Resolutions.

Every year I say I am not going to make New Year's Resolutions, and yet every year I find myself making a list anyway.  Maybe it's human nature, maybe it's the allure of the clean slate that a new year brings.  Everyone likes the idea of a fresh start.  I like the idea of at least revisiting my goals and I enjoy the idea of the year ahead just waiting for me to fill with accomplishment.

• Choose health.  Continue on with the habits I've worked hard to develop in choosing healthy food and an active lifestyle.  Quit GMO foods and artificial sweeteners.  Incorporate more meatless meals. Visit the farmer's markets.
• Complete Couch to 5k.  Run a race or two.  Keep wearing that pedometer and get 10,000 steps a day (especially since we got a treadmill for Christmas).
• Read more books.  Get a library card.  Turn off the computer. Unplug.
• Be more organized around the house.  Spend 30 minutes a day on household tasks.  Clean out closets.  Finish cabinet-painting project.  Plan next project - new laundry room?  I mean, if the world ends, I at least want the laundry to be put away first.
• Take cooking classes (thanks to Seester's awesome Christmas present) like knife skills and cake decorating.

Nothing earth shattering, as you can see, but I like it.  It will be a quiet New Year's celebration this year - the first time since our respective high school days that does not involve a party of some sort.  Regardless, here's to a 2012 that is bright and rewarding.

Much love to you and yours ...

Penny's big adventure.

I let Tucker out this afternoon and Penny shot out after him, as she is wont to do. I grabbed K's grody house shoes and went after them. She hasn't earned full backyard trust yet ... for good reason.

We have a huge sloping yard with a fence, and both dogs made a beeline for the lowest-most point. No sooner than I started heading down the hill after them, did I realize that Penny wasn't just sniffing at the fence, but was halfway under it. Cue heart attack.

Off she went into our neighbor's yard like a shot ... the one yard, mind you, that borders ours that isn't fully fenced. The same yard that lay open to a wooded area that was home to carnivorous deer and other such lurking beasts with a taste for tiny dog. Penny, meanwhile, was running in circles, clearly having the best time of her young life.

Naturally, my only option was to jump the fence. I have never before had need to do so, plus I was wearing grody oversized men's house shoes, so it took a second to try to remember both high school physics and phys ed lessons (at which neither I excelled). In short, I was very thankful that the owner of the yard into which I was breaking was not home. It was not graceful. I fully expected to break or sprain at least one extremity, but alas I made it.

Penny, who clearly thought that my whole endeavor was for her entertainment, continued to run in circles and bark. I caught her eventually, but was faced with another conundrum: I had to get back over the fence. I was sure that one (or both) of two things would happen:

1. as soon as I put her in our yard and attempted to climb over, she would immediately go back through the same hole, leaving us exactly where we started, and/or
2. The luck that allowed me to scale the fence unscathed in one pass would run out about when I was teetering halfway over.

So we walked home. In grody men's house shoes.

It was a very big adventure for a small dog, thus her passing out for the rest of the afternoon. I don't know why she ever wanted to leave here.

A hard goodbye.

Christmas this year, although wonderful to spend with family and full of lovely gifts as always, is marked with sadness.  Kenny's grandfather passed away earlier this week. He was a great man, a kind and loving father, devoted husband. 

It's always hard to say goodbye to a loved one.  It always seems too sudden, too harsh.  Something about being Christmastime makes it that much harder.   It's been six years since the Christmas Eve when my grandfather passed away, and it still feels just as fresh and heartbreaking as ever. It's been difficult to put into words the reality of what's happened, and in truth I have been avoiding making it "real" by writing it down. 

Services are in the next couple of days, so needless to say it will be a quiet New Years.  If you have any extra thoughts and prayers for Kenny and his family, I know they would greatly appreciate it.

I should probably be embarassed.

I just ordered the same moc slippies that my cousin got for Christmas to kick around her dorm room. In the same color.

But damn, they look cozy and adorable and it was the only color in my size on sale that I liked. You know what they say about imitation and flattery.

SORRY I'M NOT SORRY.

The BEST chicken

I made dinner tonight.  Between being sick and dealing with the holidays for the past week, this is a feat worth noting.  I still don't feel that great, but we wanted something that tasted wholesome and comforting.

Enter: Honey Pecan Chicken.  It was delicious.  Easy, fast, flavorful.  Neither of us could get enough.  You can't beat that for a weekday sort of meal.  I have no idea where I got the recipe, but if you know who created it, I owe them a thank you.

Honey Pecan Chicken
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons cornflake crumb
Garlic salt
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 pound chicken breast tenders

Preheat oven to 425F.  Line a baking dish with foil and coat with cooking spray if not nonstick.  Sprinkle pecans, cornflake crumbs,and garlic on wax paper. Whisk together honey and soy sauce.  Dip both sides of each chicken tender in the honey mixture and roll in nut mixture, placing on baking sheet when well-coated.  Continue with remaining chicken.  Bake chicken 15 minutes, turning each piece after 10.  Serve immediately. Enjoy!

I would think that the leftovers would be delicious cold on a salad or in a wrap, but we had no leftovers, so you'll have to tell me!

#WeVerb11: Revive

Share a favorite photo from the past year. What was happening behind the scenes? What were you thinking or feeling? What could you smell, taste, see, hear at that moment?

 Columbia, Missouri - October 2011.  Faurot Field.  Centennial Homecoming football game. Some of my best friends, traveled from near and far.  Tiger victory, imminent.  Celebrating a decade of friendship.

weverb11.com

Comfy.

I think Penny likes the bed my mom gave her for Christmas.

It has a roof!

#WeVerb11: Grasp

Describe something that you actively engaged in learning to do this year.

I'm still learning to be a runner.  I don't always love it.  I'm not always consistent with it.  It's still something I want to be able to do, and I think it will be really good for me when I am able to run races and complete workouts.  I am three weeks into Couch to 5k (again) and pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to get back into it after taking a long break since May.  

When does one cease to be learning and just become a runner?  I'm still figuring that out.  Maybe it's when you run a mile without walking.  Maybe it's when you do so many races in a year.  Maybe it's when you wear out your running shoes.  Not sure. I will let you know in March when I hopefully finish the St Louis St Pat's 5-Miler downtown in under an hour.

weverb11.com

Let's Fall in Love: With Drinks, Dancing, and Celebration to follow (part II)

The celebration continues!

Bartender ... BFF

And I'm not gonna lie ... there's probably going to be a part III!

In case you missed it ...

I bought a dress and completely changed it.  We had a marathon final week of engagement.  I giggled my way through our rehearsal.  Kenny got grilled at our rehearsal dinner.  The groomsmen ran amok in downtown Springfield. The girls got gorgeous.  We exchanged mushy wedding-day gifts.  The guys got fancy and then got dancy.  I became a Bride.  There was a first First Look. I shared my Somethings.  The boys made the most of trolley-time. And did their thing on the Capital grounds. The girls took photos at the hotel. Everyone arrived at the church. We walked down the aisle. We declared our intentions and my cousin preached. We exchanged our vows. Our hands were blessed. Kenny put a ring on it and kissed his bride. We were pronounced Mr and Mrs! We left the church in a blizzard of confetti, and took a "just-married" trolley ride. We made it legal. We took pictures with our families, followed by wedding party portraits. I hit a low point and poured over reception details. We received our guests. The wedding party was introduced. My Dad checked his toast off of his to-do list. Our Best Man and Maid of Honor shared toasts as well. The we cut our cake and had our First Dance. We shared a dance with our parents. And had an Anniversary Dance to celebrate all the marrieds. The photobooth opened for business. I serenaded my husband. The dance floor opened. Kenny's grandmother rocked the dance floor. 

Tradition.

It's Christmas Eve. I'm making banana pancakes for Kenny before we pack up and go to my parents for holiday festivities. We do it every year. It's the best.

Happy Holidays, friends.

Santa's done.

We're ready for Christmas.




Penny tries to eat tissue paper, by the way.  It was a long afternoon of wrap-a-box-shoo-away-a-puppy.  She's currently passed out wearing a Christmas sweater.

It was a good year.  Can't wait to exchange gifts with my family.  I paid for the car behind me at Starbucks this morning.  I just love this time of year.

Happy Christmas, if that's your thing.  To me, it means small acts of kindness, taking a moment to say a prayer to my grandfather, puppies in sweaters, peppermint-flavored everything, trying to teach my husband how to wrap presents, and clues on all the gift tags.  I hope you enjoy the festive spirit of the season, regardless of what it means to you.

Five for Friday, vol 28

1. You don't get annoyed when I ask really stupid questions about basic basketball rules ... through the entire game.

2. You let me put the dogs in festive holiday sweaters (and I think you secretly think it's cute too).

3. Your terrible grammar and spelling are rubbing off on me, but my handwriting still wins.

4. I love watching the relationship you have with your mom.

5. You dared to try a Guinness ice cream float, and insisted on finishing the whole thing (even though it was seriously foul).

I love you.

School Spirit

Tonight is the annual Braggin Rights basketball game between Mizzou and Illinois.  It's always a great game, and since both teams are ranked right now, this year should be no exception.  We are going with family who happen to be Illinois alums, so our pride is on the line too.  Kenny and I will likely be the sole smudges of black and gold in an entirely orange section.  I'll have time to change into Mizzou gear and jeans before the game, but I'm supporting my Tigers at the office today regardless.  M-I-Z!

Yellow bow tank: Kate Spade via Nordstrom

Black cardi: Old Navy

Herringbone pencil skirt: Larry Levine via TJ Max

OPI Wocka Wocka nail polish

Disgruntled shorkie tsu: circa 2006

I have been feeling really down on myself lately, so I've been over-compensating all week with girly outfits to try to improve my outlook.  It really does help, I swear.  Also, I have some amazing people in my life offering support and long-distance hugs.  That helps more than anything else.  The office is closed tomorrow and Monday, so I am looking forward to a long weekend and a lovely holiday.  I'm counting my blessings and focusing on the positives.  Keep calm, carry on, etc etc.

Happy Almost-Friday and GO TIGERS!

#WeVerb11: Accomplish

What is one thing you want to do before you bid adieu to 2011? How will you make it happen?

Get Penny house trained. She's almost there, and with Kenny and I both being home quite a bit over the next week, we should be able to break through.

She's smart as hell, but also stubborn. And kind of scared of the dark. But we'll get there.

It's time to schedule puppy school too. St Louis is fortunate to have some really great options for training (even one run by the family that originally founded Purina). I'll be doing research over vacation to get that ball rolling.

Get ready, Penelope. Fun time is OVER.

Www.weverb11.com

#WeVerb11: Discover

What did you discover (big or small) in 2011?

Last night, I discovered my facebook timeline, and I've been pouring over all my old memories, photos, and statuses.  As it turns out, I joined FB November 17, 2004.  It seems like a million years ago.  Thanks to my shiny new FB timeline, I've been strolling down memory lane like whoa tonight. 

I love this photo ... like a lot.  The one on the left became a mama in September.  The one in the middle will in May.  Considering the silly things we used to do together in high school (and middle school and grade school), it's very surreal that we're all, like, adults now.

And this one too.

I miss the days of Formals and theme parties and living across the hall from all your firends.

In terms of other discoveries and revelations, I learned that I was very tan in 2006.

And I'm pretty glad I decided to forgo the blond highlights.

And I owe my liver a sincere apology for that year right after college.

And I'd give anything to be as "fat" as I thought I was once.

And I still think Photo Montage could sweep the nation.

And facebook was incredibly boring before photos and statuses were invented.

weverb11.com

#WeVerb11: Surprise

What event of 2011 affected you in an unexpected way?

I cannot name one event that affected me more than others this year.  There are so many!  The tornado in Joplin MO, Gabby Gifford's shooting, Osama bin Laden's death, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the 10th anniversary of my high school graduation, my first wedding anniversary, the Occupy Movement, Kim Kardashian's divorce, the Royal Wedding, revolution in Egypt, the new Muppet movie, the end of the war in Iraq ... a whole spectrum of mundane, trival, and historic events. 

What surprised me about these things is how I found out about them, how I discussed them - almost all via social media.  I found out about every breaking news headline from my Twitter feed.  Every article I read was linked through a blog or a facebook page.  When I discussed my perspective and opinion on these events, and others, it was almost always in 140-characters or less.  I converse daily with people across the country via email, message boards, Twitter, and Google+ - most of whom I have never met in person.  And I love it.

We use social media in a myriad of differnet ways to influence the world around us, everything from improved customer service to outright revolution.  It has been truly eye-opening to me in 2011.  I am excited to see how we continue to harness it's energy, and hopefully apply it in powerful and positive ways. 

weverb11.com

Chocolate emergency

And now I need five more, please.

#WeVerb11: Persevere + Teach

Describe something that disappointed you in 2011 and how you persevered.
What lesson or advice were you able to pass on to others this year? Why was it important to share this information? (Or… what lesson would you like to pass on to others that read this?)

Losing weight slowly is hard.  Every time you see a commercial for a diet or weight-loss product, the major selling point is the speed of loss that users can expect.  When someone loses weight, they often frame it how long it took.  But I don't really have that as a bragging point.  It's taken me over a year to lose 15 pounds.  And dammit, I am thrilled by that, but it's really hard to be a brave little toaster about it all the time. 

The last month has been brutal for the WLJ, a constant struggle.  My body appears to be in mutiny, as I have been perfectly OP and still been rewarded with a gain for three weeks running.  I've made meal plans, focused on clean foods, fulfilled my healthy checks, measured portions, been active, stayed hydrated and well-rested ... and yet. 

+ + +

I could scream.  It's frustrating, it's disappointing, it makes my blood boil, and it's made me cry more than once in the last month.  I am pissed off to be going backwards.  I am pissed off to have gained the weight in the first place (which I thought I was over, but has resurfaced in the light of recent developments).  I would love to throw in the towel, shake my fists of rage at WW and the WL Gods, and go drown myself in cookie dough (and/or the million other holiday temptations around every corner this time of year).  I know in my heart that it's not the answer.  It's easy to stay motivated and keep going when things are going well.  Isn't that true of most things in life?  It's when it gets hard and you veer off-course that you're truly tested.  For me, this has been a battle of inches, and I will be damned to lose the ground I've gained.  There are successes I can count beyond the scale, and one of them will be the fact that I just kept going. 

That's the major lesson I've learned this year, and one thing I hope to impress on the people that bear through reading my trudge towards goal weight.  Practice doesn't make perfect, but it makes it permanent.

weverb11.com

Let's Fall in Love: Grandma Gets Down

Our reception ended up being a really great party, and everyone was on the dance floor at one point or another.  Some guests never left it.  Kenny's grandma was one of those people.  She cut a rug nearly all night.  She was the hit of the party.

Having our grandparents at our wedding was truly an honor and a memory we will cherish forever, but seeing Grandma V dance the night away was icing on the cake. 

In case you missed it ...

I bought a dress and completely changed it.  We had a marathon final week of engagement.  I giggled my way through our rehearsal.  Kenny got grilled at our rehearsal dinner.  The groomsmen ran amok in downtown Springfield. The girls got gorgeous.  We exchanged mushy wedding-day gifts.  The guys got fancy and then got dancy.  I became a Bride.  There was a first First Look. I shared my Somethings.  The boys made the most of trolley-time. And did their thing on the Capital grounds. The girls took photos at the hotel. Everyone arrived at the church. We walked down the aisle. We declared our intentions and my cousin preached. We exchanged our vows. Our hands were blessed. Kenny put a ring on it and kissed his bride. We were pronounced Mr and Mrs! We left the church in a blizzard of confetti, and took a "just-married" trolley ride. We made it legal. We took pictures with our families, followed by wedding party portraits. I hit a low point and poured over reception details. We received our guests. The wedding party was introduced. My Dad checked his toast off of his to-do list. Our Best Man and Maid of Honor shared toasts as well. The we cut our cake and had our First Dance. We shared a dance with our parents. And had an Anniversary Dance to celebrate all the marrieds. The photobooth opened for business. I serenaded my husband. The dance floor opened.