January Round Up

Happy Last Day of the month lovelies. January was an interesting one for me, as someone who works in Finance, you still feel like you are looking at prior year for most of the first month. February really feels like the start of the new year for me – so I think I have to start celebrating Chinese New Year since it coincides with my personal calendar a bit better.  So some of my lovely game plans sort of started, and some took better than others as well as some are just picking up steam towards the end of the month. As they say in France, C'est La Vie. Here’s kind of a fun round up of what I did do, and what can be done better in February.

1.     Had a great weekend in Nashville (which I still have to get around to writing about some highlights)
2.   Celebrating my 31^st with a Cowboy theme – I highly recommend a themed birthday to everyone out there, you’re never too old for fun
3.   I got slightly addicted to a new training group, and now have signed up for a ton of the classes for February, and I cannot wait
4.   I read every single book in the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series – it made me feel about 14 years old, but I’ve already started on the next series
5.      I finally read my book for book club, only to have book club postponed until February (umm I could have read more Percy, so sad)
6.   Got an extra day with Norbs – due to a business trip. I love that little guy
7.  Completely failed at my goal of bringing my lunch to work – I made it 4 days – woo! Ok so this is on the list of things to do better in February

Letters to Norby #18

Dear Norby-

My goodness little guy- you are huge, at least since I last saw you at Christmas. I loved that we got an extra day together this month due to a business trip and I got to come up a day early and see you (and your mommy). I loved going to the stores with you while you snuggled in your carrier, and thanking strangers as they told me how cute you are. It was also so much fun playing with you at the baby gym while we sang your favorite songs by the Muppets, your smiles are my favorite and you are full of giggles when the grownups do silly things to make you laugh. I promise the next time I come to visit I will know all the songs from The Muppets Movie – particularly “Life’s a Happy Song” so we can sing and dance together.

I can’t seem to wipe this smile off my face

Love your favorite auntie

 


(photo from IMDB)

sunsets from the top

Happy Monday All. I took this photo last Monday on my return flight from Nashville - which was an amazing weekend. I loved getting to see a unique sunset after what was an incredibly long wait at the airport- sort of made up for getting home 5 hours later than planned - okay not really, but this is a really incredible view.

eye of the tiger

Well I finally read Life of Pi , it only took a severe plane delay due to maintenance issues and many hours at the airport to make me say to myself, fine let’s do this. (Anyone else feel like every flight they get on is delayed to some degree, or is it me?) My book club pick this one out as our inaugural book, and it was not my style of book as I tend to lean towards multiple characters and a bit less graphic. Needless to say, I am rather glad the book club picked something out of my normal style to get me to broaden my horizons. The book follows a very religious young man – very much driven by a true faith – he is Muslim, Hindu and Christian, and practices all with regularity. This aspect I found incredibly fascinating – faith is so individualized and so controversial, seeing one person feel strongly enough to call himself all three was just different.  The story of Pi’s survival is interesting particularly as he finds himself aboard the boat with a small menagerie of zoo animals. I also appreciated the twist at the end where you have to decide for yourself what truly happened aboard the lifeboat. All and all I am glad to have crossed this off my list of books I should read, and glad I get to discuss it later over wine and cheese.

Photo from Pinterest)

good morning sunshine

It is by far one of the coldest weeks of the winter so far, I know it’s actually more normal to be having 20 degree weather in January, but the 50 degrees has been so nice. Under the guise of new years resolutions, and my major project at work finalizing last week, I can finally hit up workouts with some regularity. I started this week off with a bright and early start of going to the gym in the mornings as I tend to get bogged a bit and when you work a little late, that ruins all hope and dreams for a good post work workout. It makes sense to me if I just get the gym done in the morning the rest of the day or evening are mine for any activities of my choosing (early to bed for the next day seems to be where my little mind is thinking right now, but hopefully I get into routine enough to feel like dinners and other events might happen). 

(photo by Jesper Madsen)

do you birchbox?

Six months ago, I stumbled across Birchbox, and on a whim I signed up to receive a monthly little box with makeup samples and lifestyle products. I love this concept (why did I not think of this concept?), each month a cute box with fun things to try and potentially buy makes it way to me, and I get to enjoy products I’d be nervous about just buying full sized just to try out. I’ve definitely had some successful finds during my time so far with Birchbox – I now really prefer a BB crème over foundation, and my skin feels so good. I also love that it’s not always beauty products, I’ve tried teas, chocolates, Lara bars to hair ties, baggies, it’s never certain what this little box of mystery will contain. I do feel like every month it’s like Santa has dropped by with extra treats to feed my girly habits.

gravity

Oh my, I love this song - it's just so sweet and sad at the same time. Enjoy!

three little birds

For Christmas, my family fulfilled my one wish, for a Kindle E Reader- which is the best gift ever. I love being able to have one little thing to pack and knowing that I have endless hours of reading a head of me. As someone who always has a book primed and ready, I now no longer have to bring 5 books every time I go away. I am currently shopping for a cover for the Kindle, and I really love this bird one that I found here on Etsy. I am trying to find a cover that I feel I can live with for a long time - reminds me of my search for a perfect cover for my phone. Anyone have a favorite e-reader cover?

you better work

Well, I wish I had something fun to write to all of you this unseasonably warm Monday, however I’ve been cooped up in a conference room since last Thursday, and well expect to be for a while. It’s ok the deadline for my project is very soon, and I have some great people to spend time with while working on this assignment. I really think that makes all the difference for some tasks that seem awful so much more bearable- good people at least means a little fun as you trudge on through. Hope you are all having a nice start to the week. I hopefully will be back to more exciting postings soon.

(photo from pinterest)