hitting reset

2009 is coming to a close. Sheesh, it's been a quick year. It doesn't seem possible! As the holiday season wraps up, it's a time for reflection and all of that.

I've read several posts from fellow bloggers about the past decade, and like many of you, I've gone through many changes. From high school to college to grad school to the real world.... from dates to boyfriends to the boyfriend, engagement, and marriage. Ten years ago I lived with my parents at their house, and now I live with my husband at our house. Our house. It sounds so grown-up, doesn't it?! And I didn't know the husband 10 years ago, though I have known him now for the greater part of a decade. And of course, things wouldn't be the same without him.

I do have some resolutions, among them: to eat healthier (less takeout for sure), make a commitment to the gym, and leave work at a reasonable time. And to travel! The husband and I were lucky to travel a few great places this year (Washington, DC; Virginia; Florida; Michigan) and although we don't have any plans for 2010, I'm sure we will soon.

I'm not a big New Year's Eve person. Getting all dressed up and going out is fun in theory, but I'd much rather stay in with the husband and our pooches (who are currently in their beds conked out and snoring loudly).

More than anything, a new year is a time for hitting reset. It's a new year, a fresh start, and a good time for change. Here's to a great year!

i kind of hate my fake xmas tree

Last year after Christmas I bought a fake tree at Target. It was 75% off and I rationalized it was a good deal and would be easier than a real tree.

And now I hate it. You kind of get what you pay for. And I paid for a craptastic tree.

Granted, it doesn't look that bad in this photo, but it's just a blah tree. Next year I think we'll ditch it and go back to the real one. On a sidenote, holy cow, my flash is bright. You can't even see that the lights are on. The tree has ornaments from the husband's childhood as well as mine, and now our time together. I like old ornaments - I like unpacking them and going through them every year.This is our TV cabinet - I got the faux mercury glass trees at Target last year. I love them. This is the mantle that faces the hearth area. I took a fat faux garland, put a silver leaf magnolia garland over it, and filled it with some feathers and rustic looking picks from Michael's. It does look nice in person, but in this photo it's kind of drab! I put Christmas cards on top of it as they come in.

Also on the mantle I have my Ball jars and some clear vases with some winter bulbs.This is one of the wreaths outside. The blue is turquoise in person. The super duper flash of my camera washes things out! This is my horrendous photo of the outside of our house - we used big lights around the porch and on the fence on both sides and red mini lights on the boxwood bushes.
This is the fence on one side - I like the big lights. When we bought our house, we didn't really think about Christmas light placement. We only have bit trees in the front of the house, so we can't really decorate them aside from maybe wrapping lights around the trunk of the tree. I think we might have to plant a small pine tree or something to decorate - is that crazy?! Probably. Oh well!

checking in: holiday miscellany

It's been almost a week since the husband and I returned from Florida and I'm just now checking in. We had a wonderful time, neglected to take any photos (aside from the ones I posted via Twitter), and returned to 12 degree weather. Ugh. Thankfully, it wasn't anything like what the East coast area is getting right now - phew! Here's some nonsense:

• We're not doing Christmas cards this year. I didn't get around to it early enough and I didn't want to do a half-ass job. I feel a little bad every time I open the mail and hope that no one thinks that I left them off their list. Next year - complete with a photo!
• I am all finished with Christmas gifts, kind of. Everything is purchased or ordered as of Saturday, but not everything has arrived yet. Some packages are arriving on Christmas Eve - hopefully they won't be late!
• We are doing Christmas Eve and Christmas with my family and then a few days after with the husband's family at our house. Yes, this is a recent decision and I am trying my best not to have a little freak out. I am a planner. I plan. I don't like last minute changes.
• I borrowed my great grandma's china from my mom for after - Christmas dinner at our house. The pattern is still modern and I'm excited to use it.
• A few days after all the Christmas fun, my family and I are going to Chicago to sightsee and shop. Usually we try to go before Christmas but it just didn't happen this year. I'm excited to get away, unfortunately the husband has to work. Boo.

We either get this week or next week off of work, so I've opted to take next week off. That makes for a quiet office, which will be a great time to get some things done! And hopefully get back to this whole blog things more often. Have a great week!

burning the candle at both ends

It's busy season at work and that means I'm going in early, working late, and the like. It has been a loooong 4th quarter. Most week days I feel like I go to work, come home, watch tv for an hour and go to bed. And go in on the weekend. Fun times! Wait. No.

This Friday the husband and I are taking off for my grandma's condo in Florida for a long weekend. She hasn't been there for.... probably 5-6 years now, so it sits unoccupied and it's wonderful to be able to fly down there and use it. I got a sweet deal on Hotwire for a rental car too.

I bought two chick lit books and I have a giant stack of magazines. I'm ready for a break! Well, not yet, since I still have to pack, but you get the idea. See you when I get back.