Dear Aaron...

Dear Aaron,

 

Thanks for putting up with me throughout this entire first semester of law school. You've been wonderful - supportive, loving, encouraging - every step of the way.

Last night, we spent the evening at Target and ate greek takeout for dinner. After dinner, you sat and cut out construction paper circles because I wanted to make a snowman for our front door. It's a far cry from the Saturday nights we use to have :) Yet I couldn't be happier.

 

 

 

I know you do far more of the chores right now. And I know I look like a mess much of the time. Yet you still tell me I am beautiful and hold my hand in public. You are patient when I snap about little things and you act interested when I discuss Rule 14(a) party joinder.

 

On Friday, you called me on the way home from work and we chatted until you got to my front door. I think it is a sign you found the right one when you want to chat on the way home to them. I am a pretty lucky lady.

 

Thanks for everything,

Hannah

 

On the move to Atlanta!

 

Cranberry Sauce (smells like the holidays!)

Yesterday I went shopping for some holiday candles. After smelling approximately 28, I couldn't smell a thing. So I went home and made cranberry sauce. I imagine my house smells like the holidays, but in fact, I am still not smelling anything.

 

I've been craving cranberry sauce since thanksgiving. I love putting it on roasted turkey, greek yogurt topped with granola, and oatmeal. This morning, I am slathering it on sweet potato biscuits (I die. yum).

It adds the perfect holiday flavor! My recipe is pretty simple and makes a tart sauce. If you like yours sweeter, double the sugar :) It is also yummy with orange zest as a tangy change!

 

Cranberry Sauce
1 bag of cranberries (12 oz)*
1/2 c. brown sugar **
1 1/3 c. water
cinnamon to taste

Wash the cranberries and pick out any that are too soft. Place the water, berries, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium pan and bring to a boil (about 7 minutes). Once boiling, reduce the heat and let the berries low boil for about 20 minutes.

The sauce will get thick as the berries burst. Note that the sauce will thicken but not reach the same consistency of canned cranberry sauce! After 20-25 minutes, remove from heat and let cool. Store in the refrigerator. Make about 1 1/2 cups.

*Some bags of cranberries are 16 oz. Just increase the water to 1 1/2 cups and add a bit more sugar!
** You could use agave or honey as well. I might not recommend a sugar substitute, as it may change the consistency!

Enjoy!

Hannah

Five on Friday

It is Friday! And I am linking up with Natasha to share some my five on Friday. Enjoy!

 

one. Christmas Shopping...

hasn't even started in this house. Am I alone in this? I seriously have not sent a single card or bought a single gift. I didn't buy ANYTHING on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. I studied. Sad day. I thought about trying to go shopping, but in reality, I won't. I am just going to study. I plan to re-enter society after Wednesday when I finish finals. 

two. Pinterest story

I thought I deleted my Pinterest app on my phone when school started, but I randomly found it when flipping through my phone this week. The black hole pulled me in again, and next thing I know, I am pinning wrapping paper suggestions. Like I am going to color my own wrapping paper this year. Not likely.

Anyways... then I saw IT. A girl I know from high school is posting naked pictures of herself as "fitspo". So the whole world can see her in her bra and thong! I am not even going to discuss posting yourself as fitspo (another time, another place), but come on. Who puts naked photos of themselves online? Thoughts?

p.s. Follow me on Pinterst! hrw1126

 

three. Celebrating the little things

Today I am celebrating being half way done with finals with a pedicure. Sometimes, it is the small things. A new pedicure can make everything seem better :)  I'm also thinking about going red, because I have done so many dark purple-ish colors this fall. Red seems Christmas appropriate.

 

 

four. Running

I started a new running plan this week - I am using the Runners World smart coach as an easy way to stay structured with running over the holidays. I used them for my first half marathon and was pleased with the results 2 years ago. I like that it includes speed workouts and you can modify for your schedule. I'm really planning on working on speed work until the spring - spring is the time I do a million 5ks and 10ks and I am gunning for a PR ;)  

 five. This holiday decoration

I found this on my newly discovered Pinterest app. And I died. It is happening tomorrow morning and I cannot wait! I think AR is going to LOVE it :P

 

 

Law School Exams 101

I am in the middle of final exams right now, in case you can't tell by my crazed demeanor. For those who don't know, law school exams are a nightmare. They are usually 3-6 hours and the only grade for the entire semester. Yes, that means that is you bomb it, you just fail. :(

To make matters worse, the questions are generally all essay. As a result, you write PAGES and PAGES of information. It isn't uncommon to hear that someone wrote 20 pages in their exam. Sure, you do it on the computer, but 20 pages gives plenty of room for mistake.

Often, professors allow the exam to be open book and/or open notes. This means that students might bring their books, notes, and an outline of the course to the test. When I say outline, you may imagine a 20 page outline bulleting the main subjects of the class. Wrong.

 

These people bring in BOOKS that they write. Seriously, these outlines might be 80 pages with very little white space. (Side note: girl behind me on Monday had a binder of every slide, every note, every handout, EVERYTHING from the entire semester. True story) Law students pretty much hoard every piece of information in fear of the exam. We all look like crazy people with a million tabbed documents as we approach the exam. See exhibit A below:  

 

Part of my Civil Procedure outline... isn't it pretty?

 

I took my first exam on Monday and have another on Thursday. In all honesty, it wasn't as horrible as I envisioned (I have a vivid imagination).  I understood each question. I had notes on each topic. I didn't run out of time. In reality, I don't feel I could ask for much more. At this point, I cannot even remotely speculate on my grade. While I feel I worked really hard in preparing for the exam, it seems like everyone worked really hard. Going to a competitive university often means that almost every student it really competitive and hardworking. I am studying like crazy, but I don't think I am doing anything different than anyone else.

 

Grades do not come out until the end of January... lets hope I don't cry! The university is going above and beyond to make exams okay. Free coffee, bagels, and donuts in the morning, hot cocoa and cookies in the evening. They had massage therapists visit, movies and board games delivers, and daily visit from puppies! You can guess what activity I signed up for :)

 

To all the other students out there: I fee ya.

Hannah

Weekend Recap! Football, Thanksgiving, and a Roadtrip

Hey all, happy post-turkey day! I love thanksgiving, partially because it always coincides with my birthday, and because it combines some of my favorite activities: cooking, eating, and spending time with family. Many fun things happened over the weekend, so I thought I would recap in photos. Enjoy!

 

I got ready for the weekend with some baking! Chocolate chip muffins for my friend before her family came to visit, cinnamon bread for Aaron's family. My kitchen smelled amazing.

 

 

Road trip: On Wednesday morning, Aaron and I went to the gym and then left for Louisiana. I packed an entire bag of books to study (law school is such a blast). At one point, I ran out of water for about 45 minutes and nearly DIED (lack of water sends me into a panic attack. Can I get an amen on that?). At the next stop, I bought three liters of water. Guess who had to take a few bathroom stops... oops ;)

 

Thanksgiving Day! Aaron and I celebrated twice, first with his mother and her side of the family. Mid afternoon, we headed over to his sister's house to celebrate with his dad's side of the family. I ate my main meal at his mother's house, but saved dessert for the second stop. So glad I did that - both were amazing!

P.S. He is a cutie, huh?

 

Friday morning started early with some shopping LSU Football! We made a run to the daiquiri(such a LA thing) store, then headed out to tailgate. I was a little worried it would be cold, so I wore like 500 layers. I felt like the kid in A Christmas Story. We got to hear the band come down the hill, wave hi to Mike the tiger, and watch the cheerleader. My favorite parts of football might be before them game starts, lol.

 

Check out this dog that someone painted like a tiger. LSU people are crazy.

 

 

Sadly, I left when the game started to go study. I sat at Starbucks for a good 5 hours, which was really helpful. Check out my color-coordinated outline for my exam. Aaron and our friends came to pick me up and rescue me from all the studying.

 

We came home Saturday, and Sunday was filled with studying, a massive Whole Foods trip, and a TREE! Look at my adorable Christmas tree! All my decorations are out now, and I will be sure to add photos once the tree is complete :) 

 

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you celebrate more than once?

Who has their tree up and decorated already? I love seeing all the photos that people keep posting of their trees!

 

x0x0,

Hannah