It's OK - 2013 Edition

After a few weeks of absenteeism, I am very excited to link up with Amber and Neely for another round of It's OK Thursdays!

It's OK... ...that NYE was spent with my dog, a bottle of prosecco, chick flicks, and my pillow. It was exactly what I needed after a solid month of chaos. ...to despise winter weather after Christmas has passed. Is it spring yet? Brrrr! ...to have bought four pairs of shoes in the last 12 days. ...to still need a stretchy waistband because all those Christmas indulgences have not quite disappeared yet. ...that you wake up at 5 AM on your days off. Funny how it's physically impossible to get yourself out of bed at that time during the work week. ...to still prefer to read actual books and spend hours wandering through bookstores.  ...that your sleepless nights have been filled re-watching The O.C. starting with season one. It's almost Friday!!!

In with the New...

{Wintry morning via my Instagram}

Resolutions.

We all make them. Most of us break them.

This year, while I have a mental list of things I want to do for myself and for others, instead of a resolution, I will enter into a new frame of mind.

At church this past Sunday, our priest asked that we keep one thing in our hears for this new year: 

Love.

Love ourselves, love our neighbors, love our enemies. 

So simple, yet sometimes so difficult. Loving those who have hurt us is hard. Oftentimes loving ourselves is harder. 

This year I will make a conscious effort to show more love and compassion to those around me through my actions and my words. 

I will practice forgiveness when I have been wronged.

I will embrace every new experience I have and every new person I meet.

This will be another year of growth in every aspect of my life. 

Entering the New Year with openness, forgiveness, and love in our hearts can only lead to extraordinary things. And as you all know, I am determined that life should not be anything short of extraordinary.

Out with the Old...

{One of my favorite spots I discovered this year on the Cape}

Another month gone...this time it's taking all of 2012 with it. 

This year has been extraordinary for me in so many ways.

Changes big and small have turned my life upside down and right side up. 

This year has been one of the best of my life.

I began to find myself again after a long time of uncertainty and soul searching. I made decisions and began directing my life exactly where I want it to go.

January of 2012 began a new journey in my life with a new career that still makes me excited to go to work each day.

March marked the ending of my six year relationship. I finally had the courage and confidence to end something that should have been over years before. The best, albeit tardy, decision of my life. March also brought one of the best weekends of my year, as I got to see one of my dearest friends in NYC.

April, May, and June were spent relaxing at the Cape and enjoying the spring and early summer sunshine. I also got my DSLR camera, which has been my best buddy this year.

July brought another one of my best friends up to the Northeast, and I got to show Laura around my beloved Boston and Cape Cod.

August allowed me to travel out West with my mother to visit my uncle. Exploring Montana and Yellowstone was on the of highlights of my year.

September through November were a blur. I loved soaking in the arrival of Fall and spending Thanksgiving with my crazy family.

December has been the craziest month so far. Work has exploded and opened the possibility of an exciting new adventure in 2013. I also ventured to NYC again with my Mother to see the Rockettes and experience the magic that is New York at Christmas.

These may seem so simple and slightly boring to the outsider, but those who know me know how much I have loved this year. How I love the person that I am, the job that I do, and the people that I have in my life.

I am constantly on the go, but I am running with purpose, direction and ambition. I know who I am and I know where I want my life to lead.

2013, I know you will not disappoint.

Sending all my love and prayers that you all have a wonderful New Year.

Bozeman

Hello, Monday. 

I am not ready for you. I could use another five days of sleep. The 20 hours I slept between Friday and Saturday were not enough, apparently. 

There's always next weekend, right?

I am still sifting through my Thanksgiving pictures {and trying to figure out the whole picture storage situation}, so I thought I'd share something I already had in the line-up: Bozeman, Montana. 

I had the pleasure of getting to know this little town one day last August. It is a truly delightful college town full of one-of-a-kind shops and quaint coffee houses. I have a crush on this little town, and I wouldn't mind paying a visit again :)

 

P.S. Don't forget to check out Mingle Monday over at Meg's blog!

Sunday Social: Thanksgiving

1. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?

Thanksgiving always brings so much laughter, life and love to our family, and I don't always remember the specific details but I remember the emotions of the day. We are all so silly and laugh at everything {this may or may not be attributed to the vino; I personally like to think it's due to our upbeat and happy-go-lucky personalities}.

2. What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?

I don't think there is a Thanksgiving food I don't like. We have the traditional turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc. But since half of my family is Italian, we have to have lasagna, gnocchi, and Italian cookies on our table too.

3. What is a Thanksgiving tradition you and your family have?

We have Thanksgiving at my parent's house every year with all my aunts, uncles and cousins. My parents get up super early to start cooking the Turkey. I still get this childish excitement when I wake up to the sounds to pots and pans banging in the kitchen. It means {one} my tummy will be happily stuffed with yummy food in a very short time {two} I get to see some of my favorite people that I don't see very often {three} I know I will be laughing nonstop all day.

For the last few years, my mom, aunt and I have run a 5 mi Turkey Day race in my mother's hometown in Connecticut. I always have a blast and feel ready to take on the turkey and stuffing after 5 miles of hills and freezing temperatures :)

4. Show us a favorite Thanksgiving picture(or 5) from years past

Mom and I at the Turkey Day race last Thanksgiving. All smiles before we remember we have to run up "Heartbreak Hill."

5. What are you most looking forward to about this Thanksgiving?

Relaxing and visiting with my cousins. I haven't seen some of them since last Christmas, which is unacceptable. Everyone is so busy and always on the run, so Thanksgiving gives us all an opportunity to take it easy and enjoy time together.

Thanks Neely and Ashley for hosting!

It's OK #932447648

It's OK...

...that your most productive time of day is around lunch time.

...to be increasingly addicted to dried fruit trail mix. A couple pound bag may only last a day or two around here.

...to be annoyed at the first snowfall this year because it turned your hour commute into a two and a half hour commute.

...to be excited to sleep past 5:30 AM this weekend.

...that you fell off the calorie calculator and accidentally gained a couple pound after eating a few bags of post-Halloween candy corn.

...to buy the same corduroys in four different colors because they fit you so well.

...to hate crazy weather swings. Snow one day and temperatures in the 60s the next is not OK.

Happy Thursday, friends!

It's OK Thursday

It's OK...

...to still blush when you see your high school crush.

...to identify with Taylor Swift way more than you want to admit.

...to be slightly panicked to turn 25 in a month. I'm still in denial that I'm not in college anymore.

...to opt for 30 extra minutes of sleep each morning instead of blow drying your hair.

...to only lose 2 lbs in the work weight loss challenge. Better than nothing, right?

...to be the worst closet-cleaner-outer in the world.

...to look forward to going home each night because your doggy with be jumping {literally} with joy to see you.

...that Sandy did not give us the beating we were expecting. We are all counting our blessings and praying for those who are suffering the aftermath.

It's almost Friday, friends! I hope you had a wonderful Halloween :)