Crazy for Puzzles

Throughout our 2+ year adventure of sheltering in place due to Covid-19, we've become very fond of puzzles. At Christmas, we were gifted this New Yorker bike shop puzzle, and we've been chipping away at it for a month now. A piece or two a day sometimes is all we were able to get to, but it was a perfect distraction from work when we needed to walk away from our desks for a break.

We bought a galaxy / milky way puzzle to do next, which looks like it might end up being even more difficult, but we're up for the challenge. I might need to invest in a small puzzle table so that we can get our dining table back though.  hahaha

Weekend Cooking

For some reason, I've mentioned to several people recently how I pre-cook our weekly meals and prep us for a successful week ahead almost every single Sunday. I've been doing this for years, and it has surprised everyone that this is part of my regular routine! Here is how our perfect fridge looks on a Sunday evening:

By Friday afternoon, it's basically empty!!

We also decided to create our own Fish Tacos this weekend, as we're exploring the entire local area for the best version in town. We think we may be near the top of the list now. These came out great!

Clearing the Path

I am a big believer in all the ways that feng shui can enhance your life. I rearrange items around our house for luck, love and prosperity all the time and this past Saturday, it was time to usher in some new opportunities for my business... so I did a big front yard clean up session. Most importantly, I swept our front path completely clean and shook out the front door mat. Clearing the path for luck to come into our home straight through the front door was my goal. I even asked the universe to send me replies from two clients I've been waiting to hear back from for a while now. (Yes, verbally out loud while I was sweeping).

This morning, I was hoping to see a result from my efforts, and I absolutely did! It wasn't what I was specifically expecting (the universe is playful like that...), so I'll keep sending those requests out into the world for now. But I DID hear from the Association of Sewing & Design Professionals this morning. I applied last week to teach a course on "Armhole Fittings" at their October 2022 conference, and I am one of the finalists to be chosen! They've asked if I can add any more content to the schedule, so I sent over three more course ideas to them this morning. Crossing my fingers that the universe has brought me this amazing teaching opportunity for this year. I'm extremely excited!!!

Another Cancelled Travel Ticket

I made the decision this week to cancel my trip to Denver for the Outdoor Retailer show. I booked the show back in November, and was so excited to be hopping back on an airplane after another long stint of avoiding large crowds in small spaces. But at the end of the day, I ultimately decided that it just wasn't worth it to possibly contribute to the continuing spread of COVID-19, or risk getting the virus myself. So I went ahead and cancelled my flight, which is so easy through Southwest. I also cancelled my hotel and AirBNB arrangements for the week. I hadn't told too many people about my plans, as I wasn't sure if they were actually going to happen, so I only had a few extra phone calls to make.

I really hope that 2022 offers more opportunities for travel and socializing. I am ready to get back out into the world!! The travel bug is biting again, so here's hoping that this thing actually goes away soon.

In the meantime, I'll just feel like the Big Blue Bear... Outside of the Convention Center (which is where the show was going to be), wishing I could be inside. Maybe next year?

Bring It On, 2022!!

2021 turned out to be a big year for me, starting my own business and making such a drastic change in my career. I'm so excited to dig deeper into the work in this coming year, and see where it all takes me. I'm 60 days into this new job and it is already going better than I could have expected.

Looking back on the year in photos, we spent a lot of time cooking, riding and spending days with our nieces and nephews. I can only hope for more of that (and them some!) in the coming year ahead. <3

We spent the last weekend practicing our New Year's traditions: steaks and potatoes on New Year's Eve and a valiant attempt to stay awake until midnight. We actually made it this year, gave each other a celebratory kiss and went straight to sleep. 

On New Year's Day, we tried a new pork recipe: Korean Spicy Pork with rice and I of course added sauerkraut for good luck. It's one of the first times I can remember the sauerkraut actually adding something to the dish. ha! (My family always believed that pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day would bring you good luck throughout the coming year. For years as a kid, we dreaded the meal and the smell that it made in our house. To this day, I can't quite come to terms with eating the sauerkraut, even though I've learned how to cook it better and it's really not that bad... Funny what smells can remind you of, and make you feel decades after they made their first impression). The meal was really delicious, and I'm thinking we might make this a new tradition for years to come.

Here's a toast to big events ahead in 2022. I'm wishing for more travel, because I miss it so badly. I'm also wishing for success in my new career endeavor and patience to keep learning and improving every day. My New Year's Resolution is to take better care of my eyes. (Sounds like something an old person would come up with... yes). I need to be better about wearing my glasses when in front of the computer, so I'm trying to make it a bigger goal and habit. 

Happy New Year to you all!  x