twenty-ten...

It is so hard to believe that Thanksgiving, Christmas and 2009 have all passed. I regret not posting more but even more, I regret not documenting my year in 2009. It was a roller coaster of a year with family, friends and life in general and looking back, it will be hard to remember all the little moments that made 2009 a good year.

Looking forward to 2010, I have a few goals -not resolutions because everyone knows that resolutions go out the window as soon as the newness wears off -- that I want to share.

Document more. A LOT MORE. I want to use my camera and really capture the times that I don't want to forget in the year ahead. Blog more to share these memories and experiences.

Be a better wife/sister/daughter and friend. In 2009, I had a hard time find a balance with being a wife but also caring for my Mom. I feel that sometimes, my husband took the back seat. He is such a great husband that he simply says he understands the situation and accepts it for what it is. It was hard for me to stay connected to my friends too. In the few emails, phone calls and the very rare times when I actually saw my friends, I realized what I was missing from those relationships. My sister and I grew closer in 2009 because of our Mom. I love that we are closer now but I want us to be closer on every level and not just because of our Mom. In 2010, I want to find the balance. I want to put my husband first, find time for my friends and grow closer to my sister all while being the best daughter I can.

Learn more. I have a few areas where I want to gain more knowledge -- photography/photoshop and sewing/embroidery. I want to learn to use these machines and become quite skilled at the same time.

Do more. More volunteering, specifically. I feel so fortunate to have the life and blessing that I have. Sometimes I take these things for granted. I want to find an organization where I can help others. I volunteered a lot when I was in college and I miss having a sense of fulfillment of helping others.

Take time for myself. I know, it sounds silly but over the past few years, I have not been as good to myself as I should be. I want to be healthy and happy. I want to start exercising and eat better. I want to do something that I enjoy and not feel guilty for it.

My hope for 2010 is to be the best me possible. {Cheesy, right!}

Greetings.. from New Orleans...

Good Sunday Morning.

As you read, I am currently looking out the window to a beautiful morning in New Orleans. I have a wonderful view of the city!

I am in New Orleans for work and unlike most work trips, I have some down time to do whatever my little heart desires. I have taken a stroll down Canal Street and plan to head down Royal this afternoon to do a bit of shopping!

Let me tell you .. the FOOD!! It is delish! I am enjoy every meal I have!

I brought my camera, but forgot the damned cord -- so I can't share the view I have of the city. Stay tuned, I will have these photos to share when I return.

Enjoy your weekend !

It is already Thanksgiving?!?

Where in the world has the time gone?! I think last time I posted was way back in the middle of October.

My apologies! Live has been busy - work, travel, Smooches and family. Nothing new has happened and I don't have the exciting news that I wanted to share! Sometimes life just doesn't work out the way we want it to. I just have to remember that God does have a plan for me.

It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Over the next week, I will be sharing some of the recipes I will be making for my family. I don't have photos, just really good recipes. Let me know if you make any of these for your family this year. I would love to have your thoughts.

I have the privilege of making Thanksgiving dinner for 20 of my family members! In some strange way, I am SO excited about. My sister keeps calling me Martha and I am getting used to it!

Stay tuned for those recipes!

Keeping Warm..

With all of the changes to the weather lately, I find myself needing a light jacket. It is too early to break out the winter coat and I don't like to wear my fleece to the office.

Here are a few that I like:

{forever 21}

{forever 21}

{New York & Company}

{New York & Company}

Where is your favorite place to shop for a new jacket?

Why Do They Do This To Me?

Why do the Missouri Tigers let me down? I don't know how much more I can take? Really, a loss to Nebraska and Oklahoma State? I didn't expect a perfect season but a few conference wins would be nice.

Dear Mr. Pinkel -- Where did you learn to coach football? I am starting to question your calls..

Dear Blaine Gabbert -- Can you please not suck so bad?

Dear Football Gods-- Please let things turn around for us Mizzou fans...

My husband and I would LOVE it if you could please play a bit better. Our neighbors don't like it when we yell at our television all night...

September Goals revisited

It is mid way through October and I failed {miserably, I might add} to keep up with tracking my goals. No excuses-- I simply failed! Not only did I fail about recapping my goals, I didn't even complete a majority of my goals.

Lets review:

1. Use my new treadmill three days of the week.

-- Not even once - maybe in November!

2. Make three new recipes.

-- Only one. Three cheese artichoke dip! YUM!

3. Share my recipes and reviews on the blog.

-- No photos, I didn't share the recipe, yet, but I will soon.

4. Read a new book this month.

-- I didn't even think about a book to read.. my brain was preoccupied...

5. Organize our office.

-- Oooh! I did get this done! Check! I organized the closet, bookshelves and the desk. I put up a few new prints and decor too. Again, no photos... :(

6. Get ready for Recruitment with my advisee.

-- I did get a good start on this, too. I have met with my advisee three times, decided on the voting process and feel so good about where we are now. Hopefully, we can keep things moving and continuing making process.

7. Sew some more cute stuff for *Smooches*.

-- I haven't even turned on my sewing machine since this post was posted. Oops! I have found some new patterns and fabrics that I can't wait to use. Stay tuned and I promise that I will have some items soon!

8. Set up my Flickr account.

-- Nope.

9. Plant tulips in the back yard.

-- HAHA. Didn't even think about it! And hopefully, we won't be in our current home much longer. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

10. Plant mums at my parents house

-- Scratched idea. When the weather changed so quickly, the mums would have died by now. Good thing I didn't waste my time.

11. Monogram my galvanized buckets before fall really gets here so I can show off my pretty mums!

-- My buckets are monogrammed but I don't have anything planted in them... sad :(

12. Take Maggie for a walk once a week.

-- Complete fail, again. Poor little Maggie only got a walk 5 times this month. And I didn't give her a single one. Her grandpa loves to take her for walks and since I was home so much recently, he took her for her well deserved walks!

Since October is half way over, I will wait until November to post goals. Hopefully, by that time, I will be settled done and in a better place to actually achieve my goals!

Does anyone else feel like a complete failure when you don't accomplish your goals? Help me feel better!

Fall TV

A lot of TV shows are now well into full swing. The husband and I are BIG tv fans! Here are a few of our favorites:

{One Tree Hill}

{Modern Family}

{The Good Wife}

{Cougar Town}

{Flash Forward}

{Glee}

{The Middle}

What are your favorite new or returning shows? Let me know what I need to start watching!

Giveaway time...

A good friend of mine, Natalie, is hosting a giveaway this week.

Head over to her blog and sign up. While you are there, tell her I sent you!

Celebrating...

It is my birthday week! Yes -- I said birthday WEEK.

I won't try to hide the fact that I have been struggling because I will be 25. A lot of people have been giving me a hard time because in reality, 25 in really not that old. I guess its a big birthday because I am no longer in my early twenties but now moving towards my late twenties. I am loosing my youth and it FREAKS me out.

Here is to a great week of celebrating with family and friends!

Where have I been..

Oh my goodness..

So I just realized that it has been about 6 weeks since I have updated my blog.... I am sure you have been wondering what I have been up to!

Well here is a very brief recap:

• My Mom has been in the hospital three times in the last six weeks. That alone has caused me to not have time to update the blog!
• Lots of trips down south to visit with Mom to make sure she is doing well because of the hospital stays.
• Lots of updates on the personal front-- and before anyone asks -- NO, I am not pregnant. (Even though, I SO want to be!!!) Once everything clears over, I promise I will give a detailed post about all of this business.
• House Hunting has begun again. This goes along with the personal life stuff, that I can't get into right now.

I have had zero time to do any updating to my blog. I apologize and will try to do better!

Now that I have an evening to sit down at my computer, I will be scheduling a few posts just to make sure that another six weeks don't pass before I post again!