Absenteeism

I really have felt lately that I've completely vacated this blog...but I think that I'm finally back! Life has been so busy lately, between hosting my BFF's baby shower in Charlotte two weekends ago, to going out of town yet again to Michigan for Thanksgiving. But now I'm back, and happy to be home!

The baby shower in Charlotte was a huge success. My friend Anna is the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen! The shower was a ton of fun, and she got so much fun stuff. I will post photos in the next couple of days, as I get my life together. :)

Matt and I headed to Michigan last Wednesday for Thanksgiving, which was wonderful. We saw lots of friends and family, and we were able to attend my college friends' "Thanksgiving Part Deux" for the first time in several years. Part Deux is an additional Thanksgiving celebration that occurs the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's a big potluck full of wine and fun and food. This is the first time in 4 years that I've been home for Thanksgiving, so it was a lot of fun to go and hang out with all the college friends!!!

We drove back to Bloomington today...a long, 6 hour, rainy drive full of spontaneous brake lights and incompetent drivers. But we're SO happy to be home (extra happy to be home in time for Sunday night TV!).

Back to the grind tomorrow! On Tuesday, my new coworker starts and I'll be training her. I'm really looking forward to that!!! I can't wait for her to start and I can't wait to settle back in at my school full-time.

In conclusion...it feels good to be back in the blogland! I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday, and as I'm catching up on my Reader, I can't wait to read all about yours!

xoxo!

Dedicated Thanksgiving post

Seeing as how tomorrow is Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday!), I thought it would be fitting to take a moment and reflect on all the things I am thankful for.

1. My brand new husband. What can I say, he's the best!
2. My wonderful family. I wouldn't be who I am without their influences.
3. My wonderful new family. Looking forward to spending my first holiday with my in-laws, whom I love!
4. My fabulous friends. They are scattered all over the world, from Chicago to Tennessee to NYC to North Carolina to Washington DC to Michigan to California to CHILE! Even though they are so far away, I think about them all the time and value their friendship tremendously.
5. My job. I love what I do, and am so thankful that I happened upon such a great job so easily!
6. Our dog, Oscar. I can't help that we have the cutest dog ever.

Perhaps not as serious, but I'm also thankful for...

1. Motherbear's Pizza in Bloomington. Delish deep dish!
2. Crateandbarrel.com. I have had a love-love relationship with this website ever since we first registered at Crate and Barrel. I can't help it...I could stare at their pages of flatware and holiday plates for hours!
3. Google Reader. I discovered the google reader in September, and ever since have spent time compiling all my favorite blogs on one webpage. Love it!
4. Yamazato Sushi and Spice in Alexandria. We may be more than a 20 minute drive away now, but I still have a soft spot in my heart for the restaurant where Matt and I had our first date, got engaged, and celebrated every birthday/holiday/occasion in between.

The list could go on and on for forever, but you don't really want to read that, do you? That's all for now. Stay tuned for a recap of my first Thanksgiving with my in-laws (and I'm actually cooking some stuff!), and...oh yeah, the wedding and the honeymoon!