Christmas it up

We spent the vast majority of our Saturday Christmas-fying the house. Here are some photos.

28

I turned 28 this week. Instead of having new years resolutions, I'm going to have birthday resolutions. Mom says its because I can fail by New Years and not feel too bad about it. Maybe there's a little truth in that, but I think linking it with your birthday makes it more meaningful to me as a person. So here are some goals I'd like to achieve in the next year:

- Drink more champagne. I realized this a few weeks ago. Champagne is bubbly and fun. You know you're in for a good time when it starts off with champagne. I need more bubbly and fun-ness in my life.

- Host 12 gatherings. Okay, so going from a fun goal to not so much of a fun goal... depending on how you look at it. When Bryan and I first bought our house we were good about having people over every few weeks or so. It forced us into keeping the house clean and made us put on our host and hostess hats. The last year or two we haven't had nearly as many people over, besides family, that is. So in the next year I'd like to host more gatherings. They don't have to be formal parties or even dinner parties (although I do want to bring back the dinner party!). I'm starting off early this year by hosting my first one this weekend. I'm having some of my co-workers from Skyline over for Champagne! and appetizers. Just a fun girls night to catch up.

- Wear sequins. The other day Nicole of Making It Lovely blog wrote about how one of her life goals was to wear sequins. It struck me as such a fun goal and one I should adopt very quickly. For reasoning see: Drink More Champagne goal. It's the same.

- Stop listening to other people's advise. This may seem odd, but lately I've been re-evaluating my life and one of my biggest regrets in life is based on listening to someone else's advise. If I regret that, what else may I regret if I let other people's opinions guide my life?

- Listen to music LOUD! Somewhere along the way in the last few years I haven't been focused on music as I have in the past. Probably because I don't have endless amounts of free time to just sit around and listen to new music, research new bands, and loads of money to purchase new music. Which is totally fine, but this year its time to come back and listen to more music and when I'm in the car, listen to it LOUD. Because its fun.

- Visit 5 breweries or distilleries. If I'm going to complete my life goal of visiting 50 breweries I really need to get a jump start on it. This past year we visited a rum distillery, Yazoo, and two wineries. I'd like to hit up bourbon country in the spring and maybe squeeze in a few beer tours as well.

- Read 15 books (3 of which need to be non-fiction). Last year I had a goal to read 12 books. This seemed lofty at the time as I was deep in the middle of a reading slump. I lifted myself out of that slump this past July and with my current job I've been flying through books. I don't remember what my total is now, but its past 15 by now. I added the non-fiction clause because I don't typically read non-fiction. I finished a non-fiction book last week and really enjoyed it. I need to branch out more.

- Raise hell. Part of this comes with the whole drinking champagne, wearing sequins, and loud music. But this year, I want to have fun. Stop taking things too seriously and mix it up. Change the radio station at work, eat rotel for dinner, stay up late, etc.

There you have it. My goals to achieve as a 28 year old.

Thanksgiving Recap

It was another double meal Thanksgiving for us this year. We had lunch at my parents house with Gram, Gramp and Sharon. I got off pretty easily and just had to makes pies. I got all ambitious and made two types of whipped cream. With bourbon and without.

We then managed to get ourselves in the car to go to the next meal. Bryan's family had asked that we bring Roux so we went home to get the girl.

We had a nice meal at Bevin and Jamie's house with the Baddorfs, the Nyharts, and uncle Kirk. We surrounded the fire outside after the meal.

Friday we did some shopping, had lunch with my family at Penn's and had Bryan's family over for dinner.

Saturday we painted in the morning. We got some serious progress made. So close to being totally done in the bathroom.

We went with the Baddorfs to Bosco's to get our new mugs. After naps we went to Chris Calkins wedding. They served plates of bacon at the bar!

Sunday we didn't go to church but did bring a few Christmasy things down from the attic. It's beginning to look a little like Christmas.

Thankful

It's no secret that it's been a pretty crummy year for the Baddorfs. I won't get into it and today I'm trying to get over my self-centered pity party I've been in the last week and just be grateful for what I have.

This year I'm struck by how many cool people we've met and built relationships with. I am thankful for the people in our lives. From the chefs and bloggers we've met, our neighbors we've gotten to know, and the co-workers from Skyline that have become more like family than anything else. I am thankful for our families who always surround us with love and support. And for Roux, for being the cuddle bunny that I needed.

I am thankful for Bryan, who has been so kind and my rock through this crazy year. I know I try on his nerves and I'm sorry for it.

I am thankful for this house and this amazing place that we live. For Memphis and Tucker Jefferson neighborhood.

I am thankful that, for the most part, we get to do what we want. Run, loll about, re-do a bathroom, create a garden, eat yummy food, etc.

Most of all I am thankful that this life is only temporary and that we have a greater future ahead of us.

Saturday in the Park

Definitely not the 4th of July. Oh well.

On Saturday we took Roux to Overton. We had talked about meeting some friends and their dogs there, but they were not available. We took her to Overton Bark first. This is even our first time to the dog park and I was extremely nervous about it. I don't know why, I just was. I'm a protective and worrisome Mommy apparently.

Roux loves open spaces, but she was a bit nervous too when we first walked in. She circled back and cowered under our legs for a split second. Then she realized there were people there too. She had to meet all the people first. Then she started sniffing around the fence line. After about 10-15 minutes she warmed up and started running around with a few of the other dogs before finding the smallest dog there and playing with it.

After some good play time we decided to talk a walk on the trails. We had taken Bosco for a walk on these same trails the day after Thanksgiving. It's a beautiful time on the trails because of all the many different colors of leaves and the way the naked trees let the light shine in.

Thankful, a story, and spoilage

So yesterday my thing to be thankful for was the convince of air travel, but turns out that screwed us over. I am thankful that Bryan is finally home.

So as I was going to pick up Bobo from the airport at 2 something this morning I got pulled over. Turns out getting pulled over in south Memphisin the middle of the night is much different than during the day.

Tonight we were invited to dinner at Felicia Suzanne's. we knew it would be a great meal, but had no idea we would be sitting in the kitchen. This has to be one of those once in a lifetime things.

I'll leave you with the photos of the days for yesterday and today.

Sunday recap

A day behind again. Oh well.

Yesterday I was thankful for Sundays. I had a lazy yet also productive day, which are my favorites.

There was one particular cabinet that had gotten out of control. I spent some time wrangling with it and got it in more order. Pics to come later after I've surprised Bryan.

I also went to the Victorian Village to see my mom's choir sing. We toured the Lee and the Mallory houses.

There was also plenty of time for snuggles.