Happy 2012! Yeah, I’m a bit late with this post, but I couldn’t resist adding a 2011 recap/appreciation rundown, because it was truly a phenomenal year for me. So many big changes, amazing trips, happy feelings, and so on. So here goes.

In 2011, I/we

• began the year by doing handstands
• got laid off from Myspace and began a happier new chapter of life
• visited friends in Italy, saw Naples, Rome and the Amalfi Coast
• went snowboarding in Big Bear (Julian’s first time!)
• bought road bikes!
• gave up sweets for Lent (SO hard)
• celebrated our first anniversary in Kauai, Hawaii
• Julian interviewed James Cameron!
• started running, met my goal, and ran my first 5k
• decided to go back to school to become a veterinary technician (& got straight As my first semester!)
• went to Chicago to have fun in the city & visit family nearby
• said goodbye to Noah, my family’s loving yellow Lab
• celebrated 4th of July with the beach & Hall & Oates
• moved to the valley and into our first REAL house, spent a week with my little brother & sister, and welcomed Frank to our family! (all in one week – crazy!)
• celebrated my 29th birthday at the Gentle Barn
• had the most wonderful Thanksgiving with J’s family back in Nashville
• said goodbye to Julian’s Great Grandma Dorty, one of the most unique and inspiring women I’ve ever met.
• welcomed visits from many friends and family
• spent an incredible week in NYC and VA over Christmas
• hosted our first party here at the house on New Year’s Eve

In 2012, I hope to:

• visit my Grandparents in Scotland this summer
• make the most of our trip to Mexico (later this month!)
• be the best Maid of Honor ever for my little sister Ana
• grow my hair long
• keep running
• eat breakfast everyday
• start volunteering at a veterinary hospital
• finally hang some art on the walls of our house
• be a more patient, appreciative, and proactive friend, sister, daughter, and wife

Today I laced up & went running for the first time since before Thanksgiving. I’m not sure exactly why I went on a two month hiatus, but I think it had to do with the intense amount of training I was attempting (I jumped into a 10k training program after my 5k), not to mention the stress of finals, holiday traveling, and of course, cooler temps. I mean, the temperature isn’t too bad around here of course, but the earlier sunset meant my evening running routine didn’t work as well.

Now that the holidays are over & we’ve had extraordinarily mild weather, I knew I needed to hit the pavement. But I kept putting it off. And putting it off. Then last night I had the worst time trying to fall asleep, and I knew it was time. Sleep should not be hard to come by if you are healthy! The straw that broke the camel’s back though was this morning when I was moping around the kitchen, head in my hands, having a little self-pity party, feeling super depressed for no reason at ALL. Moody as I may be, I’m smart enough to recognize annoying behavior in myself and I knew right away that today was the day I needed to get back out there! My moods are always so much better when I’m exercising regularly.

My run went well, but my break added a few minutes to my 5k time. It’s amazing how quickly you can lose all that training! I feel great though, and only felt like I might throw up once. Excellent!

Now I don’t feel quite so guilty about devouring that super-size vegetarian lasagna.

Photo: livehealthyworkhard

Photo: Elizabeth Messina

So, I have a new obsession… kale chips! I just made my first batch ever (using this recipe) with some leftover kale (which I used in chicken soup… caught a cold over Christmas break), and both Julian and I were shocked at how delicious they are. It isn’t often you find something that good for you that also tastes amazing. Of course, most of the health factor is taken out when you coat something in olive oil & salt and bake it at a high temp… but it’s better than potato chips! I think I’m going to have to make these for our New Year’s Eve party.

Also, I haven’t updated since finals or Christmas vacation, but both went great & I will update more soon!

Photo: TastyKitchen

P.S. Only one more final to go. I am *pretty sure* I got As on my first three, but time will tell. Hope you are all getting excited for the holidays! I know I am!

Happy December, everyone! Let the guilt-free Christmas music-listening, holiday decorating, sequin-wearing, and shopping officially begin. Only two and a half more weeks of school and then we will be off to NY and Virginia to celebrate the holiday right. But as I’m sure is the case for many of us, I have a looooot to get done between now & then (finals, for one), so I know you’ll forgive my silence on the blog. I have the entire month of January off of school so who knows, maybe I’ll be posting more. Though I will definitely enjoy the mental rest as I have a full 17 credits ahead of me in February. Wow.

P.S. A little tip from me to you… these Oreo fudge brownies (unfortunately) taste as good as they look. Good luck resisting!!

Toodles.

Photo: TutorArt

Quote by Einstein. Print by Society6.

Please tell me I’m not the only one out there that is losing it over this. I haven’t been this excited since the Sex & The City movies. I can only hope this turns out better than those did!

scarf season! • boars’ hair brushes • crisp, cool November days in LA after a big rainfall • hot showers • the way going for a run when I feel like crap makes me feel so much better (need to remember this one more often) • blueberry pancakes & peach mimosas • buying presents for my husband for no reason – or rather, just because he deserves it! • when a book you’ve reaaaally been wanting to read finally comes up in your library queue • getting new dog bowls for Frank in the prettiest turquoise color • getting the catalog of classes for Spring semester (I’ve always loved picking classes & class times… is that weird?) • not having a test for at least another week and a half • running to Girl Talk • having a clean house (or at least one that is neat/tidy with no dirty dishes/laundry – that to me is clean, regardless of the last time a bathtub has been scrubbed, ha) • finding new blogs that are so interesting I want to read them from start to finish (or current) • getting an A on my first case report! • vanilla flavored coffee • when Julian’s friends take the trash out for me (that is my least favorite chore, therefore I make my husband do it, and on occasion, his friends) • sweet potato season! • only 5 more weeks until winter break! • and finally, lions & tigers & bears.

Photos: West Elm / National Geographic