Wow, it's been a while!

So, I was hanging out with some friends from work last night and we got to talking about blogging.  I mentioned that I had one and that they should follow me and then I realized..... Can I actually claim that I blog?  As I look at this now, it has been officially over a year since I have written anything.  I am going to blame it on the craziness that has been my life for the last year.

So much has happened that I am going to share it in pictures versus typing about a 2 page synopsis. So this will be a year in recap... and maybe I will be motivated to do this more often (maybe not).

First things first, I have gotten to spend so much good time with my family over the last year.
Quincy and Amanda's being one of the best times I can remember.  (March 2012)

Weema and I having a good time.

 My little Sis at the rehearsal dinner

 The Bride and Groom's first dance

Casie and I being ourselves.

Of course a couple of concerts are always in the mix...

May 2012: The Avett Brothers

 Craig and Fox 

 Lizzy and I

Such a good show.  We got a baby onesie signed for little Slaine while we were there.

July was an amazing month... we welcomed the first little one into our family, Little Burt Burt on July 13th.

He is the cutest little crabby one and the apple of my eye.  Andrew and Casie have become the best parents and have the sweetest little one.
July was also the month that I received and accepted my job offer at Sealed Air in Greenville, SC!  Whoop whoop.  This ginger was excited to be headed back to the South to say the least.




Proud Uncle Ryan





A few late summer pics of my girls.... (just a few of you)

 Amanda and I at The Feast

 And of course, Katie!

Pam and I met up at Parnell's for a little photo shoot with this handsome man.

Big night out at Parnells' with all of our peeps

 The ladies and I (Steph, Liz, Pam and I)

Fox and I with Padre

Always interesting with Zach!

A little game night at Jai and Steph's

 Pam and Jaideep

 Crazy eyes

 There are pirates around.  arrrgh

When September came around, I finally got to head south and meet my nephew for the first time.  Here are a few of my favorites with my little sweetheart.

Our first meeting at the Pensacola Airport.  You cannot see it but his shirt says  "My Aunt will teach me the good stuff."

His Halloween Costume, Burt Reynolds

This month having a little lunch with his Momma in Mobile

Soo cute... look at those little Toms.

And of course with Granny Burt

He is such a dollface and I love him more and more everyday... just look at those cheeks!

December was a crazy month that included: defending my thesis (successfully!! whoop whoop), Joshi/Liggett Holiday Party, moving to Greenville and starting my new job, and Fox got to finally attend a Burt family Christmas Extravaganza.  Needless to say, I think he had a blast and will be attending them for a long time to come!  So below are a few pictures from all of these events!

 Hanging out with the Fox's.... always includes lots of pups!

 Our awesome Christmas gift from my mom... yes, she painted that for us.  I love it and it is such an amazing piece of art that we will have forever!  Love you, Momma!

 My first week in Greenville I found this cute little English pub to hangout at and found this on the wall.. Looks like my kind of place.

And my awesome advisor shortly after telling me I passed!

I loved my research group and had an amazing graduate school experience (now that I'm not in it anymore! haha).  Above is my boss and my fav graduate student, Casey... haha.  Miss them a ton.

And then finally, a couple of pictures of our new home.  I cannot explain how much we love this city/area of the world.  Greenville is like a little gem in the upstate of SC. We are less than an hour to the mountains and a few from the beach.  The downtown is growing and alive....we have been so lucky.

Driving through the mountains back to Cleveland... just north of Asheville, NC.

Little garden in downtown Greenville where a special little wedding will happen next year!

 Views from our backyard.  Table rock and Ceasar's head, SC

And I have a few pictures that are just random favorites from the year that are below.  I know this is pictures overload and hopefully I can keep up with this and spread them out a little in more detail!  Hope you enjoy!  The last year has been amazing and included some many memories, both challenging and awesome all at the same time. 

St. Patrick's Day in Raleigh

On the way to Mark and Adriane's Wedding

Kelsey and I at the wedding... 

My lovely ladies (Kimi and Pam)

Casie and I at Mr. Slowhands Concert.... cannot say how awesome it was.  So glad we have that moment, sista.

Wow.....It's been a while.

So, I officially am not good at this blogging thing.  One might say that I am a little busy trying to finish up with my degree but realistically, I am just a little lazy. Without further adieu, here is a little update on life in Cleveland.


Justin and I had the families up for Thanksgiving, his parents and my mom and brother!  It was such a great time and too much good food. The Wilson family also joined in on the festivities with sweet baby, Jamie!  Here are a few pictures to highlight the week:

 ~Justin firing up the smoker and playing with Layla~

~ Pam with sweet Jameson~

 ~Justin and I with Jamie (and my new braces  :)~

 ~The Christmas Tree purchased by WeeMom and Sweet Gail~

 ~The final project~

~The boys playing the guitars.~

Needless to say, we had a blast and the weather was perfect!

December was a busy month for us all of the holiday traveling.  I do not have any photos to share but I assure you it was a great time!

2012......the year of excitement!

First off, I am going to be an Aunt!  I cannot tell you how excited this makes me......all I do is look at baby things!  Here is how I found out:

I was ecstatic when I found out!  I cannot wait to meet my sweet, little Burt!  I can assure you that he will be super spoiled!

2012 has also proven to be super stressful!  As most of you know......I am finally finishing school (for good)!  This year has been full of writing and editing and re-writing....see why I do not blog often.  Anyway, I am in the job market, sort of, and hoping to be a full-functioning adult soon!   I will keep you guys posted on the progress.

Fox and I are also now the proud parents of Molly and Floyd...... how could you resist these two?  :)

 ~Getting ready for bed~

 ~Relaxing in the bathroom~

  ~Hungry, I am sure.  Floyd (left) and Molly (right)~

So, this is just a very brief look at the last few months.   I hope to get caught up over the next few days and share with you some of my cooking adventures, homemade toothpaste and laundry detergent, St. Patty's Day, and Amanda and Quincy's wedding!  

Hope that it will not be 5 months for the next one..... 

 Luv~Ginger

Extreme couponing: time better spent

I am attempting, for the first time in my life, to be on a strict budget and am excited about the journey of it all. I have caught myself checking out the coupon section at Whole Foods to see if I could snag a deal here and there or looking in the paper for a $1.00 off of anything we use.  I have had minimal success but the thrill of catching a price break is exciting every now and again. With that, I watched Extreme Couponers on TLC last week for the first time and let me just say; I was less than impressed.  If you have not seen it, the show follows families who strategically save coupons and go to the grocery on double coupon days and leave with $400.00 worth of groceries for $5.00 or something equally as extreme. I understand in today's times the need for frugality and cutting cost wherever you can but the time spent to embark on extreme couponing is kind of ridiculous.  One of the ladies I watched spent at least 35 hours a week collecting and cutting coupons.  I do not know about you but  that seems a little excessive! The second thing that bothered me about this show was that the food products that they buy are all highly, processed foods and candy bars.  Who really needs 57 bottles of Barbecue sauce and 110 Snickers? I think that it is really backwards when we can get frozen, preservative full dinners for basically free but not fresh veggies.  This is a reality that really disturbs me. If I, as a chemist, cannot pronounce the additives listed on the back of a box; I am probably not going to eat it or rub it on my body. What happened to food actually be composed of, guess what, FOOD!  When I see a coupon for fresh veggies or pasture raised chickens, then I will be excited! Anyway, that is my rant on food for the evening.  I will leave you with a book that I recommend on the food system, Michael Pollan's Food Rules: An Eater's Manual. It is a quick, easy read that gives you tips for healthier shopping at the grocery store.  
XOX,
Ginger