Goodbye, 2013.

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I've made it no secret that I am crazy DONE with 2013. Though there were positive points, the past year was very difficult--emotionally, financially, physically, professionally, etc. It felt like it was just punch after punch. Long story short? BRING ON 2014! I am so optimistic that 2014 will be a year of change and everything wonderful.

 

So, with 2013 nearly in the rearview mirror, this year in quick review (real talk: the beginning of the year's specifics are less clear because I wasn't blogging again yet).

 

JANUARY

We rang in the New Year with a pajama party with our BFFs. Rhyno had shoulder surgery and was out of work or a few months.

 

FEBRUARY

We celebrated a low-key Valentine's Day at home.

 

MARCH

My family's dog, Banana, died. My dad had a birthday. We celebrated St. Patrick's day with tons of corned beef (for Rhyno) and beer (for both of us).

 

APRIL

We paid taxes--it was my first year as a full time freelancer doing so and holy hell, it kicked our savings account in the nuts. Our dog, Tasha's, health began to slowly decline. I began planning my first really big event for work and I did awesome.

 

MAY

My hours were severely cut at work. Rhyno went back to work.

 

JUNE

I completed the Warrior Dash and Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I signed up for both events in 2014.

 

JULY

I saw She & Him. We celebrated the Fourth of July with our BFFs. We hit the seven year mark. My mom celebrated her birthday.

 

AUGUST

Man, this was a rough one. Our beloved Tasha passed away. My business partner/best friend and I lost a dang cupcake contest. Rhyno was in Colorado for a long ass work trip.

 

SEPTEMBER

We went to a MasterChef party with some of our favorite people. Rhyno turned 31. We welcomed Violet into our little family. She thanked us for adopting her by breaking my laptop.

 

OCTOBER

This was a good one. I started freelancing a bit more. We saw Rhyno's favorite band live as a birthday gift. I turned 28. We celebrated 3 years of marriage. My sister had a birthday. We met the amazing Nick Offerman. And Halloween was rad.

 

NOVEMBER

I ran the Hot Chocolate 5K in a hot dog suit. Our basement flooded while I was under the weather. I practiced Thankful Thursdays. We received some devastating family health news. My Charlie-Bear had his first sleepover at our house. Thanksgiving was crazy delicious.

 

DECEMBER

The pajama party Progressive Dinner was full of laughter and fun. Violet and I were snow bunnies. We joined my parents for a night at the Morton Arboretum Illumination. Christmas was joyous. I purged, cleaned, and redecorated the house. I got some great work news.

 

Bring it on, 2014! Happy New Year's Eve!



Like a Purgin'.

I hate/love myself SO much over this title. Seriously, I rock/suck.

Before 2013 is gone for good I had one big goal: purge my dang house of all the dang junk and clean every inch. I'm happy to say I've nearly completed this task (I only have half of the basement to finish). It has been SUCH a cathartic experience. I forced myself to get rid of the JUNK. I am a sentimental beast and will keep random things forever. Over the last week I've purged the trash and wiped off the dust. Our home is more simple, more spacious, and better decorated.

 

The accent wall in our front room--after over a year it is almost done!

 

 

I'm looking forward to starting 2014 with a fresh, clean slate! What about you?

Currently.

Love bombs from two wonderful ladies in my life.

 

I am currently...

 

....eating so many delicious leftovers! My gramma is the world's best cook (no, seriously, she is) and she always makes everyone a dinner plate to take home. Rhyno and I treat it the leftovers like gold and dole out one tiny bite at a time to savor every morsel.

 

...making resolutions right and left. New Year's Eve is right around the bend, yo! I am so ready for a happy, healthy year.

 

...on my To Do list sadly packing up the Christmas decorations and happily doing a deep clean/purge of our home. Rhyno and I have been saying for weeks that we need to get rid of all the JUNK. We always try to purge but still hold on to some things. Nope, be gone, clutter! But, ugh, I will so miss you, my beloved Christmas tree and your bright colored lights. It is always so hard for me to undecorated my house after Christmas but I am SO looking forward to the fresh start.

 

...listening to all the Rilo Kiley I can get my hands on, like always. 2013 was a rough year for me and RK is my comfort object. They have been my favorite band, confidant, and best friend since I was 15. I swear I listen to The Frug a million times a day. Jenny Lewis has helped me through every good, bad, sad, and joyous moment in my life. My brother-in-law bought me one of my favorite albums of all time (The Execution of All Things) and I want to listen to it all day forever and ever.

 

...reading Melissa Explains It All by Melissa Joan Hart. I am a '90's girl and I love Melissa Joan Hart without shame. She is my favorite. I cannot resist a good memoir. I just cannot.

 

...watching less TV....it's a resolution that I am starting early. Dang, I miss TV. It works out though because the DVD player in our bedroom decided to crap out earlier this week (and we don't have cable TV in our house).

 

...loving how generous, wonderful, and thoughtful the people in my life are. Early in the week I came home from an emotionally rough day to two packages on my doorstep. I ripped each open and found what's pictured above. In each box was a perfect bundle of things I deeply love and honestly? I was moved to tears unwrapping each item. Lovely, beautiful surprises that made me feel so grateful to have such great friends.

 

...hoping for the most kick ass 2014 possible--for me and for you, too. 

 

 Have a great weekend!

 

If you also partake in Currently posts, please link up in the comments!

A Happy Holiday.

I hope you had a warm and happy holiday!

 

 

Though I felt like Christmas Eve and Day went by in a whirlwind, I am thankful to have spent time with great family. I am stuffed to the gills with delicious homemade cookies, feeling more spoiled than ever with my haul, and feeling luckier than you may know for time with the people I love the most.

 



Happy Merry!

Merry Christmas! (if you celebrate)

 

 

I love this day so, so much. Per tradition,  Rhyno and I will be spending the morning eating breakfast and hanging out with his family. Then around 1pm we'll drive over to hang with my parents and grandparents for "grown up Christmas" (drinking champagne and watching the WGN Bozo Christmas Special--do you love Hard Rock and Coco and Joe too?). We'll open gifts, wear PJs, and eat a big dinner.

 

I hope you have the merriest, happiest, loveliest day ever. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

:)

Last Minute Sweets.

It's Christmas Eve!

 

Christmas Eve is a big day in my family and one of my very favorite days of the year (even though I always have to hand out gifts ;) ). This is the day of the year where ALL of us (and that's a ton of people) get together and share in years old traditions. For out-of-towners? We call them on the phone and pass the phone around for an hour (reminiscent of when we would call my late great-grandparents and pass around the cordless).

 

I have a huge family so as much as I'd like to, I can't afford to buy each person a cute gift. A few years ago I started a tradition of making sweets for everyone instead of buying a gift. Maybe you leave my sweets out for Santa (why does that sound dirty?) or maybe you inhale the chocolate the second you open it. I just like knowing I have something to show each family member how much I appreciate them.

 

In case you're thinking of doing the same but freakin' that you ran out of time? Here are some quick, last-minute dessert ideas you can package up with colored cellophane and a cute, hand-written gift tag. Plus, if you're a baker? You probably have all these ingredients in your pantry already!

 

Holiday Bark!

 

Candy Cane Rice Krispies!

 

Holiday Muddy Buddy!

 

I actually haven't finalized my sweet for 2013 yet! I will be sure to share when I do.

 

Have the coolest Christmas Eve!

Docu-Love.

Hey, hot babes!

 

It's absolutely not a secret that I love a good documentary. I love learning more about my world and the things/beings in it. My documentary preferences lean toward the food and animal treatment realm but I love finding a wonderful doc that sucks me in. Recently a friend posted this link to a Buzzfeed round-up of documentaries that are bound to make you cry. I plan to tackle a few of these (over time...if I watch them all in a day I'll never leave my house again).

 

A few of my recent favorite docs?

 

Blackfish

This movie is wildly talked about and it absolutely gutted me. "When you look into their eyes, you know somebody is home." Ugh, I died. I've researched confinement and captivity for large animals before (hey, crazy animal person) and I still felt shaken after watching. When I was a kid it was my absolute dream to be a whale and dolphin trainer (like every other first grader, right?). So good, educational, and worth the watch. As a lover of the ocean and the big creatures under the surface, this doc is so important to me.

 

Vegucated.

I dream of one day committing to a completely vegan lifestyle. As a looooong time vegetarian I so appreciated this film and subject matter. It's important for people to realize they don't have to completely commit to veganism, they can omit just some animal products and that's still progress.

 

Crazy Sexy Cancer.

Cancer is near and dear to me and this documentary is like soul food. I don't keep it a secret that I worship at the alter of Kris Carr. I adore her and her outlook on life, eating well, and being kind. If you've never watched this, I totally recommend it (I watched it twice in one day!). Even if cancer has never impacted your life personally, it's such great information and Kris is just the best.

 

And one I haven't seen?

 

I also recently heard about The Ghosts in Our Machine and can't wait to watch it. Again, a huge animal rights supporter, I think people SHOULD educate themselves on how product creation is related to animal welfare.

 

What are your favorite documentaries?