I had a great time at a friend’s New Year’s Eve party. He really outdid himself with the set up. The sweet view of his balcony felt glamourous, he hired a DJ and photographer, and rented smoke machines and light machine. Quite fancy for a house party! It was such a fun and safe way to end 2011.
I spent the first day of 2012 making beignets for friends, walking at the lake, stumbling on a street band jamming out on a bridge, cooking, and cleaning. A productive and happy day! I’m finalizing my resolutions today and will post them tomorrow.
Cheers to a great new year!
Question: How and with whom did you spend New Year’s?
Ran two blocks of a 5k for Race for the Cure and raised 460 dollars. Thanks to a lot of you!
Went to Texas Renaissance Festival with Brandi and Jessica. It was our third year going and we decided to only do new things. We threw knives, shot bow and arrows, and had our face painted. It was the first time I’ve ever had my face painted!
Had a Thanksgiving picnic with friends at the park. We threw a whole cooler’s worth of ice cubes into an enormous fountain, to create ripples, to help push a soccer ball to a sad toddler across the fountain. We were successful.
I decide to like Christmas. I discovered it took more energy disliking it than it does to give into the cheer.
Partcipated in Austin Food Blogger’s food swap.
I was without a car the whole time I was in Houston for Christmas (the bumper needed to be replaced) and was touched to have friends pick me up for dates.
Sewed couch pillows with help from mom.
Hosting a “Never Have We Ever” dinner party tonight. Post to come!
Bob hanging out with snowman
In writing this post, I realized this year was really sweet for relationships. It may have a lot to do with my prioritizing close friends over acquaintances and then learning to set boundaries. Recently, I’ve been in a funk about not having a life’s calling but I have to say, I’m really content with my tribe. Word on the street is that it’s the relationships that really matter.
Wishing you a terrific end of year celebration! Lots of love!
I dream about food a lot and once my friend and I both dreamed the same dream on the same night.
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I haven’t touched either of my blogs all week. I’ve been feeling kind of insignificant and withdrawn. That I’m not doing anything worthwhile. I know this feeling will pass and it’s really a symptom of my not knowing where I’m supposed to be going. I’m almost out of my twenties and still knee deep in that Quarter Life Crisis. I’m slowly pulling out of this mood by telling myself to have patience and to keep searching.
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I could start a new category on my blog about my extracurricular failures. I tried using the sewing machine for the first time without my mom hovering. Luckily I used scrap fabric to practice before attempting sofa cushions because I totally mucked it up.
I got all tangled up and could not extract the scrap from my machine. The machine (with attached piece of fabric) is going back to Houston with me to get more lessons from momma.
Oops!
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Speaking of failure, I ordered my Christmas gift for my niece and nephew. I’ve never met them. My sister and I lost touch for 16 years and finally reconnected over Facebook last year. Anyway, the package was delivered December 7th. Perfect timing to wrap it with my sister’s gift and mail it. Except I totally shipped it to my old apartment and now it’s in forwarding limbo. It has been “forwarding” since the 7th and I only live 20 miles away from my old address. It’s likely I won’t be able to ship it out in time. I’m already failing at being an aunt!
Grumble, grumble.
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I’ve been conscious about being a little more receptive of Christmas cheer. I went to three holiday parties last weekend! Fun ones too. My friend Jamie hosted a potluck, I went to the annual Christmas party for Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Austin Food Bloggers Alliance had a little party. It was my fourth BBBS Christmas party with my little. I’m loving that we’ve been matched together for almost 4 years now! Lastly, I joined the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance for a competitive game of White Elephant. I got too greedy and picked the most popular gift (mandolin) and got stuck with a corkscrew. (The theme was kitchen gadgets.)
I’ve tweeted at Shelley for two years now and we finally met at the Austin Food Blogger’s Christmas Party!
P.S. Christmas music still makes me want to gag.
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Speaking of Christmas cheer, I received some goodies in the mail! Abby sent me a pretty journal. I’m nearing the end of mine and am thinking about jumping straight to the one she got me. (I always have a few blank journals in a queue.) Bree sent me a surprise package. Postman told me it looked like it had gone through war. Hee. She got me a novel, wine journal (I LOVE THEMED JOURNALS!), and wine flashcards. I’m on my way to becoming a lush! Thank you, ladies!
My sister sent me a fun package that included a mini red Christmas tree! Y’all know my Christmas decor is very limited (4 stockings and 3 snow globes), so this tree really livens up my dining table.
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This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ making my first successful pumpkin pies ♥ having a focus for my Sketchbook Project ♥ I have a relationship with my sister! ♥ gorging on ginger snaps ♥ puff pastry ♥ cheese ♥ persimmons ♥ making it through a really long and cranky week ♥ dreaming about 2012 ♥ emergency chocolate stash ♥ sweet package from Abby ♥ surprise package from an anonymous friend ♥ surprise package from Bree
Question: When’s the last time you made a mistake? Tell me about it.
Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.
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It’s that time of year, friends. I’ve recently explained in my last Totes Awesome Channel vlog why I’m not a big fan of Christmas. My parents worked on holidays and I grew up with it not being that big of deal and also quite lonely since everyone else was with his or her families. I guess the sullenness just carried with me through the years. My friends would clap their hands in glee and go a little bonkers with their holiday decorating and I would just crinkle my nose at them and bite my tongue.
This year I decided to adopt a more positive outlook about this season. I hate that I was such a grump! I’m usually a positive person and being a sourpuss just isn’t me. I’m going to give in to this “magical” season. I’m going to open up my heart.
So what have I done so far to cultivate a more positive outlook? Well I bought my first set of Christmas lights, pulled out the few winter snow globes I own (gifts), dangled a couple of stockings on door knobs, and then called a few girls over to have a girl’s night in over brownies, hot chocolate, a bottle of Moscato, and Love Actually. Love Actually is the best Christmas movie ever! Even scrooges like my former self could not help but be charmed by that movie.
Cradling a mug of hot chocolate and chatting with my friends under the glow of Christmas lights warmed my cold heart. (I managed to find marshmallows that were shaped as little snowmen!) The brownies offered a lingering fragrance as well as decadent snack. I can see myself making this my first holiday tradition.
Who knows, maybe next year I’ll get a tree!
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Remember to check out Duncan Hines’ website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.
In this video, I talk about all the neat things I’m able to do because of the Internet. Things like meal plan and grocery shop but most importantly, maintain friendships. If you watch, you get to see Bob show off his skills.
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I’m in Houston for the long weekend! I had a fantastic Thanksgiving day. My cute friends organized a picnic outside. I then followed that up with catch up time with my college roommate and then a late night dinner with my family.
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Here’s a video of Thomas announcing our picnic spread. The audio goes out in the end and I’m at a loss at how that happened. Luckily, the good stuff is all there.
Yesterday, I finished Thérèse Raquin (affiliate Link) (published in 1867) and loved it. It was a random find; I picked it up not knowing a lick about the book or the author. Zola turned out to be a major historical figure in French literature. I read up on his life and was riveted. I recommend the book. Some warning, it’s dark. It’s a good read but doesn’t make you feel good.
What are you reading these days?
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Spray painting lace is hard.
More about this abysmal craft project tomorrow. Suffice it to say, Martha Stewart lied to me!
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This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ Suki had a dream where she ran into Ryan Gosling, took pictures with him, and then had him tweet me ♥ reading in bed with dude ♥ only 5 more days of #NaBloPoMo ♥ scheduling out a few posts to help time management in Houston ♥ reading time with Alan ♥ fort making date with Kim ♥ momma’s food ♥ catch up time with Aishah and sister ♥ guest vlog on TAC ♥ performing a successful group random act of kindness that involved throwing about a 100 ice cubes ♥ sewing lessons from mom ♥ hugging mom ♥ starting to read a collection of short stories on Thanksgiving day and having the first story take place on Thanksgiving day
2. Did you follow your tradition this year? How did you celebrate yesterday?
Not really. I walked Townlake with Brandi and nearly died of heat exhaustion. Then I spent the evening with Alan on a simple date night, checking out a new theater downtown and watching a Woody Allen film.
3. What’s the best fireworks show you’ve ever seen?
Maybe two years ago for Fourth of July.
4. Have you ever been injured by a firecracker?
Nope. I’m too scared to really be carefree around firecrackers.
5. Burger, Brat, or Hot Dog?
I’m not even kidding when I say, all three!
6. Do you sport red, white and blue on our Independence Day?
I try. This year I wore a blue flower print dress. Last year, bright orange (?). Two years ago I wore festive bracelets.
Fourth of July, 2009
7. If you had to be from any country other than the USA, what country would it be?
I think I’m really blessed to be from the USA, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
8. Charcoal or gas?
On my life’s to-do list is to learn how to grill, charcoal and gas.
9. What’s your favorite thing about this fair country of ours?
Our freedoms. Namely, our freedom of speech.
10. God Bless the USA, My Country Tis of Thee, or the Star Spangled Banner?
It’s been two days into the new year and I’ve had such a lovely time already! Alan did a great job organizing a safe and glamorous night out. The stretch Hummer saved us from spending hours trying to find taxi rides back home. Bottle service and a great table reservation on a rooftop kept us merry. The company was spectacular. The kiss, our best yet. Many cheers to 2011!
Question: What is your most memorable New Year’s Eve memory?
Texas native. Living and working in Austin, TX. Twenty something. In hot pursuit of good food, adventure, and laughter. Dreams of owning her own place with a big giant library.
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