{365 project: 1.8.13-1.26.13}

 

1.8.13: Just goofin’: To break up the mundane in each day on occasion I’ll text funny messages back and forth with friends. Just another way to make it to 5:30 pm.

 

 

1.9.13: Nighttime commute: I feel like everyday it’s a race against the clock to make it home before the last shred of sunlight disappears. While I don’t look forward to the lost hour, I’ll compromise for more daylight. C’mon spring ahead!!



 

 

1.10.13: Chef Hubs: I always love when the hubs makes dinner. Makes me feel special. His secret ingredient **shhh Emeril’s Bayou Blast (don’t tell him I told you).

 

 

1.11.13: Foxes in the city: It was such a lovely day that I decided to take a nice lunchtime stroll through Buckhead. It felt so refreshing to be outside. I even happened upon this neat little installation. It’s the small surprises that make living in an eclectic city so fun!

 

1.12.13: Trampoline joy: The beautiful weather did not stop at Friday. Saturday surprised us with the warmest weather we’ve had in awhile. Shorts and flip flops were perfectly acceptable. Our little neighbor persuaded us to jump on her trampoline and we had a blast! It’s been awhile since either of us has been on one of those. I almost forgot that feeling of elation you get when you’re bouncing sky high.

 

1.13.13: Honey does: The hubs has many talents that come in handy. Car repair is a big one. Instead of emptying my wallet at Mechanics-R-Us I can find more creative ways to pay back my handsome fella.

 

1.14.13: Urban hiking: To stick with my resolutions for this New Year I’ve been using my lunchtime hour to get out of the office and exercise a little. It was ugly out this day so I decided to walk up and down the parking deck. What a workout! I’ll have to remember to bring my sneakers though…heels are not exactly ideal walking shoes.

 

1.15.13: Rain, rain, go away: What is with the weather lately?! We were teased with beautiful sunshine and warmth then siiike—it’s still January. Boo! I want to curl up under a blanket next to a fire. These kinds of days just seem to drag on and on. Oh well, at least I have a three day weekend to look forward to!

 

1.16.13: Pride & Joy: These pups are everything to me. I can’t imagine life without them...despite how crazy they make me feel sometimes. Isn’t little Oliver so sweet looking over his sister...they are bonkers for one another as the hubs and I are for them :)

 

1.17.13: The Escape Artist: Our little man Oliver has decided this year that he has “outgrown” his crate. Thus he has become quite the little escapee. Despite our attempts to secure his crate, we continue to come home to this. Any suggestions? At least Sasha fierce behaves while we are away.

 

1.18.13: Incognito: While I was separating my laundry, Oliver decided to sneak into one of my piles and hide. I guess he didn’t realize that the lights pile wouldn’t be the best camo.

 

1.19.13: Like father like pup?: It was such a nice Saturday so I decided to do a little early morning photo shoot with the hubs and the pups. They were good models and quite cute. Don’t ya think?

 

1.20.13: The Brunch Bunch: We had such a lovely holiday weekend. My cousin came to town with her hubs and their daughter, we played Whirlyball for the first time ever with friends, and to top it all off we treated everyone who stayed the night to a delicious Sunday brunch (my favorite meal). I even tried my new gouda eggs recipe which was a S-U-C-C-E-S-S! It’s so nice to wake up at home surrounded by all your favorite people.

 

1.21.13: Chores: Today was a holiday (MLK DAY). Our family left, and the while I wanted to bum around and recover from the rollercoaster weekend, I really needed to put our house back together. My day consisted of mostly laundry...til 1 AM...crazy? I think so. And the cable was out so I couldn’t even keep myself company with Downtown Abbey...boo.

 

1.22.13: Stuffed Animals Beware: This is what happens to stuffed animals left at the fluff hungry paws of my pups. I don’t know what it is about fluff but my dogs love ripping it out of any and all stuffed animals...hey at least they’re not tearing into any real animals.

 

1.23.13: Ladies Night: The hubs was away on business so I seized the opportunity to chill out with a couple of my favorite ladies. We sipped tasty $6 wine (big ballers..haha) and feasted on a variety of my favorite TJoes apps. The laughs we shared were definitely the perfect relief from a crazy workday.

 

1.24.13: Hello sunshine: I got to work so early today. I think I even beat the morning sun. Not a bad sight.

 

1.25.13: Honey pleeease: This is what happens when you spoil your hubby, he “can’t” reach the remote. Look at that face though...

 

1.26.13: No Mas Breakfast: The hubs and I purchased a Livingsocial deal back in the Fall for two mimosas and two breakfast entrees at No Mas Cantina’s Adios Café. It was about to expire so we decided to take advantage of it this weekend. Two of our favorite friends joined us and it made our little Saturday morning trek down to Castleberry Hill that much more fun. We enjoyed some laughs (a few extra thanks to the bubbly) and started planning our next few adventures for 2013.

 

Pheww! What a crazy few weeks!

{27 before 27: new list}

 

New year, new list! Here’s hoping I have better luck with this one : ) I will try my best anyway!

 

{26 before 26: how’d i do?}

 

Soo...I didn’t quite finish my list. Boo.

This was a big year for me. For the first time since college I actually had time to kick back and “take in the view”—of my life that is. I have grown so much in the last 5 years and I have come to realize that a few of my total life goals have changed. My Plan A Dreams that I put on the back burner found their way back into the limelight and my Plan B Dreams took a step back. This list played a huge part in that realization process as a few of the goals--specifically #’s 17 & 18--I set for myself revolved around what I thought I really wanted for my life. As I looked over my list, I constantly skipped over those goals and I just had to admit to myself that I wasn’t that passionate about accomplishing them as I once was. Who knows, maybe one day those Plan B dreams will resurface, but for now, I’m on a different path and I’m happier than ever. I know this sounds really abstract. I plan to divulge more as the year progresses, but a little mystery is good for now.

So how’d I do? Well I did manage to accomplish 12 out of 26 goals. Not too bad. I’m not giving up though and I’ve started a new list! I hope that this year, I will attack my list more vigorously and at this same time next year I will hopefully say that all 27 before 27 are checked off.

Here’s a quick recap of my 26 before 26 accomplishments:

#1: Run a 5k

Remember how we tackled the Warrior Dash? 

#2: Create 5 new recipes

What about these delicious dishes?

hello breakfast sandwich

sweet and salty appletizers

herb roasted baby potatoes

spicy herb mac n’ cheese

sauteed mushrooms

#11: Complete guestbook project

In case you forgot, here’s how you put together this handsome bird?

#12: Organize a plan a camping trip

Our Easter camping trip at Lake Hartwell was so much fun! I hope we camp more this year!

#14: Start an herb garden

Remember the gorgeous herb box stand the hubs made me? Those tasty green enhanced so many dishes and treats (my fav being the mojitos)!

#15: Keep plants alive until @ least 26

While I don’t have the greenest thumb on the block, my plants did make it to my birthday! Some just barely...haha!

 

#16: Make someone’s day

My mom is always complaining that I don’t spend enough time with her so I made sure to make her visit to Atlanta extra special including an awesome day at one of her favorite places; remember her visit?

#18: Pursue Plan A

Although scary and quite an unfamiliar adventure, I’m doing it and hopefully this year I will realize it!

#20: Pick-up a new active hobby

Remember my adventures in nexercising? I’ve have slacked a bit on it, but it’s a new year so no more slacking!

#22 Create a lovely outdoor space

Don’t get mad, but scout’s honor I did do this! Unfortunately, I didn’t take any pictures...what?!!! I would take one now, but the cold weather has killed a few of my summer plants and has made everything look a little drab. Let me see if I can create a mental picture for you. I added the herb garden, a hanging plant and some other potted plants, solar lanterns (Goodwill steal!), Jesse built some lovely benches and a planter for our Clementine tree, I revamped our fire pit with some lovely tiles, and Jesse refurbished an old dirty grill and made it look brand new (a side of the road find). I’m kicking myself over the fact I never took a picture...ah! I’ll take one this spring and make sure to update you all.

#24: Avoid fast food for at least one whole month

Although hard with all the temptations in our area, I successfully accomplished this and it felt awesome!

#26: Go to a baseball game

Remember the Braves game we went to with our good friends The Wrights?

 

That’s all! I had fun with every one of these! I can’t wait for the experiences my next list will lead me to!