Thanksgiving! and other stuff

I know what you're thinking... Where is her Thanksgiving post? She went on and on about how great it would be and then leaves us hanging! I'm sorry... Does this make up for it?

Guys, it went just as I wanted it to. It seriously is the absolute best holiday. The food was delicious, the decorations were top-notch, my family didn't embarrass me (or anyone else)... it was just excellent.

Here are some pictures of my [awesome] decor all put together and Sean's pies that got nothing but praise all day long.

 This is the banner I made.

 A view of the table.

 The set-up.

 A place-setting.

 Sean's pies

 (top: Mixed Berry, underneath: Dutch Apple, left upper: Pickle Pie, right: Pumpkin, lower left: Pecan [aka the best one], center: Chocolate)

A canvas I painted and framed (with twine)

I love my family and I'm so grateful that I could be with so many of them on my favorite holiday. And, now that it's December, Christmas season can begin! (Even though I've been having to listen to Christmas music at work for the past few weeks...) Sean and I bought a real Noble Fir tree yesterday and set it up, complete with fleece blanket tree-skirt (made by just buying some cute fleece and safety pinning it. We set it on a table so the kitty won't have anywhere to pee under it. We don't have our decorations out on it yet because they're still at my parent's house... but at least we have the tree! 

OH! And, we bought a new couch and rug! Our whole apartment is new, it feel like. We went from an old crappy couch that was sagging so much on one cushion that you could use the other cushion as an arm-rest, to a brand new leather couch that is longer and nicer! (Thanks to Ikea) and a new rug that is orange and has spots on it. Even Erma Gerd likes it!

Yay!! Okay, was that a good-enough update for you? It should be...
love, Ellen

Winner!

Last night, I made it to 10,000 pageviews! Isn't that nice. I feel like I should do a giveaway or something but I have nothing to give... Maybe someday I'll have one but not today.

I feel like I've just been building up to Thanksgiving so much that I'm never going to actually make it. Here are some sneak peek phone pics of my decorations.

 This is a test of the place setting. I'm going to make the words on the side "I'm thankful for..." and the lines darker. Also there won't be paint brushes in the cups and it won't be on the floor. 

 This is a banner I made. I had Sean make the letters of vinyl and it's really cute.

These are tags. Instead of having named place settings, I just wrote cute little things on a bunch of tags. 

I also made this... art? It's on a canvas and I painted it and did it all myself. 

Anyway, I think this Thanksgiving is going to be a big hit. I'll take better pictures of the finished product. 

Yay!

Top 10+ Reasons Why Thanksgiving is the Best Holiday

Thanksgiving is one of the least anticipated holidays. It's all too often overlooked by Christmas because stupid radio stations and television channels start playing Christmas stuff too [expletive deleted] early. Here are my reasons why Thanksgiving is the best holiday.

1: It's a great reason to remember all the many blessings you have. 

2: All you need to do is cook a little something, show up, eat, and nap. 

3:  You don't need to buy anyone presents.

4: You don't need to dress up.

5: You don't have to go to church.

6: You get to see your family and eat their food.

7: Napping.

8: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

9: Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and all the other fabulous goods.

10: Pie.

11: Leftovers.

12: (For some families) Football.

13: All the smells.

14: Just everything.

And if that doesn't convince you... I'm sorry.

love, Ellen

Two Weeks!

Only 2 more weeks until my absolute favorite holiday. I love Thanksgiving so much! It's such a great holiday because it reminds you of all of your blessings and you get to eat the best food. I don't have to buy gifts for anyone, I don't have to dress up... it's just an easy, fun holiday where I get to just relax, eat, and spend time with people I love.

This year, I'm in charge of the decorations (self-appointed) and I'm really excited. Since I'm not that great at cooking, I thought set-up and decoration would be the perfect job for me. I'm making place mats, silverware-tags, some cute/non-intrusive centerpieces... I'm really excited. I'm even painting a big canvas with the theme I came up with (because I'm crazy...) "Give Thanks, Eat Pie". I think it's pretty cute. I'll take pictures and stuff when I'm all done setting up and stuff.

Other than that, we've just been hanging out like normal. Like we like.
love, Ellen

Autumn Times

I've been a horrible blogger... neglectful, lazy... bums. I've really been wanting to take a picture of our apartment because it's actually super cute but I feel weird about it every time I'm outside because idk. We have a lovely maple tree in our front yard (however, come spring, I'll be wanting to smash it with all the axes because of its dropping of incredible annoying whatevers) that is currently dropping cute leaves all over, which I have been collecting for my Thanksgiving decor project.

I would run outside right now and do it but... it's raining and cold and I'd rather just stay here on my couch and type.

Last night, our church had a trunk or treat night and Sean and I dressed up as the Donner Party. Hilarious, right? Well, we ended up winning the costume competition and ended up running out of candy fairly early. I'd say it was a good night.

The only thing I'm not having a great time with is that Halloween hasn't even happened yet! I was so hoping tomorrow was Friday because my mom, sister, and I are taking a little girls' weekend away and I am way excited. I think I'll even be okay not sleeping next to Sean that night because I'll just be happy it's not Halloween and we're just relaxing and being hilarious because it's always a party with those two.

Oh, Sean's home and guess who took a picture of outside! Best husband.

See? Isn't it super cute and quaint? It is.

Time for dinner.
love, Ellen

Oops...

I've been really pretty bad about writing this month... Whoops. I couldn't tell you why... I've just been super lazy and... yep. That's it.

Other than sitting around napping, working at a donut shop, and doing general October stuff, I dyed my hair and I'm planning the decorations for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my absolute most favorite holiday. I love being around my family and eating all the delicious food and remembering all my blessings. It's just generally great.

My favorite holiday used to be Halloween but, as I've gotten older, it's been harder for me to figure out what to dress up as and what to do. I don't know anyone having a party and we live in an apartment where not a lot of kids come trick-or-treating. I have to (get to) dress up for work on Halloween but I have no idea what to be. I thought being Ellen would be funny (because... it would be) or I realized I have Snow White-esque hair and a new big red bow so I could be her, but I don't want to wear a dress to work and I don't have anything that would work with that. Any suggestions? Something easy and comfortable is preferable.

Anyway...
love, Ellen

Happy Thanksgiving!

just a few thoughts on this day of gratitude (in a bulleted list, like i like)

• as cliche as it is, i'm the most grateful for my incredible husband. He takes such great care of me and cooks and takes out the trash and listens to my ridiculous dreams and makes me laugh. he's so great and I'm so blessed to have found such a handsome fella to spend forever with.
• I'm also grateful for my wonderful family who i can't wait to chow down with in a few short hours! I love them!

• and, as stupid and annoying she is a lot of the time, i'm grateful for my kitty who makes me laugh and (occasionally) cuddles with me. 

I hope everyone has a most excellent Thanksgiving and stuffs their faces with tons of super delicious grub and then takes a big ole' nap. at least that's how i'm going to spend my holiday. 

love, ellen

married life.

Seriously, i recommend it. highly. it's great to have someone to come home to at night or to surprise with little things like special desserts or leftover beverages or whatever. And it's great to have someone here at night keeping me safe and warm.
(seriously, though, it gets freezering in this joint sometimes and the fiery furnaces frighten me sometimes.)

Over the past too long of time (if that makes any sense...) i've been working like 6 more hours a week and Sean's been working overtime as well and it's not so fun for either of us, but we're coping and getting excited for all the extra funds coming in. Let's just say Christmas will be good.

The only not so fun parts are chores. i love cleaning the house, but i'm not a huge fan of taking out the trash or doing the dishes... Luckily Sean takes out the trash mostly, but i still do the dishes, usually.. it's fine, i'm getting better at not gagging at the really gross wet leftover foods (which is a thing that happens.) working at a food place has helped in that aspect but it's still not so fun.

School is whatever. I just can't wait for THANKSGIVING! a nice break from school and work and just getting to spend time eating and cuddling with my husband. i have to be honest here, cuddling is the 100% best thing ever in the world.

Speaking of stuff, i have to go do the dishes and then get a package from the post office and then French class and then more work. Yay! or something.

okay. love, ellen

le jour de l'action de grâce

which means thanksgiving in French. lots'o words for one thing. and yeah, this really is just another Thanksgiving-themed post.

This i am thankful for:

1. My family because they're always there for me, they're hilarious, and they always make really yum-tastic foods. 
2. My ward because they definitely give me something better to do than sit around in my lonely apartment all day. this comes with being thankful for Del Taco for after FHE.
3. My friends for supporting me and not hating me even though i can definitely be super annoying and a pain sometimes. and sometimes going out to sushi with me and walmart and just chill and let me riffle through their foods. 
4. My laptop to keep me company when i can't have anyone else as company. and helping me with all my homework. and containing all my fave music. 
5. clothes. for doing the job of clothes. and looking awesome. same with shoes. 
6. food. for being food. Delicious, nutritious, tasty, happy, filling... the best. There's so many kinds and flavors and brands and recipes and temperatures.. just the best. especially holiday food. nothing like it.
7. college. as much as i am in love-hate with it, i'm glad i'm there and that i have classes and professors and am learning and whatever. i mean "yayy!" hah.
8. My job. I actually really like my job. as much as i don't want to spend 4 hours on my feet making people i don't even know happy with food and then taking their money and all that, i really like making people happy and getting money and getting to know regulars and just chatting and hanging out with my hilarious co-workers. It's really great, especially for a first/food-industry job. 
9. bathrooms. for obvs reasons. (and i kinda hafta pee right now. lol.) 
10. my silly kitty. that makes me want to squish the bajeebers out of it regularly. and making me laugh cuz it's funny. 
11. movies. that pass the time and make me happy and entertained. and also for their ability to connect people of all kinds. "Oh, i don't really like this movie because blah blah." "duude! me neither!" like that.
12. my car. that works. and even though i'm certainly beginning to save up for a new one eventually, i'm glad i have this one and that it takes me places and makes me feel safe and happy and all that. 

yes. all these things. and I just wanted to finish with a picture of a happy thanksgiving turkey deal. so that's what that was.

Happy Thanksgiving, All! hope your turkey is as good as mine. because mine is cussin' delish. 

amen. 

Love, Ellen