Every day is a chance at a new beginning

So, turns out I'm not great at updating my blog often.  I guess it goes along with my New Years resolutions whimpering out a bit.  But, it's always a good time to refresh & start again, right?  Every day is a chance to begin fresh.  So hopefully, this blog will be one of the things I get back on track with.  Becoming healthier is also something that I'm renewing my focus on.  I started out in January doing alright, but quickly, I starting slipping...it's so easy to do.  Here's to second starts! 

Finally Friday

After a long, stressful work week, Andrew & I went to a place called Painting with a Twist.  I heard about it a while ago, & have been wanting to try it out, so Friday we did.  It's a casual painting class that takes you step by step to create a painting.  The artwork is set for each day of the month, so you just go online, and pick your painting from the calendar of choices.  They also encourage you to bring wine & snacks, which of course, we were happy to do.  It was alot of fun, & surprisngly, not intimidating at all.  There is one main instructor & a TA for about 25 people, so its easy to get help or ask questions if you need to.  In 3 hours, you end up with a completely finished, dry painting.  I'm happy with the way my painting turned out (especially since I'm a first-timer) & I am looking forward to doing it again. 

The Instructor's version

Ours: Andrew's on the left, mine on the right

Day Trip

I'm a couple of weeks late in posting this, but Andrew & I went to the San Antonio Zoo in early January & had a great time.  I hadn't been since I was little, & didn't remember anything, so it was a new experience for me!  It was a little chilly, but sunny, so the weather turned out to be awesome.  It was really cool to see some exotic animals (crazy bird below among them) and of course, the zoo standards.  We also made wax figurines from the vintage machines they had around each corner of the zoo, it was really fun & whimsical.  It made for a pretty good lil Sunday.  : )

2011 Anticipation

I always get excited at the end of each year, thinking about what I want to acheive in the new year.  The possibilities are endless, and I love thinking about it.  I'm normally pretty ambitious with my goals for the coming year, and sometimes I'm successful, sometimes not.  My largest goal this year is to work on following through with things.  I'm great at planning and coming up with ideas, but often get bogged-down and eventually bored with actually making it happen.  Well, not in 2011...it's going to be my year.

Goal 1: Learn to use this bad-boy

Christmas, Christmas time is here!

After a family Christmas last weekend, I'm finally beginning to feel like it's Christmas, even though yesterday it was 82!  I know that it's Texas, & we don't normally have harsh winters, but 82 on December 21st is rough.  Anyway, last week, in the spirit of doing things to make others happy, I dressed up as a Christmas tree for our December service anniversary at work.  The costume was incredibly hot & fussy, but it was fun to see people smiling and excited.  This week on the other hand, I've been sick with a cold & sinus infection-trying to finish up shopping, christmas craft projects & wrapping gifts.  I finally finished tonight & am starting to feel better, so hopefully the holidays will be smooth sailing.  Merry Christmas yall!

In all my Christmas tree glory

Santa, Baby

So I'm really not feeling like it's Christmas time yet, but it is starting to get pretty cold in Austin, so hopefully I'll feel that fuzzy holiday cheer soon!  Tonight, I finished up decorating my Christmas stocking for my work department's party.  I tried to come up with something a little different (there IS a prize for the most creative) & the best I could come up with was to use newspaper as the base of my decorations since I work for a daily.  We'll see how I fair on Thursday...

'Tis the season

Hello World!

So to kick things off right, I'm starting out this blog of daily adventures with a pretty exciting activity.  To celebrate our 1 year anniversary, my boyfriend Andrew & I took flying trapeze lessons.  It was exhilirating, scary, & definitely an adventure.  Two hours of climbing up a ladder to a 25-foot-tall platform, then swinging above the net, trying to nail the 'trick' of moving from hanging from the bar with your hands, to swinging from the bar by your feet, & eventually, being caught by one of the instructors.  Andrew, was great & succeed every time.  I didn't fair as well, but it was still alot of fun, & I'm happy I was able to climb up to the platform & leap off every time.

It was a great way to spend our first anniversary & something that I'll reflect on as a thrilling experience that I'm proud of myself for trying.  

About to try to tuck my knees in & up over the bar



Andrew sticking the 'catch'