Weekend 1-2-3

1. Scott's mom and grandmother are coming to visit this weekend. We haven't seen them since Thanksgiving, and I know they're antsy to see Preston. It's incredible how much he learns just in a week, so he's got a lot more "tricks" than he did then, including saying "Hey, baby!" when he sees me (Scott taught him that one).

2. Lately, I've been wanting to attempt baking bread. As cold as it's been, there's something very comforting about the idea of filing the house with the smell of freshly baked bread and serving it up with a bowl of soup and a blanket. So, I'm going to try it this weekend. Maybe it won't go too poorly.

3. I finished Allegiant a few days ago (verdict: so-so), and the next book on my list is The Fault in our Stars. I've heard a lot about it, and it's hugely popular (a movie is in the works). Maybe it won't disappoint me like Allegiant did.

Have a family-filled, carb-loaded, novel-reading weekend!

Weekend 1-2-3

1. I (finally) graduate with my master's in education Saturday. I remember sitting in the graduate director's office two years ago as she wrote "Projected graduation date: 2013" on my course list. 2013 seemed like an eternity away! We'd be living in a Jetsons' world by then. But, here at the end, it didn't feel nearly that long. My motto through the program has been "I can do anything for a little while," taking classes while nine months pregnant, working on a paper while nursing a baby, or balancing teaching a class and taking a class, I could do it because it was just for a little while. My family and Scott's family are coming for the weekend, so I'm looking forward to celebrating with them and not having to think about APA style for a while.

2. Now that I'm about to have more free time, I would like to actually read a book I chose rather than one assigned. This list review of several books from 2013 seems like a good place to start; I'd also like to read a few books that have been or are being adapted to movies, such as The Book Thief, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Serena.

3. On Sunday, Scott and I will have been married six years. I'll try to steer clear of too much mush here, but I am thankful to have had him by my side during these past six years. He's been incredibly supportive of me while I've been in grad school and has had to adjust his life to its schedule, too. They say that a marriage is a team, and he has been an incredible teammate, and that's something I've been extremely thankful for in this past year. I couldn't have done it without him.

I hope you have a educational, literary, celebratory weekend!

Weekend 1-2-3

1. We're getting our Christmas card pictures/Preston's 18 month pictures taken this weekend. Planning for these pictures got me thinking about last year's. Look at how little he was and what little hair he had. He was much easier to photograph back then — just a little, chubby lump to sit up and pose wherever we wanted. We'll see if he cooperates that well this Saturday, otherwise you'll get a Christmas card from Scott, Jennifer and the blurry streak formerly known as Preston.

2. Cold weather gets me in a crocheting mood. I have a couple of hats to finish, and I'd love to make a cozy, infinity scarf like this one. I live by a strict "you can never have too many scarves" motto; that's why I started making them myself. Yarn is cheaper than anything Anthropologie is peddling.

3. Lastly, since there's not a whole lot going on for us this weekend, I'd love to just have 15 minutes to paint my nails. That's not too much to ask, is it? I have this dark red polish from CoverGirl ("Wine Stain"), and I think it's a great fall/winter color. Plus, it was only $5, and I had a coupon so I got it for less than that. That makes it look 10 times better in my opinion.

I hope you have a photogenic, yarn-tangled, finally-some-time-to-yourself weekend!

(scarf, nail polish)

Weekend 1-2-3

1. My comprehensive finals for grad school are this Saturday. Despite the fact I feel it's a little unfair that my graduating hinges on being tested over a classes I took in 2011 and made A's in, I have been studying and crying and studying and crying to prepare for the seven-hour ordeal. It hasn't looked nearly as picturesque as that picture. There's been a lot more sweatpants, Hershey Kisses' wrappers and papers strewn about in my version. So, if you think of it, say a little prayer Saturday that everything I've studied stays well-organized in my brain and readily accessible. Or simply that I pass.

2. My sister will be here this weekend! I'm looking so forward to seeing her, and she's looking so forward to seeing Preston. I know where I am on the totem pole, and I'm OK with that. He's definitely cuter than I am. I see some chocolate-covered potato chips in our future.

3. With Courtney here to help wrangle Preston, I want to attempt to make him my own version of those felt Christmas trees and ornaments I've seen floating around Pinterest. If it turns out well, I'll share the process and final results here. If it doesn't, let's pretend it never happened, like all those times I've tried and failed at running.

Have a happy, test-free, chocolate-dipped, felt-covered weekend!

[photo 1, photo 3]

Weekend planner

Fall porch, Harding Instagram, pumpkin coffee cake

I don't know which makes me happier — that it's the weekend or that it finally feels like fall. Who am I kidding? I'm happiest that it's the weekend. Here's what we'll be up to.

1. First order of business: It's time to decorate the porch. I'm planning on picking up some mums and maybe a pumpkin so that our porch can get with the season.

2. It's Homecoming weekend! Sometimes the ceremony of Homecoming or these other events that bring alumni back is lost on me since I work here, too. Living here, coming here every day can take away from that feeling of nostalgia because, now, it's been the office longer than it was my school. But Homecoming helps me see the university as an alumni and not an employee — once all of the publications are properly edited, of course. I'm excited to take Preston to the family picnic and the petting zoo, with lots of hand sanitizer in tow, and to finally get to see a football game this season.

3. 'Tis the season for pumpkin-flavored everything, so I think I'll make this pumpkin coffee cake this weekend, too. How can you say no to that streusel topping? (Says the girl who eats brown sugar all by itself.)

Plus, Preston will get to wear his Peter Pan costume to the church's fall festival on Sunday.

What are your weekend plans? Anything particularly fall-ish?

Have a good one!