Resolution Shmesolution

I've never been one for making New Year's resolutions. #1 I'm terrible at sticking to them, and #2 I struggle coming up with any in the first place. It's not that I don't have goals and aspirations for myself (I do?), but always end up drawing a blank on January 1st when the time comes to write down fully-formed, succinct sentences that encompass my plans for a whole calendar year. Daunting and overwhelming, it feels like a losing battle from the get-go.

That said, I do like the spirit of resolutions--the idea of a fresh start; a clean slate. The commencement of a new year offers the chance to re-asses, re-evaluate, re-examine where you are (that's a lot of "re-" words); figure out what's working or not working in your life and resolve to make any changes. As cheesy is it sounds, that little number 1 in front of the month at the beginning of a new year serves as a quiet reminder to check in with your inner-most self and make sure you're living the life you want to be living and are meant to. Cliche, but true. Isn't that why it's called a cliche?

With that in mind, upon stumbling across this little "4-Step Guide to Discovering Who You're Meant To Be" quiz from Ms. Oprah Winfrey, I thought No making a list of resolutions? Easy, basic questions to answer off the top of my head? The results of which will instantly reveal my true calling that's been hiding under my nose all this time? Perfect!

Not so fast, sister. Upon finishing filling in the questions, you're then supposed to go around the loop comparing the first answer to the second and choosing one over the other for which is more appealing to you (repeating this exercise around the entire loop four times, with the winning answer each time becoming your "top passions"). This part seemed a little hokey and far-fetched, and consequently lost my interest after a few times around the loop... So maybe I didn't actually finish the quiz, but what the heck, I still think simply going through the process of answering the questions themselves is a healthy exercise to get in touch with yourself. Admittedly, the exercise was harder than I anticipated. But in a good way. Try it. At the very least, you'll get a kick out of the answers that pop into your head first, and you never know, you could come to the miraculous conclusion that you are in fact meant to be a wildly famous and world-renowned jazz club singer crooning to adoring fans from atop a shiny baby grand piano. Wait, that's not everyone's dream too?

Here are my answers....

1. When I was a kid, I dreamed of:

Being a veterinarian. I think. I don't remember having a strong opinion on what I wanted to be when I grew up.

2. I can’t pass up a book or movie about:

Romance or Adventure

3. If I played hooky from work for a week, I’d spend the time:

One of two things. Traveling. Or, at the other end of the spectrum, puttering around the house relaxing, catching up on things that have been put off but need to get done, running errands, baking, etc. In general getting things in order because of hectic work/life schedule.

4. Most people don’t know this about me, but I really enjoy:

Baking from scratch.

5. I am the go-to person when my friends need help with:

Hmm, this is a tough one, I don’t think of myself as the “go-to” person for something in particular. Maybe for help with planning an event?

6. If I could star in my own how-to TV show, it would be about:

Fashion or Cooking/Baking. Or both!

7. If I were to make a homemade gift, it would involve:

Photos/scrap booking

8. I’ve tried it only once or twice, but I really enjoy:

Photography (obviously not the iPhone variety, but true photography with shutter speeds and the late afternoon light and even dark rooms)

9. The closest I come to a runner’s high is when I’m:

…Running? That’s actually not true, I’ve never understood that whole “runner’s high” thing when it comes to actual running. After about 3 miles in, I’m pooped and ready to quit – I never seem to be able to reach the “runner’s high” plateau everyone talks about. But, I digress. My answer to this question would probably be either the euphoria of stepping off-stage after having performed in front of a live audience (last time was in high school/college plays and musicals) or the physical endorphins-high of adrenaline after a great workout where I feel on top of the world and ready to take on anything.

10. If I won first prize in a talent show, it would be for:

Singing, I suppose. Not sure what other talents I am that great at that I would win a talent contest for.

Want to try it out for yourself? Take the test here.

Whatever life brings in 2013, whether big or small, I look forward to embracing it all with joy and laughter. Plus, if things start going south, at least I know I have that career as a jazz nightclub singer to fall back on.

2013 - let's do this!
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A New Year's 2-For-1 Special

Happy 2013! With all the last minute gift-shopping, celebrations, and traveling over the past couple of weeks, I thought why not squeeze two posts into one to cover everything. A New Year's Two-fer special! Who doesn't love a good post-holiday deal this time of year, right?

The fam and I (sans Mom & Dad due to an unwelcome stomach bug; we missed you!) spent Christmas as we've done for the past couple of years, up at the Anderson's beautiful, cozy, quintessentially-winter cabin in Babbitt, Minnesota. The cabin, which is about a four-hour drive North of the Twin Cities, is tucked away in the snowy woodlands of "North Country" perched atop the edge of a pristine lake, offering the most breathtaking winter wonderland views you can imagine. So breathtaking in fact, that I forgot to take any pictures to share with you :) I did however, capture some moments of our weekend... Thank you Kosha and Skeeter as always for being such amazing hosts and opening up your beautiful home!

Could this face be any cuter??

Walkin' in a winter wonderland....

Carly was having some trouble with her boot. Baby bump got in the way. Justin to the rescue!

Twice-baked potatoes!

Painting our nails. One of the many "inside activities" we did.

Now for Part Two...New Year's Eve! Ringing in 2013 was one of the most memorable NYE's for me because we spent it at the Coldplay/Jay-Z concert at the newly-built Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Making our way into the shiny new stadium along with 19,000 of our closest friends, we found our seats just off the left side of the stage, with amazingly no one in front of us which is a huge win for 5'3" me (we were at the very front of our section)! As a massive Coldplay fan who has never seen them live before, I loved every minute of the concert as the band played hit after hit off almost all of their albums. Following their set, Jay-Z came on just before 12:00, counting down the crowd to the New Year with a mass of confetti and balloons bursting from the rafters at the stroke of midnight. A New Year's Eve to remember, that's for sure! 

Getting excited!

Look at us! In our seats!

Coldplay on stage

Jay-Z and Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin rocking it out together!

A sea of light-up wristbands. So cool!

Wristbands unite.

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy 2013!
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Baby, It's Cold Outside

The holidays are officially upon us. And I refuse to let them pass me by in a blur of christmas parties, cookies, slush and sweaters! This year, it's time to stop and smell the roses...I mean, poinsettias? You get the idea.

In an effort to truly enjoy how utterly charming New York City is during the Christmas season, Kevin and I hauled our little tushies up to Rockefeller Center to gape and gawk with the best of them at the famous Rockefeller Christmas Tree.

Standing 80-feet tall, the tree is a gleaming beacon of Christmas and consumerism here in the city. And the imposing Norway spruce is quite the sight. With its shimmering lights wound tightly around each and every branch from end to end, you really can't even see much actual tree--just a mass of glittering LED-bulbs twinkling away as far as the eye can see.

Embracing our inner tourists, we took approximately 3,000 handheld pics of ourselves from various awkward angles in an effort to best capture as much of the tree as possible while still getting in a good portion of our heads. Not easy! Here are a few of the goofiest that made the cut...

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy holiday (and New Year!) and hoping you all get a chance to stop and smell the poinsettias this season.

Merry Christmas!
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Museum Sunday

Kevin and I decided to feed our cultural brains yesterday and visit the Picasso exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum. It's a special exhibit called "Black and White" featuring the artist's work utilizing just those two colors.

Description of Picasso Exhibit

The Guggenheim Museum itself is a work of art (tourists can regularly be found snapping photos of the rotunda's glass-paneled ceiling; we were no exception), so seeing any exhibit there is a genuinely spectacular experience. And the Picasso collection did not disappoint. His prolific career produced such a stunning amount of pieces, that all six, winding floors of the Guggenheim were filled solely with Picasso. And these were just his black and white pieces, peeps!

The stunning Guggenheim rotunda looking up

Nerdy tourist alert!

We thoroughly enjoyed strolling the upwards-circling, spiraled walkways of the Museum, with each passing work of Picasso more grand and fascinating than the next. Our legs, however, did not enjoy it quite as much. We should have started at the top and walked our way down!

We also had the chance to check out the Annex rooms showcasing the Guggenheim's permanent collections, which feature paintings by Cezanne, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh and others.

Unfortunately, no photos are allowed, but I managed to snap this Van Gogh piece before a frowning docent sternly shooed me away.

Van Gogh's 'Mountains at St-Remy'

More nerdy touristing

 All in all, a great way to spend a Sunday!
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Christmas Came Early

It's here! It's here!

My wonderful, fantastic, loving mother bought me this Vitamix food processor as an early Christmas gift a couple weeks ago when we were all in Philadelphia. I have been waiting patiently for its arrival ever since, imagining all the delicious smoothies, spreads, sauces, and batters to concoct, and today was the day! Wasting no time at all, I pulled it right out of the box and whipped up some very Fall-appropriate pumpkin/raisin muffins right then and there. Thanks Mom!!

The Vitamix don't mess around!

Pumpkin/Raisin Muffins

Up Close & Personal

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Fall Is In The Air

Fall is my favorite time of year. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy has put a damper on the autumnal holiday spirit around here, but the turning leaves and crisp autumn air have managed to peek through undeterred!

As a born-and-bred Seattleite, where the weather maintains a steady 40 degrees with a chance of showers virtually all year long, the idea of four distinct seasons was largely a mystery until I moved to New York. All of a sudden, white Christmases were a reality, not just a childhood fantasy dreamed up from too many repeat viewings of It's A Wonderful Life. A good, sturdy pair of rain/snow boots that could withstand the elements were an absolute must. Those cozy knits and sweaters weren't just a fashion statement, but actually practical too! There's something about this time of year that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside; despite the chill temperatures.

In honor of the official start of the holiday season (according to the Starbucks barometer of the red cups debut!), I captured a few photos of the beautiful Fall season here in New York on my walk to work this morning. Take that Sandy!

Tis The Season

Tribeca Trees

Peeking through the ivy'd gate of a hotel back patio

Spook-tacular!

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I Heart Philly

I've always loved to travel. Growing up, my family was big into visiting all the national parks of the U.S. (think Glacier National Park in Montana, Yosemite, Yellowstone, etc) as well as Europe, Mexico and South America. Thank you to my parents who made travel a priority! We dubbed our family vacations "Bob's Circle Tours" because of the fact that is was usually my Dad (Bob) who handled the majority of the planning and he liked to work out the logistics so that we started and ended a trip in the same place (with all the stops and visits in between creating the shape of a circle when looking at a map). Plus, you could always count on him to read aloud long passages of a guide book to us rascals who had not done our guide book-reading homework. Discovering new places, exploring the unknown. My kind of a vacation! I can even remember, as a kid, I would pack my suitcase several days in advance out of sheer excitement, hoping that doing so would bring D Day (departure day) that much closer that much faster. Or maybe I just wanted to be prepared. You know how I love that!

Unfortunately, as I am now a (power)suit in the corporate world, my work schedule doesn't allow for as much time off as I would like. Hence, my travel itch has fallen dormant over the last couple of years. So when my parents called to say they would be in Philadelphia for a week, I jumped at the chance to visit someplace I had never been and re-itch the travel bug in me even if it was only one state over. Plus, how could I pass up the opportunity to spend some quality time with Ma and Pa?

The City of Brotherly Love is a short two-hour bus ride from New York City -- or should be. Due to the Columbus Holiday weekend traffic out of NYC on Friday and the chaos of the teeming masses at the Port Authority Greyhound bus station, my arrival in Philadelphia was slightly delayed. But that didn't stop my parents and I from having an absolute ball over the next three days!

We visited all the major sights: the Liberty Bell, Independence Plaza and the sight of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Betsy Ross' house complete with a Betsy Ross impersonator sewing the flag and answering questions, Benjamin Franklin's printing press operations, the quaint and charming Elfreth's Alley (home to row houses built in the late 1700's still in pristine quality and occupied!), the Philadelphia Museum of Art where I re-created the famous Sylvester Stallone scene atop the stairs from Rocky, Eastern State Penitentiary where Al Capone spent a year behind bars, and many other side streets, art galleries and landmarks. We even managed to pack in a tasting of the city's infamous Philly cheesesteaks!

Sadly I didn't have my camera with me, but I did manage to snap a few pics on my trusty iPhone.

Elfreth's Alley. One of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the country!

Dad & I in front of Miss Liberty Bell's good side.

The Liberty Bell in all her cracked glory!

Take that Mr. Stallone.

While it wasn't an exotic trip to a far-off destination, it was fantastic to feel like a tourist again and discover the nooks and crannies and delights of a new city. Even if it's not a foreign one!

You could say it was a Bob's Circle Tours special.

Happy Travels everyone!
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