Out With the Old...

This was kind of a weird year.  It started off so well.  I felt like I was on the right track to becoming the person that I wanted to be...better, and wiser, and softer, and on top of my shit.  But the year seemed to turn into "one step forward, two steps back..." (Well, maybe two steps forward, one step back) as it tends to happen on a personal journey. I started the year well and then totally regressed and went off track and only now FINALLY feel like I am back where I started...kinda like this whole year didn't happen.  Don't get me wrong, a lot of awesome things happened this year...I worked a lot, saw my family a bunch, made some great new friends, reconnected with some old friends as well.  But on a personal level, I am not sad to see this year go...

So I thought that instead of going on and on about my year, I'd just throw out some things that I thought were awesome in 2014... 

1. Warsan Shire

I guess technically I came across this British-Somali poet last year, but my love of her work really blossomed in 2014. Something about the way she writes and the emotions and situations she talks about really gets me right in the feelings. I could post Warsan Shire quotes all day, but I'll just drop one of my favorites on you and strongly encourage you to look into her...

"the year of letting go, of understanding loss. grace. of the word ‘no’ and also being able to say ‘you are not kind’. the year of humanity/humility. when the whole world couldn’t get out of bed. everyone i’ve met this year, says the same thing ‘you are so easy to be around, how do you do that?’. the year i broke open and dug out all the rot with own hands. the year i learnt small talk. and how to smile at strangers. the year i understood that i am my best when i reach out and ask ‘do you want to be my friend?’. the year of sugar, everywhere. softness. sweetness. honey honey. the year of being alone, and learning how much i like it. the year of hugging people i don’t know, because i want to know them. the year i made peace and love, right here."

Started my year with this poem, and starting the next one with it too...

2. Tank and the Bangas -"Think Tank"

I stumbled upon this New Orleans based band in kind of a roundabout way... One of the dancers on SYTYCD used their song "Oh Heart" in her audition and I just fell in love.  Some sleuthing on The Google lead me right to this album. 

Step 1: Go to Spotify

Step 2: Listen to "Oh Heart"

Step 3: Move on to "Walmart"

Step 4: Live. Your. Life.

3. Hand Lettering

I like to make things. I've been making stationary for a while now, painting, baking pies, knitting, etc etc etc.  Hand Lettering is my new creative obsession.  I'm not great at it yet, but I'm just starting.  Ask me again next NYE! :) and SPEAKING of pies...

4. Hoosier Mama Pie Book

My mom got me this new book for Christmas!  So far I made the Chicken Pot Pie, but I'm really excited to step up my pie game when I get home. Banana Cream, maybe?  I'm gonna be making a ton of pies this winter.  I may need some taste testers- any volunteers??

5. Thai Food

This isn't new.  It's just a very big part of my life.

6. Jim Harbaugh 

I am so, so happy about this!  Maybe you have to be Michigan fan to really get it, but this is huge!! Harbaugh coming back to the Wolverines is really great for a struggling program with a huge storied legacy, it's awesome for the lackluster Big 10...it's just good for football!  I guess we'll have to wait and see how this all plays out, but for the first time in a long time I'm excited for college football to come around again!  And for a sports fan, that is everything....

7. Champagne 

Again, nothing new here.  But this year was definitely brought to you by champagne.

So yeah, I'm just gonna leave that riiiiiiight there... Happy New Years, everyone!  Lots to be excited for in 2015! 

-e

Turn, Turn, Turn

I cannot BELIEVE that it is December!!  Time is just flying by these days...  It seams like people dread the coming of winter, or maybe people just love the camaraderie of complaining, but it is one of my favorite times of year.  I could never imagine living in a place that didn't have 4 separate seasons.  Is there anything better than that first Spring day that you can ditch your coat and rock that sundress (with an accessory of goose bumps, cause let's be honest...it's not QUITE warm enough for that yet.)?  Or the first middle of the day margarita with your friends in the summer?  Or how about that week that the city smells less like hot garbage and suddenly there is a crispness, a new-ness in the Autumn air?  Or, come one, that first beautiful snow!  That is my favorite.  There is nothing quite as magical as that, I don't care how much you "bah humbug" me...

Last year, I spent my fall and most of my winter doing a show down in Florida, wearing shorts and chilling on the beach.  Poor me.  And while I wasn't sad to miss the ensuing "Polar Vortex" that was to come, I did REALLY miss the wonderful transition from Summer to Fall to Winter.  I love the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas...  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  It encompasses so many of my favorite things...Baking, entertaining, day drinking, eating copious amounts of food, friends/family, football, and falling asleep by 9pm.  BOOM.  And everyone knows that the day after Thanksgiving is the day that the Christmas season really starts!  Growing up, my family always went to Sinnissippi Christmas Tree Farm the weekend after TGives to cut down a tree and I have such fond memories of that.  Apple cider and doughnuts, clomping around in the mud, pushing each other into trees, being all bundled up, finding the PERFECT tree...  And that's also the weekend that it becomes acceptable to break out the Christmas tunes and unpack all of the ornaments and decorations.  It's beautiful, it's fresh, it's sparkling, and somehow just the right amount of all the bittersweet feelings (Bittersweet? Listen to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" -  the Judy Garland, Meet Me in St Louis version.  I rest my case!)

Despite no one smiling, we all really had a great time. I swear.
Everyone was just really focused on eating.  

Last year, I got none of it!  It's just not the same in Florida when you go to a restaurant for Thanksgiving, buy a mini-tree from Wal-Mart and spend Christmas on the beach eating Chinese Food.  This year, all of my Rabid Martha Stewart Apartment Decorating had to be put on hold yet again, what with being on tour and all.   However, I did get to go home to New York this Thanksgiving which was just as great.  For the past few years, my friend Kris has been having us over for the BEST FriendsGiving and it's always amazing.  Smoked Turkeys, way too much food, so many laughs...its awesome.  And this year may have been the best yet!  Plus, Sarah, Vinny, Ashley, Ashley's Mom Mary, and I all headed up to Connecticut to cut down trees again.  This is the second time that we have been to Jones Family Farm and I can't recommend it enough.  They have SOOO many trees and it's super festive with gorgeous views, a Holiday Market, Wine Tasting and an outdoor bonfire.  Apparently, they also do pumpkin and berry picking the rest of the year...I'll have to get on that.  And then of course, we have the traditional trip to Olive Garden afterwards (no judgement.  Have you had the breadsticks lately??).  Lindsey was more of an "indoor girl" this year and she and Amber got their tree from the street corner so as not to have to commune with nature quite so much.  And they were nice to enough to let me help to decorate it with them while sipping some champs and watching White Christmas....Wonderful.  I was so happy to get my holiday groove on during my Thanksgiving layoff.  PLUS, I asked my parents to wait to decorate their tree til I got home for my Christmas Layoff.  My THREE WEEK Christmas Layoff! (Odd mixture of "yikes!" and "yay!") My mom was happy to oblige and she is super excited to have a helper for Christmas cookies again finally... Yeah, I have a feeling that I'm totally gonna get my fill of Christmas cheer this year!

When January and February roll around, you may have to remind me that I said I loved winter.  But this year has been so amazing and the good news and exciting surprises that keep rolling make me think that it's gonna take a lot more than some snow and chilly temps to wipe this smile off of my face!  (That's not a dare, Mother Nature!!)

-e