Goodbye, 2012

2012 was a fantastic year. While I'm not sad to say goodbye to it, there are a lot of things to look back on really fondly! I got engaged (eeks, still can't believe that's true), had a great year in my house, a good year at work and generally just feel like I accomplished a lot. A little recap of my side-bar resolutions:

-Lose 10 pounds to reach goal weight. I did it! I am about 10 pounds lighter than I started in 2012. I really want to lose another 5 or so!
-Exercise more often. Mix it up to keep it from getting boring. I did terribly. Joined a gym I never used. Bought the Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis, and didn't start it. That is my number one goal for 2013.
-Work on doing hair more often before work (use Kate Middleton as inspiration). Did ok for a while, and I did change up my haircut a little, but still calling this one a fail.
-Save more money each month. Definitely did this, and I am very happy about it! Paying more on my mortgage every month now :)
-Read more, at least 1 or 2 books per month. Use library more. Fail.
-Buy fewer clothes. Only buy things that I love and are unlike things I already have. Did much better! Still could use some tweaking, but on the right track with shopping.
-Buy quality. See above.
-Take a class. Took two painting classes, as long as you count the ones where you paint and drink wine :)
-Cook more. Meal plan. Didn't do so well on my own, but John and I cooked much more on the weekends.
-Take more photos. Did it, but am terrible at getting them from camera to computer.
-Be a better blogger! Did terribly. Also top of the list for 2013.
-Pay off (or down) car loan. Paid it off about a month ago! Very proud of myself.
-Be less of a consumer. I think I did ok, between shopping and limiting my previously excessive trips to Target. Still could always improve here.

How did you all do? Can't wait to brainstorm and share 2013 resolutions with you all!

Happy New Year's Eve!

Lately

Went to Nashville, got a new haircut, enjoyed my Christmas tree, did important wedding related research. You know, the usual.

Happiness

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWEfszb9h8Q&feature=player_embedded

Christmas is here!

I finished my decorating last night while watching Eloise at Christmas on Hallmark. What a glorious night. Have I mentioned how much I love cheesy seasonal Hallmark movies? Because I do, a lot.

Also feeling better about wedding planning because I finally had a few calls answered and have four meetings set up for my trip to NC for Christmas. Can't wait to have a date and place picked out!

Breaking news!

Ok, so maybe it was breaking news yesterday, but William and Kate are having a baby! I am so excited. Also slightly disturbed by how open I am about my live for the royals...no less than 10 people texted or posted to my Facebook to make sure I had heard the news (of course I had). Whatever, no shame here :)


Also, I finally started on my decorating! I got my wreath up first, so at least the outside world can think that I have decorated. I got the tree up too, just no ornaments yet. We'll see how much progress I make tonight!

Behind Schedule

I am afraid to admit this but, I have still not put up my Christmas tree! This is incredibly late for me. Usually I have mine up and ready and the whole house decorated the weekend after Thanksgiving. This year I am procratinating for some unknown reason. Hoping to remedy this tonight and just power through to get it all done. Luckily, I have almost all my shopping done (only 1 more big gift to buy in-store, and a couple of restaurant gift cards to pick up).

I think the reason I'm feeling so behind schedule is also due to wedding planning/dreaming. I know some basics: the date we would like, a back-up date, ceremony location and a couple potential reception locations, but nothing is finalized yet, and I think its secretly driving me crazy. Once we get our date and places pegged down, I'll feel so much better. Also would love to have a caterer and cake and photographer booked soon as well. So. Much. To. Do. But still trying to remind myself that its good, fun stress that I'm lucky to have in my life :) Looking forward to an engaged Christmas, for sure.

Are you all on track with holiday preparation? If so, I am jealous! Trying to find ways to kick myself into gear today, but the 75 degree weather is not making me feel very Christmasy!

Thankful

These are all the things making my life better right now:

-Christmas. It's my favorite thing.
-Everything that goes along with it, including decorating, gift shopping, holiday get togethers and mostly Hallmark and ABC Family movies!
-Friends. I've been busy and antisocial lately, but I'm happy to finally see some friends this weekend, and hopefully more soon.
-Healthy food, to balance out all the carbs and sweets and yummies.
-Work. It's crazy sometimes, but I do love my job.
-Wedding planning. It us already more stressful than I expected (especially to plan something from 2 states away), but I am really trying to enjoy such a sweet process. Once I have the first couple big ticket items under contract and a date, I will feel so much better!

Xoxo