Let's Tally It Up, Shall we?

As I reflect on closing out 2011, I think it is fair to summarize where I've been and where I'd like to go in 2012.

No resolutions on this train. Goals are the most efficient way for me to measure my progress throughout the year.

January 1, 2011 is when I finally threw out the resolutions and started down the path of goals.

On a high level, I think it was productive. It gave me the breathing room to pull back some if needed, in order to direct my focus elsewhere.

For example, when I was at the peak of my running this year, there truly was not room to squeeze much else into my schedule between training and my daily life. During these times the other goals often sat idle until I could direct more attention to them.

How did I do in regards to my 2011 goals?

• 
  
  To learn Photoshop Elements.

Progress = 2% maybe? There is still a lot to learn here although I have learned how to adjust lighting, download/use actions, and of course crop. I've barely scratched the surface on this one so it will remain for 2012.

• 
  
  Continue to learn my camera.

Progress = 75% I took some amazing "for me" pictures this year. This one will remain on my 2012 list because there is still room for improvement specifically metering.

• 
  
  Run this half marathon.

Done with a bonus disaster for good measure just one week later.

• 
  
  500 in 2011.

Finishing the year with 350 miles.

• 
  
  Finally get my red Kitchen Aid mixer.
  

Done. Isn't she pretty?

• 
  
  
  


• 
  
  Decorate the walls in my house.

Lots of progress. The hallway is almost 100% complete. My office is also well underway. We have also added 2 new prints to the living room.

• 
  
  Not least to not be pregnant nor to have an additional child :)

Done. Whew!

• 
  
  Start reading again.

This is definitely the one item where I can say I 100% failed this year. I am alone in saying I didn't read not even 1 book for the 1+ crowd? Unless you count Dr. Seuss I did not make any progress on this goal. Must regroup for 2012.

All in all, I'm really proud of 2011. At times, I felt like I was on balancing on a tight rope with no net below but in the end I can really see the progress I have made. It was hard yet fun and rewarding.

On to 2012......

One year in our beautiful home!

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of when we closed on our beautiful home. We have done a few things but still have quite a few things we want to do in the future.

It's funny I've only owned two homes in my life and I closed on both of them on March 31st. At this point I think I'll have to make it a point to keep this tradition if we ever buy another home.

Yesterday, was a fairly nice day but last year it was not. It was rainy and freezing cold. We like to torture ourselves. We had to be out of our apartment and close on our new house on the same day which also meant moving ALL of our stuff in one day. Never again. There is no way it could have been done without all of the help we received 0ver the course of that long and very nasty day.

I'd link this post back to my post about the house if I knew how to do that the fancy way but I don't. Does anyone care to learn me?

Looking in the rearview mirror and embracing the future

Tonight I want to look back at our life together and take a glimpse into what the future holds. As we sat in our beautiful home together today I thought back into our past and some of the things we have accomplished. Overall, while there have been a few bumps in the road it has been a fun journey.

2007~ Our fabulous wedding in St. Thomas and by far one of the best days of both our lives. We could not have asked for a better day with our friends and family who made the trip down to share this special moment with us. As I write this is it almost the end of January which means our 2nd wedding anniversary is coming up quickly. It seems like it was just yesterday we were on the beautiful island of St. Thomas with our feet in the sand.


2008~ On March 1st, 2008 our first child was born. He has four legs, fur, and a tail but we love him all the same. Today Tonka is a healthy 70 pounds and as spoiled as can be and we wouldn't have it any other way.








In 2008, we also moved into our wonderful home. We still have a list a mile long of things we want to do here and there but all in all I'm proud to call it home. In the summer I don't think we ever actually eat inside because the view from our deck is like being on vacation in the mountains. We love everything about it!!





2009~ So, the question is what will 2009 bring our family? Well, for starters it looks like our first two legged addition will be arriving in August :) We are 100% over the moon about this although we haven't asked Tonka how he feels just yet. I'm sure he will be excited as well and we can't wait to see our child grow up around our loving dog child.


The sex, name, and all that jazz will be a surprise to us all in August so stay tuned! Until then I leave you with one of Baby L's first pictures. Apparently, the little one isn't much for posing because I'm pretty sure it was asleep during our u/s today.

So, in review and looking forward everything seems to be falling into place in our little life and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The view from my back porch

is soooo pretty during this time of year. We haven't lived here long but I'm looking forward to many more because of this. It is beautiful!

Got mums?

We didn't know it but we have 4 of these huge mums in our flower bed out front. Pretty and free fall decor :)

Our New Home with Paint Added

Above is the view from the kitchen into the breakfast nook. Originally, we had that china cabinet in the dining room and the one in the dining room in the corner of the breakfast nook but scratch that because they are now relocated.

The color on the walls in here is SW Basket Beige. This is the same color used throughout most of the house.

Can you see my pretty china in the pretty cabinet? You love it don't you? I hope so because I'm mildly obsessed with my pretty little plates.





This is the view looking from the hallway/laundry room through the dining room and foyer into the office. Did you catch all that?




The guest bath. Oh, how I love thee. I'm going to add a piece of furniture to store pretty towels in as well as hang a couple of pictures of Tonka but this room is almost done hopefully.

We used SW Sassy Green in this room. Don't you just love it?





The dining room. We are yet to actually sit at this table and eat since we eat all of our meals on the deck. Pretty soon we are going to get some use out of it for both Thanksgiving and my upcoming Supper Club with the JL ladies.

The color we used in this room is SW Fireweed. Also, please ignore the ugle and very fake plant. I'm decorating the table for all and donating him to the Bargain Box for someone else to have.






Ahhh, my sanctuary. Actually, I very rarely go in here and the doors stay closed but this is my ECU room. See the picture on the wall? I'm going to be adding a few other smaller prints in the next couple of weeks.

The color in here is SW Beeswax. It's actually a lot brighter than this picture makes it look but it still looks really nice and calming.




Steve's sanctuary. There used to be a hole above the tv but it is now gone thanks to our wonderful painters who closed it in for us. It looks a lot cleaner with the tv hanging.

Also, I'm going to be decorating the mantle for fall this week as well.

Don't you remember? I love fall!

Thanks for stopping by. Part of the reason I started this blog is so I could chronicle our house updates so look for more in the very near future.

Have a great day!