the one with the {never-ending winter}

You guys. It's been so long since I've posted. Sorry!!

This blog consists of our daily adventures, my fashion finds, spiritual insights, and even the occasional cooking/baking exploit. But this winter, well, life's been a tad repetitive.  You might have heard that we received a lot of snow up here in Boston - 110.3 inches to be exact. Yep, we broke a record! To be honest, I just wasn't sure what else to write about after the third blizzard. I mean, do you really, REALLY want to know what we did for the millionth day we got stuck inside?

Allow me to summarize the average A+J Winter 2015 Week:

Monday: Snow. CANCEL ALL THE THINGS. Bake. Sleep. Netflix. FaceTime warm relatives. 

Tuesday: Ok but really, it's still snowing. Read Job 37:6-7. Again.

Wednesday: Burn 1,000 calories shoveling (or watch your husband do so), leave house fully bundled with 7 layers of pants on, discuss battle stories with fellow snowmageddon survivors.

Thursday: Slush, slide, slip down the side walk. Try to see over snow mound. Get stuck in a plow pile.  

Friday: "Hey, did you hear there's another storm coming?" Shiver. Laugh. Cry.

Saturday: Listen to weather report all day. Attempt normal schedule. Stock up on ice melt. Wonder if this is how polar bears feel.

Sunday: Watch the first flakes fall. Plan which movie to rent from Amazon Instant Video Watcher. Find relevant snow GIFs from 101 Dalmatians. Send to friends. Also, consider moving in with parents in Florida.

My winter fashion look can be summed up in two words: 

Snow Boots. 

Baking/Cooking Adventures: 

Chili

Chili with Turkey Meat

Cookies

LOTS OF COOKIES

So clearly, it's been thrilling! But really, it's been a little bit of a weird winter. And although I'm being a little silly about the snow -- some cool things did happen! 

We spent time with my family over Christmas and New Year's:

We visited two of our best friends in LA before the semester began:

Carly, my maid of honor / college roommate, SURPRISED me for my 27th Birthday:

Jesse was appointed as an Evangelist and Amber and I were recognized as Women's Ministry Leaders in our local congregation: 

All in all, it's been a solid, albeit snowy beginning to 2015. I have some over-due posts I'll be sharing with you over the next week! So stay tuned!

Love from Narnia,

A+J

the one where we found nemo

I've been as giddy as a little girl ALL week - SNOW!!! My excitement, anticipation, and sheer faith in the white fluffy stuff has given me away as a true Southern girl. For example, Friday I was actually shrieking with glee as the snow began (Jesse pretended to be above my childish reaction but I could tell that he was amused). And then yesterday, I was texting some friends about the snow and realized that I said the same thing in regards to snow/our current situation twice - "Woo hoo!" Yep - I'm definitely not from around these parts:) 

As the storm drew closer to New England, we chose to brave the storm with some of our best friends. We slept over with Jay and Alex (another A+J couple I might add) for two nights and made pizzas, watched movies, played Scrabble, and enjoyed some midnight sledding during peak blizzard hours. 

Nemo turned my husband into Jack Frost

On Saturday we woke up to even MORE snow - totaling about 2 feet and honestly, we didn't event think about digging out. Instead, Alex and I took a prayer walk (well, a prayer-trudge) through our buried city and later we convinced the boys to go sledding with us.

Allie let me borrow her fur hat...and it was awesome.

We made it back to our own apartment a couple of minutes ago - Alex and I are hanging together here (we desperately needed a location change) while Jay and Jesse head out to play snow football with some guys in our neighborhood. We came home to a completely snow-covered car and I'm convinced it is the most buried car I've seen during the entirety of this ordeal. The snow drift on top of it is taller than me! But even so, that can all wait - cause we have hot chocolate in the house, a bunch of college students coming over for chili, and much relaxing left to do. I love you, snow:) 

Sunset in Boston after the blizzard:)

And one last thought to leave you with...another reason to love the snow:) 

He directs the snow to fall on the earth
    and tells the rain to pour down.
 Then everyone stops working
    so they can watch his power.

- Job 37:6-7 NLT

`

the one with the first snow!

As I write this - my fingers are freeeeeeezing!!! {Ha, Jesse saw me type that and blew on them to make them warmer -didn't work...but cute.} I'm sitting in our little attic working on the rooming list for our upcoming campus ministry retreat and thinking about the lovely mini snowstorm developing outside:) It's the first snow of the season and although all we have is this teeny space heater keeping us (vaguely) warm, I can't help but feel grateful.  Unlike many of my friends in New York and New Jersey, I'm lucky enough to have power, plenty of food in my pantry, and  enough gas in my car. I have so much to be thankful for.

I'm praying that my fellow north-easterners can stay warm, dry, and well-fed during this November storm:) And here's to hoping that J and I can soon afford to fill our oil tank and regain central heating! 

Until then....brrrrrr (sips hot cocoa).