looking back | looking forward

It's good to look back and reflect on our days, weeks and years. How can we grow as people if we don't do that? It's important to stew over what we've accomplished. To be proud of ourselves for doing the things we set out to do. Doesn't matter what it is. Maybe you did that home improvement project that you've been putting off for years and finally you pushed yourself to get it done or maybe you simply got rid of soda in your diet. Whatever it is, reflect on it and feel good about it. 

We need to ponder all that we didn't do too. Things that we need to get better at or need to work on. Personally, physically or at your work place. It's all good. We all need to grow as people in all those places. I'm not perfect in any of those, and if you think you are, most likely you are lying to yourself. Sorry, this is where I would insert hashtags #sorrynotsorry #thetruthsucks! It's okay to be aware of these things, I wholeheartedly believe that it already makes you a better person when you see things you need improve on. Huge pat on your back. 

Write it down! I'm serious. It's the best thing you can do. People can think it's a waste of time but I assure you it's the first step. Have a notebook dedicated solely for scribbling down your reflections of the past year. Heck, write down reflection of your day or week if you think it will motivate you and help your soul. I do. I reflect in my own ways and sometimes I write things down (like here on my blog!) or sometimes I take time to meditate on them. Either way it's allowing me to see what needs to change. 

Change. It can be scary for many. I encourage change! I love change!! I have faith in change and what it can do to the human spirit. Be whiling to change one thing. It can be something for the better of yourself. Change something in your diet, change your style a little, change your hair (do it!), change, change, change. It's ok to change. You always hear, "don't let anyone change who you are." Truth. However, you can let yourself change who you are, you are in that driver seat, you have the power to swerve off the road. Plus, I just change things for the hell of it. Like last week, I went to the drug store because I was in need of some new mascara and instead of buying the usual black color mascara I bought dark brown. I know, I know, call me crazy. I seems so small but when I was in that isle looking at all the different mascaras for a good fifteen minutes it didn't seem like such a small change. The change was good by the way!

Enough of my motivational preaching! 

Teamwork. This year has been, to say the least, amazing! We moved to Washington last December (still can't believe we've been here for a year already) and with that being a huge accomplishment for us it's been a challenging year non-the-less. With me being in cosmetology school full-time we had to figure out how to compromise and work as a team. For the first time ever I wasn't around as much as I was before. My husband, Bobby, had to learn to be a full-time parent and work from home all at the same time. Huge kudos to him for being able to pull it off. Since we live on an island it took a ferry and two buses for me to get to and from school each day. The trip to school was a chore on it's own. Most days I loved it and had no problem. The ferry time allowed me to study, do homework or even touch up my hair & makeup if I didn't get it down at home. It was nice to have that time to wind-down on my way home. And I won't lie, sometimes I took a nice 30 minute nap, sprawled across those ferry seats. Hey! You got to do -- what you got to do. Honestly, I confess that some days if I didn't have that nap I don't think I would have been able to go home and function. By function I mean come home, be coherent and cook dinner while trying to get in as much time to connect with Sebastian & Bobby. It was hard. I think for us as a family that was a great triumph. We learned more about teamwork than we ever have. 

I did it! I set out to become a hairstylist and I did. I jump up and down every time I say-- I'm a hairstylist!! I went to Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy where I truly believe I got the best education I could possibly wish for and at the same time met good people and made memories. I graduated at the top of my school and dived right into taking my state board tests. One written test and one practical test. Passed each test with 90% + and then just the other day received my license. It's real and it happened. I worked hard for this dream. 

As I'm sitting here writing it's such a surreal feeling, where I'm at in life. It's emotional and so many other feelings as well. I think my family only really understands how much of this has been a dream to me, the biggest dream of my life so far and it's done. My heart races just thinking about it. Now, I  set forth and keep this dream alive. I feel lucky knowing that I'll be able to do what I've only dreamt about for days to come. Year 2014 really was a huge focus on me and what I wanted. It's exciting and humbling to know that I was given the opportunity but now I long for this New Year to be about the grow of my family. 

I like to look forward to my hopes for the New Year! 

Family & Home

- a house! We are currently house hunting and hope to buy our first home by this summer. 

- be involved in Sebastian education more than ever. 

- plan road trips/adventures & live in the now.  

- regular date nights with the hubby. 

- start saving for a "real" vacation-- Disneyland for Sebastian's 8th birthday. 

Health

- whole 30 program

- gain more muscle & loose more body fat 

- cut stress, meditate more 

Self

- more artwork on my body, start on my chest piece. 

- be more social, go out more, let loose! 

- take compliments.

- pamper myself and do things for "me."

Career  

- learn and grow as a hairstylist.

- push myself to be the best.

- never let fear get in my way. 

- aim for success in the first year of being a hairdresser.

Creativity

- write more of my novel.

- pick up my banjo.

- take a photography class.

- keep blogging for the love of it! 

What are your hopes for the New Year? Do you write them down? Go ahead, comment and share them with me, I'd love to hear them. 

on goals for the new year...

(My father and I our first Christmas in Seattle circa 1989)

Happy New Years Eve! I'm excited for tonight because the fella and I are heading over to bring in the new year with some people we have not yet been able to spend time with since our move. I really can't wait to catch up, stay up and have fun. Around this time it's always good to reflect on the year that's behind us. Think about all the good things, all the things we can work on and all the things to look forward to ahead. I'm a huge goal maker. I love making goals for the New Year. I always tend to set way too many and sometimes they seem like they aren't very feasible but it doesn't really bother me. To me it's about looking forward to something and to work at it. I like challenging myself, it's what makes me keep going.

This past year as been huge for my family and I. We accomplished something that wasn't just a simple task but something that was huge and difficult and exciting. We moved to the West Coast. We are basically starting over, for most people that would be scary but for us it's thrilling! The second accomplishment was a personal one that's silently been a goal for many years now and just this past year I completed it. I worked very hard and lost twenty-five unwanted pounds! I'm back to a weight that I most feel comfortable in and it's been such a rewarding feel to have made it happen! Here are all of small & some big goals for 2014…

★ Read 30 books. It's going to be a busy year but I really wanted to set a reading goal so that I can stay motivated! I love reading but it's hard to balance everything and still make time to read a few books a month. My hardest problem is taking on books that have a million pages that take me a million years to read because I tend to pick them up at the worst times possible. Oh! And even though I have a fantastic Kindle I hope to purchase more "real" books and also blog more about what I've read!

★ Build things (with my dad!) I'll be taking advantage of living with my dad! He has so many tools and gadgets and of course he knows how to do everything. I've had so many projects in mind for our future home! I'm not kidding when I tell you I have a folder right on the desktop of my Mac that has at least a dozen DIY projects that I've been dreaming about building! Now that my dad's literally right here he can teach me and guide me with building. I'm super excited about it. Here's a project I'd like to build and you'll understand why!

★ Learn a song on my banjo. I was gifted a banjo for my birthday and since then I've been practicing chords and conditioning my fingers to move around but haven't really learned a song. So that my friends is something I need to accomplish.

★ 52 weeks of photography. I was inspired by James from Bleubird Vintage Blog with her beautiful 52 project of her children. I would love to take a photo of each of us once a week for a year and then combine all the photos into a coffee table book. This way I can work on my photography and put together something special to remember our first year in Washington!

★ Get my motorcycle license! I learned how to ride a motorcycle in high school and even had a dirt bike up until I moved to Philadelphia. My father recently just purchased a BMW motorcycle and kept his '83 Yamaha Virago 500 to pass down to me! I want to get my license and cruise around with my bike. I would eventually love to take a trip just me and dad on our motorcycles to Yellowstone National Park.

★ Camping. I grew up camping every summer and I want to start to make camping a part of something we do every year. I love roughing it out in the woods, cooking everything over a campfire and shore fishing with worms on the hook. I want to teach Sebastian how to appreciate the outdoors and learn that there's more out there that meets the eye. So many adventure to be had!

★ Rough draft of my novel. For those of you who already know I've been in the process of writing a fantasy novel. I really would love to slowly but surely work on finishing a rough draft by the end of this year. It's been my dream to write a book! Even though I'm not out to become rich and famous it's more something I want to check off my bucket list. Wish me luck!

★ Toni and Guy annual photographic awards. I finally get to start cosmetology school February 4th! Woohoo! Toni and Guy holds a nation wide photographic competition that allows you to face off on a more artistic level with students all around the USA, something I am dying to be a part of! Can't wait to start my hair styling career.

Well, those are my goals. Here's to the New Year!!

xoxo.

on some favorites in 2013...

The year is coming to an end. I always like looking back at all that I've posted within this year and reflect on my favorite things. Here is a round up some of my favorite posts, recipes and memories!

Favorite posts...
on some messy thoughts
on body modification
on a beautiful sunrise
on a girls date

Favorite recipes…
on spinach artichoke melts
on cocoa crusted pork chops
on skillet chicken with honey dill chipotle glaze
on twice baked tex-mex sweet potatoes

Favorite desserts…
on blueberry cornmeal cake
on ultimate french toast
on the best pumpkin bread

Favorite dressings…
on Asian ginger dressing
on cilantro lime dressing 

My two favorite hairstyles in 2013! 

This year has been a very hard trying year. It was very emotional leaving Philadelphia but we are more than happy to be on our new journey here in Poulsbo Washington! Huge thanks to my wonderful husband for working so hard to make all of it possible. For being willing to leave his family behind and come to my home. For my Schuler family for helping us before we moved and opening their home to us. For my father for flying out to west coast and driving across the country with Bobby and also to all who gave encouragement and supported us. We made so many memories this past year that we will be cherishing dearly!

on new year goals...

Hello 2013! I welcome you. December was quite a crazy month for this gal. I was working like a madman and supplying the crazy shoppers with their caffeine. I haven't been around much and I'm sure that all my billions and billions of readers have been missing me tremendously. Now that the Holidays are behind me (and what a wonderful Holiday season it was!) I should be able to make an appearance more often. Thanks for sticking around.

With this New Year upon us I am happy and healthy and ready for a fresh start. I always feel like the New Year brings new beginnings. I am the type of person that loves to live in the moment but most of all thrive to see life not just for what it is, but for what it can be. Sure there will be doubt, ups and downs, good and bad days but in the end we are just here to make this life what we want it to be. I think a lot of people lose focus of that.  

I'm a dreamer, so that whole seeing what life can be is huge for me. I daydream and wonder about the future and always love to set goals, big & small, to keep me moving towards the things that I want most in my life. It works for some and not for others. This year will be a great year for change and big things. My little family and I have some future plans in affect and soon they will bring us to a new chapter in our life. It's fun and scary all at the same time when reflecting on the future and what could happen this year but hell, I've got my arms wide open! 

Out with the old and in with the new, here are some of my new goals for this year...

We have a very busy schedule and because both my husband and I work full-time communication is super important for us. It can get a little hectic when we slack on keeping up on communicating with each other about things that need to get done or up and coming events or even bills. Keeping organized helps with communication. I am probably one of the most organized people in all the land but my husband not so much. And I've given up on trying to convert him so this year I am determined to help both of us stay on the same page.  

I'm addicted to being busy. Is that even possible? It's become a problem at times. There's always something to do and that mindset can get me in a heap of stress. This is always on my list and I'm always working on slowing down and I have become better at realizing when I take too much on. I have a tendency to start too many projects or take on too much and when I start I have a hard time stopping. I have a mission and, boy oh boy, stay clear of me man. I don't need to do everything in the whole world and all at once. I know why I take it all on and it's that wonderful feeling of accompaniment when it's all done. The weight lifted of my shoulders. The biggest thing I'll be working on is investing more of my soul into my family and the things that I love and balance the rest. This will enable me to be a better wife and mother! Amen. 

I would like to spend time in practicing my photography. There are so many resources and online e-courses that I want to take advantage of. I think I'll be selling my current Canon and upgrade this year! Fingers crossed. Hey you husband, you hear me, time for this lady to move on up. 

This is something that has been on my list for a while. I want to go on more adventures. Hike and go up to the mountains. Bobby actually just bought me some snowboard clothes and we are hoping to go up to the mountain next month for a long weekend. We shall see how that goes since I've never snowboarded or skied in all my life. The things I do for my fella. 

I want to travel more around Pennsylvania and the surrounding areas this year. Just pack a bag and go see things. This is something we don't do enough of and I crave more of the woodsy outdoors. 

I want this blog, my little corner, to grow. I hope to network more and create more relationships among the blogosphere. I totally need to get a little more organized with all my ideas and also with my time. Establishing time to really sit down and spend time on my blog is probably the hardest for me. 

One of my Christmas presents was an awesome online e-course dealing with blog design and right as we speak I am designing my very first blog template. How cool is that?! Knee deep in Html and fonts and all kinds of crazy things, gets me so excited! I am hoping to have my new design up and running in the next couple weeks!!

So, macarons are like my most favorite dessert in the whole wide world but I've been deathly afraid to make them. It's quite silly actually but for some reason I feel like I'm setting myself up for failure. The problem is that Beca from Tumbleweed is always posting photos on her Instagram of the most amazing looking macarons that I ever did see! I'll keep you posted on my macaron baking happenings. 

The other thing I want to try my hand at is a soufflé. Just saying "soufflé" has me all intimidated! Lord. It's just too sophisticated for me. But I must. No I can't! NO, I must. A soufflé is going to be created this year. And it's going to be epic. 

It's been a while my friends and it's time for some new ink. I've got a book full of ideas and sketches of numerous tattoos that I want. So this year I'll be adding some new art. 

You might not usually make yearly goals but I encourage you to! It can be anything at all. I think it's nice to have things to work at! Here's to making this year grand. 

xoxo. 

on a new year...

(via weheartit)

This year I will...

1. learn to stress less.
2. wear my apron and cook more new dishes & blog about them.
3. call people that are far away from me but who I can really be myself with and have more meaningful conversations.
4. actively work towards being a part time "creative".
5. do whatever is in my power to help Sebastian with his speech and keep setting goals & achieving them.
6. take a sewing class to become "one" with my new machine.
7. make our wedding be more about us rather anyone else!
8. learn to ask for help more. I feel like this one is on my list every year. It has been something I've battled with. Hopefully this year will be my turning point!
9. give back to the world. starting with becoming more involved with our recycling.
10. get hair extensions! Don't judge. I've never had long hair and most likely will never. So I want to get professional extensions done. I think it would be fun.
11. maintain me and Bobby's safe-cozy loving & happy relationship by spending more time together. More date nights!
12. be brave in taking charge of our future and making things we want happen.
13. stop biting my nails. This my friends will be the hardest one of all.
14. reinvent my personal style. Be prepared for this folks ;)
15. go on a nature hike. Somewhere. Not sure where. Anywhere. (if you know where shoot me an email).

What will your goals be for the New Year?

♥A.

hello 2010, i love you already!

Wow, I can't believe it's finally 2010! Let me tell you, it feels GREAT! I have this gut feeling that this year will bring a complete make over for my family and I. Nothing better in starting out this New Year with Bobby getting a promotion!! I KNOW :) My man got a promotion within his company Siemens. He will offically be a programmer/analyst starting on the 7th. Not only that but with this new job comes more money which always is helpful. Now that I am back to work-- and with prominent things happening my way as well in the next few months, I am hoping ultimately we will get to take a couple extra steps in building the things we desire. So, yes congrats to my wonderful man who has worked so hard and who is the best there ever is ♥


The new year will bring many more memories and lots more adventure. Another exciting year to be able to be the best mother I can be and to shape Sebastian into someone that will conquer the many years still ahead of him! I really am thrilled and can't wait to experience what motherhood brings this year.


On that note it's time for my new years resolution. My number one resolution is to relax more and breath. If you know me, you know I am a very on the go kind of person. I have seriously come to realize that I am addicted to being busy. It's weird I know, but I am. I am a great prioritizer, I write lists on top of lists. The more I can get done in the time I have the better. So, again, I've opened up my eyes to the fact that a frantic life is a life half lived and I want to be a little less O.C.D and more at ease not only at home but also at work. There you have it, my resolution. Oh and not to forget to add a little fitness into my everyday life this year. Build some muscle so I can kick some butt this year!!


I would like to finish off today, the first day of 2010 with my very first photo for Project 365-- I will taking a self portrait everyday for the whole year of 2010! ENJOY :)

♥A