It's Back ...

The Season 3 of Downton Abbey premieres tonight on PBS, so check your local listings.

2013 GOALS

Find/Create a Job-Career ... the biggest challenge, but I would really love to at least try to have my work be something I love and a place I can be creative.

Move Out ... need a place of my own and would like to have that complete independence.

Costa Rica Trip ... go on a week long mission trip with WON in April.

Run a 5K ... this has been on the list for quite some time and this is the year.

365 Project ... a new photo everyday for the entire year.

Notes To My Future Husband ... being inspired by this, I would like to start jotting down little notes for the future Mr. to share with him someday.

The Color Run ... really want to participate in one of these, looks like so much fun!

Read @ Least 1 Book Per Month ... all year long.

Attempt Canning ... I usually plant a garden and really want to learn how to can the fruits of my labor.

Finish ALL Christmas Shopping Pre-December ... definitely doing this one and already got a head start by ordering my Christmas cards extra-early!

Express Personal Style - Enhance Wardrobe ... would definitely like to step it up from the typical jeans/tee outfit to reveal more of my own unique style.

A Mile A Day Challenge ... will join this lady and this one, by taking the challenge to run a mile a day from Christmas to New Year's.

UNPLUG ... unplug one day a week from the cell phone and computer because really they are not life essential.

PLUG-IN ... would like to find a church where I want to become a regular rather than a frequent drop-in and be more intentional about making time to read my Bible, do devotions etc.

Snail Mail ... really love receiving actual mail (becoming almost obsolete these days) and would like to make more of an effort toward sending mail to my family/friends too.

Artsy/Crafty/DIY ... being able to be creative is so important to me and love the feeling of accomplishment, so I want to tackle some projects (from a very long list) and hopefully share them on my blog.

Go Indoor Rock Climbing w/ Charity ... she is the awesome friend who jumped out of a plane with me in 2012 and we keep meaning to take a weekend to do this, determined to finally make it happen.

Visit : My West Coast Family, The GA Aquarium and USNWC ... finally!!!

And I'm always adding more whenever I complete a goal or get inspired to make more.

3/365

Daily Reminders of Awesomeness ... a peek at one of the two daily calendars given to me by a dear friend and this one reminds you of those AWESOME little things that tend to go unnoticed but can mean so much.  Today, it was all about when the bass kicks in during a song which totally applied to my ride home from work, while jamming to the latest Taylor Swift album.

2/365

I received my first seed catalog of the year today, which was SO exciting !!!  because I love spending cold winter nights poring over various plant descriptions while planning and day-dreaming of my spring/summer garden.

My 365 Project

I have decided for 2013 to attempt a 365 Project, which is a yearlong photo challenge based your theme of choice.  I'm choosing the theme "A Day In The Life" and will try my absolute best to take at least one photo of my daily life for the entire year.  I'm really excited for this challenge and the motivation to blog more too!
So, here goes ...

1/365

I went to breakfast with a large portion of my family on New Year's Day.  This was the outfit I created and just really loved how the neutral color combo turned out.

I Love Pumpkins

Pumpkins are one of my favorite things about Autumn and really like the different varieties beyond the typical orange jack o' lantern.  So, yesterday I did my annual pumpkin shopping  ...

Favorite Find

I must give full credit to my Mom for this particular Favorite Find, a beautiful Pendleton Wool Shawl.  I have wanted one of these blankets for my very own for quite some time and she snatched this up at the local Goodwill just for me ... she is pretty awesome!

Fall List

Inspired by a dear friend, I have created a list of things to do during my favorite season ....

drink a pumpkin chai latte

carve a pumpkin

go on a hike

take a trip to the mountains

buy fresh apples, eat an apple a day for a week

create a Halloween card for a certain special friend

mail a care package

do a fall craft

burn a fall scented candle

take autumn photos

purchase new music ... my soundtrack for the season

make kettle corn

create a seasonal inspiration board

collect/press autumn leaves

splurge on an autumn accessory (flannel shirt, cozy sweater, scarf etc.) wear it often

enjoy the crisp air on my commute, roll all the windows down and turn the music up

watch Sweet November

do some autumn baking

watch a sunset and a sunrise

sleep outdoors

have a "bonfire" and s'mores

skydive

spend a day doing little things for others - hold a door, make eye contact and smile etc.

do some reading outdoors

Autumn Excitement

I absolutely love Panera and was thrilled to learn they have a new offering for customers this fall.  I am excited to introduce the Pumpkin Pie Bagel ... cannot wait to give one a taste.

Simple & Healthy

My life has been full of changes  these past few months, including lifestyle changes ... towards happy and healthy living.  I have been really making an effort to improve my health and physical fitness; this includes eating more foods that are non-processed and full of natural goodness.  Honestly, you really do feel a lot better in all categories of life when you spend the time to take care of yourself.  So, my lunches (like the one above) are not only good for the body but good for my soul these days too.