12 Days of Christmas: Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas time!

officially, christmas is over. {WHY GOD WHY!?!?!?!?!?} unofficially, i'm going to hold onto to it as long as i can. {where are you christmas why can't i find youuu?!} so get ready for some jam packed christmas posts to come! {that's what she said.. NO TIME! its almost another holiday!}

christmas lights in franklin.

cookie baking and sweet treats making.

franklin's version of the rockefeller center's christmas tree.

ANTLERS, YO!

"alright, you're a reindeer. here's your motivation. you're a freak with a red nose and nobody likes you. then one day santa picks you and you save christmas!"

dickens of a christmas!

in the middle of a snow storm!

holly jolly holidayzzz.

CANDY CANE KISSES!

you could say i am just a little bit obsessed.

just a little bit.

oh christmas tree, oh christmas tree.

pretty tess next to the pretty tree.

usually i am very picky about which christmas tree we get.. the bigger, the better {i mean i am american..am i right or am i right?!} but i didn't go to pick it out this year. but tess did me proud. ITS GINORMOUS!

it's a wonderful life at the belcourt with wonderful friends.

"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary."

hope everyone's christmas was MERRY and BRIGHT!!

*all pictures are from a disposable camerea. i can't get enough of them! apparently its the 90s again! quick someone grab jelly sandals and my tamagotchi pet!

little joys this week.

delicious breakfast!

blueberries and oranges GALORE.

&perfectly toasted wheat bread.

served with my favorite green orange tea.

{disclaimer: when i say breakfast, its more like a 2pm brunch. its summer. what can i say}

mellow mushroom with these two hoodlums.

don't let their size fool you. these gals can put away hummus and parmesan pretzels like nobody's business. i accidentally blinked and all the food was gone.

adventures in hillsboro village.

sweet ceces.

and joan rivers: a piece of work documentary at belcourt.

need i say more?

okay, cheesecake fro-yo and laughing till it hurts.

there.

babysitting a family of boys=getting a lesson on building awesome intense race car tracks. i mean it starts from the top of the closet and then wraps around the bed and goes under a tunnel of pillows! i can finally relive my childhood but with BROTHERS!

sporting some patriotic wear.

i can't help it. its the holiday cheermister in me!

#everydayshouldbeaholiday

i love lucy marathons.

because too much of a good thing is AWESOME.

"Well, I'm your Vitavigavegivat Girl. Are you tired, run down, listless? Do you pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular? Well, are you? The answer to all your problems is in this little ol' bottle, Vitameatavegamin."

it's the wannaBEATLES!

summer concerts at the park are always the best.

especially when they are funny little men living out their dream by being a Beatles cover band. best part of the show? "and we want all you lovely people to know that we just made a wannaBEATLES cd!" because you know, why buy the real Beatles music when you can listen to the wannaBEATLES!

baking sprees

and lots of treats.

me oh my,

i cannot lie.

give me a cookie or give me cake..

just anything that i can bake!

{so yeah.. now you know i have a not-so love for making rhymes and raps!}

hope your day is a laugh till it hurts, and gloriously splendid!

a taste of summer mid finals week.

after my final on wednesday i decided to go to franklin for a quick mini trip before my finals on monday. well deserved? eh.. debatable of course! but really it just got me even more excited for monday at precisely 4:45pm when it will officially be summer for me!! as i begrudgingly opened my text books sunday i realized that those couple days were exactly what i needed to power through the night. {i could tell you what a Riksdag is and the stages of Piaget’s cognitive development. and they say i need another three years to earn a degree..}

happy hour at sonic is what summer's about. thats 44 ounces of pure diet coke with lemon and lime {going crazy} BLISS. and half price? thats merely nickels and dimes!

surprise! i open my cup {to chomp on some ice. i don't care what the dentist says.. i love it!} and there was a piece of ice was bigger than the lemon! apparently sonic has fallen victim to america's view that bigger is better. no, no, no!! surely this would do some major damage to teeth. which i only found out after i attemped to bite down.. {think giant jawbreaker} woops.

antique shopping and funky finds.

{wait is that a potential love liv cake stand in the back??}

i'm kind of way loving all the different lamps on the ceiling!

the 3 stages of chopstick usage.

1. nervousness.

2. diving in for some rice.

3. complete success*

feast at p.f. changs.

where a table of 5 ate enough for a small city of ravenous teenage boys. {but seriously if you've never had the double pan fried noodles with vegetables then grab a to go order TODAY because its insanely incredible}

*please note tessa is the background picking up rice and putting it on her chops sticks. gotta love the kid.

some days all i need to do is be alone in the kitchen. its therapeutic. BUT there is nothing like having my darling sister tessa as a baking buddy! she cracks jokes left and right. and at age 11 she cracks eggs better than me!

these cupcakes have quickly become my go-to cupcakes! i love how surprised people are when they take their first bite. the hints of orange through out the cupcake is simply magically and epically delicious. and my favorite part is people explaining that since its basically fruit then you can have another. {and another} and i most definitely agree with that!

hope your weekend was simply delightful and just swell.

and i would love to say thank you for all your sweet comments on monique's obit. if we could we would take you all for a wild ride blasting your favorite tunes!!

little joys this week.

rain.

because cause i get to bust out this little number.

its made of complete plastic. {yeah, that squeaking was me} and its same jacket i wore to play in the puddles as a child!

"its big bird, its a shooting star.. no it's just chelsea!"

and it has this flower power design inside.

which has got me thinking... whats the 16th greatest invention?? REVERSIBLE CLOTHES!! so i'm thinking it's a must to turn this bad boy inside out for may.

the watch instantly section on netflix.

its the only section i use because i simply cannot plan out when i want to watch something. {yeah i want to want food inc. today but in two days i'll probably be eating taco bell and will not want to see whats going on behind the scenes in the food industry. and yes i finally watched harry and sally and fell in love with it but in two days when i get my heart broken i don't want to get it in the mail!} plus all three seasons of arrested development are now all available! so double score!

trolley rides.

my license-less, car-less self is quickly transformed into a eco-friendly, earth-loving, granola-eating gal! plus they are free and since i've got 79 cents to my name {oh hey father, are you reading this...}

having this most hysterical snl skit bookmarked so i can play it whenever i need a good laugh. {kristen wiig kills me every time. the day she leaves snl, the sun will refuse to rise and flowers will cry}

after a week of sweating every ounce of water from my body while working it out on the stairmaster 3000, i triumphantly added ten minutes and 2 levels with ease this week.

"i'm... urh.. hmph... fine... hhh. errrg... i pr.. hhh.. promise"

"911. code 7. we've got a girl down by the stairmasters"

enjoying my last tea and coffee cake combo for breakfast.

{time to bring on the fruit or bake a another batch? haven't decided yet!}

reading 1000 awesome things whenever i have free time. i can't help but be filled with joy every time i read one. i walk with a little extra pep and smile a little grander. its simply a delight to read.

#538 laughing so hard you cry.

#543 that separate compartment in your stomach for dessert.

#990 picking up a q and a u at the same time in scrabble.

#679 sneaking in cheaper candy to the movie theater.

#650 the first couple hours of a road trip.

#520 when a baby falls asleep on you.

#554 staying in your pajamas all day.

friendship bracelets in the mail from aussie bff alyssa.

we chat about the little things, reveal our secrets, rant about real housewives, and have the longest emails going back in forth in the history of gmail. and now we are officially friends {since friendship bracelets are the new facebook friend request... haha}

talking in third person.

and when you find someone who loves it too, it's slightly addicting. {chelsea thinks all this studying for finals may be messing with her sanity. then she laughs and realizes after she lost her sanity a long time ago when she confessed her love for beiber.}

waking up right before my alarm usually goes off. then realizing i hadn't set my alarm... it was magic. and pure luck considering i had a final in an hour!

receiving THE cutest and most wonderful cards ever in the mail that tillie specially made with one of my favorite sex&the city quotes {oh carrie and her endless wisdom!} she included a little note that said does the girl look familiar? and as looked and saw it was me {with my always wild hair having the time of its life} my heart was immediately filled with joy! these are seriously the most incredible cards i have ever seen. while i can't wait to send them, i am shamelessly keeping one for myself. thank you so much tillie for making MONTH!!

finding out free BAGEL AND SCHMEAR days at einsten bros are here again! {and it started on the 26th so i better get a move on. those bagels don't eat themselves!}

i hope your day is filled with little joys!

march on.

march could quite possibly be my most favorite month. and i know what you're thinking...

"chelsea, thats because your birthday is in march." but really its not. {but really it is.} it kick offs the season of flowy dresses, popsicles, bike rides, sunglasses, picnics, fresh fruit, birds chirping, park benches, and drawing on sidewalk with chalk. i love the weather. its before the humid hottnes that summer brings. and its after the chilly coldness of winter. its the teeny tiny month a like to call spring. and its here!

i started off this month with a lovely walk accompanied by by ipod blasting my spring sprang sprung playlist thats playing the park by feist. {yes i go all out when naming my playlists}

started a new craft i am so excited about! hopefully i will be done soon so stayed tuned. {i'm pretty sure there will be scraps of paper in my room for forever.}

i had to pick up some fresh new flowers.

{yes i finally go rid of the ones i got a month ago. i hold on to them till the last petal drops. i don't know if its because i'm sentimental or broke.}

made a batch of puppy chow. just because.

{possibly the most addicting sweet snack ever.}

before you ask, no haven't eaten almost half of it. and yes i'm lying.

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 tsp. vanilla
9 cups rice chex
1-1/2 cups powdered sugar
Combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for one minute then stir to blend all ingredients thoroughly. Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla. Stir well. Place the 9 cups of Crispix cereal in a very large bowl. Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal and toss evenly, making sure all the cereal gets a good covering. Coat with powdered sugar, tossing as you sprinkle to cover each piece well.

i sported one of my favorite dresses.

blue flowers for march.

wishing you a HAPPY MARCH!

hope your first of the month is abosultely delightful.

{picture via my trip to Europe. running through the fields in the countryside of France}

p.s. the new header {did it myself on paint!} or the balloons? what do you think. i keep changing my mind!

little joys.

throughout tuesday i found a bunch of little joys that added up to be a pretty delighful day!

listening to this song in the morning when i was getting ready for the day. i can't help but feel fabulous.

{and yes, for all you sex&the city lovers its the song from the movie when she is trying on all the different wedding dresses}

getting my peppermint white mocha in a RED CHRISTMAS starbucks cup!

brightened my morning.

{who wants bland white cups when you can have cheerful christmas ones! even if the season is over.}

{i really can take a photo with my eyes open! anything is possible!!}

arrested development mini marathon after my classes.

Michael Bluth: "So, can't a guy call his mother pretty without it seeming strange?"

Buster Bluth: "Amen! And how about that little piece of tail on her? Cute!"

Michael Bluth: "I've opened a door here that I regret."

wearing my favorite bicycle dress on a dreary day.

{yes, that's flowers in the basket! swoon, i dream of spring days.}

finally clearing off my bookshelf and being able to see some of my favorite things again!

C MUG -check

vintage HERSHEY's chocolate poster -check

BOOKS galore -check

CHICAGO cityscape -check {7 months and counting!}

fave photo of me and my sisters -check

i saw a stranger helping another stranger on my way to class.

it was a tiny little moment that put a giant smile on my face.

FREE BAGEL & SCHMEAR at EINSTEIN BROS

i went with the cinnamon sugar with strawberry schmear.

{great way to celebrate the end of "vegan week"}

i hope you find little joys in your day!

one of THOSE days...

today started out to be this kind of day.

"blerg."

i accepted the day wasn't going to magically change on it's own. it would continue to be like this. and i could sit and sulk in all it's dreary glory or i could salvage it and transform it to simply wonderful.

so i picked up some fresh flowers.

{because i can't help but smile when i look over and see them!}

and i munched on some vegan chocolate goodness.

{i quickly realized that i wasn't going to make it through this day with out a form of chocolate}

blasted Michael Buble's JUST HAVEN'T MET YOU YET!

{why yes Michael, you haven't met me yet. but all in due time.}

and i danced to my classes.

{i couldn't help it. Michael makes me move and groove.}

busted out the sweet kicks.

{i can't help but walk with a little extra oomph.}

decided that maybe today was a skip-the-gym-and-don't-feel-guilty DAY!

watched UP.

cried.

and cried.

and cried.

{but was filled with hope and love all the same.}

also i realized how many chelseas there are.

SOLUTION:

changing my name to shellsea.

i hope your day is simply wonderful and delightfully magical.

HAP HAP happiness.

the fact that i got a call from KENDALL CULINARY COLLEGE telling me that my application looked good and if everything goes smoothly then i will be going to chicago in the fall to learn how to BAKE BAKE BAKE!

{which means i will be joining this girl in the windy city. and we will have dance parties ALL the time.}

ZUMBA CLASS

i'll take working out by dancing over an elliptical any day!

york peppermint patties.

my new favorite treat.

the fact that even though its been a week since we've had snow, little patches managed to stick around and always brightens my day.

my political science teacher was sporting a gold chain.

{go on with you bad self.}

coffee dates with the bestest of friends.

{this gal ALWAYS brightens my day. and i'll be forever indebted to her cause she introduced me to TWILIGHT!}

"read this book about vampires and love."

"um, errrr. maybe."

two days later...

"THIS. BOOK. CHANGED. MY. LIFE."

diet coke.

i am still stumped by the fact that something so good can be CALORIE free.

incredible.

and delectable.

{once upon a time i tried to cut diet soda out of my life. then i realized i was crazy.}

my outstanding date with my friend philip on thursday nights to watch REAL HOUSEWIVES of ORANGE COUNTY and WATCH WHAT HAPPENS with ANDY COHEN.

{oh no she did not just let her 15 year old daughter get a nose job}

this picture.

always makes me smile and laugh a little too.