What snow looks like

This photo came up on my Facebook newsfeed courtesy of Pleated-Jeans and I had to share. It's so true! To me, snow is a huge hassle. To my Southern friends, it's magical. 

Christmas lights in the South

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it's officially OK to decorate our homes for Christmas. This is the first Christmas that Handsome and I are sharing a home and I was so excited to decorate. My roommate the past three Christmases is a holiday decorating maven so I've been leaving it up to her, but this year it was up to me.

Downtown Bethlehem, PA during the Christmas season

My hometown is Christmas City USA so I am in love with all things Christmas. I'm not going to lie and say I love those hideous blow-up or light-up lawn ornaments-- or really any lawn ornaments-- but in general I love all (tasteful) Christmas decorations. And you have to admire the spunk of the people whose lawns are littered with light-up baby Jesuses next to Santa and his sleigh-- they are willing to throw their dignity and electricity bill out the window for the Christmas spirit. So to sum up, I think you should decorate how you choose.

Northern Thanksgiving vs. Southern Thanksgiving

I've spent the last two Thanksgivings in Georgia, granted they were with other Northern transplants and their Southern-born children, but I've still noticed some distinct differences between Thanksgiving up North and down South.

The first thing I noticed is that Southerners pronounce the word "Thanksgiving" differently and I don't just mean they say it in a Southern twang or drawl. Southerners make Thanksgiving into a verb and distinctly separate it into two words, "I'm spending thanks giving in Athens with my parents." In contrast Northerners pronounce Thanksgiving as a one-word noun, "My parents are hosting Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania." It is a subtle difference, but it's there.

Food can help ease homesickness: The Philly cheesesteak edition

I made this bad boy at home from scratch 

When you're outside of the Philadelphia-metro area it can be difficult to find a decent cheesesteak. So what's a Pennsylvania girl living in Atlanta to do when she is craving a home state favorite? Luckily my mama taught me how to cook. 

You can learn about the history of the cheesesteak and how to make your own here. I made the the delicious sandwich to the right a couple weeks ago using rib-eye steak, sautéed onions and melted Provolone cheese. I personally like to top it with plain old ketchup.

My first trip to Atlanta

I was driving in Downtown Atlanta today and it brought back memories of my first ever trip to Atlanta.

Two of my girlfriends and former co-workers and I at the
rooftop bar at the Hilton in Downtown Atlanta

I came here for work in January 2011. We stayed at the Hilton and Marriott, which are connected by an overpass in Downtown, and our convention was at the Congress Center. 

The first night we were there we went to Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles. Since it was the first night our work schedule wasn't too hectic yet, so we were all sort of in party mode. Well, little did we know, no alcohol is served at Gladys Knight's, because she's Mormon. Who knew? Not me. Needlesstosay, we (me, ok, it was me) were very disappointed.

Northern manners v. Southern manners

The South is known for being hospitable and polite. The North-- isn't. But I beg to differ. The criteria for being polite in the South is just different than being polite in the North. Let me explain.


Northern children are taught please and thank you just like Southern children. However, in the South you have to add "ma'am" and "sir" after all your pleases and thank yous. Someone who was born in the North and moved South while they were still in grade school was telling me once how confused they were when they'd say please to their teachers and their teachers would counter, "Please, what?" They had no idea what the teacher was talking about because in the North there is no need to include ma'am or sir after everything. It's not impolite, it's just streamlining. Yankees like to get to the point. We don't like to dilly-dally. 

Coping with bad days by remembering a few of my favorite things

Moving is tough. Especially when you move far away from your friends and family. Sure you can call or Skype, but the lack of physical connection can suck. It's especially tough to be new to an area when you're having a bad day. Your regular support system isn't there (physically) to help you out. But you've got to stay positive because eventually things will work out. In the meantime, you have to get in touch with your inner Julie Andrews and think of a few of your favorite things. Here are some if mine:

1) My puppy.

Biden being playful

Biden sitting pretty

There is literally nothing that brightens my day like my puppy. He is the cutest dog in the world. 

Grown men will stare at him, mesmerized by his cuteness and say things like, "Damn, that dog is adorable!" or "I don't usually like small fluffy dogs, but that one is really cute!" or "Oh my god, that is the cutest dog in the world. No, I'm serious, he is so cute."

I'm pretty sure my baby is the key to world peace. He is the only species to charm Handsome's older, larger, grumpy dog.

My dog is so special to me I wanted him to have an important name, so I named him after two great mean from Pennsylvania. VP Joe Biden (born in Scranton) and my grandfather. We call Biden Paul, "B," for short, and he never fails at cheering me up.