things I love about this time of year...

There are many things I love in life...but the ones that top my list around this time of year are:
1. My Christmas tree - I love ornaments and practically have as many on my tree as my 50 year old mother has accumulated over the years.
2. All of my coordinating wrapping paper, ribbon & bows on presents under my tree.
3. Christmas lights - they are so sparkly in the dark!
4. The mass quantity of Christmas cards I have received and tape to the back of my front door (for lack of a better spot).
5. The people who send me those cards. :) I love you all. You make getting through life so much easier!

Fabulous Shoes

Thanks to one of my favorite sales reps, these pretty little numbers will be coming to me this Christmas. Dont you just l.o.v.e the zipper in back? I was told "Wow! Dramatic shoes...but you can pull it off." You're darn right I can! Thanks, Craig!

103m 25s

So over the course of the past few days I have falling into 'like' with NB. :) Let me start with Friday. I am not going to get into too much detail, as Nina has already accomplished that on her blog. Check it out here Nina's Blog.

Now that you have been thoroughly entertained by that story...onto Saturday. I wake up with no hangover (thanks to me taking care of my friend - love you Nina!) so I decided to take a trip out to The Mills. Very sick of shopping around here. Anyway, long day of shopping with my mom, but NB had been texting me throughout the day. Supposedly he was coming into town that day to see me. So finally he calls (I am getting tired of the text messages) and he says he will be at my house around 7:30 to pick me up (YAY!), but I told him to for sure call when he was on his way so I am as ready as I can be. So, I go home and am getting myself all dolled up when the doorbell rings. How embarrassed am I that he shows up (with really no warning) and I am in a thin tank, tiny short, no make up and half wet hair with John Cougar Mellencamp blaring on my iTunes (it was on random play)? Super! And I am in my "primping room" with nothing to change into. I cannot believe he is seeing me like this...gross!!! I apologize over and over again for not being ready (but in my defense I didnt know he was on his way!). So I get ready faster than ever and we are ready to roll to Liz's husband's (Bryan) 30th birthday party. I am not nervous at all to bring him around my friends because I just think he is adorable and so fun, so I am sure they will like him. :) He did so good around all my friends and I didn't have to babysit. I love it! He even made a comment to me that totally melted my heart and made me so happy. He said, "I can see why you're friends with all these people. They are so nice!" How great is that? Of course, I always knew my friends were great, but it was nice to hear from an outsider. :) Anyway, while we are at the party we are talking to Bryan's dad. I am standing there with both of them and I smell a fantastic cologne. Am I really attracted to Bryan's dad's cologne? Freaked me out for a miinute until I realized it was Nathan. Whew! Sign of relief...Until...I realize it is the same cologne that ex-NB used to wear - that I actually bought for him. I am trying to be OK with it though, since the smell makes me want to rip someones clothes off. (Did I just say that?) So we leave the party and go to meet up with a few fun friends at Big Daddys. NB does great with all these friends as well...even after one friend refers to him as Justin. Big Daddy's closes and no one is going out so we head back to my house. We pull up in my driveway (cue awkwardness) and now what? So I tell him thanks for coming into town, blah, blah, blah. So I decided to ask him if he wanted to come in and he does. We sit on the couch watching TV for an hour before he even holds my hand (am I 12?) and another 30 minutes before he kisses me. But I am very happy when he finally does. :) I'll be a lady and leave otu any more of the details, but dont let your imagination run wild - there isnt that much that I am leaving out. We stayed up until 5am and finally fell asleep until about 10:30. I was so tired the next day but it was totally worth it. Like 10 minutes after he left I got a text saying he had a great time and when can he see me again. AWWWWW. :) So we talked later that night (via text again, but still) and he wants to come in town again this weekend. YAY! So...now we are on Monday night. He is texting me and I finally call him after I leave the grocery store. We talked for 103m 25s. Seriously? Its been so long since I have been on the phone for that long! But I loved every minute of it. Anyway...that's it for now. I am sure I will have more to tell after this weekend. Or maybe even before?? Until then...

Is This Too Much To Ask?

I found this online...

10 - Walk outside on the sidewalk

The origins of this classic yet underused sign of being a gentleman are fascinating. By keeping her on the inside in earlier times, she would remain under the overhanging second floor balcony, which would prevent a chamber pot from being emptied on her head. It's still a great way to protect a woman from puddles and traffic. Intelligent women may even understand the chivalry in this gesture. Now that you know, there is no excuse for missing this.

9 - Let her sit down first

In days gone by, it was considered appropriate for a gentleman to pull out a chair for his lady. Nowadays, this is considered a little bit too formal. As a gentlemanly gesture, you should instead ensure that your lady sits down before you do. Plus it makes her feel special and you will always get a smile!

8 - Watch your language

A very important point which is increasingly overlooked is inappropriate language. A gentleman should pride himself on being articulate, and be capable of expressing himself without resorting to crude vocabulary.

7 - Carry the umbrella

Holding the umbrella to keep a lady dry is a great way to demonstrate your excellent conduct. A gentleman should always be prepared for bad weather, and a good quality umbrella is an essential tool in your armory.

6 - Walk her home

Walking a lady home is an extremely important component of gentlemanly conduct. It may take you out of your way, but ensuring she gets home safely is your first priority. She will feel safer at the end of the evening if she knows she will be accompanied right to her front door, plus you might get a good night kiss!

5 - Offer your jacket

When a woman makes the considerable effort of getting dressed for a date, practicality is not always her first consideration. If you notice that it is a cold or wet evening, as a gentleman you should immediately offer her your jacket. Even if she doesn't accept at first offer again...

4 - Offer your seat

Everyone who has a sense of decency would not fail to offer their seat on a bus or train to an elderly person, or a pregnant woman. However, you can go one step further by offering your seat to your date. This is a good idea because you're showing that you care more about her welfare than your own.

3 - At the table, turn off your phone

It is consistently amazing just how many men will interrupt their date in order to take a phone call. This is among the very rudest things you can do to someone, date or not. When you're out with her you should make her feel like she is the most important person in the world.

2 - Introduce her

Much like taking a call and ignoring her, if you fail to introduce her to someone you bump into, she is left feeling isolated and uncomfortable. A gentleman will always make sure that his date is feeling comfortable, and an important part of this is having the social awareness to introduce her to your friend.

1 - Hold the door

When you do this it shows respect for other people, which reflects well on you as a person. As with all these gestures, making them a natural part of your behavior is essential to ensure that your date receives it positively.

I Do NOT Understand Boys!

Ok...so I do not claim to know a lot about boys (yes - I always have and always will call them boys because lets be honest - do they really ever grown into men?) and I never will. So...as the blog title reads...I am very much single. There are a couple random boys thrown in the mix every now and again...but single for the most part. One boy, NB** - if you will - is 24. I KNOW!!! What the hell is with me and NOT being able to meet someone at least my age?!?! My mom told me, "All 24 year olds can't turn out to be a**holes, Kristine." (I love her to the moon and back!) So, I met this boy at the rollerkegger last year. At that time I was head-over-heels for a 23 (at the time) year old a**hole. Stupid me. So, last year there was some innocent flirting - whatev. Fast forward to the rollerkegger this year. NB is there again. More innocent flirting. We became Facebook friends (I already know I'm a nerd). Then phone numbers were exchanged quite innocently (he lives in COMO). I receive a text message almost daily. He has been back every weekend but we have never met up. Supposedly we might try again this weekend. Ugh! It's just getting to be too much of a hassle now. So...stay tuned.
Now, there is also CD (he's 26 - we're getting closer). ANOTHER boy from the rollerkegger. (Seriously. And there may or may not have been some kissing going on that night). I take the initiative and we are FB friends now too (OMG - just realized how pathetic this is sounding). So we have exchanged a few IMs, texts, etc. But he has never seemed interested. Tonight I get a text msg...

CD: Going to the game?
me: I wish. u?
CD: Yep. Paddy os first.
me: Have fun!
CD: Will do. Figured I would see if you were downtown I would buy you a beer! Lol (yes - he DID type 'lol.')
me: Well darn. If I were down there I would take you up on that.
CD: Figured you would. Maybe next time.

OK...'figured you would?' Seriously? Like I have him take me out and buy me beers often? Or he has no doubt I would want to go out with him? OK...def. over this one. There will be no next time. I don't think... :)

**Note: This is NOT the same NB a-hole that I was previously in a relationship with. Just an unfortunate coincidence.

In Time Out

Let me introduce you to Lena (cutest little girl in the world!)...the sassiest 3 year old you will ever meet in your entire life. Tonight I was talking her her mom (Tanya/T) - AKA one of my very best, favorite friends - and I was not told I was on speakerphone. Oops! On accident a four letter word beginning with F (use your imagination) 'slipped' out. I was scolded by Sassy and put in 'time out.' She proceeded to check on me a couple times to make sure I was still sitting there. Lucky for me, she let me out after only about 3 minutes (and me asking a couple times). I could not love this little girl anymore than if she were my own...but hearing what T has to deal with sometimes, I am very thankful that she is my 'niece.' :)

My Soulmate Friend...

Jessie...my soulmate friend who lives in Cali...who I miss more than anything in the world...got me a necklace with this saying on it. I absolutely love it!! She is the most amazing person in the world! Funny side note: we met because we started working at Old Navy the same day in High School. she asked if she could wear her "Old Navy Trademark" sweatshirt to work. Love this girl!

My Favorite Place to be...

So Here I Am!

Well...Thanks to Rebecca, here I am attempting to start a blog. I'm not sure how well this is going to go over...or if I will even keep up with it. But, when I have heard from a couple married friends that they live vicariously through me, I thought it might be fun to start writing about my 'adventures:' boys, nights out, etc. So, it will mostly be comprised of my ramblings! :) My life is mostly composed of eating, sleeping, work and having the most fun I possibly can while I am still young(er)! :) I have amazingly, wonderful friends who help me get through bad days and are always around when I am having very good days! I love them and don't know what I would do without them!
So, bear with me. I may be pretty computer savvy, but blogging is a whole new world to me...