before the end of 2010

I want to reflect on this year and think about the opportunities to come in 2011.  But before I do that, I needed to try a go at making homemade cinnamon buns.  Who doesn't like that can of buns with icing?? When Whole Foods recently started selling a "natural" brand of cinnamon buns in a can in their cold isle, I forgot all about my 'health' diet and brought them home for breakfast.  They are delicious...but even the whole foods version still has a lot of crap in it.

So...I wanted to try making my own.  Yes, there is sugar, but at least, there is not crap that has names we don't like and I made them half whole grain...so a tiny bit healthier.

After a few more minutes in the oven, I will soon enjoy the rest of 2010 with a nice cup of tea and homemade cinnamon buns.  I used the recipe posted on 101 Cookbooks.  As suggested by this recipe, there is a whole batch in my freezer for later.  So maybe if a few of those family members who live far away in RI will come around to a visit Montclair soon, they will get to enjoy the homemade goodness.  

But, hurry, because Mike and I may thaw these babies out real soon...

christmas 2010

We just got back to New Jersey, which is full of snow.  We spent several days in RI, celebrating Christmas with a whole bunch of family!  It was a wonderful holiday, filled with quality family time, delicious food, and lots of snow!

I did't take too many photos and most consisted of cute niece or nephews. Sorry, they steal the show!

{this moment}

A post inspired by SouleMama:
"{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see."

gratitude

My office mates/friends and I started something a few months ago in our office.  I think it started on a stressful day of work for one of us, and my friend asked, "well, what are you grateful for?"  We started a list of 'gratefuls' on the side of our white board.  When the moment strikes, someone in the office will add something to the list that they are feeling particularly grateful for.  Sometimes, if someone is having a stressful day, that is when we encourage a thought of gratitude. Outsiders have commented on the list, with wonder.  It has been a fun practice these last few months and we have a nice long list of great things of life.  It is genuine and also something that I learn and re-learn when I am practicing yoga and meditation. I find that feeling gratitude for the moment is easy sometimes, and not so easy other times.  It feels natural when practicing yoga, it is integral to the process.  It is not always easy for me to enjoy the moment, gently, and feel gratitude when I am in the middle of doing 50 different things at work/home/life in general.  

This week, for thanksgiving, I am thinking of many things for which I am so grateful.  I hope to enjoy the moments this holiday weekend slowly and gently, with family, and feel the gratitude.  Enjoy your holiday, too!

I always feel gratitude when I am near the ocean...

two years, moment by moment

I can't believe two years have past since our wedding day. I remember the moments leading up to our wedding day so clearly. There were all the things I learned about my soulmate and all the things that I fell in love with.  Then there was the moment Mike proposed to me, the surprise and joy of that moment, and the realization that we would be married partners...something that we both thought of very early on in our relationship, and it was finally going to happen.  I enjoyed planning our wedding so very much.  I was never one of those girls who dreamed of the big white dress, etc. but I loved planning our wedding together.  Just loved it. And now, it has been two years since our wonderful day.  I continue to fall in love, moment by moment.

Mike wins the prize for "the very best husband."  We were handed quite a challenge for our early years of married life.  No problem, right Mike?  Seriously, I found the absolute best life partner.  Mike is by my side every step and he makes me laugh the entire way.

Two full and wonderful years of married life with my beloved! I love you, Babe!

here is our bagel place, babe.

This photo was taken outside our room, the morning of our wedding.  It was sunny (a bit chilly) and beautiful. 

 Just married!

raining yellow!

It is a little rainy and a little chilly today. This morning, I was walking the dog and rounded a corner and it was literally raining yellow leaves ahead of me. This beautiful tree was shedding its yellow leaves, they were just dropping down like big snowflakes or raindrops and blowing into the oncoming traffic. It was a wonderful moment. Seneca did not understand why we were just standing there and not going into the park.



This red tree...ahhh, it is right outside my home office window and is just spectacular. Every time I leave the house or work from home, I give this tree some serious glances, and just think to myself "it is just so red! It is so beautiful!"

It seems impossibly beautiful! The red will be gone before you know it...

visit to a farm

We got to visit Blue Hill Farm recently. Oh what fun!! Just perfect...

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama: {this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.}

storm king, pretty leaves

We visited Storm King a few weekends ago and I am still thinking about how cool it is!! SO COOL. It was a ton of fun. It is an outdoor sculpture museum where nature is just as important as the sculptures. 500 acres of land, hills, ponds, mountains in the background. We rented bikes because Mike is sweet and was worried about my feet pain (a side effect from my medicine). We rode all around and enjoyed the leaves changing and the sculptures all around us and even fit in a little picnic. I highly recommend the trip. I think we will be visiting it again!
Here is a tiny peak...

Andy Goldsworthy created this wall, it goes under the pond and back up again and then swirls around trees!

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama: {this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.}

last days of summer

We had some special time in Asbury Park this month. It was a lovely way to finish out the last days of summer. (Whoever knocks new jersey, hasn't spent enough time exploring the beautiful areas.) Shane and I did a bunch of sun salutations on the board walk. Many evening walks on the board walk and just simply watching the waves. I worked during the week, but it still felt like a vacation.

change

Instead of being sad, I am trying to channel my gratitude for the last few years, being only 20 miles (yet sometimes 2 hours!) away from Kevin and Holly and then Orion. It has been a good run.

I recently found a card with a picture of orange colored leaves. It says

{A cloaked woman came to me one misty evening and whispered behind me "the only thing you can count on in this world is change." I stood there all night and watched the autumn fog lift.}

I bought the card, thinking I would send it to Kevin. But then, I realized I needed it!

{this moment}

Inspired by SouleMama: {this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.}

rest of Aug and beginning 'new year'

The Fall semester started this past week. We tend to say "happy new year" to each other at this time in early september. August turned out to be a wonderful month. Mike and I took a week off, stay/borrow-family-beach houses - cation, Cape Cod and Mystic. I got some good ocean starting time in. Declan turned three and I got to see all of the other nephews and my niece a bit this month. So many of them now!

I always say it and will say it again, I love fall, and this time of new semesters and new weather. My grandma always says "the sun is like diamonds on the water at this time of year." I already made apple crisp and planted a mum! AND I am officially a student again...