Still Kickin'

Hello world. I am still alive and kicking. This past week was the last full week of "holiday season in retail" so I am back to 20 hours a week as opposed to 38+ hours a week. Loved the holiday pay checks, but I am looking forward to some free time to get caught back up with the rest of the world. So look forward to a Christmas recap and other fun adventures with friends coming back on the blog! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and stays safe for New Year's Eve!

Holidays in Retail

One would think that since it is now officially Winter Break for grad school and college students alike, that I would be sleeping in, online shopping, and watching lots of TV. Well, that is what I'm today because it's my day off. But otherwise, I will be working. Lots.

The customers really have been great for the most part, much more patient and understanding than I anticipated. The lines have been pretty consistently long and there's always something to do so the time passes quickly. The pain is in my feet and hips is not what I expected. Lots of time on my feet + bad joints/getting old = pain.

I told my boss that I could work full time during the month of December, thinking that meant 30ish hours for a part time associate. Nope. That means really close to 40 hours. Loving the paychecks. Not so much the early wake up calls. Apparently the mall is opening at 8 am this coming week instead of 10 am like normal and I am now the go to "online order packer" which means I've got to be there 2 hours before the store opens. Yep, you did the right math, I will be at work with bells on at 6 am for 3 days next week. 7 am another day. And 8 am on Sunday. Whew, that is early considering I wake up 2 hours before I go to work to get ready and commute. Benefits of going into work by 6-8 am, I get to be home by 2 or 3. Whoop!

So long story short (ish), if I have fallen off the face of the blogging world these past few weeks and weeks to follow, it's because I'll be working, sleeping, and hopefully fitting in some much needed and loved friends and family time.

Santa Hats and Burned Fingers

For Kathleen and Avery's party, I made sausage balls per Brian's request (so he wouldn't starve at the party because he's such a picky eater) but I wanted to try a new Pinterest recipe too. Enter Pretzel Santa Hats. I wanted to make something that me and Charlotte could make together and that wasn't a baked good because I just wasn't feeling it. Oh, and of course I wanted something Christmas-y. So with all of these stipulations, I narrowed it down to this recipe. It seemed easy enough, but turned out to be a bit frustrating.

The Cast, looks simple enough

The Helper

Her job was Marshmallow Putter Oner

So, first you melt the chocolate. The recipe called for white chocolate almond bark. I opted for white chocolate to keep it simple and milk chocolate for some variety. And this is where things started to go wrong.

In case you were wondering, which I know you all were, white chocolate does not melt like milk chocolate does. I soon discovered this when the milk chocolate looked smooth and creamy and I had no problems dipping pretzels. 

The white chocolate start clumping. And getting oily looking. And wouldn't stick to the pretzels so I was patting it on there myself. 

A few burned fingers, spilled sprinkles, and a belly full of eating dripped chocolate later, I had a few less pretzels that I had hoped, but my patience couldn't handle much more of dealing with clumpy chocolate. 

But I do think they turned out pretty cute and everyone at the party loved them. So it kind of balanced out the frustration with the party's approval. Definitely worth making again if I get better, more meltable chocolate. Lesson learned. 

Tacky Sweaters

This past Saturday night, Kathleen and Avery hosted their First Annual Tacky Sweater Christmas party! It was so fun to have a reason to dress up like we used to every other week in college for socials and date nights and see friends that I don't see nearly enough. The food was great (my contribution recipe to follow) and the company was even better. Naturally, we took pictures to document the event.

Such a fun night with some of my favorite people :) 

The Mardis Family Toddler Trot

After Daniel and I ran our 10K and Katie and Lee ran their first half marathon (BIG deal!), and  Charlotte got to run a little "sprint" after her parents' race, so Felicity wanted in on the action.

Before we sat down to dig in, we orchestrated the First Annual Mardis Family Toddler Trot! Well, total it was more like 4 mini races because once they got started, there was no stopping them! "Again! I want to do another one!" Who can say no to these cuties?

On your mark, get set, GO!

The welcoming committee at the finish line--waiting with a high five!

Toddler Trot Part 2 or 3

Mom/Aunt Kirby with the proud finishers!

And then ensued the post-race celebrations of playing in the leaves! 

Such a fun memory and I loved getting to have the whole family in one house together :) 

Gobble Jog 2012

School and work have taken over my life. Between end of the semester projects, papers, and quizzes in combination with a 30 hour work week and the start of the holidays, I have been one very busy girl! And a busy girl means that I have been a slacking blogger. But school is winding down (work is still crazy) but at least that's one big chunk of a time eater that's going away by this Wednesday! So a recap in parts:

Thanksgiving morning started with an early wake up call after a night of sleeping on an air mattress (lots of family over means limited bed space in the Mardis household!) and bundling up before Daniel and I headed towards downtown Marietta!

I kind of liked running in cooler weather but I don't know if I could ever run a race without a theme...4th of July, Thanksgiving...a race without costumes just wouldn't be a race!

I loved running through neighborhoods because of the community feel--people were outside drinking coffee and bloody mary's, eating doughnuts, playing the tuba, cheering, and of course wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving! So fun!

(I don't think you can read the sign, but it says "Ferver Drive Welcomes Gobble Joggers"--love it!)

I finished the race in 1:09:58, my fastest time yet! I really was keeping a steady pace the whole time, but I was especially proud that I ran the whole thing--as in no walking! Woop! Woop! 

Me and my fellow finisher 

8 10K's down, lots more to go!

My Nugget and My Number

I had a ton of fun! The rest of my Thanksgiving Day recap is on it's way!