Happy Holidays to yooou..

Twas the night before Christmas Eve.. & all through the house.. not a creature was stirring... Not even a.. Okay who're we kidding, I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off since Friday. I love the holidays, but the older I get, the crazier they get. It tends to get a little hectic when you have so many different families to visit, parties to go to, & then throwing in work/taking care of a home/keeping my dog & husband alive - in with it. ;) Not complaining though - we have so much to be thankful for. As excited as I am to start the new year of 2014, I am slightly sad to see this one go. 2013 treated us well. We got our first home together, got married, and really started our lives as a family. I can easily say it was one of the busiest, craziest, BEST years of my life. I am also happy to say that this year I'm going to hop on the crazy train & try my best at some New Year's resolutions.
They will go as follows:

1. Live a healthier lifestyle. (& I don't just mean eat grass & work out)
Living a healthier lifestyle for me will mean a healthier, more well-rounded me all together. Of course I want to try to eat the right foods, work out when possible, & all that jazz - but I really want to focus on a my mental and spiritual well-being as well. I need to de-stress. I need to remember that life is short, stop & smell the roses. or cookies. or whatever it is! Find beauty and pleasure in it. I need to find more reasons to laugh until my stomach hurts, learn patience for the things that take time to understand, & be more self-less and compassionate for others who need it more than myself. I need to surround myself with positive people and accept the fact that with age, friendships fade. It's easy to have 20 "best friends" in college when it's convenient for everyone. Adult friendships take a lot more TLC. I'm really routing for myself in 2014. I'm hoping it brings more balance to all these things in my life, & a little more laugh lines around my face from the people who truly matter.

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2. Grow. (That's a vague one, isn't it?) But that's kind of the point. In 2014, I want to grow in every way I possibly can. I want to learn. I want to challenge myself more. It can be too easy and temping to fall into the mundane routine of adult life. Work, cook, clean, sleep. Repeat. I don't want that. My husband doesn't want that. Not one part of me is okay with the easy repetition life can sometimes bring us. There is comfort in familiarity, yes - but I am too young & too eager not to try a little harder. I am so close to finishing another college degree. Maybe a year shy? Why not knock that out. It's close enough to taste it, & I deserve to have credit for all the hard work I put into those college courses, right? That's just one exert of my life I could "grow" on. I would also love to grow this blog! Actually devote time to writing more. It's therapeutic and a great way to store memories. Along with that is, of course, my job, our home, & our family. There's always room for more. More love, growth, and determination never hurt no one.

Well, those are the current goals!
Yes, I know that's only two goals - so that should make them easier to achieve, right?? :)
I want to give these two above my all. Within reasonable limits, I really want 2014 to be a year I'm proud of. (I'm not pushing for a peace prize or anything, but I'll keep you posted.) I just want to really try.

Merry Christmas, everyone! I leave you with our family's first Christmas Card & a few pictures we've snapped this holiday season. I hope everyone has a day full of family & cheer. :)