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Welcome

Christmas Break + I Am Employed!

December 28, 2020

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Ah, it feels good to be back. I went back and forth between taking last week off or not, only posting on Monday and Wednesday, only Wednesday, etc, but I ended up deciding to just take all three days off. Sunday night arrived, and I had ZERO post inspiration, so I knew it was time for a break.

I am so glad I decided to unplug just a little bit, because we ended up having such a great and restful time at home. It was the perfect mix of busy and slow plus quick but long if that’s even possible.

I wanted to recap on the break and kind of do a mini photo diary from the week and include some pictures I posted on Instagram and some I didn’t. Make sure you’re following me on Instagram to keep up with me even when I am checked out on here. Plus, stay to the end for a special, personal surprise!

We were home for a full seven days, so get ready for a lot of photos!

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Before heading home, my mom and MIL met me in Knoxville for an afternoon tea at the Tennessean Hotel, I absolutely loved it, and we will be back! Afternoon teas are such a special tradition for us. 
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I never would have thought to pair these two pieces together, but my mom told me to go for it, and I am so glad I did! 
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I have always wanted to go to the Double Decker Coffee Shop in Asheville, finally!!!! 
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Made these cranberry brie tarts for an appetizer on Christmas Eve… Oh my gosh!!! 
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I’m still thinking about this cake from Magpies. 
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You guys LOVED this board when I shared on Instagram! It was for a Christmas Eve gathering of less than 10 people, and we made WAY too much. Everyone was so stuffed, and it looked like we had barely went through the board at all. 
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IT SNOWED!! On Christmas Eve. This was a first for my Tennessean heart, and it was SO needed. 
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I am not going to lie, this picture makes me emotional. It was snowing, I was surrounded by my family, home alone was on. It was a happy moment. 
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So worth the effort. It’s this recipe if you want it. I substituted the eggnog for milk and used a random icing recipe because I didn’t have white chocolate! 
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We sat at the dining room table for one of the first times ever because it actually has enough seats for all of us now that Preston is on board! 
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The road to Preston’s house!! Unbelievable. 
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Ahhh I think I am the only person who would rather stay at the lake in the winter, but this is why! Preston is in the background brushing his teeth haha! 

T

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This is the only photo I’ll show you of Sunday, because you do NOT want to see what it looked like in my house at different points! I tried to put up Christmas, do all the laundry, unpack everything from Christmas and ALL of it. A mess, but worth it! 

Okay, if you made it to the end of this blog, I have an exciting announcement! One of the reasons this week was so nice and so needed, is because I am actually starting my full time journey as an employee at the University of Tennessee System. They hired me full-time! I am so thankful to officially be employed full time somewhere as supportive and stable as my team at UT is! I’ve interned here for almost a year and a half, and it will be so nice to be an official team member.

I’ll share a lot more in the days and weeks to come about making the adjustment from part time to full time, my first time working 40 hours a week and more!

Thank you all SO much for following along with me throughout my many stages of life- it truly means so much!

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