resolutions.

I must admit that I am resolution kind of girl. I'm introspective and goal-oriented by nature, so with the start of a new year--and another birthday around the corner, too--I can't help but resolve to try something new, change some behavior, or get a new perspective, as long as I'm letting the Lord in on the act of changing. Through the wondering eyes of my early-twenties self, I made lots of lists of resolutions. I never once accomplished everything on a list, but I never felt like a failure and I never regretted attempting to try. But I liked the chance to try and the possibility of it all. And I have pages of journals reminding me who I used to be and how far I've come.

These days, I forgo the massive lists in favor of mottoes for the next 365 days. Last year, in an effort to live life as it happens, embrace the unexpected, and live in the moment, I chose "life is a journey" as my words to live by. I'm far from a changed woman, but I appreciate the new way of thinking about living.

This year, I am resolving to be more of a glass-half-full kind of person. I want to see the silver lining. I want to look up. I want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, His light, and find joy in the everyday. Here's to 2009, and another chance to live.

What are your resolutions for 2009?

Happy New Year to you all!
xxx

merry christmas.

Wishing you a wonderful day with family and friends and good food, celebrating the miracle and grace of our Savior's birth.

"And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 1And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

Merry Christmas!


xxxx

i even used the kitchenaid mixer.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am not a baker. My idea of baking from scratch is breaking out the canola oil and box of Betty Crocker brownie mix. My Kitchenaid mixer was inherited from my sister, and its permanent home is on the top shelf of our cupboard, the only access a step stool. I bake from actual scratch about once a year when I make pumpkin cake for Thanksgiving.

I spent the day playing stay-at-home wife, a welcome novelty to the drone of going into the office every day. My masquerade as a domestic goddess concluded with a batch of homemade-from-scratch muffins. I'm not sure what possessed me. It must have been the holidays.

In our short three years together, Paul and I have developed a tradition of doing our Christmas together at night, a few days before Christmas. We don cozy pajamas, open gifts, and eat breakfast for dinner. This year, in the wake of missing out on a Christmas in California, I decided to carry on some of my mom's famous Christmas breakfast traditions, the most important of which are her baked eggs. I saw a recipe for donut muffins last month and have been craving them ever since. Because the blogger who introduced me to the most precious-sounding baked good ever wouldn't be in my kitchen, my only option was to bake the muffins myself. So I did, hopefully starting a new breakfast tradition for my own family.





Click here for the donut muffin recipe.

xxxxx

advent tradition.

As we did in 2007, this season we are following a homemade advent calendar as it gives us activities to do each day. One of the best activities was our trip to the conservatory, a glass house dedicated to tropical plants and seasonal flora, sitting amongst the hills and overlooks of one of Cincinnati's biggest parks.



In the spring, the conservatory houses a gorgeous display of tulips, daffodils, and other spring delights. In the winter, of course, it shows off a massive display of poinsettias.



Since it wasn't too cold out, after a trip through the gardens, Paul and decided to walk around the park. (One of my very favorite things about Cincinnati are all the gorgeous--and free!--parks.)







We ended the afternoon with a look out over the river to Kentucky, one of my favorite views in the city.



What are your traditions for the advent season?

first snow fall.

Saturday, Cincinnati saw its first real snowfall. I awoke to a cozy view, the street bathed in the quiet of the snowfall. After I enjoyed my morning cup of French Roast and the falling snowflakes settled down, I invited Paul on a backyard snow adventure to snap photos of the winter wonderland.