re-solution
c: the act of determining
re-solved re-solving
transitive verb
: to reach a firm decision about
: to declare or decide by a formal resolution and vote
One of my favorite times of the year is January. What I love about this month is that it's a fresh start. For me, it is the opportunity to be something new. I know you can do this any time you want, but the administrator inside of me likes boundaries, calendars and schedules- so January is a chance to ponder last year and make the next year better. I'm not putting pressure on myself with resolutions, but I am going to Resolve to do some things differently.
Here are my personal resolutions for 2011.
Some are cliche and general, but in no particular order
1. Get better at being married. If you've been married you know it's no easy piece of cake. But with marriages dissolving around me left and right I am determined to work harder this year at learning to love and be loved.
2. Build my Spirit.
3. Be more kind. I know this seems trite, but recently I was in Walmart and this sweet, large Lady was just adorable and cheerful, and I thought in my head, "she sure is cute" and then I thought, "what good is this thought to her unless I tell her?" So I broke out of my inner-monologue and told her I thought she was adorable, and you know what, I thought she might cry! She threw her head back, laughed, smiled and grinned ear to ear with glassy eyes... and I thought if I would have kept that thought to myself I robbed both of us of a little encouragement and connection. So this year I am going to get out of my head and into life.
4. Expand my business... will have more on this
5. More Creative Projects
6. Finish opening a fantastic online store.
7. Take another Design-Photoshop Course
8. Pray
9. Sing
10. Work out regularly... ZUMBA
11. Believe the Truth Proactively
12. Be more adventurous
13. Write some books
14. Make more decisions
15. Read more
16. DO more stuff. I have a "treasure box" as my husband calls it, of coupons, gift cards, and ideas that expire, never accomplish or regret... so this year I'm going to DO.
I could go on and on honestly. I'm a list-maker, but I don't want to start a self-therapy session on here! :) But you should go make a list, it's so fun!
And as inspiration here are a few goals I met from 2010.
1. I pumped 100% for 6 months (and still milking) sorry if that's TMI
2. I took a hip-hop class that I used to daydream about dancing in, as I passed the window of the studio down-town!
3. I can fit into all my old clothes again. (except after Christmas I'm going to have to do a little work)
4. I had a baby and survived!
Happy New Year!
Cheers to what you resolve!
Now here's a pretty Cocktail...
Read more at Marthastewart.com: Sparkling Pear and Cranberry Cocktail Recipe - Martha Stewart Recipes
I was so happy the day after Christmas to see the winter snow settled outside. Snow can be so magical, not just because of the white sprinkled glamour but because it keeps you inside snuggled with your family. No where to go, but maybe to wander target for diapers and batteries in our snow shoes. We had a roaring fire and relished in the nothingness of a day inside.
There is something so quiet about the snow. As I was photographing our backyard I couldn't help but remember how the summer garden is resting with its' snow covered clothes. I know snow can get old after weeks of it, but this day it was just right, peaceful, silent and white.
Favorite Everyday Item: SODA STREAM
I am a soda water fanatic so this year I purchased a soda machine... and I have never been so in love with an appliance. I have the same drink every day: 1/3 cup of Orange, Mango Peach Juice with 1.5 cup of Soda water. I can't live without it. It's a healthy orange soda and I can make it as sparkly as I want. (ask my husband- I'm kinda crazy about it)
You can get one too at Bed Bath & Beyond or Crate & Barrel.
Better than Izze!
Favorite Treat:
Toasted Croissant with Orange Marmalade & Nutella
Favorite Wine:
Thanks to my dear friend Jessie who brought this to me after having my baby; we love this wine, and it's a really good deal at Trader Joe's...
Lambrusco White Sparkling Wine. It's sweet and girly.
Favorite Inexpensive find: Forever 21:
Since I have moved through 5 different sizes and back again through pregnancy and after baby, finding clothes was a challenge. But I tell you I couldn't live fashionably and affordably without Forever 21. I wore stretch pants ($4.00) and slit the back while I was a growing preggo, and then they had great yoga pants for after baby (with that little tummy tuck band built in)... and now they have stretchy skinny jeans with a stretch waste, so you can feel skinny but not uncomfortable. I think I spent like $60.00 there after the baby and got a whole Fall wardrobe. So there's my salute to XXI.
Jeggings... $11.50 of course I don't tuck my shirt in when i wear these... the top is too maternity-looking to me.
A new kind of garnish: Arugula
I watched alot of the Food Network this year maybe more than ever. Giada uses arugula in alot of her dishes, and since you can get a pack of it for $1.99 at TJ's I have learned to add this peppery green to everything. At the end of a pasta dish you can throw in a handful raw and it kind of wilts and crunches as I nice alternative to spinach- cause I'm tired of Spinach. :)
I even add it on top of soups, stews etc... to have that nice bite of something green. I made up a a dish based on an Italian recipe and made it for Christmas and it was delicious!
"Apple Pork Roulade". (with wilted arugula) Served with marinara dipping sauce. So easy, so good. (It's going in my cookbook that one day I will print)
Favorite Blog:
Favorite Place to go grocery shopping:
Favorite Snuggler
(this was our sick-week)
Sneak peak into my Christmas morning!
My new bike, I am sooo excited about riding! Now I have to find a baby-seat and a basket to make it complete.
His & Her anthropologie cups.
A gingerbread house kit that is still sitting out...
If you find yourself surfing the internet this Christmas and land here, this video will cheer you up! The best rendition of the Nativity story I've ever seen!
Merry Christmas!!!
This has nothing to do with Christmas, but maybe you'll want to online shop after you get some Christmas money...
A few months before my pregnancy with Isabel my husband and I were shopping in Paris and I went into one of my favorite international stores, MANGO. (I believe it's from Spain) I purchased some high-wasted jeans and a cute skirt, came home from our trip and found out my extra weight gain was not due to cheese and bread but baby girl! However, I never got to wear my new clothes because they were waiting for Fall, and Fall came and went as I rounded out.
WELL I finally can wear my MANGO jeans (and they don't seem as cute for some reason?- maybe I was excited to buy them because we were in Paris... blah blah).
So I randomly found MANGO online tonight and rekindled my like for this store! I think I like them because it seems a little more grown-up than your typical Urban Outfitters but more Euro than the Gap. Anyway, here's to fitting into my jeans!
For a high fashion store, their sales are really great, and cheaper than anthropologie... ;) Here's a board of sale items I am digging. I love those shoes.
But speaking of style... I was looking at some upcoming fashion trends and I'm a little nervous. It was long Amish looking skirts, socks with sandals and nude neutrals (which are really hard to pull off without the right skin-tone) Anyway, this alarmed me a little, but then again I still don't like stone-washed jeans so I'm sure I'll get over it (but I won't be wearing long ankle skirts... I just can't, it will remind me of my Malaysian Missionary days).
These are actually kind of cute, but pose a problem for my constant secretly mis-matched socks under my boots! Will you wear socks and sandals?
Here's a raw little video of some of my friends singing on their back-porch. If this doesn't put you in the mood for winter & love I don't know what will... :) They are a married couple who are photographers, songwriters, speakers etc...
This song reminds me of one of my favorite Damien Rice songs.
Enjoy.
As the holidays are approaching the cold this year is keeping me inside on the computer (and playing with my rolly-polly). I really need to do some Christmas shopping but I've just been a little Christmas nester these days... there's always next week right?
If you need a little Christmas-decor inspiration, this is what our house looks like this year!
Hot Pink Poinsettias and healthy orange clementines for display... (don't worry we do have a cookie jar too)
Check out our homemade ornaments...
And this year I made a crafty annual interchangeable wreathe... (more on this later)
Merry Christmas!
If you are interested in some new jewelry visit my Etsy! It's back up and running, and I've added a few new pieces. It's Christmas time...
Here are some quick pictures of my eskimo sweetheart... We're getting ready for winter over here... it's so cold, I can't believe there was snow yesterday.
And as you can tell... I'm working on re-doing the face of my blog. You like? And my new photography site is coming along nicely as well!
Isabel got some new kicks from Uncle Ben H. (She has 2 Ben uncles)
Yep we're almost walking at 6 months!!! ( And tumbling on our head all day ) So the hat keeps her warm and acts as a helmet for her trust fall into the wind. And though I'm super proud of my tumbling, rolling, crawling, walk-scooting, climbing baby... I'm tired!
I could kiss her little cheeks forever.
Part Two of the Poston's Autumn Wedding!
If you've visited the little bird button on my blog, then you've seen the story of little Sparrow Mathis, and considering what is going on right now I feel it is only fitting to share my recent photo shoot with her...
Sparrow is close to four months old and has had 2 major and 1 minor surgery on her heart ALREADY, the last one occurred a few days ago. As her parents nervously paced the hallways while their little bird was in surgery I couldn't help but look at her pictures every day and think what courage all of them had! It takes a strong family to endure what they have, and stick together so well, I am so proud of them. (Did I also mention that Jessie, the momma, is my bestie?) If you'd like to read her story and enter the journey of this little family click on the button and visit their blog.
Now enjoy these photos of the little sweet thang, and pray for this little heart to beat forever like it's supposed to!
Love you little girl!
Also, check out this awesome video by Ed Field of Sparrow's baby daddy singing her a song... and visit his website, Mark Mathis , if you want to get more music.
Did I mention Sparrow's parents are Rockstars?
If you live in Charlotte, then you've been to the Yiasou Greek Festival! Djordje and Carol were married at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral this Fall... and it was a beautiful cultural event. Djordje's Uptown restaurant Intermezzo Cafe, catered this wedding and the food was AMAZING... I'm serious, go eat there if you live in Charlotte!
One thing I loved about this event (again, other than the food and dancing) was that everyone received a flowering herb corsage. So there was a pleasant smell on every shoulder!
Walking around the alter...
Dancing!
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