For those of you who need some christmas decorating encouragement (like myself). I think this week I'll untangle some lights and try and give Clark a run for his money...or maybe just a single Magnolia tree... ;)

Happy Memory: At the end of the day in elementary school there were chores that needed to be done. One of those chores was clapping the chalk out of the erasers. A pair of students would walk out the back door and clap the erased lessons of the day out of old, worn out erasers. A layer of white and yellow dust would fall on our green plaid kilts or navy blue pants and our hands would smell like an old chalkboard. When we got lazy or after 4 claps and our arms were ready to fall off we would clap them against the red brick wall of St. John the Baptist. Without fail we would get in trouble the next day and some of us repeat defenders would get demerit points and a trip to the principle to explain our unintentional graffiti.

It's something that now, at 24 years old brings a smile to my face and the urge to visit the old school just for a chance to walk down the hallway and laugh at our silly antics.

Dear Santa Claus,

Last night I helped do the dishes so can you please leave this under the tree for me?

Thank you!

Michelle.

Just because it's monday and that might mean you need a reason to smile.

Happiness is: putting on the Fraggle Rock record while sitting at the bar watching Brad make Chicken Gumbo, and the pup is laying on the futon. It doesn't get much better than this.

"Without me you wouldn't

have anything to blog about." - Brad.

"That's a blog!!" - Me.

Happiness is: Chick-fil-a in my tummy! (and an iced unsweet tea to last me the rest of the day!)

If You Look hard Enough You Are Sure to Find: Armless football players.

You do the math. It all adds up to the making of an awesome fireplace filled evening full of warmth, comforting smells, and roasted marshmallows. Sign me up!

My thanksgiving wasn't spent eating turkey or cranberry sauce but s'plorin' with Brad and the Pup. We climbed over cement slab mountains, through palmetto brush, across puddles, and down in to a swampy little heaven. It was our secret little get away. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Happiness is: Evening fires on a rainy night.

Happiness is: a playful puppy waiting at home for you.

Sometimes there are days when wearing sparkly shoes is all you need to feel stunning.

Dear Blog,

I am sorry that for the last three days I have given you minimal love. You see early in the week I purchased Left 4 Dead 2, and have been keeping the XBox Controller tight in my little zombie massacring grip. I realize I have probably earned the name "junkie" and will try to make it up to you next week.

110 more gamer score points later,

Michelle.

Happiness is: Lunch in the grass with two swell dudes. (one photo'd, the other photoing)

This is my favorite picture of me.

Not because I think I look good.
Not because I like what I am wearing.
Not because I love the person I am with.

This is my favorite picture of me because I love how it makes me think about who I was back then and who I am now. Back in high school I had so many different plans for my future. I knew what my career was going to be, who I was going to marry, where I was going to live, there was no way I would ever get a tattoo, and tons more tiny uncontrollable details. All of what I knew and decided when this photo was taken are completely different. I changed my career path, I don't talk to my would be fiance, I live in Florida, and have two tattoos. This picture reminds me to never think I have life figured out. I need to just keep walking the path and loving the opportunities I am given and allow them to change my mind.

I love how happy I am in the photo. I am glad of all things that didn't change.

"If you are happy, you are successful."

Fry's Guide to Comfort: Car arm rests make excellent perches.

I bought a record player today! First thing I listened to was "Singing in the Rain" and, man, did it make me smile bigger than I have all week! Oh you have no idea.

Fry put his paw on the couch and looked up at me. He then cocked his head to the side and layed it on the couch and then looked at me again.

I had to say yes.

Steps to Achieving Instant Happiness: Wearing bright pink high heels. They make my heart sing! I love these guys!

You're playing so cool / Obeying every rule / Dig way down in your heart / You're burning, yearning for some / Somebody to tell you / That life ain't passing you by / I'm trying to tell you / It will if you don't even try / You can fly if you'd only cut / Loose, footloose!

No shoes AND a tutu!? What...a....bitch!

My jealousy is just a tad out of control over this photo.

This is what I'd rather be doing today. Not work.

Every once in awhile I have days where I catch a quick glance at my tattoo and fall in love with the memory of getting it all over again. I absolutely love everything about it. The placement, the size, the content. It's perfect!

Happiness is: scarves and easy days at work!

Oh side-swept bangs, you are the cat's meow.

Leaving now to trade my 80 degree weather for 40 degree weather. Check for updates! West bound!!

Brad made the most amazing from scratch chilli Sunday night. It was so good! It stayed warm in my tummy hours after we ate. Mmmm!

I'm traveling to Denver tomorrow for work. I am actually very excited about it. I am only going to be there three days, but I'll make sure to breath so deep the cold air will tickle my nose and sting my chest. I am going to be sticking my feet in snow piles, constantly watching the cold air make wispy spirals out of my breath, and drinking copious amounts of coffee and hot chocolate!

And yes, precipitation permitting - I'll catch a snowflake on my tongue.