Hi. Remember me, Jennie B? I’m still here! I just ….. took a slight, unplanned hiatus. Here’s a brief – very brief – summary of what has kept me away from you these last few weeks of 2011:

Thanksgiving: I spent Thanksgiving down in Tampa visiting family. It was honestly one of the best Thanksgivings I’ve had since College. I arrived at Uncle’s house at about 9 Wednesday night and stayed up with my Aunt talking about life till 4 a.m.. I was able to hang out with my cousins, who I absolutely adore, and their lil one – Baby G – and be completely stress and care free. My Aunt is a very wise woman who I can talk to about anything, and my Uncle is one of my all time favorite people. I cherish every opportunity I have to even sit in the room with them so you can imagine how wonderful it was for me to spend a couple of days at their house.

The next week was full of preparations for the following week….

The first week of December: My work had a huge Open House on December 6th. Huge. We’re talking 170 people. It was a great success! I was a bit tired from running around all night snapping photos and updating our online media. It was the first year I’d been on the working side as the last two years I’d been as a guest. Completely different! Good stuff either way. That Friday night was the annual King Street Shop Walk I always do with Duchess. A night of cocktails and shopping – the perfect girl’s night out – unfortunately ended with both of us getting food poisoning from a restaurant downtown. No bueno. I was out of commission the entire weekend after that.

After that it was non-stop all the way. I found myself with a terrible little head cold due to the sudden weather changes in this city by the sea, a fundraising event to attend, preparing for the Christmas Holiday (which included figuring out my travel plans, gifts, etc.), and ….

packing to move into a new apartment! That’s right – I’m moving to a new apartment and I’m so very exhaustingly excited about it!

Let me back up a bit on this one. The Sunday before Thanksgiving I discovered a former roommie of mine was in need of a new place and on the fast.  The Monday before Thanksgiving we started our joint search. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving we went and looked at a place which we immediately determined we would make ours. We both left for Florida the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The Monday after Thanksgiving we meet Landlord Jim and his wife Sarah and sign the lease. It was a crazy whirl-wind of a week but once it was said and done and things were in ink, I couldn’t stop smiling from being on Cloud 9! I have lived in the same duplex since moving here to this city by the sea nearly 4 1/2 years ago. It was time for me to move. And the new place ….. is amazing! Two minutes to Sullivan’s Island, five minutes to the Interstate I take to get to work – amazing.

So yes, you can imagine things have been quite hectic lately. In the past four months I’ve started a new job, started moving into a new apartment, and soon it will be a new year and I’ll be a new age, and holy cannoli – I’m hardly going to recognize my life! Last week I did start to get a little lost with everything going on, mixed with worrying if I would have enough time to get everything done and manage to see everyone for the Holiday and so on. I drove the 11 1/2 hour drive to my home town in West Tennessee on Christmas Eve (woke up at 5:30 a.m.) and as soon as I hit publish on this post, I’ll be out the door and on my way to Nashville to spend the day with two of my brothers, two sisters, and two nephews. (Actually that’s 1 brother, 1 sister-in-law, two nephews, 1 sister, and 1 brother-in-law) And then Wednesday morning it’s back on the road to my city by the sea to finish up the move.

Whew. I’m kinda tired from just thinking about all of that! But in the end it’s all worth it, and I don’t think my Holidays have ever (or will ever) be any different. Remember …. my life is a bit of a circus ;)

So that’s where I’ve been lately. I hope you all enjoyed your Holiday and are looking forward to the new year! Before I head East to Nash-vegas I thought I’d share a few pictures my Aunt and godmother, Mary Jo, sent for me. One is of me and my Grandpa Joe and the other is just to show you that apparently I’ve never been able to control the lion king situation that is my hair.

I’ll be back soon, promise!

love & magic, jennie b