a 12x12 update

Since it is now 12/12 (December 12 that is) it seemed fitting that I would give a 12x12 update. In October I made a list of 12 things I wanted to do before the end of the year.

Finish reading A Quest for More by Paul David Tripp.

I have progressed two more chapters in. Good thing I'm a fast reader. Since I get two weeks off from work before the end of the year I anticipate finishing this by Christmas!

Learn how to cook a steak and invite a few friends over for a steak and taters dinner. Pending...but planning for next week! Just have to decide which friends to invite....

Plan and go on a roadtrip (Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo are the two top picks currently.) Due to the craziness of the holidays and out of town visitors, the trip was canceled.

Deep clean and organize my desks at work and at home - currently driving me crazy!*Kind of cheated with this one.... At work: had to move cubicles at work so I left behind my dirty and messy desk to a new one that was already cleaned off for me. I did throw away things I didn't need. At Home: My desk turned into our dining room table for the time being and all my knick-knacks that were cluttering my desk are still in boxes...that are neatly stacked in the corner.

Move into my shared bachelorette pad!After finding a two story, two bed 1.5 bathroom townhouse, in the most perfect for us area, we a had  successful moving day on December 3 that went off without a hitch. While I worked hard at unpacking, still in the process of nesting though I can't manage to get myself to commit to any wall art.

Take Caltrain into The City....and spend the day in the city exploring on my own.

Find a flea market and go vintage shopping.*Went to an antique mall yesterday, and while that was cool, I'm not counting it since everything cost an arm, a leg and my first child.

I started a makeup portfolio earlier this year...I need to update it with more current photos. Or just figure out what in the world I want to do with it, in general. *Decided that makeup artistry will remain a hobby for me, mainly used when friends need my help. Might update the portfolio in the future but no need to do so now.

Speaking of makeup....deep clean and wipe down all my brushes, cases, bags and products. This one could take a whole evening, i'm sure *Cleaned ALL the brushes on Friday night for an early morning bridal party. But, now they are dirty again. Will shoot to finish this one this week.

Bake a cake, from scratch. And if it doesn't turn out right, try it again.*Will do either this week or next week. Hmm, should start looking for the perfect recipe for a rookie like me to try...

Walk for three miles without stopping.

11a. Take a hike in the fall weather.
*I think I'm going to do this on Saturday morning before my out of town guests arrive

• Take a photo a day during the month of November! * Was close, but I'm pretty sure I didn't make it for every day in November...:(

and I'm now adding a few items: 

Shoot the basketball around once a week. * Which means I have to go buy a new one, I guess since that one that I had fell out of the back of my trunk. 

Make pumpkin mochi to thank our moving helpers!

Write Christmas cards with meaningful messages for co-workers and friends at church. 

Visit extended family in Sacramento.

 

Hopefully I'll have an update with all these things checked off...and pictures too!

Things I really REALLY love: HUGS

I started this post back when I was reflecting on the things I love. 

But never finished it in time to include it.

Yet this post is just too good to pass up. 

You can convey a lot with a squeeze. At least, I think I do. Whether its the "Tackle hug", the "Dogpile", "The Side Hug", "The smother hug", "Arms Only" , "Sandwich hug" or the "HUG OF DEATH", I'm not picky. I can appreciate them all. :)

I think that Shel Silverstein was really on to something when he wrote Hug O'War. 

And when I look at these precious photos, I can recall the exact moments that lead up to the hug. Some are friends that I've had for a long time celebrating a super happy moment (or even a really bittersweet one), other are hugs for just complete appreciation for who the dear friend is, as a person and how they've affected my life. Even more remarkable are hugs that have come after hard times, fights and then reconciliation between sisters. And still even more of these photos convey what I can't accurately say in words - how much I care for them. Honestly, a lot of these hugs and the photos that captured them are some extremely memorable moments in my life. 

Is that too much love for you?

It's just enough for me. :)

Memory Lane: Fall Festivals past

For a creative mind like mine, Fall Festival (a halloween alternative at church) always presented me with the opportunity to become someone else for a day, and even better - create a whole cast of characters to join me in the adventure. 

I would spend weeks prior to the night shopping, painting, cutting and pasting back together until I saw my vision come to fruition. I really enjoyed the challenge of taking everyday things and repurposing them as costume elements. I'm not sure if it was fortunately (or unfortunately as we sometimes looked just plain CRAZY) but my friends would agree to to buy into my crazy and Disney inspired ideas so I would do my best to make it as cool as possible. That usually meant that I didn't sleep the night before but always, in the end, it was worth it. Each year grew in complexity and I can only attribute it to God that I kept my sanity.

While my mass production costume days are behind me (at least until I have kids, I'm sure), I have no regrets for all the time and energy I put into these crazy ideas. I have some really awesome memories from the past few years. And was actually able to make some closer friends through the madness.

And for all my friends are who are groaning and mortified that these photos have surfaced, don't worry...I won't ever make you do it again. :)

 The Incredibles! (2007).

 Alice in Wonderland! (2008).

 Toy Story! (2009).

{I didn't have anything to do with my nephew's costume but I loved having him at church with us that night!}

Have fun tonight and be safe!

Life in the Yay Area: Returning to Santa Cruz

 

  

 

The tail end of summer, unplanned trip to Santa Cruz, twilight on the Boardwalk, fried food and funnel cakes, bonfire and bonding moments... Definitely unforgettable. 

Life in the Yay Area: Goooooo giants!

I went to my second Giants game at AT&T Park in August, when my dear friends from Czech Republic were visiting the Bay Area. It was Becky and Ted's first game too....when you combine that with garlic fries, hot chocolate and a victory for my team, in one of my favorite places in SF, it doesn't get any more "YAY!!!" than that. :)

 Baseball with my best buds, yes, so happy. 

 My goodness, we're such junk food addicts.

 You can see the fog start to roll in....

 GIANTS WIN!!