Happy New Year!

2010 is going to be a great year, I can feel it! This past year has been nice, but definitely had it's struggles. As fast as it's gone it has also gone by very slowly. I'm so ready for the New Year to be here, with a fresh start and new beginnings! My resolution for 2009 was for a healthier me ~ not just about losing weight but about eating healthier, getting more exercise, and taking better care of myself. I think I did a pretty good job of holding up that resolution throughout the year. I'm not ending that resolution when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, 2010 though, it's a resolution I want to carry on into next year {and every year after!}. So here's a toast to all of you for a healthy, happy and successful New Year filled with lots of love!

My love

I love this boy so much. He's so wonderful....patient, kind, caring, thoughtful, selfless, loving, funny...the list goes on. I'm gonna miss him!!

Gratitude Friday

Happy Friday!! Can you believe 2 weeks from TODAY is Christmas?!! My goodness, I can't! This season has just flown by! Tonight Ryan and I are going to enjoy ourselves at one of the best restaurants ~ The Melting Pot and I can't wait (the best part is that it's a Christmas gift) ! If you have ever been there you know how wonderful it is....if you haven't, trust me it's amazing! We've only been there one other time because it's, well, a little out of our price range but OH so worth it! This weekend I hope to just enjoy time with Ryan before he leaves Monday to head out east for more Marine training {not sure how long he'll be gone for ~ we think 6 months to a year}. We hope to tour some great Christmas light displays, spend time with his parents, and head to the Tuba Christmas on Sunday. Ok on to what I'm thankful for this week:

• With the average temperature this week being in the single digits {with many nights well below zero} I am SO VERY thankful for having a roof over my head and a place to stay warm 
• Along with the frigid temperatures we also had snow that has stayed on the ground for more than a day or two ~ I love how the holiday lights look at night surrounded by the snow
• Ryan and the quality time I've gotten to spend with him recently
• My Christmas gifts coming together and feeling more accomplished about that. I still have a lot to do and less than 2 weeks for those that I want to get shipped off....still stressful but I feel a tad more on top of things
• Losing 13 lbs! It's not a lot but I'll take it for now. Hopefully I can keep it off for a few weeks over the holiday until I can attack it again in full force after the New Year.
• Hot tea ~ it's a new love of mine {how great is it that it's good for you, has no calories, can give you an energy boost or help you relax, and keeps you warm}. I've tried a LOT of teas recently and have definitely grown my tea collection in my pantry but my sister introduced me to one that I just can't seem to drink enough of {I love it that much}....it's Yogi Egyptian Licorice and it's just delicious ~ it tastes a lot like Aveda's Comforting Tea, but much cheaper!

Hope you're holiday season is bright and cheery and you're staying warm!!

I've been a busy bee lately and have hardly even had time to get on here and check my favorite blogs I like to look at...time is slipping through my fingers!! I have inspirations on posts in my head that I would love to implement as soon as I have time. {Not entirely sure when that will be though}. I've been working on getting gifts made and wrapped, helping Ryan make sure he is ready to head off to VA for training (he leaves on Monday), and we have some great dinners in store for us yet {MELTING POT!!!). Be back here soon enough!