resolutions.

2012 was good to me.  I finished my Master's degree and got a job.  I got married and went on an amazing honeymoon.  We moved into our first house together and planted our first garden.  (That entire list is in reverse order, mind you.)

But New Year's is my thing.  I like fresh starts and new plans, big dreams and long lists.  It could only get better if January 1 fell on a Monday, but I'll take what I can get.

This year is especially sweet because January is marking more than just the beginning of another year -- we're starting a whole new season of life over here.  No more with the fuss of wedding plans, no more with the stress of school (for me at least, Tyler has 1 more semester), no more with the busyness of the holidays.  Just two regular ol' married folk, living in our little cottage with this beloved slowness of January.  We're excited to form new routines and we're already planning for vacations and a new nephew and life in general.

I can honestly say that I've never been so ready for this time.  For as long as I can remember, I've dreamily looked forward to the time when I was out of school, working and just plain living.  I want it to be all I've cracked it up to be.  I want to make the most of every drop.

2013 RESOLUTIONS//

make, rather than buy
>>This means cooking at home rather than going out (we've admittedly given into the convenience of fast food and restaurants lately.)  It means stocking the freezer, planning ahead and limiting out-of-the-house meals to once a week, if any.
>>It also means putting my new sewing machine, knitting skills and Tyler's woodworking skills to good use for things we want and need throughout the year.  This may just be the year I work through all of the DIY tutorials bookmarked on my computer.

put love first
>>Tyler and I put so much effort into our wedding day and I want to put just as much effort into our marriage.  This means taking walks and trips together, making dinner together a priority and celebrating everyday life with each other.  We're also excited to start weekly questions & a traveling journal - ideas I read on Today's Letters.

make our home a haven
>>Even though this semester will be different for me, Tyler will still be working and in class until 9 or 9:30 every weeknight.  All that busyness paired with knowing that this home is a rental could easily put me in a "this is only temporary" mentality.  But I want our house to be a place of peace and comfort, a place where we can both feel relaxed and rested, a place that really feels like our's.
>>For me, this means a cleaning routine that sticks, cozy furnishings, lots of pictures, functional spaces, no "dump zones" and good smells.

find community
>>I touched on this topic in this post, but Ty and I are in an awkward space as far as friends go.  All of the friends that we are close to actually live over an hour away and most all of our friends from college have moved on.  We are both naturally prone to homesickness and sometimes living away from our families and friends - who are all close to each other - takes its toll on us.  But we know that Tuscaloosa is where we want to be, so we're hoping that finding our own community here will help.

define myself.
>>It sounds vague, but it was this image on Pinterest that got me thinking.  I've always been a student.  I've always been in a season of preparation, working toward a degree or counting down to graduation.  It's been such a central part of my identity for more than 20 years (literally!)  Who am I now that I'm not a student?  How am I going to spend my time?
>>I want to spend my time wisely.  I want to try new hobbies and concentrate on the things I've always wanted to do.  I want to become better at listening to myself.  But I also want to do frivolous things like try 10 different lipsticks to find my favorite and establish some signature dishes.  I want to be the best version of myself.


I hope you all had the most joyous of holiday seasons and that your 2013 will be filled with all of the things that make you the best version of yourself.

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