Happy New Year!

Rose Bowl

Have I ever said how much I love Penn State football? Well I do, I L-O-V-E it. Going to Penn State football games is one of my favorite memories from college. I hope that everyone will be tuning into the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2009 to watch the Nittany Lions DOMINATE the USC Trojans. Who is USC anyway?

A Georgia Christmas

Last week I flew from Pennsylvania to Georgia to spend the holidays with my family. We spent our week relaxing, watching/going to movies, eating, cooking, eating, playing games, shopping and eating. Yes we did A LOT of eating! My mom and sister had made Christmas cookies earlier in the month and unfortunately there were not many left after this past week.

This morning we all went breakfast before my flight out. What better way to end your vacation/visit than with a good meal. So we hit up Mimi's Cafe. I had never been to their breakfast prior to this morning, but my parents had and said it was good. I agree.

Overall, I had a great time with my family. I can't wait to see them all again. Especially my lil' peanut, Mabry!

Really?!?!

My sister sent me a link informing me that there was an earthquake, measuring 3.3, this past Saturday in Lancaster, PA, where I live. That is strange.

New Look

My blog received a makeover for the upcoming New Year. I know this won't be the only look my blog will be 'wearing' during 2009...but it's a good start. Blog design compliments of Mamashood, aka my older sista. Thanks Jess!

Change In Plans

Right now it's R.A.I.N.I.N.G outside. Looks like we won't be going skiing/snowboarding this weekend. I wish some of the snow that is currently falling out in the north west would move its way over here! Looks like we'll be relaxing at home the next few days instead of hitting the slopes.

Stowe, VT 2007

Back

This past Saturday I made my way back north to Pennsylvania. The drive went well and it wasn't as long as the drive down, so no complaints here.

Sven and I don't have a busy schedule this week. I think we're both trying to enjoy the holiday season, as well as each other's time before I start commuting to work everyday. With my daily commute and tax season starting I am going to be nonexistent until the middle of March. I don't know if I'm ready for this!

We're hoping to do some Christmas shopping this week and then this weekend go to Elk Mountain. We both want to go skiing/snowboarding and I think this weekend will be the perfect opportunity (since I don't know how much available time I'll have after that). So hopefully between now and then we'll get some 'real' snow to make the experience even better. I will try to remember to take my camera and actually use it. I am so bad about remembering to take pictures. That is one habit I hope to break!

Family Time.

I have already been in Georgia for a week and I have one more week to go before I head back to Pennsylvania. It has been nice hanging out with family and playing with Mabry Grace. Unfortunately this next week I will be spending most of my time at Stone Mountain, as I have a training that I have to attend for work. Can I say that I hate trainings, because I do. They are long and boring. And because I can't come to my parents every night to get my Mabry fix makes this one even worse. Oh well there is nothing I can do about it now, except go. Hopefully my next post will have some pictures. Until next time!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.

Monday Ramblings

This weekend Sven and I relaxed and enjoyed our last free weekend of the year. With the holidays and my traveling schedule we are going to be on the go until the end of December. I'm excited to have plans, but I'm also sad because that means when I finally get a chance to breath at the end of December I will no longer be working from home. Instead I will be spending my time commuting and working in Philadelphia. ugh. Don't get me wrong I am excited to meet new people and work in the Philadelphia office again. But the commute...it's going to be a lot longer than the 5 miles I had to drive in Atlanta, or the 10 steps I had to take these past few months into my home office. Oh well, we all have to make sacrifices and I know I'll get used to it.

On a happier note only four more days until Thanksgiving! Sven and I are going to spend the holiday with his family. Then on Sunday I will be leaving to go to Georgia for two weeks, where I will get to hang out with my family and squeeze these little cheeks. I can't wait!

Let's Go P-S-U

Wishing that I was here...
To be one of 107,000 fans...
Cheering them...
To a victory against...

Photo List.

While blog surfing this evening I came across a fun 'photo list' post and thought I would play along. I mean seriously who doesn't love a post with lots of pictures? And since I'm female I can't just have one answer to every question.

A place you would like to visit:

Berlin, since that is where half of Sven's family is from.

Vail Colorado for the snow, mountains and lodges.

St. Lucia, to kick back and relax on the white sandy beaches.

Your age:

Yup I'm 24!

Your indulgences: Cafe mocha, just had one about an hour ago! YUM!

Your name:

Betsy, even though some people like to call me Bets, Betsinator and the worst...BETTY.

What you're doing right now:

Looking outside the window at the first snowfall of the season.

Favorite Color:

Anyone else want to play along? Of course you do! So go for it.

Pathetic.

Sven and I were going to put up a Christmas tree this year, but decided not to since I won't be in Pennsylvania for much of December. Even though we decided to not put up a Christmas tree I still wanted to decorate. Yesterday I decided would be a great time to put up all of the decorations I have bought over the past years and had never had a chance to use. Well, after looking through everything I had I realized I hardly have anything. I guess all those after Christmas sale purchases I made were mostly on ornaments!




This year I'm not going to hold back on my after Christmas sale decoration shopping. This girl has got to get some more decorations for next year!

Tour

Here are the 'promised' pictures of our new place...(remember we live downtown, so our place is not your 'typical' apartment)...

First stop is the front door, which is at the bottom of the stairs. The second set of stairs to the right lead up to the living room and office (you can see the office doorway at the top of the stairs). I am actually standing on a smaller set of stairs, like the ones to the right, that lead up to the kitchen.

This is what I see when I turn around, from the small set of stairs that I'm standing on, our kitchen.

Our dining room table is immediately on your left when you walk into the kitchen. The wall to the left of the table and directly behind me are completely blank. I want to get something to put up at least on the wall behind me, but I'm not sure what 'that' is yet.

The kitchen.

From where I'm standing if you turn towards your left, just a little, and look straight back you will be headed towards our bathroom and laundry room. Straight in front of you is the bathroom, hence the toilet, and you can see another door frame on the right, which is the laundry room.

The is what are bathroom door looks like. Our landlords wanted to use as many original pieces as possible.

The bathroom, which is actually a lot larger than it looks in the picture. My favorite part is the mirror, which goes up to the ceiling.

The laundry room, which also has the same glass door as the bathroom, minus the 'Private.'

We are now headed to the front part of the house. On the landing, which is located at the top of the stairs, from the front door, I hung up some hooks for our coats. The stairs you see on the right lead up to the kitchen.

When I turn around and go through the doorway to my right this is what I see...our office. That is the new desk that Sven and I just bought from Crate and Barrel. We are leaving the closet doors open because as you can see there are tons of built in shelves and drawers below, which we are using as office storage. (Please ignore the wires, Sven still needs to hide them)

A closer view of our desk.

Off of the office, through the doorway, is a half bath. A REALLY, REALLY small half bath. It has the smallest sink I have ever seen in my life! (Don't worry the toilet is regular sized)

Now when I turn around and look though the doorway behind me, the office has two doorways one to the right of where I'm standing and one directly behind me, I see this...

Here is our living room, which is HUGE.

Here is a close up picture of the area rug that we bought. It has blues, browns and tans mixed in. I really like it and think it helps to warm up the room.

With the placement of our furniture our living room is actually divided in two. So the area behind the sofa looks like this...
Here is the last picture of our living room. This is the view from behind the couch looking forward.

I still have pictures to take of the bedroom, which I will have uploaded soon. So stay tuned...

Catch Up

It's been quiet some time since I last blogged and there has been A LOT that has happened since then. Sven started his new job at Three Mile Island and I moved from Georgia to Pennsylvania (and boy is it cold up here!). It has been a long few weeks, but I think things are going to finally settle down.

I'm still in the process of trying to organize our new place. It is a lot bigger than my apartment in Atlanta, which is nice, but then again there is so much empty space that needs to be filled. I'm trying to not go crazy buying lots of new things. Two new things that Sven and I did purchase were a desk for the office and an area rug for the living room. We're still hoping to buy some other furniture for the office, but I think we're going to have to wait just a little while.

Since I don't have any good pictures to post I figured I would leave you with some interesting facts about my new home, Lancaster, PA:

1. According to the most recent US census Lancaster is home to almost half a million people, making it the most populated county in PA outside of Philly and Pittsburgh.
2. Lancaster, PA is the oldest inland city on America. It borrows its name and the "Red Rose" symbol from Lancaster, England.
3.Hershey's Chocolate was founded in Lancaster in 1894.
4. James Buchanan lived in Lancaster and has the distinction of being the only Pennsylvanian to serve as US President. Because he never married, Buchanan was known as the "Bachelor President." Today, history buffs may visit his estate, Wheatland, located just a few miles from downtown Lancaster.
5. One local historic landmark is the 1852 Fulton Opera House, said to be the oldest continuously operating theater in the country. The Fulton is located on Prince Street, one block west of the square.
6. The Central Market is the oldest publicly owned market in the nation, built in 1889. Market days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, and people arrive early for best selections. (I think Sven and I are going to go this Saturday, it is only a few blocks away from where we live!)

(http://www.10best.com/Lancaster,PA/locationDetails.html?tab=facts)

One

This idea came from my sister's blog...

1. Where is your cell phone?
Counter
2. Where is your signigicant other?
Pennsylvania
3. Your hair color?
Brown
4. Your mother?
Organized
5. Your father?
Hunter
6. Your favorite thing?
Family
7. Your dream last night?
Dark
8. Your dream/goal?
Successful
9. The room you're in?
Kitchen
10. Your hobby?
Soccer
11. Your fear?
Worms
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
Family
13. Where were you last night?
Parents
14. What you're not?
Relaxed
15. One of your wish list items?
Purse
16. Where you grew up?
Fairview
17. The last thing you did?
Work
18. What are you wearing?
PJs
19. Your TV?
Big
20. Your pet?
Booker
21. Your computer?
Portable
22. Your mood?
Stressed
23. Missing someone?
Sven
24. Your car?
Economical
25. Something your not wearing?
Shoes
26. Favorite store?
Mall
27. Your summer?
Relaxing
28. Love someone?
Tons
29. Your favorite color?
Blue
30. Last time you laughed?
nine
31. Last time you cried?
Days

...

After doing some blog lurking, I came across an idea for a cute Halloween decoration. So with a little bit of paint, three small canvas's and a Sunday afternoon I was able to create...

I am no artist by any means and they are definitely far from perfect, but I think they turned out pretty well. And I found the perfect spot for them by my front door.

I also wanted to include a picture of the flowers Sven got me yesterday. He got up to let Booker out and I was wondering where they were after 15 min had passed. I figured they went on a walk, but actually they went to the store, both of them, and came back with these beauties! I LOVE fresh flowers!

And of course no post would be complete without a photo of the Bookerman!

She's 1!!

Today Mabry Grace turns one, I can't believe it! One year ago today she made her debut appearance and has been a blessing to our family ever since. She is full of spirit, love and giggles. I couldn't imagine a day without her!

Happy 1st Birthday Mabry Grace, your Aunt B LOVES YOU very very much!

Happenings...Or Lack There Of...

There isn't much happening outside of work right now, since I've been working longer hours AND weekends. YUCK. Only a few more weeks until September 15th! While I spend my days at the office, my boys are up in Pennsylvania. Only another week until they're back and I can't wait!!!!