Feelin' Good About 2009...

I’m feeling pretty good about 2009 so far…

We rang in the New Year with great friends (Anna and Andrew) and in good health with jobs. Our families and friends are also well. We also have only five more weeks until we’re back in the most serene, wonderful place in the United States: Hawaii! It will be great to get away from the gray Ohio weather. Here's a picture of us in our matching New Year's Eve outfits.



In other news, I’ve decided to join a community supported agriculture program. The past year I’ve been buying mostly organic produce and naturally raised meat/chicken in an effort to extend my earth-friendly practices. I love it—the food tastes better and I know I’m at least minimizing our consumption of pesticides and supporting sustainable agriculture. Through this change, Brandon and I have been eating a much larger variety of vegetables and, overall, less red meat. (I can’t believe my husband will now eat radishes, turnips, sweet potatoes brussel sprouts, green beans and lima beans. How awesome is that?)

Anyway, I’ll be getting my CSA box from the Eaton Farm, a small family-owned operation in Madison, Indiana that uses natural growing practices and raises grass/pasture fed cattle and chickens. It only costs about $17 a week, which I would easily spend at the grocery, and I get fresh, locally grown seasonal produce while supporting sustainable agriculture and local workers, minimizing my carbon footprint (from food transportion) and avoiding excess chemicals in my food. It’s such a no-brainer. I’m super excited.

If you are interested in sustainable food and community supported agriculture, check out localharvest.org. I’m excited to get my produce from 50 miles away versus 3,000. I absolutely loved visiting the farmer’s markets in Hawaii and buying locally grown produce and flowers. Here is a picture of me with my flowers from the Kona farmer’s market and a shot of the Hilo Market up north from last year's Hawaii trip.





Lunch is over. Back to work. Have a good day!

A New Year

Here we are again, on the eve of a new year. It’s really just another day, but symbolically it can signal change for so many people. Working with the media, it always makes me laugh about the silly stories that come out this year about New Year’s resolutions. How many people stick to them anyway? Real change requires commitment … and we all know humans are slow to change. We are creatures of habit!

For me, 2009 will be a year of refocusing on home and local activities. We’re going Maui in February, but after that Brandon and I plan on completely cleaning out our basement so it is useful for more than a junk room and buying that furnace we’ve said we would buy for the past few years but put off in lieu of vacation. (I don’t regret it—life’s too short not to travel!) We also want to get a new refrigerator so all that great local produce from the CSA won’t spoil!

So … as I reflect back on the great experiences I’ve had in 2008 and look ahead to 2009, I feel thankful. Thankful for my family’s good health, a secure job, supportive friends and a devoted life partner—corn and all!

We’re headed to Columbus for our annual New Year’s eve celebration with Anna and Andrew tonight. It will be good to catch up!

In other updates, Christmas in Kentucky was nice despite my being sick. (Who likes puking on Christmas…or ever, for that matter?) Mom got Brandon and I a Wii game system—which was totally unexpected—so we had fun playing it with Justin and Becca. (Mom also got them a Wii.) We went hiking later that weekend at Caesar’s Creek once I felt better. It was unseasonable warm, so I probably would have insisted we go anyway even if I had still been sick. This week, I caught up with Sara. It was great to see her!

Well, lunch break is over. Have a safe and happy new year everyone!

Christmas at Home

This weekend was our time to have Christmas at home. It was a long work week and we were both really tired, so the down time was very needed.

Friday night we splurged and went to Arthur's for some good burgers and potato skins. YUM.

Saturday we prepped cookie dough then did our own thing in the afternoon. I went to the West Chester Farmer's Market and bough meat from an Amish family from Greenville, then braved the grocery crowds to stock up on food. That night, Brandon and I watched It's A Wonderful Life--a classic and must for the holiday season. It's so easy to lose sight of what is important in life. Overall, it is a wonderful life -- and it's good to be reminded of such.

Sunday we baked all three batches of cookie dough--spice and sugar cookies--then ran errands. I tried to convince Brandon to buy a new refridgerator, but he didn't cave. Sunday night my volunteers at STAF threw me a surprise birthday party. It was really nice and they totally surprised me.

Now I must go ice the cookies we baked yesterday...

Merry Christmas everyone!

Thank Goodness It's Friday

It’s been a long work week. I’m ready for a relaxing weekend at home just me, Brandon and the pets. We’re going to make Christmas cookies. YUM.

Last weekend, we had a great dinner with Bess and Kevin at the Precinct for our 30th birthdays. The food was excellent and it was great to spend time with the parents. Unfortunately, Anna and Andrew couldn’t make it because Andrew was very ill. We’re looking forward to a New Year’s Eve celebration with them in Columbus.

Oh—and, yes, I did survive 30. Definitely got a few new creaky bones and wrinkles overnight, but I can deal.

Less than 60 days to Hawaii! Whoo hoo!

Dec. 13

Well, this is it—the end of a decade. Tomorrow, I turn 30.

I guess this means I’m officially an adult. I feel like I should have some grand revelation about life or accomplished a certain number of things by this landmark. Not sure what those “things” are, but maybe I’ll figure that out in the next decade.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to a weekend at home with my soon-to-be 30-year-old husband. We’ve been going 100 miles an hour the past few weeks and I’ve had a lot of time to just relax. I’m also looking forward to a fabulous dinner at the Precinct with Bess, Kevin, Anna and Andrew Saturday night. Shouldbe fun!

It's the Holiday Season!

We've been busy with holiday activities the past few weeks.

We enjoyed a nice weekend down in Kentucky the week prior to Thanksgiving. Brandon spent the Saturday watching football while I spent time shopping and hanging out with mom. We ate one of our favorite country meals (chicken and dumplings--YUM) and then Brandon went backto football and Becca and I went to see Twilight. The movie wasn't the best, though it wasn't awful. It was great to spend time with Becca just us. Sunday we dragged out all the Christmas decorations and put up Mom's Christmas tree with Becca and Justin.

We spent Thanksgiving in Columbus with Brandon's family. We had a great time micro-managing each other, eating, playing games and watching Christmas movies. I made pumpkin spice cake and a chocolate pistachio torte.

Here is a picture of Brandon with Anna...


And one of Brandon and me being silly...



Saturday we headed to Dirr Nurseries in Goshen to cut a Christmas tree. Brandon and his family did this every year growing up, so it seemed like a fun tradition to start in our house.

We got an awesome white pine tree. Brandon did most of the cutting, but I took a few swipes. In addition to cutting a tree, we also bought two nice, handmade wreaths and enjoyed some hot chocolate while feeding the family goats. Here are a few pictures:









We spent the afternoon decorating the tree and the house, which turned out great! Sunday I cooked dinner for Dad, Brandon and I then we set up the old Lionel train Dad gave us a few years ago. The train is absolutely wonderful! I'm so glad Dad refurbished it and gave it to us.

Here are a few pictures of Brandon and Dad working on the train and one of our family (minus the cats) in front of the tree:

Wedded Bliss

Brandon and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary this weekend. I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful husband and life partner. He keeps me grounded when I act crazy, makes me laugh when I am sad and loves me no matter what.

I feel fortunate to be in such a solid relationship and look forward to many years to come. No, we're not the Cleavers, but we're probably closer than most.