Twenty twelve!!

As each new year approaches, I always look forward to reflecting on the previous year and giving some consideration to what I would like to change. It's no surprise then that I fall into the category of "resolution-maker." Actually, I'm more of a goal-maker as the term "resolution" is a little vague and too easy to weasel out of.

Last year, I resolved to not have a resolution. In other words, I wanted to be less type A and more laid back. I think I've done a pretty good job with this and continue to work hard to chill (ha!). Historically, New Year's is the time that people declare that they will finally loose weight and get fit. As creatures of habit, this doesn't last long and they are soon recommitting during the season of Lent. If you're not a resolution person but have some things you'd like to improve on or change, I invite you to join me with my resolution for this new year.

This year I plan to set a new goal for each of the 12 months. My reasoning behind this is that it supposedly takes 21 days to form a new habit, so ultimately we've got a whole year to make alot of changes!! I'm not talking huge changes, but rather mini-goals that will round us out. I love the process of self-improvement and the reflection and introspection behind it! The end results aren't too shabby either!!

To kick off the new year (and my personal theme for the year), I will spend my January getting organized!! I don't expect to have my entire life organized by the time February 1 rolls around, but I do intend to create a plan of attack and start de-cluttering the basement, my files, etc. I guess a year later I can't still blame those boxes on having just moved in!!

Here we go 2012!! Let's see what you've got!

There are columns behind those trees!

My husband has turned into quite the yard boy!! I left for an hour the other morning and came home to find the two overgrown Leylands at the curb. I went to work yesterday and returned to see that the gigantic tree and unfortunate bushes had joined them! Oh my goodness, I love it!! Of course Jarrett and I had discussed this ahead of time but I was completely surprised and thankful for the initiative. I was also quite impressed that he single-handedly took care of this. The picture below was taken when we had just moved in. Notice that there are a couple of missing shutters? Well in order to replace them, we needed to get on a 40-foot ladder, which meant that for safety reasons the bushes underneath had to go. As you can see, that cascaded into our now cleaned up yard.

Earlier in the week we met with a horticulturist who had laid out a fresh new design for the front yard. I'm so excited for the spring and can't wait to get out there and turn the blue print into life! It's definitely going to draw the eye into the front door with inviting accents of color and a more sensible layout. Can't wait to get the gardening gloves on!

Christmas Cheer

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every moment of this year's Christmas season. This marked the first year to be apart from my family on Christmas day, which certainly made me feel like a grown up. Nevertheless, that childhood spirit remained in me and the day was a blast. I woke up Christmas morning and bolted down the stairs exclaiming "Merry Christmas!!!" (which I've secretly been wanting to do since we moved in). Jarrett and I exchanged a few gifts before heading over to the Evans to continue the celebration. I've mentioned this before, but my sister-in-law is one of the best cooks I know. She made the most amazing french toast that literally melted in your mouth, accompanied by the most delicious smoked sausage. The twins were beyond excitement and Bennett was just taking it all in with the sweetest smile on his face. We opened presents before heading off to church. As an adult, it is truly a gift when Christmas falls on a Sunday.

Jarrett and I spent the afternoon relaxing and getting ready for Christmas dinner at our house. I love hosting dinner parties and enjoyed spending time in the kitchen, with the Jim Brickman holiday soundtrack playing in the background. When the Evans and Dineens arrived, we sat down for a savory dinner, each dish serving as a perfect compliment to another. After dinner, the kids danced to a few Justin Bieber songs and we enjoyed dessert and good conversation. What a beautiful day with my new loving family!

The day after Christmas my parents came to visit!! I think I looked out the window a dozen times, full of anticipation. Our last big holiday meal would be with both sets of parents together!! With both mothers as former teachers and fathers as former Navy shipmates, Jarrett and I joke about how similar our families are. We spent a couple of wonderful hours together catching up and counting our blessings. That afternoon I palled around with my parents, walking around Wake Forest and then shopping with my mom. We came home and exchanged gifts (thank you Santa!!) and enjoyed Christmas leftovers. It's so fun to have my parents over because it feels just like being home (only I don't have to pack!). Their visit truly made my Christmas feel complete!!

I hope that all of my friends and family had the merriest Christmas!! Cheers to a new year with wonderful memories and good times ahead!!

Southern Cookin'

It's Christmas Eve!! The presents are wrapped, the carols have been sung, and Santa's out there somewhere doing his thing. Jarrett and I are cozied up on the couch watching a Christmas special on the Food Network, spiced amber ale in hand. Just a few more hours before the best holiday of all!!

This morning we went to a friend's house for a special Christmas Eve breakfast. April's mom is the master of all things southern cookin. We were delighted to get a special lesson in biscuit makin, using her special bowl that's over a hundred years old!

The thing about making biscuits is that you have to acquire a feel for it. There's no measuring or sure fire way to know that you really know what you're doing. Nevertheless, Ruby assured me that I was a natural and cheered me through my first biscuit baking adventure.

It only took 5 minutes to whip up my first batch. Four hundred fifty degrees and 20ish minutes later, my beautiful biscuits were ready to be devoured.

What a wonderful Christmas Eve morning!! I wonder if Santa like biscuits with his milk...

11 Lessons of 11

Is it just me, or do the years keep getting better as we go? 2011 has been filled with travels, adventures, and plenty of good times. Along the way, I've learned some valuable lessons that I wanted to share as the year draws to an end.

11. Life is Simple- I was reminded of this truthful statement just recently in Disney World. I don't know if it was the carefree environment or the children everywhere, but there's a magic feeling in the air that makes you feel younger. Remember how simple life was as a kid? No bills, manageable responsibility, an emphasis on creativity. Well guess what? We can still have that (minus the whole "no bills" part)! A lot of our stress is self-inflicted. Overcommitting, setting outrageous standards, keeping up with the Joneses. Take a moment to to free up your schedule, reevaluate your goals, and reflect on changes that will simplify your life. Heck, maybe even watch a Disney movie in the process!

10. Take a Risk- I can hardly believe that last month I was prancing on stage in a tiny bikini, competing in a fitness competition. Running has always been my sport, but I learned that by stepping outside of my comfort zone, I could challenge and surprise myself. If I had not taken this risk, I would probably not have met so many wonderful new friends. I would have continued to pound the pavement alone, with the very same confidence and physique mile after mile. Although competitions are no where in my future, I gained so much value by exploring this hobby.

9. Do What You Want- Now that we're all ready to take risks, we should figure out what it is that we want and actually do it! This was the year that I found a job that I love and made the switch. There's nothing easy about turning in a resignation, learning a new specialty, or familiarizing yourself with all new surroundings. It certainly makes it easier when you're doing it for the right reason. My lifestyle is so much better now that I'm doing what I love!

8. Travel- Having a looser schedule has helped free up time to explore other places. I absolutely love to travel and have been lucky to visit San Francisco, Napa Valley, Destin, Boston, and Disney this year. I am easily impressed by the unique culture of each place I go and appreciative of the diversity that helps define this country. Perhaps I'll be hopping the pond in 2012...

7. Love- We can always love more. It's only natural to focus your love on the closest individuals in our lives. My love for my husband grows exponentially with each passing day. I love my family and friends dearly and work hard not to take them for granted. The feeling that comes from loving another personally drives me to love even more. I love engaging in friendly conversation with strangers, watching as a previously stressful, boring, or mundane moment fades away. I love to take my time in the nursing home, showering lonely patients with attention, encouragement, and a glimpse of hope. I love calling their families with updates on their condition, confident that my news of their loved one will provide a sense of relief. It's actually pretty easy to love one another, and it's a small investment that always returns.

6. Be Thankful For Friendship- Speaking of love, I am incredibly humbled to have some pretty wonderful friends in my life. My very best friends (or "besties" as we like to call each other) are just like sisters. Each girl brings so much to the table and I admire and look up to all of them. I'm so lucky to get to see most of my friends on a regular basis. I also love that even if it's been awhile, we can pick up right where we left off. I only see Anna 2-3 times a year, but it always feels just like yesterday that we were living together in Charlottesville. From the bottom of my heart I am forever grateful for my relationships and time spent with others.

5. Let loose- I'm slowly chipping away at my type A tendencies, thanks to the influence of my uber-laid back beau. I think 2011 was the year that I began to realize that it's ok to give up some control. Years of micromanaging my studies, setting high standards, and striving for the best had both rewarding and harmful effects. My type A tendencies help with efficiency and success but can also kick up anxiety in the process. I make a daily effort to give up the self-imposed "need" to have everything under control. When the house isn't tidy, Jarrett reassures me that it looks great. When I eat poorly, I cut myself some slack knowing that I follow a healthy lifestyle the majority of the time. Being too uptight is just as bad as being too laissez-faire. As with most things, striking a balance and finding moderation is the key to zen.

4. Make it count- These days I am rarely in the gym for more than 45 minutes. If I am, it's usually because I'm chatting away with fellow fitness fiends. Compared to my pre-Jillfit days, my workouts are not only shorter, but more efficient, more effective, and more entertaining. My days of hopping on the elliptical and cruising at a boring speed for an hour are long gone. These days I either lift, do cardio intervals, or a metabolic effect workout (which is the best of both worlds).

3. Love the Little Things- There are so many little moments, symbols, or pleasures that embellish an already wonderful life. I love being taken off guard by things that excite me, like seeing a random shooting star on the way home from work. I love the flavor of pumpkin in the fall, the smell of a wood stove, and the festive winter cups at Starbucks. I love browsing on Pinterest, reading updates on Facebook, and playing scrabble with my mom. I love when the worship team at church sings a song that speaks to my soul. These collective moments are so appreciated and absolutely warm my heart.

2. Get out the Glue Gun- Ok, ok... not literally. My guilty pleasure of 2011 has been the hours I've spent on Pinterest. For those fellow pinners, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I feel so accomplished on Pinterest, as if re-pinning pictures equates to my own success. I look to this site for inspiration, recipes, laughs, crafts, and more. There's no limit to human imagination, and this site is out to prove just that.

1. Be Positive- There's really not a better way to express this than through the words of Philipians 4:8- "Think about things that are PURE and LOVELY, dwell on the fine, good things in OTHERS, think about ALL you can praise God for and be GLAD about it." This is one of my favorite passages, one that I cling to whenever I catch myself stuck on negative thoughts. It's easy to be judgmental and critical. It's human nature to be unhappy with what we have... always wanting more. In a beautiful way, these words serve to remind us to stay pure in our thoughts and grateful for this wonderful journey through life.

Merry Christmas and CHEERS to the New Year!!

Burgeoning Sophisticate

When I was little, it absolutely rocked my world to eat circus peanuts (yes, the orange squishy kind). I even aspired to be a professional cotton candy maker. While I haven’t outgrown my sweet tooth, I am humored by how my taste for things has changed throughout the years. My teeth ache when I think about my childhood delicacies, and in return I am confident that the 8-year-old me would squirm at the mention of my now favorite treats.

Even over the past couple of years, I questioned others who claimed to love coffee, dark chocolate, and red wine. I preferred specialty drinks, milk chocolate, and the sweetest wine I could find. I wanted to upgrade my taste, fully aware of the medical benefits that shamed my sugary alternatives. I legitimately did not like the taste of these treats, if you could even call them that.

Slowly and surely but yet out of the blue, my taste buds became sophisticated. I am still a work in progress, burgeoning if you will, but I truthfully enjoy the taste of dark chocolate and have become quite the coffee sipper. Pair the two together and I’m one happy girl. I still don’t care for red wine, but with this track record I can at least envision ordering a glass of Cabernet with dinner. Who would have ever imagined that a circus peanut eating Mir would acquire such a delectable taste!

When You Wish Upon A Star....

My Christmas gift from Jarrett came early this year in the form of a trip to Disney World!! Disney is one of our favorite places on Earth and after our honeymoon visit we couldn’t wait to return. I was so surprised to find out that our next trip would be so soon and delighted when the weekend finally arrived.

We stayed in the beautiful Wilderness Lodge which reminded me so much of the Animal Kingdom Lodge where we stayed last year. The resort had a mountain like feel, and I almost felt as if I should have packed my skis! Although with temps in the 60-70s, there would have been no use for winter gear.

We spent our first day in the Magic Kingdom, the heart of Disney itself. The feeling that comes from seeing Cinderella’s Castle is universal, captivating individuals from across the world and provoking their imagination. After watching the Main Street Electrical Parade in 2010, we couldn’t wait for an encore. Watching the characters dance through the streets brought smiles and laughter to a captivating audience. The grand finale was the evening firework display over the castle, which beamed in its own right with bright pinks fading into blues and greens. A spectacular show indeed.

We spent the second day in Hollywood Studios, one of my absolute favorite parks. There were so many rides and shows I couldn’t wait to do again, and we managed to pack in a solid day of fun. We didn’t make it to the American Idol experience last year, so this was top on our list. The auditioning process was exhilarating, with Jarrett as my audience and a serious lady in a business suit listening very astutely. I didn’t realize that it was a real audition and was purely doing it as a joke, but ended up getting some great feedback and nice compliments. Alas, I didn’t make it to Hollywood (ha!), but I did get to experience the rush of nerves that each contestant faces. Shifting gears to other artistic expressions, we headed across the park to the Animation Studios where we participated in a drawing class with a professional animator. As we watched the artist and mimicked her simple shapes, “Grumpy” slowly emerged on own sheet of paper. The collective talent and imagination that goes into the Disney enterprise is impressive and inspiring beyond words.

No trip to Hollywood Studios would be complete without seeing the Indiana Jones show, Jarrett’s childhood hero. The performance offers a behind the scenes look at the breakdown of fight scenes, stunts, and special effects. After catching a few rides and roller coasters, we took our seats for “Fantasmic,” the most impressive theme park performance I have ever seen. It’s so hard to describe what it is about this show that is so spectacular, but I can promise that it’s so engaging that you don’t even want to blink. The day at Hollywood ended on a faux-NYC street, lit up from head to toe in Christmas lights all dancing to our favorite Christmas songs. In some sort of weird Disney way, you actually begin to believe that you are in the center of Time Square celebrating Christmas amongst a crowd of festive families. Tis the season!! After the park closed, we enjoyed a bit of night life on the Boardwalk before resting up for our final day of adventure.

As tradition would hold, we saved the best for last. The Animal Kingdom is more or less a perfect combination of a theme park and a full out zoo. Without even looking at a map, we knew exactly what we wanted to see and do on our last day at Disney. We started with the African jungle safari, getting up close views of giraffes, hippos, elephants, kudus, and more. After the safari, we spent some time walking through trails exploring the animals on our own. I could stare at animals all day long, watching them interact with each other and just simply exist in their “natural” environment. Among my favorites are the tiger for its beauty, the monkeys for their playfulness, and the mircats for their silliness. After getting our wildlife fix, we watched the “Finding Nemo” musical and found some adventure of our own on the coasters and rides. We ended our trip with a bang, with new memories made and stories to remember.

Thanks to my wonderful husband for taking me on such an amazing trip and for a wonderful first year of marriage!