New Years Eve 2011

Who doesn't love a little survey: Taken from http://www.sundrymourning.com/

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Traveled to 4 different countries, taught zumba, stayed pregnant :-)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


I don’t think I remember making any definitive New Years resolutions last year but this year I want to:

- be on the internet less

-speak my mind more

-become more domestic

-get back on track with my fitness (this will probably happen after birth)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Yep, I can’t believe my best friend’s are already having babies- my friend Natalie gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in August.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, I’ve been very fortunate not to have anyone close to me pass away.

5. What countries did you visit?

Spain, Italy, USA, Belgium, Czech Republic

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A beach, the sand, THE OCEAN!

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

-Tuesday, September 20, when I found out I was pregnant right before teaching Zumba. I was crammed in a tiny bathroom and decided to take a test and remember smiling during the duration of my class. I can specifically remember smirking and thinking, I know something you guys never will!!

-Monday, December 19, when I found out we were having a boy.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


-finishing my personal training program

-getting and staying pregnant

-conquering my fear of being in front of people and actually teaching a dance fitness class. This was an amazing experience and I loved expressing myself through it.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not pursuing any job with my personal training certificate

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes, a foot injury that plagued me for a few months.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I would say the best thing that was bought for me was my kindle fire. Now I can read books without actually having to scrounge around in the library or bookstores.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Probably food

13. What did you get really excited about?

Finishing my personal training diploma

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Hrm… this is a hard one..

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:


– happier or sadder? Happier
– thinner or fatter? Definitely fatter for the latter part of the year
– richer or poorer? Richer

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?


Reading, and dancing a bit more

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?


Facebook.. speaking of that, I guess I should log off now.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

Eating an amazing home cooked meal with family

19. What was your favorite TV program?

Real Housewives and everything trash reality- does this count?

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

The Hunger Games series

21. What was your favorite music from this year?


Mark Anthony “Sigo Siendo Yo” album- an oldie but goodie

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Nothing really comes to mind besides The Help and Puss in Boots

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

T surprised me with a trip to Barcelona, where we had such delicious food and I got to dance, albeit briefly at a salsa club! Oh, and I turned 27.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having a better social network/spending more time with friends
 

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Uhhh.. what fashion concept?

26. What kept you sane?

Sonoma- my dog

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.


Distance makes the heart grow fonder

We started the morning yesterday by taking down our ugly, ratty, dead tree! I swear the cleaning and trouble cutting it down was more than it was worth.

We had to put all the branches in bags so it wouldn't get all over our flat hallway. I hope our neighbors are grateful for this!! :-)

Later that night, we had T's sister and son over for a low key New Years celebration. Being 5 months pregnant, I didn't feel very festive. In fact, I spent most of the day/night in pajama pants.

Our crazy spread that was a mixture of homemade but mostly store bought stuff.

We also ordered pizza on top of all this food.. I wonder who had that bright idea!!

Champagne/grape fruit toast at midnight!

...then on to the party poppers!

I'm not quite sure why everyone was pointing theirs down.

London's fireworks looked amazing from the TV. It almost made me wish I was there. Almost.

Here's to a happy and healthy New Year!

Christmas Day 2011

I'm not quite sure what T's huge sock is doing in the picture but here is Sonoma's first gift on Christmas! She lovada presents!! :-) NERD!

We first decided to open only one gift before my mom and I went to church, but then the impatient girl in me wanted to open them all! Seriously, who waits to open gifts? Not ME! Gee, I can't believe I'm having a kid when I still feel like a kid myself..

This was by far the greatest and most thoughtful gift this year- a calendar made with some of our pictures through the years. My mom and I both LOVED it!

Some collarstays for T that had the city skyline of Paris, London, and New York.

I got T these cufflinks since it seems to be the familiar story in our household-he's always right AND never wrong :-)

Our baby finally got a new collar!

my gift this year!!

I spy a mini bump! (and boy have I gained a lot of weight; it all goes straight to my chubby face!!). While T started cooking, my mom and I dashed off to a 10 a.m. service at St. Pancras church on Euston road. http://www.stpancraschurch.org/. The service was pretty dull and not very uplifting but I guess I didn't expect TOO much since Christmas services aren't too busy.

eggplant parm

the duck being prepped to cook

mashed potaters and creamed spinach

lamb

She loves when guests come to play with her! She was zonked out by the time everyone finally left.

We had an awesome spread of two proteins, mashed potatoes, biscuits, mushrooms, creamed spinach and T's sister brought over two delicious kinds of spiced rice. Oh, and don't forget dessert- T made us hummingbird red velvet cupcakes. I was S-T-U-F-F-E-D!

the inside of the duck filled with lots of spices, apples, and pears.

yuum.. the lamb was really tasty!

our last year opening luxury Christmas crackers... this is probably the only British tradition I'll miss when we go back to the States.

Christmas cake made by Jad

What a great day to spend with family :) Off to spend a few days in Prague!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas.. EVE! I've definitely been on a Korean food kick lately; whatever the baby wants, the baby gets!

Thankfully I have my mom here to do all the cleaning and the yummy cookin!

 

Someone else has been getting pretty spoiled with long walks, big bones, bath and cuddle times!

a bone as big as her face!

O-jing-O bokum- octopus stir fry in spicy sauce. The seafood was a bit chewy but the flavor was delish :)

more soup.. I could eat soup for breakfast, lunch, and dinner these days..

My mom made homemade japchae last night with some oven baked salmon and white rice.

veggies- red onions, carrots, spinach (we were missing the mushrooms!)

marinated beef

all the veggies and beef were combined with clear glass noodles, sesame oil, roasted sesame seeds, black pepper, salt, and brown sugar for a tinge of sweetness.

Almost all the presents are under the tree prior to Christmas eve (a first in my family!) I'm feeling happy but sad that the rest of my family can't be here to celebrate with us. Sending all my love overseas to my dad and big bro!!

Time to make a mad dash for the rest of our stocking stuffers..

"Christmas gift suggestions:  To your enemy, forgiveness.  To an opponent, tolerance.  To a friend, your heart.  To a customer, service.  To all, charity.  To every child, a good example.  To yourself, respect." -Oren Arnold