Favorites of 2011.

Welcome to my wrap-up of 2011.  This year has been a year of discovery.  Maybe since I turned thirty, I was more open for change, more open to change up my "normal".  I found some new favorite things this year, and since I love it when people tell me about their favorite things...I thought I would tell you some of the things I discovered this year.

MUSIC:
There are very few albums that I like to listen to the entire thing, but this year, there were several.
(The release date might be earlier than this year, but I started listening to it in the last twelve months.)

1. Mumford and Sons- Sigh No More. Awesome album.  I listen to it a lot, however, one of the tracks "Little Lion Man", has the "f" word in it.  We can't find the clean version...any ideas?
2. One Republic-Waking Up.  This album came out awhile ago, but it is full of really great songs.
3. Adele- 21.  AWESOME.  I listen to "Someone Like You" on repeat.  I sing it as loudly as I can every time it comes on, which makes the boys laugh.  Good times.
4. Jenny Oaks Baker- Wish Upon a Star and The Best of Jenny Oaks Baker.  Jenny Oaks Baker is a fabulous violinist.  This music is relaxing, and when the boys are tired in the car, they ask to listen to it.  I saw her perform in person twice this year.  She is a lovely person, with incredible talent.  The Wish Upon a Star is a Disney themed album and one of my favorites is "A Whole New World" as a tango.  Fabulous.

BOOKS:
I love to read, but since I had classes this year, I didn't have a lot of time for reading.  As soon as I finished my classes in August, I started reading.  I have found new favorites:

1. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  Seriously an awesome book.  It is long, but well worth it.  There are a lot of philosophical ideas -most I agreed with, some I did not.  Whether you agree with everything, it is a really thought provoking book.  Loved it.
2. Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. 
3. Room by Emma Donoghue.  
4. Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
5. The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich.  I saw a preview for the first book being turned into a movie (One for the Money), and I started reading the series.  It is about a bounty hunter from New Jersey.  Probably the funniest books I have ever read, I find myself laughing out loud- a lot.  Only negative- there is quite a bit of swearing. 

BEAUTY PRODUCTS:
When I walk into the make-up section of a store, I am overwhelmed by how many beauty products there are.  Here are some of the ones I found that work for me.

1. Erase Paste by Benefit (Sephora).  This is my very first concealer/under eye cream, and it is a dream.  I feel like I look younger as soon as I put it on.  (I put it on after I use my foundation/tinted moisturizer.)
2. Tinted Moisturizer.  Seriously, I had not used this until this year, and now I am in love.  I was using Laura Mercier (Sephora), but that was too expensive.  I found some at Target that fit my budget more, it is the Boots brand.  It has been working perfectly, and it is a fraction of the cost.
3. Luminizer.  This is a great product.  It makes my skin luminous.  I had no idea how to use this, but one of my friends showed me how.  I use High Beam by Benefit (Sephora), I got it as a sample, and am almost out.  I am going to try the Boots brand for this as well.  I have found if there is a product I want to know how to use, head to Sephora (or any make-up counter) and ask.
4. Coconut Oil.  My friends, it has changed my life.  I use it for EVERYTHING.  Moisturizer, eye make-up remover, lotion, anytime I need moisture, I use it.  I buy mine at Trader Joe's but you can buy it anywhere.  It is in a semi-solid state until it is warmed up.  I know it sounds weird to put oil on your face, but it really is amazing.  My skin has been fantastic since I started using it.  The real test will be using it in Utah's dry climate.

I would love to hear about any products, music, books, anything that you have fallen in love with this year, or ever really.  Go ahead, share the love.




What would a wrap-up post from me be without pictures?  Here are a few of my favorites from 2011.  


 Thomas:

Jack:

Ben and me:

Happy New Year!  May 2012 bring you happiness and adventure.

(At least until the world ends in December)

Best Christmas. EVER.

As declared by our precious year old, after opening his presents.  

This was, indeed, the best Christmas ever.

Merry Christmas to friends and family, wherever you may be.

Nothing says Christmas Eve like a snowball fight in 60 degree weather.

I had Christmas Eve planned out.  We were going to spend the day listening to Christmas music, and I was going to cook a scrumptious feast.  

We changed our plans when we were told about a church activity in the afternoon.  Then, the church thing was cancelled, and Ben was looking forward to a non-feast sort of day.

So we went to Sea World.

They have a special Christmas Celebration, including Snow World.

We went and threw snow balls, (although after we did the loud speaker came on announcing that throwing snowballs was prohibited) built a mini snow man, and frolicked in the white stuff.

Warm weather + snow =  a life long dream come true.

Happy Christmas Eve.

Fly Me Away.

I had a really clever idea this year for sending off our letters to Santa.  BALLOONS!  We were going to write our letters, attach them to some balloons, and send them off to the North Pole.  Brilliant, creative, and just amazing, right?  Yeah...no.

I had high hopes- see they love the balloons.

It could have been a great idea if every thing went as planned, but it didn't.  First, we got the balloons, and the boys were so excited!  We went home to write our letters, and I wrote mine, just as I was supposed to.  I asked for some outrageous things like world peace, ginormous diamond earrings, a new car, you know totally non-realistic, but AWESOME requests.   The kids started out strong, but ended up throwing their lists on the ground, refusing to finish, and refusing to pose for the camera so that I could document my amazing idea.  Seriously, kids. They obviously don't understand my need to record every moment of creative genius that I have.
It all deflated from there.  The fits continued and I gave up.  Fine.  I guess Santa won't get his letter this year.  Fine.
Then Ben came home from work, and I went to bed.  It was a rough day.

We could save the balloons for tomorrow.

Maybe not.

Deflated. 

My genius.

My creativity.

The balloons.

Deflated.

Now on to my next amazing idea...

The end of the fence.

One of the things I have wanted to do since we arrived was to see the border meet the ocean.  

We finally made it.  I thought there would be more of a fence in the ocean.  It doesn't seem as intimidating as I thought it would be.  Although, we could see Border Patrol through the fence, watching, waiting.

My favorite part was seeing all of the different sayings and pictures on the fence.  The one with the balloons reminds me of the movie "Night Crossing".   The picture of a sickle and hammer reminds me of living in Moscow.

 

  

We would not be good pioneers.

We tried to go to the point where the border meets the ocean, but we were not successful.

It was a long walk, and we didn't make it very far.  After five minutes, Jack complained that we had been walking forever.  Thomas could not make it more than a few steps before searching for rocks, and throwing dirt.  It took us about 30 minutes to walk 100 yards.  When we made it to a point where we could see Mexico, but not the Ocean, it was unanimous that we turn around and go get ice cream.

That stadium in the background is where Ben and I went for a bull fight.  It is Mexico.

The next two pictures are of the border, around the same area from both sides.

Just an interesting view.

Border from the United States side.

Border from the Mexico side.

Family Pictures. One of my favorite things.

It's Christmas card time again, and I am so excited!  

My friend Chelsea, of Crow Candy Photography, took our pictures, and they turned out wonderfully.  

Here is a little sneak peak.

I am going to work on our cards now.  

Preparation: Organizing.

Yesterday I felt overwhelmed by my closet, and I decided to get it organized.  I took everything out of the closet, drawers, did all the laundry and piled all my clothes on the bed.  After thinking it through, I tossed all the clothes on the floor so that I could make piles on the bed.  It took a lot longer than I anticipated, but I was able get everything organized.  Now I feel a lot better about life.  

On to the rest of the house.

The next step in preparing to move is to plan for home leave.  

We are spending a few weeks in Utah, and we have to figure out where to stay.  Hotels are expensive and I think spending the entire time in one place is a lot to ask of any our friends and family.  What is the saying about visitors and fish, they both start to stink after a few days?

We don't want to impose on anyone for more than a few days, and are now accepting offers.  

To sweeten the deal:

 I will make breakfast and dinner, and the children are pretty good at windows and dusting.  

I'm just saying, it could be a pretty good situation.

Think about it.