Happy New Year's Eve

 

1.   New Year's is whatever you make it. I don't buy into the whole, it's a letdown storyline, because if you don't have expectations of grandeur then it can just be.

2.  Last New Year's Eve I  was with family at a little dive bar, outerlimitz, in otisville dancing, drinking, laughing and texting a boy. 

3.  My New Year's resolution list is in progress, stay tuned.

4.  The best way to spend New Year's Eve is with loved ones, low-key. (doin' the shit outta some cheese.)

5.  My prediction for an up-and-coming trend in 2011 is well, I really don't know how to answer this question. I'm not a trend girl.

6.  This New Year's Eve I will be entertaining some friends with beer and wine, and doin' the shit outta some cheese. :) and meat and bread. ooh and pigs ina blanket. there'll be tiny hot dogs in croissants.

7.  A fresh start is always nice, I'll take any excuse for one.

now you. 

core story

What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world?

The core story of me, or the core story of twenty10? The core story of twenty10 has been figuring it out, embracing it, and I suppose, in essence, that's the story of me as well. (lots of commas. too many?) To let go of overthinking and just embrace where I am is what I've learned this past year. I'm happiest when I'm relaxed and content with where I am and the only person standing in the way of that is me.

To share it with the world I think I simply need to be calmer and more confident in that state of mind, content with myself and the world around me. Calmer, less frantic. I share this now with big smiles and big loud errupting laugther. Because that's me. Maybe I shouldn't be worrying about being calmer.

EMBRACE (IT)

everything. what you're afraid of, what you want, what you don't want.

the things about yourself you'd like to change.

(tidiness, focus, inconsistency)

the things about yourself you love.

(kind, loving, funny)

you can't change any of it. you can't change anyone.

you have to understand accept the reality. 

 and reality can be fucking fantastic.

you deserve happiness and love. and even when you thought you had to wait to find it.

(to learn more about yourself.)

it found you. sitting on the steps of an old stage.

it came to you. and it is just right.  

written in late november. 

gift

I think the best gift I have received this year is love. L-O-V-E from my someone special. It is so simple and pure and I don't have any doubts about it. It's the best feeling. 

defining moment

So. A defining moment of twentyTEN. Well. Obviously I'm not super excited about this topic. I feel, looking back, I should have realized sooner that May - August were RIDICULOUS. And now all I want is to think about how RIDICULOUS October - December have been! So. My defining moment of 2010 (twentyTEN, don't forget) was October 4th and only wanting to hear from one person, a person that now makes me feel SO safe and loved and like I am the most important person in their world. Truly loved. It's RIDICULOUS.

(I love you Pancetta! - If you ever read this. THAT JUST HAPPENED.)

achieve

What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? 

This question has been bothering me for most of the year, not always present but there under the surface. Next year I would like to discover, achieve, what I want to achieve for my future; the next year, the next five.

How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Write that feeling down. 

Finding the answer to that question would make feel on track / heading in the right direction. 

Brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.

1. make a list of the things i may consider to be "what i want to be when i grow up."
2. research the top five, or however many feel right
3. write, right here, the reasons why i feel these things are exciting and would suit me and why i feel i'd be on the right track.
4. figure out how where i am right now might just be "on the right track"
5. just breathe, and focus on the favorite things in my life
6. work on my list of 25 things to do before i turn 26
7. make a list of the things that are day-to-day, like getting healthy, that may not be part of the big picture in my mind right now but will make feel more balanced overall
8. think about the things that i think will make me feel more balanced
9. work on them
10. take a step back. you have an amazing fucking life, enjoy it. 

ordinary joy

ORDINARY JOY

I've seen a couple of people posting responses to Reverb10's prompts. Obviously, I wasn't going to make it through 31 days of posting but maybe I'll play along for these last five.

Happy Christmas!!!

that is all

mixtape: holiday edition

definitely a favorite christmas song.

 

watch the scene in the family stone with this song. it makes my heart swell

snow day!

 we got dumped on here in michigan early sunday morning and all day yesterday.

i actually got a snow day from work. which is crazy because it is the last week of classes!

 it's been a lazy day which i love. i watched some bad tv and birdies play in these fire bushes.

sam is in kitty heaven!

a mini todo list for the rest of the afternoon: shower. wrap chirstmas gifts. put dishes away. make pillow for green chair and snakey things for the windows. play cityville was not on this list but i just spent the last 30 minutes playing this ridiculous new game. ugh.

pretty pink

I've got quite a thing for color, I'm always wearing at least a bit of it. Usually more than a bit. So it only makes sense to do a little shopping by color, especially with the release of Pantone's color of twenty11.

Pantone 

sunglasses bracelet

pink tapes in the new banner thanks to: PuglyPixel

my night

inspired to pick up the camera by:

http://wordstoshootby.blogspot.com/2010/12/night.html

holiday spirit

1.   Holiday spirit fills me up, I love it. Of course, to be cheesy, I try to carry a little bit with me the whole year through. 

2.  The holidays are incomplete without  a tree, my funny family in a wrapping paper fight, Christmas tapas, the Polar Express.

3.  My favorite things to do around the holidays is 

4.  A holiday tradition my family and I have is  WWSW, Williams Women Shopping Weekend, food Friday night shopping Saturday

5.  Holiday music is   some of my favorite, I love that I can sing along. I can't believe I haven't already listened to some today. Thanks to this playlist from skunkboy for remedying that. I try my hardest to only listen during this time of year, to keep it special.

6.  This year, I'll be spending the holidays  Christmas eve at my house! with momma's big family, 

 

7.  Holiday wish list new gardening gloves, shopping spree at modcloth & anthropologie, a new metabolism so i can wear such cute clothes and still eat all the fantastic food i want, coffee, a new bedroom set, & gap socks. 

now you

I want to throw a fistful of glitter in the air

I want to learn to do these acrobatics

there you are sitting in the garden clutching my coffee

calling me sugar you call me sugar

before the amazing race starts!

1.   Black Friday is scary, seriously someone DIED two years ago.

2.  Christmas shopping this year will include NEXT weekend, WWSW - Williams Women Shopping Weekend. one of the highlights of the year.

3.  Holiday shopping makes me excited for the season and finding "perfect" great gifts.

4.  This year my Christmas list will include  cozy pants for lounging on the weekends, measuring cups, original art for my walls, a keychain, the things my loved ones know are "just right for me" / "so kate"

5.  Bargain hunter, or full price shopper?   whatever I find next weekend that's right, I'm so for! hopefully sales though.

6.  The best and worst things about shopping is are? The best thing about holiday shopping is an excuse to hang out with family, my oves. The worst thing about shopping is  the crowds and inconsiderate fellow shoppers, maybe if I am more considerate (and more hydrated?) it will be a better experience.

7.  Online shopper or in-person shopper? I certainly appreciate online shopping, impulse shopping any moment of the day, yes please, but I enjoy in-person shopping a lot for gifts... more in-person shopping than online...

 

SERIOUSLY Amazing Race WHY?! does someone get a 5.5 hr lead and then they all have to take the same flight?! (over 12 hours later) NOT FAIR! ugh.

Are you?

Miss Elsie included this reminder on her BEAUTIFUL blog this week.

I'm not sure I'll be shopping today, and if I do I'll definitely be 

staying away from the mall side of town.

Bay City has the SWEETEST little downtown with some really 

FABULOUS shops.

Maybe I'll take you on a tour

or at least share some of my favorite purchases.

thankful for my cozy home.

any day now

it can do this any day now.

two videos

thankful for amazing, creative people like those who've made these videos.






via jezebel

four days!

1.   My Thanksgiving plans this year will include two dinners, the first nervously meeting a very important family and the second laughing with my lovely family while they meet a very important someone.

2.  My favorite Thanksgiving was they are all special, can't choose.

3.  My signature Thanksgiving dish is I'm going to make some pecan pie... my mum's making the green beans I'm in love with so that's kind of my signature on the meal, even though someone else is signing it.

4.  My favorite Thanksgiving food is  the aforementioned green beans, this is their Thanksgiving debut though. Stuffing is my favorite, turkeyday standby!

5.  Thanksgiving free association!  family, travel, goodness, crisp air, chirstmas is right around the corner, yummy food.

6.  Thansgiving is  the holiday season kick-off! I love the next seven weeks like no other.

7.  I am thankful for new love, family, the holiday season, a great meal, my wonderful home, sweet kitties, a good job, loud laughter, ridiculousness, friends, honesty, caring, silliness, happiness and seeing the beauty of everyday.

it's beginning...

thankful for: my orange boots. [not being afraid of color, wearing five different, solid blocks of color today. maybe too much of good thing.]

yesterday my friend posted some christmas music lyrics on facebook, which interestingly caused a debate that it's to soon to even think about xmas vs. we're so full of holiday cheer we need an extra few days to celebrate. i'm definitely in the latter group. (i love that word, even though (or maybe because) i always go back and reread the latter statement to double check i understood correctly.)


i haven't always been this way. i remember about six years ago being disgusted that they couldn't even wait until the day after thanksgiving to start in on the christmas music. but this year i'm ready for the holiday season already! maybe it's because life moves faster now and i want time to enjoy my holiday decorations. maybe it's because i have my own home to decorate and love displaying my special seasonal items. maybe it's because i decorated for halloween in mid-september and i'm ready for something new. whatever the reason, the holiday spirit bug has bitten me. i'm excited. i won't pull out the decorations until after thanksgiving, but i can dream (and start on/gather little projects) to my hearts content

how beautiful is the christmas scene at lost river modern?

 set up by the lovely couple behind something's hiding in here.

i want to fill my porch with these sparkly tinsel wreaths!

from creature comforts

 oh, hello friend has a great collection of advent calendars.

i love the variety of this one from sperobene

 i love rachel's practical yet still special one too.

what would you tuck away in your advent calendar? 

 

ah, grinning at my finger knitting success.

working on finding the original tutorial, via elsie's beautiful nook (and blog) 

 

speaking of elsie you should probably follow these links too:

christmas eve

christmas magic

they'll surely put you in the holiday spirit!

mixtape monday - something in the water

thankful for: hope.

 

this week i want to celebrate new hope.
"i wear a demenor of bright pretty things" well, why yes, YES i do.

best most perfect day ever [is on the list]

thankful for: dreams.

1.   The most spontaneous thing I've ever done was I'm not really very spontaneous... this is a goal i guess, do one ridiculously spontaneous thing before the end of the year.

2.  The best gift I've ever received was tangible gift: I can't think of a gift I haven't loved. intangible: unconditional love.

3.  A time that I was truly and genuinely surprised was when I realize that it doesn't have to be so difficult, it just is. I'm glad I remembered that.

4.  I can't leave the house without keys, cellphone, camera.

5.  My favorite day of the week is   Saturday because   it can go whatever way you want. You can stay in bed all day and still have tomorrow to be productive, you could drive a thousand miles just to have breakfast someplace new, it's whatever you want it to be.

6.  Something that can always make me laugh is my kitties, my family, Matt.

7.  My perfect day would include snuggling in the morning, spending the day out on the boat with the fam, then having the rest of my favorite people over for a dinner party, and a bon fire in the backyard.  full of love and overflowing with laughter. 

What are your plans this weekend?
Oh this weekend, well I wont' be doing much of that or will I. Tonight girls dinner & pedicure with the DC gals,  tomorrow spending the day/weekend with Matt I think, and Sunday well maybe we'll be in Iowa and driving home after breakfast. 

 now you

a peek in the kitchen

thankful for: adventure. 

last week i spent not one night in the kitchen or two,  but FOUR nights in the kitchen cooking. some new things, some traditional easy peasy nachos. (not there were peas in them, that'd be gross. i dislike peas.)

here's a little peak into my kitchen. 

 mint from my garden!

 and a homegrown pepper

 i did not grow that squash but i'm growing ridiculously fond of this person. <3
for this recipe, butternut squash pizza. mmm.

mmm. pumpkin margaritas. delish. now you.

good things to come

thankful for: hope. this new beginning.

i'm feeling a tug to do a blog post and keep at this but was lacking inspiration. so i hoped on over to weheartit and found this sweet little kitty. (and of course the link is dead two years later.)

here's an adorable one of Sam

it worked and now i can a list of things i'm looking forward to:

* snuggling up with my cute new beau
* seeing my sweet kitties
* eating something yummy for dinner
* girls' night in midland with my delta pals
* striving to be women's bowler of the week, my teammates have already achieved it
* tacos for dinner tomorrow
* starting to decorate for the holidays too early
* family
* making plans

giveaways: http://livingtheswelllife.blogspot.com/2010/11/giveaway-ekate.html - pretty, pretty jewelry!
http://daintysquid.blogspot.com/2010/11/giveaway_08.html - awesome hoodies, i love peppercorn pink!

mixtape monday - jar of hearts

thankful for: a fresh start, the perk of a monday.

in the spirit of all this blogging i've been doing recently i figured i'd even do a music mixtape monday post.

this song is so beautiful. the dancers are beautiful. and it's powerful. enjoy.

 

i just love christina perri.

monthly delights

last year when i purchased two calendars for my [new] home i didn't realize how much i would love them, how much i would love revealing the new month's surprise. so when decor8 did their "2011 calendar round-up" i was pretty excited.

here are my TOP 5 for the living room!

clockwise from pansies: ALICIA BOCK . SHANNON BLUE . LITTLE BROWN PEN . SIMPLY HUE . KARIN A

honorable mention:

 not the style i'm looking for, but how sassy are these girls?! - Paule t.b.

thankful: the sunshine streaming in. warming my heart and home!

it's november, i should make some goals

starting with, thankful for: feeling whole and goal filled!

 
* stick to goals, track them. be awesome. (maybe stop watching SO much how i met your mother. yeah right.)

* limit sugar. no candied sugar from eleven/five to eleven/twelve.

* be early for work. (get lunch around night before. get up at 6:20. have clothes ready.)

* make a great christmas list

* drink more water. (64oz/day. if i'm up for 10 hours a day. i should try to drink 6oz every hour...)

* cook (i feel so excited about the three four new recipes in my kitchen this week!)

* get fit. write. take pictures. per usual.

* love it and live it all fully. embrace it.

 

looking back at ocotober: 

1. go to the gym or a workout class TWICE a week! - inconsistently but i was sore more times this month than i've probably been all year. 2. write. share. - journaled for myself. facebooked, does that count as sharing? :) 3. walk once a week. - not how i planned. 4. read. finished one book, skipped around another. 5. make a new friend. - oh yeah! 6. love your old friends. for sure! 7. talk less. listen more. think before you speak. - eh. i'm not as good at this as i think i should be. but it's me. 8. sew. - hahaha. 9. be neat. - so good on this one!! 10. find the balance. - ongoing, as it should be.

...i'm finally feeling back to where i should be after the summer debacle. i'm not sure what i'm doing with my life, but at least i'm moving on from that unhealthy bit of it.

hair

starting with, thankful for: having hair that i usually don't hate.

 
1.   My last haircut was a few weeks ago and i was surprised at what a difference it made. keeping it this length and growing it out, i'll have to keep it trimmed.

2.  My most daring hair moment was chopping it boy short five years ago. i loved those cuts.

3.  A hairstyle I'd never be brave enough to try is probably nothing, maybe a mohawk, definitely words shaved it. just no. i love doing brave things with my hair.

4.  I've always dreamt of being a (blonde, brunette or red-head) more red than i am now. jealous of girls with CURLS.


5.  My go-to hair do is blow dried and down. pony tail later in the day.

6.  My biggest hair disaster was  i got one of those round brush blow dryers stuck in it... took my mum HOURS to get it out. 

7.  A hairstyle I am dying to try is a long braid to one side, the reason i'm growing my hair out.

 kudos

8.  My best hair day was today? i don't really know. really, not today but none stand out!

9.  The worst hairstyle I ever had was the mullet.


10.  My hair is allowing me to try something new, a reflection of me slightly messy but lovely.

now you: