2013: a year in review

It's the end of the year, folks. You know what that means. Time for a recap!

Tillie celebrated her 5th birthday in January.

I finally found the boots of my dreams (trust me, this is a bigger deal than you might think)

We dove head first into the wonderful (and delicious) world of juicing

We welcomed a new (to us) bookcase into our lives -- for super cheap!

We celebrated the 9th (!) anniversary of our first date.

We ran our first half marathon!

I jacked up my knee somehow and ended up having to see an orthopedist and have an MRI.

I registered and trained for the St. Jude's Marathon (if you helped my fundraising efforts, thank you!)

We celebrated Andrew's 30th birthday.

We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary.

My 10-year high school reunion happened (see here and here).

We got open water scuba certified

We rejoined the world of smart phones (and then I promptly broke mine)

I ran a 14.1 race in Tuppelo, MS with the Hot Legs

Andrew spent a week at Dragon Con in Atlanta and met some of his favorite people

We found out we are expecting our first child next summer!

I finally finished that knitted blanket!

Andrew started his work as web developer with a fantastic company here in LR.

We also read a ton of books, ran a lot of races, and ate a lot of food. All in all, a pretty successful year.

It was also a really busy year for us. I wasn't really aware of just how much we did/changed this year until I went back and reflected. And while it may seem like a lot, next year is sure to bring even more. So, stay tuned!

Merry Christmas:

Just wanted to say a quick Merry Christmas to everyone! May you get to spend time with loved ones, open lots of presents, and eat some tasty treats. And maybe sneak in a nap or two!

I will be spending the rest of the week on a mini-holiday from the internet. So, have a great weekend, friends!

Cookie madness:

This weekend we did some major cookie baking. Just call me the cookie queen. We made our staples like peanut butter kiss cookies, strawberry thumbprint cookies, and iced sugar cookies (my nephew's yearly creation). Every year, I like to try a new recipe too. You never know when you're going to stumble upon your family's new favorite holiday cookie. This year, I tried a new recipe for really chewy snickerdoodle cookies. Because I don't have time for a cookie that isn't soft and chewy. The verdict: most delicious.

Happy weekend:

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Happy Friday, friends! Got anything fun planned? It's my dad's birthday tomorrow and the whole family is going to see the new Hobbit movie, The Desolation of Smaug. It's sort of become a tradition with us.

Can you believe it's already the weekend before Christmas? Seriously, where has this month gone? I am so far behind on all my holiday "to do's". This weekend: the great cookie bake off of 2013 and wrapping presents like a mad woman!

Have a great weekend, everyone! Stay warm and dry out there!

We love:

Want to see something that makes me smile? It's the video above. It gets me every time.

New reads:

This week, I am reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon, which is the sixth in the Outlander series (see more here, here, here, and here). These books are so massive, they take me a while to get through them. But they're the perfect books to read on a cold, grey night. I am looking forward to reading this one (I'm nearly halfway through) and the next one during the holiday break.

Here's what it's about:

"A new novel by Diana Gabaldon is always cause for celebration. And A Breath of Snow and Ashes, the eagerly anticipated sixth Outlander novel, is no exception. In it, the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author returns to the world of eighteenth-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his twentieth-century time-traveling wife, Claire Randall, in a powerful, unforgettable tale of love and war, vibrant history, and heart-stopping excitement.

It is 1772, the eve of the American Revolution, and the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit: in Boston, men lie dead in the street, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the darkness of the forest. And over the house on Fraser's Ridge, where Jamie Fraser and his family reside, a shadow lengthens...

The Colony is in ferment, and Governor Josiah Martin sends an envoy to Jamie Fraser, asking for help. With unpardoned Regulators, agitating Whigs, and the vigilantes of the Committee of Safety at large, the Governor needs someone to unite the backcountry, pacify the seething resentments of settlers and Indians, and keep the mountains safe for King and Crown. Jamie Fraser, everyone agrees, is the man for the job.

But there is one problem: Jamie Fraser's wife, Claire, is a time-traveler, as are his daughter and son-in-law. And Jamie knows that three years hence, the shot heard round the world will be fired, and then end of it all will be independence -- with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. Beyond everything else, though, looms the threat of a tiny clipping from the Wilmington Gazette dated 1776, which reports the destruction of the house on Fraser's Ridge and the death by fire of James Fraser and all his family.

For once, Jamie Fraser hopes the time-travelers in his family are wrong about the future -- but only time will tell."

Have you read any of the Outlander series? It's seriously the best. I picked it up one day, on one of my running buddies' recommendation, and I've been obsessed ever since.

Happy Weekend:

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Happy Friday, everyone! What are you up to this weekend? We are thinking of checking out a new gym and my running group is having their annual Christmas party Saturday. And I am determined to tackle all of those little household tasks that have been alluding me for the past few weeks! I will get started doing all of the holiday related things as well!

Have a great weekend, friends!

Surprise:

That's right, A and I are expecting. It seems a little unreal to say and weirder still to put it out on the internet, but there it is.

Although quite a surprise to us both, we are thrilled and excited about our newest addition. And in case you were wondering: no, we don't know the gender yet and no, we haven't even started thinking about names. It's taken us a while to get used to this whole thing. We're definitely taking our time. But we'll share that information when we're ready. And don't worry, this isn't going to turn into some baby-centered space from hell. I'm just not that kind of girl.

Christmas Wishing:

Can you believe we're almost halfway through December already? Seriously, where has the time gone? I haven't done anything yet. No shopping, no baking. We barely have our tree up. It's just a bare, sad, little thing. I can't seem to get started this year.

So, in an attempt to get my butt into gear, get ready for what just might be the most random Christmas list ever:

1. Sidewalk Skimmer ($118) -- I have a pair of leopard flats already but they are literally about the bite the dust and I need new ones. These, to be precise.
2. FINIS Neptune Underwater MP3 player ($110) -- I love swimming laps but sometimes it gets boring. 
3. Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser ($50) -- because I'm a nerd and dental hygiene gets me excited.
4. Moonrise Kingdom on DVD ($15) -- Wes Anderson's newest release (and one of my faves).
5. Biker Boots ($238) -- I've been on the hunt for the perfect black ankle boots. I think these might be them.
6. Folding tripod ($50) -- because I need a new tripod, even better if it's a folding one.
7. The Most of Nora Ephron ($22) -- because I can never have enough Nora in my life.
8. The Transport tote ($168) -- I am in desperate need of a large, carries everything, leather tote. This one is beautiful. And with gold monogramming, extra fancy.

Happy weekend:

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Happy Friday, friends! Got any fun plans for the weekend? Saturday is the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Marathon. You know, the one I've been training for since August. Well, guess what? I'm not running it. We're not going to Memphis at all. There's some pretty nasty winter weather in central Arkansas right now that was going to make driving to Memphis at night dangerous. So, we just decided to skip it for our safety and sanity. Instead of braving the weather, we'll be snuggled up at home under mounds of blankets. I would say that I am sad about missing it, but if I'm being honest, I'm actually relieved. Marathon training has not been enjoyable for me and I was dreading running the race. I feel pretty good about my decision to stay home.

In other news, here's what's been going on with us lately:

1. We got to spend time with family in St. Louis over the weekend and it was so much fun.
2. Kristin is home from Delaware! I've really enjoyed getting to catch up with her.
3. We've been having Order (well, 3/4 of the Order) get-togethers since Krit has been home. It's been great having coffee (hot chocolate) dates with these lovely ladies.
4. We took advantage of some Cyber Monday deals to pick up some things on our "want" list!
5. Sorry for the radio silence this week. I just can't really seem to get started. I'll do better next week, I swear.

Crossing my fingers that my office gets closed today! Wishing for a snow day! 

Have a great weekend, everyone! And good luck to all the marathon runners! Stay safe and dry!