2012

As the year draws to a close, I must say I am amazed at how quickly the last twelve months flew by. It seems like just a few months ago I was stuck inside the apartment waiting for the roads to be cleared of the 10+ inches of snow that had fallen overnight. I was crafting, making chocolate chip pancakes, and reading whatever I could get my hands on, but all I really wanted to do was go outside...

But that was almost a solid year ago, and winter has come to our doorstep once again (though I write this as the temperature is hovering between 55 and 60 degrees). I'm sure we'll get some more winter weather before it's all over, but right now I'm ecstatic over the sunshine and clear skies. It's like God peering through the clouds and whispering hello in the beams of sunshine filtering through the window. I love it.


But I digress. 2011 brought many wonderful, and challenging things my way. This past year, I have:

• started a new job
• attended quite a few weddings and celebrated with the couples as they began life together
• celebrated one year of marriage to a man whom I absolutely adore
• went on several road trips (Chicago, Michigan, Houston, Indiana...)
• attended The Gospel Coalition conference
• suffered some personal setbacks
• made wonderful new friends
• kept up with old friends
• celebrated the birth of a friend's beautiful baby boy
• grieved at the loss of my grandmother
• trained for and ran my first 5k
• grew a year older

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There are a lot of memories built in to 2011, and as I reflect on what it's brought my way, I've also been considering my goals for next year. Here they are, in very particular order (as in, the order I thought of them):

My favorite hobby: reading
on the couch with my husband.

1. Read more. I always say I want to be reading, but I need to actually make time for it. I love the new book club I'm in. It not only keeps me accountable to read at least a book each month, but I also get to spend time with some very fantastic ladies who enjoy reading just as much as I do. In addition to the books we'll be working through, I'd like to read the following:

1. The entire Hunger Games series. Thanks to John, I now own them all and can read at my leisure! But I definitely want to have them all read by the time the first movie comes out. I wasn't a big Twilight or Harry Potter fan, so this may be my first midnight movie premiere :)
2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I've heard so many good things about this book, and the accompanying movie. Thanks to my mom I have the book and plan to start on it soon.
3. Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung and Joshua Harris. John got this for Christmas and it looks really interesting. From what I've gathered, it's about how we, as Christians, spend too much time waiting for signs and supernatural words from God. Instead, we should just do something. 
4. How to Cook Everything/How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. Ok, I know reading a cookbook sounds lame, but I love the way Bittman writes. It's casual and comforting, and makes me feel capable of actually cooking food that's healthy and tasty. 
5. The Bible. I'd really like to spend more time reading this. I know a lot of people feel like they're obligated to say they want to read the Bible, but I really mean it. My husband has set an amazing example of dedication when it comes to reading the word of God, and I would like to follow in his footsteps this year.

Tomato Soup with Spaghetti Squash

2. Cook more. I love cooking, especially when the food I make turns out well. John and I are both eating much healthier than we were last year, and I want to make sure our meals don't become monotonous. Thanks to the numerous cookbooks and cooking appliances I received for my birthday and Christmas, I should never be at a loss for meal ideas. I'm leaning toward more vegetarian/vegan meals to cook at home, leaving the meat-based dishes for community groups and special outings. And I guess eventually I'll have to deal with things like tofu, tempeh, seitan, and vital wheat gluten, but for right now I'll be ok with trying new vegetables and warm winter soups.

mustache coasters

3. Craft more. Ok, so Pinterest is my new addiction. I don't like admitting that, but it's true. I have so many pins I can't keep up with them all, let alone actually make all the things I've pinned. But, I will say that the things I've made have been fun. I love starting out with a collection of random objects and ending (usually days later) with a finish product that looks strikingly like the tutorial suggested.

For instance, I made these coasters from ceramic tiles, mustache stickers, and lots of Mod Podge. I gave them to my brother-in-law for Christmas. It was cheap (shhh...) and really easy to make. I did a couple more sets out of scrapbook paper and they looked really cute, too! 

deconstructed trail mix

I made this from a Pinterest find as well. I called it "Deconstructed Trail Mix" because it's in layers, making it look all professional and artsy. It was easy and fun to put them together, but it was even more fun to give them as gifts! I made a few other things, like coffee warmers, scarves, salt dough ornaments, and a few random things that never made it into a gift box, too. With Pinterest I think I'm going to have to organize my time better, making sure to try out more crafts and see where my skill set lies. Who knows, I could actually be really good at quilling...

One pretty happy lady.

4. Train for my next 5k... and possibly a half-marathon.

Honestly, I feel silly telling people I ran a 5k. For anyone who actually runs, that's not a lot. And I certainly didn't beat any records that day (let's not discuss my pace, ok?). But I'm amazed that I did it, that I followed through and went out, in 21-degree weather, and ran 3.1 miles. I even got a medal :)

So this coming year, I want to at least run another 5k, likely at the end of March (John is already training with me!). And, if all goes well, I can see myself picking up the pace and trying for a 10k or half-marathon at the end of the year. Running is not something I ever thought I was capable of, so I have no idea where I can go with it. I'm just enjoying the feeling I get when I finish a day's run.

Taking in the moment...

5. Learn the art of contentment. Even now as I'm typing, I have this sense of guilt running through my mind, whispering that I should be doing something else - laundry, dishes, reading, working, running, cooking, etc. I always have the feeling that I'm not doing enough, that I'm not pushing or trying hard enough. I have an almost tangible inability to sit still (ask my husband). And when I do actually take a moment to rest, I feel bad for it. 

This year, I want to learn how to sit still. I want to be "ok" if our apartment isn't spotless, the laundry isn't completely folded, or dinner isn't the most delicious meal I've ever prepared. I want to be content in the moment, whatever that moment may be. Because if I keep struggling with discontentment, I'm going to miss out on the moments that matter most. 

So that's it. I wish everyone a happy and blessed 2012. Please feel free to share some of your goals with me, or give me some tips/advice on how I can achieve my 2012 goals. 

May 2012 be your best year ever.   :)

Vegan Week

I have been vegan for about nine days now. Why? Well, I found that I was getting tired, cranky, and my skin had lost it's glow. Not to mention that I'd just returned from a trip to Chicago, filled with Giordano's pizza, fried eggplant sandwiches, free bags of popcorn, and Wendy's frosty "parfaits." It was just time to clean up my game, buckle down, and roast some veggies. 

Coffee = good.
Coffee w/ fake cream and sugar substitute = bad.

The first few days were fun. I read lots of blogs, pinned tons of recipes on Pinterest, and got excited about the fact that quinoa is a complete protein. I bought tofu, dried beans, brown rice, almond milk, butternut squash, spinach, apples, ginger root, frozen berries, and anything else that was 1) not an animal product; 2) not processed; and 3) not sweetened with sugar, sucralose, aspartame, dextrose, xylitol, agave nectar, raw sugar, etc. (as in, no sweets). 

But then I realized....I was on a unprocessed vegan fast. 

Which meant no string cheese. 

And no strawberry jam on my peanut butter sandwiches. 

And no yogurt-covered raisins. 

And no cheese sandwiches.

And no nonfat lattes from Mama Carmen's.

And no Chick-Fil-A.

And no community group chicken chili or sugar cookies. 

And no Greek yogurt. :(

This was a hard reality check for me. And it continues to be as the days pass on, but I've finding some great alternatives. Did you know soy lattes are really good? And Thai restaurants serve a ton of vegan options? Though it's been challenging, I think it's for the best, as I am feeling tremendously better: my skin looks healthier, I feel more energized, I'm able to actually run outside without feeling like I'm going to die, and I am thinking much clearer. 

What are my staples? Well, here are some of the things I've had over the last nine days:

• Breakfast - kamut brown rice cereal w/ almond milk and berries, fruit smoothies, pumpkin oatmeal, or whole wheat toast w peanut butter
• Lunch - lentil soup w/ rye crackers, black bean burgers w/ pita halves and carrots w/ hummus, or minestrone soup
• Dinner - brown rice and veggies, potatoes w/ vegan chili, or spaghetti w/ marinara
• Snacks - Clif bars (my only processed snack, because they are delicious and nutritious at the same time), fruit, nuts, or hummus on toasted pitas.

Pita and hummus. Delightful. 

Brown rice with garlic-roasted butternut squash, tofu, and broccoli. 

I don't know how much longer I'll continue eating vegan. I'll probably go to the two-week mark and add in some Greek yogurt and cheese. But I really like the idea of eating conscientiously, making specific choices about the foods I'm choosing to put into my body. It feels good, and I'm learning a lot about what I need. 

Chicago

I went to Chicago this past weekend with members of the children's ministry staff. We drove there in a white 15-passenger bus that just barely accommodated three guys, four girls, and stacks of luggage. Over the course of five days we learned a lot about each other, sharing sushi and slices of Giordano's pizza while laughing at one another's stories. It was a great time of personal and spiritual growth.

However, there was something missing...

It's good to be back home. 

For October

Sorry I left for so long. I promise it won't happen again (until the next overtly distracting thing occurs in my life...). Here is a post about my favorite season. I hope you enjoy.

So many wonderful things are planned for October. Autumn is, by far, my favorite season. I love the leaves turning various shades of orange, red, and gold. I love stepping out into the crisp chill of the morning. I love sipping pumpkin spice lattes with my favorite people. I love planning costumes and eating candy corn. It's all just a wonderful, glorious time of year. Here's what I'm looking forward to most:

Superman groom's cake.

Autumn weddings - I went to one this weekend, and it was lovely. A good college friend married her own personal superhero (complete with a Superman groom's cake), and I got the pleasure of knowing I played a role, however small, in their meeting. Another wedding is coming up in November, and I can't wait to go. I love weddings!


Candy corn - I had my first "kernels" this weekend. Twice. They are magical little bites of sugar-coated happiness. (Which is odd, because as a child I detested candy corn. Hated it. But now I find it delightful.)


Knitting - I've been invited into the Tuesday Night Knitting Club, where I am learning how to knit scarves, cowls, tea cozies, and hats for the crisp autumn weather. I learned how to knit last year when we went on a road trip to Michigan (side note: I don't like road trips), and I've actually continued to knit throughout the year. It's quite relaxing and, because of the season, quite practical as well.

My husband, on a random adventure.

Adventures - I'm amazed at the cool and random things John and I have found in our 15 months of marriage, and I can't wait to go on more fall adventures together. Last year we went to the corn maze, Eureka Springs, and Devil's Den, and this year who knows what we'll find driving or biking around...


Costume parties! - Yes, I am attending a costume/pumpkin carving party! Maybe two! And I am in dire need of ideas for cute couples' costumes. 


Autumn food - finding recipes for chili, soups, and other "cold weather" foods is a ridiculously time-consuming process, but thanks to Pinterest and a couple of awesome Facebook pages, I am all set. I did not realize how comforting a bowl of homemade chili can be on a cold autumn evening, but now I look forward to it! Especially when it's shared with our community group :)

Mama Carmen's latte

Lattes - I've found a few homemade recipes for pumpkin spice lattes that I've yet to try, but I must say Starbucks has the best PSL I've ever tasted. It's also the most expensive though, so it will probably be a very rare, but delightful treat. In fact, any warm coffee drink is delicious this time of year, and totally appropriate for the cooler weather. I am a huge fan of lattes, and Mama Carmen's makes the best ones, no question about it. I could drink 3-4 a day. (I'm not kidding.) They do something amazing with the milk so that it just foams up in and around the espresso in a fantastically creamy fashion. Mmmm.....


Pumpkin - I love pumpkin, and now is the time to bake with it. You can find recipes for pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin ice cream...just about anything you can think up. So far this year I've made (or eaten) pumpkin cream cheese, pumpkin dump cake, pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin fluff, and pumpkin cake.


Hot Air Balloons - we are planning a weekend trip to the Poteau Balloonfest! How much fun will that be!?! Both my parents and John's parents are going, and we may even (fingers crossed) get to sit in a hot air balloon! There will also be a dog costume contest, miniature airplane stunts, and carnival rides...I am excited. Very, very excited. 

Time Off

I haven't posted in about a week and a half. I think I'm going to take a little break, maybe another week or so, to collect my thoughts, write in my journal, take some pictures, read some books, and breathe. 








In the meantime, a poem. One of my favorites.