Only 13 days til Christmas!! I thought starting today’s blog post off with that fun reminder would be encouraging, but typing it out actually reminded me how much shopping I have left to do. Dangit. Well, better to realize it now than to wait til next Friday, right? Right. So really, I’m AHEAD of where I’ve been in years past.

Yesterday was my birthday! And Matt treated me to so many of my favorite things- he brought me T.U.B.S. (Ted’s Ultimate Breakfast Sammie) from Ted’s Bulletin yesterday morning, then after church we went for a champagne brunch-y cocktail (at Ted’s- are you sensing a theme here?), and for dinner, we had friends over for pizza & clementine cake! Also? I got to take a nap yesterday afternoon. So that was pretty awesome.

As always, lessons learned/events that transpired over the past week:

• RedBox has been failing us lately so we ended up renting Independence Day 2. It was alright, but after watching said movie, Matt realized I’d never seen the original Will Smith version. Probably should have watched that one first, shouldn’t I?
• So then we watched the original Independence Day movie, and there was a point that I thought the only dog in the film was going to die, and I half-shouted at the screen “they wouldn’t dare kill off a yellow lab!” (They didn’t)
• For all of you who know how terrified I am of needles, you’re going to be super proud of me- I voluntarily allowed my doctor to stick me TWICE in the last week! I’ve been going to physical therapy for achey knees, and my doctor’s attributed the pain to a few uber-tight knots in one of my legs. Normal foam rollers and stretching wasn’t helping much, so she suggested dry needling (which is sort of like acupuncture, I think?) to release the tension in the muscles. I didn’t cry once!
• I did hide my eyes the whole time so I didn’t actually have to see the needles, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s miles better than passing out. Which has happened in the past when I had blood drawn.
• My best friend Sarah & I are going to Manhattan this weekend and I got us all set up with an apartment via AirBnb. Then out of nowhere, my host cancelled on me with no explanation! I know there’s probably some legitimate, business-y reason for it, but I still feel slightly personally offended… anyone else?
• I’m heading back to France! It’s officially official- I’m flying out in February to spend nine days with my favorite couture dress designer, Katherine, plus her adorable kiddos; I simply can’t wait!!

A sneak peek into the gorgeousness from Dane & Allyson’s wintry wedding from Saturday- I can’t wait to show you guys more next week, as soon as my film scans come in!