The Month by iPhone: December 2013

It seems so strange to me that it is already 2014! Here are some photos from my phone this month!

Ironing pillow covers at work because I am such a domestic goddess.

I really love Prinstagram {Social Print Studio}.

from my night at aloft.

black on black on black with gold studs.

{long-sleeve v-neck tee :: Target // black skinny pants :: Cynthia Rowley via TJ Maxx // black pointed-toe studded ballet flats :: Target}

tables at the school event.

snow/ice on the moonroof

Anna's Ginger Thins on a vintage plate on a vintage counter. this is what Christmas smells like.

I shoveled that sidewalk twice in one evening!

Anderson Dock in Ephraim

 white v-neck pocket tee - Target / mint and navy colorblock cardigan - Forever 21 / mint belt - Target / skinny jeans - American Eagle / pink Converse low tops

 my mom went to a cookie exchange with some girls she used to work with. one of them made these cute sugar cookies! the white frosting was some sort of cream cheese frosting.

 and one of her other friends made these adorable snowmen!

 college graduation!

 dress - Abercrombie & Fitch / heels - Target

Kim Manning Christmas ornament!

 cute little snail that someone left behind at the motel

I love that Sally put a cupcake sticker on the envelope!

I met up with Erin and Heather for lunch at a local bar. it was so great to see them. too bad Kyle couldn't join us...

I rarely wear silver jewelry, but my grandma gave me this beautiful peridot necklace for my graduation.

another cookie exchange cookie! this gingerbread glove came with some gingerbread trees.

dinner at Panera!

I was given the opportunity to get away for an evening, thanks to some wonderful people. more on that soon!

cinnamon roll and s'mores mocha for breakfast at Copper Rock Coffee Company.

last picture of 2013. I ended the year by myself at work.

xoxo.

Merry Christmas 2013

For Christmas, I made these Oreo White Chocolate Pudding Peppermint cookies from Two Peas and Their Pod! They didn't have white chocolate pudding at my grocery store, so I used vanilla instead.

12 crushed Oreos will get you a cup and a half, and 4 crushed candy canes will get you half a cup.

The batter was as delicious as the cookies!

I didn't have a one tablespoon scoop, so I used two two teaspoon scoops in the beginning, but then I got annoyed and just used a spoon.

 Fresh out of the oven!

I bought cooling racks from Target that morning. I don't think I let the cookies cool on the stones for long enough, because some of the bottoms got molded to the cooling racks! The candy canes were melting down too.

I painted my nails with OPI's A Spy Who Loved Me, from the Skyfall collection.

Ruffled red velvet and taffeta scarf plus a whole lot of black for Christmas Eve at my grandparents' house.

I was told about how I used to run around and press the buttons on this little jukebox to listen to the Christmas music.

Frozen waters.

xoxo.

Pomp & Circumstance

On Friday evening, I graduated from college with my associate's degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management! There were about 1400 people graduating with me, but only about 325 of us walked.

All of us graduates had to get there an hour early to stand in a room. There were seven of us walking from my program, which our hospitality instructor said was a large number. The largest groups of graduates were from nursing and business management.

When I was standing with my group, I noticed that four of them were wearing gold cords (highest honors) and one was wearing teal cords (honors). I only got one, maybe two, B's in college, and the rest of my grades were A's, so I was wondering why I didn't have honor cords. I figured it was because I was added to the graduation list late, and I asked one of the other girls when she found out that she was honors. She said that she got the cords with her cap and gown. I was pretty annoyed and embarrassed that I didn't have cords too, since I thought that I had earned them.

After standing in the room for about an hour (and having our picture taken), we lined up to march into the other room where the ceremony was being held. I saw my mom, and she asked me where my cords were.

When we all sat down, I was looking at the program to make sure that I was listed, and I noticed that there were two asterisks by my name, indicating that I was graduating with highest honors. There was nothing on my card that I had to hand to the person to be announced when I walked across stage. I know that this isn't going to matter in five years, but I was pretty disappointed, especially because I just barely missed the cutoff for honors in high school.

college graduation. too many cameras and my dress is kind of short. December 2013.

high school graduation. June 2011.

xoxo.

Winter in Door County

I took a wintery drive up north a few days ago. I was hoping to catch sunset, and I did, but it was pretty lame, with only a little gold and blue. I had actually set my alarm that morning with the intent to take pictures at sunrise, but I looked at the weather on my phone when the alarm went off, and I decided that seven degrees was too cold. Oh well, there's always another day.

These first three are from the Baileys Harbor Marina. Lake Michigan was not completely frozen yet. It was so pretty here, but it was cold, and my gloves were being annoying. {I later switched to fingerless gloves, but then my fingers were icicles. It was a lose-lose situation.} You can see the snowflakes falling in the third picture!

This one is from Schoolhouse Park in Sister Bay. I'm not really sure how this is a park, but there is an old schoolhouse here that looks like it's from the 1930's or 1940's.

Anderson Dock is located in Ephraim. The top photo is actually from a store and gallery across the street, and they have some really beautiful artwork and jewelry in there. I believe the barn in the bottom photo is also a gallery.

Ephraim Moravian Church is so beautiful! They're located on a hill that is just above the main highway (42) that goes through Ephraim. This birch tree was behind the church in their parking lot.

If you have never been to a drive-in movie theater, you are missing out and should try to find one in your area! The Skyway is in Fish Creek, and I hope I am able to see a movie there this summer. It's been a few years since I have been there.

It seems like I get a lot of hits from the search term "Chateau Hutter," so here is a winter shot for you guys. (: There was another car parked here, so I'm guessing that someone ventured down to get some pictures at sunset. I hope they were able to get some great shots! I would love to go down there for sunset pictures {and perhaps a portrait session} someday, but I am too freaked out to go down there alone!

I got down to the Door County Boat Launch with plenty of time to watch the sun set, but as you can see, it wasn't very much of a show. Those dot-like things in the first picture are actually an ice covered scalloped metal edge of the dock. It was pretty icy there!

xoxo.