Endless Bliss | Happy Lifestyle Blog: friendship

Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts

Reunions for the Books.

I think one of the hardest things about both graduating and moving are leaving behind friends. Even though we don't like to admit it to ourselves, distance can change friendships. We live our new day-to-day lives, making new friends, and only checking in our old friends every once in awhile, sometimes not even with a conversation. Most times, "checking in" really means them popping up in our news feeds and us Facebook stalking them for the next half hour before we move on to scrolling through their tweets and latest Instagram pictures.
Even though having long-distance friendships can be hard, there's just something about reuniting with them and having it feel like no time has passed at all. There are some friends that you can get together with after months, or even years, apart, and it just feels like old times. I was lucky enough to have two reunions recently that were just like that.
My friend, Lauren, and I literally haven't seen each other for years. We're talking high school here. We were really close in middle school, and then I moved from South Carolina all the way down to Louisiana during the middle of my freshman year. I visited South Carolina a couple times, and we usually got together, but I haven't visited in awhile, and I think the last time I went down there, I didn't even get to see her.

She drove all the way down from South Carolina with her boyfriend because the University of South Carolina was playing in the Independence Bowl against Miami. Plus, they wanted to make a trip to New Orleans, so this pretty much justified them making the 13-hour drive (which is actually 18-ish if you count the drive down to New Orleans).
The two of them stayed with me, and we ate spaghetti at Monjuni's. We all went to the game, but we went separately, them together, and me with my sister, step-dad, and family friends. It was cold and rainy, but it was my first USC game, and I was pumped to cheer on my Gamecocks (I'll pause here for you to laugh at the name of their mascot).

Little sister and step-dad.

Freezing, but staying dry in my Tech poncho and I heart USC pin

...Moving on.
After the game, we met back up at my place, and we talked about people that we both knew back in South Carolina and how everyone is getting engaged and having multiple children, and while we're both in happy relationships, neither of us are doing that yet. It was fun to laugh with her about people who don't return our Facebook messages or who are our age and have three kids and counting.
The fun ended too soon when I had to leave to make the drive down south to meet up with Jon and his family. I only got to stay there one night, and we spent pretty much the whole time watching reruns of Chopped and Family Feud, which I was totally okay with. They also gave me my birthday and Christmas presents. All Harry Potter-themed, which was awesome. I'm telling you, this was the year for Harry Potter gifts. They got me an afghan, a bracelet, an ornament, and the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook. I can't wait to break open that baby and act like I can cook.

The theme for my gifts this year was Harry Potter, and I'm totally okay with that. #HarryPotter pic.twitter.com/ZPTi5ZMBxj
— Tiffany Khyla (@tiffanykhyla) December 30, 2014

After spending time with Jon's family, Jon and I drove even further down south to have a reunion with the Tech Fam (Anamaria, Mandy, Tyler, and Analeigh + Analeigh's new fiance, William. They had just gotten engaged the night before. Presh.). And man, this was literally the reunion for the books. It was a blast! We played a murder mystery game that I bought years ago at Goodwill for $6. We played Cards Against Humanity which is the most awful game in the best way. I could play it all day. We talked and drank wine and ordered a ton of Chinese food. It made me miss college so much.

Typical silly Analeigh

The boys - (L-R) William, Tyler, Jon

Aftermath of Chinese food

Analeigh and William - the newly engaged

Former roomies: (L-R) Anamaria, me, Mandy, Analeigh

Tech Fam! (L-R) Jon, Anamaria, me, Mandy, Analeigh, Tyler

All of us. Love these people.

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We also made s'mores with the s'mores maker I bought for Anamaria for Christmas. Really random gift, but pretty awesome, I must say.

After everyone left besides Anamaria, Mandy, and me, the three of us exchanged gifts, and more Harry Potter gifts came into my life. Anamaria got me a bracelet that had both of our tattoos on it. Super cute. She also made me these amazing Harry Potter coasters that Jon and I use all the time now. Plus she got me this cute business card holder that I can't wait to put my blog business cards in because I just ordered some. Say what?! Mandy painted me these awesome Harry Potter paintings, both house elf-themed. One says "Clean up after yourself. House elves don't work here." The other says "Free Dobby" and has a little ribbon hanging from it to hang socks. I love them! She also got me two Harry Potter shirts, both of which I've worn already. (All gifts are pictured above in the tweet.)
I really just love reunions so much, and I already have two to look forward to. 1) Analeigh's + William's wedding. They've already told us to save the date, and I can't wait! 2) ATM (That's Anamaria, Tiffany, and Mandy for those who haven't been following along) reunion in Chicago to see our girl, Taylor Swift. What what. Also, my first trip to Chicago, and I'm freaking pumped about it.
So yea, I love my friends. They're pretty awesome, and this is going to be an awesome year of reunions!
Do you love having reunions with your friends? What do y'all usually do?

Christmas Cheer.

This weekend was full of so many Christmas-y things, and I loved it! Christmas is my favorite time of year because everyone is in a wonderful and giving mood and also, I usually get to reunite with people that I haven't seen in awhile. I got to do a lot of that this weekend, and it was just nonstop happiness.
The Christmas celebration started on Friday at work with this ugly Christmas sweater, even though it's not really that ugly. It's just an oversized sweatshirt that I usually wear to bed and I pinned some ornaments on it that I didn't put on the tree. Of course I had to pair it with some green jeans and sparkly red shoes. Go big or go home #amiright?

After work, we had the sales team Christmas party. The six of us exchanged gifts for Secret Santa, and my Secret Santa did an amazing job! She got me a gift card to Wing Stop (one of my favorite places to eat for lunch) and to 2nd and Charles (my absolute favorite store because it has all of my favorite things housed under one roof). She also bought me Harry Potter stuff galore! I was so excited when I opened each thing. Harry Potter bracelets, a Harry Potter decal for my toilet (This Way to the Ministry of Magic!), and she even made me chocolate frogs (Jon and I already ate a few, and they're pretty delicious). I'm so in love with all of my goodies.

Christmas party + happy hour + pomegranate margarita = happy Tiffany pic.twitter.com/uassNTx3gX
— Tiffany Khyla (@tiffanykhyla) December 19, 2014

After the sales Christmas party, I went to Strange Brew to meet up with a few of my college friends that I haven't seen for way too long. It was so lovely to reunite and catch up over drinks.

On Saturday, I went to the most adorable (and strangest) Christmas play I've ever attended called Jingle Arrgh the Way (no, I didn't make that title up) with Jon, my college friends, Tyler and Analeigh, and Analeigh's boyfriend, William. We also ate at Strawn's, which was so delicious. I could live off of their pie. No kidding.

Told you I didn't make it up

My boyfriend is a cutie!

That adorable little girl is Tyler and Analeigh's cousin, and she was part of the pirate ensemble. Presh.

Unintentionally matching coats

I ended the weekend with the company Christmas party. Jon was my very handsome date. Our amazing chef prepared a delicious dinner, and there were door prizes, but unfortunately, I wasn't a lucky winner. I still had fun with my co-workers though.
After the party, we stopped by my parents' house, and they gave Jon his Christmas present since he'll be spending Christmas down south with his family this year. He got a ratchet set and a pair of pajama bottoms, and he was super excited about it.

What are your plans for Christmas this year?

Friendsgiving.

My family is unlike most when it comes to major holidays. We're usually pretty low key and spend Thanksgiving with just the four of us, though mom usually has to work (casinos never close after all), so it's usually just my sister, step-dad, and me. This year, Jon joined the three of us, and we had a Thanksgiving lunch before my step-dad took a nap, and Bre, Jon, and I played a few games of Heads Up before Jon taught my sister and I to play Rummy.
Then we all did some Black Friday shopping, but really, it wasn't Black Friday because it was still Thursday. We went to Best Buy and Jon bought me an early birthday/Christmas gift - a new camera! I'm so excited about it. I've taken a lot of pictures of my puppy. I bought a crap ton of movies as I always do, my sister bought some scarves at Target, and my step-dad got a new phone. I'd say it was pretty successful.

Black Friday with my faves! #thanksgiving #blackfriday #boyfriend #sister #love #instasize #vscocam

A photo posted by Tiffany Khyla White (@tiffanykhyla) on Nov 11, 2014 at 2:41pm PST

I guess one Thanksgiving isn't enough though, because Jon and I hosted our first Friendsgiving on Saturday too. I've always said I would love to be a housewife and host a bunch of parties, so I was reliving a future dream a bit. I loved finding printables and recipes on Pinterest and bringing out all the fall decor.

It was a potluck, but Jon and I went a little overboard with food. Jon made a turkey and ham. I made some stuffing, bacon guacamole deviled eggs, and a veggie/meat/cheese tray that was shaped like a turkey and served with ranch a cheese ball (a freaking delicious cheese ball). We also served some mac and cheese that was leftover from Thanksgiving and some potato salad freshly bought from Sam's Club.

These bacon guacamole devilled eggs were so freaking delish!

A lot more food was added after this picture was taken.

It's always fun getting together with my girls, and everything was so delicious! I was even a dork and bought to go boxes so every could bring some food home. We had some leftovers too and we enjoyed Friendsgiving leftovers for Sunday brunch. (Mainly the bacon cheese ball with crackers. That thing was so delicious!)

How was your Thanksgiving weekend?

21 Movies to Watch with Your Girlfriends.

Most of us like to go out on the town, have a few drinks with the girls and go dancing. Or maybe even go to a wine tasting or see a local band play. There are so many things that are fun to go out and do with our girls, but sometimes, it's nice to just have a cozy night in with a bottle of wine and sappy movie that our boyfriends would disapprove of. Yes, the endings are predictable and yes, we've seen them all a million times, but that's exactly why we love them!

In no particular order, because they're all equally awesome. JAWBREAKER An oldie but goodie. Also, a good reminder of what not to do if you want to surprise your girlfriend for her birthday. Birthday surprise=yes. Shoving a jawbreaker in her mouth and then duct-taping shut to take her to the surprise=no.