HiS Traditions: New Year's Hike

Every year since K and I started dating we have spent New Year's Day hiking together. For us it's symbolic of the adventures we have together, of experiencing the vast creation of our Maker, and of remembering what really is important in our lives. Every year we explore a new loop or summit, and this year we explored a section of the Appalachian Trail and the Benton-MacKaye trail that goes to the top of Springer Mountain. We decided that a trip on December 31 with glorious weather would be much better than actually hiking on January 1 in the rain and sleet. We were so very correct. The weather was perfect, and it had snowed for the past few days. Had we attempted the hike on NYD, it would have been icy and raining and freezing cold, and the clouds would have most likely blocked our view from the top.

The summit at Springer Mountain is the southern terminus of the AT, and there are commemorative plaques at the site. It's a short climb {only 9/10 of a mile!} to the top, and from there we doubled back to take the Benton-MacKaye trail for about 3.5 miles. It was so lovely! The hike was far from strenuous, with gorgeous views and lovely snow-laden trees. The final leg of the loop takes you south on the AT back to the parking area. We both wished we had more time to complete a second loop, which is about 6 miles long, but we didn't particularly want to be hiking in the dark. Next time though!

This is a really great loop for novice hikers, too. The few small climbs are short, the views are fantastic, there is a lot of history, and the scenery is really lovely. We are planning a trip with my parents, sister and nephews for the spring. I can't wait to share this with them.

Here's to a year filled with adventures, large and small.
xoxo

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{What I'm Wearing} Coming Up Hearts

Loft top, H&M blazer, Madewell jeans, Lizard Thicket heels & necklace, vintage bracelets, Michael Kors watch

Lately my looks have been all about androgynous tops and skinny skinny jeans. This outfit was no exception. A flowy top, bright blazer and my favorite Madewell skinnies were the perfect things to wear for brunch with my man and the best cheese grits and biscuits in Athens.

xoxo

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Twenty Twelve

2012 was a mixture of happy and sad in our household. It was our first year without my mother-in-law, the year we lived in a tiny rental house in the middle of nowhere far from our family and friends, the year I {finally} graduated from pharmacy school, the year we bought a home and moved closer to our families, the year I became a pharmacist and found a wonderful job, the year we started a new traditions, including an annual girl's beach trip and cutting our own Christmas tree.

2012 brought a lot of changes to our household, but even the hardest times have brought us closer and made us stronger. I look forward to the coming year, the feeling of a fresh start, and doing it all with my best friend by my side.

Happy New Year.

xoxo

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Life Lens

I am off work for the next few days {yay!!!} and will be taking some time to enjoy my family, friends and loved ones. Brunches, shopping dates, house projects, and lots of french press coffee are in my immediate future.
Wishing you a very merry New Year.

xoxo

*All images taken with VSCO camera or Instagram

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{What I'm Wearing} Elfish

Levi's chambray, F21 sweater, Anthropologie necklace, Loft corduroys & boots, vintage bracelets, Michael Kors watch, gifted Dior 'Rouge" lipstick

Something about the red pants and pointed boots made me feel a bit like an elf last week as I was running around doing last minute Christmas errands. So much so, that I figured a mug of spiced cider was the perfect companion to my present wrapping, dessert baking, and general merry making. It was a great weekend-before-Christmas weekend.

xoxo

FYI, as husband was taking these pictures he so sweetly informed me that he doesn't like this outfit. Bah humbug.

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Merry & Bright

Our Christmas season was so wonderful -- the closeness of family, amazingly delicious food, plenty of laughter, blessings all around. I am so thankful for every one of my siblings, their spouses and children, and all of my in-laws. My parents and grandmother are so special to me, and I can't imagine Christmas without them. As much as I tried to soak up every sweet moment, it passed all too quickly, especially in light of all of the anger and sadness this world has experienced of late.

 {My mom and I made an orange pomegranate punch with rosemary and ginger. So delicious! And so fun to see the guys drinking from the dainty vintage milk glass punch cups.}

Most of all this Christmas season, I am grateful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who left His Father's throne in heaven to live as a man on this earth and to pay for my salvation with his very life.

Hope you had the merriest of Christmases.

xoxo

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Deck the Halls

Christmas decorating was special this year, since this is our first Christmas in our new {to us} house. It was fun to finally pull out the things I've been saving for the last few years -- vintage ornaments from my grandmother, garland and lights for the doorway -- and deck the halls of our new home for the first time.

We went to a local tree farm and cut our first real Christmas tree. I used a piece of burlap as a tree skirt, and we trimmed away with ornaments I've collected over the past few years. For the mantle, white candles and greenery are festive, yet simple. I filled milk glass vases of different sizes with cypress clippings for the Christmas Eve table.

Merry merry Christmas to you.

xoxo

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{What I'm Wearing} His & Hers

Madewell top, Banana Republic pants, Loft scarf, Steve Madden bag, Francesca's earrings, vintage bracelets

The boyfriend button down is one of my favorite weekend go-tos. Perfect with skinny jeans for a Saturday brunch, leggings and a movie by the fire, or dressed up with stilettos and an handsome date, these tops get a workout in my wardrobe. Last weekend I paired a hot pink version with my new favorite stilettos and black cigarettes for a dressy casual Sunday morning.

xoxo

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Christmas Card Outtakes

One of the highlights of last weekend was putting reindeer ears on Sambo and taking our family picutre. He hated it! For some reason, the ears put him in a weird place. He kept tucking his tail, flattening his ears, and lowering his head... all while looking up at us with his eyes. Poor little guy! Nonetheless, it made for a few good laughs.

Happy {early} Christmas.

xoxo

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Geeking Out

Five days a week I spend one hour commuting to and one hour commuting from work. Two full hours of my day where I can do nothing but listen to the radio or talk on my {new car} Bluetooth. And since my husband and I aren't big phone talkers, it leaves me with ample time every week to memorize lyrics to all the top 40 hits. Nothing against Taylor Swift, but it's not exactly how I'd like to spend my time.

Husband recommended these daily podcasts by Robb Wolf, author of The Paleo Solution, and I have really been enjoying them. The episodes focus on reader questions concerning everything from paleo diet details to maximizing exercise performance to specific health concerns. Robb explains the concepts behind the paleo diet from a very scientific perspective, providing evidence and details without being overly analytical. He has a background in biochemistry, and as a fellow scientist, I appreciate the basis for his arguments, his attention to research, and the evidence behind his recommendations. I've learned quite a lot over the past week, and it feels great to fill my time with something intellectually stimulating.

Check out Robb's website where you can search for topics, download podcasts and ask questions. And don't worry if you don't have a science background. Robb and Greg explain things in a way that anyone can understand, as evidenced by my non-sciencey husband who is just as addicted to the information as I am.

xoxo

{This post is not sponsored in any way by Robb Wolf or his company. I just love what he's doing and think it's time for the medical community to recognize the evident benefits of a paleo lifestyle.}

Friday Favorites

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This was one of those weeks that felt so much longer than necessary, even though it was filled with plenty of happy moments -- lunch with my sweet mama for her birthday, my Christmas cactus blooming, watching a meteor shower last night with husband --yet I am still very much ready for the weekend. Six o'clock isn't that far away, right?

The perfect cozy sweater

These podcasts (more about that next week)

How to make  coconut ghee

Glitter booties, why not?

Happy weekend

xoxo