A Pinteresting Hodgepodge

Yay! I'm Hodgepodging again! 

1. How will you spend the night before Christmas?

I'll go to a Christmas eve service

and then watch movies and wait for Santa!

2. What is one thing you are not?

A Scrooge.

I know how to keep Christmas well in my heart.

3. Fudge?

Indifferent?

I like it - preferably chocolate or chocolate with peanut butter,

I can go fancy with flavors sometimes, 

but I am traditional mostly when it comes to fudge.

But, really? I can take it or leave it, in the end.

4. Was it a crafty December?

Not at all.

No craft fairs,

no home made gifts.

I've cooked a lot though,

does that count?

5. Favorite part of a holiday gathering?

Laughing with friends,

holiday parties are for smiles

as far as I'm concerned.

6. What is going to be different in 2013?

I want to be in Grad School by the end of it!

And have some sort of real schedule for myself,

things to get done,

time scheduled in for me to do things I want/need to do.

7. Favorite quote/scripture/song lyric/etc relating to Peace.

I have said these things to you,

that in me you may have peace.

In the world you will have tribulation.

But take heart; I have overcome the world.

[John 16:33]

8. Random Thought

CHRISTMAS IS IN LESS THAN A WEEK!

As a second thought, I'm going to link up (Again!) to show off my favorite Pins of the week!

Source: hegeekshegeek.wordpress.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: alisonsaintgrohl.tumblr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: superbatnerd.tumblr.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: themetapicture.com via Courtney on Pinterest

Source: horrornews.net via Courtney on Pinterest

Hodgepodging Through the (LACK OF) Snow

I know I already posted once today - and it's been crazy that I've even posted at all this week with my diminishing record of actually updating this blog in any sort of predictable fashion - but, I can't let another Wednesday go by without a Hodgepodge with Joyce! 

Hopefully after all these PhD applications are out (and that process, my friends, deserves a post all on its own!) I can get back to some sort of regular posting. 

So, without any more fluff, away we go!

1. Last walk in woods? Beach? Drive in car for no reason?

One of the nice things about working/living in the Middle-of-Nowhere-Maine is that walks in the woods are a common thing. And I love them. Especially when I take some time just to myself to walk and be quiet and enjoy. 

2. Christmas Cards?

Yep. Not as many as some years, but still sending. Which reminds me...anyone want one? I'll need your address! (courtneyschaostheory@gmail.com)

Source: unskinnyboppy.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

3. Word You've Heard Too Much?

I'll have to agree with Joyce... Fiscal Cliff. Ugh. 

4. National Cocoa day! Thoughts?

I LOVE coco with whipped cream or marshmellows. Starbucks makes a particular favorite of mine - get it with the Cinnamon Dolce? Delish! 

5. How to deal with the Hecticness of Christmas?

Christmas music, reading in front of a fire, and trying to remember what it's really about: Peace, Joy, Love, and Forgiveness. 

Source: jenfarmer.blogspot.com via Courtney on Pinterest

6. Other than jewelry, what do you own that sparkles that you love?

A sparkly tanktop. As pictured here:

I LOVE SPARKLES

7. Favorite Carol Lines?

Traditional: The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks, a new and glorious morn (Oh! Holy Night!)

Non-Traditional: Lookin' back on childhood days, can't believe my foolish ways, thought that Christmas only came from a store (I Never Knew the Meaning of Christmas, *NSync)

8. Random thought:

Have you read my post from yesterday? I really enjoyed writing that one so here's a shameless plug to get you to read it. The short: I worked at a camp with Vietnam Veterans last week and it was a profound and amazing experience. It  was so nice to have someone finally welcome them home over 40 years after the worst experience of their lives. So, read that and then make sure to say thank you to a Veteran. 

A Thankful HodgePodge

I've been telling myself for weeks - maybe even months - that I would do another Wednesday HodgePodge with Joyce (from This Side of the Pond - a lovely lady I "met" through this very blog when I became an expat in Hungary for two years. She was an expat herself and therefore we have had a lot to discuss. Plus, she's just a super sweet lady, and you should all go visit her blog and participate in the HodgePodge!). So, here we go, it's about time!

1. Turkey: Love it or Leave it? White or Dark? What about leftovers?

I love turkey on Thanksgiving (and Christmas, too!),

and I'm totally a white meat person - the dark just doesn't taste quite right.

And, leftovers? They're totally the best part!

Who doesn't love a Thanksgiving sandwich the day after -

turkey, stuffing, cranberry? It's the bee's knees!

2. Run a 10K or climb a mountain - day after Thanksgiving?

Seeing as I spent the summer doing this,

and I'm in NO shape to run a 10K  right now,

I'll take "Climb A Mountain" for 1000.

3. Have all these social networks made your relationships better or worse?

This is tricky.

I've stayed in touch 

(and reconnected, for that matter)

with a lot of people that I don't think I would have otherwise

because of social networking.

But the quality of some relationships?

Not nearly as good as if they were reliant on 

more personal forms of communication.

I wish more people would write letters,

or pick up the phone,

or drive an extra hour,

and be together.

4. How do you find and/or express gratitude in your life?

Not nearly well enough.

I always try to say "thank you" when one is merited,

but is that really enough?

There are things I am thankful for everywhere,

from the place I live,

to the people I know,

 to the work I do,

to the things I am able to do

(both physically and financially and more),

to the places I am able to go,

to so much more.

How do you say,

or express,

or show,

thankfulness for that?

It's something I need to work on.

5. All things Black Friday

The fact people started camping out last Friday

just goes to show how crazy our culture has become.

I shop in person,

but you probably won't see me out this friday.

6. What Black item in your wardrobe is your favorite?

I honestly have no idea.

Maybe my Carolina Fencing fleece? 

It's black and I wear it a lot.

7. What do you appreciate about your life today?

Everything.

But if you're going for something more specific:

Today?

I am thankful for how close I live to my parents

and how often I am able to see them and talk to them.

As an only child, and a daughter,

and a child in general,

my parents mean the world to me 

and I am beyond thankful

for the amazing relationship I have with them.

I'm a really lucky kid.

8. Random Thoughts

I just bought this sweatshirt:

http://www.unitedbyblue.com/store/index.php/women/shirts/after-sandy-hoodie.html

Proceeds (100% of them) go to help Sandy Relief Efforts,

and it's a pretty cool company and a pretty cool shirt.

I'm excited to get it, 

and to know that, in a little way, I was able to help.

Source: 4shared.com via Roxanne on Pinterest

Work. It. Out.

Ah, an excuse to take a break!

Thanks to Meghan (@ The Perfect Compilation Tape)

Is again hosting her "Top 5 Thursdays"

(which I love, because I love lists SO much)

and this week's topic is:

Top 5 Workout Songs

Now, if you know me at all,

or at least read this blog occasionally,

you know I tend to define myself, my moods, my phases,

my whatever, through two things:

quotes & music.

So, yeah.

Narrowing it down to 5 songs?

Next-to-impossible.

But I did it.

You'll note here that I'm a strange work-out-music-listener.

I can't stand the loud, techno, pumping beats

when I work out. Because, really?

It makes my eardrums feel like they're going to pop,

and that's one less pain I need when I'm already bustin'-butt.

So, my jams?

They tend to still have a beat,

but it's a little softer, and hidden a little.

I've also tried in this Top-5

to showcase some of my more eclectic tastes in music.

Hey, Meghan said she wanted new tunes to run to,

I didn't want to recycle the oldies

(but at least one did make the list!)

Have I talked enough yet?

Can you tell I'm the world's best procrastinator?

Fine, fine, fine!

My list:

1. "Home" Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

2. "I Run To You" - Lady Antebellum

3. "New Great Divide" Hanson

(seriously? Hanson on the blog twice in two days?

Alicia, you better appreciate this...)

4. "Snow is Gone (Hello Starling)" Josh Ritter

(ps. isn't he just the happiest performer you've ever seen?!)

5. "Get What You Give" New Radicals

(oh, the throwback!)

Hope that helps, Meghan!

...hmm,

maybe "How NOT to Write A Thesis {Vol.2}"

should be

"Play Along With Blog Link-Ups"

...

Nah.

Music Thursdays

If you hadn't seen yet,

Meghan is starting

(and will hopefully continue!)

a pretty sweet Thursday link-up!

Today's topic?

Top five songs that take you back.

You should TOTALLY go link up!

1. *NSync - Tearin' Up My Heart

This list would be completely incomplete without *NSync.

To say they were my childhood is an understatement.

Either way, I love them. When they come up on my playlist now,

or on the radio, I can't help but dance & sing along.

2. Matchbox Twenty - 3AM

My BFF loved Rob Thomas, we both loved all of MB20.

This song has been with me for a while.

3. The Beach Boys - California Girls

True Story: When I was little (circa 1st Grade)

I totally believed that you could ONLY like either

the Beach Boys or the Beatles.

Not both.

Who knows where that came from.

Either way I Loved the Beach Boys.

4. The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony

This song has been in my life for a while,

and nothing screams 'HIGHSCHOOL' quite like it.

5. Kenny Chesney - I Go Back

It's funny to use a song that talks about music taking you back

on a post about music that takes you back.

But, this song is North Carolina,

and College all wrapped up in a song.