reason to post!

My friends (and faithful blog-readers!) Dasha & Pasha had a beautiful baby girl yesterday. I had the honor of visiting Alice when she wasn't even one day old. Although she has some fiercely sharp nails, she is otherwise perfect. Congratulations Dash & Pash!

Feed Me!

Papa Pasha

Holding a baby is weird.

"Am I doing this right?" For the record, he seemed more normal holding Baby Alice than I did.

Alice's first girls' night.

Welcome Back Life

Dear remaining blog readers,
I’m back. I finished my exam Saturday afternoon.

Status: PassSince Saturday afternoon I’ve spent almost every free moment bike riding outside. Sorry rest of world, Austin was 70 degrees and sunny all weekend. The disadvantage to the beautiful January weather is horrible cedar allergies. Friends, I am suffering. The backs of my eyeballs have never been this itchy. Woe is me.

And as a reward for all the hard work I’ve done this past month, I bought a rolling pin!

Last night I listened to Jack Johnson and made Christmas cookies. Then while the cookies cooled, I also made dinner! The stress from the exam was seriously prohibiting my ability to succeed in the kitchen, so last night I made one of the best meals I’ve cooked in a long time. Recipe and picture from Health-Bent. If you like sweet potatoes, I highly recommend this deliciously healthy meal.

Chris got home from work in time to pick his own pizza toppings. Thus leaving my potato with not nearly enough sausage. Note to self: next time, make more toppings.

Favorite Things 2012

I know I am super behind this year. It’s 100% the fault of studying like a maniac so I pass my PHR exam. So, before it’s already February, I present the third annual, Favorite Things! Year One. Year Two.

A list of some things that made me happiest all year long:
1. Exercise

After my first (and probably last) half marathon
In 2012 I ran my first 10k and my first half marathon. Since December 2011, I clocked-in at the gym 163 times. And, that doesn't include the hours I spent running outside, using the elliptical at my old apartment complex, or playing kickball or volleyball. To track my various workouts, I’ve been using Fitocracy for a little over a year. I have 226 recorded workouts since 12/27/11. Some of my favorite classes at 24 Hour were Natasha’s Power Sculpt and Athletic Training and anything taught by Tio. Goals for 2013 are completing my first triathlon and clocking-in at 24 Hour more than 163 times.

2. Larabars

Chris kept up with the Paleo diet for most of 2012. One of my favorite discoveries from this change in diet was Larabars. Unlike Luna or Cliff Bars, most Larabar flavors are made up of entirely fruits and nuts. Because the ingredients are so simple, I tried to make my own. I mixed nuts and dried fruit in the food processor, shaped them into bars, and put them in the fridge. Yeah, no. It about killed my hand-me-down food processor. So, I'll stick to buying them at Sam’s for <$1 each, or when they’re on sale at Sprouts or HEB. I think they make great breakfasts.

3. Favorite Beers

I thought I could have drank the Alaskan White all year. But since the weather changed this fall, I've been on a serious porter/stout kick. Sometime around Thanksgiving, Real Ale's Coffee Porter came into my life.

Things haven’t been the same since. One other beer worth mentioning is New Belgium’s Lips of Faith Imperial Coffee Chocolate Stout.

Do not drink the entire bottle yourself, it is quite strong. Share it and savor it.

4. Music

I know I'm not the only person who thinks there were really only three songs for most of 2012. Call Me Maybe, Somebody I Used to Know, and We are Young. Despite my love/hate relationship with those pop hits, this year I came to love Dave's new album and a plethora of other bands that all sound pretty much the same.

I liked them all, and got to see many of them at ACL Fest.

5. Hot Tea

Another change in my diet has been drinking lots more hot tea. I’ll drink something black and caffeinated in the afternoons at work, or something herbal and caffeine-free after dinner and before bed. It’s especially perfect when it’s 45 degrees in the house. (We try not to use our heater very much, and the last two weeks of cold weather are not helping our electricity bill).

6. Favorite Books from the Library
The library became one of my closest friends this year. The wait list was well worth it for these page-turners.

Often compared to Eat Pray Love, Wild is an autobiographical story of a 20 something woman hiking the Pacific Coast Trail (from California to the Oregon/Washington coast). It's a lot grittier than Eat Pray Love, but certainly has similar themes.

Although Amazon reviewers give it only 3 stars, Swamplandia! tied for the Pulitzer this year. About a young girl and her family of alligator wrestlers, it first reminded me of Julie of the Wolves. Which I hated. However, I think my age has made me more tolerant, and I thought that the Russell's story was fascinating. Her life is very different from mine, not to mention that she's only 31.

Probably my overall favorite of the year. The Night Circus is nuts. And when putting this post together I discovered that the movie rights have been sold. Visually, this book was amazing, so I can hardly wait to see what the producers of the Harry Potter series do with the movie.

7. Eco Vessel Water Bottle

The greatest water bottle invented, ever. I got my Eco Vessel 25-oz stainless steal filtration bottle for free from Dice, a recruiting vendor we don't even work with anymore. It keeps your water cold for hours. However, do not use it for anything other than water. Nate learned that the hard way, after he used the one I got him for his birthday to carry hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps to Trail of Lights. After countless washes, it still smells like peppermint. I highly recommend this for any water bottle connoisseurs out there.

8. Favorite TV shows

This year they were Game of Thrones, Gilmore Girls, and Downton Abby. Initially, I wasn't sure if I’d like GOT, as I’d heard it’s very sexual and very violent. And, while I don’t think all the nudity is necessary, the violence doesn't bother me, and the plot is thrilling. Season 3 starts in March, and it can’t get here any sooner! Gilmore Girls will always be one of my favorites, and I rewatched it for a series and a half throughout 2012. Downton, I adore. It’s beautifully shot and the character development is fantastic. I definitely recommend that one. The US premiere of season 3 is in January (it’s already aired in the UK). Goals for 2013 are finishing The Sopranos, Homeland, Bunheads, and maybe Breaking Bad.

9. Pop Culture Happy Hour

I’ve mentioned it before, but NPR’s podcast, Pop Culture Happy Hour has been such a wonderful addition to my week. Four intelligent, well-spoken, and funny NPR.com employees produce a weekly podcast covering current events, media classics, and other entertainment-related topics. I listen to it while on the elliptical, and it really does make a 45 minute workout fly by.

10. Canada Trip

This July, Chris and I had the privilege of exploring Calgary and the Canadian Rockies. Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper National Park are some of the most naturally beautiful places I've ever seen.

11. My Bike!

Probably, seriously, my most favorite purchase of the year. I bought a 25'' 2011 Fuji Crosstown in October. My only regret is not buying it sooner.

12. Amazon Prime

For $79 a year you get free 2 day shipping on all “Prime Eligible” purchases (almost everything). I really don’t like shopping, and Amazon definitely saves the day for buying tons of useful items. You can read lots of of user reviews before you buy too. These bad boys arrived in the mail for me today. Plus, you have unlimited access to live stream hundreds of movies and TV shows. They have tons of classics! I've recently reinstated an abandoned goal from high school to watch all the Academy Award winners. Amazon Prime has tons of them! Pretty great.

Although it's probably obvious, I feel I should mention that nobody is paying me to talk about any of these products. Also, it's not like there were only 12 items making me happy during 2012. I didn't even mention the JCrew starfish earrings Natalie got me last Christmas, my Brooks running shoes, or the amazing deals I snagged at TJ Maxx and Ross. Tons of things were my favorites in 2012, but I cannot blog about everything. So, three cheers to a successful 2012 and an even better 2013. Happy New Year everybody.

2012 Video

Back by popular demand:


The 2012 Framily Video

Happy Holidays

I have several half-finished blog posts, but have been swamped with work and studying these past few weeks. I'm taking the PHR exam over MLK weekend, so it's time to seriously get my study on and pass the test. Within the past two days, my knuckles have started hurting from typing so much. However, the holidays are upon us. I get tomorrow off work. Christmas is on Tuesday. It's almost time to relax a little bit and see Les Miserables. SO. EXCITED.

So, before it's all over, I want to wish you all a wonderful holiday! Enjoy your homes, families, friends, televisions, books, crafts, or whatever you're into as of late.

I'm back at work on the 26th, and will post my annual Favorite Things and framily video (hopefully) later that week.

Christmas Card Display

When we returned from Kansas, I was delighted to find our first Christmas card in the mail. Of course the Hutson's would be miles ahead of everybody else this year, they have a new baby to show off. Receiving our first card reminded me that I had wanted to create a Pinteresty display for this year's cards. Last year, my Martha-est friend created something similar to this for her dining room table.

Yes, Stephanie trumps us all, again.
(image via Marthastewart.com)Not wanting to steal her idea, or take the time required to make it, I searched Pinterest for something easier.

source

image via countryliving.comAnd, after almost buying 30 clothespins for $6 on Amazon, I decided to use something I already have lots of, binder clips! Behold, my creation:

I had made that paper wreath sometime last year, so all I had to do was clip some shiny silver binder clips onto the ribbon. Genius, I tell you.

Now, more people just need to send us cards! I promise they will be on display in our dining room for all to enjoy.

The Garbage Truck Incident

This year, I am thankful for not being crushed by a garbage truck.

Because I came close.

Chris and I had a wonderful trip to see my friends and family up in Kansas this past week, however we also nearly got smushed by garbage. It’s a sucky story, and I wish it hadn’t happened. But it did, we are fine, but the miata is not.

This was taken while the car was on the tow truck. According to the police, it was not drivable. The steering and the front left wheel weren't communicating correctly. The police officer gave the garbage truck driver a ticket for an improperly executed right-turn, so technically I was not at fault. But still, be careful out there.

Besides wrecking my mom's car, our Thanksgiving break consisted of visiting with lots of people I love, eating many delicious foods, and seeing tons of Kansas.

We toured the Boulevard brewery.

Made a trip out to Lawrence

Feasted with the Kapka/Farris family.

And made it back to Austin in time for Nate's deep-fried turkey.
The weather was perfect for most of the trip (we had one 20 degree day) and I got to see most of the people I wanted too. It never feels like there's enough time to see everybody. I should be back there around Easter, but for now, cheers to the rest of 2012, sure is flying by.