One step at a time

One word 2012

2012-01-07T10:37:00.002-05:00

A lot of higher ed student affairs folks have been participating in a one word for the year idea. Even though I have leaped from the student affairs world into event planning this is something that I think can be applicable for everyone.

My one word for 2012 is going to be thankful!

The past few years have been downright ugly. With changing jobs and locations the way most people change underwear and being down right depressed and sad everyday I have decided this year will be different.

I am so thankful I have a job that I love and people that I love working with.
I am incredibly thankful for my family who love me no matter what.
I am thankful for the house that we bought even though home ownership comes with some headaches.
I am so thankful I am going to become a wife in 2012 and get to be a maid of honor and watch my best friend become a wife 2 months later :)

So for this year I am going to take some time and really be thankful for all the blessings I have and not focus on the negative.

What would your one word be for 2012?

2011 What a year

2011-12-31T13:39:00.006-05:00

Well 2011 has been an amazing, crazy, unbelievable year!

January: We rang in the new year with Josh's family in Toledo

February: I decided to have foot surgery to get rid of some gross excess bone in my left foot. It hurt :/
My niece Lorelei turned 2!

March: I interviewed and was offered a new job at Oberlin College and Josh and I decided I should take the job and move to Cleveland.

April: I started working as an event planner and loving every second of it.

We welcomed baby Josie to our family
Lauren turned 6!

June: My mom and I went to New York City

July: Josh turned 28!
We went to Maryland for my friend Kristen's wedding
My best friend Kristen got engaged and asked me to be the Maid of Honor!!!!

August: I turned 27 and Josh asked me to marry him!!!

September: We started looking at houses to buy here in Cleveland.

October 31st: We closed on our 1st home purchase!!!!

December: Josh moved to Cleveland so we could be together again. We spent the holidays in our new home!

This year honestly feels like a blur and I know I am missing a whole lot of things that have happened but it has been a wonderful life-changing year. I am so lucky and so blessed.

I wish you all a great 2012!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-27T20:30:00.004-05:00

We had an amazing Christmas spent with my family!

We got a lot of great things for the house. Including this ladder in disguise from my Dad and Step Mom

My mom surprised Josh with an Ohio State Cornhole set...he was so excited!

My crazy niece loved the cornhole set as well but she treated like a photo prop :)

Overall it was a really nice low key holiday. We left my Mom's this morning heading back to OUR house and just feel so blessed and lucky to have such great people in our lives. I am still off of work for the new year so we are busy setting up the house and getting things organized.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!!

My 2011 Book List

2011-12-22T11:51:00.004-05:00

So for the first time I decided to keep track of which books I read over the course of this year. I will admit that I wish this list was a lot longer but moving twice within a year and starting a new, very hectic job changed a lot of my plans.

1. The Island-Elin Hilderbrand
2. A Letter to my Daughter- George Bishop

3. A Summer Affair- Elin Hilderbrand
4.Firefly Lane- Kristin Hannah
5. True Colors- Kristin Hannah
6. Heart of the Matter- Emily Griffin
7. Sing you Home- Jodi Picoult
8. Something Borrowed- Emily Griffin
9. Love the One you're with- Emily Griffin
10. Reconstructing Natatlie- Laura Jensen Walker

11. Baby Proof- Emily Griffin
12. Something Blue- Emily Griffin
13. The Help- Kathryn Stockett
14. The Happiness Project- Gretchen Rubin
15. The Vow- Kim & Krickitt Carpenter (movie coming soon!!)
16. The Christmas Promise- Donna Van Liere

I will say I enjoyed each one of these books. I am so ready for Emily Griffin's new one that I think comes out in spring. Also, trying to get my hands on the new Nicholas Sparks book as he is a favorite of mine.

I have decided I am going to make a list each year of the books I read just for my own record. I think 16 books in one year is ok but would like to see it grow much higher. If you have any books to add to my reading list for 2012 let me know!

2012 Goals

2011-12-13T19:00:00.000-05:00

Well that time has come and I have no idea how 2011 is over. This has been such an incredible year and I am so excited to see what 2012 has in store for me! As per usual I like to make goals for myself for the upcoming years. I refuse to call them resolutions like I have in the past.

Here is just a quick list of some of the goals I have for 2012

1. Get more organized. We literally are just moving into our house and I feel like there is just stuff everywhere and in the past we knew we wouldn't be anywhere for more than a year or so but this is a much more permanent situation so it is time to buckle down and get things organize.

2. Make our house a home :)
We have been living in an apartment for the past 4 years and living in an apartment comes with some limitations on what you can and cannot do. I am very happy to be able to paint walls and do whatever I want.

3. Start running again
Really exercise more in general. This is not about losing weight. I have reached my weight watchers goal and have maintained it for several months. I just want to get toned up and be healthier in general. I ran quite a bit before I have foot surgery in February and have just been really cautious about injuring my foot but I think it is time to hit the pavement.

4. Enjoy every second I have with those I love
For real, I take my amazing family for granted a lot. My little brother is going to be in college this time next year. I have no idea how time has gone so fast. My little sister is loosing all her baby teeth which just means she isn't going to be little forever. My grandparents are getting older and are not going to be around forever. So this year I want to make extra effort to remember how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life.

5. Save money
We will just keep adding this to the list until I actually do it!

What are your goals for 2012??

A Christmas Story House

2011-12-11T19:56:00.006-05:00

A little gem that we have here in Cleveland is the house that A Christmas Story was filmed at. Well, finally after living in Northeast Ohio my whole life I got to go see it!

Me and the infamous leg lamp!!!!

It was a lot of fun for me because that movie has been such a staple in my life.
If you are ever in the Cleveland area I highly suggest you stop by!

Sister Saturday

2011-12-10T19:58:00.002-05:00

My little sister just loves coming to our new house. We have hard wood floors and she likes to run and slide on them (real safe, I know) and I think she just likes to be in a new space. So last week we decided to make and decorate some cookies! She wanted to dye them red and green so I figured hey why not so we did. They were delicious! I love this age with her she is so funny and starting to become such a little lady it is too cute!!

Christmas Cards

2011-12-07T21:24:00.002-05:00

Bursts Of Snowflakes Holiday Card

Turn your family photos into holiday cards this season.

View the entire collection of cards.

From our house to yours!
Happy Holidays!!!

I would be no one without my Momma

2011-12-06T10:07:00.004-05:00

Today is my Momma's birthday and since she religiously reads this blog (sometimes when I think no one else does) I just want to say Happy Birthday Mom! I would not be who I am today without having you by my side cheering me on every step of the way. We have been through so many ups and downs but no matter what we never give up on each other. I love you and thank God every day for giving me such an amazing Mother! Can't wait to see you for Christmas!

We love you lots!!
Jess & Josh

Thankful

2011-11-23T10:10:00.004-05:00

Today I am packing my duffel bag and making the short one hour drive home to my Momma's for Thanksgiving. I am so blessed and so lucky and thankful for so many things.

I am so thankful to be marrying my best friend and my other half in less than 9 months!

I am so thankful to have a wonderful family that I get to see much more often now that I live closer to home

I am thankful to have such many amazing friends near and far that I know will do anything for me.

I am incredibly thankful to have a job that I love that has given me so much. It has allowed me to move closer to my family and allowed me to become a first time home buyer!

What are you thankful for?

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!