Owl be home for Christmas

 

Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of year. “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Merry Christmas, Darling” can be heard in my house as early as Nov. 1; the tree goes up WAY before Thanksgiving and any plan to eat healthy is thrown out the window the minute I devour my first sugar cookie.

This year was especially fun-my first Christmas in ATL!

I put up my usual tree-full of rustic owls, hand-strung popcorn and cranberries and glittery Christmas balls. For a cheap, fake tree, I manage to “spruce” (pun intended) it up quite well!

 

My first gift exchange of the holiday season was with Taylor. He enjoyed his new coat and French press, and I was thrilled to find out I would finally get to go to the Titanic exhibit. Nerd alert!

 

                                                                                

        

Before I left for Clinton, Alli and I decided to do some exploring around Decatur. We had a blast walking through the adorable shops and dining at the rustic Brickstore Pub, where we both devoured burgers-veggie for Alli, meaty for me! J

 

I loved the atmosphere at Brickstore so much, Taylor and I went back the next day to enjoy an afternoon Southern Tier brew and some delicious appetizers-sausage with grit cakes! Yum!

 

 

 

The hardest part of this Christmas was not having my month-long vacay, as I had in college. Working up until the holiday week was tough, but I finally made it home to the upstate of SC, and my first stop was, of course, Hollywild Animal Farm in Lyman.

For those who don’t know, Hollywild is an outdoor animal farm, turned light spectacular during the Christmas season.

I accompanied my dad, stepmom and her adorable niece and nephew on an adventure through the winter wonderland.

 

We even made some new friends!

 

Reuniting with my Clinton friends is always a highlight of my trip home. I loved seeing Amanda, who has FINALLY returned to SC for good, and I even snuck in a quick gift swap with Emy before she took off for Christmas in NY.      

 

It wouldn’t be Christmas at the Riser’s without a few cocktails, and I think everyone enjoyed my first attempt at a Cranberry punch.

 

It was so easy to take down, I could barely stomach a mimosa Christmas morning.

Devouring Scott’s quiche, however, was no problem!

 

We spent our day opening presents, stuffing our tummies, downing cocktails and making memories! Headstand attempts, overly-stuffed puppies and several rounds of Circle of Death made this Christmas one of the best ever!

 

 

 

2012 was a wonderful year-my graduation, Shawn and David’s wedding, summer in Holden with my sweetie, the move to ATL and an awesome new job.

Now it’s back to work and time to celebrate the New Year!