Cheers to a new beginning and to a fresh start! How was your New Year's? Mine - should you ask? Well, I was in bed by 9 o'clock sharp. Lame, I know.

I'm looking forward to this year and having a fresh start on other things. Many other things. I usually am not the type to set up some new years resolutions but I have made a list of doing  what I call fresh starts.  There are so many goals to my blog that I want to share with you as well. One of them, is changing my blog name. Maybe. The other, I've been getting a few requests to do more fashion posts, and doing more design/decor posts. There will be quite a few changes that will be happening on here. For now, they are going to be kept secret - just stay tuned!

My personal goals are to go as usual - like dropping those pesky pounds that I've been clinging onto for the past year. Another, I really want to read more - I need to.  Doing so,  I hope it'll to improve my writing skills. I think I'm not the best writer but I'm always looking to improve. My last goal for this year, is that I want to be a better photographer. Well, I think that is about it. Have you set any resolutions for yourself?

1. Family. 

There is nothing better time worth spent then being with family around the holidays. Mom, Dad, brother/sister, cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and grandparents. I love how we used to do the secret Santa on Christmas Eve, talking away with catching up on our lives and what we've been up to.  Oh and to also catch up on the latest gossip on people from your small town.  Does your family do that to?


2. Friends

There has been a lot of holiday parties around here. There have been great company of some friends and then making some new ones.



3. The smell of a Christmas tree.

Needless to say more?!
Wait a minute,... I have a fake one this year...

So my allergies are not so forgiving this season .. but I still love to smell them.



4. The smell of burning Yankee Candles. 

Ah! The scent of Christmas Eve was the one scent I grew up on. If you ain't smelled one, ya gotta.



5. Memories of Christmas Eve on Scotts Lane.

It was grandpa and grandmas Daugherty's house. It was an absolute beautiful mid-century modern houme on a beautiful piece of land. And Christmas Eve made that house was so magical. Open floor plan, cozy family room with the fire place roaring, HUGE Christmas tree all over looking the great wall of windows to the winter wonderland woods. It was one of the most beautiful settings you'll have ever seen.



6. Christmas Eve.

I remember growing up coming home from our family festivities of the evening, lighting candles, our family room lite by our glowing tree, and my dad reading to me T'was the Night Before Christmas.



7. Christmas Mornings.

The smell of cinnamon rolls, and breakfast casserole baking in the oven just before we would open presents. And not to forget drinking a cup of coffee with some Baileys.



8. If your lucky, a snowy evening on Christmas Eve. 

Have you ever experienced a perfect snow fall on the eve of Christmas? If you haven't, you should add it to your life's bucket list. It's magical, beautiful, and kind of serene.  And when you step out into it, it's so erringly quiet, even when your in the middle of town. You can even hear the snow sprinkle on the clinging leaves with some of the trees.



9. Christmas Movies

Miracle on 34th Street, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Christmas Carol

You know... the classics.



10. Christmas Music

The hymns, Tony Bennet, Frank Sinatra.

So darn wonderful.


Hope you all are having a wonderful Christmas week!

Today makes the 6th anniversary with this guy. A lot has changed for us over the years. A bit of good and bad, but I'm so glad that he was here to share it with, to hold my hand when things got tough... Here's is a look bad at us over the years.

Well babe, here's to the 6 years we've been together and many, many more to come. I love you way more now than I did last year, last month, last week, yesterday....Heck, 5 minutes ago... Your still my favorite boyfriend, ever. 

Yesterday, after church, I've convinced my husband earlier in the week to go and pick some apples at a local orchard.   It was surprising to learn that he has never done this before. Throughout our marriage, I've manage to expose himself to many things that he has never tried or has never done before. And honestly, I find it very entertaining. He puts a good effort into trying things I introduce him to just because he knows I love it. It's one of the many reason why I love him so.

 This is such an unflattering picture of me! Anyways, moving on...

After the orchard, I decided to try something new for myself. For a while, I've been really wanting to make my own applesauce to just eat as is, and adding it some baking goodies that I plan on making later this week. When fall comes, I really get in the mood for drinking tea, to reading more, cozy up to my blanket and baking.  I'll have to let you know how my homemade applesauce turned out. So far, my home smells A-mazing. How was your weekend? Do you do some apple picking?

Thanks for visiting!

Catie

Hi friend! Can you believe this is the first day of August?!? Oh my gosh time could slow down. Really. Either that, or I'm just incredibly busy. Which I am. A lot has been happening lately and I can't wait to share.


Here are the top five that has happened for me this week.

1. On Sunday, I convinced my sin to who I call my Idaho mom. I told her that I've only rode horse only 1 time since I went and finished college. She was in shock! This last Sunday I finally get to do my most favorite hobby of all. Trail riding or just riding horses in general. Yes finally after all the those college years. I had a reunion with my favorite horse named Moon Shine. It seemed that he remembered me and was nuzzling me in my arm. Anyways just a sweet horse. Here are a couple of the pictures from last Sunday and the others are old ones from when I lived and worked on the ranch.

2. We went to a location to measure a building of ours, and it seemed to be a quick flash back of good'ol studio days.

3. One of our venders for work just gave my firm tiles. Just gave them to us for a project! Let me tell you, if your a designer like me and when your told you pick out anything you want while your in a showroom - you get all giddy like your in a candy store. So awesome of them to do that for us! (Did I mention that your the top of my list for my future business.)

4. My husband came home from work one day to give me flowers. I love that man so much. I'd say he's a keeper.

5. Yesterday, I was offered a raise from work! Love my job!

How was your week? Tell me about it!

Thanks for visiting!

Another Friday has yet again approached us. It has been a fast and busy week for me. Oh - but very good! Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures to show for it. I wish I did. Seen so many beautiful sights this week.

So here's a look at my favorite moments for the week.

1. On Sunday, I had a great workout. Then right after, my husband and I did an impromptu date night. Sort of. We went for a walk along the Greenbelt for a few miles.  It was fun see the rafters floating down the river, taking a tour inside the nature center, enjoying the sites, etc,.. Then, we heard lightning and then it started sprinkling on us. Needless to say, it was such a great evening.

2.  Tuesday evening,  was time well spent with some of my family. One from Alaska, another all the way from the Michigan. We all sat down outside of the Cottonwood Grill, drinking wine, eating, and just catching up. I'm a big family gal, and I just love being with them.

3. Saturday night was the Snake River Stampede rodeo. That, my friend, has to be one of the best entertaining rodeos I've ever been to. I think it is better than the PBR! My favorite would be the bronc riders, and I'd say the steer wrestlers. I think my husband should become a steer wrestler... just saying.  On another note - how cute is this mutton busting?!

4. Wednesday, was an evening event for work. Just for educational purposes. But, I did see one of favorite friends that I haven't seen in a few weeks. Plus, I bought myself a kimono ( my new obsession). So comfy!

5. I'm so excited to say that they're going to be a lot of great things happening at my career. We got word about a certain thing that we've been working on for months. But I can't say what it is just yet - stay tuned.

How was your week?

Checking into my other favorite blogs one morning, I cam across this post. I thought it would be a fun to do this little post to reflect and document what is currently happening in life. In the next year, I hope to remember to go back and reflect on this again. Here is my addition on taking stock.



Making : time for me to hit the gym - 2 on, 1 off..
Cooking : well baking..skinny lemon cake with light whipped cream and lavender sprinkles. 
Drinking : iced water
Reading: Hospitality Design magazine for work. 
Wanting: more time through out my day.
Looking: forward to see one of my friends tomorrow. 
Playing: with my dogs.
Wasting: time (always).. well not really. maybe.
Sewing: nothing. I just don't sew. Well maybe just a little.
Wishing: this hump I'm going through would just get over with..
Enjoying: sitting next to my husband on our comfy couch. 
Waiting: to get into the new studio office!
Liking: kimonos and ripped jean shorts.
Wondering: when it will get cool enough so that I can mow the lawn.
Loving: spinach, shaved almonds, and coconut oil.
Hoping: for more patience.
Needing: some groceries.
Smelling: scentsy's apple pie.
Wearing: ripped jean shorts and light flowy dark blue shirt.
Following: the news. 
Noticing: getting up early in mornings are really hard but oh-so-worth it. 
Knowing: I'll get there with persistence and hard work. 
Thinking: I should take my dogs out for a walk.
Feeling: sore
Bookmarking: websites because of their unique designs for work. 
Opening: my water bottle.
Giggling: at a funny video I saw on FB.
Feeling: a bit tired.


Here is a blank one and you can do on for yourself!

 Making :
Cooking :
Drinking :
Reading:
Wanting:
Looking:
Playing:
Wasting:
Sewing:
Wishing:
Enjoying:
Waiting:
Liking:
Wondering:
Loving: 
Hoping:
Marvelling:
Needing:
Smelling:
Wearing:
Following:
Noticing:
Knowing:
Thinking:
Feeling:
Bookmarking:
Opening:
Giggling:
Feeling:
Well thanks for visiting! See you Friday!