It's Alive!

After an extended absence, I am going to try to bring this blog back to life.  I have spent a lot of time focusing on my daughter and husband the past few months but I am also starting to realize that I need to take more time to focus on me. So, in addition to the goals I have listed in my 101 in 1001 list (more on these later), I have set a new goal.

I want to get back to me. I want to get back to the girl I know myself as. The past few years I have focused on my career and my family and home. The things that have moved to the back burner are the things that make me the happiest. The thing that has slid the most is my physical appearance. I reached my heighest weight ever, have worn little (if any) make-up, and put my hair in a poorly composed ponytail.

This weekend I took the first steps to change this.  I purchased a few products at Ulta that I am excited to review for you later this week. I also look forward to documenting our upcoming move home and the career changes I expect to make in the near future. Stay tuned!

101 in 1001 Progress

It has been a busy couple of weeks but I am excited that I was able to complete a few of my 101 goals.  After much deliberation, we decided to stay at home as we celebrated Amelia's first Christmas.  After talking to my friend M, I found out that she and her fiance were without a place to go for Christmas dinner.  I love to cook and jumped at the chance to share this passion for friends. 

We quickly decided on the menu of ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, and Better than Sex cake. I was so excited to show off the honey/brown sugar/spice glaze for the ham that I found on the Food Network's website.  It is a glaze I have used before and it is amazing!  I was also making the mashed potatoes from scratch although I took the easy route on the other items.

Once I had the ham in the oven, I began thinking about how I would set the table.  On several occasions, I had been given crystal serving dishes to use with the china I received as a wedding gift.  My husband raised an eyebrow when I began setting the table but as I explained to him, it was as good of a time as any to use them.

The dinner turned out ok.  M was in charge of bringing the potatoes and because they had trouble finding our place, they arrived late.  Because they arrived at the same time I pulled the ham out of the oven, I rushed the potatoes and tried to mash them before they were soft.  It did not work out so well and the potatoes were lumpy to say the least.  Because I was so focused on the potatoes, I did not pay enough attention to the gravy and that ended up really runny.  It tasted good but it wasn't the prettiest meal I've made! 

Despite the aesthetic challenge of the meal, the day could not have gone better.  It was a great day surrounded by great friends, talking with family, and reflecting on how amazingly blessed we are.  That, my friends, is what the holidays are all about.