Way Behind!!

Dec. 7

Running shoes.  I run.  I hate it.  People tell me that will change.

I doubt it.

I still do it. =)

Dec. 8

Nickolas. Is. Insane.

But I love him.

Dec. 9

I-70 Sunrise may not be as beautiful as sunrise in the mountains... 

but it's still a gift.

Dec. 10

Nellie.  The greatest dog on earth.

Seriously.

Dec. 11

Shea.  The laziest dog on earth.

Seriously.

Dec. 12

It was SUPER foggy today....

and I took this shot on my morning walk.

LOVE.

(I have a really similar one from sunrise on Easter.  Still beauty!)

Dec. 13

Hiking the green trail at Englewood Metro Park.

Muddy but lovely!

Dec. 14

Cranberry Scone. 

It got broken in the pastry case.  One cannot just throw away 

cranberry scones.  They are AMAZING.  So I ate one.

The sacrifices I make some days.... hhahahaha

Dec. 15

Diet Dr. Pepper and Starbucks... two things I craved endlessly in the woods.

Now fairly permanent fixtures in my car.

I mean, literally, I think this exact same cup and can have been there for a month.

I have issues.

Dec. 16

DOUBLE BANANAGRAMS!!

My favorite game... supersized!!!

Dec. 17

Christmas comes to my car.  

Yep, I'm lame like that.

Dec. 18

Dark chocolate peanut M&Ms.

My most favoritest M&M ever... but rarely do I find them.

A pre-Christmas miracle!

Dec. 19

I'm Carly, a cashier at your Englewood Kroger Marketplace.

True.

Dec. 20

I no longer have an office to decorate... so my money tree scored some 

Christmas lights this year.  Lucky tree.

Dec. 21

I make chicken noodles that seriously kick butt.

Humble I am not.

They are real real good.

This is when they were in progress. =)

Dec. 22

]

Abby seriously makes me laugh.

She had the best pucker going until I took her pic.  Still she's funny.

Dec. 23

I also make a mean chocolate pretzel.

These are the white chocolate ones.

They were a big hit with Logan.

Dec. 24

Bob Schneider.

Elf.

Seriously.

Dec. 25

I.

Love.

when Christmas.

is on.

Sunday.

Still going!

Nov. 29

I have long kept a book of quotes.  It was briefly lost, but now is found.  I have been inspired much lately and have been adding often to my book some of the inspirations and thoughts of people I have been reading.  GOOD STUFF.  This is my quote book.

Nov. 30

I have an odd obsession with Brazilian junk food.  True.  I used to call these puke peanuts.  They are peanuts covered in a manioc shell.  (Baby eggs of peanuts they are called).  Anyhoo.  This is the time of year when I am usually in Brazil and since I am not this year I was craving a little treat... then I found these in a box in my closet (weird) with some other things I had never unpacked from my last trip to my South American homeland.  And wahoo... Brazilian junk food treat!  However, this was my last bag.  Bummer!!  Time to start planning a return to Brazil I guess!

Dec. 1

Another Brazilian treasure!!  This is a batik a friend sent me for my birthday a few years ago.  She knows how much I love butterflies... and all things Brazil.  None the less, I framed it back then but had never hung it (much like all the other artwork I have sitting around my room) and finally did this week.  Yay for a beautiful batik!

I miss Embu!!

Dec. 2

One of my very favorite places in Ohio to hike is at Clifton Gorge. I've hiked there hundreds of times with a variety of people, but the person I have been there the most with is definitely Kim.  We even camped there once for multiple days and just went to the office during daylight and slept in our tent at night.  Kinda ridiculous, but good.  Anyhow, Friday we hiked together for a couple of miles joined by Kim's daughter Maya.  Not the best picture of the little cutie, but none the less... this is her being entertained by "aunt" Carly after our hike.

Dec. 3

I've had some challenges lately... things that have made me struggle to find balance.  However, I came across this quote recently and it made me think that I need to be more daring.  I need to take risks.  I need to just leap and see what happens.  SO... I now have this one hanging by my bed too.  (Yes, its getting crowded).

Dec. 4

My mom loves Christmas.  Seriously.

So do I... but she loves it A. LOT.

Every year I help her decorate the ledge above the front door.  I think I do it because I am the only one in the family who is not afraid to climb up on the ladder.  Anyway, its our project every year.  This Sunday we made it happen.  This is about a 1/4 of what we accomplished.

Dec. 5

I am cleaning and organizing and downsizing my life.

This corner of my room is a MESS.  However, in the process of this cleaning this corner got clean.  

A. MIRACLE.

Documented here... an actual Christmas miracle.

Dec. 6

Today I went to Indianapolis to see my friend Dawn and her husband Brad.  Their little baby twins were born Sunday morning.  Olivia and Andrew are just wee little ones, at 1 lb 13 oz and 2 lbs respectively.  They are in the hospital in Indianapolis.  After work today I headed over to visit with Dawn and Brad and hopefully one day soon I'll meet the little babes.  Until then... grow, grow, grow little ones!  "Aunt" Carly is waiting patiently to spoil you with much sugar, laughter, and loudness!