She Likes Purple

Watching Them Grow

One thing they don't tell you, at least one thing they didn't tell me, is that watching your kids grow up with other great kids is one of the most adorable things around. A'Dell, how did this happen, anyway?

(March 2010; April 2013)

Seven Quick (Jumping Back Into Blogging) Takes

I have vacation recaps to write and Pinterest projects to share and suggestions for where to eat in both DC and New Orleans, and I hope I get to all those posts before 2014. In the meantime, let's dust off this blog. Seven quick (okay, not quick at all) takes...

1. Last week (wait, week before last...April you are so nuts), Molly's eyes swelled up and got a little goopy. At first, we thought it was just allergies, but then we realized she had also stopped eating and wouldn't take a treat. (Molly is like her mother. She will always take a treat.) Turns out, she had a severely abscessed tooth that had infected her nasal passages and was causing her eyes to swell. She is, thankfully, nearly good as new after a round of antibiotics and pain killers and shouldn't need surgery. Phew!

It really sucked, though, during the time we weren't quite sure what was wrong with her. Molly is usually fairly healthy. I mean, she's given us a scare or two before, sure, but it had been awhile. It was this weird wake-up call that our girl is nearly 10 and she's not exactly facing more years ahead of her than are behind her. 

When the vet went over our options with Mike, she mentioned that if the antibiotics didn't work, surgery to remove the tooth would be necessary and it would be expensive (MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EXPENSIVE). We don't have a budget item for Very Expensive Pet Surgeries, but when Mike talked to me about it, it was just a given we'd figure it out. She's our girl.

She's a dog, yes, but she's also Molly. Molly! I've loved her for as long as I've loved Mike. While she can be pretty irritating on a day-to-day basis (she's the neediest living thing in my house), this was a reminder that she is absolutely part of our family. 

Again, she's feeling much better. She probably wishes she had pulled these shenanigans years ago because we've been giving her cheese on a nightly basis, and we don't protest at all when she worms her away into our bed at night. 

So many of my friends (online and off) sent out love to her, after I mentioned what was going on, and it meant the absolute world to me. Seriously, thank you so much if you were one of those people sending warm thoughts to our girl.

She's doing so much better, she's practically skipping.

2. Have I talked yet about Justified? Well, I fell down a Justified-sized hole on Amazon Prime a few weeks ago and basically watched the entire series in something like two weeks. You'd be disgusted if you weren't so impressed, right? (Or maybe you're just disgusted...)

At first I was hesitant to start this show because I was (foolishly) led to believe there are no love stories, and I'm a girl who really prefers her TV shows to have a love story or two. But, 1) there totally are and 2) who really cares when Timothy Olyphant is wearing that cowboy hat so well throughout the series.

I'm all caught up in time...to wait a year for the next season! Cable TV seasons routinely break my heart.

3. I hesitate to declare this here because I've been doing it for a WHOPPING two days, but I've finally started my 30-Day Shred Challenge. That would be 30-straight days of doing (level 1, I'm not insane) the 30-Day Shred. This is such a quick and effective work-out, and a few Twitter friends are tackling the challenge with me. Want to join us?

4. I read this beautiful post about Holly's grandmother who recently passed away, and besides being reminded that Holly talks about love and family and nostalgia better than anyone, I was also struck that I won't ever be able to write a similar post about either of my biological grandmothers. 

This makes me sad, on a basic that-kind-of-stings level, but right after that thought struck me, it occurred to me that Kyle will be able to write something that heartfelt one day (if writing becomes one of his things) about either of his grandmothers. Kyle is such a lucky boy, for a million reasons, but the relationship he has with both of his grandmas (Nana and Mia, as he calls them) is near the tippy-top of the list. I've said this before and I'll say it dozens more times, but the fact that he has this beautiful, special, unconditional thing with them both, something I never had, is one of my favorite ways we're rewriting history together.

5. This feels like a very silly thing to mention, but I am trying to fill a list here. I made some small edits to this site all on my very own, so I'm basically a web designer now (ha). I added new social media buttons, new "top post" pictures (right-hand sidebar), new links, etc. Just messing around a little bit, but enjoy if you...enjoy sidebar badges and those kinds of things. 

6. We're debating taking Kyle camping for the first time this year. We need to make this decision pretty much immediately because Texas is going to get really hot in about two weeks. We'd just drive up to Oklahoma for the night, no big deal, and I think Kyle would love it. I mean, he's in such a fun stage, where everything new is So! Much! Fun! Mike really likes camping, too, and I really like when they do outdoorsy stuff together and leave me in peace to read, so it kind of works out for all of us. Last time Mike and I went camping, there was a burn ban, so we "camped" while eating dinner in nearby restaurants. That felt a little fraudy. Anyway, I'll keep you posted on our camping plans as I'm sure you're on the edge of your "WILL THEY CAMP?" seats. 

7. Speaking of Kyle, age four has been a lot of fun so far. I loved age two (so much), and still loved age three (though will readily admit that, oh boy, do you have to pay attention when parenting a three year old--they will take a mile if you give them half a centimeter), so I was a little nervous about age four. But, regardless how hard age four can be (friends start to mightily influence other four year olds, unfortunately, wiping away ALL MY HARD PARENTING WORK IN ONE AFTERNOON), the age is just so HILARIOUS. He says the funniest damn things. He has said in the course of a week, "Slip me some skin, Mommy," and "Oh phooey! Phooey is my new word, Mommy." He spells words and can read a little bit and I'm amazed anew that I get to hang out with this kid. He's my son! It's very delightful every time I remember that.

I've figured out that babies just aren't my jam. I love babies! I especially love snuggling your babies and just...passing them back to you when they show the slightest sign of being unhappy about something. But toddlers? Then kids? Oh yeah. They're my speed. 

I remember when Kyle was between one and two, maybe 15-16 months or so, and the weekends were kind of brutal. One, Mike worked weekends back then so it was just my boy and me, filling up two straight days, and I'd be so relieved by Sunday evening, which is a hard thing to confess. I was just so exhausted and he wasn't quite talking yet but he needed EVERYTHING and I couldn't sit until he went to bed. Now, we watch The Voice and he helps me cook and he makes me laugh EVERY SINGLE DAY and he asks me questions about geography and dinosaurs and stuff I really like answering. So much better than angry pointing, like he did back when.

Anyway, the other day he was looking at a picture of my mom and me from when I was in college and if there's ever a picture of me that he's not in, he assumes he was in my tummy. "Is that when I was in your belly?" "No, actually, that was before you were in my belly. That was even before I knew daddy!" He did not understand. He looked at me like I was nuts. Before him? BEFORE? No such thing. He finally said, "Oh, I must have been sleeping."

He walked off, cool kid that he is, with his hands in his pockets, and I thought to myself: I'm just so glad you showed up.

I'm so glad we're here.

Pinterest Challenge: Extended

Janssen (one of my absolute favorites) extended a challenge to choose a few things from our respective Pinterest boards to attempt to finish over the next six weeks or so. A Pinterest Challenge! Six things = 1 pin a week. That's mighty ambitious, well of me, but I'm still excited to see how it goes.

The Pins I've Chosen

1. Beer Biscuits with Spicy Meyer Lemon Butter. I think I'll add these to our Easter brunch menu. 

2. I'm planning to host a champagne dinner in a couple months and, hey!, I already have invitations for it. I'll practice some fancy handwriting on those. 

3. For ages, I've wanted to make a viewfinder for Kyle, to remember a special event or occassion. I finally found this how-to that seems to promise it can be relatively easy and affordable to make a viewfinder. Let's hope that's true. I'll make a viewfinder of our California/Disneyland trip. 

4. I've wanted a pair of Kendra Scott earrings for a while now, and I think it might be time to break down and splurge on myself. Hopefully I can find a coupon code. (Wait, do you have one?) 

5. It seems fitting that in a Janssen-inspired challenge I choose a Janssen-inspired pin. A Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie. 

6. Spraypaint a few of my Mason jars gold, for storing fun things. 

Thanks + Thoughts

Thank you for all the kind comments and emails, after my hard announcements that the Lush sites would be (sort of) closing this week. (I say sort of because I absolutely intend to pay to host them until forever, so we can access all that wonderfulness long after this Friday.) I've felt a lot of love since Friday, and I hope the other writers have too. It feels like a part of my family is scattering away from me, and that's scary and sad, but all the love and support from the readers (and the writers, too) make the scattering feel less scary and more exciting. We have new things ahead of us! The goodbye is bittersweet, but as my smart friend Caitlin said, it's mostly sweet and that's a good time to walk away.

You know how some people exclaim that this will be the year (whatever year it happens to be) when they say yes more? Yes to ziplining! Yes to mid-week dinner plans! Yes to new groups and activities and intimidating opportunities! Well, ask anyone who knows me, and I have saying yes down. I say yes a lot, to a lot of different things. (Including ziplining, which I can assure you I'll never say yes to AGAIN so help me.) While this isn't necessarily a bad thing--oh the beautiful things I've gotten to do because of this quality of mine--I think 2013 is unfolding as the year I say yes slightly less often. Or, say yes to much slower, calmer things. Yes to more books, to cooking, to closing my laptop when I get home so I can be at home.

I hope all this newfound time inspires me to share new and different things here, I really do like this space a lot, but I also hope this time just gives me a little extra breathing room. It's what I'm looking forward to most, more time to breathe.

Still, this week has been tough. (I hope you're reading all our last posts, please say yes.) I expect next week to be a little tough, too. Change, man. It's kind of weird, with all its possibilities and fresh starts and "the best is yes to come"s while also being a total bitch.

I came here to thank you, though, so that's what I'd like to end on. I hit publish last week, with a lot of worry, and as the comments came in, that worry just rolled away. Your words, they've always been the absolute best, and I'm so grateful for them. I started blogging almost six years ago and while a lot has changed since then (Twitter was just a baby! I was much skinnier! VERONICA MARS WAS STILL ON!), my gratitude has never wavered.

I talked to Kyle tonight about gratitude, and he told me he was grateful for milkshakes. Well, even though that's not a bad thing to be grateful for (milkshakes are delicious), I told him that today I am grateful for you.

A Few Hard Goodbyes

I have a couple hard announcements for you today, and you can read about them officially at Style Lush and Food Lush.

Last year was a year of many questions. Some of those were: Was I doing too much? Would I ever find the time to do more? Should I step up? Or step back? Should I just give up sleep altogether or should I give up the things keeping me from sleep?

This year, there have been answers.

Simply (but sadly) put: I don't have the time to manage the Lush sites any longer. It was a painful realization, a painful answer to a few questions, and it's been heartbreaking to set in motion. I know this sounds a little dramatic. They're websites! What little advertising money they brought in dried up a while ago because I stopped having the time to seek out advertising opportunities. The ideas I had for the sites kept piling up but the time to devote to those ideas either never came or came at the expense of my offline life.

Rationally, it makes a lot of sense to shut them down. It's time. It's been time. But, emotionally. Oh, emotionally, I'm a mess. I have made such incredible friends and memories directly because of the sites. I can't tell you how proud they've made me over the years. I really wanted them to take off, to fill the writers' pockets with money, to catch the attention of important people. I believed they could do all that (and would). I still think they could, if only circumstances were different.

Kyle will be four the week after next. It stuns me. He was a baby and now he's a boy, and I've never loved anything more than watching that kid grow, but he's still growing too fast. I can't make time slow down, but I can make me slow down. 

When I told Mike my decision, he actually tried to talk me out of it. He might not get blogging but he gets when I'm happy. I told him all my reasons, all my thoughts, and the next night he said to me, "You know, I think this is the right choice for our family." That's all I needed to hear. Any doubt I might have had over these hard goodbyes went poof. Mike would never ask that I walk away from something that's taking time from him, but he still deserves that I walk away anyway.

There will be new posts up through next week, and I hope you'll visit and then go on to continue supporting the team of writers as they move on to new things. They are something else, those women. They are rock stars, stylish role-models, inspiring women, and all-around incredible friends. I love each of them, so much, and I could never say that enough. 

I talked to Natalie about this too because I tend to talk to Natalie about a lot and she asked if I thought I would regret this decision. Absolutely, without a doubt, likely every single day. I will regret giving these sites up for a long time to come, I'd be willing to bet.

But something I'm learning as I get older, regret doesn't necessarily mean you made a mistake. It just means you need a little time to be sad that things didn't work out differently.

Thank you to every single one of you who ever visited, who ever commented, who ever told me at a dinner party or in an email that you liked such-and-such post or that you bookmarked the sites or that you shared them with your friends. That never got old. Something we built entertained you. Oh, that was always such a fun feeling. So, thank you a million times over for supporting me, supporting the writers, supporting the sites. I'm so grateful.

It's hard to close doors, but I have great faith there are new ones opening as I hit publish.

My Favorite To-Do List To Date

In case you're into looking back on (many) failed tasks and (also many) tasks with lines drawn through them, here are my 2010, 2011, and 2012 to-do lists.

2013 is below.

I tried hard to create tangible goals that weren't intimidating. Sure, I have some bigger, abstract goals that are hard to put on a list because you can't really cross them off, such as complain less, accept help more, be far less lazy, etc., but I think this list may be my best list yet. We'll see, of course. But I like it a lot.

1. Earn a 100-class yoga bracelet
2. Go on an overnight trip with Kristie and our families (possibly to Jellystone Park)
3. Visit a new state
4. Cook one dish a week from the cookbooks I own (52 delicious recipes!) 
5. Don't purchase a new cookbook the entire year
6. Finish Couch to 5K
7. Finish Couch to 10K
8. Make an eye appointment and buy new glasses (It's TIME. I've had my current ones as long as I've had Kyle.)
9. Finish a month of (the basic bones of) Whole30 (as a mostly vegetarian who eats a little fish)
10. Host a Friendsgiving
11. Read every book on Elizabeth's best of 2012 list
12. Read every book selected by my (awesome) book club (I've already read January and February's picks. Score!)
13. Run a 5K and a 10K (try to PR)
14. Take a stab at one Pinterest-inspired project a month. A new recipe, a craft, etc. (I'll call it "Pin of the Month," or something dorky like that.)
15. Finish Kyle's book of letters (This has been on my list for a while, I know, but it's a big project. I just need to make the time for it this year.)
16. Create our second family yearbook
17. Email Kyle every day of the year (365 Days of Emails)
18. Read 25 books throughout the year
19. Throw a champagne-inspired dinner party for my ladies
20. Seriously, get that third tattoo (I think I finally know what I want it to be)
21. Go horseback riding
22. Get my passport updated; get Kyle a passport (I wanted to do this in 2012 but, sheesh, you have to pay to update your name if the passport is over 5 years old. Uncool!)
23. Go a month without dairy
24. As much as possible, no eating after 9PM (obviously this can't always be helped and this is all about curbing the mindless snacking, not about skipping a late dinner)
25. Read the Bible (some of it, all of it, we'll see)
26. Learn a little web design and create one sidebar badge or Facebook cover or SOMETHING web-related
27. Pay off Mike's student loans (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) (this deserves that many exclamation points, trust me)
28. Buy a living room rug
29. Hang travel photos above our couch
30. Menu plan each (and every) month
31. Figure out a shoe storage solution for my teeny, tiny closet
32. Don't buy a single new pair of shoes all of 2013
33. Take more neighborhood walks
34. Spraypaint something
35. Take a picture of what I'm wearing every Friday (or at least once a week), so I can pretend I'm as stylish as Elizabeth and also so I can be motivated to dress better
36. Make lasagna for a neighbor
37. Get a new pet
38. Take a family photo shoot (why do my favorite photographers have to live so far away!?)
39. Take Kyle to an Aggie football game
40. Make no-sew curtains
41. Clean out and organize all my kitchen drawers
42. Buy new hardware for my kitchen drawers/cabinets
43. Go on a weekend trip with Natalie, to celebrate being friends for 20 years
44. Paint our living room
45. Wear skinny jeans.
46. Buy/Make a personalized viewfinder for Kyle
47. Write an article/post about parenting an only child
48. Make Mike baked ziti again, the right way
49. Start Justified
50. Throw Kyle an awesome fourth birthday party
51. Re-read The Great Gatsby, in anticipation of seeing the movie
52. Take Kyle to a Rangers game
53. Run a race in Austin
54. Stay the night in Denton
55. Volunteer again with Meals On Wheels
56. Feel better about my physical health at the end of the year than at the start of it
57. Buy new champagne flutes
58. Eat a Butter Lane cupcake
59. Dance with my husband on our 6th anniversary
60. Pay off one credit card
61. Get my car detailed (and then try to keep that bad boy clean)
63. Do a full month (30 straight days!) of the 30-Day Shred
64. Set up a monthly Skype date with my sister and nephew
65. Be happy

I reserve the right to change, edit, and add to this list because that's the awesome thing about creating lists. I just want this year to be good, to be peaceful, to be full. Oh, I hope it can be all that.

Much Love

Most of our holiday cards have found their way to where they are supposed to go by now (and the stragglers should be there any day). 2012 is nearly done. We're this close to a new year and before we head into that new, blank slate, let me say that I'm so happy you visited this spot at any time this past year.

I feel so lucky for my boys, my family, my friends, my health, my job, and for you.

I'm so lucky, so thankful, so grateful.

As the card says, much love to you. Much, much love.

Until Next Year

(I sadly skipped two days of posting while I was gone, but I'll make those two up somewhere along the way and call it even.)

The thing about getting 60 ladies together for a weekend of conversation and city-exploring at The Blathering is that not every moment can be glorious. Some moments can be a little awkward, some blurry from too-much champagne, some loud, and others a little isolating, but you just hope when you hit the road for home, the good moments amount to a whole lot. That they amount to enough reason to go back the next year and the next and the next.

Every year there is good and bad for me at The Blathering--although always more good--but this year was filled with the most good, and I loved it an indescribable amount. I'd go back tomorrow, if I could. (Well, maybe not tomorrow, I sure did miss my boys.) I loved the city, I loved all the hugs, I loved the laughter, and I loved that it seemed liked so many people around me were taking good away with them, too. 

(I also really loved that right before kicking off a fabulous Saturday night dinner, my Aggies upset Alabama. It was a can't-put-into-words awesome feeling. Only topped by one particular game vs OU in 2002 that I got to stand in the stands for.)

New Orleans charmed me within the first few minutes. What a city, that city. It had been 15 years since I last visited and I had never been without chaperones. Everyone was so warm, so welcoming. Like they wanted us to stay, to have fun, to enjoy ourselves. Have a drink!, the city seemed to say. Relax and have fun. Well, if you insist.

I have so many stories from my few days away, and I'll try to share them over this week. For now, some pictures. And deep gratitude for this event, for the city the event was in, and for the beautiful women who travel to it each year. Without them, there would be no Blathering.

I'm so grateful there is.

Next year we're heading to Charleston (dates to be announced soon) and I hope you can make it. 

New Orleans

Just under the wire, here's a post for the day.

This weekend is going to make posting difficult (I'm trying to post every day of November, remember?) since I'm in New Orleans (yay!) for The Blathering. Even though I brought my laptop, the wifi around Louisiana is not so kind.

So, anyway, pecking this out on my phone. Day one was an exhausting, awesome success. New Orleans is an incredible city. Feels like a city that wants you to be here. And I'm so glad I am.

Favorite Reads This Week

In honor of posting more, how about I post some things for you to read elsewhere? (It makes sense in my head!) Anyway, an ode to my (oh-so dusty) posts of the week and other awesome links, too.

Mommy Melee's "Please Remember These Things" -- Maria is one of my favorites. I wish I could make her write every day, but this post in particular was just so good. Beautifully written, completely relatable. I think that sums up a good blogger right there.

Lainey Gossip's "Nashville" recap -- I really enjoyed the pilot last night (did you?), and this recap touched on most of what I felt about the show. One silly random aside, there were a couple sweeping, FNL-esque sunset scenes and I felt weirdly territorial of those. Like, good try, NASHVILLE, I am enjoying you a lot, but you will never be Dillon, Texas. (I know, the latter isn't even REAL, it's AUSTIN, but WHATEVER.)

Hillary with Two L's "Will You Remember Me" -- From the post, "She is coming home next week. Just for a visit, not forever, but that doesn't matter. She is a forever kind of person." This was just beautiful and obviously made me think of Natalie. I'm not certain of much, not much at all, but I'm certain of Natalie. It's impossibly comforting to have a friend like that.

The entire Television Without Pity's Tumblr. Here are all the posts with a Parks and Rec tag. First, you're welcome. Second, kiss your day goodbye.

Rhi in Pink's "Getting in the Picture" -- Rhi's post is in response to this post, that's gone viral, and I love them both. Let me tell you a story: When Kyle was born a friend offered to take his newborn shots for free and they were fantastic, I loved them all, but I refused to get in any of them. I (thought I) was fat, I was exhausted, I was anxious, I couldn't imagine ever having an almost-four-year-old and regretting a lack of self in his baby photos. All I was thinking at the time was, Please don't scream through this, buds. Yet here I am, without a face in those photos. You will regret it, if this is you now. You will wish you could look back on your 27-year-old, new-to-motherhood face. Get in the picture, please.

Feels like as good a time as any to link to my recent Food and Style Lush posts, because they're both things I considered posting over here. Kyle's behavior chart, something I've mentioned a few times on Twitter (in short: it might be our best parenting idea to date, not that it was OUR idea or anything). A review of Eataly, a delicious gourmet market and handful of restaurants in New York, where I ate one delightful night on my recent trip.

I'm a book industry and book marketing nerd, so you might not find this fascinating at all, but as book readers, you just might. "Are Publishers Making a Killing on E-Books?" (Part one and part two.)

Any great links from your corner of the internet?

Back It Is

I used to write here all the time. My monthly archives show I wrote 27 posts in December 2010, for example. (Twenty-seven! Posts! That's so many words! Although taking a quick glance at those posts, it's also a lot of lists, so apparently I still blog, I just do it on the notepad I keep in my purse now.)

I feel like while I'm busier than ever, I just don't have as much to say. I mean I do, of course, I could always talk about something. (SONS OF ANARCHY, I HAVE MANY THOUGHTS.) But everything is as it always is, as it should be, and there's nothing going on that's really new or noteworthy or something I haven't written about a dozen times before.

Then, when I do think of something grand to write about--a new Real Marriages post, my monthly menu plan, fitness thoughts, etc.--it gets buried by deadlines I have elsewhere. I have to do that thing over there before doing anything fun over here and time just sneaks away and away and away.

Did there used to be more hours in the day? In December 2010, I think there must have been.

STILL. I really miss it. I miss hitting publish so often. I miss seeing comment emails hit my inbox. I miss connecting with someone over a shared thought or experience. I really miss looking back on my life through the lens of this blog and remembering so much I had forgotten. I miss the regular process of recording it, too.

Blogging about blogging is spectacularly uninteresting, even as I re-read this I'm a little uninterested in myself, but I swore I'd hit publish this time, so I'm going to.

I also swear I'm going to make more of an effort to hit publish more of the time, even if it's a crappy post, even if it's just more lists. Maybe I'll even post every day in November if that's even still a Blogging Thing (is it?) because when you miss something, you either find a way to move on or you find a way back.

Back it is.

Ten (Not-So) Quick Takes Because I'm Feeling Chatty

1. I read to Kyle almost every night. This is simply My Thing in our house, even if Mike is around. No matter who does the PJ wrangling, the tooth-brushing reminding, the "STOP STALLING" yelling, I am the one to snuggle in with him to read a couple books. This is one thing I own in our house, this job of Book Reader, and it's a real full-circle kind-of role because if you ask me what I remember most about my own mother from my own childhood, I will tell you how she read to me. How she read so lovely, how she always seemed her most perfect self when she was reading to me, and every night I hoped hoped hoped she would read just one more book. Every night Kyle asks for just one more book.

Anyway, that was a very sweet lead-up to THIS: tonight as I finished up his book of choice (it's been Berenstain Bears' Picnic for like a solid month), I gave him a hug, a dozen kisses, another hug, and then he cupped my face in his hands and said oh-so sweetly, "Mommy can I give you a high-five on your cheek?" "That's called hitting, Kyle." "NO! NO IT'S NOT!" "Well whatever euphemism you've chosen, the answer is no."

Kids, man.

2. We're headed to California this weekend. I know, how did that happen? I am such a ridiculous vacation planner that trips are scheduled and booked and researched MONTHS and MONTHS in advance and then I shelve them and then they sneak the fuck up on me and all of the sudden we're on a plane and that's got to be confusing for the people in our lives and in our computers.

Anyway, we're going to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday. (Cherie! You know Cherie! She's the better half of Cherry Jean and she's also one of the best friends a person could ever hope to have.) She was so kind as to come to Vegas for my 30th birthday, so we had to reciprocate. We're taking the whole family on this trip (well, except Molly and let's not bring that up, she's bitter) and we're hitting the beach and going to Disneyland and also drinking adult drinks after our children go to sleep, oh yes.

When you ask Kyle what he's most excited about in California, he'll tell you 1) Riding on a whale (I've no clue) or 2) Legoland (Which we've not mentioned to him being in California because Legoland is 20 minutes from our house. IN TEXAS. Again I've no clue.)

Let's cross our fingers his mind is properly blown at Disneyland and I'm not going to have to guilt my three year old into humoring me.

3. THE BLATHERING SOLD OUT. I keep saying (to myself, to Mike, to the random internet friend who will listen to me) that it feels like a helluva lot of of hard work met a helluva lot of good luck. I'm just so excited we have our official people! And I'd now like to think about my Blathering Wardrobe. Here's where you come in. Saturday night is a wee bit fancier than the rest of the weekend and I want to get a new dress. Which do you prefer:

On the left is this one, and I'd color it up with a black blazer and black heels (maybe red/orange accessories?). On the right, the dress speaks for itself (check out the back) but I have no idea what shoes I'd wear. Black, maybe?

WHICH WOULD YOU PICK? WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR WITH EACH? (Heeelp!)

4. Mumford & Sons has a new album coming out next month (9/25!) and, guys, I'm an insane amount of excited. I actually thought to myself, "I should take off work to listen to the album on repeat all day," but then I realized I'd be out of town on a work trip that specific day, so taking the day off might be a wee bit problematic.

5. I taught my kid some yoga.

Speaking of yoga, in class the other day I thought to myself, "Wow, child's pose is awesome. I'd like a full yoga class with just this one pose." WHICH IS BASICALLY ONE STEP ABOVE NAPPING. It's basically stretching on the couch during an episode of The Vampire Diaries. I invented that.

6. On Style Lush, Hillary, one of my absolute favorites, asked what your timeless, classic, always-on-repeat albums are. I answered with indie folk, Texas country, and Christian worship. I confuse even myself, to be honest. What are yours?

7. I recently remembered something really wonderful and sweet my dad said to me on my wedding day. I hadn't remembered until then, and, wow, I wish I had remembered sooner.

8. Have I told you my sister is coming to Texas for Christmas? Rachel hasn't visited since Kyle was a baby, and her entire family has never been, and my boy has never met her boy, and I'm SO CRAZY EXCITED. I really am. I text her often with questions like, "Do you like wine trains?" and other things like "We're picking the Mexican restaurant, it'll be delicious, we promise/hope."

I can't remember the last Christmas morning I spent with both my mom and my sister. Don't judge if I put our tree up October 1st, and have already nearly planned our entire Christmas menu.

9. I have started a Facebook policy that is basically this: If you're an asshole, I'll unfriend you. I don't care if I shouldn't unfriend you, if you're my cousin's best friend and I might run into you at some random picnic in a couple years. I especially don't care if my only tie to you is high school English. If you are being stupid and saying thoughtless, mean things, I'm just going to go ahead and rid my social media life of you, instead of trying to make you see the error or your ways (which you won't). This has led to my Facebook feed being a very pleasant place to be. I rarely get riled up (by Facebook) and I think I may survive this election after all.

10. Mark your calendars, my friends, Sons of Anarchy returns 9/11. I'm thinking of recapping the episodes here, for no other reason than I REALLY WANT TO. Also, the promos stress me out already. The actual show is going to bring out the ALL CAPS, I am sure, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Blathering about The Blathering

I don't know if you know, but I co-organize an event every year that is technically a blogging meet-up but is really just one giant excuse to clink glasses with internet friends and eat a lot of food. (Of course I'm involved in an event that includes eating a lot of food.)

It's called The Blathering and it's right around the corner. I wanted to write about the event because we just added a slew of fun activities to the agenda and I'm especially excited about the 5K run/walk I'm organizing. Also, the registration deadline is looming and I just really want you (or you or you or you) to snatch up one of the last ten spots. I'm a little afraid this all sounds weird and salesy but I swear I don't make any money if you do sign up*. I just get to meet you, and that's what I'm really excited about. Getting to meet you.

*If you'd like to just give me money, though, let's absolutely talk.

It's a great event if you already know people coming and you're already good friends with those people, this is definitely true and can be intimidating if you don't fall into those two categories. But it's also a great event if you don't know a soul before showing up, I swear. It's worth the leap of blogging faith.

See, it's not just an event to hang out with people you've been close with for years--although it is that and I'm so glad it's that--but it's also an event to meet new, downright awesome people you've never heard of.

For example, I didn't know anything about Erica before last year's Blathering, and now she's one of my favorite people online. She'll hate that I just wrote that, but it's true. I'm so glad she came, I'm so glad I talked to her (albeit too briefly), and then started reading her, and then reached out and begged her to write for Food Lush. She's hilarious, she can make a mean egg dish, and she lives in Austin, so I've gotten to see her since last year's event, even. I think we'll be friends for a while, aside from blogging, unless all these compliments make her swear off speaking to me forever.

But, I just love that this is going to happen for other people too--that you'll show up and end up clicking with someone you've never heard of, and they'll turn out to be an actual no-shit friend afterwards.

Last night, I spent a little time in my e-mail archives and stumbled upon an unrelated email from Janssen. In that email she said:

"I know some people think it's all weird to care about people who you've never met, but what could possibly be weird about expanding the circle of people for whom you can be absolutely thrilled with when something good happens?"

Reading this reminded me of The Blathering and why I love it so much. It's not just a way to take that expanded circle of people for whom you can be absolutely thrilled with when something good happens and have drinks with them in person. Although I am ever grateful that it IS in part this.

It's a chance to add brand new people to that circle you would have never met otherwise, perhaps not even online.

If you're on the fence about registering, I hope you'll come. 

Sponsored Post: LeapFrog Touch Rockin' Guitar

 

***

I know! Another sponsored post. What is UP with that? I've apparently run out of non-sponsored thoughts. Kidding, kidding! (You know I could easily fill another week's worth of posts on what I miss most about Veronica Mars. LIKE TODAY I COULD DO THAT.) Anyyyyway, as you may remember, I jumped at the chance to review toys for Kyle through Clever Girls Collective beacuse I suck at picking out toys for him, and LeapFrog requested the reviews be broken into two posts.

Anyway, the other toy we got was a LeapFrog Touch Rockin' Guitar.

(Photo from leapfrog.com)

This is one of those toys that's a big hit with every kid that's ever liked making a lot of music-y noise and that would definitely my kid. It's less of a hit with, say, anyone who has to pay their own taxes.

(Funny side note: Whenever Kyle asks to do something he absolutely cannot do--like drive a car or stay home by himself--my default has been to say, "When you can pay taxes, I'll think about it." It usually confuses him enough so his attention turns elsewhere. Feel free to use that trick yourself!)

I don't actually mind noisy toys, I should say. If a toy keeps Kyle happy, I've always been inclined to Fully Support It. If it's noisy, keeps him happy, AND is educational (like the Touch Magic Learning Bus), I am not going to discourage playing with it, oh nooooo. The Rockin' Guitar definitely checked the first two boxes, which rates it just below the Learning Bus, but it's something Kyle really loved and enjoyed (and I bet your three year old or the three year old you most shop for would love and enjoy it, too). Which is good! I don't need to play with ALL his toys once he's gone to sleep, and it was pretty adorable watching him try to rock out on this.

One of these days I'll share photos online withour my disaster of a house in the background. One day far, far in the future when I clean my house.

You touch a variety of images on the guitar, and different music/percussion plays and that kind of blows your kid's mind. They also look like little rockstars, which allows you to fantasize that they'll BECOME rockstars one day and take very good care of you. (Although, admittedly, I'd rather Kyle become the next Olympic star and take care of me that way. Mostly so I can get featured in a sobs-inducing "thanks mom" commercial.)

So, if you're looking for something fun, awesome (according to kids), and also kind of adorable, I'd suggest this! You can't go wrong with toys that make your kids look adorable, I think that's written in stone somewhere.

***

Oh! You might have noticed at the top of this post a mention of a contest LeapFrog is currently hosting. If you get the Rockin' Guitar and take a video of your kid rocking out on it (and why WOULDN'T you take video of your kid rocking out on it?), then share that video, you might possibly win $500. That's fun, right? More info here!

***

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and was given free product by LeapFrog.  The content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Giveaway: A Pair of Naya Shoes

A couple months ago, I got an email offering me a free pair of shoes. One, this doesn't happen nearly often enough, and two, YES PLEASE. The offer itself was very nice indeed but then I took a look at the shoes in question and they looked incredible. The company is Naya Shoes (they featured a short-and-sweet interview with me on their blog a couple months ago) and their line is filled with unique, lovely, perfect-for-summer shoes. They also have a great company philosophy and commitment that's worth a read.

I got to pick the pair of my choice (seriously, these people are vying to be my new best friends, right?) and I went with the Cerena in black, but the blue has called to me often since then.

When I received the shoes, Mike even commented on how nice they are. They took a couple days to break in (I don't wear heels as often as I used to, so I think my feet just needed a refresher) but after that, they have been comfortable and a delight to wear to the office or on a date night this summer. I can't tell you how often I'm complimented on them. (Fine, I can. A lot!)

The lovely (seriously lovely) people at Naya Shoes has offered one reader their own pair of the Cerena, in whatever color you'd like.

Simply leave a comment below and a new pair of shoes could be yours soon.

Details:

• To enter: leave a comment on what color you'll choose if you win (we won't hold you to it, if you change your mind!)
• Giveaway ends: 11:59 p.m. on Friday, July 27
  
• Who can enter: Anyone in the U.S.!
• Other notes: One comment per person, the winner will be selected by random.org and announced on the site by 7/30.

Thanks to Naya Shoes and to everyone who enters!

***

Naya Shoes gave me one free pair of shoes without requesting a review in return, and I wasn't otherwise compensated for this post.

Movie Review: Brave

I was lucky enough to be invited to an early screening of Brave last night (this time it was actually a screening and not some star-studded, business-casual-means-wear-a-ball-gown premiere) and I was a little bummed that the time and place of the screening would make it impossible for me to bring Kyle. We've only taken him to one in-theater movie before, and he did pretty well. I thought it'd be fun to take him to another. Well, small miracles that I ended up inviting Natalie instead.

We saw the 3-D version, which I didn't realize before showing up. I was a little disappointed since 3-D isn't really my thing, but this was the first 3-D movie I think I enjoyed more than I would have otherwise. It was visually spectacular and the VisitScotland marketing campaign is pretty genius because that's exactly what I took from the movie: I need to get to Scotland ASAP.  

The story itself -- outside of the breathtaking LOOK of it -- was a little disappointing. The plot wasn't at all what I was expecting. I thought it would be a coming-of-age adventure where this young girl is tested either by her circumstances or ambitions or something along those lines. It started that way, and I thought I knew where it was going until BAM, sharp (and strange) turn in an entirely different direction. I just couldn't really invest IN the story in a big-picture way, and it disappointed me that such a beautiful film wasn't matched by a beautiful story.

I feel I should also say, as the parent of a three year old, I wouldn't take Kyle to see it. He hasn't seen ads for it -- I don't think we watch much live television, only reason -- so he's not asking to go (makes my decision easy) but I also know that big, loud noises and kind of scary animals/somewhat violent scenes frighten him a little bit. The sharks in Finding Nemo just stopped freaking him out a few months ago. So, knowing MY KID, I wouldn't take him, but it's probably fine if your kid varies wildly. As a blanket statement, I'd say that it felt better suited for ages 5-6 than younger pre-schoolers.

Interested to hear what you thought (if you've also seen it early) or think (when you do see it).

***

(A big thanks to VisitScotland for the invite, by the way. It's refreshing when someone takes the time to personalize a pitch note and not make the interaction all about them or their client. The publicist didn't ask for anything, not a review or tweet or "remember this hashtag!" Nothing other than my guest's name. It was really nice, and I do appreciate the invite a lot.)

TNT's Dallas Premiere

I was invited to a screening of TNT's new version of Dallas -- set to premiere June 13 -- last night, and when I read "screening" in the email, I thought I'd sit in a room with other bloggers, watching the pilot and tweeting. (My brain, it is adorable.) Guys, I can watch/tweet the heck out of a TV show, just ask anyone who has ever met me, and I also like going out on work nights from time to time, where there might be adult beverages and fancy snacks. So, yeah. I was game.

I noticed the screening was at a somewhat fancyish opera house in town, but the dress said business casual, so my mind assumed it was in a room within the opera house or maybe that was just the point of reference and it would be nearby? Or maybe they were pulling out the stops for a small group of tv-loving bloggers.

I invited A'Dell and we grabbed dinner beforehand. I was wearing a (cute, I think) dress from Target, and while I wasn't going to stop traffic, I thought it was appropriate for a small blogger-type event with a business casual dress-code.

Yeah. My thoughts. They were off-base.

It was the premiere! Of the show! With all the actors and media and probably C-list stars from Dallas-based reality shows! On a red carpet!

As far as I could tell, not a single other person was wearing Target.

There were plenty of people wearing ballgowns, though. With sequins. That kicked-off a fun game in my head I now call Who Invited the Poor Suburban Mom to This Fancy Event?

(At one point, we had to actually walk down the red carpet and on one side was a fountain-type wading pool and A'Dell said, "Please don't fall in," as I was taking a picture. She said it with experience as my friend, you guys. She said it because if there was anyone in the world to be invited to a fancy tv show premiere and then FALL IN THE FOUNTAIN, it would be me.)

Still, you know, it was a crazy awesome people-watching opportunity and I don't think I'll ever be in a room with Patrick Duffy again (or Parker from Veronica Mars!) so I enjoyed it. Even though I kept thinking WHY AM I WEARING COTTON? It was exciting. Also, a high-up at TNT gave a very sweet talk about how he took his now-wife out on their first date the night of the original Dallas series finale and they're still married and look! He's J.R.'s boss now! It was really cute.

Unfortunately, the show was....oh guys....not great. I know, this is coming from a girl who is very liberal with her DVR "record" button and who just last week watched (and enjoyed!) a few episodes of Hart of Dixie.

I thought it might have potential, being filmed in Dallas -- a grittier, less-produced feel or something -- but it fell short. The storyline also went wildly all over the place and the dialogue was so cheesy and emotionless, I literally rolled my eyes at times. While the end had a fun twist (sorta) that might lure viewers to tune in again, the twist happened standing on the star of Cowboys Stadium. Who schemes on the 50-yard-line of a football field? It was reminding you, too often, that this was happening in Texas, YEE-HAW.

Pilots are generally bad, I know, so perhaps the kinks will get worked out. I just couldn't help but think of Friday Night Lights, a show also filmed in Texas -- a show with "Texas Forever" as one of its catchphrases -- but a show that was basically about Anytown USA. It had such heart. (Why was I not invited to THAT premiere, I wonder!)

Anyway, some photos I snapped.

You can't tell, but I'm wearing my new Texas necklace. This is what I planned to lead with if anyone questioned my non-ballgown-attire. DO YOU SEE MY TEXAS NECKLACE. I HAVE MAD STATE PRIDE.

Do you see the very faint arrow? That guy was hugging a lot of people. He was either Someone Very Important or just huggy. Hard to tell.

You can kinda see the pool at the mid-left section of the photo. I did not fall in, praise everything.

I've circled Jesse Metcalfe. He's very pretty. He's also quite possibly the worst actor there has ever been.

This is Josh Henderson. He has been in ... some shows and stuff. I mainly know him as the guy who was dating Ashlee Simpson when her reality show first kicked off. (And I have vague memories of him dumping her via...text or something? Jessica was not impressed.) Anyway, if you just cringed because I WATCHED the Ashlee Simpson Show, I should tell you that it was better than Dallas.

#marchphotoaday

I'm crazy behind on about a dozen posts I want/need to write. Behind on my own deadlines, not behind because you're biting your nails to read them, I should clarify. 

Anyway, first up in my long list of need-to-write-those-suckers posts is a wrap-up of my March photos via Instagram. (Oh, hey! Raise your hand if you're desperately wishing you had invented Instagram this week? Me too!) 

(Here's February) 

"Neighborhood": This is the main street in my little town. We can walk here from our house and there are a handful of places to eat and hang out. It's such a sell for the area, and while I can't imagine living in Texas the rest of my life, I can absolutely imagine living here the rest of my life. (Which doesn't make any sense, I know.)

"Fruit": I snapped this in the produce section of Target. The lady waiting to actually buy lemons looked totally unamused.

"Up": This is the wood-paneled ceiling in our hallway. It's one of my favorite parts of the house.

"Window": This is the view out my office window. I'm lucky that I have my own office and my own big window, so we're going to focus on that and not that my view is horrible. 

"Clouds": I think this photo is a bit self-explanatory, don't you?

"Smile": Oh this kid. His hair is unruly and wild and it grows so fast, I can't keep up, and that's before you consider how lazy his parents are. So, he often looks like he needs a haircut. When I look back on all his toddler/pre-school photos one day, though, I know I won't sigh with regret over not cutting his hair more often. I'm going to instead remember how perfectly his crazy hair suited him. 

"5pm": Quitting time! 

"Your name": Kyle's first daycare made this card for me with a photo of him inside on my first Mother's Day. I have had it in my office ever since.

"Feet": Kyle's new shoes. He calls them his "skateboard shoes," which is definitely accurate but I'm also not sure at all where he picked that up. 

#febphotoaday

If you're on Instagram (or, hey, even if you're not) you probably know that in 2012 a list of photo prompts has made the rounds with specific hashtags by month. I like the idea mostly because it reminds me to take more photos, which I'm naturally pretty bad at. This is one reason (of many?) why I'll never be an uber-popular blogger. Most of the uber-popular bloggers take photos of their lives while I just watch a lot of tv.

I participated in February and probably will again in March and I thought I'd round up those photos here. I didn't take a photo every day, either because the prompts got weird (does anyone really want to see a photo of "inside my bathroom cabinet" because I'm pretty sure my Band-aids look just like yours) or because all the prompting in the world can't make me a completely different person, and I plain forgot some days.

"Your view today": This is my view most mornings, as I start my drive to work. I love that Instagram made my drive look kinda beautiful when it's really just annoying as hell.

"Words": This is a signed copy of one of our books, an anthology on The Vampire Diaries. One of the editors signed it for me at Comic-Con this year, and she signed it "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, and Lots of Vervain," which I love so much.

"Hands": Kyle's hands, playing with the camera he got for Christmas. 

"10am": We were at my in-laws, having a morning playdate with Kyle's cousins, who he just plain adores. Can't you see the happy written all over him?

"Dinner": I wanted to make something fancy this night, to impress all my Instagram friends, but my desire to be cooler than I am is usually trumped by my laziness. So, here's some hummus (which photographs horribly) doused in hot sauce with some delicious sweet potato chips.  

"Self-portrait": I look so sleepy! Or annoyed! Or sad! I can't tell what expression I'm really making here. I didn't mean it, whatever it is. Behind me you can see the Veronica Mars anthology cover that I have framed in my office.

"Makes you happy": Hi Mike! He does make me happy (as does his sweatshirt), but this particular day was my morning to sleep in, and I woke to bagels and coffee in bed, so I was happy for like 10 different reasons.

"Blue": Beautiful, beautiful (turquoise) blue appliance. I just realized the bowl is missing but it's because I had just USED my mixer (notice the mini banana muffins on the cooling rack in the background).

"Something new": New cupcake shop in town. Not just in town, my friends, IN WALKING DISTANCE IN TOWN. I can now walk to burgers, pizza, barbecue, Mexican, fried chicken, and now cupcakes. I can also walk to yoga, but guess which I walk to more? 

"Handwriting": A note I have in my office, that I hand wrote when work was particularly stressful for me. You can also see the quote here. 

"A fave photo of you": From our honeymoon. We were so tan and young and happy. We're still one of those things, at least. Funny though, about a minute after we took this (self-timer FTW!), I fell down the stairs of our villa, so the look of pure relaxation on my face was fleeting. Very fleeting. Because I was bleeding not long after.

"Where you work": Yep, that's my building. 

"Something you're listening to": When I thought of the prompt, this is what song was on my Pandora shuffle. 

***

Here's the list of March photo prompts if you want to play along this month! (You should, too.)

My 2011

(2007, 2008, 2009, 2010; first inspired all those years ago by Linda)

1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?

I ran a half-marathon, started a book club, got a Brazilian bikini wax (ouch), went to a Cubs game, visited Utah, introduced Kyle to some of Mike's family, watched my brother graduate high school. This was a year of a lot of firsts. Happy to see that in hindsight..

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My list got dusty this year, but I have high hopes for 2012. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

A handful of close friends (including A'Dell) and then nearly every other friend got pregnant. 2011: the year of the belly! 

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Mike's great-aunt's husband, who we weren't close to, but it turns out he was a pretty fascinating guy. I wish we hadn't waited to hear his stories until after he was gone. 

5. What countries did you visit?

Just the U.S., but I managed to get to eight states. That's something! Washington, Illinois, New York, California (twice), Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you didn't have in 2011?

I'd like to have a grown-up, well-decorated, well-organized, mostly-clean-most-of-the-time house.

7. What dates from 2011 will be etched upon your memory, and why?

December 4th, my first half-marathon and December 25th. We had a really lovely Christmas this year and I'd like to keep that memory close.

8. What was your biggest achievement of this year?

That pesky half-marathon but, also, every early morning or long run I finished this summer and fall. They were each accomplishments in their own right.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Anytime I yelled or lost my patience at someone in my immediate family always sucks it big time, and I'm going to try much harder in 2012 to keep my cool. I also gained most of the weight back I lost during Biggest Blogging Loser. New year, new start, my friends.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

It was a much healthier year for my family except for Mike's 75 Man Colds and a handful of daycare-caused things. Those were all annoying, but nothing will compare to 2009: the year Kyle was sick every two weeks. I am shocked I still have a job.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Every year it's always travel-related things: plane tickets, hotel rooms, nice dinners in new towns. I never regret the trips I take or the memories I make on them.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Is it super cheesy to say Kyle's? I loved the shit out of age two and I'm weepy over the thought of saying goodbye to it. Not because I don't want Kyle to get older, but I just fell in love with this age. He was hilarious, sweet, fun, and so funny much of the time. 2011 wasn't my favorite year in some ways, but I sure loved loved loved being a mom this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I'll just say this: You can't argue with crazy. You can sip wine while crazy argues alone.

14. Where did most your money go?

Bills. Daycare. Our (stupid) car fixes. Travel.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

An endless list of things from new Gossip Girl episodes to trips to Vegas. But, I think what I enjoyed the most was our family road trip this summer. It was everything I wanted it to be and then some. Except Roswell. What a complete let down that town was.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Probably any song by Adele. I think it was the music industry's goal for 2011 to overplay every one of her songs.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier: yes
Thinner: unfortunately, the same 
Richer: yes 

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Gone to bed earlier

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Comfort eat, stress, shriek, overreact, worry. Will I ever learn?

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We had such a nice weekend, at home, with our family, my mom, and Mike's parents. 

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

I loved it before, of course, but this year I fell in love with motherhood in new, cool ways. I also fell in love with some big ideas I've got. Stay tuned.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Shockingly: Friday Night Lights. Runners-up: Parks and Rec & Awkward. 

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

This isn't a person, but I really hated summer this year. It was just impossibly brutal and soul-sucking. If we ever leave Texas, I'll probably look back on this summer as the official catalyst.

24. What was the best book you read?

Water for Elephants

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I lamely didn't discover much new music this year that wasn't playing on a CW show. Maybe this is a good time to ask you for great music recommendations to carry me into 2012? 

26. What did you want and get?

I wanted a girl's night out dinner for my birthday. I wanted to finish the half-marathon without having to crawl across the finish line. I  wanted to see my brother graduate high school. I wanted happy family memories. Got, got, got, got.

27. What did you want and not get?

Those damn investment jeans. This year, you'll be mine, jeans!

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

I didn't see much but I really enjoyed Midnight in Paris. All you nerdy writer types would, too. 

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 29 way back in January, and I had a gathering at my house and then went out the next night for a fancy dinner with all my girls. It was perfect.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Lottery jackpot, reliable cars, a less brutal summer, no commute.  

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2009?

Cute on special occassions, slobby at work. I have got to change that.

32. What kept you sane?

You, Mike, Kyle, Kristie on all those long runs, bad tv, sparkling wine, running, my book club, my running club, Pinterest. 

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Same, most years: gay marriage might be against your religion but that actually works out fine since no one is forcing you into one. People just want to be able to get married far away from you and your beliefs, and why we're still having this discussion at the beginning of 2012 is beyond me. I get angrier and angrier about it each year. 

(I am sure I don't mean you as in you but the more "general you" part of the population that is against this civil right.)

34. Who did you miss?

If you don't live in driving distance, I miss you. 

35. Who was the best new person you met?

At the beginning of the year, I got an email from Jen, a friend from college. We were in a few classes together and were also in the same sorority but were never that close. Anyway, she found my blog and the Biggest Blogging Loser competition, which she then joined. We began emailing more and more.

She was in Chicago at the time, so when Mike and I went for a long weekend, we met up with her and her husband Adam for a Cubs game, a lot of beers, and a delicious dinner. It was one of the highlights of our trip.

She then moved to Dallas this fall, and has become such a good friend. While I didn't officially meet her this year, it's been so great getting to know her and hanging out with a couple we really like. 

I'm also glad to have met and become close with some new blog friends: Erica, Julie, Caitlin, Kate, Tara, and a handful more. 

Good year for my circle of people.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

See #13.

Also:

- I need to start believing in myself as much as I believe in those around me. I'll be the first to tell you that you can do something, that you're awesome and capable and strong, but I get all negative and tough on myself in a totally similar situation. I don't know where that comes from or why but I learned this year that the only way to get me across any finish line (figuratively, literally) is to believe I can get there. 

- Life is not a linear experience and so many interactions come back to us, at some point. So be nice to people, as much as possible. 

- If you go to bed after midnight, you wake up feeling like you went to bed after midnight.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Not that this lyric really sums up 2011, but it was nice to hear it this year and then I kept returning to it for comfort when I needed it:

Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name
--"Murder in the City" by the Avett Brothers

***

I hope your year was happy, my friends, and I really hope that 2012 knocks it out of the park. I look forward to sharing next year with you and hearing all about yours in return.