2012: From J-D

2012: I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave:

 January: Welcomed in the New Year with friends at a great party (Far Left, Upper Right). Moved in with The Boy (!!!) and enjoyed our new view (upper middle, lower right). Hiked in Central Oregon (Right Middle) and visited Seattle to celebrate one of my favorite friends (Lower Middle).

 February: Headed to San Francisco for a Work Conference (Middle & Left Middle) and got to bask in my intellectual side for a wee bit. After that, it was all about a family trip to Sunriver where we snowmobiled our way around the alps (remaining images).

March: Always my least favorite month (at least in the PacNW, I just wonder what it offers?) but it was made a bit brighter with some ski trips (Lower Middle), the budding flowers (Left), time with my precious puppy (Lower Right) and my family (Middle image: my Cuz and Mom) and drinks and fun with friends (Upper Right, Upper Middle).

 April: Headed North to Seattle to visit Miss Tracy again (right), Hiked with my favie Juan (upper middle), enjoyed my view again (bottom middle), messed with my DSLR (upper Left) and hung with family (bottom Left).

 May: Enjoyed Sunriver again with The Boy's family (far Left & image of the 3 guys), delighted in the joys of Spring (upper right), shopped locally (upper middle) and cheersed my Mom on Mother's Day (bottom Left & far right).

 June: This is when my Blogging started falling by the wayside for a couple months so I still need to post on much of this month! But I headed to Vegas with my Girls for a fun little getaway (bottom right, upper row), Went fishing with my Dad and best friend, Shanin (middle Left and middle Right), Walked in our downtown Starlit Parade (bottom Left & Middle 2nd-from-Right) and Hung with the Boy (Middle, 2nd-from-Left).

 July: Who doesn't like July? I mean reallllllly. I enjoyed an amazing 4th of July break in the Boy's hometown of Ashland, Oregon (Far Left- not me, image I took of his stepsister- & upper right), Fested it up with my favorite Redhead (Upper Middle), enjoyed cocktails in my upbeat neighborhood (lower left) and enjoyed lots of girl time on an XX-only trip to Sunriver (middle bottom two).

 August: Ahh, my month of Birth. I celebrated my almost twin birthday with my Sister at an amusement park with the family (lower middle right), headed to San Diego for a gorgeous beachside wedding (Far Right, Lower Left, Upper Left of the lower 4-pick mix), went rafting on the annual trip for the bajillion time in my life (upper middle, upper far left) and celebrated various events with friends in the remaining images.

 September: Such a gorgeous month in Oregon. I Hit up the Beach with my family Dog and The Boy (upper Left, Upper Middle), danced in the Indian Summer heat (Upper Right) and celebrated the Birthdays of my Mom, Brother-in-Law & Boyfriend (all of the remaining images).

 October: Football, Halloween & Charity. Therein lies my October this year. I went to a Football game with my Dad and Brother (Right & Middle left), enjoyed charity ball fun with my beloved Shanin (upper Left) and basked in Halloween (all remaining images).

 November: I ate my way through November. Imbibed in nights out (Right and lower Left), time with great gals (lower middle) and enjoyed a plentiful Thanksgiving (all remaining images).

 December: Oh December. I decorated our place as best I could (upper Right, Lower right), took wintry walks with The Boy (Right Middle), Enjoyed Holiday Parties (Upper Middle, Middle Middle), cuddled my precious Pup (lower middle) and got in some Skiing Time (Far left).

2011 J-D: Click here

2010 J-D: Click here

 Have a very Safe, Happy, Glitzy New Year's Eve!!!!

Welcome 2013!

I think I can, I know I can

 Lately I've been feeling like I need some fabulousness in my life: More frills. More Champagne. More Outfits that excite me everytime I look in the mirror... more of just , THIS:

Life: Desire by candyflosspersie featuring leather leggings

However, I don't feel that I've earned it yet and where I'm at right now, I wouldn't feel good in it the way I have before. Sooo, in my continued efforts to lose weight that I gained for no reason- I'm amping up the leverage to my diet with my Annual January Month of Health- I do it every year and every year come Feb.: I feel like a million bucks, or more like 100K... but either way, pretty good.  So in the spirit of getting started, this weekend they'll be no Booze and no Fatty foods- but there will be a wonderful day Skiing on Saturday and more outdoor time on Sunday.

Because if I ever want 'fabulousness' to seep in, I need to wear this uniform until I earn it:

 

Life: Reality by candyflosspersie featuring slim fit pants

Looking forward to one day feeling like me again!

Happy Weekend!

Maddie & Mantras

 What's not to like about Christmas? Aside from the ever-present urge to talk down the Diet Police in your head as you consume drinks, carbs and sweets in the name of 'celebration' - Christmas is just plain wonderful Christmas: the gifts, the mimosas, the family time- all good.

But one of my favorite parts of Xmas on Tuesday, was looking over and seeing beautiful little Maddie, enjoying her 12th Noel. I hate seeing her face grow whiter and her step have a little less pep in it. But looking at her wrapped up in her little white bow, settling in on her new white blanket in front of the tree... my heart swelled bigger than the Grinch's.

Maddie's 12th Christmas. I can't handle her adorableness.

But enough of that "sentimental shhhhhhow of emotion", I've decided this is my mantra for next year:

Image VIA

 Yup.

Let's all just pretend that I can make that happen, K?

Back to work today...

Christmas Eve at Mi Casa

View from my apartment. Just adore.

Left: Our Stockings, hung by the bookshelves with care. Middle: NutChompter Right: Reggie all dressed up for Christmas!

Laying around my house when there arose such a clatter, went out to the balcony to see what was the matter. When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a contemporary sleigh, and numerous drunken reindeer.

My version of "Sophie's Choice"

My Hot Cocoa station, all ready to go.

Coffee, Christmas Music and some Decorating: mere tools to make me realize how much I utterly hate the Weekdays.

The View again.. never tire of it.

Here's a few snapshots of glimpses around my apartment this Holiday Season. I don't fancy myself a great Holiday Decorator but I do find that the little touches help me feel the joy of the season. Especially Reggie in his hat, I really don't think there's anything cuter than that! [See Also: I'm dying for a pet but we can't have them at my apartment so I personify ceramic animals I put on display; name them and pretend they have feelings. Also plants: the Christmas Tree's name is Henry. Hi Henry. You look glllorrriouuus.].

Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry,  Merry, Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours.

"Christmas" Photos

 The Boy and I had our Annual Holiday Photoshoot a few weeks back. And by that I mean we've never done it before and we just used my own camera and it was pretty much a big, ol' joke.  But honestly, walking around downtown on a cold winter day with no agenda, taking pictures and exploring areas is always, always, always up my alley. The big tree above makes a visit every December to our "Pioneer Square" - which is colloquially referred to as "Portland's Living Room" as it's central to the main downtown shops, lots of food and in the heart of the Financial District. We made our way from there to the Portland Art Museum to the Keller Auditorium until we found ourselves enjoying scrumptious Oysters and Calamari at Southpark. In the words of one of my favorite lyricists ever: "I gotta say it was a good day."

Christmas is a'coming, friends. I wish you a wonderful, wonderful weekend soaking it in- whether that means you're in the cold up North, or in the blazing sun like some gals down Unda'. 

I'll be back with a post on Monday :)