13 of 13 in Review

If you remember... a year ago I made my 13 of 13 goal list.

Since it's the end of the year, I thought it would be appropriate to sweep through the list and see how I did with all my goals! The photos will tell the progress :)
(click the link to see the full post on each goal!)

1. Learn to knit

2. Roast a turkey

  
3. Go berry picking 
 

4. Throw a pretty Pinterest inspired party for my girlfriends  
 

5. Plant and maintain a flower garden

6. Run another 5K race (or an 8K if I can!)
Didn't make it to the 8K... whole pregnancy thing got in the way... maybe another year!

7. Scrapbook a complete wedding album

8. Learn a new sport 

9. Complete a photo wall for the house

10. Read the book "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky 

  (couldn't ever get into it - maybe this will motivate me!)

 

11. Completely redecorate our bedroom (from paint to carpet to accessories)

I guess I didn't really complete this goal...   Although at the time, we didn't know we would be expecting a baby by the end of the year. Our efforts were somewhat re-directed to redecorate a baby room instead. Here's a sneak peak at the end results... more pictures to come once the crib is done! 

12. Leave Canada

Unfortunately I didn't make it out of Canada another time, like I was hoping - but this quick trip over the border still counts... right??

13. Compose 100 blog posts

Did this in May!! Need to be a bit more ambitious this year.... although we are having a baby... so maybe not, lol.

BONUS GOAL: Photograph all of the above goals :) - DONE! 

There you have it! 

All but one of the goals completed - I'm pretty proud of that! 

Stay tuned for my new 14 goals of 2014 :) 

{xoxo}

Leftover Cranberry Sauce?

Are you a creative baker? 

Is it natural for you to walk into a kitchen recipe-less and come up with something fabulous. 

Did you take classes, have a mama that baked regularly, or watch a lot of cooking shows?

<this is where I assume people get these skills from>

I am not a creative baker. 

I'm learning. S-l-o-w-l-y. 

Mostly just by baking. And baking. And baking some more. 

I'm a type A personality. I need to have all my ducks in a row and be organized. When it comes to baking... that means I usually need a recipe. 

Even if I'm baking something I've made a million times <insert banana bread recipe> I still consult the recipe. 

Every. Single. Time. 

But now I'm learning to stray from this rigidity. 

I'm carefully modifying recipes (mostly to make them easier). 

Simple changes here and there make me feel like a pro in the kitchen! Honestly! 

I had some leftover cranberry sauce in my kitchen and no one likes cranberry sauce on its own do they? So I came up with a plan to mix them. 

I made my regular carrot muffin recipe, and added all my leftover cranberry sauce, plus some oats to even out the liquid additions with some dry additions. 

I've decided that this makes me amazing in the kitchen! 

Since they turned out to be delicious - I'm now a creative pro! (sort of...)

And then we made some freshly squeezed orange juice to go with them. 

Most satisfying evening snack ever :) 

<mostly because I could toot my own horn!>

{yumm}

10. Read the book "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky - Check!

I may have waited until the very last week of the year, but I did it! 

I finished the book Crime and Punishment! 

Phew! 

 Overall it was a good read. 

Because of the writing style, and the very Russian names, It was a challenge for me to read if I was at all tired, which was always for the past 8 months! 

I felt like I needed a good stretch of time to really be able to dig into the novel and get anywhere. I'm glad I put it on my list because I always wanted to read it, but it was definitely challenging to find the time. 

Fluffier, easy-to-read books are usually more my style, lol.

I will probably not be putting another classic novel on my 2014 goal list... 

... but this one was a success! 

{xoxo}

Home for the Holidays

 I'm not quite ready to emerge from my Christmas cacoon yet. 

I'm eating chocolates for breakfast, soaking up time with family that lives far away, savouring the last batch of nuts & bolts, and lounging in my pajamas with a husband that doesn't have to go back to work for a few more days. 

Finally, I'm trying to take in the last couple of weeks without a baby around. 

The last Christmas with just the two of us. 

It was a very peaceful Christmas at home for the holidays. 

Our Christmas in Photos: 

 Baking Christmas pies with my niece and nephew!

Visiting with family :) 

Beppe learning how to text!! 

(sorry it's blurry... but the memory was still worth posting!)

And then it was Christmas day. 

At home. Just the two of us :) 

Reading the Christmas story at home via the iPad :) 

Just look at that smile!! 

Inside his big box was a drill press for his garage! Inside my big box was a sewing machine! 

We both got a bit spoiled this year :) 

 Christmas at Beppe's (Grandmas) involved funny gifts, games, and a delicious turkey :) 

Puppies wearing their new Christmas scarves!

(which to everyone's surprise, stayed on ALL day!)

Merry Christmas!! 

Now back to my Christmas cacoon :) 

{xoxo}

Merry Christmas

I hope you are enjoying the holidays as much as we are! 

I pray your Christmas season is filled with joyful moments and blessings. 

May we all remember the true reason for the season, and give thanks for the grace and love that God, our heavenly Father, displayed for us in sending his one and only son to Earth. 

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Merry Christmas from our little family of four (almost 5!) to yours :)
God Bless! 

{xoxo}

Christmas Fondue

This Christmas season has been jam packed with great visits and memories. 

Although my husband tends to get tired of the endless Christmas get-togethers and parties, I thrive on it! This year however, due to being a tired pregnant mama, we've both put the breaks on some of the Christmas parties and outings. Slowing down this holiday season is difficult for me, but necessary. Although there were still a few important events we couldn't miss out on!

Our life group at McLaurin Baptist Church, where we attend, has now had our second annual Christmas party. It was great to end the year of visiting with everyone. I feel like we've grown a lot as a group this year, and grown closer together. Celebrating the year together seems like a natural thing to do with this group of friends. 

And what better way to celebrate than with a maincourse of cheese fondue, and a dessert of chocolate fondue?!? There is no better way :) 

Here are some snippets from our evening together:

I may have missed snapping pics of one of the babies, but there are already a total of 5 kids between these 4 married couples, and soon to be 6 kids!
Next year will be an exciting year :)

{xoxo}