Christmas Picture 11

Christmas picture 10

Christmas picture 9

hurry up with the pictures! I want to open these presents!

Christmas picture 8

Love the bangs.. and the pic! Too cute.

Vintage Christmas

Your eyes are not tricking you, it is 1966. Obviously I've had today off and someone had a lot of fun being Hipstamatic.

 Everything looks beautiful and Romantic with this flattering shadow effect. 

 We finally got a tree topper this year. Woot.

Merry Christmas!

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

the most wonderful time...

Besides the amazing parties, too much food, spending time with family family, 2 weeks off from work, during breaks I get the pleasure of seeing long, lost friends. This last Monday, I was pleased to see one of my besties in Nashville with other great friends John and Ryan.

P and I met Kelly, John and Ryan for dinner on West End. Kelly is finishing his last semester of his PHD! I cannot believe Ms. Kelly will soon be Dr. Burns! Whoa! Seems like yesterday we were running around Elma Meek Hall.

The newlyweds still have the wedding glow!

Great friends and fun right in my town...I wish this wasn't such a rare occurrence with Ms. Kelly. Let's all look for jobs so he can be a permanent resident of this wonderful city!

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

CHRISTMAS PICTURE 7

Philip and my first tree in our old apt! Memories....

Christmas picture 6

Pre-Ben, posing with the cookies for Santa and veggies for Rudolf. Don't you like the vintage LCHS t-shirt?

Go wildcats.

Christmas picture 5

Cute cousins...please notice Ben is wearing a reindeer pin only because he was too little to disagree and I am rocking a Debbie Gibson sweatshirt. TOO COOL.

Christmas picture 4

Santa's little helper! I LOVE this picture!

Christmas Picture 3

Matching pajamas at Christmas...and Dad has a mullet...

Pictures 2 of Christmas

I've heard these 2 fought frequently. You would never know it with this cute Christmas card worthy picture!

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

Ugly Christmas

Christmas can be one of the best times of the entire year. Tons of reasons to see friends and family, eat too much, wear sequins, receive gifts, and the list goes on and on.
Another one of my favorite parts of Christmas is the MUSIC.
From an early age my cousins and I would put on pageants under the direction of our Uncle Ray. 

Look at the older cousin's coordinated sequined hats... we obviously took this dedication to the Christmas pageant very seriously while Carly kicks back over by the couch all cool like.  

Here's another more techy version of the pageant. We have a legit microphone and Carly is getting those bells on jingle bells. This may or may not (it totally was) have been the year when I got mad at her for singing during MY solo of "Silent Night". (the nerve!) I got so upset I believe Ray coaxed her into apologizing to me and I came out and sang it for the adoring crowds again all by myself. Even then I can remember knowing Carly shouldn't have been apologizing and I was embarrassed that I was acting so badly but the need to sing in that plastic microphone was above all else. Sorry Carly.

Can we also discuss the sweatshirts? Why was puff paint ever okay?

Anyway as much as I love the music, pageants, tacky sweater parties, etc. there is also a bad side of all of this beauty.

What you ask?

Really. Really. awful Christmas music. Like really, really bad. And for some reason those bad songs are popular and played everywhere.

So brace yourself this is going to be a linked to youtube blog post.

5. Wham's "Last Christmas"

I think this might be one of the worst. Wham's "Last Christmas" is so annoying and cheesy. Although I love that everyone in the video looks like they are in a JC Penny advert, this song gets on my nerves so much and I have no idea how it ever became popular. Don't get me wrong, I love a good cheese fest (hello, Journey) but this song doesn't even provide an opportunity for a fist pump.

4. Justin Beiber "Mistletoe"

I feel a little (egh, like more like 1/2 an ounce) badly about this one because it was filmed on the square in Franklin and I love the square but even with all of it's southern charm, the Beibs can't be saved in this one. "Shawty" is so unbelievable coming from his mouth and I can't think of anything cheesier than getting a card from your boyfriend that is actually signed with his first and last name..

3. Wonderful Christmas Time

Okay, I'll admit I actually (shamefully) like hearing this song about once every other year. It comes on in the mall or somewhere and I jam out for about 30 seconds. But then I come back to reality and realize that Yoko had already done her damage and this is one awful song. The synth in the background paired with the constant repetition of bad vocals makes this not a wonderful Christmas time.

 

2. Christmas through your Eyes. Usually I like myself some Latin flare but this is a whiny mess. We get that you want to see Christmas as a child... we get it. So get a job at the mall as Santa and stop singing this hot mess of a "song".

1. And the one worst (well one of the worst) Christmas songs ever is...

Christmas Swag

 

I realize this is supposed to be bad, it's a joke... but it really is bad. The first time I saw it I thought it was funny-ish but now I realize that so many people are out there living only in order to become youtube sensations. I mean if it happened to me it would totally be legit but when it's someone else it is sad.

Merry Christmas!

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

Pictures of Christmas

I thought I would post pictures of past Christmases until the big day! 

No crying out of this little baby!

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

Angel

Today was the St. Paul's Christmas Pageant. It was one of the cutest things I've ever seen complete with a cow, wise WOMEN (thank you!), a crying donkey, and one amazing head angel. Since we had so many little darlings, I was asked to dress up and stand with the little ones just to make sure nothing crazy happened...well things happened, one sheep crawled down the isle with a cookie in his mouth and Mary came close to whacking the 2 month old baby Jesus in the head with a music stand, but other than that...everything was great. Anyway, some of my "friends" frienimies took my dressed up opportunity to rub in the fact that at time (very few times!) I am less than angelic. "Oh look at you, there's a first time for everything" and comments similar seemed to roll of the tongues of parishioners a little too easily.

I would like to point out that this is not my first rodeo with the entire angel shindig. Look at this beautiful homemade Halloween costume circa 1986-1988? (Mom, help me out.) First let's check out the country couture decor in the background..ugh the 80s were so unfortunate. Secondly, ummm...never been an angel, what? Look at those baby blue eyes and tell me I'm not angelic...

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

a last minute Christmas request

There are a couple of amazing things happening in the above text. First my sweet Dad texts me for an amazing blog idea that sparked a huge laughter in my busy and kind of lackluster night.

Second, my Dad signs his text like a letter.

Third. ummm did you read it? Pajama jeans.

Never heard of them?

Watch this video and then thank me.

Pajama jeans is the fancy woman's sweatpants. While the rest of  the sloppy and lazy ladies of America (and the rest of the pants wearing world) go for the paint stained handy downs, this sophisticated group likes the comfort of sloppy paired with the sophistication of box wine. They say I really don't want to be bothered with the massive task of dragging my zipper all the way up so I'll just wear these pants. Like a Monet (Clueless, duh!) these fashion sins will be acceptable from far way but a hot mess up close.

But perhaps I judge too harshly. The lady above wears pajama jeans and the free tshirt and runs her own successful business from home. She is happy and has Pantene-esque hair. Pajama jeans.

And although pajama jeans eliminate that feeling of your pants getting too tight when you've put on a few or eaten too much magically, it will give you a flat stomach.

And better yet! A firm and lifted booty! What's not to love?

As fate would have it pajama jeans came up tonight at dinner. After working for 13 hours (musical auditions...omg so hard, so can't everyone have a role? K, thanks) I raced to meet P and his family for dinner and what would you know? His (pretty) mother bought some from Walgreens and says you really can't tell the difference. She says she will wear them soon and not tell us and we will have to guess.

The suspense is killing me!!!
So.. as the title displays...if anyone is looking for a last minute Christmas idea...

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

teacher gift

I got my first teacher gift from BHS!

How nice is this? A senior (they still give Christmas presents? #winning) gave me this beautiful ornament! I love my job...not just because I get gifts (remember the massage?!?) but because of the wonderful students...but the gifts are a good perk.

Keep them coming!

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

His and Hers..

His

Yes, this is what it looks like... a "duck hunter".

 Santa has a lot of hobbies...like kayaking.

and fishing.

and golfing.

and there are Hers.

Yes, opposites apparently attract. Where is Paula to tell us more about it?



thanks weirdly annimated cat.

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

Where's Waldo?

Except not really Waldo.

More like...where's the obviously photoshoped husband?

THERE HE IS! (I know this wasn't too hard but don't you remember the ultimate joy when you finally found Waldo?)

P actually did not give himself this little "makeover"...his boss did!  I guess this was just the little answer to P's refusal to wearing reindeer ears or santa hats... I think P still wins.

For Natalie's News this has been a very proud wife, Natalie-Corinne.

Happy Birthday Whitney

Happy, happy birthday to my dear friend Whitney.

 Whit gent and I go back and have been friends for a solid decade.

 We all became friends with the Tupelo honey around Bid Day and lucky for us we have been friends ever since.



 And even though we live in all different parts of the country from weddings, to bachelorette parties, birthdays, vacations, Ole Miss games and every other life celebration we always love and support each other.

 Happy birthday Whit! I wish we could all party together! I hear summer is calling...

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

Oxford is basically a beautiful slice of heaven. I've always said when I go to Heaven I hope it's the Oxford square full of carbs.

This gem is from my tree. I always miss Oxford but I miss it even more this time of year. I want to see the Christmas lights on the square so badly!

I couldn't find any good pictures of the square but at least I found the Christmas tree water tower.

I believe this is the perfect opportunity to cross off another of my 30 before 30. Mom and I want to take one of our famous road trips and I can't think of a better place.

Let's wish her a speedy trip to Houston!

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

*busted*

Part II of the riveting who done it case of the mystery with the inflatable penguins in the yard. 

Remember this?

The case is closed and the perpetrators were caught red handed (or sent a text with a cute picture of them in it...you decide)

Umm...how lucky am I? Who else has a mother and sister in law who have such an amazing sense of humor?!

Other in law families give you passive aggressive guilt trips and a serious need to drink to forget the holidays but not mine :)

They gave us...

a really ugly penguin. Err, make it 2 ugly penguins.

Let the record state (right, Sarah? I'm so in on the legal jargon) that the ladies did not act alone..someone had to be there to take the picture! (obvi) Lovely Linda (right) also participated on this "gift". Thank you... I guess?

 

And in the middle of all of their gift giving mischief, the lovely ladies made time to visit my sweet Momma today.

I guess the penguins can be forgiven :)

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

those people...

In the middle of a pretty (extremely!) stressful weekend we got a really unexpected surprise.

I came home from running (for the first time in...well a while. Let's just say I'm feeling it) and saw the above beauty. A little bit of a back story.. P and I hate these things. Sorry if you like them but I judge people who have them, especially more than one.

And now we are some of those people! How did it happen you might ask? A certain group of elves came while we were gone and "gave" (left us stuck with) this glorious example of Christmas spirit.

I will admit, pretty hilarious but be prepared little tricksters because I have a feeling the penguins will be making an appearance very soon at your house during the middle of the night. You won't know when, but know it's happening.

For Natalie's News this has been, Natalie-Corinne.

I'm just gonna say it.

I am seriously afraid to say this.

I think I'm going to jinx something.

I know there are some issues that aren't perfect.

And I know I have a lot to do and things to improve for next year...

but it is safe to say...

at this moment...I LOVE MY JOB.

I really, really love my job.

Tonight we had our Holiday choir concert and my wonderful choir performed so well and then they gave me flowers and a massage. A MASSAGE?!?!

These kids are so wonderful and I love working where I do! I have never had a job that I actually enjoyed and it feels really wonderful.

And can we reiterate...? A MASSAGE?

I think back to this time last year when I was wishing every single day was a snow day and felt a good day was when a child didn't throw food at me.

ummm it's official. I. love. my. job.

1. Run a half-marathon.


2. Decorate our guestroom with items that are not college leftovers.

3. Find a bathing suit that I love and feel good wearing.

4. Find a charity that I like and donate some time/money/etc.

5. Go on a really fun weekend anywhere with my Mom.

6.Learn how to make 5 really good cocktails.

7. Learn to really, really, really love my Dad's beer.

8. Buy a nice piece of art.

9. Learn how to grill.

10. Do a pull up.

11. Learn how to make lemon icebox and lemon meringue pie...

12. Find a new brunch place with a great group of friends.

13. Enjoy the holidays.

14. Do one of those painting/drinking nights with friends.

15. Read a book for pleasure at least once a month. ( I used to be good at this but lately I have fallen way off the bandwagon)

16. Grow tomatoes.

17. Throw P a really fun/stylish/blog-worthy 30th bday party.

18. Grow herbs (and cook with them!)

19. Love my job!

20. Visit Ray and Robin in Seattle.

21. Find a skin product routine that I like/can afford/will stick to.

22. Try some cheese and see if I still don't like them.

23. Join a new club/organization.

24. Learn how to make crepes.

25. Go to Napa Valley.

26. Own a wardrobe that I'm proud of.

27. Buy Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and make something in it.

28. Recycle. (omg, shame...shame, shame!)

29. Whiten my teeth.

30. Take a photography class.

31. Watch Ben graduate and celebrate B-I-G.

For Natalie's News this has been...someone who loves her job for the first time...well ever, Natalie-Corinne.