In the End, it Looks Like We Always Get a Chance to Start Over Again...

2011 is quickly drawing to a close. It's true what they say about the older you get the faster the time goes. This year flew by. When I started thinking back over the year, I sort of started to get a little depressed. It didn't seem like to much has changed from this time last year. We're still in Monterey and I still work at Old Navy. Where I am today seems a lot like where I was a year ago. Has life stagnated so much already? Did I really do nothing this last year that strikes emotion or pride or even stand out as remotely interesting?? How sad...
But then I got to thinking: stuff did happen this year. I turned 21 (not in the way I imagined though; we celebrated our 1 year wedding anniversary in San Francisco; I had a couple of girlfriends to actually hang out with in the beginning of the year; I got my hunting license; I shot a gun for the first time; I went kayaking for the first time; I welcomed a new baby nephew; I flew for the first time; went to Chicago for the first time. I also gained enthusiasm for fitness and started rethinking my health and fitness lifestyle. I've also accustomed more to being a wife and living on our own. Maybe not major or exciting things, but this year hasn't been a waste.
Mulling over this past year of course got me thinking of the year to come. The year has the makings of being an eventful one. Ty will graduate in July and he'll go to Texas. While he's there, I'll most likely go back home. So, bye bye Monterey. I love Monterey, but I'm ready to get somewhere where we know we're going to be for awhile. There's been nothing but uncertainty here. After Texas, we'll move across the country again, this time to the opposite coast. There's going to be a lot of moving and starting over in a little amount of time. And these are only the things that I know are going to happen.
I have a lot I want to accomplish this year, as I do every year. I know everyone sets resolutions that they don't actually keep, but I'm making goals. I want to do more and make more of this year than I did 2011. I want to make everyday full.
Here's the list I have so far:

• Apply to a college
• Get financial aid for said college
• Learn more/Do more with my photography
• Journal
• Read a book every two weeks
• Spend less time on the internet
• Take more chances
• Try new things
• Stop saying no
• Read the Bible more regularly 
• Do more with my time
• Start saving for kids
• Eat cleaner
• Limit alcohol intake to 1 glass of wine a week
• 1 splurge day a month
• Workout 5-6 days a week
• Get stronger: work with heavier weights
• Go hiking more
• Learn to run
• Be able to run a 5k without stopping no matter how slow
• Then start working on speed
• Be proud and love my body

This is my list. I'm sure there's more I want to do, but I think this is a start. :)
What are some of your resolutions or goals for the coming year?
*I will do a traditional "Christmas" and vacation post once I get home and can actually fit my memory card into a computer to upload pictures. :/*

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Christmas Cards...aka Dressing Up and Posing Like Dweebs...

I remember the first Christmas the hubs and I were dating he got the crazy idea of doing Christmas cards together. We had only been dating like 5 months and had actually just gotten back together from a week long breakup ( I know). I remember being a little taken aback by it actually. Aren't Christmas cards something you do with like fiances or at least people you live with?? It definitely showed me how committed he was to the relationship and that he saw a future for us if he would do Christmas cards to send to his family.
We didn't do cards last year which is weird considering it was our first Christmas being married and having Pheobe and being away from home... probably would have been the ideal time to do them. Procrastination won that one.
But we finally got around to it this year! We could not decide how to pose or how to set up the pictures for the life of us. We eventually just ended up being crazy and having fun with it. No point to take ourselves too seriously. So laugh at us if you will, but admit it. We're kind of cute. In that incredibly dorky way...

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It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas...

So, I'm one of those people who believe that Thanksgiving is STILL a holiday and should not be shoved aside or looked over just so people get start their Christmas jubilation early. Don't get me wrong: I love Christmas. I am just a firm believer in everything having it's moment in the sun. Therefore I refuse to put up Christmas decorations a moment before Thanksgiving evening. Discussion over.
While I believe in the appropriate celebration of Thanksgiving, I will say that it is the worst weekend for me EVER. I work in retail and that week is retail HELL. And to top it off, my store opened at midnight Black Friday. So yeah. I basically did not see my husband for three days. Back to back shifts and very little sleep was the theme of the week. I can't wait for the day that I don't work in retail and can actually enjoy a Thanksgiving and maybe even participate in some Black Friday hoopla. Oh to dream...
But that's all over with (thank goodness!!) and my Christmas spirit is in full swing. We put up decorations last weekend dressed in appropriate Christmas apparel (lots of burgundy and sweaterness) with Pandora officially locked on Michael Buble Holiday channel and our Bath and Body Works holiday candles filling the air with a Christmas aroma. We actually didn't purchase any of our decorations save our tree. The family that gave us their furniture when they moved unloaded boxes of decorations on us thereby providing us with everything we needed. It's not all exactly our taste but we made it work. And hey, it was free.
I'm feeling really nostalgic this year for some reason. It's probably because we haven't been home or been with our families for a year. That's the longest we've ever been away from them. I am beyond ready to go home (in 2 weeks!!) and see everyone and relax. I'm excited to surrounded by snow (not looking forward to the cold though), food, drinks, a fireplace, and loved ones with no cares in the world...
We're flying this year as opposed to driving 36 hours like last year. While I'm relieved we don't have to make that torturous and exhausting trip, I'll admit I'm nervous about flying. I've never flown before (shocker I know) and I'm a little scared. My husband keeps telling me not to worry about it and that it'll be fine, but I don't think he gets it. I've NEVER flown before. I have a slight fear of it. I wish I wasn't such a horrible drunk so I could throw a few back before the flight and relax. Maybe I'll just take some NyQuill and pass out... :/
No matter what it takes, though, I'm going home. And I cannot wait. :)
*How was Thanksgiving for everyone else???*
I'll leave you with some pics of our decorating extravaganza:

Spiked apple cider and pumpkin muffins

Kahlua and coffee. Yeah, we're classy like that.

This is how we prepare for putting up lights...

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Rainy Day Adventure...

I love waking up on days off to the sound of rain on the roof. I love it even more when my husband has the day off and we can lie in bed enjoying the rain together. I had plans to workout and clean my sty of a house, but we shoved those plans aside for some frolicking in the rain. We are the only people I know who enjoy a rainy day almost more than a sunny day.
Our first mission was, of course, to look stylish. So we donned our classiest rainy day outfits  complete with rubber rain boots, scarves, and wool jackets. After loading up on too much coffee and packing a flask with some Kahlua, we made our way to the beach. It was perfect. The waves were fierce and even though it was rainy and chilly, we had a blast running around taking pictures. After the rain picked up, we decided to head out and do some shopping and ended with scouring Target for chili necessities. The day has been filled with coffee, rain boots, pictures, and jazz... Perfection. <3
Here's some of the pictures from our day (I love how these came out. Beautiful and completely unedited.)

Loving my outfit. :)

Yes. He's Singing in the Rain.

Man vs. The Elements

P.S. Shooting today made me realize how much I need to add either a zoom or wide angle lens to my Christmas list...:/

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Lust List...

Today is the first day of November. Can you believe it?? I can't. I'm actually kind of in denial if you want to know the truth. This year has flown by. It's really true what they say about getting older and time moving quicker. It's hard to believe that in just over a month we'll be flying home for Christmas. I can't tell you how excited I am to see my family and relax for a few days. It'll have been a year between visits. That's the longest I've ever gone without seeing my family. I'm not really homesick (I don't get homesick) it's just more that I miss them. It'll be nice to not have any responsibilities for a few days as well. No groceries to get, no house to clean, no work... It's like I get to be a teenager again for a week or two. I am definitely looking forward to that.
With Christmas approaching, I've subconsciously begun creating my Christmas list. I don't know why, considering Ty and I aren't doing gifts for each other and my parents are treating us to a trip to Chicago while we're home for our gift. This is more of "what I'm wishing for right now" list, I guess. Things I want to buy for myself more or less. Although, these will probably have to be post-Christmas since we have support the airlines this year and pay for our tickets home. Oh well. It doesn't hurt to look does it?

I'm dying for a new camera bag. I originally wanted one that looked like an actual purse, but I've found a couple of leather ones that are lovely. I really like this one, but I'm torn between black and dark brown. 

 

 

I am DYING over this. It must be in my life as soon as possible.

 

I know I could make these myself, but I just don't want to.

 

Loving these camera straps. Of course I'd get the blue one.

 

I really want to try and teach myself to run and I think this is my best bet. No excuses about weather to keep me from it.

 

 This is just the start of course. They're are of course apparel items I have my eye on, but that would be a much longer list... There are things I'm keeping my eye out for that I'll need when we go home. Going from 60 degrees to about 30 raises the need for some clothing adjustments.

I'm needing a better/warmer coat for going home. I found a GUESS? one at Macy's that I fell in love with (sort of similar to this one). I want a longer one that will keep me extra warm

 

Needing some boots. I'm torn between plain ones or fancy ones like these.

 

That's all for now. Happy November everyone!! Brace yourself for the holiday season.

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