ALL THE SINGLE LADIES

I've been really inspired by my friend j.

j. & I don't actually know each other, but we've been 'friends' for quite some time now via blogs. And now she's been an inspiration. See, j. was a runner. Well, still is. But she got hurt, so she had to find other things that she liked to do that would help her stay in shape. And so she discovered bicycling, rock climbing, and Core Fusion. And she's slowly but surely kicking all of their butts.

So when I drove by a rock climbing gym tonight, I thought, "I want to be more like j." Tennis once a week just isn't cutting it for me, even if I did 1-2 nights of hot yoga also. So I came home, and on my thrilling Saturday night I signed up for a singles tennis league.

I've steered clear of singles since I picked tennis up again almost a year ago lest for 1 match when no one else could play. But I'm ready, and it's a really awesome workout to play singles! So now I'm going from 1 match a week to 3 matches a week but it will be fine. I have plenty of free time (HA!) - even if it means taking it easy on a Friday or Saturday night (or both as evidenced by this weekend), it's important to me.

Now, who wants to come and watch me play? I might need a photographer in the near future, seeing as how I have zero pictures of myself playing tennis, so if I keep playing I'm going to keep talking about it and you won't have any pictures to look at - just a page full of words. BORING.

PS - thanks j. love you!

The Great Vase Exchange

October

December (kind of)

January

Best free vases I ever got, seriously.

Snuggie Time

I have zero shame. I own 2 snuggies. One I got at a work function, and the other my mom got me for Christmas this year. I know some people may have gotten snuggies for Christmas 3 years ago, but we can't all be ahead of the times.

This weekend, I have every intention of wearing one of my snuggies out in public. Snuggie pub crawl time!

2 years ago we went as Mario, Luigi and Princess Peach, albeit the wrong color Mario and my snuggie was really a bathrobe...

This year I'll be dressed up as a sassy kitten. Meow! Leopard print snuggies are all the rage.

Are you pub crawling through the Highlands on Saturday afternoon? Because I really can't imagine a better way to spend my Saturday.

Redecorating.

When my roommate moved out in the middle of 2011, I made a few changes around the condo. Nothing major, but I added some of my own personal touches. And now, I'm at it again and I have to tell you, decorating is FUN.

I started out with a big, empty wall. I knew I wanted to do a picture frame collage (thank you Pinterest) but wasn't sure which frames, which pictures, etc. I started grabbing random things I've collected over the years and putting them in a pile on the floor. Last week I finally got tired of said pile and grabbed a glass bottle of wine and decided to do something with it. I'd say the final product turned out better than I hoped! The pictures below tell the story of how I did the project, but honestly it was super easy. All you need is wax paper, tape (painters and scotch), a sharpie (try blue or black!), nails and a hammer.

Lay out your design on the floor, trace it onto wax paper, and then hang on the wall. If you are patient, leave it up for a few days. If you are not (I am not), leave it up for a few minutes.

I am missing 3 pictures for the bottom frame, but I know exactly which ones I am going to put in there.

   

Some of my favorite people & memories from 2011.

two thousand twelve.

Hot damn, I can't believe the new year is actually here. I don't really know where 2011 went, but I know one thing: it was probably the best year of my 25. No exaggeration. Nothing fantastic happened. Nothing extraordinary. Instead, life went on. I didn't survive anything major. But I survived life's ups and  downs and am 100% better because of it. I can honestly say I'm a better person, a more mature person, a wiser person, a smarter person, than I was in 2010. What an incredible thing to say, right?

2011 was aboslutely constant. I've had the same friends all year. I've had the same lacking romantic relationship. I've had the same job. I've driven the same car. I've lived in the same place. My hair has stayed the same color. All the important things, right?

So, what do I hope for 2012? If 2010 was grown-up and 2011 was constant, I hope 2012 is FUN. All in all, 2011 kicked some major ass and I say bring it on 2012!

My new years resolutions this year are simple.

1. Run (or walk, crawl, whatever you prefer) 6 5k's.
2. Read 50 books.
3. Get another promotion at the end of the year.
4. Spend at least 1 weekend a month at the lake with my parents.
5. Win at least 1 tennis match in any given season.
6. Knock out the remaining things on my 101 in 1001 list and make sure it is well documented.
7. Keep my car clean.

What are your new years resolutions?