it was hard to say see ya to 2011…it was good to me! so i say to you 2012, bring it, i’m ready!

i’m the first one to skip new year’s eve.  it’s never been my favorite and, as far as i’m concerned, it’s amateur night and i’d just as soon let those folks have at it!

i’m content to ring in the new year with NYC and hit the sack long before the clock strikes midnight in my house!  but this year we headed to san antonio for a night at the JWMarriott Hill Country Resort & Spa with our dear friends shannon and dan!

i didn’t know this hotel existed…it was quite swanky and, yes, i will definitely be going back!  i didn’t step foot in the spa and that’s just wrong!

the boys…

the girls…

the self portrait…

and…oh lordy…the photo booth…

you can ask…chances are, i won’t have an answer…

if you can’t laugh at yourself…

wait, i’m not ready!  shoot.

phew, midnight…we made it…the fireside toast…

i’m thinkin’ i should ring it more often…or not….

in this new year…

~ may you live in the moment,

~ find joy around every corner,

~ cherish those you love,

~ reach for a star or two or three,

~ laugh til your belly hurts,

~ and delight in God’s perfect plan for you life!

wishing you the very best in 2012!

finishing up december with my last happy-heart Christmas post…while this post makes my heart smile it isn’t exactly good for my heart…so be it!

tis the season for the one time of year you’ll find a loaf of white bread in my pantry!  because my favorite part of the holiday meal comes the day after…

leftover turkey…on white bread…with real mayo…and…don’t forget…a sprinkle of salt!

can i get an amen!

yummy in my tummy!  ~ happy friday!

the week between Christmas and New Year’s is what i call the week “in-between”!

there is not one single thing on my schedule and i love it!  i sleep in, spend lazy mornings in my jammies and take long walks.  other than that whatever happens, happens!  maybe something, maybe nothing…

when i finally crawl outta my jammies, i head to town lake for a walk on the hike & bike trails.  it’s one of my very favorite things about austin!

once i hit the trails, if i’m happy it makes me happier…if i’m out-of-sorts, it puts me in-sorts…if i’m stressed, all my worries fall away.  it’s the place i love most in the city i call home!

as i cross the bridge in zilker park i start to look for turtles!  the water here is fed by natural springs and it is supercold!  on sunny days the turtles like to feel the rays on their little-turtle-backs!

hope you enjoy a little turtle time during this week in-between!

i was worried santa wouldn’t have time to stop by my house, but Christmas morning there was no doubt!  cookie-cat was still a wee bit skeptical until she did the big sniff and then she knew!

uh-huh.

yeah.

so sorry cookie-cat, santa’s leftover bite is not a toy…nice try!

he came!  he snacked!  he left goodies under the tree!  apparently i was a really good girl!  whew…it’s always a little iffy!

hope you had a super-duper Christmas!

                  ”For God so loved the world,
            that He gave His only begotten Son,
              that whosoever believeth in Him
         should not perish, but have eternal life”
                               ~John 3:16

friday posts are all about what makes my heart smile!  on this friday before Christmas i thought it only appropriate for a “then” and “now” Santa visit!

i love this photo of me, my brother and sister!  we don’t look one bit scared!  amazing.

the mother and i were in tyler last week for a few days.  while we were at the mall the big sis had the brilliant idea to have a little chat with the jolly guy…

45-ish years later…we don’t look one bit scared!  but i gotta tell
ya, we kinda were!  this “Santa” definitely gets tucked away in the creepy file!

~ happy friday!

all decked out for Christmas, i’m loving the “blue” hutch!  i ran out of time so i even have an empty shelf!  can you imagine?

a SweetTalk tag hiding in the forest of bottlebrush trees…

cookie-cat wanted in on the action…

see the Christmas bell?  love.

there it is.  i’ve got lots of JUNK waiting its turn!

since march is booked, thought i’d take a peek at january!  turns out, i got nothin’ goin’ on…until now…specifically: january 28 & 29…

i haven’t set-up at this show in a few years.  just seems silly!  for crying out loud, it’s in my backyard!

gonna try to pencil it in a few times next year.  i always enjoy doing it and i get to sleep in my own bed…bonus!

mark your calendars and i’ll see you in my hometown!

every year at Christmastime i have a serious mission.  i search. 
high and low.  far and wide.  if necessary, i would drive to another city.  or state.

it’s a huge responsibility.  failure is not an option.

it’s about tradition…

my family has eaten a particular Sara Lee coffee cake on Christmas morning since i was a kid!  over the years it has gotten harder and harder to find. 

this year, the lucky number was EIGHT!  that’s how many grocery store frozen food aisles i roamed.  until.  i scored!

i don’t even know if it’s any good.  i don’t really care.  it’s about tradition!

~ happy friday!