The new year & a lovely giveaway

(If you don't want to read my ramblings about what I've been up to these past few days, please at least scroll down to the picture of the necklace to read about Carlotta's giveaway!)

Happy 2nd day of January, everyone! One and a half days into the new year... I hope 2011 is treating you all as wonderfully as it has me. I'm so excited for this fresh start. There's just something about 1/1/11 that sounds bright, new, and inviting. Clean slate.

With exactly one week left until I head back down to Evansville for second semester, I've been spending as much time as possible with my family and Columbus besties. I'm ecstatic to be back in my own apartment with my roomies and USI family, but I've learned to not take for granted my time at home.

I spent New Year's Eve at Katie's apartment in Bloomington. There were 11 of us (10 of us from the same high school, plus Megan, who I met the last time I was at Purdue), which I thought was the perfect amount of people. The party was fun, loud, and kinda crazy, but it wasn't too crowded or packed. And everyone knew everyone. All in all, my New Year's celebration was fabulous.

The ladies: Erin, myself, Katie, Rachael, Mary, and Megan

Dustin and I

Erin and I drove home from Bloomington a little after noon on New Year's Day. As soon as I got home, my family and I took off to have a late Christmas celebration in Greensburg with my grandma and uncle. We went out to eat at Ponderosa and then headed back to my grandma's for a couple of hours.

While we were there, I spent about 20 minutes testing out the zoom on my camera by taking photos of the tiniest ornaments on Grandma's tree from across the room. I've never had a camera with such awesome zoom capabilities! And my grandma's Christmas tree has always been one of my favorites.

After we got home from Greensburg, I spent about an hour helping out around the house. Worked on some laundry, cleaned the kitchen. Then Rachael texted me asking if I wanted to see Black Swan and I flipped out! I have been dying to see this movie for months but every time I tried to see it, my plans either fell through or I couldn't find anyone who wanted to see it with me. So Rach, Katie, and I saw it last night. It was definitely intense! And unexpected, and weird in parts, but I can't say I was disappointed.

As for today... I've spent it lazing around the house with my sisters and one of my roommates, who is my sister Amber's best friend, also named Amber- a.k.a. "the other Amber." (Was that confusing?) Right now, we're watching Beezus and Ramona. I saw it in theaters but it's definitely one of my favorites! Such a sweet movie.

That's about it for my recap of the new year (thus far), but before I wrap things up, I want to take a minute to talk about a very special blogger and a giveaway she's hosting... :)

I started following Carlotta at Pastor's Girl's Ponderings last month, and I'm so glad I did! Carlotta is a great writer and I always look forward to reading her posts, but the one thing that makes her blog so wonderful is her photography. She's only a teenager but so many of her photos leave me with my jaw on the floor. This girl is beyond talented! I highly recommend that you check out her blog and give her a follow. You won't be disappointed!

While you're at it, enter yourself in the giveaway that Carlotta blogged about earlier today! Entering is super easy and each time you enter, you increase your chances of winning this beautiful necklace:

The necklace is made by Wen at soradesigns. I'd never heard of soradesigns until I read Carlotta's giveaway post, but as soon as I clicked on the link, I was stunned. So much beautiful, unique jewelry. Please please please check out Wen's store. Whether or not I win the necklace in Carlotta's giveaway, I can definitely see myself purchasing some of Wen's jewelry in the (near) future.

Well, folks... I think that's all I have for you today! Don't you love how my "quick update" posts always turn into novels? A million hugs and thanks if you read the whole thing. God bless you all!