(What's Supposed to Be) The Monday Morning Review

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Mine was truly magical. I know I sound like a broken record, but I am so, so blessed.

I'll start with the basketball game last Tuesday. Carolina took on William & Mary in the Dean Dome. We won pretty soundly and my brother and I got to enjoy the awesome lower level seats. I've been so fortunate to go to many basketball games in the Dean Dome throughout my life and even more fortunate to have had season tickets since I was about sixteen - there is nothing better than Carolina basketball, even from the top row of the upper deck. That being said, lower level seats are pretty amazing. You can hear what the players are saying and see their sweat drip down their faces - too much for some I'm sure, perfect for me.

Christmas Eve was wonderful. While I miss my grandmother and Christmases in South Carolina dearly, nothing beats Christmas Eve at home with mom. We get on our pjs, drink apple wine (well, drink a sip because it's really sweet and disgusting before switching to regular wine, but we have to do it for Dolly) and make only our favorite parts of Christmas dinner - turkey, gravy, dressing and mac & cheese. Mom makes the most incredible homemade cornbread dressing and my macaroni and cheese is pretty delicious, if I do say so myself. We had a fabulous night and all three of us (Mom, Tuck  [my 11-year-old puppy] and I) fell asleep in her bed watching tv.

Tuck

Apple wine! YUCK! But a tradition!

You can't use pre-shredded cheese for good mac and cheese!

Perfection!

When I woke up Christmas day Mom and I opened presents. She, as always, was way too generous! She starts shopping so early and ends up getting more than she knows! I then went to my dad's and had a great time opening presents with them. After presents, we headed to my grandparents for more food, fun and family. It was all so much fun.

Another short week this week as I am headed off to Nashville tomorrow for the Music City Bowl. I am so excited! More to come on that later...

Monday Morning Review

Carolina (the bball boys) lost an incredibly close game to Texas in Greensboro Saturday. If you love basketball, this was a great game. It came down to the wire and we ended up losing by two. It was sad, but I'm proud of my boys for hanging in there. I've definitely seen improvements, especially on the "intangibles" like defense, hustle and aggression.

In other news, it's almost Christmas. That, my friends, is insane. I lovelovelove the holidays. It's an excuse to be happy all the time, overindulge and give as many presents as you want (we should really all make an effort to live like the holidays all year round, but I digress).

I'm officially considering today the first day of my full on Holiday spirit. I've already finished my holiday shopping (sidenote: I've actually been done since early November. When you work in PR and pitch your client to Holiday gift guides starting in late October, you get in the mood a little early), but today I can feel most of the stress leaving my body. Tonight I will make oreo truffles while sipping champy and blasting Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas." No one has ever called me a grinch. :)

Never...

Never, ever, EVER take for granted a friend that can make you laugh when you feel like crying. These people are angels. You know who you are in my life and I'm eternally thankful and indebted to you. I love you.


Here are a few of those angels I could not live without:

My oldest and best. Meet halfway?

Love this girl, even though she pulls for the Pack!

Monday Morning Review (And Post #100)

Happy Monday, y'all! I woke up this morning with a renewed sense of spirit and ready to go! You know, it's funny. The nights when I have the most anxiety and pray for the most help are usually followed by the mornings of the most peace and renewal. I guess "funny" is not the word - more like faith. :)

Saturday evening Mom and I headed to watch the Heels take on Long Beach State at the Dean Dome. I was supposed to go with my brother, but he ended up having another obligation (quite the little socialite at 9 years old) and so dad gave me the tickets. First we went to Weathervane and had the.yummiest. apps and a glass of wine. I always forget about that place since Bansh and I haven't been around to have our brunch dates, but it is so underrated. I had a cup of potato/chorizo soup and butternut squash ravioli. Mom had polenta and vegetables. All delish.

We had the lower level seats for this game - so amazing. LD could tell I was that much closer to him and put on his best performance of the year with 13 pts and 8 assists. Also, TJ came out at halftime and got a much deserved ovation - quite the far car from his boos in the Dean Dome last year. Between those two, I was in heaven. :) We ended up winning a way, way too close game, 96-91. Now we take a week break for exams before facing Texas in Gboro next week. :)

On another note, this is my 100th post on this blog. :) I haven't really publicized this blog much (maybe that's something I'll start soon), but it has been such a great outlet for me, especially when I was at my old job and didn't get to write as much. I've grown so much in the past year and I feel like "Game Day!" has come along for the ride. From "A Perfect Mess" to "Game Day!" this blog has gone through a bit of transformation, but I hope it has retained some core characteristics.

I hope it has remained honest.
I hope it has remained interesting.
I hope it has put an emphasis on expanding and growing without forgetting where it started.

Looks like my blog and I have a lot in common. :)

Even in the land of exile, Especially in the Land of Exile

I heard the most amazing sermon on Sunday. I'm sort of ashamed to admit this, but sometimes I DVR local church services. Last week I did just that and the particular sermon spoke to me in a very real way. The preacher began by referencing a "Peanuts" cartoon in which Charlie Brown's sister declares that she's "decided to be a better person... but in a few days, of course."

The sermon went on to say how we are always putting off being the best person we can be for "a few days" or "until things are better." It spoke of how we need to happy, joyful, grateful and the best person we can be "even in the land of exile, especially in the land of exile." The preacher said that he added the especially because most of this life is not paradise, we are often in the land of exile.

Goodness, gracious, did this speak to me. There have been some recent hard times and I have used them as an excuse to pout, cry, even be meaner than I would ever like to be. I am someone who prides myself on being kind and I know that I have let my emotions get the best of me recently and have strayed from that. This sermon reminded me that no matter what is going on in my life, I  need to be kind, joyful, pleasant and grateful.

I am so blessed in so many ways - I have a great family who loves me, awesome friends who make me laugh and put things in perspective (never, EVER underestimate the power of a friend who can make you laugh at something about which you've been crying), a job with which I'm absolutely in love - and so much more. I need to remember that, even when times are tough, even in the land of exile, especially in the land of exile!

Lovelovelove.

(What's Supposed to Be) The Monday Morning Review

I'm so sorry this is late. Here it is, Thursday, and I'm just updating you on the weekend's events. My only excuse is this week has been absolutely insane, but in all honestly, the coming weeks don't provide much relief.

Last week was amazing. Daddy and I headed over to Chapel Hill and got an early lunch at Top O before the bball boys took on Kentucky. We had yummy food, sat on the heated patio and enjoyed my favorite beer (really the only beer I'd choose over wine) - Old Well White. It was perfect. I love those times with my dad. We then braced ourselves because Kentucky is very good and we already had three losses. But leave it to my Heels to surprise.

It was an awesome game - tight the whole time. Our boys ended up winning 75-73. We were so excited. We then walked out of the Dean Dome to ... wait for it ... snow! I had almost forgotten how absolutely stunning Chapel Hill is in the snow. A close win against a great team and snow in Chapel Hill - I was pretty smushy.

Sunday we got the news that the Heels would be facing Tennessee in the Music City Bowl! I'M SO EXCITED. BOWL GAME! I've already booked my flight and am getting a day off work (thanks to my awesome boss!) to fly there. We're staying at the Gaylord Opry which is apparently some huge complex. We're driving halfway back on New Years to spend NYE at the Grove Park. That makes me happy. With everything that's been going on, I think a NYE with the fam and some expensive champagne is just what my heart needs.

Last night the bball boys took on Evansville in Evansville for Tyler Zeller's homecoming game. Evansville was not very good, but we were pretty dominant and ended up winning 76-49. We play Long Beach St. Saturday evening.

Tonight my brother is one of the three Wise Men in his school's Christmas play. I'm very excited to see that and get in the Christmas spirit.

Happy Holidays and bowl game season, y'all! <3

(What's Supposed to Be) The Monday Morning Review

So it's Wednesday and I'm terribly behind on updating you. Between football and basketball overlapping, plus the holidays, things get a little crazy. But NO EXCUSES.

Saturday the football boys won a (too) close one at Duke! TJ had a solid game and Elzy/Draughn ran the ball well. That means our regular season final records is 7-5 record, guaranteeing us a winning season no matter the bowl game result.

Speaking of bowl games, we'll find out by Sunday (probably earlier) which bowl we'll (both the Priesters and Carolina) will be attending. Keep your fingers crossed for Music City! It seems to be what most people are predicting - Music City v. Tennessee. That would be so much fun! BOWL GAME!

Since I last updated you on the bball boys, they won two games against UNC-A and C of C. Both were way too close. Last night, we lost by 11 to Illinois bringing our record to 4-3. NOT GOOD. And we have Kentucky coming up on Saturday. Goodness gracious. There is a lot of talent on this team, but boy, are we sloppy. We had 18 turnovers last night and they weren't hard, grind-em out turnovers. They were "Here you go, Illinois, here's the ball" turnovers.

Poor Harrison Barnes has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He hasn't started out well, but I know it's because of all the pressure. Last night Illinois fans chanted "OVERRATED" every time he touched the ball. It's one thing to chant that to a team, but an individual is different. Not nice.