Weekend Retreat

Matthew and I made the last minute decision to head to the ranch for a little New Year’s weekend retreat, and it wound up being just what we needed.  I don’t consider myself a country girl by any stretch of the imagination, but I really enjoy going down there and just getting away from it all for a bit—spending a little more time with nature and a little less time with technology. (though, who are we really kidding… I had my iphone with me the entire time, hence the following photos courtesy of Instagram.)

On New Year’s Eve Matthew, Gracie, Cooper and I sat by a big fire and ate s’mores cookies and talked a little about our goals for 2012, then the fire died prematuraly, and we were cold and went inside and fell asleep at 10:30.  My kinda party. 

Anyway, hope you’ve all had an excellent start to your week and, really, your whole year. :)

1. Such a good girl in the car                                        
2. Cooper giving sister kisses

3. Hello there Mr. Red Stag
4. Windmill at the ranch

5. A really friendly goat… thing.
6. With my little loves

7. A nest among thorns
8. Morning sky

 
9. Cows loose on the road
10. Couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched…

 
11. About to head back home
12. Aaand sexy husband on a 4-wheeler thrown in for good measure.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Make it a great day!

And the winner of last week’s Poshlocket giveaway is…

 

Congrats to the other Jenni with an “i!”  We’ll be in touch! :)

Year in Review

When one year comes to a close and a new one stretches out before you, it’s nice to reflect on what is past and peer hopefully into the still-unknown future… wouldn’t you agree?

I just spent some time looking through old pictures and blog posts from the whole of 2011, and it was crazy to think of how much has changed in only one year.  Big things.   Family… finances… law school… this little blog… ME.  And as crazy and scary as life can be sometimes, I am simply beside myself with excitement for the year to come, because it feels like a fresh chance.  I know that’s mainly a mental thing, but who cares? 

I just went back and read my post from the end of LAST December, and I was amazed by how different 2010 and 2011 were for us.  In 2010, Matthew and I had just gotten married and moved into our new home together and were exploring our new city and went to New York and Hawaii, and I started this blog!  And this year… oh, 2011.  Life! Stress! Marriage not perfect—hard! Cancer. Loved ones suffering.  Identity crisis on my part. Questions. What the hell do I want to do with my life? Why haven’t I figured it out yet?  Crazy health scare.  Pieces falling into place.  Beginning to see things clearly…Not all of that was expressed here on my blog, but I certainly still remember it.

2012…  Such high hopes I have for you!  Not because I’m being unrealistic and I think that THIS year will be the one where I actually keep all my resolutions.  Please.  But because I’m starting to understand myself a little better, and I’m discovering passions I didn’t even know I had, and I’m feeling ready to make shit happen.

So basically, that’s my resolution this year.  My mantra, if you will.  Make shit happen.  A little less wishing and hoping and thinking and a little more acting and doing and creating. 

We’re all on our own journey here, and yours will likely look different than mine.  But I hope you’re going into 2012 with a similar mindset: it’s gonna be great, because we’re gonna make it great.  Why can’t 2012 be the year that all your dreams come true? 

And now for a little trip down memory lane… these are some special and/or silly moments I posted about in 2011, so let’s go back in time for a bit, shall we?

* * * * *

+ One year anniversary celebration in Fredericksburg…

 

+ South America trip of a lifetime!

 

+ First ever vlog.

+ “Possibly Voyeuristic Old Neighbor and Why Quasi-Pornographic Photos of Me May or May Not End Up Somewhere on the Internet.”

+ A truly epic “then and now” pic.

+ Took pictures for my mom and Edd… beautiful memory.

+ Law school. ‘Nuff said.

+ Edd’s cancer.

+ My own health scare.

+ Lessons learned in my first 25 years.

* * * * *

And those are just a few of the highlights. :) Looking forward with great hope and anticipation for the clean slate ahead.  Life won’t be perfect, but It will be beautiful.

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

January 31, 2010.  The very last day of a year we will never have back again.

As I reminisced on 2010 for purposes of this post, I was simply astonished by all that has changed in my life over the past 365 days - and consequently, how it has all changed me.

Twelve months ago, I was fresh out of college.  I was planning a wedding, preparing to change cities, and adjusting to the fact that I was about to quit the job I had kept since age 15 - for 7 and a half years. 

Twelve months ago, everything about my life turned upside down, and now here I am.  And I'm OK.  

Isn't it incredible how much life can change in one short year?

I have a few things to say about New Year's resolutions, but I'll save that for another post in the near future. Right now I'd like to take a little trip down memory lane... and you're welcome to join me. :)

In January of 2010 I took bridal portraits at the beautiful Antique Rose Emporium in San Antonio. 

It was freezing cold out (by Texas standards), and yet I had to try my best to look like a happy, sexy bride when all I really wanted to do was dive into a mountain of Snuggies and not come out til April. 

In February of 2010 I married my Prince.

I know.  Cheesy.  But cheese is the stuff this life is made of, my friends!

Thanks to Bend the Light Photography!  They're the BEST!

And we split our honeymoon between Hawaii and New York City. 

Not too shabby.

How unfortunate that this was the view from our hotel room!

And then we finished up the renovation on our new home!

See before and afters here or here!

I explored Austin.

I was stung in the head by an unprovoked bee that, discriminatingly, chose ME over seven others beside me in a ranch vehicle.

I took 4 million iPhone pictures of these two...

(yes. 4 million)

I got serious about blogging.
You're welcome.

I went back to New York with a friend.

I made my first pie...

I got this baby for my birthday...

I met up with friends I hadn't seen in 10 years!

(They weren't even dating when I knew them last, but now they're married and have a beautiful daughter!)

And that's just some of the highlights.  Not including Thanksgiving and Christmas!

What a year.

Here's hoping that 2011 is even better for all of us...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!