To Quilt or not to Quilt . . .

Feel like I haven't been in my office in forever.  I can't remember the last time I worked a full week.  I took the Thursday & Friday off for T's graduation and then that Monday was Memorial Day, Tuesday afternoon we headed out to Ole Miss for Orientation and I was back in the office that Friday.  Then I got sick w/ pneumonia and missed a full week of work and then this past week I was in training Tuesday through Friday.  It's been crazy!

This is T:  

T is still getting her stuff together for Move-In Day.  We're making progress and checking things off the list.  Some of her friends are heading to Auburn early August (a lot of them are getting apartments and their lease starts August 1).  Not sure when the Alabama kids head to T-town.  We may (or may not) have found a comforter for her dorm.  She originally said she wanted a quilt and was going for a boho/eclectic kind of look.  Then she saw a yellow chevron duvet cover she liked and thought about turquoise accents.  Then she went back to the boho look.  I bought her a quilt from Urban Outfitters this week but will keep the receipt in case we need to return it.  She doesn't like the matchy-matchy look (much to my chagrin!) and loves the "collected" rather than "bought" look.  She likes to upcycle items and enjoys shopping in antique and consignment stores.  Her roomie has basically left the room decor up to T.  She and her parents will be traveling quite far and will only be driving one car to Move-In Day so they are limited on space.  She said they will be doing most of their shopping when they get to Oxford and she may have some things shipped to our house and we'll bring them to her.   

This is Not: 

These past couple of months have been an absolute whirlwind and have gone by in a blur . . . a lot of "firsts" and a lot of "lasts."  T went from being a high school senior to a college freshman in what feels like just a few short days.  She'll be 18 soon and 6 weeks from her birthday she'll be at college.  Normally we go to the beach for her birthday but this summer it will be Disney instead. 

So not only do I have to deal w/ T leaving the nest, but come October, I will officially be the proud mom of not just one but TWO teenage girls.  KJ turns 13 in October.  God help me!  She had a friend over the other day and we were chatting about middle school and all that good stuff.  KJ's friend is on the dance team so we started to talk football and how fun it will be to go to the middle school games.  The friend, very matter of factly, said, "Well, I don't know how fun it will be.  I don't think our team is going to be very good this year.  The boys are all really small."  I don't know any boys on the football team so I don't know how big or small they are but I thought it was pretty funny that these two 12-year old girls were critiquing the squad like a couple of middle-aged men getting ready for their fantasy football draft!

It's the Final Countdown

I've got that awesomely bad, super cheesy 80's hairband song going thru my head today.  We've reached the final countdown for "Operation Ole Miss."   Less than 60 days, less than 2 months and we will be moving T into her dorm.  She's been keeping her stuff organized in the guest room since Christmas and everytime we purchase something, we just put it in the Ole Miss basket (extension cords, iron, command strips, laundry bag, picture frames, etc.).  She's got two sets of XL sheets and monogrammed towels but still needs to find bedding she and her roommate both like.  Friends of ours dropped off a super fun gift basket filled with college "necessities."  G texted T after she dropped it off and said as a little joke she usually hids condoms in the bottom of the basket but didn't think Champ would appreciate the humor!   
T's trying to decide if she wants to loft her bed or not. Her dorm is older and the rooms are on the smaller side so she really wants to maximize storage. The good thing is that she's only 3 hours away. If she forgets something or needs something, she can get it her first trip home or we can bring it to her that first football game (which she's SUPER excited about! She gets to participate in the Rebel Run!).

Sunday Miscellaney

I am so disappointed with the current selection of books I've got on my Nook. I like a serious, saga that sweeps across continents and centuries. I need to find something like Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth" or "Fall of Giants." Right now I've got a lot of quick, easy read chick lit. I need to find something a little meatier and hunker down. I like books that follow characters and their families for generations. I like the "City of ...." books by Beverly Swerling; they are a series of historical books about a New York City family. Yup. Definitely need reading suggestions.

Got my Thanksgiving decor completed. I've started some Christmas shopping. Everyone I shop for is pretty easy except Cosmo. He is just awful to buy for and I get very frustrated. He's got enough NY Jets stuff to last him a lifetime and the guy owns a lacrosse store so equipment/accessories/apparel are out of the question. And, on top of already being difficult to buy for, his b-day is in October, our wedding anniversary is in October and our "real" anniversary is in November. By the time Christmas rolls around, I'm fresh out of ideas for him.

Every one's been asking if T wants stuff for her dorm for Christmas but she said no. She wants to wait to see where she's going first and wants to decorate with her roommate. One thing she vehemently expressed is that she will NOT be having any of the cutesy, monogrammed, matchy-match stuff. She hated that stuff as a kid and will not have any of it in her dorm. Which just breaks LCM's heart. I know LCM wanted to buy T some cutesy, girlie, polka-dotted things.

This Pink & Green dorm room would be KJ's dream room / T's worst nightmare

Heartbreaking loss for Alabama last night. I was really into the first half and couldn't believe it was such a low scoring, tied up game at the half. Second half I started to read and barely watched any of the OT. Hope today's Jets game makes up for last night's Bama loss.