health + home.

Hello friends :) With the new year, I'm focused on some fresh goals. Right now, My Kate Spade planner is a blank canvas--and I love it. Though I've penciled in a few important dates, this year is one that {cv} and I have deemed the year of health and home. Back in November, I shared our plans to design a house and become key-holding, house-owning grown-ups. With that goal in mind, we've pledged to dial down our expenses and make that plan a reality. Here are just a few of the things on our docket for the year...

So many of our goals for 2012 relate back to our primary endpoint: the house. 

-Eating better means paying more attention to what we actually put in our pieholes. By making more meals from scratch and eating fewer meals at restaurants, we can also reign in spending!

-After injuries kept me from running two marathons in 2011, I have high hopes that this will be the year I conquer the marathon again. Having that in my sights will certainly keep me on top of my workouts!

-Spending less money may mean fewer trips to visit friends and family, skype and phone calls will help keep them close--bonus: they're {relatively} free and super fun!

-As for my creative juices, I have big plans to make this 2012 which will forever shape my life.

There you have it, friends. I share these goals with you to make myself accountable--and to humbly ask for your support. Living on a budget isn't easy, but I know it will be totally worth it in the end. I'll keep you posted on the progress and how we're making it work. {cv} and I are excited for the challenge!

Any suggestions for little ways you keep yourself encouraged are most definitely welcome. I am beyond grateful to have each of you {yes YOU!} in my life. Thank you in advance for making 2012 so great!

twenty eleven.

Happy 2011 everyone! I don't know about all of you, but I'm still getting a grasp on the fact that 2010 is over. We went out to dinner on New Year's Day and I saw this timely posting on the wall...

Hipstamatic Print by {av}

"Another chance to get it right!" What a hopeful phrase! Sure, we may be getting a "new start on old habits," but that chance to do things differently is what is always so refreshing about turning the calendar from December to January. With that in mind, 2011 and I had a chat on Saturday and we made some big plans. 

This year, I plan to:

1) keep writing! Not only did I find a new creative outlet through this blog, I've met some fabulous folks who have enriched my life so much. I can't wait to see what all of you teach me in the coming year!

2) finally run another marathon! I ran my first marathon as a college sophomore and have been aching to do another for years. I'm registered and ready to start training!

3) become a better cook. I can bake {see proof here}, but I lack in the actual "creating a real meal" end of things. I'm sure {cv} would appreciate a little more from me on this front, though he doesn't complain ;)

4) read more. I have shelves full of books waiting to be read. eeks.

5) continue broadening my food horizons. I must confess that I am eating Goldfish while writing this post. Am I 5?  I'm an incredibly picky eater, but I desperately want to get better!

6) develop myself {and hopefully find some direction} by taking night classes at RISD. I'm pre-registered for a web design class for the winter term. I'm also hoping to take a photography class in the spring to get the hang of my new camera!

7) be the best wife and partner I can be. Note: I did not say perfect. I just want {cv} to know how much I appreciate his love, support, and hard work on a daily basis. I have truly been blessed with an amazing husband.

8) take a few minutes each day to organize {and file} papers, emails, etc. Letting it pile up doesn't do anyone any good, especially the people who need something from me.

9) make our bed every morning. Doesn't it always feel so much better to walk into a bedroom with a made bed? This little act takes a minute--maybe two--but it gets my day off to a much better start...and a much more inviting end.

10) be more prompt with thank you notes. This one is pretty much a no-brainer.

11) actually complete the One Year Bible. {cv} and I made it halfway through in 2009, but life got in the way. It was always a special time we took together every day to slow down a bit.

12) smile. Be happy. Though many of my closest friends and family are miles away, I will continue to find joy in our fun little life as Mr. & Mrs. {I must also not let the New England winters take away my smile!}

That's my list for 2011! I know many of you have already posted your own resolutions, but I would love to hear about your biggest goal for the coming year. What are you going to do with "another chance to make it right"?

Thank you all for your well wishes on the new year in my post from last Wednesday! I can't wait to share more from my trip later this week :) 

Hope the first three days of 2011 have

been all you hoped they would be! 

xoxo {av}

One side note: I promise to reply to all your sweet comments from the last few days when I make it home from the gym...I have to get my first day of marathon training under my belt ;)