I had a great Thanksgiving! It was full of family and food -- and what is better than that?! Here are some snapshots of the day. I have finally moved into my new home (rental), so I will be back to blogging soon!

How was your Thanksgiving?!

#DoseofCharm UGLY SWEATER CHALLENGE

 

Per our calendar of events, today we have the Ugly Sweater Challenge launching!

   

Amy's Instagram • Amy's Twitter Paige's Instagram • Paige's Twitter Melissa's Instagram • Melissa's Twitter

Rules

This challenge will run from today (November 24) until December 11.

1. Follow the challengers (Amy, Paige, and Melissa) on Instagram and Twitter.
2. "Sign up" below so we can make sure we know you're part of the challenge and will search for your submission. If you don't sign up, we might (unfortunately) miss your submission!
3. Then, post a picture of you in your ugly sweaters with the hashtag #DOCuglysweater on Twitter and/or Instagram.
4. We will announce winner via social media, but also share the winning photo on our blogs with all the rest of the Dose of Charm winners on December 22.

An InLinkz Link-up

THANKFUL

There are several things I am thankful for this year. For some reason holidays are always a hard time for me. As a child I had very high expectations of what the holidays should be. Now that I am single again, it is hard just to adjust to being "alone" during the holiday season. Yes, I have my family and they are amazing. I have great friends and they are certainly lifesavers. But, there is something about having a significant other during the holiday season that is extra special to me. I know it will happen for me someday, but for now I really want to focus on the good things in my life rather than the things I "think" I am missing out on. 

1. My Jesus. I am so thankful for his saving grace. I am thankful that He has lifted me up during some really hard and uncertain times.

2. My health. I am so thankful that I am healthy and can do all of the things I do on a daily basis. It's amazing how much of that we take for granted.

3. My family. I love them more than anything.

4. My friends. I am so thankful for the laughs, encouraging words, and great times together.

5. My co-workers. For being more like family everyday.

6. Taylor Swift's new album. Because what else would I be listening to?

7. Hot showers and heat. This is a given, but this is so much of what I take for granted on a daily basis.

8. Boots and scarves. Cuteness factor and also warmth.

9. My blog. It has given me so many opportunities and allowed me to grow in areas that I never thought possible.

10. My job. It's not always easy to work in the financial aid industry, but my job has allowed me to be in the company of great people and I get to influence students everyday. Not sure if that's good for them, or bad, haha.

What are you thankful for this year? 

EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK

I love, love, love stationary and office supplies. I would say it first started in high school when I would binge buy post its, notebooks, pens, and journals. I think I still have a couple of journals lying around empty, but they were just so cute I couldn't pass them up!

Lately, I have been attending quite a few showers and weddings. I love fall weddings and I love how intimate and special weddings feel. When one of the students invited me to her kitchen themed shower, I knew I had to get her something really special. The invitation asked each guest to bring a kitchen utensil and a recipe, so I knew I had to get her something adorable.

When I first looked at giddy paperie's website, I was immediately drawn to the "Kitchen Sink" line. Everything looks custom and so cute, and obviously I had to have it right away. I placed my order and waited impatiently for it to arrive. I was also given some other goodies and my heart nearly exploded at how perfect everything looked!

The linen kitchen towel was just what I was looking for and the recipe card is seriously making me want to handwrite every recipe I know so I can bust them out while I am cooking. To me, stationary should be personal and this line feels incredibly personal. Everything is carefully designed and you can choose almost any kind of theme you could want.

I highly recommend and encourage you to check out Giddy Paperie. I know you will not regret it! Isn't it time you hand wrote a letter rather than sent an email? Oh, good. I have the perfect place for you to go!

A LITTLE SOMETHING SIMPLE

Has anyone else bought Taylor Swift's album? I seriously have had this shaz on repeat for like a week straight. I don't even know any other music right now. Even now, as I sip my wine and write this post, I have Tay Tay blasting. Cheesus Crackers, I love this album!

I thought it would be fun to give you a special little something from one of my [REAL LIFE] blogger friends. Sarah is coming to us from Simply Complicated. She contacted me for a little get to know you post. If you want to see my answers, head on over to her blog and check 'em out! And yes, I am just as weird as you imagine.

So, without further delay I bring you Sarah from Simply Complicated!

1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?

I know this is weird, but my papaw and uncle always have nicknames for people and nobody ever gave me one. It has been only recently that my mom started calling me "bubbles" because I'm the family bubble machine.

2. What's a weird habit of yours?

My morning and nighttime routines. If I do something out of order then I feel frazzled and like I'm forgetting something. I also HAVE to look back when I leave the driveway in the morning to make sure that I closed the garage door. If I forget, then I have to turn around to make sure I closed it.

3. Do you have any weird phobias?

I am very afraid of spiders so I am always scared that one will be hiding somewhere that I least expect it. 

4. Whats a song you secretly love to blast and belt out when you're alone?

Right now its "All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor. So. Dang. Catchy.

5. What one of your biggest pet peeves?

When people borrow something and don't take good care of it. I try and take care of my stuff so it lasts longer and it is aggravating when others treat your stuff like they would treat their own.

6. What's one of your nervous habits?

My voice changes. I start to enunciate my words with a little bit of a hiss at the end. Here lately I have also been scratching my neck.

7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

I never know if they mean when I'm laying in the bed, or looking at the bed. So...if you're standing at the end of the bed, its the left side of the bed. But if you're laying in the bed, I'm on the right.

8. What was your first stuffed animal and what was its name?

I don't remember having a stuffed animal, but I did have a baby doll. I have no imagination so I named her "baby Sarah"...I know, real original.

9. What's the drink you always order at Starbucks?

Either a hot caramel macchiato or an iced upside down caramel macchiato. Unless its PSL season. Then I get a PSL, of course.

10. Which way do you face in the shower?

My back is to the shower head. I don't like the water getting my face.

11. Do you have any weird body skills?

Lol nope.

12. What's your favorite comfort food that is bad but you eat it anyways?

Chips and guacamole. I could eat it everyday, at any time of day. I know its not terrible for you but in the quantities that I eat it in, it is unhealthy.

13. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?​

I don't know that I have one right now. My students would probably tell you that I say "kapeesh" a lot. It means "understand?" and I got it from Full House.

14. What do you wear when you go to sleep?

I usually wear one of Nathan's (my hubby) old t-shirts. I don't have a lot of "cute" pajamas. My motto is to be as comfortable as possible.

15. What did you used to wear that you thought was cool, but now you realize it wasn't?​

I can't think of a specific piece of clothing, but for sure colored eyeshadow. Its not that its "uncool", I just realize now that it doesn't look good on me.

What a fun post, thanks Sarah! If you wanna do the same post on your blog, feel free to pass it on. Please go check out Sarah's blog and show her some love! I know you won't regret it. 

SOUNDCHECK WITH LITTLE BIG TOWN!

Disclosure: I was approached by Lunchbox to review the Walmart Soundcheck with Little Big Town and was compensated for this post. Although I was compensated, I genuinely love Little Big Town and all opinions are my own. 

Did you watch the CMAs on Wednesday? Little Big Town won Vocal Group of the Year! It's not hard to figure out why.

I love listening to live musical performances by country artists. I am a country girl (or I love country music) and so whenever I get the chance to witness artists in their element, I get excited. I don't have the chance to attend a lot of concerts, mainly because they can be rather pricey, and I am pretty picky when it comes to purchasing albums. Being able to listen to albums, especially played by the artists live, is a great way to decide whether or not I should purchase an album.

I was thrilled when I heard about the Walmart soundcheck presented by T-Mobile, because they were featuring one of my favorite groups, Little Big Town. Not only do you get to watch a live performance, but they interviewed the group about the album. There is a series of videos in which the group plays songs from their new album, "Painkiller", and answers various interview questions. The interview showcases their thoughts and feelings about their new album, "Painkiller", and the group discusses their love for their hometown of Nashville. In fact, the soundcheck is set in Nashville as well, and who doesn't love Nashville?! The band calls the album ["Painkiller"] "bold" and "aggressive", which you get a little taste of during the soundcheck. I enjoyed watching the videos and getting a taste of backstage. You get to see another side to the artists and it helped me understand their frame of mind when they were creating the album.

I encourage you to check out the soundcheck and take a few minutes to browse other artists' soundcheck as well! I mean, can you get any more up close and personal than that? Well, yes you can, but this way is free and won't land you in jail.

In case you're feeling lucky, enter this giveaway by using the tool below to win a signed guitar by Little Big Town!

Little Big Town Guitar