Office project...

Backtracking a bit...back around Thanksgiving, I mentioned that we were working on a small home project. We finally finished just before Christmas. Here's what we did:

The top picture is Nathan's "office area" before...the bottom picture is after. Unfortunately, we hadn't really given much attention to this area and had merely cobbled together tables and such to accommodate Nathan's work/computer needs when working from home. (Actually, until just days before I took that initial photo, there was an additional folding table in the area with the boys' computers and bench, so it was usually more crowded. And, yes, Nathan squeezed himself through between the table and the banister (or, at times, the table and the wall) to get to his seat.)

So. We painted that wall, removed the tables and small bookshelf and changed the light fixture. Nathan also found a commercial shelving system online and added shelves he made out of a slab of butcher block countertop that we picked up at IKEA. Further, he added an iMac and a lower piece of hardboard to conceal the many cables. And, he even added some fun lighting:

So, that's that. Still not as grand as an actual office with walls and a door and all, lol, but considerably better, don't you think? 

15 years.

(Better late than never, lol...)

Last year, I set myself the goal to take at least 15 pictures of Nathan and I together during the year. I met that goal (barely, lol), and we celebrated our FIFTEENTH anniversary less than two weeks ago on New Year's Eve. (That very bottom picture was actually taken on our anniversary...thank goodness for iPhones!) Here's the layout I finally finished: (click to make it larger)

Woohoo! Yay, us! Just for fun, and because I like it, here's a closer look at one of my favorites:

Here's to another fun-filled 15 years...

(and, yes, obviously one of my goals for 2012 is to take 16 pictures of the two of us together, lol!)

Running by the numbers.

Some numbers for you...

337  I ran 337 miles in 2011! Yes, I know that may not be a lot to some of you...but, for someone who ran ZERO miles the previous 20 years or so and only started running in April and kinda didn't run much in December, that's pretty good, don't you think? :)

500  That's the number of miles I'm aiming to run in 2012. Totally doable, right?

13.1  That's the number of miles in the half marathon I signed up for. Yup. Really. (Molly, stop laughing at me and reminding me about how adamant I was last summer that I did NOT want to run a half marathon, lol.) But, after two 5Ks and a 10K, I feel like it's a good goal...and I work better with goals. ;) Made myself a training plan and everything because I'm a lover of lists and that works for me. 

2  As in a pair. Bought myself a pair of new running shoes and have been TRYing them out with my new training plan as the thing I TRY'd out last week. 

20  The cost of peace of mind. Ordered the shoe version of RoadID and it came last weekend. I feel better. If you don't have one, you should get one. Great product!

So, that's that. :)

One little word 2012.

Even though I'm behind on other posts, I'm going to skip ahead and post this one. :) 

So. As many of you know, I've been choosing "one little word" of the year for the last five years. This year's no different and my word feels perfect. Here's how it picked me...

2011 was pretty darn good. Managed to accomplish many of the goals I set for myself, establish new, healthier habits and continue homeschooling and raising three happy boys. Along the road, I realized that I’d had it in me all along (specifically things like the ability to actually run, lol)…all I’d had to do was TRY. So. For 2012, my word is TRY. I’m hoping to TRY something new at least every week. I know I won’t excel at everything I TRY. That’s awesome. The point is to TRY…to focus on experiences rather than things…to push beyond my comfort zone…to be present and willing…to TRY. Who knows what else I’ll learn…

You may notice that I've done a layout about my word most of the years. In 2009, I let my Lists of Me album be my documentation. For last year, I collected all those weekly quotes and made them into a book. For 2012...I'm inspired by the Take Twelve project that many are tackling this year and am going to do my own version...Try Twelve. I'll (hopefully) make at least one layout each month showcasing 12 things I tried that month. (Yes, yes, I know I said I'll try something new at least every week...I figure the "bigger" things might be about that frequent but am actually striving to find even a little something new every day...so, finding 12 from the entire month should still work, right? Right.) 

Also, in case you're cool like me, lol...I just ordered this ring with "TRY" stamped on it to wear throughout the year as a reminder. :) Yay!

While you wait...

Yes, yes. I know I'm overdue on a number of blog posts. I have them started, honest. Just not finished quite yet. ;) In the meantime, though, here are a couple of blog posts that folks have shared with me lately that I just find awesome. Click here and here. You're welcome. :)