To a new year

 

 

It appears that I have NOT started out 2014 with a blogging bang! That's ok though. There's lots of year left to catch up.

 

We are doing well around these parts. Or at least as well as anyone can be doing when it is -22 degrees outside. Since Christmas, Cece has been recovering from an ear infection, so we have just been doing lots of resting up. Which I am cool with. Resting is definitely my thing these days. The only photos I have taken are of us napping in bed. Is that quality journalism or what?

I'm trying to not let this wretched weather get me down though. Over the past couple of days, I finished painting our kitchen (a project I started in JULY), did some "spring" cleaning, got the van's oil changed, baked cookies with Cece, and even slipped out for a mani-pedi last night. (I could have fallen asleep at the salon. It was that relaxing.)

 

I've had time to reflect on the past year and also think about what I'm hoping for in 2014. Most reading this blog know that it was a very confusing and emotional year. I felt as though I was experiencing grief and joy simultaneously for most of the year. There was sickness and death, not just in my own family, but for those close to me as well. However, 2013 had many beautiful moments. Between the unwavering support and love from family and friends, finding out that we are expecting another child, and watching Cece continuing to grow up beautifully, 2013 still brought blessings.

In 2014, I'm hoping to continue focusing on all of the positives in the new year, even though I already know the year will not be free of difficulty. I'm going to focus and the things I do have and that I can do. And I'm going to put my heart and soul and energy into being the best person I can be for the people whom I love the most. 

Below is my little Instagram video summarizing 2013.

 

Also, here's our 2012 recap from last year (this one is better!)

  

Resolutions?

I love making lists, plans, goals, resolutions, flow charts, etc. And if I make a lot of them, I am bound to follow through with at least some of them, right? Especially if I make sure said resolutions are fun.  And now that all of our holiday decor is back in its storage tote and our house has more space and less sparkle, I think I need a project. So here's what I'm thinking for the new year, resolution wise.

#1: Switch up my footwear. Where I definitely fall flat in fashion is SHOES. And ironically, I am always in flats. I also spent nine months in Sketchers shape-ups when I was pregnant. I need to branch out. I have nice feet and they should be fancier. So, here's to me wearing a heel every now and again. Maybe. (Photo from Anthropologie)

#2: Keep on Zumba-ing. I don't think this will be too hard. It's no secret that I kind of like to shake it.

#3: Be braver about taking photos. I do take my camera with me usually everywhere. But I often forget to take it out until I am on my way home from whatever event I was attending. And sometimes I get shy about asking people to pose or to take photos with me in them. But since I had so much fun with my different photo gifts this holiday, I'd like to have more material to continue projects like that.

(Insert awesome photo here.)

#4: Continue developing my domestic goddess skills. This includes, but is not limited to, cooking, baking, gardening, crafting and overall making our home a place that we love to live in. Pictured below are the pies Azure and I made this December. I feel like pies are the essence of domesticity.

#5: Read lots and lots to Cece. It's been so fun going through my old childhood books and I love to share them with her. Even if she still a little wild with the pages. Pictured is Cece and myself on People magazine day. I get to read this week's issue and she gets to shred last week's. It's a pretty efficient system we have.

Ok! That's it. Ready, set, resolve.