Christmas...a time to be thankful...

this year at Christmas...the world looks different. i know that reflection is for new years eve...but I'll get to why i'm reflecting over the year earlier...later??? our lives have changed dramatically this year... here are a few things...

. Steve and I spend New Years Eve just the 2 of us... not that this was a problem we just didn't have any friends to hang out with...we did call aaron and mel at midnight to wish them a happy new year from the future...which we will do AGAIN this year:).

. I left my job at Harrison. It was SO cool teaching the kids...however... i wasn't a huge fan of all the politics...and I really didn't have time to teach at the studio AND to teach at harrison...so when Steve told me we could afford me leaving...i jumped at the chance.

. STEVE AND I GOT MARRIED!! Obviously, this was huge. But really really really really really awesome. When i dreamed about the man I would marry...I never thought of marriage like this. Steve is my best friend, who i can tell anything to, and who knows exactly what i need without me saying this. I will say that many times I feel like i pale in comparison to his amazing sense of my needs. What a super cool fellow.

. Steve and I take our honeymoon. Fall in love with Santa Cruz and both start making plans in our heads to move their. I decide that my dream is to work at IKEA.

. About a week after I find my calling to be IKEA...God drops the opportunity in our lap to buy the studio...so we then realize...THAT'S what God wants...not the santa cruz thing...so we put the west on hold for now.

.We attend mission point community church and realize ANOTHER reason God didn't want us in California for now. We start to build friendships and are greatly encouraged.

. We buy the studio, and head to Kentucky for my family reunion...on the way down... we get into a car accident. God protected everyone involved...and the van was totally driveable... praise God it could have been MUCH worse.

We lose 2 friends to cancer and one of our best friends loses her father within weeks of one another... we rejoice that they are in heaven...but are saddened that we cannot enjoy them face to face.

. Steve and I celebrate our engagement year anniversary...and get a PUPPY!! Cash becomes one of the greatest additions to the family to date and we love him to pieces.

.Steve and I look for a new house and FIND ONE... we.love.it. 305 Audi baby!!

. We find a new location for the studio. We rename and rebrand...crazy.

. We are invited to 4 new years eve celebrations this year...4. We love our friends that we've made this year and look forward to growing closer to them in this next year and sharing our lives with these incredibly cool people.

people who look like people...

today while i was watching breakfast club i had this shocking realization... sam gillis looks JUST like Anthony Michael Hall

This is Sam...


This is Anthony Michael Hall...



I rest my case...

hi, i think i might be crazy...

i like eating.
i like food.
my husband is an AMAZING gourmet cook.
i make baked goods that will put you into a diabetic coma.
and at the beginning of january steve and i are going on the daniel fast.

what is the daniel fast?
A 21-day partial fast based upon Daniel's own experiences as recorded in the Bible. The purpose is to restrict commonly enjoyed foods as an act of worship and consecration to God. Someone who chooses to undergo a Daniel Fast demonstrates a physical commitment that reflects a deep spiritual desire for a more intimate relationship with the Lord.

Pretty cool right? I had another friend explain that it was getting rid of your old vices (like a cleanse...nice after the holidays) and growing closer to God. When you do it as a couple you also get closer to one another...neat right? ummm, i think? let me explain a little further. the fast is fairly restrictive... and by fairly i mean this...

NO...
meat or animal products
no dairy
no sweeteners... natural or otherwise
no leavened bread or yeast
no refined or processed foods
no deep fried foods
no solid fats
no alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, energy drinks, herbal tea, and tea.

ok, wait, WHAT???? umm...I'm out. WELL...not really. We are doing this together BUT we're going to tailor it a bit to ourselves...here's what it looks like.

NO red meat, pork, limited chicken, and fresh eggs
Skim milk, although mostly soy and no cheese
only natural sweetener (honey, all natural sugar)
whole grains only
no refined or processed foods
no deep fried foods
no solid fats
no hard alcohol or beer, no coffee, energy drinks, only diet soda (that ones for me)

i'm kind of rocking the pansy daniel fast but this is epic for me...I've never done ANYTHING like this in my life. seriously. i'm excited to do this with steve and excited for our trip to trader joes:). steve did something like this earlier this year and dropped over 20 lbs in 21 days AND has kept it off...wow. Hoping i can shed some l.bs as well!:) Until then... I'm enjoying my holiday treats:). There are 40 or so cupcakes on the back porch.

i heart photo editing...

so, i LOVE photo editing. what's wrong with me? yeah, i have no idea. I feel like i would like it LESS if I did it for a living but when I'm boppin around facebook and gunner is watching the football game...i like to have SOMETHING to occupy my time:). So here's some of what I like to do...

Here are a few shots I did tonight. My brother and his LONG time girlfriend recently got engaged and here are a few of their engagement pictures... and then the ones I re-did.



edited...



another original




edited...



as you can see...it's fairly easy. i like my pictures to look cool and artsy...because let's face it...aren't photos art??
-k