December is Past and It's 2011 at Last!!

The last month of 2010 was a preparation for the coming year, with most of our focus centered on establishing ourselves here in Austin.  Interspersed, outside of taking care of our most basic and immediate necessities (like getting jobs), both Tom and I have been working hard towards making our dreams an absolute reality.  I've been organizing my own goals, and Tom has been contacting people to do both photo and film work with, and he just joined a band!  :)  We're getting there, slowly but surely.  I definitely can see 2011 as being a year of immense manifestation!  

Marty Mcfly wannabe ;)

On top of all of our hard work, we of course made time to relax and enjoy ourselves during this festive time of year.  First off was my birthday on December 5th.  We celebrated in simple fashion with Tom making dinner (vegan enchiladas!!), and getting drinks at South Austin Bar and Grill.  My parents sent me some birthday cash and I treated myself to a much needed haircut at Birds Barbershop, right down the street on South Lamar.  It made me very happy!!  

Birthday Dinner!!  

Happy Birthday to me!!  

Christmas, of course, was upon us before we knew it.  Our families blessed Tom and I with so much for the holidays!  Thanks to them, we now have the means to purchase some much needed furniture for our apartment.  We've already made one trip to Ikea!!  :)  I actually had to work Christmas evening, so most of our celebrating took place on Christmas Eve and then Christmas morning.  We made our favorite vegan brownies and watched "Die Hard", one of Tom's favorite Christmas movies.  We opened gifts in the A.M. and just enjoyed each other's company along with the company of Tiger and Brigitte.  They enjoyed all of the wrapping paper!!  

 Christmas Vegan Brownies!  YUM!

So many presents to unwrap!!  

 Brigitte guarding our gifts!

Tom got this great shot of Tiger!  So cute!

Last night was New Year's Eve.  I had to work, but lucky for me, I got out fairly early and was able to meet up with Tom and a few others for celebrations!  Fireworks greeted me as I left work and headed home. I changed clothes and promptly met up with friends at Paggi House, a really nice place in South Austin.  We had champagne, hefewiezen, and my first ever French 76 (YUMMY!)!!  It felt really good to laugh, be silly, and let loose a little bit.  With smiles on our faces we welcomed the new year.  I'm thankful for high spirits and the jolly souls I got to spend the evening with!! 

This was on my birthday....but I kissed him last night too.  ;)    

As I reflect on the past month, memories of 2010 flood my brain.  It was a powerful year, bound by hard work and determination.  I am incredibly grateful for all that has come to pass.  Now, it is officially 2011.  Today was marked as 1-1-11.  I read this posted somewhere with the remark that "We are all ONE".  I love that!  Such a great sentiment to start the new year with.  Wishing one and all a blessed new beginning as we move forward through endless cycles of time!  For me this will be a year of transformation and growth.  I welcome it!  

Embracing Life and The Year Ahead

Hard to believe, but I have already been in Austin for almost three months.  That's a quarter of a year!!  I definitely feel like I "live" here now.  I'm pretty comfortable with our apartment, with my bank, post office, grocery store.....you know, the basics.  I have a job that seems pretty steady.  "Life" is falling into place.  Also, now that the craziness of the holidays are practically over, things will start to feel pretty "normal" around here.  It might surprise you, but a sense of normalcy really makes me happy!  :)  

Austin City Skyline

I look forward to being more settled in the next few months.  I've been rather homesick, and I know part of the reason for that is because we've been so unsettled with things.  Nothing has felt solid or real or remotely permanent.  Though I do question my length of stay here in Austin in the long term, for right now, I know I need to focus on what IS and embrace it.  I am here, NOW, and Austin is a great city!!  Tom and I have barely scratched the surface in seeing all that it has to offer.  I look forward to exploring more of this city with an open heart and mind.  

Canoe at Barton Springs

As I approach the new year, I plan on updating weekly about our lives here in Austin.  I figure it's a good way for me to keep tabs on my progress here, and it's also a great way to keep close family and friends up to date on our lives.  


I actually need to get to work soon.  I wanted to update a bit on our December here in Austin, but that'll have to wait till later.  If I don't update tonight, I just want to wish everyone a quick...

 Happy New Year!!!  

Embrace all that has come to pass, and all that is bound to be!!  I am welcoming 2011 with open arms.  I'm excited to see where it leads me.  Everyone have a merry and safe New Year's Eve!

Blogging Into the New Year!!

The new year is approaching fast!!  In preparation, I am revamping my little blog here.  I'm setting a "blog schedule" for myself, creating daily goals.  As always, I will do my best and see how it works out.  I figure, if I can keep things fairly simple, focusing on what I love most...then keeping up with my schedule should be a piece of cake (a vegan piece that is!).  I will take it day to day, one precious post at a time, placing one foot in front of the other.  That seems to work best for me.  :)  I also plan on changing the look of  my blog!!  I'm excited to get a little more creative as I learn more and more about how to do so.  Thanks for tuning in!!