Farewell to 2010

Tomorrow being New Year's Eve, I figured it would be a great time to reflect back on this year. 2010 was one of the most difficult and trying years I have ever experienced, but it was also very eye-opening for me.

I realized this year that God had plans for me that were bigger and better than I ever imagined. I tell my friends now that they need to pinch me and wake me up from the dream. I can't believe I am lucky enough to get a second chance with the greatest man I've ever met. Someone who makes me laugh, and dream and pursue all of my goals. A man who supports me, no matter what, and who I love more and more each and every day. As much as I endured over the Spring and Summer of this year, each minute was worth it (to have him), and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I also found over this last year who my REAL friends are, which was difficult to discover. During the lowest of lows, and the worst of times, there were those who stuck by me, listened to me, and helped me wake up each morning. You know who you are, and I just want to THANK YOU for being amazing. The others I found, started rumors and lies and were never true friends, so it's best that we parted ways. No one should ever settle for friends that don't truly care for you, no matter how long you have known them.

Lastly, this year showed me how you can have so much but it's nothing without Love & Happiness. Material things simply do not matter. I loved all that I had, but I didn't need any of it. I just wanted to be happy, and I'm so thankful that I was strong enough to fight for it. Even though finding what I wanted required sacrificing my pride and joy (Max), it wasn't worth continuing in the madness I was having to endure. I miss him every day, but the situation made the answer easy for me. I know he will live a long and happy life, and now I get to focus my love elsewhere. My dad always told me, "LIFE ISN'T FAIR", and there are some things you just have to get over. For me, this was one of them.

I feel 2011 with be absolutely amazing... Happy New Year!!!! I hope it's filled with love, happiness and wonderful friends!!!

End of Year, Thirty by Thirty update...

As the end of 2010 quickly approaches, I find myself reflecting back on my Thirty by Thirty list and all I have accomplished over the last year. There are still a lot of items to complete before the big 3-0, but the list is definitely getting shorter, and I look forward to completing each item before my birthday in 2012!

THIRTY BY THIRTY LIST

1. Go to Mexico (June, 2010)
2. Donate Blood (January, 2010)
3. Take a cooking class (March, 2010)
4. Find a church home and get involved
5. Complete 60 miles in 3 days (November, 2009)
6. Go camping for a weekend and sleep under the stars
7. Run a 5k (April & May, 2010)
8. Visit a vineyard/winery (November, 2010)
9. Take a trip to California
10. Go fishing and bait my own hook
11. Volunteer for a good cause (different than #5)
12. See Central Park and Rockefeller Center in the winter
13. Plan a reunion for all of my first cousins (November, 2010)
14. Take a midnight walk on a beach
15. Lose 10 lbs, and keep it off
16. Invest in stocks that I have researched myself
17. Fix something on my car (change oil, tire, filter, etc)
18. Stay up all night and watch the sun come up the next morning
19. Swim with dolphins (June, 2010)
20. Find a hobby I'm extremely passionate about and enjoy it (November, 2010)
21. Go 1 month without shopping for myself (July-August, 2009)
22. Vegas, Baby!! (November, 2009)
23. Try a food I've never tried before (January, 2010)
24. Take a walk in the rain, on purpose (Goodbye to Max, July, 2010)
25. Spend an entire day with my mom and one with my dad (from breakfast to bedtime) (Mom- July, 2010) (Dad-TBA)
26. Take a day trip (must be more than 60 miles away) (October, 2010)
27. Shoot a gun (March, 2010)
28. Try something daring: zip line (November, 2010)
29. Do something nice for a stranger without them knowing (November, 2010)
30. Personal Goal…

Cousin Reunion(s)

One of the items on my Thirty by Thirty list is to plan a reunion for all my first cousins. Well, scheduling has prevented this from being possible, but we have had a couple of opportunities to get together. During Thanksgiving, a few of us went to Cantina Loredo here in Little Rock, then out to Cajun's Wharf to enjoy some live music by the Big John Miller Band!

Then, this last weekend, my cousin Callie was in town with her husband Jon. We got a group together and headed downtown to Gusano's and then to Ernie Biggs for some piano bar fun!

Christmas Party

Saturday night, Cody and I attended his company Christmas Party at the Agora Center in Conway. The event was amazing. It was beautifully decorated and included dinner, drinks and dancing. I made many new friends and got to meet a lot of Cody's coworkers.


Before heading to the Party

Cody and I

Sarah and I

Ice Skating at the Rivermarket

Friday, December 10th, Cody and I took his neice, Briley, to the outdoor ice skating rink downtown. Briley is 7 and has never been ice skating. Then there is Cody, who hasn't skated since he was in High School, so I knew that the evening would be interesting. I've never laughed as much as I did that night with both of them pulling on me and hanging on to the wall, but we all had a really great time!!

Christmas Projects

This December, I've gotten crafty (well, as crafty as I can get)!! The other day at Target, after seeing the $25 and $30 wreaths, I decided, why not make my own and add a little flair!!?? So, that's exactly what I did! I grabbed red berries, red mesh, and Arkansas Razorback candy canes. Here is how it turned out... not bad!



Last night I finished up decorating the Chistmas tree. This year, I decided to go with black, white and red and it turned out really cute. I love changing it up every year!! I think it makes it fun. I still have some ornaments to add, but I think it's pretty cute so far.