2011: A Year in Review

Oh 2011, you have been good to me. We may be a full week into the new year, but I'm still struggling to catch up after such a great Christmas vacation. It's just so hard to believe it's already 2012 when I'm still reminiscing about 2011...

2011 was probably my favorite year in my adult life to date. Seriously.

There was black light putt-putt for Christopher's January birthday and an incredible Iron & Wine concert to celebrate our half-year wedding anniversary in February. In March, I finally worked up enough courage to cut my hair. I chopped off 9 inches.

April brought along my first niece. May brought baby swans to the lake in our backyard. June brought the start of many summertime adventures.

Then July came along and I found a full-time design job that I absolutely love -- such an answer to prayer. The adventures continued in August and included a trip to Wrigley Field to see the Cubbies. We sat five rows from the dugout and I had my first Chicago style hot dog. It was the epitome of a perfect summer day. Summer faded to fall in September and Mr. Ross and I went apple picking for my birthday. We ate apples for weeks afterward.

In October Chris and I went to see The Blanks and met Sam Lloyd. You know, Ted the lawyer from Scrubs? So awesome (which is why I have crazy eyes in the photo.) The book I designed while I worked part time at Ave Maria was officially published and distributed in November. You can find it on Amazon. And at Barnes and Noble. It's probably the highlight of my design career thus far. Which brings me to December: Christmas. It was wonderful, filled with family and friends and the celebration of Jesus' birth. Chris and I attempted to take a "family portrait" with Ulia on Christmas morning. If you think it looks like I'm strangling her in the photo... you're probably right.

Remembering each month, I honestly don't think I could pick a top highlight. In 2011, I started this blog, survived Snomageddon, and planted a garden from seed. I fell in love with my husband even more. I somehow became a decent cook and I came to grips with the fact that I'm a grown up. Such a great year.

Here's to 2012 and all the new adventures it will bring. Happy new year!

The Ghost of Christmas Past

Christopher, kitty and I are still trying to recover from all the holiday cheer.
Regular posting will resume shortly. Promise.

Winter Solstice

Photo by Ree Drummond for the Pioneer Woman

Even though it feels as if we've been in the heart of winter for a few weeks now, Sister Winter has finally arrived, rosy-cheeked and bright-eyed. With her she has brought quiet evenings, hot cups of milky tea, and a definite drop in temperature. 

I don't know about you, but come February and March, I am always itching for spring. I'm not exactly sure where I lost my sense of winter wonder that I had as a child, but I'm usually sick of the cold weather by late-January. This year, however, I'm going to do my best to enjoy the season and all that comes with it. Snow that crunches underfoot. Sledding and skating. Hearty soups and thick sweaters (my absolute favorite, of course.)

Happy first day of winter, friends!

Wish List: White Christmas

Remember all the Michigan snow I was bragging about in my previous post? Well it's gone. All of it. Two days of rain and yesterday's balmy 55 degree morning have left us with flooded gutters and dirty, dwindling lumps of plowed snow in the Walmart parking lot.

With Christmas only eight days away, it's a bit of a buzz kill to look out the window and see muddled gray and brown. For now, I'm dreaming of a white Christmas and using this roundup of festive items to get my fix.

1. This origami reindeer ornament should probably be on my tree. Right now.  2. Aerie's lace paneled top would be pretty layered with a festive red cardigan and braided belt.  3. There is something so simple and beautiful about this porcelain conifer kiln ornament.  4. Spiced Chai candle. Need I say more?  5. This hand-woven Chloe throw would be perfect to curl up under with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and a good book in hand.  6. I've been admiring West Elm's modern snow globe collection for a while -- and now they're on sale!  7. Anthro's Mirrored Mirth Trees are the perfect balance of modern and vintage. They would look beautiful clustered together, with candlelight flickering off their metallic glaze.  8.  Sip the aforementioned peppermint hot chocolate from this rustic wood grain mug. So cozy. 

With snow in the forecast for the next two days, I'm really hoping we'll get enough to last us through Christmas. Call me sentimental, but there's something so magical and peaceful about fresh snowfall around Christmastime. Agreed?

December Instagrams

 

 

December is flying by and I have yet to write an actual post this month, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite December Instagrams thus far (inspired by Kate!)  

We've gotten just the right amount of snow in Michigan and our little lake has nearly frozen over. Life has been busy, but somehow the tree is trimmed and (nearly) all the presents are wrapped and tucked underneath. Mr. Ross and I are in Christmas mode... I'm talking peppermint hot cocoa drinking, Christmas Vacation watching, red and green M&M eating, paper snowflake making, full-on Christmas cheer. I love every bit of it.

Next step: sugar cookies and ice skating.