December 2012

Hello friends

A short quick post before my mom and I depart for a girls weekend in Chicago.

Just wanted to share a fun movie with you that I saw yesterday morning - yes it was 10am but it only cost $5

Merry Christmas! (Minnesotan style)

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas everyone! I know I didn't have a chance to actually blog on the day of Christmas Eve and day - so I thought I would create a blog recap of my holiday time here in Minnesota. In the morning I had the chance to get my nails done and I went to a blow dry bar for the first time.  For all those that ask what it is - The Wow Bar -   is quite an interesting concept! They do blowouts and style your hair - they have over 7+ different styles. They don't cut or color your hair! I was really impressed! For $35 I got my hair shampooed and blow dryed and had sleek curls put in at the end to make my look very elegant.  I hope this will come to England soon! I love it! I can see why women would jump on the bandwagon especially me as all I do is straighten my hair or put it up in a ponytail. I had a great stylist, Emma and I totally suggest her to all my Minnesotan readers.

Every Christmas we like to have a Christmas card photo - and I thought we would have got one in Paris but I was surprised to find out we didn't - so our Christmas photo is from a photo shoot we had early 2012.

This is also our first Christmas celebration with out my moms good friend Jane Stamstad. May she rest in peace!

Our good family friend Mr. Gangstead (Or now I have to call him Steve) came to sleepover at our house. Very fun! Every Christmas eve we always go to my grandmas church and then having a big meal at my parents house and open up presents.  Though I didn't have a chance to take pictures of all the yummy foods - (If you are reading Craig - I know you probably can make a fantastic feast too!) everything got gobbled up!
This year we had an interesting dessert - a Yule Log (photo is included) - which tasted good and had merguie shaped mushrooms.

Another newbie to our Christmas was Elaine - she is a caregiver to Nina (my grandma). She is very nice, good sense of humor, has lots of compassion for the elderly and enjoys listening to Nina play the piano.  She has lived in the USA for over 20 years and is from Liberia. I get along with her and dad likes to joke around with her.

We didn't really open any gifts as the night was getting long for Nina - but had a great time talking in the living room.



Christmas Day

- Opened Christmas presents

- relaxed for a few hours

- went to my moms cousins house for main meal in Monticello

stayed for a few hours and went home as Nina was getting tired.

Luggage set for me from my Aunt Jane and Uncle Denny.

Candy Cane style robe from my Cousin Lisa and her family. 

 

 

Thank you cards all written out! In the post now ( Dec 26)

Me, Steve and my dad in the kitchen

December 2012

Hello friends ::waves::
Sorry I haven't written a blog lately but been a bit busy with my job at Durham University finished last Thursday, Craig and I in Manchester for the weekend and me flying home on Sunday.

It has been a really great year so far! Though it took me awhile to find a job - Durham University was really fantastic to work at and I hope the temp agency can find me more work there.

Since being home I have been driving Whitey again - (1997 White Toyota Avalon) - babysitting, doing some shopping and going to AMC to see some movies.

Middle of this week I saw the new Seth Rogan film - Guilt Trip. Totally funny! I went alone but wish I invited my dad to tag along. I am ending this post but will do a new blog tomorrow - as I have to do some research as my mom and I (maybe dad too) are all going to Chicago after XMAS :D

Merry Christmas - My first England Xmas

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! (Well technically not really but it is for Craig & I) as I am leaving to go home next Sunday. What a fun day we have had - here is the endless fun and excitement of a joyful day I have had with this gorgeous man.

• Woke up and we got to open presents this morning. We didn't really give each other many hints what we wanted - but let's say we both came out pretty good :) 
• Had a scrumptious breakfast - fresh warm pancakes made by Craigy B (that is what I call him)
• Both of us got dressed and headed out in the windy blue yonder to Durham 
• We stopped at a few shops - Tesco to buy ingrediants for our cookies, BHS to buy a pair of jeans (for me) and River Island for Craigy B (so he could use his £10 gift card towards 2 tops)
• Before we left for home our last stop was Starbucks - I had egg nog latte and Craig had Praline Mocha. 
• Then we made cookies - decorated them - let them dry
• Put away laundry - sorted out my luggage for next week 
• Now we are going to be watching Elf - and have some dinner!
• Skyped with mom 

Our Christmas presents (mine on the left and Craigy B on the right)

yummy pancakes for breakfast

Cookies cooling 

All Decorated

 Totally loved Elf tonight! I can't believe it was from 2003 - Craig was surprised I hadn't seen it either. Here is a clip if anyone is interested in watching a GREAT Christmas Movie!

Geordies are here up North!

So not a lot of my friends actually know where the Northeast Is.

I live a little outside of Durham which is 2 1/2 to 3 hours on the train from London.

On the weekends Craig and I go up to Newcastle (at the Metro center) and they have a different dialect. I thought I share some youTube videos of a band we saw perform recently called May Arcade . Also there is a TV show that just finished its first season called Hebburn. 

Craig doesn't sound like these people - but when I have been to Newcastle I have heard this dialect.

Happy December - Christmas is Near!

Greetings friends! Happy December - I sure can't believe how this year has flown by so quickly. I look back on 2012 and my accomplishment of moving to England a reality - though it took awhile to secure a job but it has all been worth it! On another note work has been going great! Been staying very busy. I have a job interview for a different position at Durham University 2nd week of December which I hope I get :D would be permanent.

In a time  honored tradition we have purchased Advent calendars to open to mark the countdown to Christmas! Saturday we spent the day at the Metro Centre shopping and had lunch

Sunday (today) we went to the Durham Christmas Fair - also I got a great bargain deal on Timberland's (waterproof shoes) surprisingly they were only 35 pounds and in junior size too lol

Angel of the North (Newcastle)

Craig enjoying some coffee this AM

We are so alike - have similar tastes in colors of shoes. Mine are the striped laces.