Dinner al Fresco

Summer is so close!  Anthony and I had an eventful, fabulous, family wedding weekend, and are pleased to be back in our own apartment tonight, relaxing to music, the comfort of our livingroom and the glow of laptop screens (as I blog and he plows through the final days of graduate school coursework).  On Thursday night, we celebrated the new warmer weather and the early arrival of our weekend with a simple, tasty dinner in the backyard:  fresh field greens with tomatoes, peppers and crumbled gorgonzola, a homemade rice pilaf, and pork on the grill for Anthony/spicy black bean burger on the grill for me.  Summer dinners outside are one of my very favorite things.  They signal a freedom and relaxed, intimate atmosphere that makes me feel that life is simple and happy, which is sometimes just what the heart and soul need.

February Break

Paperwork, cleaning, coffee, exercise, art, blogging, photography, baking, magazines, comfort, graduate school, wine, family, inspiration, books, candles, laundry, old friends, pbs masterpiece, dining out, fresh bread, quiet.

Twelve by 2012

{logo from Oh, Hello Friend's Twelve by 2012 project}

I'm participating in Danni's Twelve by 2012!  Oh, Hello Friend is one of my favorite blogs, and now that I actually have time to READ blogs again, I've been playing a little bit of catch up and came across this post from a couple of weeks ago.  Yes, I am a huge procrastinator.  Surprise!  (Okay, you're not surprised).  But, we can always have lofty goals, can't we?  I spend an awful lot of time making lists - they make me feel a little more organized when everything else around me is feeling chaotic - and, when I actually start using them, it turns out they work!  My wedding to do list became my ultimate go-to during that final week when I could hardly remember my name, let alone manage the projects I had left to complete, or even the item I had entered a store to purchase!  Oh, don't get me started.

Anyway, the point is that when I read about the Twelve by 2012 project, and realized that there are so many others out there who procrastinate just like me, yet manage to still be creative, inspiring individuals, I just had to jump at the chance to join others in plugging through my to-do list, in hopes that the team spirit of the project will motivate me to stay on task, and really work to complete EVERYTHING on this list, even through the lovely rush of the holiday season.  I'll try to record my progress here (see goal #4...)


Without further ado, my twelve:

1.  Record wedding memories with Anthony
A suggestion from my cousin, we've talked about doing this every day since the wedding.  Granted, it's only been a whopping nine days, but still, the sooner the better, we don't want to let the emotions and small moments slip away.   Time to plan a date night, pop some popcorn and write down every little detail we can possibly stir up about that magical, blurry day.

2. Finish my sketchbook!!!
I joined the 2012 sketchbook tour this year!  My little kraft-paper bound book so often sits dormant in my craft room/office, but I am truly dedicated to making this a success, and not letting the opportunity to join in something so brilliant pass me by.  The post-marked-by date is January 31st, 2012!

3.  Thank you cards
Alright, this is kind of an obligatory one, but it's also very important to me.  I kind of love writing thank-yous.  Because I love to receive a card or piece of mail that makes me feel as though the sender actually thought about what they wrote and their reasons for sending the card, I am dedicated to sending thoughtful thank you messages, not simply cards with a generic sentiment and my signature.  It can be tricky and time-consuming, but I think it's so worth it.  Getting out all of my wedding thank-yous WAY before December 31st 2011 might just be at the very top of my list!

4. BLOG!
Self-explanatory?  I've let my blog grow stagnant, despite the satisfaction and creative outlet it's afforded me in the past.  Back in the game, it is! 

5.  Plan out my Etsy shop
I don't say start, because I truly don't want to rush the process.  So many of my crafty endeavors feel rushed in the end, and as a result, I'm not satisfied with the results.  When I open my shop, I want it to be right.  Maybe not perfect, as there should always be room for change, improvement and creative thinking, but it should be well thought out and carefully, not hastily, assembled.

6.  Study for the GREs
Like the thank you cards, this is another one with a due date earlier than December 31st, but I believe it still belongs on the list.  It's a serious goal!

7.  Apply to masters programs
This has to happen, and it has to be before January.  No questions, no excuses.  This one is a life list goal.

8.  Learn to style my hair
Yowza!  A silly, selfish goal, I know, but at the age of 27, I am still unsatisfied with my own abilities to wrangle my heavy, straight and non-conformist head of hair.  Pinterest is packed with photos and mini-tutorials on how to style hair at home, while still looking a little more glam than a simple pony tail.  I need all the help I can get.

9. Trim down my email inbox to under 30 and keep it there!
This goal is borrowed, but nonetheless important.  Every now and then I get the urge, and really go all in wiping clean my email inbox.  I'll stay dedicated for a few weeks, but then, something happens, and I let it all slip away from me again.  Curse those clothing store junk emails!  Right now my inbox is at an embarrassing 737 emails, with 457 of those UNREAD!  Disturbing.  Time to unsubscribe from some lists, once and for all.

10.  Use my new Kitchen Aid mixer at least 5 times
Tis the season to bake and share!

11.  Send out Christmas cards!
I want to do this every year, but never seem to make it happen.  What better time to start than our first Christmas as a married couple?  Soaking up all that newlywed energy and enthusiasm while I can! 

12.  Take more photos
I've missed doing this over the past year or so.  Being bummed out, trying to figure out life plans, and, of course, wedding planning all got in the way, and I'm a little saddened at the sight of so many large gaps of time in my photos folders.  Here's to recording the rest of our 2011 adventures!

Setting sail

[View from the Schooner Eastwind - Maine 2011]

Hello, little blog!  Long time, no see.  Though I've been away for months, I hope you don't think you never crossed my mind.  You did.  I've thought of you often, in fact.  Plenty of things have happened, adventures have been had, desserts have been baked and photos have been taken - some of those photos were even snapped with this little webspace in mind.  I hope to share as much as possible, and bring my blogging life back to, well, life in this next year.  Turns out, balancing work, relocation, a wedding, a blog and plenty of other crafty endeavors all at the same time can be tough, but I'd like to think I'm up to the challenge.  Here goes!