This Moment: Apples to Apples Merriment

{this moment} inspired by SouleMama - A Friday ritual 

Happy Weekend Friends!

This is a special weekend for my family. We will be celebrating an anniversary (6 years!) and prepping for a wee one's 2nd birthday. See you all back here on Monday!

2012: A Year of Dreams

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I shared some of my blog goals in this space last year, and surprisingly I accomplished almost every goal on the list. I learned so much in my one year if blogging (regularly) that I think it deserves an entire post of its own.Something to look forward to in the next few weeks. This year, Since my mind has been so focused on "nesting" (not the expecting baby kind!) and settling into our new home,  most of my goals for 2012 are all about home life. Here are a few of the goals I hope to achieve in the new year:

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1.  Plant a garden. We are going to start small this year.Maybe with just an herb garden first. It's been a long-time dream of ours to create a garden that will supplement what we eat. Plus, it's just one more way to keep me, and  my "boys", outside.

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2. Paint. Paint walls, ceilings, siding, pictures...anything involving more exploration and expression through paint.

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3. Can...Preserve...Everything I can! With our new home we inherited a Naval Orange Tree and a Pomegranate tree. All I have been saying is, "Wouldn't be grand if I knew how to can and preserve better?" I said this so many times that my Christmas gifts from my husband included a canning thermometer and several other canning tools. I guess I have no choice with this goal, it's happening!

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4. Volunteer. This year I am challenging myself to give back to my community in the form of giving of the most valuable thing to me....my time. I  volunteer annually at one or two events, as well as  remain an active member of at least one non-profit group (hello PEO!), but this year I feel a deep need to provide some love in this new community I have moved into. Would love to hear suggestions of how to get started.

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5.Write. 12 has been my lucky number since I was a small, small girl, and the "luck" I always thought it brought me came in the form of good grades on papers, essays and public speaking presentations. So, I am hoping to honor that lucky number 12 and submit my writing to at least 12 new magazine, blog, e-zines, or newspaper publications. Here's hoping that at least 3 out of the 12 accept my work!

What are your goals for 2012?

Our New Year's Eve Menu

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Happy New Years Eve! Our Eve celebration is underway and we are so happy to share it with some special people and a series of so many tasty foods. Is there any better way to ring in the new year  other than with loads of delicious goodies to eat?

A quick look at our New Years Eve Celebration Food Menu:

To Eat:

• Customized Homemade pizzas using this gal's pizza dough recipe
• Fresh Mixed Winter and Lettuce Green Salad  with Balsamic vinegar and Parmesan Cheese dressing
• Black Eyed Pea Cold Salad
• Vegan Cashew Nut and Roasted Red Pepper Dip (Recipe to follow later this week)
• Sweet and Spicy Cayan and Rosemary Popcorn

To Drink:

• Infused Pomegranate Vodka Mixed Drinks
• Sparkling Cranberry Juice Cocktails (for the non-alcoholic drinker)
• Sierra Nevada Beer (reminds me of Chico!)
• And of Course, Champaign

Dessert:

• Homemade Pumpkin Cheesecake Pie (made by my husband-score!)

 Are you planning to eat anything tasty this New Years Eve?

Tardy Blog Resolutions

I know, I know, I know. New Years was, what? 20 days ago? There's still time to make a resolution...or two...right? Well this girl has a resolution she would like to propose to the blog world and perhaps then I will keep it. It will be public, so in order to avoid public humiliation I should probably stick to it. Ok, enough of the banter. Let's get to it shall we?

Baby Boy Turns 1,and the start of a new business adventure

My Blog Resolutions:
1. Take the fun activities, art projects, and beautiful moments of my daily life and share them with all those fabulous blog readers. We could all use a little inspiration from time to time. I know I do! So, I want to be a beacon of inspiration for any of those who wish to follow and read my musings.

2. Actually have some authentic and awesome readers. My promise is to share as much as I can with all of those who can stand to read me as much as I can for the first (365) days of blogging. Starting....now!

3. Get featured. What can I say? I love reading other blogs and I would love, love, love to offer some of those blogs I read a break and help them fill some of that much needed content. At least for one day or so. So, how many features? As many as I can. My goal is to make my little craft business just that, a business. A toast to that expression of confidence!

4. Make a swap, exchange of sorts with other like-minded blogs. I hope to swap blogs for a few days out of the year and join in someone else's blog for a bit. Share an awesome craft, a tid-bit of love, etc. Wouldn't that be fun?

5. Comment, comment, comment. I want to comment on other blogs that I love and therefore receive comments on my own. Sounds selfish? Nah. If I can comment on at least 5 blogs a day...who knows what that could mean!? That also means I need to post articles that are worthy of a comment. It is my duty as a blogger to post stuff that readers actually want. I will try my best!

6. Comments , comments, comments. I also plan to respond to any comments posted on my blog. Even negative ones (: Maybe I can bring a little ray of sunshine into that cloudy day of theirs.


OK, so there you have it. 6 goals. There are plenty more, but I think this is a good start. We will see where I am in say 5 days. Hopefully still here. Blogging. Crafting. Being a(n) (awesome) mom. AND just being me. Hope someone will join in the fun. It's going to be an awesome ride!

Cheers!

Julia