As a newly married couple, we have been encouraged to start our own holiday traditions. Here is what we've come up with so far! We went and picked out our first Christmas tree. We were hoping to go to a tree farm but time got away from us. Imagine that! So we settled for the tree lot in the parking lot near Krogers! 

This is the moment Matt realized that he is the man of our household and therefore, in charge of the putting the lights on the Christmas tree. He did a great job. We'll share photos in our next post.

Every year Emily hangs an angel ornament her Grandmother Boots made for her at the top of the tree and this year is no different. 

Another tradition we carried over from Emily's family is counting down 12 Days of Christmas through what else but candy! Each night we take off a piece to enjoy.

And its not Christmas without COOKIES! The first ever sister-in-love cookie-off took place last Sunday. We made toffee pretzel cookies and mint chocolate chip cookies. It'll be the first year of many!  

Octoberfun!

It's only October if it's full of chili, pumpkin (any form), costumes, football, and the beautiful Tennessee mounains. We did it all so we are feeling pretty good about October 2011. Here are some highlights. 

Carving pumpkins with friends. The ghosts belong to Emily.

Matt's fun pumpkin!

Guys from our small group take a quick pic. That's a mason jar in the back and its name is Todd Mason. 

Peter Pan and his shadow.

Found some family at the South Carolina/UT game! 

New tradition of attending SC/UT games

Matt visited Cumberland Gap on his day off. 

Is this where Volunteer orange comes from?

Papa Phil loves finding apps on his phone. Like a compass.... 

Matt stood on three States at one time.

This apparently is his favorite state.

And a rock. a reminder of the Rock. You'll have to ask Matt.

Buffalo Comes South!

The stars just happened to align and the University of Buffalo played the University of Tennessee last weekend. (or maybe it was that $900,000 check.) My oldest brother, Nick, is UB's head football athletic trainer and the family was thrilled to have our Buffalo extension travel down for an SEC game. It was great to see Nick and Erin for a hot second and spend time with Mom and Eddie. I felt a little bad for Matt though. It was my first game at UT and I had on UB/UK blue. The guy can't win except UT did win the game! 

Erin, Me and Mom! Don't worry. No one asked us for our beads.

Eddie and Mom! I like this pic.

Nick! Taunting Matt from the sidelines.

The score wasn't too bad...at first.

Nick in action!

Props to Chop Shop

So, I finally bit the bullet and chopped my hair off! Usually chopping my hair off is no big deal but this time I was a little hesitant. I think it's because I grew it out for the wedding and became weirdly attached to it. And let's be honest, having big bouffant hair is a whole lot of fun!

With a ton of prodding from my co-worker/friend, Lindsay, I decided it was time. Because I work in North Knoxville, I am a member of the North Knoxville Business and Professional Association. A few months ago I met the owner of the Aveda hair salon, Chop Shop, Cindylou Douglas. Chop Shop is located just down the street from where I work and I decided to check it out. As it turns out, they offer free hair cuts for "Locks of Love" donations. I was sold! I made my appointment and hoped for the best! 

Here is the before shot!

Tim Eisinger was my designated stylist for the day!

Chop

CHOP!

Didn't he do a great job? (I told him to act like my best friend!)

I was so impressed with Chop Shop! It all has to do with the details. For starters, Tim treated me like I was going to pay him a million dollars for my hair cut. My hair was his masterpiece. I love it when people take pride in their work. And for that, I'll be a  returning (paying) customer.  Smart man, that Tim!

And secondly, I was impressed with the entire staff and their ease. Extremely welcoming with no pretense. Surprisingly hard to find these days.

I love your shop, Cindylou! I'll be back.

Two-Day Vaca: Fall Creek Falls

Matt and I went away this weekend with Pops (also known as Matt's dad or Phil or the Patriarch) and Megan to Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee. It was beautiful and quiet. So quiet, we didn't have phone reception for two days which was just fine. Sometimes it's nice to disconnect.

There is nothing like a moderate hike to show you how out of shape you are. Anyhow, the waterfall is beautiful and well worth the hike. I love how lush the greenery is around the lake and the falls. 

Even though we thoroughly enjoyed hiking, we most enjoyed Scrabble with the fam and canoeing!

Matt won!

There is so much to do at the Falls. Bluegrass concerts, cascades, pools, horseback riding, crafts (yep, crafts!) Check out more here to consider a two-day vaca! 

Ironbaby: A Shower for Winners

Our new friends, Tommy and Lisa Wolf, are expecting a baby boy this month! Tommy and Lisa have participated in Ironman competitions, marathons and numerous races. With this in mind our small group from church hosted an "Ironbaby" shower full of baby-themed relay games. Each couple received "racing bibs" and assigned themselves a team name for the fierce competition.

Ironbaby Team Names

Scheunanigans (of course)

Two Snoop Tucks

Carrick 

Brandilicous

The Wolf Pack

Racing Masons

Los Pimentones Calientes

Big Badd Ladds

Live Fray

First up - Baby Diaper Relay!

Next game was Baby Sock Sorting Relay! This one turned a little ugly with competition but was a ton of fun.

Josiah and Keli of Brandilicious and Melissa and Justin of Two Snoop Tucks
take no prisoners in their  quest to cross the finish line first!

To no one's surprise, the Wolf Pack (Lisa and Tommy) received the winning medals for having the  overall lowest time - 42 seconds! Way to go, guys!

Yes, I think we are going to get along just fine!

Biscuits take over Knoxville!

I knew moving to Knoxville was the right move when my co-worker/friend, Lindsay, told me about the International Biscuit Festival. I've waited all year for this glorious occasion. I have a long history with biscuits; not just eating them but serving them in high school at the restaurant I lovingly call "Biscuit Barn." I would get up at 6am, serve biscuits and leave by noon. I'll share a poem from my biscuit-serving days at the end of this post. Now back to the subject at hand...

 BISCUIT FEST!

Matt and I showed up at 10am to walk the Biscuit Boulevard on Saturday. Tickets were $5 for 5 tastings. We joined forces with our friends, Eric and Carrie Mitchell, to pool together our tickets for 20 tastings! Genius. Matt's favorite was from the Convention Center, cinnamon biscuits with apple butter and a yummy whipped creme. I thoroughly enjoyed Chez Liberty's pork and apple butter biscuits. I think apple butter is the way to go.

Gridlock! Biscuits bring people together. 

Carrie and Eric enjoying biscuits!

Matt and Eric taste testing!

Carrie had to get physical. Anything for biscuits.

The festival had a full schedule of activities including a Miss. and Mr. Biscuit pageant, Brunch with Blackberry Farm, Biscuit Bake Off and much, much more. Next year, Matt and I plan on doing more than just the Biscuit Boulevard. Click HERE to see everything the festival had to offer!

And as promised, a poem from my days serving biscuits:

We Called Him Papa

5:30 a.m., prompt as ever. Shaking

his keys, he pushes the door as far

as the hinges will allow. With his hands

lifted high, he waves like Richard Nixon  

 “Good morning folks! Good morning!” and

just like every morning, not a soul bothers to

see who it is, because the patrons already

know, but he doesn’t notice, too caught up in his

own routine. Sorghum underneath the counter, just

for his liking. I place the jar on the

table next to his buttered biscuit