I'm aaaalllll doooonnne!!!!!

Well, we're all done.
Christmas shopping.
Yep.
It feels good.
Now, to ship - and ship soon.

Even though Thanksgiving is this week - and mind you, I haven't forgotten. I'm just super, duper excited for the overwhelming joy of 100%, full force Christmas extravaganza that happens when this day comes to an end.

I would like to take this time to apologize. I'm sorry Thanksgiving for the attention I've given you this year... I can't promise that next year will be better...

Christmas shopping or Bust!

Christmas shopping! I look forward to this every year, and while I'm right smack in the middle of it...I want to give up. Give up and purchase 20 gift cards instead.

Today, I made the nearly 2 hour drive to Pittsburgh. Why Pittsburgh you ask? Well, here was my dilemma - either go to Cleveland, which would have H&M located at their outdoor mall...but no Forever 21. Or go to Buffalo and shop at Forever 21, but have no H&M to shop at... Pitt had both. Hence...the drive. It was worth it. I needed these stores, I had to have BOTH! My job was to shop for 10 women. 10. That was not easy. AND I had to get myself a dress - why you ask? I will be attending my very first ballet this Christmas vacation - The Nutcracker. Since I had never been to one, I asked Shannon the typical girl question - what does one wear to the ballet? Black dress, or black slacks w/a great top. I went for the dress option. I always wear pants. And dress I found. It's a different look on me, but I think I can pull it off...
Now, back to the Christmas shopping. I walked up and down, and all around that mall...walking back and forth to make sure I was getting the best price, and the best option for each individual person. But once I got in a rhythm, it was glorious! Names were being crossed off my list. I covered 6 out of 10 - and I found a dress, with shoes to match. What?! How awesome is that? I'm on a roll!!! I see the finish line...it's just around the corner.

Tomorrow, I'm off to shop some more. Yay!

November? Is that right?

It's November, and I can't believe it.
Neil and I have officially been in Erie for 6 months come the 8th of this month. Time has flown by!

To update how my CA warm blood is doing in this cold weather - I'm doing a lot better then expected! Along with my very generous mother-in-law, we have teamed up and gathered some necessities for me to survive the upcoming winter months. For example: Scarves, hats, boots, gloves, leg warmers, sweaters, winter coats, and most importantly a face moisturizer that can handle the dry, cold season.

The advantage that I do have is, I'm able to park my car in a garage - hence the mornings are more pleasant them some other Erie-ens. And when I arrive at work, I park in a parking garage that stays dry. Once a week, I do however work down at the Bayfront which is located right off the water - the windchill down there is not fun. But that's just once a week.

Now onto the FYI style of blogging I've grown to love:
Training for the box office
Worked my very first event at the box office - Sugarland/Kelly Pickler. It was very fun.
Training for payroll
Autumn's birthday
Got my hair did by Carly, with Autumn who got her hair did as well.
YMCA classes, killed myself...
Pumpkin Patch with Neil
Pajama Game musical at the Warner Theater with Erin
Snow!
More Y classes, killing myself...
Worked a full day at the box office, then met Autumn & Owen for the Circus
Late night hang out with some friends
All day shopping spree with my mother-in-law
Received an awesome gift from Sean: Vote for David Palmer t-shirt (I wish that was possible)
Virginia's birthday
Church-try out...again
All day football with Neil and friends.
Monday off lazyness - about to finish the 3rd season of Prison Break in ONE day.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks.

Some pictures:
Erin & I outside the Warner Theater...Owen & Autumn @ the Circus....and me attempting to take a picture w/the snow.

Red, orange, yellow....

...little bit of green, still some blue, and rainy clouds of purple.

It's Fall!!!

I have been very excited for the season of Fall. As you all know, I have been born & raised in California. Fall in southern CA consists of the Santa Ana's breezin' through - aka very windy, but still very warm. You're still in tanks and skirts come October. Leaves do fall, but the changing of colors doesn't last very long - and to truly experience the colors change, you need to travel far. Pumpkin patches are located on every corner...boring, right? But here I am on the east coast experiencing my very first Fall to its full potential. It's beautiful. The chill is in the air, which I don't mind. Surprised? I know, me too... but I love it. I thought being outside in the spring and summer were amazing - but add Fall to the list. All you need are jeans, a tank top and a light sweater, and you're set...Erie wins, 3 out of 4 seasons, versus So. Cal and the 90 degree weather 9 months out of the year. Believe me, I could be retracting these words come January when I'm freezing & snowed in... but I accept the challenge.
Now...according to the locals (my friends), it gets better. Below are pictures of what is going on as of this week. When the trees take on a look of "fire" - as some say - I'll post more.


Very pretty, I know....

i can't let CA go...

...it's crazy to say this, but in the past week I've held onto California with a tight grip - I can't let it go. For instance, one of my favorite things to do was listen to KIIS fm in the morning. Ryan Seacreast and Ellen made my early ride to work very entertaining, it woke me up before I headed to the office. Well - since I'm allowed to listen to music at work, I usually play my ipod, but the battery died and I thought...what can I listen to? A lightbulb went off and within minutes I was streaming into the world of Southern California with traffic reports of the 91fwy. Secondly, I have my cell phone - it still contains the same number I've had for over 8 years. Neil and I continue to make plans to go to Verizon and get our numbers changed - and then we don't go. Today, we drive by a Verizon store and I say "We might as well get it over with." We pull in, and my heart sinks deep into my stomach and I get super sad. Needless to say, I stayed in the car while Neil took care of business. (No...he didn't change out number. Due to him being a teacher he gets a discount through Verizon.) Why can't I just change my number? What is the big freakin' deal? It's so ridiculous. Honestly.

I'm holding onto California...

I'll post more interesting blogs soon.

Oh, were you born in Sept. also?

...September, by far is the craziest month, birthday-wise. I would like to take this time to wish all of our friends and family that were born in September - a gigantic HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to Shannon Quiggle (Sept. 4th)
Happy Birthday to Jon Beckman (Sept. 8th)
Happy Birthday to Cindy Hartman (Sept. 13th)
Happy Birthday to Kobe Bray-Johnson (Sept. 16th)
Happy Birthday to Isaiah Bray-Johnson (Sept. 16th)
Happy Birthday to Editha Bray, aka, mom (Sept. 19th)
Happy Birthday to Tom Koziel (Sept. 20th)
Happy Birthday to Trevor Kalvelage (Sept. 25th)
Happy Birthday to Eva Bray (Sept. 28th)
Happy Birthday to Leroy Hamp III (Sept. 29th)
Happy Birthday to Natalie Ensor (Sept. 30th)

I have this feeling, I'm forgetting someone...

Jon Beckman

Our good friend Jon Beckman headed out last Friday for training in Mississippi - which will then eventually lead him to Iraq. Last week we were able to hang out with him a couple times - one of the times was last Tuesday. We headed out to Corry to visit with him, Laura and baby Evelyn. It was good, yet a sad night for all of us.
Here is this precious picture of the boys...

We wish Jon all the luck, and cannot wait for your return...
...which may be a short stint during Christmas...let's pray :)

Fantasy Football Fanatics

So...I have to blog about this because my husband and his friends are total fanatics when it comes to football season. During football season, it's talk talk talk football - talk about where they'll go to watch football...when it's NOT football season, they talk about what football season is going to be like. It's so ridiculous and monotonous - Sean and I HATE it. It's non-stop.
This year was a little different - Neil was apart of two leagues, instead of just the one he's been apart of for 5 or 6 seasons - "777 Crew". This 2nd league: "Old and Lazy" had an opening, and our friend Ryan asked him to join in. Neil happens to have an entire day of fantasy football - 2 drafts in one day. The 1st draft was actually hosted at a venue, with food, lights, and 12 desks all set up... just take a look at the pictures.
This is the set up...
Neil picked 7th, right in between 6 & 8: Adam & Dave
This is before: This is after:
You see all those stickers on there?! Just so you all know, I stuck those on there. Yep, I played "Vanna" for 3 hours. Embarrassing-ly enough, I didn't know the positions of some of the players, and they're organized by the positions they play. Thankfully Neil wasn't too embarrassed...in the end, it was a lot more fun then I thought it was going to be.

FYI: Neil picked up my favorite quarterback - Peyton Manning

no title necessary

I have to mention how awesome my job is...I'm only there 3 days, full days...and get a 4 day weekend. This has allowed me to read a lot, and catch up on some much needed dvds. TV and movies - I'm quite behind due to the "sheltered" stamp on my forehead I had growing up. I was never exposed to any type of entertainment - and when I was old enough to explore on my own, I never knew where to look. I never really tried. Neil doesn't feel the need to hunt either, and doesn't care for movies (unless Rocky, Predator, or the Terminator are starring). So much to my dismay, I feel lost in this world in which a WIDE range of entertainment surrounds us. I'm catching up...I'm really trying.
At this time, I would like to thank Sean Sundy (books and music), and Netflix (movies and tv) for educating me, and helping me catch up on what I've been so behind on.
I actually just read The Road (author: Cormac McCarthy), finished it in 2 days. The book was one of the most amazing I've read. Next on my book list: Catcher in the Rye.
I think I'll start a book/tv/movie club blog...what should I title it?

a bit behind...sorry

i'm behind, i know.

FYI style in full effect - I apologize for the quickness, but it's just easier this way.
This will be long, so be patient...

Visited California, visited friends - it was very, very fun.
Arrived July 30th-Departed August 12th
Got my hair did by Alisha (yes, I made the appt RIGHT after I booked my flight!)
Pedicure #1 happened at my favorite place (Instyle Nails)
A lot of shopping happened in CA, but not much luck on my end.
I did however buy a purse for $10, that was originally $29.90 (whats up!)
LAX - picked up Adam
Menifee for the afternoon
Beatrice all hopped up on who knows what. She claims she did not have sugar intake, I disagree.
In n' out (a total of 5 trips in 12 days)
Fallbrook for the 1st weekend of my trip, spending time with the Dunn's + baby doggies
Oceanside beach with Virginia & Brooke
Lunching it up at TTI with my girls (and Dave)
California Burrito (my favorite kind of burrito: carne asada, sour cream, cheese & fries)
Short, but quality time with the Ensors...at Dairy Queen...(with Adam, and the Q's)
Menifee vacationing, hanging out with the Quiggles - and living at the Ensors
Jesus Wept arrival into San Diego Tuesday night
Encinitas with the Dunn's, lunch, Lou's Records, beach, In n' Out, Tim Mason, Donut Corner
Portillo's in Moreno Valley
Morning hang out with Micah & Nat before they left for the weekend
Three JW shows
JW covering xdx "So Send I You" - so awesome
Redbull (for me) + pretzels for dinner at the merch table with Sean
Tommy Engler hanging out for three days :)
3 am bedtime, every night the boys were in town
JW leave for a show in Vegas
Alone, relaxing time in the pool - reading, sunbathing (roasting).
Los Primos dinner with Brooke - the super nachos were amazing!
Final day consisted of: Fallbrook & TTI visits, sad goodbyes, pedicure #2, dinner w/the family
Super early wake up call for my trip home to Erie, PA - this day of flying could not have gone any smoother. Everything was on time, I was very surprised. I slept most of the way. Read, listened to my ipod - very relaxing, as weird as that sounds.

To be honest, I had mixed feelings about California - and visiting for the 1st time since I moved away, I didn't know what to expect. Spending a majority of my life in Southern California, I guess I never noticed just how different things run there. But being away for a few months, and returning brought sadness to my heart that I didn't expect. I love CA with all of my heart, it's my home - but I'm glad Neil and I took this huge leap of faith and moved to PA. Yeah, I know..."wait until February..." I keep being told this. My reasoning behind my disappointment in CA have nothing to do with the weather, let me tell you. I'll miss the sun, I'm sure.

Pictures came minimal - not sure what was wrong with me. I'm normally picture crazy... but here is what I got...
Palm Trees... Being able to drive 80!... beachin' it up in Encinitas

Winning at Nickel City. And yes, they squeezed in a Fantasy Football meeting while @ Donut Corner