I bid you adieu 2009!

Dear 2009,

You have been wonderful and challenging. You have made me examine myself, inspired me to change certain things about myself and my life, and at times you have provided me with some experiences that I would have preferred to have gone without... but as always, the universe knew better than I do, and I'm now grateful for those experiences.

I've learned that some times, you should stop trying to figure life out and just let it come to you.

Per Jack Johnson, "there were so many fewer questions when stars where still just the holes to heaven." I've learned that there are some things, that I don't need to ask "why" about.

We've experienced a partnership gone bad, a brief period of unemployment, new education and career opportunities, quarter-life crises, we've focused heavily on getting financially fit (meaning, we've sacrificed a lot, including vacations, to prepare and save for our future financial needs... i.e. personal savings, retirement, emergency funds, etc, etc, etc- one of the frightening things about working in finance is seeing how many people have funds saved up for everything from their children's college education to their retirement... and it's still not enough...), we've overcome several weaknesses and obstacles personally and as a couple, I had a minor period of freaking out over an unplanned pregnancy- followed by full on embracing, we got engaged, we've laughed all along the way, spent lots of time with family and friends, ate too much good food, I've learned that despite all of those hardships- you can still have a phenomenal year and choose to seek out the lessons- learn, and see the light in it all. You can choose to laugh, and not worry about the things that are not within your control. You can take all the hard times, handle them gracefully (and with a glass of wine when needed), and make beauty out of them.

I've also learned that Zeus is no longer small, it's not safe to drive like the below picture, and recently- I learned that he likes to chew the seat belts if he sits in the backseat.

2009, you were beautiful. A monumental year indeed. Thank you.

You ended on a very high note. I'm grateful for all the experiences you've provided and the setup that you have given to make 2010 my best year yet!

What's wrong with the United States??

This isn't really a New Year's resolution, just a life resolution.

Me? I love to travel the world. LOVE it.

But, recently I've been thinking, what about my own country? I've traveled my own country, yes, but I haven't traveled it well. There's SOOO many things here that I haven't seen. Like the Grand Canon, New Orleans, skiing in Colorado, Napa Valley, and I could go on and on and on. What have I been doing?! Why haven't I seen these places?!

I don't intend to ever cease my international travels (I simply love it too much), but HELLO, I NEED TO SEE MY OWN COUNTRY! I owe it to myself... and Elle. Experience the food, the people, the vibe of the cities the good old US of A has to offer. And at such a critical time for our economy, why not invest my money traveling within my own country? Help boost my home economy?

So on this day, I make a vow to start exploring all these wonderful places that this country I love so dearly has to offer. I will no longer take this culture for granted, and I will experience it for all that it is. Because I am proud to be an American. I am proud of my country. We're allowed to be proud. We're allowed to love it here. And I do... very much so. And I want to know it. I want to know this country of mine very well.

I want to explore you, America.

Love,

Your All American Girl

Merry Christmas!

Look who's blogger is finally working!! (... or mostly working, anyway...)

How was every one's Christmas?! Mine was wonderful!

Alex completely spoiled me... so much so that I'm beginning to think I should be pregnant every Christmas.

He got me the beloved Canon Rebel. Sigh. I'm in LOVE with it. Poor Zeus is so frustrated with me continuously taking pictures of him. He's such an attention hog, I thought he would be a GREAT model. And he was... for the first 20 pictures. Now he just walks away when I pull out the camera. :-(

And then there was an even MORE exciting gift (if you can believe that!)

After we opened all our gifts, we were hanging out enjoying the morning. I was laying down on the couch, and Alex kneeled down by the couch kissing the belly. He then confessed that he had one more thing for me, pulled out a box from in between the cushions of the couch and asked me if I would be his wife.

I told him I thought that that would be okay. Or I immediately said yes and was all kinds of giddy with excitement. Which ever version you like better (it was the latter).

We're thinking November 6, 2010. Small, simple, intimate, timeless.

(... and no, no picture of the ring. It's being re-sized... plus, I don't love ring shots. I feel like it puts the focus on the wrong thing. No offense to anyone here that does like them, it's just a personal preference. Although I love mine and am incredibly anxious to get it back so I can stare at it some more, the mineral on my finger is not what the excitement should be focused on...)

I hope everyone else had their best Christmas yet too!!

Choosing to see the beauty through the tree's

My back aches constantly

My organs are all in my chest, and it feels like it.

I'm feel full all the time

My body is physically exhausted

and
I'm tired, but can't seem to stop waking up at 4:30am every morning

But...

Christmas is in 4 days, there's only 2 days left in the work week, 10 weeks left until we meet Elle, I'm watching Notting Hill (which, always makes me want to own a flat and my own book store), it's finally cold outside, Alex said something so sweet it made me teary eyed, I can't contain my excitement when I think about becoming an entreprenuer (it's time to put my big bad credentials to some real use and use them to create true wealth in my life, and most importantly, FREEDOM to lead the kind of life that I desire), and the outlook for 2010 is beautiful for our little family. *the world is your balloon*

And when I opened my dove chocolate today, the wrapper told me, "Go ahead, have another..." so I did.

I hope you're having a wonderful Holiday week... despite life's little frustrations and nuances.

Because life is too sweet to notice only the nuances.

Guess what?!

I am currently being featured here:

Go check it out!

And be sure to check out all the fabulous people on there!!

You'll love them, I promise.

P.S. Can someone PLEASE tell Florida that it's December. I can only continue to wear long sleeve shirts in 80 degree weather for so long. Waiting for you to catch up, weather.

Feeling peppy...

Because I'm letting music drive my mood. Livin' on a Prayer, Scarlet Begonias, and Raspberry Beret to be specific.

I also fell in love with with the show Accidentally on Purpose tonight. Completely inappropriate, honest, and hysterical.

And I'm digging Maya Angelou as of late. I've always loved her. I was introduced to her work in high school... where we poked, prodded, highlighted, and dissected her literature.

She's wise, feisty, educated, and fabulous.

When I'm in need of inspiration, her work provides instant enlightenment. She's concise. I love concise effectiveness.

Some of my most favorite quotes from Ms. Angelou:

"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass."

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." (this is a huge pet peeve of mine. HUGE. I've said it before and I'll probably say it again... you're not a product of your circumstances, your a product of your CHOICES. Your outlook on life is your choice. You choose your own outcome. Every single time. Relationships- ex-boyfriend issues? get over it. Everyone has one of those stories. Bad relationships happen, you get through them, you learn, you get over them, and you move on. Any other questions about how you can choose your own outcome in any particular situation? I'm no expert, by any means, but I'm hear to toss up ideas!)

"There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic because he has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing."

Those three always help get me out of my self-pity, whoa is me moods in a jiffy. They bring me back to reality. If we can't take care of ourselves and successfully overcome our own obstacles, and be forward facing why would we expect others to do it for us? You must do for yourself to realize the results you desire.

Some really great self-help books that I've read recently:

Harmonic Wealth by James Ray

Happiness for Two by Alexandra Stoddard

And I'm on the hunt for another self-help book to kick me into shape and give me lots of inspiration, tough love, and guidance! Any ideas?!

Thank you for putting up with me... and er, these were supposed to be diced...

I don't think I have ever been more thankful for all of my friends and family... and especially Alex. At my last visit to the doctor I was told I need to "take it easy" from now on. As such, Alex has forbid me from doing anything and everything (he can be a tad over-protective. It can drive me a little nuts sometimes, but most of the time I secretively find it charming), including grocery shopping and helping put the groceries away. He has taken on all of the house/Zeus chores, in addition to working his full time job and entrepreneurial endeavors... and somehow, he still finds the energy to create little ways for us to spend time together (like a movie rental and take out Outback on Friday). I'm incredibly lucky, and I know this. So you'll understand how horrible I felt when I had to send him back to the grocery today when I found that he bought tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes. I had that little moment of, "errr, do I just make this really saucy, or do I tell him???" Then I thought... he should at LEAST have a good meal!

Photo circa 2008. He's a gentleman. And you are not seeing things, that is a broken bottle of wine... we couldn't find a bottle opener, so we got creative. :-) And oh boy does this picture make me miss red wine.

Thank you for being so patient and wonderful.