12 in 2012

The New Year is here! I can't believe it. I'm not a believer in New Years Resolutions because no one ever keeps those, so I make goals instead. I decided to make 12 goals for the year 2012.

1. Attempt more DIY projects. Pinterest has opened my eyes to so many cute ideas and I need to be more DIY-savvy. I am such a "Well-it's-easier-to-just-buy-that" type of person...
2. Learn to sew & knit.  2 somewhat goes hand in hand with my DIY goal. 
3. Create a better wardrobe without breaking the bank. While I will always love shopping, we are trying to make better financial decisions and I want to try to be creative with what I have {and add a few pieces here and there}
4. Get into a yoga routine. Since I deleted my gym membership two months ago, I need to be faithfully doing my yoga DVD- Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown. If you want to feel like you were  trampled by an elephant, try it out. You will hurt the next day...
5. Make and eat healthier meals. While I don't see myself as a KFC junkie, I definitely know I need to eat more well balanced meals {cough, fruits and veggies, cough}. And this includes cooking these meals too- although I love having a hubby who enjoys cooking!
6. Create more of an interesting blog layout. Again, working on this one already, but this will take time as well...
7. Be a better wife...While Bry and I have already been married over a year, I still feel like this can be an ever-long goal. I have recently learned Bry's love language and while I know that's not an equation to make him happy, I do know a few things that he likes- ie keep up with the dishes, laundry, & cleaning. {Confession: I am not the one to do these things all of the time, actually I rarely take the initiative to do these things... I am working on it and will continue to do so for the future} 
8. Love more. This goal can again apply for not just this upcoming year. And I'm going to try to love more. 
9. Smile more. Cliche and cheesy but I want to not take things so seriously. I want to enjoy life!
10. Be more open to a change of mood. This might sound strange, but I have a tendency to get stuck in a cranky/stubborn/upset mood and Bry will try everything to get me out of it. It's times like those I want to literally turn my mood right around...
11. Pray more. I started this in 2010, just before I got married and it has helped me tremendously. I always feel like prayer is a tiny little thing that's sometimes is only muttered when necessary. But God is looking for a relationship, not just random cries of desperation.
12. Do more of what makes me happy. 

Bring it, 2012 :)

Happy New Year!

lookie what I made!

Yep, it took me over a year {of marriage} to attempt to make my first lasagna. Bry actually beat me to this one. Surprised? I'm not...

Hubby was pretty excited. And he approved by eating a third of the whole tray all while complimenting me.

Yay for learning to be domestic! Didn't I tell you I'm also learning to knit?

25 glimpses of our 2011

In no particular order, there's our 2011. Looking forward to new adventures in 2012!

ow

dear yoga, 

if you keep making me not be able to move the next day, we're going to have to part ways.. i've been a couch potato all day because of this. and now i have a headache {which probably wasn't your fault} please try not to hurt me so much.

love, ali

{this picture- taken previously- shows my current state of emotion for yoga}
{also, kels- in background- joined me for yoga and she's hurting today too. proves that yoga is hard and not that we're out of shape...}

a little bit of christmas

me & my momma

boys playin video games

waiting for guests...

oh here they are! and look at that cute guy!

my parents' tree

brother's take on dessert "ok, i'm goin to play video games"

Bry's parents' tree

Bonnie in her peppermint pajamas!

the perks of having your sister go to oktoberfest study abroad for the semester

little brother with big mug, big brother with little mug...

bry's cheesecake with no cracks! great job baby!

our one christmas picture together :)

{we forgot our camera when we went to my dad's family's house but there's always next year!}

dejavu

We went to our high school's alumni game tonight.. and I had some serious dejavu.

Same guy, same stance, same shot...

...different year!

I miss watching him play bball. 

& the gym has had a complete facelift :)

a night with the ventlings

Bry & I visited Jenn and Gabe the other day. Brandon had to work, but he joined us for games later that evening. We took pictures for a while- tried to get a good one of the squirmy little guy with his momma. 

How stinking cute!

Auntie Ali & Uncle Bry love Gabriel!

 Jenn makes me and Gabe look pretty pale...

Even with his hands in his mouth, Gabe loves telling me stories. I understand them completely. 

Framing this one!

J&A

Looking forward to many more nights with the Ventlings!

change is good

I cut my hair last week- and dyed it to make it ombre but the picture doesn't really show it...

Bry likes it, and I'm kinda liking it too.

Although...it kinda reminds me of myself when I was this age :)

{don't you just love my outfit?}

during vacation...

While I'm on vacation this week, getting to relax is at the top of my list. However, there are a few other projects I am going to take on... Here's my little list of projects...

{not a to-do list though- I've heard to-do lists can actually make you more stressed out, which is horrible because to-do lists are kinda my thing...}

Pack up the Christmas decorations... bummed Christmas is over, but our tree is losing some serious needles...

Work on knitting- Jenn just taught me and I'm pretty excited to practice!

Print and frame some pictures- our apartment needs a little more excitement.

Somehow change the furniture around...

...all starting tomorrow.
{except I started knitting tonight} 

merry christmas {one day late...}

from us to you

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given..."

Isaiah 9:6

{more Christmas pictures to come soon!}

in the last 48 hours...

cuddles

cereal

nails

mall with jenn and gabe

wine & christmas movie

sleeps
mall {again} with bry, jenn, and gabe
pizza & game night with the ventlings {the girls won!}

I love Christmas break!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Sweet K.. ox

circa 2009

MV summer '10

This is Bry's {and my} sister, Kelsey. She is probably the funniest girl ever. And today happens to be her birthday! So here's a little shout out to her- even though I've already seen her about 4 times today...

Kels,
Happy Birthday! We are so happy you are home from Italy! Wishing you the happiest birthday ever! Love you so much!
b&a

PS. Kels- this post made me realize we need a few more sibling pictures- these are pretty old... 

my modeling debut

Yesterday, I did a little modeling in New York City. Modeling, you say? Yep! Bry's sister-in-law, Jacki, is taking a class through FIT and had to become a stylist for her final project. She asked me if I'd like to model for her and I said, "Why not?" Jacki's idea was to shoot everyday activities in stylish clothes. I really liked the outfits she picked out! At first, I was a bit nervous that was I was going to look stupid and I felt a little silly, but I kinda got into it and had alot of fun with it. My only complaint- it was chilly! Just a 40 degree & windy day in NYC! But we made the best of it. Coats and ugg boots were included but not photographed :) 

Here's a look into the different outfits and shots that were taken:

Outfit #1

and Jacki wanted to get shoe shots with confetti... I think it's so cute!

Outfit #2

In love with this outfit. The more I see it, the more I want it!

Oh, just chillin' in the laundry bin!

love the hearts!

Outfit #3

Love the polka dots in this one!

And the shoes?! Swoon.

See- I started to enjoy it!

Outfit #4

Had to get Bonnie in there with me!

This skirt was so much fun to play with!

There was a 20 foot drop off behind that wall...

took this one from Brad and Jacki's camera

more shoes & confetti

Outfit #5

you can't tell but I was shivering so bad

haha I have a donut!

love the details in this one!

Outfit #6

cute little cupcake from a cute little bakery

hot cider hit the spot as it started to flurry!

love this one too!

Jacki's brilliant! :)

Oh and if you want to check out Jacki's post on the shoot, go here. Her blog {here} is full of style, creativity, and inspiration!