So long, 2012

I could easily say that 2012 was the hardest year of my life and I could kick it out the door with a steel toed boot. It was hard. I had many moments admittedly where I wanted to just throw in the towel and let the days pass me by without giving two cares about life at all. I think though that the most important thing I took away from this year is learning where to put your heart and mind in the midst of the craziness. Frame of mind...so important.

I never planned on having my marriage fall apart. Never. It's been the biggest challenge to overcome, but in my lowest of lows I have discovered some shining diamonds in the rough. My friends near and far who have been my backbone and encouragement. My family who have been my rock and my safe place when I've been overwhelmed. And even the strength I've found within myself to forgive and to heal and be stronger through it all.

I've had some pretty dang great moments too. Definitely not to be overlooked. I have my own little home. It's cozy and it's my space that represents me and I love coming home each day to my home.

I have a wonderful full time job that just fell into my lap and I'm blessed to have it. It's challenging for sure, but it's nice to have some stability and structure in my life after all the chaos that happened earlier this year.

I went on the most incredible vacation with my family this year to the Southern Caribbean. Sunk my toes in the sands of Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Kitts, Water Island and St. Maarten, sipped on many an adult beverage and was able to photograph my baby brother and his beautiful fiance for their engagement pictures on the beach. It was a beautiful vacation.

I crafted. I photographed everything under the sun. I cooked new foods. I stepped out on many a limb.

I brought a new member in to my family. (Okay, call me the crazy cat lady here.) But I love my Ophelia Mae. She waits for me when I come home from work and as soon as I walk in the door she follows me around like a little puppy dog. When I go to bed at night, she nestles in to my arms and falls asleep with me and she's been the greatest friend for my Xander Cat.

And mostly, I've been reminded of the faithfulness and goodness of God. I can assuredly say, that in my darkest times, the beauty of God and who He is to me was revealed to me in such evident ways. To take me in my mess and scoop me up and love me so, He's just been so wonderful.

2013. You will be a challenge. But I accept you fully. I know that you'll bring adventure and I really want to take the time to savor life because I feel like that's what you're supposed to do with it. Savor it. Kick life's ass. And take names doing so.

Happy New Years everyone.

The Sprouted Kitchen Cookbook

This Christmas I was really excited when I received a gift card to anthropologie. I could spend hours in there just day dreaming about how I could decorate my dream home with everything in there and host dinner parties wearing the adorable clothing while I cook and entertain.

I was almost overwhelmed to go in because I was afraid I was going to want everything (which I did). I didn't even make it to the clothing section because I was too giddy about all the things I could get for my home.

I picked up a few books, which I will talk about a lot in here, but I was really excited about the cook book I picked up called "The Sprouted Kitchen".

One of my goals this year is to really try and focus on eating more natural, not processed, good for you foods. I'd love to have a little herb garden, take trips to the farmer's market, and cook nutritious and tasty dishes for friends and family. So this purchase was perfect for helping me head down that road.

After laying in bed sick yesterday, today I was itching to do something interesting, so I decided to take on a recipe or two in the book and cook myself dinner. I picked out the Beer Bean stuffed Poblanos and the Papaya and Red Quinoa salad with Homemade Mexican Caesar Dressing. It was a lot of prep work and a lot of mess for a meal just for myself, but it was oh so worth it. The peppers were stuffed with this delicious mixture of sauteed onions, pinto beans soaked in Negra Modelo beer with a cinnamon and ancho chile blend and then topped with jack and cojita cheese. The salad was probably one of the most flavorful salads I've ever had and it was garnished with fresh papaya, shaved parmesan, red quinoa and a delicious dressing. The recipe called for Macadamia nuts, but I'm not a huge fan, so I switched it up with some crushed cashews instead.

I have tons of leftovers (YAY!) and tons of dishes to clean (BOO!). But I'm loving this cookbook and I can't wait to share more recipes and hopefully I'll get to share them with other people. The only mistake I really made was not wearing some kind of gloves while handling the Poblano peppers, because now my hands are burning from the oil. Whoops.

Totally worth it though.

But what does it mean?

First off, to those of you who faithfully followed my advent blog, thank you and also, I'm sorry. I slacked. I'm bummed that I slacked. I had great intentions and then work got crazy and my energy was depleted by the time I got home and I got lazy. Tsk Tsk.

I've transferred to here, because I could quite keep up an advent/christmas blog all year round. I have my photography blog, but I needed a place where I could get a little more personal. So here I am.

Why one big raindrop?

Think about one raindrop. One raindrop falls to the ground. Splashes. It's little in the grand scheme of things, but it brings life none the less. And 99.99999% of the time, when one raindrop falls, many fall behind it. I look at my life as one raindrop. Carrying a portion of life and nourishment which I can either take advantage of, or disregard. If my ability to enjoy life for its simplicities and partake in every day small acts of kindness or gratitude could have some small effect at all, then it would be worth it to me. If we all embraced that a bit...think of all the life we could bring to our little worlds.

This year, I feel like I have a new chance to start fresh and really take part in life. Not just let it pass me by or overwhelm me. But really enjoy it. So this is the place where I'm going to journal it. I have books that I'm going to use to help inspire me, but I really just want to share life with you all. The beauty of life.

I'm going to try new foods. Spend hours prepping a meal just for myself, but I'll enjoy it (which I did tonight.) I'm going to cherish my family a little more. I'm going to reach out to strangers a little more. I'm going to let my friends know I appreciate them more each day. I'm going to live the best I can.

I hope you'll join me in living. It really is quite fun.

I plan on blogging my adventures in the kitchen tonight, but I have to clean up the mess and wrap up the leftovers first.