"Goin' to Carolina in my mind..."

It's pretty hard to focus on my work in New York knowing I only have 2 more weeks here. My sister and I drove a Penske truck down to Raleigh on Friday after work with nearly everything from my apartment in it.

We got in around 4am and then my parents and I left for Charleston at 7am on Saturday.

Luckily we found two great houses, but my heart was set on one. Here it is:

The selling point was the backyard and porch:

Winston will be able to go between the backyard and garage all day while I'm at work (which makes him happy) and I won't have to come home and let him out at lunch or worry he's getting my house all dirty (which makes me happy!)  I'll be spending all of my free time on the porch, which gets great sun on one side.  Hopefully I'll get even more needlepoint done now that I can sit outside and do it.

The house is on James Island and is a five minute drive from work and the dog beach.  I'm really looking forward to going to Harris Teeter and being able to put my groceries in my car!  No more breaking my arms trying to lug my groceries back to my apt!  I'm also really excited to drive to work--after someone had an "accident" on the stairs leading down to my subway station this morning, I started counting the number of times I'll have to take the E train again (only 16).  But the best part...I don't have to wear coats, scarves, and boots for 3 months of the year!

Last night we had a girls going away dinner at Bistro Lamazou.  It was great that everyone was able to come and looking around at the table, I got kind of sad thinking that I was leaving the first group of girlfriends I've ever had.  I hope I'm able to find a good group down there because they've really been such a blessing.  A lot of things have happened in the last year and having them has helped me immensely.  I will definitely be back to visit--and I'm sure after the first snowstorm, they'll all be down to visit me!

The Blog is Back!

It's been awhile, but now that my life is getting a little more interesting and exciting, I decided it was time to bring back the blog.

While I've loved my time in NYC, I took a job in Charleston, South Carolina last week. I can't wait to have Winston living with me, start riding again, go to the beach more often, drive my car, and be a little closer to my family.

Eventually I'll do a recap of the last year since I've posted anything. In the meantime, here are some of my recent projects:

I'll be back soon with a real post!

Christmas and New Year’s Recap and the “Wolfpack”

This is a really long post—I have to catch up on Christmas, New Year’s, and my ski trip to Montana.

Here are my finished office gifts…

I was able to get all this done over the weekend because of this…

I took Christmas Eve off and flew back to Raleigh on Wednesday night. It was so good to see Winston again, and he loves his new Orvis bed…

Almost as much as he loves the couch…

He followed me around all weekend. He even forced his way onto the loveseat in my parents’ room with me.

Christmas was pretty calm this year and my mom was able to come downstairs for awhile which was great. Will got a Mac Book, slot cars, an electric guitar, remote control helicopters, walkie talkies, etc. The BD Jeffries cufflinks for my dad showed up Christmas Eve night and he loved them! I got everything on my wish list and even Winston and the Noodles got some good toys and gingerbread cookies.

This was my first New Year’s out in New York (last year we didn’t feel like facing the crowds and stayed in). Trip put together a great party at the Copper Door on the lower east side. I even got Kelly and Trevor to come!

Last Wednesday, 15 of us went out to the Yellowstone Club near Big Sky, Montana, and had the best week ever.

We skied…

Watched the BCS National Championship…

Roasted our host, Charlie, at dinner at the Rainbow Lodge (where we decided we would call ourselves “The Wolfpack”)…

Cooked family-style dinners, took a yoga class, played games, and then sadly, went home.

It was my first real vacation (going home to NC doesn’t count) since starting to work, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

There are some needlepoint coasters in the works for our hosts…

Six More Days!

I have 4 pounds of cinnamon-sugar pecans cooking, 2 needlepoint canvases blocking on the ironing board, 2 painted canvases drying, and a pile of presents to wrap and then pack.

Between work, a cookie exchange, the office Christmas party, and friends’ Christmas parties, I haven’t had much time to get things done around here. I did hang my needlepoint mini stockings though.

And these little guys have taken up a lot of my time lately…

I did make time for a little needlepoint surprise for my parents though! I’ll post it next week just in case one of them reads this before Christmas.

I’ve seen a lot of posts lately with Christmas wish lists. Here are a few of the things I asked for…

Lilly Pulitzer Hibiscus Skirt in Lilllys Pink Dirty Shirley

Lilly PulitzerAdrianna Dress in Turquoise Lock Me Up

By Paige Navy & White Check Needlepoint Ballet Flats

Bissell 3920 Pet Hair Eraser Vaccum (I asked for a sewing machine for my birthday, so it’s only fitting that I asked for something like a vacuum for Christmas!)

And some things I bought for myself…(I never shop for myself!)

Lilly Pulitzer Kelsea Dress in Limeade Coral Me Crazy

Lilly Pulitzer Bikini in Turquoise Lock Me Up

J. McLaughlin Belinda Sleeveless Silk Dress

J. McLaughlin Kim Printed Velvet Dress

I found some good things for my family this year too. Thanks to Summer is a Verb for her post on Christmas gifts for men because I found my new favorite store, BD Jeffries. I think my dad will like getting these next Friday morning…

BD Jeffries Yellow Lab Enamel Cufflinks

Alright, that’s it for now. Merry Christmas!!!