Reverb 10 - December 24th-28th

December 24: Everything's OK

What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?

honestly, this prompt is really hard for me. I can't remember a time this year in which I worried about things being alright, and therefore, there wasn't really a moment that served as reassurance of that either. 

I guess I just always try to keep a positive outlook... it's been one of my goals this year to stay optimistic. I always know things will work out, despite how bad they seem at the time. even when times are tough, something good usually comes of it, and it's most likely a lesson learned. I don't really need a specific moment to know that things will turn out just fine. 

I'll continue to keep my outlook as positive as possible in the future, including the year ahead. I want to look on the bright side of things and not stress about things that are out of my control. it takes a bit of patience to live this way, but it's the best thing for my sanity. 

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December 25: Photo

Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.

I took this picture of myself (well, my legs & feet), back in August at the beach during our anniversary vacation. it's amazing how much one photo, taken on my cell phone no less, can reveal so much about a person. this picture pretty much represents everything I am... laid back, beach goer/lover, book reader extraordinaire, relaxed & mellow. I want to be all those things and more in the future as well, so I feel like this photo is a perfect representation of me as a person.

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December 26: Soul Food

What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?

Thanksgiving & Christmas dinner, which are pretty much the same in our family household, consist of some of my favorite foods, and therefore are the winners for this prompt. these meals include: turkey, ham (for Christmas dinner), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, asparagus, steamed broccoli, biscuits, and gravy.

I was definitely more appreciative of both meals this year, because instead of parking my ass on the couch to watch football, I spent both days in the kitchen cooking. these meals are what I look forward to all year long, so it's not hard to imagine why I consider them to be the meals that touched my soul. I wish I could eat them everyday... I think the wait and the anticipation is what makes them so special. :)

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December 28: Achieve 

What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.

I think this is pretty obvious, but I would love to be a mother next year. I know I'm too young to say that my clock is ticking, but I have this intense feeling of baby fever... I want to be a mama very badly, and I know that next year will be the right time for us. we're settled in our lives and our careers (for the most part), and although I know everyone says "you'll never be ready," I think we're ready. 

I honestly cannot even describe how happy I'll be when I become a mother... I know it'll be one of those moments that I'll never ever forget, and I'm certain that the feelings will not be able to be put into words. I think I'll feel ecstatic, happy, successful, nervous, excited, relieved, terrified, and content... all at the same time. 

I'm so excited to experience pregnancy and motherhood. I can almost guarantee that I will love being pregnant and will love all the new emotions I will get to feel. obviously, I've never been a mom before, so I can't really grasp how amazing the feeling is to grow a baby. I can't wait to be a mom, and for Sean to be dad... I think we'll both make great parents one day, and I will consider myself extremely blessed if that day is in 2011. 

as for the last part of the prompt, the only way I'd be able to reenact the feeling of being pregnant and having a baby is to do so, therefore, unless I found out today that I was pregnant (which I'm not, by the way), I could not possibly experience that feeling today. 

the beach = love [picture heavy]

pictures from our August anniversary trip to Ocean City! 

being artsy fartsy on our mini road trip. 

 I wish I knew who voted Ocean City "America's Finest Family Resort" and WHEN.

my standard summer mixer - Malibu and pineapple juice. NOM.

pretty shells hanging in our condo. 

our view from the balcony. 

sunrise on the morning of our anniversary. <3

 on the beach exactly one year after we were married. also, I loved how that suit fit and looked, but I did NOT enjoy sand getting in places where sand does not belong.

 my handsome and I on our anniversary.

 buds since 7th grade. we've pretty much been best friends for half our lives.

kids and their birthday card they made for Lacie.

 Orange Crushes to celebrate Kaycie's birthday.

get. in. my. belly.

seriously, how fucking hot is he?

 to wash down the dranks.

 we bought matching shirts. they say "Squeeze Me. I'm Juicy." thank you, Harborside.

 footsie tattoo.

 the moment I realized I should have invested in life insurance. 

 pumped! he loved it!

 on our way to the boardwalk.

 WANT THESE. Christmas is coming! 

oldies of the boardwalk. 

 Kohr Bros Ice Cream.

 feeling purdy for our date night to Hooper's Crab House. 

 yes, please.

 clouds. <3

 sun. <3

 oh, that's just Sean completely WHOOPING MY ASS in rummy 500. fucker.

 where we ended our fabulous vacation. noms.

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I don't want to post every single picture I took from the trip, but there are some fun ones I skipped so that I could elaborate on them a little more tomorrow. I'm just too tired to mess with all that tonight. there's a sleeping Bear next to me and a Mama Cat who needs to be tracked down and given antibiotics. 

ah, the life of a crazy cat lady. <3

wouldn't have it any other way.

and we're back!

well as it turns out, we didn't have wireless internet at our condo in Ocean City. I was a little disappointed at first, but I was glad I didn't have the distraction of things to keep up with on the interwebz all week. it was nice having a little break from technology. plus, I was able to check my reader through my phone. ;) 

anyway, we're back home safely and spending the day loving up on the kitties and catching up on DVR. we had such a great time at the beach. luckily, mother nature blessed us with a week of great weather... it only rained for a few hours one morning, and then it stormed one night while we were inside. needless to say, we got a lot of sun, had amazing food (&drinks), and made sure to get plenty of relaxation. although I have to say that it feels good to be home and I cannot wait to sleep in our own bed tonight. you never realized how spoiled you are with a king size bed until you go away and cramp yourselves in a queen size for a week. OH, and I finished reading The Other Boleyn Girl during the week, and I was thoroughly impressed with it. 

we celebrated our anniversary by spending the day at the beach on Sunday and then going out for dinner and drinks with friends of ours who happened to be staying only 3 streets away from us. then on Wednesday, Sean took the plunge (quite literally) and went skydiving. we bought the DVD, so once I get him to figure out how to post it on YouTube, I'll be sure to post it here.

I'll try to blog with some updates and pictures tomorrow, but we're going to see Tom Petty, so I might run a little short on time. and also, my cats apparently shed like WOAH while we're on vacation... there is cat hair EVERYWHERE, but I have absolutely no energy to take care of it this evening.

Happy Saturday, readers! 

and also, thanks for ignoring my request and blogging like crazy last week! I have 535 posts in my reader!