My Ten Favorite Photos of 2010

I've taken a lot of photos this year. Some I've loved and some have been less than stellar. I wanted to share my ten favorite photos of 2010 with you.



Sean HATES having his picture taken, so I really value it when I get a good picture of him not making a frowny face.



This might be one of my favorite photos I took in New York. What's more New York then the Brooklyn Bridge and a taxi cab?



I think this might be my very favorite picture from this year. I was determined to get a good picture of Big Ben when I went to London and I did.



Although this is a simple picture, with ordinary things, I'm drawn to this picture. Perhaps it's the colors or the fact I just love the composition.



I took this last January when I was at home. One of the things I miss about living in the country is the great opportunities to photograph the wildlife.



This was taken in Santorini on my trip to Greece last summer. I don't have a lot to say about the picture, I just love it.



Some friends of mine and I went to the San Michele cememtery off of Venice this past fall and found these ballet shoes on one of the graves. It was a very interesting experience and I highly recommend taking the time to visit the cemetery if you're ever in Venice.



The Trevi Fountain at night. Sean and I actually blew this photo up and it's hanging on our wall. Rome is one of my favorite cities and the Trevi fountain was just amazing.



I love this picture, because to me it says Italy.



Again, a very simple picture, but for some reason I just love it!

2010 Goals- A Review

In 2010, with the brand new year ahead of me and a deployment that I was going through I made a list of goals for myself. Although the deployment ended early (due to some unfortunate circumstances) I tried to keep on my goals.

Here's the list:

1. Read at least 50 books (accomplished! I'm actually on book 68)
2. Start my photography business (Somewhat completed. I did open my own Etsy shop and I'm proud to say I've sold 7 prints)
3. Lose 10 lbs (Didn't happen)
4. Make t-shirt quilt with my college shirts (Did not happen)
5. Finish my college scrapbook (I'm not finished with it, but I made a huge amount of progress on it)
6. Complete first two years of marriage scrapbook (Not even started. I did make Sean a photo book of our first three years of marriage though)
7. Travel to 5 countries (Done! France, England, Croatia, Greece and Turkey)
8. Cook a new recipe at least once a month (Completed)
9. Decorate our apartment (Yeah... didn't even start)
10. Make Alaska photo album (Nope)
11. 100 lb dead lift (Close! I did 90lbs)
12. Take Italian classes (No class, but I have worked on my Italian a lot this year)
13. Learn how to sew (I bought a sewing machine, does that count)
14. Run a 5K (Done as of 9/18/2010)

I didn't finish all my goals, but I think I did a pretty good job on most of them. Now I have to come up with a new list for 2011.

Later this week I'll be sharing my ten favorite photos I took this year.

Shopping Spree and a Recipe

I generously received some money for a Christmas present this year and since I'm seriously lacking in winter clothing, I decided to treat myself with some new clothes. (Next month I'm going online shopping at Sephora. That could be disastorous)

Anyway, my goal was to get as much as possible with the money I had. I decided to forgo well-made pieces and decided instead on Old Navy. Nothing against Old Navy, but I don't think that anything I bought yesterday will be around ten years from now in my closet.

Here are a few items I picked up:



I'm a huge fan of green and I think if this litle number is long enough I can pair it with some cute leggings. Otherwise I think it'll look cute with pants and boots.



I'm seriously hurting for some cardigans. I love the detailing on this and decided to take a chance on it.



A comfy Henley shirt. Can we say heaven? I loved this style so much that I got it in two different colors.



Last, but not least. How cute are these sneakers? I love the color and I think they'll be super cute with some jeans and a t-shirt.

Oh, and I was asked about my Mexican Pinwheel recipe the other day. It's delish! Serve with salsa if you like.

8oz sour cream
8oz cream cheese
1/2 chopped green onions
1 sm can chopped green chilies
1 sm can chopped black olives
1 cup shredded cheese
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp seasoned salt

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl, spread evenly on five 10 inch flour tortillas. Roll each roll in plastic wrap, chill overnight. Cut in 3/4 inch pieces.

Also, when you spread the stuff on the tortillas, make it into a square sort of shape where you don't go all the way to each edge (horizontally).

Christmas Aftermath

I had a wonderful Christmas this year, despite not being able to spend it at home with my family.

Both Sean and my family spoiled me with presents. My friends did as well.

I got the Beatles anthology, Vera Wang perfume and a terabyte external hard drive from Sean.



My parents got me some movies, some books, an Epson printer/scanner/copier that's wireless, 18pc Wolfgang Puck Cookware Set and a ton of other great stuff. Probably one of the most memorable gifts was from my Dad. He sent Sean and I a homemade "Jelly of the Month Club" box straight out of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Each jar of jelly had a printed label with a quote from the movie. It was hilarious!



I also got some awesome Philosophy Cinnamon body wash and a FiestaWare pitcher and spoon rest from my friends.

I got to Skype with my parents and brother during the afternoon and we opened presents and also with one set of my grandparents. It wasn't the same as being at home, but I have to hand it to technology. I'm not sure that ten years ago this would have all been possible.

My Mom sent me a picture that my family took together on Christmas Eve to let Sean and I know how much we were missed at home this year. I admit that I cried when I saw it.



How was your Christmas? What was your favorite gift that you got?

Merry Christmas

We've already celebrated Christmas Eve in style at our home.

1.We opened our new pajamas
2.Ate lots of tasty snacks (jalapeno poppers via Pioneer Woman, little smokies, mexican pinwheels, bacon wrapped water chesnuts, spinach dip, sauteed mushrooms).
3.Watched 2 Christmas movies (Miracle on 34th Street and Christmas Vacation)

I hope all of you out there have a very Merry Christmas!

Holiday Decorations

It's no secret at my house that I'm a Christmas fanatic. I have two huge tubs of Christmas decorations and ornaments and I have the feeling I'm going to have to buy another after this year is over.

Since we have limited shelf space in our apartment (as in none except our shelving unit) I didn't put everything out that I would have liked to, but here is a glimpse of some of the things I did put out.



My collection of snowmen



This is from my great-grandma. I was a baby when she passed away, but my grandma handed it down to me from her.



My Santa collection



My ceramic Christmas tree from Nove.

One of these days I'm hoping we'll have a mantle so I'll be able to decorate it with lots of holiday goodies.

Question of the Day

Today's question is Christmas or whatever holiday you happen to celebrate based.

Do you have any special traditions this time of year? If so, what are they?

Favorite Christmas Movies

I have to admit that when the holidays roll around, one of my favorite parts of it is the movies.

Today I'm featuring my Top 5 Christmas movies.

5. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I'm a sucker for the claymation version of this. I try to watch it every single year.



4. It's a Wonderful Life. I watched this today and cried. Enough said.



3. White Christmas. Love, love, love it! Love the songs, love the acting!



2. Home Alone. I remember seeing it in the theater and I've loved it ever since.



1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I watch it every single Christmas Eve with my family and this year I'm watching it with Sean. My Dad and I love to quote lines with it and I own a t-shirt with the "Old Family Truckster" on it. Best Christmas movie ever!



What are your faves?

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

Join in over at Wife of a Sailor!



1.What is the best gift you have ever received or given?
Hmm...I got a horse one year from my grandparents, but that actually wasn't my favorite gift. I think one of my favorites is the Barbie Dreamhouse I got.

2.Do you celebrate holidays differently when your loved one is deployed/gone or do you keep tradition?
When Sean was gone last year I went home and so Christmas was as it had been before we got married. This year since we can't go home I'm continuing the traditions that my parents started with me.

3.If you celebrate Christmas, do you put an angel, star or something else on the top of your tree?
I actually have nothing at the top of my tree. The PX here has a craptastic selection and so this year my tree is naked up top.

4.What are your three favorite websites?
www.flickr.com
www.oldnavy.com
www.thepioneerwoman.com

5.On your man do you prefer… boxers, briefs or boxer briefs? Or commando?
Honestly? I really don't have a preference. I'm not a fan of briefs, but other than that I really don't care.

Verona Christmas Market

Last weekend, Sean and I decided to hit up the Christmas market in Verona. I'm not sure how Italian Christmas markets compare to those in say Austria or Germany (ask me next week after I've gone to Austria this weekend) However, the one in Verona was pretty fun.

To be honest, I'm not usually interested in what they have for sale. It was a lot of scarves and some stuff you'd see at a state fair. I'm more interested in the food and the vin brulee (spiced wine).



Meats from Tuscany, note the boar's head. Boar meat in Tuscany is called cinghiale.



An assortment of olives. I think I even got some artichoke hearts in the picture too.



An enormous decoration coming off the Arena



More goods for sale



A nativity scene in one of the squares



Sean had beer, I had vin brulee. Isn't my souvenir mug cute?



I loved this huge Christmas tree! Made me think of the Griswolds.



Clowning around in Christmas land.



I know this is random, but this guy was hanging out in the main square. Evidently his story is he was an alcoholic, he stopped drinking a couple of years ago and needs donations.

Now for the treats we got at the market:



This was basically a chocolate covered and stuffed pastry. This was Sean's. It was a little too chocolately for me.



Chocolate cookies with Nutella inside



Pistachio cookies with marzipan inside.

My very favorite thing that I had to eat was a frittelle. Basically it's a doughnut ( a large one) that is deep friend, dusted with sugar and Nutella is spread on it. Delicious! But far too messy for me to take a picture of it and eat it at the same time. It was all over me!

Always An Adventure

Time for another post about Boomer aka The Naughtiest Min-Pin EVER!



For those of you on my FB, you've already heard this story, so please excuse me retelling it on here.

So, after weighing Boomer the other day and finding out he gained about 3 lbs in the last year, Sean and I decided to put Boomer on a diet. We've been bad about letting him eat people food, so we decided to stop feeding him things he didn't need.

Needless to say, he hasn't been taking this well. In fact, I think it's made him a little crazy.

Yesterday I took Sean to post to drop him off to catch the bus to Germany. When I left, Boomer was still in bed. There was at tied off trash can in our kitchen that I was going to dispose of later in the day, but I thought it was safe since Boomer was still asleep. Lo and behold I come home to find an empty tuna can and a pork chop bone in my bed. Of course the pork chop had to have some kind of sauce on it, which resulted in me changing the sheets and blanket on the bed.

I thought the naughty actions were done for the day, but I should have known better. I went to dinner with a friend and when I returned I found wrapping paper and a half eaten bag of treats on my bed. Boomer had rummaged around under the tree, found a gift of his, unwrapped it and then ate half the treats. By that time, I was pretty much done with the naughty behavior and took him to bed.

I have to say, at least he keeps things interesting!

What Is This?

So the other morning I went in the kitchen and decided to have my usual breakfast of whole wheat bagel. I got the bagel out and noticed something black on the bottom of the bagel. At first I thought it was just a little burnt, but that wasn't the case.



I'm honestly not sure what this is. It doesn't have the consistency of ashes or plastic and I don't know if it's part of the conveyor built or one of the machines the bagel was on. I still have no idea wat it is, but I think I'm going to contact the company just so they know that something that shouldn't be on the bagels is there.

Weird no?