Thanksgiving, Birthday, and Junior League!

Hey all! Hope you are all staying nice and warm!!! Today's drive took me just over an hour, whereas a good day is normally 20 minutes!

I hope you all had a {FANTASTIC} Thanksgiving!! I know we did!

A few days before Thanksgiving I took this picture... I looked out my bedroom window and thought mountains grew overnight! But really, those were just clouds that were on their way to cover us with some more snow!!!

The day before Thanksgiving, I had Ariel with me.  After getting bloodwork done (me), Alex, Ariel, and I met up with my Mom (Nana) for breakfast at this amazing little café called Four Corners in Eden. After we finished, we came back home and Ariel and Nana sorted the cranberries! Ariel initially thought they were red grapes and tried to eat one! But the policy in my house: try it once & if you put it in your mouth you eat it! She didn't like it! :) After sorting through a few more, she thought she would get away with putting another one in her mouth and then put it in the "good" pile.  Not in this house! She had to eat another cranberry.  Thank you to Alex for getting a little temper tantrum controlled before it turned ugly! <3

Thanksgiving Day! Because, Mimosas.

Alex made a huge pot of Stuffing this year! It was{SO} good!!!! Cranberries, Granny Smith apples, mild sausage, herbs.  Such an awesome job  honey!

Alex also made a green bean casserole {below} which was to DIE for! He also made salt potatoes for his mom, mashed baby red potatoes, the turkey, and helped Dziadzius heat up his kielbasa.  So thankful to have such a wonderful family and husband!

Alex, master chef working in the kitchen! {Note the new kitty next to Alex, watching his every move!}

Alex helping Dziadzius move the Turkey.  Dziadzius' job is carving the turkey! He loves participating! {And so does my puppy! He's a good vacuum cleaner to have around in the kitchen!}

So these next two pictures are from my phone, which I really feel need to be shared. 

PEOPLE! I MADE AN INSTAGRAM! Follow me for some silly kitty pictures, quotes, and some other awesome shots! @simplyjennifered

My birthday: what a thing to wake up to!! My loves curled up next to me. <3

I have... semi long  hair?!?! When did  this happen?  My birthday included brunch at Four Corners with my mom and Aunt Julie, and dinner at the Roycroft with Alex and his parents.

Another few pictures in need of sharing...

JUNIOR LEAGUE!!! Below is a pic taken from the Bus Tour I went on a few weeks ago.  {The Saturday before Snowvember!} We had so much fun seeing all the different recipients and touring the Darwin Martin House! Clearly I didn't get the memo about dressing "dark".  I wore a nice, warm, and soft fleece jacket which kept me warmer than some of the ladies wearing leather!  {I'm the one in white... hey, at least I stand out!}

Tuesday, the 9th, was our Holiday Party! While I couldn't stay very late because it's exam week, I still had so much fun looking at all the decorations and meeting a few new people!

I kind of want this tree and fireplace in my living room.  Right now... Doesn't it look so cozy??

Below, photo courtesy of JLB

.

Below photo courtesy of Jennifer Lane {my advisor}

Soo... this next picture was taken immediately after I left the hair salon... I knew I needed to get my ends trimmed, so I waited until the day of the Holiday Party! Kill two birds with one stone: Trim the ends and get a free hairstyle! Less for me to worry about! :)I love how the curls loosened up by dinnertime.

Now that the semester is at an end, I'd like to blog a bit more.  Tomorrow I have three exams, and that's it! Then a Pure Romance Party I'm hosting, and then Sunday I get to call in to see if I have to appear for Jury Duty on Monday.  Never ends, does it? :)

Some things I've been working on for the blog includes a few different series, such as:

 "Mama's Lessons" {Things that I've been taught/learned throughout my life (not just from my mom) that I think other people would benefit from knowing.}

"Pushing Jen's Buttons" {Things that happen in life that make me... well... mad.  I'm sure people can relate when I say it makes me mad when people are in the left turn lane, and decide to make a RIGHT turn at the last minute. Am I right??}

"Hey, it's perfectly okay to..." {Hey, it's okay to watch a Discovery Channel documentary and feel it is a sufficient history class for the day. It's okay to go to bed before 9 p.m. on a Friday night.  It's okay to... It can go on and on!}

What do you think should be included in any of these different segments?? I'd love to hear from you!

Stay WARM, stay SAFE, and stay POSITIVE!!

XOXOXO

Back to School Update

Well, we are back at the grind, I'm at Hilbert again this semester and Alex started Paramedic school! {He's going to be one awesome prehospital care provider!}

Lets see... What has been going on??

I JOINED THE JUNIOR LEAGUE!!!

I started class back at the end of August, and now I'm learning how to speak and read a little Irish! How cool is that?!?

I'm officially taking the last required math class of my life. :)

I feel old in my Honors class... when we debate, all the Freshmen argue points that only someone with no real world/life experience would say... Like "If people living in the city would only move into the north towns or southern tier, their life would be so much better."  Um, yeah, but.. a) do they have the funds to make the move? b) How safe would our own towns become? c) Do they want to move out of their rut? etc.... Maybe I'm a little jaded from working EMS in the city, but I've seen my fair share of people I definitely do not want living near me. 

I signed up for a Sunrise Swim class through Continuing Education with my friend Kelly! Can't wait to get back in the water :) {even though I have to be up by 5:30 to be in the pool by 6:15!}

I've gone back to basics.... writing in a journal! {but no one can ever read it. ever! :)}  I've missed having something to write all my random thoughts in.  It really helps me organize my thoughts and calms me down.

Criminal Minds. Once Upon a Time Season 3. House.  All. On. Netflix.

I've taken up listening to AM radio, specifically 930 on the way into school every morning for both a news update and the weather.  Today, they were talking about the city of Buffalo and their ideas of adding gondolas and cable cars in the city. Not quite sure how I feel about this.  

Don't get me wrong, I love me my Tim Hortons, but recently I've had a few stops in Starbucks... Heaven.  And I get to read the New York Times as an added bonus.

October brings many different activities, including 2 weddings, Grandparents and Uncle staying with Alex and me for one weekend, looking at Buff State for Graduate School, Sunrise Swim, a Walking Challenge, hopefully a ride along with our friend Jamie, Rocky Horror, and Halloween!!!

We have a lot going on, but I'm determined to still have some fun!

I'll try to be on here a bit more, I know there will be a lot to share these upcoming months! {No, I'm not pregnant!}

xoxoxo



A Must in Today's Society

Related to my previous post on etiquette, I feel the need becomes stronger every day to create something for people in the area to learn manners.  I've been experiencing so many people at work and just in my running errands, that so many people are inconsiderate and rude.  Not many people think of others' feelings, just themselves.  It's always some rush to get around others at the grocery store, beat someone else into a parking space, cut off someone on the highway.  Where on earth are people with some sort of manners and understanding in this world? I'd love to create some sort of "Finishing School" or "Charm School" for the area.  I looked up the local Junior League, but that doesn't offer much other than more places to volunteer at.  I have only found one local Charm School, but I doubt many people know of it, or even have enough money to be accepted.  That's another problem in today's society: so many people are greedy.  I'd open something up that is small, personable, and cost effective.  {Why is everything so expensive nowadays?}  I feel as though I can incorporate this even into the local Historical Societies in the area.  That would be a fun aspect, have some sort of "Coming Out" thing for each.  Almost every girl I know likes getting dressed up and ready for some sort of celebration for themselves.  A Coming Out party, or Debutante Ball would be a fantastic thing to bring to this area.  Every girl I know of wants to go to a Grand Ball someday! That's what we grow up with: watching Disney movies like Cinderella, going to a big Ball, meeting people all dressed up in a beautiful dress, elaborate decorations and food.  Any ideas on how to start something like this? I suppose to start out with some sort of curriculum, and a business card would be a good bet.  What do you think people nowadays need to learn? Let me know! I've been reading my Emily Post's book, and doing a lot of research on it, I have an overload of information.  But, you can never have enough information!

A quote I found today that I'll leave you with today:

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci

xoxoxo

Comments and Questions are always welcome!!