Eating in Atlanta

I had a great weekend.

Saturday I got to hang out with my BFF all day.  We ate lots of food, had smoothies, did some shopping (or "looking" in my case), and simply enjoyed the chance to catch up in person.  A great day.

Sunday Mr. Biz and I had planned to spend some time at a park and then get some coffee from the Bux, but last minute he decided to get spontaneous.  Instead of our more typical date, after church we went down to the ATL (that's how the cool kids say Atlanta) to get some brunch at Ria's Bluebird.  It was awesome to do something entirely spur of the moment.  It's easy to do the same thing over and over, so it was cool to spice it up a bit. 

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Secondly, Ria's was awesome.  The atmosphere was so hipster-y, and Lord knows we all want to be hipsters.  We ate in the enclosed patio with mismatched tables & chairs and graffiti covering the walls.  We both got pancakes, although the waiter called mine "candy cakes" because I got them with chocolate chips.  Mr. Biz got some soysage with his and we shared some skillet potatoes (DELISH).  We will definitely make our way back there soon.  I think we both want to try the breakfast burrito and possibly the fish & grits. 

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Long story short, this weekend was a lot of fun.  I had a great time with two of my favorite people and I got to eat at a super awesome diner.  I highly recommend heading to the Grant Park area of Atlanta to check out Ria's Bluebird. 

Our list of restaurants to check out in Atlanta is slowly getting longer.  Do you have any we should add?  Some of the ones we're already planning on are The Vortex, Holeman and Finch Public House (for the famous burgers), West Egg, and a couple others. 

P.S.- Major props to Mr. Biz for the idea to go to Atlanta on a whim.  That guy is awesome, in case you didn't already know.

Random Thoughts of the Week

It's that time of the week!  The time when I have a bunch of random thoughts and decide to share them with you, bloggy friends. 

1.  Right now my family and I are watching one of the best shows on TV: WIPEOUT!  Have you seen this show?  It's insane!  Everyone loves the big balls. 

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2. I'm on the lookout for a new pair of boots.  Also, I'm trying to figure out how to wear my current boots in new ways.  Right now I'm stuck on the boots+jeggings combo.  A good combo, but I'm getting sick of it.  What is your favorite pair of boots?  Any particular brand?

3. Mr. Biz passed this Scentsy thing my way and I love it.  It smells nice, grown-ups use them (I have a goal of becoming a grown-up this year), and when I turn it on it shines a heart on the wall.  How could you not love something that shines a cute little heart?



4. Tomorrow night I am going to enjoy some of my favorite new pizza: white pizza.  It's pretty much all cheese, oil, and garlic.  Yummy!  A great end to a sleepy week back at school.

Next week I'll have some pretty big things to tell ya'll about, but I'm going to keep the secret for a little while longer.  It's pretty big, so get excited!  :]

Have a wonderful Friday!

Remembering 2011

If you've been around for a while, you may remember my Top Ten of '10 posts from last January (photos and media).  So, because I'm kinda nerdy and I like making lists, I made my own little group of lists for 2011.  A couple days late, of course.  :]  It was fun reflecting on 2011, and now I'm looking forward to 2012 and the changes it will bring.  So, before I start posting about the new things this year is bringing, let's look back on the challenges and joys of the past 12 months.

Music was a big part of my year.  Here are the three albums I listened to over and over and over again.

Hanson, Shout It Out

Coldplay, Mylo Xyloto

Passion Pit, Manners

I covered many different life changes in this little blog of mine.  

January: Insanity hit Georgia in the form of Snowmageddon 2011 that turned Atlanta into Hothlanta (as in the planet of Hoth from Star Wars).

February: I started thinking about another career path in the world of education while making great pieces of art.

March: I started thinking about how it is easy to love this world too much.  And I got some great quotes from the kiddos in art.
April: I wrote some letters in April.

May: This month is always a little bit crazy (especially with the end of school), so I tried to sum it all up.

June: A college buddy got married one Saturday, which was a great excuse for a bunch of us to get together.

July: My co-counselor and I played some awesome sneaky games with our campers.

August: The day before the kids came to school I shared my thoughts through some silly pictures.

September: I spent a lot of time pondering modesty and its role in the life of adults.  I also did some deep thinking on how to honor your parents in adulthood.

October: This month I had my third picture dump and I talked about one of my most faithful companions, my old car Mabel.

November: I made a little list of the many things I have to be thankful for this year.

December: I was displaced from my dream school, but tried to keep some perspective.

Like many others, I have decided in past years to not make New Year's resolutions.  After a conversation with Mr. Biz and a friend on Sunday, I have instead come up with some goals for 2012.

-complete a 5k

-read at least one book each month

-grow deeper in my relationship with Christ

-have a job in August

At church they encouraged us to reflect on five thruths we learned in 2011, and then pick the one thing we are definitely going to put into practice in 2012.

 

I am feeling convicted about my prayer life.  In about a week I will have a long commute (about 40 minutes--more details on that change soon), and I am committing to using some of that time in prayer.  It is a small change, but I believe it will be huge.  I am choosing to pray bold prayers and take the steps to grow closer to Christ. 

So there are my reflections on 2011 and goals for 2012.  I hope that you all had a wonderful New Year celebration and are settling back into work with a rested spirit.  My New Years was beyond wonderful and special--now it's back to the "real world."  :]

Ho ho ho!

Who's got a beard that's long and white?
Santa's got a beard that's long and white.
^The most epic Christmas song of my childhood.  Anyone else have the Raffi Christmas album?

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Now, I may not have a beard that's long and white, but like Santa, I love gift-giving!  There's nothing better than finding the perfect gifts for your loved-ones.  I was more than excited to give my sisters their gifts this morning...so excited that I'm going to share them with you!

Hannah

First I gave Hannah some Lemon Heads...one of her faves!

And then I gave her this super cute calendar.  Probably the cutest calendar I've ever seen.

Kelley

 

The theme of Kelley's gift was "Asian."  If you don't know, Kelley loves all things Asian--K Dramas, a Korean boy named "Lo Mein," and doing peace signs by her eyes in pictures. 
First I gave her a little snow globe with a geisha inside...no picture, so you'll have to imagine it.

Then I gave her some Hello Kitty treats...Pocky and two different types of candy in decorative tins.

A great Christmas so far, and there's still a bit more to go!  I loved being able to surprise my sisters with these gifts.  I got some lovely gifts as well, including the first season of Community (watching it right now!), homemade gifts from my sisters (an infinity scarf and a hat), and some funds for activities with Mr. Biz.  I hope your Christmas was merry and bright!  :]

Bright and early Christmas morning.  Merry Christmas from Abby, Kelley, and Hannah!

Christmas Thoughts

Hello all, and happy Christmas eve-eve-eve!  :]

Tacky Christmas sweater party, circa 2009.

Someone recently asked me if I was going to blog again, which made me realize that it's been almost two weeks since I last wrote on here.  Oops, my little corner of cyberspace must be feeling neglected.  To remedy the situation, I figured I'd jot down some Christmas-y thoughts.  Unfortunately, my brain has been in "shut down" mode the past several days because I am on VACATION.  So, enjoy my not-so-deep Christmas thoughts. 

1. I'm loving the holiday cups at Starbucks this year.  I mean, seriously--I think they have managed to capture the essence of every human relationship on their cups and in store decoration this year.  Here are a few favorites:

"When we're together I know I'll never fall."

"When we're together snowmen come to life."

"Let's remember why we go together so well."

Great stuff, right?  Do you have a favorite Starbucks quote from this season?

2. You know how Christmas time in Georgia is dreary, rainy, and sometimes hot/sometimes cold?  Be jealous, because today I rode a bike around a beautiful island in 80 degree weather.  I love living in the great PEACH STATE, but riding bikes on roads that are never hilly is quite spectacular.  The palm trees and such aren't too bad, either.  ;]


3. Christmas is so much better when you can spend it with someone special, am I right?  This is gearing up to be the best Christmas ever. 

4.  Speaking of the best Christmas ever, no one tells the tale of the first Christmas quite like Linus.  The simplicity of it is magical.  I don't know anyone who can watch this clip without tearing up a bit.

5. I have really enjoyed getting Christmas gifts for my loved ones this year.  Obviously I can't spill the beans about what I've gotten for them, but I can tell you that I'm excited about it.  My job hasn't kept me too busy this year (as opposed to other years), so I was able to spend a bit more time shopping around and getting creative.  What is the best gift you've ever given someone?

I hope you guys are enjoying all aspects of the Christmas season, and in case I don't get on here in the next few days, MERRY CHRISTMAS!  :]  Anyone have their own random Christmas thoughts? 

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Well guys, once again, I have another big change in my life.  I counted last night, and this change marks my fourth *new* adventure for 2011.  That's a pretty big number for a 23 year old who is supposed (by the world's standards) to be settled in a job. 

Abby's Career Adventures of 2011
1. teaching art for 15 weeks at RS (January-May)
2. 3rd grade camp counselor in Tennessee (May-July)
3. SpEd parapro at RS

4. ??? Read to find out!

I had no idea that I could be embarking on a new adventure until the Friday before Thanksgiving.  On that day, Jamie and I were informed that there was a chance that I might be displaced and moved to another school.  The next three weeks passed, and it seemed like I would be staying.  

Then this Wednesday morning they did an all-call for Jamie, and I knew what was coming.  About ten minutes later when I went to talk to Jamie, my fears were confirmed: I was being displaced. 

Man.  What a bummer. 

I love love love the school I've been working at.  Honestly, it is my dream school.  I've wanted to work there for a very long time--the long term art position was a step in the door and getting the parapro position was awesome.  The people I work with are great, which is important when you're in sped because so much of it is collaboration and communication.  And the kids?  They make me laugh, smile, and I've learned so much from them.  I will miss their little faces so much. 



So yeah, the past few days have been difficult.  Many tears have been shed by myself and some of the other teachers.  I know that next week at the new school and then the following weeks after Christmas break will be incredibly challenging.  I'll still be in sped, but it is a different level, so the kids are completely different.  I'm guessing that I will have a steep learning curve!

I say that many tears have been shed, and that is entirely true.  But those tears were not shed out of a spirit of despair.  I am sad to leave, yes, but I am so glad to know that God has a bigger plan than I.  Already I've seen the ways He's been working in the past 17 weeks--reasons why I was at this school for this long.  He had me there as long as He needed me, and now I'm moving on to something different.  His plans are unknown to me, but I have hope because I know He's got it all figured out.  The sadness has been tempered by the understanding of knowing how God works.  Mr. Biz pointed this verse out to me after I found out the news and I think it speaks to how I should enter this next season of my life in particular:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him

and He will make your paths straight.
-Proverbs 3:5-6

I'm trusting in the Lord with the joy of knowing that He has ordained my path.  How can I go wrong when I am following the Lord?

P.S.- If you are so inclined, please keep my in your prayers this next week as I make this transition into a brand new school (to me) with people and students I don't know.  Pray specifically that I would be a humble and quick learner, and also that I would be given a super fantastic memory to remember everything!  :]

Christmas! Song of the Week

In honor of an "epic" weekend, here is my next Christmas-themed song of the week.  This song is a newer favorite--I've been listening to the album non-stop since Thanksgiving!

Dave Barnes
Holiday Made for Two