{2012}

I don’t really make resolutions, but I always like the hope that a new year brings. And I’m normally really good with goals if I take them seriously. Instead of making a few general goals for the year and probably forgetting about them by February, I thought I’d take a different approach (inspired by the Happiness Project, actually) and dedicate each month of the year to a different “resolution”. Maybe this way, a few of them will actually stick and become habits. Here’s the plan:

January: Cook with a new vegetable/try a new recipe at least once a week. We get stuck in the same asparagus, brussel sprout, broccoli rut dinner after dinner. Hoping this will help me learn about some new veggies and have fun experimenting in the kitchen! {note: last week we cooked with pumpkin from scratch for the first time, and made a stir fry with Bok Choy and Cabbage - all thanks to our crate we now get delivered every Saturday}

February: This one is simple, but one that I struggle with. Drink more water. The goal will be to drink the recommended 64oz of water a day. And on top of that, I want to stretch every night before bed. I've been wanting to work on my flexibility for years, and now I have no excuse!

March: Work out at least three days a week (trying to set realistic goals - obviously I'd like to try 4 or 5 days, but baby steps!). Doesn’t have to be super intense, just get to the gym and get at least 20-30 mins in. Bonus points if I get to the killer workout classes at our gym at work!

April: Learn to use the film camera (Canon AE-1) my father-in-law so generously gave me last year. I'm really intimidated by it, but I have the manual and I'm learning more and more about photography with my DSLR, and this is something I really want to master!

May: This one is straight from The Happiness Project: Don’t Gossip. I hate to admit that I can definitely be intrigued by a good piece of gossip, and even worse, sometimes I find myself actually contributing to gossipy conversations. Yuck. Let’s be honest, while sometimes it can feel fun or even enjoyable to take part in these sorts of conversations, do we ever feel good once we walk away and it’s over? For me, no way. I always remorsefully ask myself why I opened my mouth, whether it be a piece of juicy work gossip or telling my mom something my sister said. May is going to be all about keeping to myself  - unless I’ve got something nice and productive to say, of course J

June: Don't complain. Simple, right? I do it a lot and it's  habit I plan on breaking.

July: Step away for the iPhone. Over the last couple years my iPhone has pretty much become permanently attached to my hand. I always have it on me, I'm constantly checking email, twitter, Instagram, etc etc. It's like I feel that if I'm not checking everything all the time I'll miss something. And when I do have time away from my phone (like when I was just home for Christmas my phone wouldn't work) I have a mix of feeling pure bliss to be so free of it all, while experience severe anxiety that someone is trying to reach me and I'm not responding. I want to pay more attention to what's going on around me, be more attentive to my husband and just realize that I'm missing a lot more being on my phone than if I were to just forget about it.

August: Choose joy. This one's inspired by Ashlee (have you checked out her blog? It's an all-time fav). I want to wake up and make every day a good day. I want to find the good in everything, even the crappy days/situations that get thrown my way. Life is what you make it - and I want to make it great.

September: I want to use this month to organize. Clean out the closet, unsubscribe from emails I hate getting, clean my desk at work... All that good stuff.

October: Learn how to paint. I have no idea how I'm going to do this, but one thing this winter has taught me is that I need an indoor hobby I can partake in that doesn't involve a computer. I love blogging and social media, but sometimes I feel like between that and work I live on my laptop. Not good. I've always been intrigued by people who can paint, and I think I want to be one of them :)

November: Send more mail. We travel so much and I think it'd be fun to send postcards and such. Also, just random notes. Who wouldn't love a little unexpected card in their mailbox?

December: Start a new holiday tradition. 

So what do you think of this approach? Would you try it? What are your top resolutions for 2012? 

{image via}

Sponsor Spotlight: Lemons, Avocados & The Bay

I planned on posting about our NYE in Amsterdam today, but for one, I’ve been in a bit of a funk these last few days, and for two, I have another amazing sponsor for you guys to meet, so I thought the fireworks could wait until Wednesday.

Meet Tammy, from the blog Lemons, Avocados & The Bay. She is an adorable 20-something living a dream life in gorgeous San Diego, California. Her and her boyfriend bought a home and renovated it last year, love to travel and enjoy life’s simple pleasures (like indulging in delicious brunches and spending a cozy Saturday night curled up on the couch watching movies). Head over to her blog and follow along on her adventures – you won’t regret it!

{Our Instagram Weekend}

Didn't break out my camera, but I did break out the Instagram. Descriptions below!

{left to right, top to bottom}

1. All dolled up for a hot date night with the huz

2. Dinner at Mazzo, a delicious Italian restaurant in the Jordaan neighborhood in Amsterdam

3. Movie at this gorgeous theater in the center of the city. We saw J. Edgar and we’re still not sure what to think about it. It wasn’t really what we expected – a little slow/boring, but interesting at times..

4. Post-date cocktails: Organic Ginger Beer + Bourbon (plus we got to use the cool new iceballs I got Corey for Christmas!)

5. A lazy Saturday morning in bed, sipping coffee out of my boston terrier mug (gifted to me by a good friend – thanks, Libby!)

6. Thisincredible crate of fresh veggies, fruit, bread and fish was delivered to our door Saturday morning. We made this Potato-Pumpkin Gnocchi with Fresh TomatoSage Sauce. It took a long time to make, but it was plate-licking good!

7. I finally got around to organizing this little nook in our bedroom. I was inspired by this image. What do you think?

8. Ended our weekend with a giant White Truffle Pizza from MangiAncora, the best pizzeria in the city. By the way, we finished that entire thing :)

{Christmas Snaps Part II}

As I mentioned Monday, we spend Christmas Eve with my side of the family. We decided not to do any gifts this Christmas as a lot of us flew in from different parts of the country (or the world!), and we figured time together would be the best gift we could get each other, anyway. We haven't had a complete holiday, with everyone in one place, in a few years, so it made me ridiculously happy to fly back to Portland and get to experience that this year. The night was pretty low key. We ate a delicious meal, enjoyed wine and cocktails, and loved on Oscar, my sister Cristina's new pup who she rescued few months ago. Then, we ended the night with a friendly game of poker (I actually didn't participate, I was recovering from my food coma on the couch!)!

{Photos © Liz Denfeld Photography}

Sponsor Spotlight: Marshalls Abroad

I’ve got another sponsor I’d like to introduce to you! I know you’re going to love her because if you like reading about our life abroad in Amsterdam, you’re going to LOVE reading about Amanda and her husband, Cam’s, life abroad in the most beautiful place, complete with crystal clear water and warm, breezy days…the subtropical island of Okinawa, Japan! She and her husband have the most adorable love story and Marshalls Abroad is all about what they’re up to as they live on the other side of the world from their families. They travel a ton, have an insanely gorgeous home, she takes amazing photos, and you’ll feel happy just reading her positive attitude towards life. Do yourself a favor and head there now, but hopefully you have a few hours to spare because you’ll get sucked in realll quick :)

{Super Moist Banana Cake + Cream Cheese Frosting}

We had the most amazing slice of banana cake on our flight home from Portland last week (of all places!). The package said it was made by Eli's Cheesecake from Chicago. In any case, the tiny slice I had just wasn't enough, so ever since our plane ride I've been craving more banana cake. I stayed up late Monday night to bake one, and boy-oh-boy was it worth it. The recipe was so good I had to share it! I used this Joy the Baker recipe, which is actually for cupcakes. I used two 9-inch round cake pans and baked them for 30-35 mins. It worked great and I even had some batter leftover to make a few cupcakes, which Corey's coworkers enjoyed as a breakfast treat on Tuesday :)

Super Moist Banana Cake

1 cup butter, softened

2 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup sour cream

2 cups ripe bananas, mashed

(about 4 medium bananas)

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 cup walnuts, chopped

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chunks (I left these out)

Preheat the oven to 350.  Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda.  Set aside.  Mash the bananas and add the sour cream. Set aside.  Cream the butter in the sugar until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes.  Beat in the vanilla extract.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating each egg for 1 minute.  Scrape down the bowl after each addition.  Add the flour mixture alternately with the banana mixture, until just combined.  Fold in the nuts and chocolate.  Bake in cupcake papers, or a well greased and floured cupcake pan for 15- 20

minutes.  Check them after 15 minutes.

Martha's Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, room temperature

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Place cream cheese in a medium mixing bowl. Using a rubber spatula, soften cream cheese. Gradually add butter, and continue beating until smooth and well blended. Sift in confectioners' sugar, and continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla, and stir to combine.

Christmas Snaps Part I: Emma's First Christmas

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my side of the family and Christmas Day with Corey's side of the family, and this year was no exception. Christmas morning we woke up bright and early and headed (5 minutes) up the rode to Corey's parent's house. It was a very exciting Christmas because our niece Emma was in town from Chicago - and it was her first! She's 10 months old, and as you'll see from the photos, she really stole the show. I mean how could she not? She is beyond adorable. I would just sit and stare at her, smiling so much from every move and sound she made, my cheeks started to hurt! It was so special to be able to experience her first Christmas with her. Later that same day we went back to my Mom's house to open our gifts to each other. Corey did really, really well (he stalked my Pinterst board like a good husband!) and got me some amazing gifts, including these gorgeous earrings, this beautiful J.Crew sequin sweater and noise-canceling headphones! It was a very merry Christmas for us! Hope it was for you as well!

{Photos © Liz Denfeld Photography}