woman I wish I could have met, she sounds incredible.

Shirt-F21
Sweater:Thrift/vintage
Scarf:Vintage
Shorts:TJ Maxx
Tights: TJ Maxx
Shoes: Kohls

I guess I shall end this post here. I will definitely be making more of an effort to post and hopefully will be able to upload all these great pictures of my Christmas around these parts. I hope everyone is having a WONDERFUL Monday =] I can't wait to read and comment on all your posts.

Till next time,

Jess

Je suis Raplapla

I'm exhausted and brain fried so this will be a pretty short post. As you may have already read, I packed everything up Monday. I was so excited and just couldn't wait. These are 3 of the 6 fall/winter clothes I have left out to wear. This sweater dress (a gift from my mom) is so comfy and easy since I can just throw on a pair of tights and boots and call it a day. 

I had to show you this ring my mom also gave me. I think it was for my birthday, but it could also have been for Christmas. It's one of my firsts I had gotten from her, and one of my favorites. It's a gorgeous pink, and changes shades in different lighting. My mom is a ring expert, or at least we have the same tastes when it comes to rings and she always gets me the best, most gorgeous rings I've ever seen. I'm about to take a wee nap and then I'm heading on over to the library to do my INFS final and then I'm going to my Audio fundamentals class for the review on its final. PHEW! Just two more days...just two more days.

Till next time,

Jess

La Scala's Romeo and Juliet

It would probably make more sense for me to post The Nutcracker since it's Christmas time, and I will definitely be doing that this month, but I was in tears upon finding this yesterday. Usually that's an expression, but seriously I couldn't even make it past the overture before I burst into tears. It's my dream to see Romeo and Juliet live in one of the large, gorgeous opera houses, but I was just as ecstatic being able to see the whole thing yesterday on the YouTube. It's my favorite version with the amazingly beautiful Alessandra Ferri and the very talented Angel Corella. I also found that they have a DVD on Amazon used for around $50!!! I will most definitely be asking for that for my birthday, and, again, crying the entire time I watch it on the T.V.

Without further ado, here it is in its full glory:

Till next time,

Jess

Time Goes By So Slowly

Tennessee welcomed in December with highs in the mid-70's. Half of the campus is grumping around wearing sweaters and jeans, and the others are in shorts and tee's soaking in the rays. I have to say that I am one of the ones enjoying the warm weather. I'm usually much more disagreeable about spring-like weather in December, but I'm glad for this week of warmth before the cold really settles in. Now if it's like this the week of Christmas, you bet your bonnets I'll be madder than all get out. Anyways, this is the week of finals. Well next week is a week of finals too it just depends on when your teacher decided to give theirs. I had a bunch of work to do, but I ended up doing it all over the weekend. If I'm not procrastinating and doing all my work the day it's due, then I'm getting way ahead of myself and doing it all in one weekend a week and a half before it's due *shrugs. This week is going to be the slowest week of the semester. I can tell everyone agrees as they all looks anxious and half the people aren't showing up for classes. I'm so excited to hit the road and be home for a good while.

I have to confess I'm already all packed up. I have 2 suitcases, one with my coats and socks and dresses and the other with random warmer weather clothes since SC is just as unpredictable as TN. I've also already  planned out what I'd love to do over the holidays with Patrick. One of them being going to the Biltmore House. I have no money, but a girl can still dream. Maybe I can convince my parents to take a trip up, because I'd love for us all to go up again. HINT HINT. I think I've been hinting this every year since the last time we went which was SO LONG AGO I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER. (I think my mom gets the hint now). My other solid plan is going to see The Hobbit opening night. I need to re-watch the Lord of The Rings trilogy avec mes amis first. I'm a huge LOTR fan, and I am probably just as excited for this event as I am for Christmas.

Here's my hearty breakfast burrito. I'm obsessed with these things! My mom picked up this Don Miguel brand from Walmart and they are my favorite. Patrick and I call them BTOOOOOES! I could eat these forever. I may just do that. As for my outfit I wore my vintage shirt I got off Etsy and my DIY high-low skirt. I haven't properly sewn it yet, but it's served its purpose the several times I've worn it. I love how it blows around in the wind and how regal I feel when it happens. I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday! I'm going to go watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Till next time,

Jess