Viajando

Los Cabos

Well, the first month of the new year is half-way over and I have to be honest, I haven't been even a little committed to my goals. This year has already been so busy at work and I've pushed most of my personal goals to the side so that I can focus on being organized, anxiety-free and at peace while at work. It hasn't come without a few moments of squeezing my eyes shut, taking a few deep breaths and even a few heart palpitations. But, through it all, once I let God have control, I've been given His peace.

On Friday my sister, Joa and I Facetimed with my mom and dad and my pops mentioned a family vacation in Los Cabos! Joa and I have been trying to figure out travel plans for the year and a beach vacay with the family helps settle things a bit. I really wanted to go Paris for a joint 30th birthday trip and Joa wanted us to go to NYC because I'm always pestering him about going to NYC. Plus, I wanted a beach destination on the side because, well, we haven't done that since our honeymoon. But those three PLUS a trip to Puerto Rico in there somewhere is just a bit more than our budget allows for.

So, when pops said Los Cabos - I was OK with dropping Paris and hanging on to NYC and PR. I told Joa we can take our kids to Paris one day (where both Joa and I signed our names on the Eiffel Tower and where I first told him I liked him our junior year of HS).

NYC!

Puerto Rico

All that to say, I'm ready to drop some elbees (one of my 2012 goals) and get beach ready. No diets for me this time around. Just a commitment to sensible eating (juicing a few times a week) and exercise. I really want to start doing yoga, as well as running. I have a gym membership, so the running is taken care of (plus the availability of the open road), but yoga gets pricey. So, I'm going to have to figure that one out. I'd say I could go to the classes at the gym, but those are always at stay-at-home mom times like 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Yeah, um, hello? I work.

Here's to beaches and the city that never sleeps in 2012.

Paris, one day

My To-Dos in Two Zero One Two

I don't like the word resolution. I'm one of those that always breaks them by the second week of the year. I so admire those that follow through with their resolutions. Like my sweet friend over at Sum of All Things. I'm pretty sure it was her resolution one year (or was it Lent?) not to eat a single french fry. And she did it. She said no to french fries for a year. I would have caved at the first waffle fry put in front of me. Hence, I'll stay away from resolutions, and rather list a few things I'd like to accomplish in 2012.

• Read as many books authored by the Lost Generation as possible


• Run a half-marathon


• Host a Saturday-morning brunch for my close friends using recipes found on Pinterest and my two new recipe books!


• Cook more creatively


• Take a class - not sure what type of class yet, but I want to go back to school for something.


• Take at least 25 crafts on my Duh board (or any board, for that matter)


• Do something dramatic with my hair


• Let God into parts of my life I've tried to be in control of for far too long


• Take more photos


• Finish painting the interior of our home


• Redecorate the master bedroom


• Bake a pie from scratch


• Learn to make my abuelita's gorditas

Three and Four

Yikes! I knew that there would be a day that I'd double up on posts, but I didn't expect it to be so early. Just means more of my ramblings for you to read!

3. I am so very very blessed and thankful for my good health. I can walk, run, see, hear, move all of my joints without pain (well save for a few "you are almost 30" sore spots) and that is something to be oh-so thankful for. As I near the big three-oh, I have definitely noticed changes in my body. A little more squishy, less muscle mass, dimples in places I don't want them, etc. I realize that eating healthy (which I most definitely don't always do) isn't enough to be healthy. I really need to get into an exercise regimen! If I can prevent some of this sagging, it is definitely warranted! But, overall, I am healthy and I don't want to take that for granted!

Coffee from Escribá in Barcelona - also pretty darn good.

4. Weir's Coffee. I'm not a big coffee drinker. I had an unfortunate accident when I was younger which involved wanting to feel like a grown up, drinking a few cups of coffee and consequently spending the night in the restroom, and that forever altered my view of java. Plus, it makes me pretty shaky and I just don't like that feeling. When I go to Starbucks I order a chai tea latte and that is just enough caffeine for me. However, about a year ago, Joa and I were furniture shopping at Weir's, a wonderful family-owned furniture store here in Dallas, and we stumbled upon their quaint country store, right in the middle of all that furniture. The aroma of flavored coffee, the sight of home-made fudge and a cornucopia of serving platters was a welcome treat from looking at dining room tables that all pretty much looked the same to me. I wandered over to their selection of coffee and zeroed in on a Snickerdoodle roast. Before I knew what I was doing, I ordered 16 oz. and my life was forever changed. I look forward to my Weir's coffee every morning, especially as the temperatures begin to cool - that hot cup of coffee is just what I need to warm my body in the morning. An added bonus is that Joa does not like flavored coffee so I get the whole 16 oz to myself! So Weirs, thank you for my dining room table, but more importantly, I'm thankful that I get to start my mornings with a drink that has doodle in its name.