Tag: New Years

We’re Not Boring. We’re Aging.

Since October, I’ve had a few conversations with close girlfriends about a shift in our social interests. I noticed nights out are comparatively tamer than they have been two years ago, three years ago, since college, and etc. I’ve gone from being able to play hard til six in the morning, then it ebbed down to three or four in the morning. Nowadays, we leave before bars close to skip out on traffic. I needed three cups of coffee to make it through Les Mis on a week night. The first drink I drank at the New Year’s Eve party was coffee. Jordan wrote an awesome post about her experience with this. Though in her defense, girl’s a momma now and I’m still only responsible for my well-being.

For New Year’s Eve, I recycled an older NYE dress and showed up to a cozy get together at a friend’s place for game night. It ended up being too crowded for game night and evolved to just a sweet house party. Alan and I left early at 1:30 am and then we curled up on the couch to watch American Horror Story. No longer do I feel the kind of adrenaline I used to get finding a cute and new dress to ring in the new year or pay a ridiculous amount to reserve the best table. I loved that I ended the night on the couch in front of a good show. A friend of mine recently exclaimed, “I’ve become boring.” I told her she wasn’t boring and that we are just aging. Showing up for brunch and clinking glasses over happy hour (read super early dinner time) are now our things. Our bodies cannot handle closing down bars and then caravanning to the after-party. I don’t miss that kind of leisure but it is stunning to me my first shift in social interests. With 7 months away from my 30th birthday, this shift came just in time.

imageNew Year's Eve

New Year's EveNew Year's Eve

2012 in Review

2012 was the best year I’ve had. I climbed out of my rut, maintained my dearest friendships, explored more bits of North America, and incorporated more sparkles into my wardrobe. It has been a beautiful year and I can’t believe it’s over. Below is my annual bullet recap.

Previous years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Note: All links open in a new window.

January

February

  • Had a fun blogger meet up centered around Austin’s Livestrong Half Marathon.
  • Kim and I exchanged care packages in the name of love. Mine from her is pictured here.
  • Hosted a fun sleepover with Naz while Alan was in Vegas for a bachelor party.
  • Acted as one of twelve judges at the That Takes the Cake cake competition. I taste tested 36 desserts. This was a mini dream come true!
  • I climbed Enchanted Rock for the first time with my coworkers on Leap Day.

  • Mini #BiSC Blogger Meet Up in Austin

March

  • Attended wedding Bill’s and Jennifer’s wedding.
  • Bob met my parents for the first time.
  • I taught Bob the “Bang Bang” trick.
  • Alan and I celebrated 4 years together at one of our favorite restaurants.
  • Went to a few SXSW music shows.
  • I took a week off from work because I realized I was at my max limit of PTO. It was a productive staycation.
  • I bought Alan and I Kevin James tickets for our anniversary. He was hilarious. It was the first time I experienced his standup.
  • Went to Houston for dad’s birthday.
  • Kim and I played love vandals and left paper cranes around Houston’s Historic Heights.

  • Alan and I at Jennifer and Bill’s wedding (St. Patrick’s Day)

April

  • Planted 4,000 tree seeds at the Wildflower Center as part of my volunteer resolutions.
  • Had a shooting range date with Alan.
  • Took a weekend road trip to Arkansas with Treavor, scratching out a new state in my 50 states goal.
  • Treavor convinced me to climb a mountain in Arkansas.
  • Best Dudie Friend visited my Sketchbook in Brooklyn. He sent me the photos from his disposable camera. I kind of loved the fuzzy quality.

  • Treavor and I on top of Mount Pinnacle

May

  • Had a lot of fun dreaming and journaling the Prosperity Game.
  • Went to Bloggers in Sin City and met 59 other bloggers, a handful I had been hoping to meet! It was a fantastic time and I smile every time I think back on that weekend.
  • Began training to be a Dishcrawl Ambassador.
  • Went to book signing party of Michael Natkin’s Herbivoracious.

  • Bloggers in Sin City

June

  • Hopped on a trolley and toured Austin’s mac and cheese scene with Google Local.
  • Celebrated National Donut Day by going to a 24 hour donut shop past midnight. I love a good simply glazed donut.
  • Saw Snoop Dogg in concert.
  • It was a hard month and the sweet gals from Totes Awesome Channel were in the know so they surprised me with gorgeous delicious cupcakes!
  • Reunited with my half sister in Pittsburgh. It was my first visit to Pittsburgh but not my first time in Pennsylvania. This was one my most profound experience in 2012.

  • With my sister at her luau

July

  • Hosted Austin’s first Dishcrawl.
  • Helped the philanthropy committee of Austin Food Bloggers Alliance host a charity event benefitting Bake A Wish, a local nonprofit.
  • Accepted a new job position at a software company the day before my birthday.
  • Treavor came to visit for a night and we saw one of the best movies of 2012, Magic Mike.
  • Celebrated my 29th with sweet friends with dinner and drinks.

  • Celebrating my birthday

August

  • Moved to a new apartment with Alan and Bob.
  • Started a new job where one of my college friends also works.
  • Hosted Austin’s second Dishcrawl.
  • Rode my first Segway with Brandi. I’m a slowpoke on the Segway.
  • Participated in my third year of VEDA (Vlogging Every Day in August).
  • August was super stressful with moving, starting a new job, VEDA, and planning and hosting another Dishcrawl. Whew!

  • On Segways

September

October

  • Bought a new to me car!
  • Gave Alan 28 gifts for his 28th birthday, on the day of his birthday we went to the West Virginia vs Texas football game.
  • Went to Marfa with Kim (and Oprah and Gayle and Ryan Gosling) and spent the night in a teepee.
  • For the first time in ten years, I didn’t dress up for Halloween and go out. I had an awesome time avoiding the drinking and the parties. Is this a sign of getting older? I think so.

November

December

  • Had a morbid date with Cindy and explored the National Museum of Funeral History. It’s actually a fantastic museum with a fascinating and impressive collection! Post to come soon.
  • Trail of Lights returned to Austin and I walked it with Alan and my little (Big Brothers Big Sisters of America). They met for the first time this night and it was great to see them hit it off. Little said Alan has swag.
  • Had a Love Actually date with Anita and Ashley complete with tomato soup and grilled cheeses.
  • Enjoyed crepes for lunch on Christmas Eve with Davey.
  • Had hot pot with BFF and her brother and mom. A Christmas Day tradition!
  • Kim and I had our balloon release date for the 6th consecutive year. We didn’t release balloons this time (did you know there is a global shortage of helium?). We did Chinese paper lanterns.
  • Tonight we’re ringing in the year at a friend’s place and playing board games. I’ve been having board game hankerings!

  • Wish Lanterns




So that was my 2012. It was fantastic! Hope you have a great end of year tonight!


Question: What are five highlights that happened in your 2012?

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 117)


1.

Last week of the month (year!) so it’s no topic week on Totes Awesome Channel.


Youtube Link


2.


Current Reads:
Cesar’s Way by Cesar’s Way
Insurgent by Veronica Roth

If I finish these two books over the weekend, I’ll finish my 50 books resolutions! I think I can swing this!


3.


Anita tagged a photo of me on Facebook and I completely forgot I did this with her.


Hayyyyyy.


4.

Guys, 2013 is practically here! I’ll post my annual year review on Monday. Before the end of the year, I hope to read the two books and buy myself flowers one more time to squeeze two more completed resolutions. I also hope to deep clean the apartment for good luck.


5.


My friend Cindy gave me a blue egg for Christmas and had me crack it open. Inside was an adorable baby penguin. To read more about how and why, check out her blog post about her penguin creations.


6.


I have been eating pretty horribly the last few weeks. I used to be able to stomach long stretches of junk food and coffee but I think as I get older (gulp), my body is less forgiving of my health trespasses. My stomach has been unsettled for weeks. I am slowly reintroducing vegetables and I stopped coffee (something I never thought I’d ever do!) for a few days and am feeling better already. It’s both a relief and a disappointment to me. I can fix this problem but the hedonistic eating has new limitations now.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: releasing our wishes into the sky ♥ quality time with my Houston people ♥ glitter temporary tattoos ♥ funeral museum date ♥ goal setting for 2013 ♥ crepe date with Davey ♥ cuddle time with Bob ♥ Watching American Horror Story with Alan ♥ romantic dinner and a movie date with an old girlfriend ♥ momma’s food ♥ Christmas day dinner with Jennifer

Question: Are you scrambling to get anything done before the new year?

Throw Your Dreams Into Space Like a Kite


“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.”

– Anaïs Nin

wish lantern

wish lantern

My favorite yearly tradition is the one I share with Kim. For six years now, we meet around the advent of a new year with two helium filled balloons. One balloon is designated for things we’re letting go in the coming year, the other is for our hopes and dreams. In addition to our lists, we also write a fitting quotation for each balloon. This year we learned that there is a global shortage of helium and that it cannot be synthesized. In hopes not to be part of that problem we chose to release prayer lanterns instead.

What a beautiful sight to see our wishes light up the sky.

3rd Year Balloon Release
4th Year Balloon Release
5th Year Balloon Release


Question: What are your hopes and dreams for 2013?

Wordless Wednesday: 5th Annual New Year’s Balloon Release




Want to read more on this tradition?
4th Year Photos and Quotes
3rd Year Photos and Explanation of Tradition

For more Wordless Wednesdays from others, click here.

Hello, 2012!





The Host with the Host’s Cup










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?

2011 in Review

I’ve posted yearly recaps since 2008. I’m a stickler for tradition so here’s my recap for 2011.

Previous years: 2008, 2009, 2010

I had a good year.

Note: All links open in a new window.

January

February

  • It snowed.
  • I didn’t see Alan often because of his work.
  • BDF (Best Dudie Friend) visited Austin! This ended up being the only time I saw him this year.
  • BDF surprised me with cookies. His note gets me Google search hits that make me a little sad.
  • Sent out Valentine cards and socks to my girlfriends.

  • Alan and I hanging out

March

  • Alan took me to my first NBA game, Heat vs. Spurs.
  • BFF had cake balls delivered to me at work.
  • My solemate (deliberate misspelling) visited Austin.
  • Went to Austin’s 2nd Annual Bacon Takedown.
  • Went to Sketchbook Project 2011 tour stop in Austin.
  • Hosted my first giveaway on the blog.
  • Attended a free screening and Q&A with director of Meaning of Tea, a fantastic documentary about tea. Really!
  • Alan and I had a two part dinner to celebrate our three year anniversary at Haddington’s and Uchiko (my favorite restaurant).
  • Attended Austin Food Blogger’s Alliance Launch Party and applied for membership.
  • March was a turning point in my life. I faced myself in therapy. I’m still reaping the benefits.

  • At Sketchbook Project event

April

May

  • I got bangs impulsively, changing my do for the first time in 5 years.
  • Took a canoe trip with coworkers, facing a handful of irrational fears very reluctantly. Obviously, I survived.
  • I participated in Leo’s Habit Course and developed a palate for vegetables by eating one serving a day for 30 days.
  • Flew to Boston to see BFF. We drove to New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island, all three were states I’ve never visited.
  • Read 8 books this month.
  • Totes Awesome Channel was founded.

June

  • Went home to Houston for Father’s Day.
  • Rolled down a hill inside of a ball.
  • I hit a boulder with my car. I always hit non-moving objects. Anyway, this was the start of a chain of bumper problems during the rest of the year.
  • I hemmed my first dress! As part of my new year’s resolutions, I wanted to do 10 learning tasks with sewing. This was my first major lesson.
  • Went to third Annual Cupcake Smackdown

July

  • Met Ashley D, Ashley, and Nicole of Totes Awesome Channel and recorded a vlog.
  • Celebrated my 28th birthday simply with a dinner with Alan and then a movie and drinks with friends.
  • Made my favorite video: 28 Life Lessons from 28 People (for my 28th birthday).
  • I caught up to 2007 and got my first smart phone!
  • My friend, Naz surprised me with a vlog from my dad.
  • I got really cozy with Tennessee Williams and his movies. Cat on Hot Tin Roof is excellent!

  • Celebrating my birthday

August

  • Successfully completed VEDA despite being out of town twice and moving!
  • Met up Hillary and Alex in Dallas for our second girls’ weekend of the year.
  • Moved in with Alan.
  • Used my passport for the first time since renewing it 2007. Alan and I took a vacation to Vancouver, Canada, my new favorite city.
  • Saw the bats in Austin for the first time.

  • In front of the Vancouver Aquarium

September

October

November

  • Posted a blog post every day in November.
  • 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 my second blogger date with Treavor.
  • Attended a We Are Girls conference with my little. It was incredibly insightful.
  • 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.
  • Had a progressive meal day with Kim, Thomas, and friends.
  • During breaks between eats, we made paper cranes for Kim’s tree.
  • My bumper nearly killed Kim and me and got us murdered in the woods.
  • Made our sparkly tattoos dance.

December

  • 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!


Question: What happened this year with you?

2011 Resolutions


photo credit


Personal Finance

  • Reach $2,000 in my Vietnam fund. As of 1/1/2011, the balance is $580.48.
  • Max out my Roth IRA. I haven’t contributed to this account in two years!
  • Make $3,000 extra income outside my full-time job. I don’t know how but this sounds like a fun project.


Leisure

  • Complete 10 sewing tasks. I’m completed my first tiny project. It was sewing on a button! I know, elementary, but I needed to start somewhere.
  • Publish three food blogs a week. I’m starting next week. For every week that I’m off, I will up the Vietnam fund goal by ten dollars.
  • Try out 10 Vietnamese recipes. I’ve never cooked anything that was of my own culture.
  • Try 10 slow cook recipes.
  • Visit two new states.
  • Have a new experience once a week. This is my 6th ongoing year!
  • Visit best friend in Boston.
  • Take a trip with Alan.
  • Leave the country.
  • Read 40 books.


Relationships and Well-being

  • Drink 24 oz of water every day.
  • Have an active date with a friend twice a month.
  • Donate to every sponsorship for charity my friends take part in.
  • Start a shared gratitude journal with my little from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America.
  • Run a 5K for charity.


Question: What’s one fun thing you’re going to do in 2011?

2010 Resolutions Final Progress Report


photo credit

Although I’ve failed several of my resolutions, I’m still much better off for attempting than had I not made these goals at all. For instance, I wanted to go to Houston 10 times to visit family and friends because in 2009, I was in Houston only 3 times. I fell short of 10 visits but I still managed to be home and see my loved ones more than twice the year prior. Also, I didn’t make it to my goal of 40 books this year, but at 39.4 books, I read 19.4 more books than I did in the year prior. I’m much better off now, deepening my relationships in Houston and broadening my horizons in terms of my reading. So you see, I’m always a big fan of resolutions, even if you don’t fully meet your goals!

Alas, it’s time to let go these resolutions and make new ones for the new year. I’m already 4 days late, finalizing the list for 2011! Before I finalized 2011 resolutions, here is my final progress report for 2010.



    Financial

  • Rebuild year’s worth of emergency fund.
  • Transfer over my 401K from my previous job to my Roth IRA. FAIL
  • Do my own taxes.
  • Keep outings with my little from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America on a budget.

  • Leisure

  • Continue doing 1 new thing a week.
  • Visit a new state from my list. Drove to Oklahoma with Cindy a couple of weeks ago.
  • Read 40 books. (39.5/40) FAIL
  • Organize a book club.
  • Be more or less abreast with updates on 202 things in 1001 days. FAIL
  • Leave the country. FAIL
  • Write 15 letters.
  • Try out 20 new recipes (19/20) FAIL
  • Update movie, gratitude, quotations, and collage, and reading journal at least twice a month.

  • Community

  • Run a 5k for a charity.
  • See my little from Big Brothers & Sisters 2-3 times a month.
  • Donate to every sponsorship for charity my friends take part in.

  • Personal

  • Try at least 3 times to mend a relationship.
  • Not leave drawers and cabinet doors open.
  • Go to Houston ten times this year to visit friends and family. (7/10) FAIL
  • Be more organized. (Blog post to come on how I’ve become more organized)


Question: How have you made your life better in 2010?

Hello there, 2011.

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?