| christmas in south carolina

While in North Carolina with family for Christmas, we drove down to South Carolina to visit some friends at their parents' farm. We went for a stroll around the land. Everyone quickly realized that it was hopeless to wait for me because every where I turned there was something else I wanted to photograph. It was a great time with friends and a wonderful time with my camera.

Strolling about...

There was laughing

And some kissing

| taste testing

Giver's Log is a site I follow via my lovely google reader (whatever would I do without that thing?), thanks to a friend of mine who thought I'd enjoy the gift wrapping ideas (which I do!). A few weeks ago, I happened upon a post requesting taste testers. I quickly commented, hoping I was speedy enough to be chosen. Sure enough, I was!

Amber, of Giver's Log, was kind enough to mail not only one but two tasting samples to a friend's address who we were visiting in Chicago the next week. Fully intent on documenting our mini tasting party, I brought my camera.

I'll let the pictures do the work, but I will say that we really should have tasting parties more often. Who knew they could be so much fun?

If our samples were any indication, you're going to want to hop on over to Amber's shop when it opens later this month and snatch up some hot chocolate for yourself! You can read more about it here and here. Yum! Seriously, it's like Europe style hot chocolate. Swiss Miss dreams of being this good.

Carefully reading the instructions.

Notice our excellent choice in milk, for those of you in the Chicago area.

Becky, nicely stirring the first sample, as it heats up.

Whoever said sake cups were limited only to sake?

Sample number two, er, technically number 13 as they were labeled.

Our very official looking notes.

Thanks, Amber, for some wonderful samples! Can't wait til the store is open :)

| chicago before christmas

| milwaukee art museum

| a progressive dinner + journaling + camera

I hadn't gone out of the building since getting home Sunday. I was getting antsy and there was no good reason why I should stay in, so out I went tonight for a burrito bowl in the misting rain. Having been recommended by a friend, dinner was followed by a salted caramel hot chocolate.

(public service announcement: if you have not yet tried one, you really must. they're amazing. simply to die for.)





And then I did some window shopping on the way home, taking in the simple joy of Christmas lights at night.

| baby t.

My mind is consumed with the amount of things that are going to (and need to) occur over the next two weeks, so I did what any normal person would do... I avoided doing any of it and instead looked at baby pictures from a session over Labor Day weekend.

The world has waited quite some time for little baby t and I was thrilled to be a part of her celebration. I am looking forward to being only 130 miles from her (and especially her mom) instead of the 667 miles that I am currently. (yes, I just google mapped it)

| afternoon sun

We played in the fading sunlight and she did not disappoint.




on the other side of the camera, thanks to her...