My beautiful apple pendant arrived today! It came wrapped in such a pretty box too, which made it even more exciting. So I took pictures. Haha. I love it.

My beautiful apple pendant arrived today! It came wrapped in such a pretty box too, which made it even more exciting. So I took pictures. Haha. I love it.

goodbye 2007. hello 2008.
it’s been a good year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

——————————————-

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Got a ticket! Was in a car accident. Not a good year car-wise.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think so.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My best and most wonderful friend Chelsea had a beautiful baby girl, Brooklyn.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Time with friends (i know, i’ve been MIA!)

7. What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
05.15 – Brooklyn’s Birthday, 05.01 – Meredith’s wedding

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making wonderful new friends, figuring out (for now) what I want to do with my life.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmm. I wouldn’t say I’ve failed at anything. There are things I would improve and maybe even change, but no failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Minor injuries from the car accident I was in.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPod.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mom’s just always awesome.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various political figures make this list.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Unnecessary things mostly.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finding a wonderful job as a nanny to the cutest little girl ever, and deciding to move back to California.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Fall Out Boy – Sugar We’re Going Down

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happy happy
ii. thinner or fatter? probably the same.
iii. richer or poorer? hmm probably about the same here too.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
photography. art. friend time. family time. school time. more of everything.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent christmas with family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope

23. How many one-night stands?
Um, none thanks.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I sort of got sucked into the whole reality TV thing… American Idol, Biggest Loser, etc. lol But I also love The Daily Show and Friends reruns, oh and Rob & Big.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate? nooooo.

26. What was the best book you read?
Best new book? Harry Potter and Copper: A Dog’s Life.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None really. Hopefully I will discover some great new music this year.

28. What did you want and get?
Amazing friendships

29. What did you want and not get?
I have so much, why focus on what I don’t have?

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh man, there were so many movies I didn’t see! Um, Music & Lyrics was cute.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I hung out with Avery all day (I think she was extra good that day :o)) and then went to dinner with friends. It was the big 2-9!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Um… winning the lottery, finding true love, you know little things…

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Super casual. T-shirt & jeans. Dress up when needed. Yeah.

34. What kept you sane?
Billie and Brian and Chelsea and Megan and Shaylyn and my family

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp will be my valentine.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Iraq

37. Who did you miss?
My family, Sean, Tara and Erin.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Oh geez.. i’ve met a lot of new people. no one in particular really.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Be true to yourself. It sounds trite, I know, but I really learned the importance of really being who you are.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Whisper in the ways
Watching days and moving on
You wake up every Monday then suddenly it’s Sunday
And the week is gone
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised at the sunrise
Life is for the living, the forgiving and for leaving town alive.

goodbye 2007. hello 2008.
it’s been a good year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

——————————————-

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Got a ticket! Was in a car accident. Not a good year car-wise.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think so.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My best and most wonderful friend Chelsea had a beautiful baby girl, Brooklyn.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?
None.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Time with friends (i know, i’ve been MIA!)

7. What date(s) from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
05.15 – Brooklyn’s Birthday, 05.01 – Meredith’s wedding

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making wonderful new friends, figuring out (for now) what I want to do with my life.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Hmm. I wouldn’t say I’ve failed at anything. There are things I would improve and maybe even change, but no failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Minor injuries from the car accident I was in.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My iPod.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My mom’s just always awesome.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Various political figures make this list.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Unnecessary things mostly.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Finding a wonderful job as a nanny to the cutest little girl ever, and deciding to move back to California.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Fall Out Boy – Sugar We’re Going Down

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happy happy
ii. thinner or fatter? probably the same.
iii. richer or poorer? hmm probably about the same here too.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
photography. art. friend time. family time. school time. more of everything.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent christmas with family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Nope

23. How many one-night stands?
Um, none thanks.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I sort of got sucked into the whole reality TV thing… American Idol, Biggest Loser, etc. lol But I also love The Daily Show and Friends reruns, oh and Rob & Big.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate? nooooo.

26. What was the best book you read?
Best new book? Harry Potter and Copper: A Dog’s Life.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None really. Hopefully I will discover some great new music this year.

28. What did you want and get?
Amazing friendships

29. What did you want and not get?
I have so much, why focus on what I don’t have?

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh man, there were so many movies I didn’t see! Um, Music & Lyrics was cute.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I hung out with Avery all day (I think she was extra good that day :o)) and then went to dinner with friends. It was the big 2-9!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Um… winning the lottery, finding true love, you know little things…

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Super casual. T-shirt & jeans. Dress up when needed. Yeah.

34. What kept you sane?
Billie and Brian and Chelsea and Megan and Shaylyn and my family

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Johnny Depp will be my valentine.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Iraq

37. Who did you miss?
My family, Sean, Tara and Erin.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Oh geez.. i’ve met a lot of new people. no one in particular really.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
Be true to yourself. It sounds trite, I know, but I really learned the importance of really being who you are.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Whisper in the ways
Watching days and moving on
You wake up every Monday then suddenly it’s Sunday
And the week is gone
So till the morning breaks
Go and make your mistakes
Don’t be surprised at the sunrise
Life is for the living, the forgiving and for leaving town alive.

“He that is bored with London is bored with life.”

It is truly an amazing city and I feel so blessed to have been able to live for as long as I did. Some of my favorite things included taking walks in Denham, riding the tube, the Tate Britain, eating mushy peas (that’s right mushy peas… yum!), local pubs, shopping in Covent Garden, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, Regent’s park, and just generally exploring the City.

But the real, true reason that London and the surrounding areas hold such a special place in my heart are these guys:

This is the funniest picture to me. They are the most excitable, fun kids in the world but I guess we all run out of steam sometimes.

Two Christmases (Christmases? that doesn’t look right…) ago I was with them in Ireland and they all went to church that morning and Erin and I walked down to the beach and played. It was freezing, and I mean freezing but so fun. It was nice to hang out with just Erin for a couple hours. I love this picture because she is making her “sneaky” face. No doubt the beach was surprised to see us.

No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child.

Emma Goldman

“He that is bored with London is bored with life.”

It is truly an amazing city and I feel so blessed to have been able to live for as long as I did. Some of my favorite things included taking walks in Denham, riding the tube, the Tate Britain, eating mushy peas (that’s right mushy peas… yum!), local pubs, shopping in Covent Garden, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, Regent’s park, and just generally exploring the City.

But the real, true reason that London and the surrounding areas hold such a special place in my heart are these guys:

This is the funniest picture to me. They are the most excitable, fun kids in the world but I guess we all run out of steam sometimes.

Two Christmases (Christmases? that doesn’t look right…) ago I was with them in Ireland and they all went to church that morning and Erin and I walked down to the beach and played. It was freezing, and I mean freezing but so fun. It was nice to hang out with just Erin for a couple hours. I love this picture because she is making her “sneaky” face. No doubt the beach was surprised to see us.

No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child.

Emma Goldman

“He that is bored with London is bored with life.”

It is truly an amazing city and I feel so blessed to have been able to live for as long as I did. Some of my favorite things included taking walks in Denham, riding the tube, the Tate Britain, eating mushy peas (that’s right mushy peas… yum!), local pubs, shopping in Covent Garden, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, Regent’s park, and just generally exploring the City.

But the real, true reason that London and the surrounding areas hold such a special place in my heart are these guys:

This is the funniest picture to me. They are the most excitable, fun kids in the world but I guess we all run out of steam sometimes.

Two Christmases (Christmases? that doesn’t look right…) ago I was with them in Ireland and they all went to church that morning and Erin and I walked down to the beach and played. It was freezing, and I mean freezing but so fun. It was nice to hang out with just Erin for a couple hours. I love this picture because she is making her “sneaky” face. No doubt the beach was surprised to see us.

No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child.

Emma Goldman

Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given

And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came…

And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand…

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.

Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given

And it came to pass that the words which came unto Nephi were fulfilled, according as they had been spoken; for behold, at the going down of the sun there was no darkness; and the people began to be astonished because there was no darkness when the night came…

And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the west to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth.

For they knew that the prophets had testified of these things for many years, and that the sign which had been given was already at hand…

And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.

And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets.

And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

To believe that this life is all there is

Where would you like to live?

A pedestrian-friendly near the sea in a temperate climate

What is your idea of earthly happiness?

Sunshine, friends, flowers, and family… hopefully all in close proximity

To which faults do you feel most indulgent?

Of the 7? Gluttony and Sloth

Who are your favorite heroes of fiction?

Jean Valjean

Who are your favorite heroines of fiction?

The Bennets who felt deeply and made mistakes, Pippi Longstocking

Who are your favorite characters in history?

The imperfect who strive for change: Gandhi, Princess Diana, Martin Luther King Jr.

Who are your favorite heroes in real life?

Any man or woman who leads an ordinary life with integrity and courage.

Your favorite painter?

Turner and Caravaggio

Your favorite composer?

Vivaldi, Rachmaninoff and Haydn

The quality you most admire in a man?

The courage to follow his heart

The quality you most admire in a woman?

The confidence to know that there is nothing to prove

Your favorite virtue?

Tolerance

Your favorite occupation?

Writing

Who would you have liked to be?

Me only more so

Your most marked characteristic?

Compassion

What do you most value in your friends?

Qualities that belong to them alone

What is your principle defect?

Complacency

What historical figures do you most despise?

There are many. Those who risked the lives of others in causes they did not actually believe in and lacked the courage to do the work they asked of others.

What natural gift would you most like to possess?

There are many but perhaps most of all the ability to leave each person or place a little better than I found it.

What to your mind would be the greatest of misfortunes?

To never feel anything deeply

In what country would you like to live?

One that is my own… wherever it may be

What is your favorite color?

A certain shade of green

What is your favorite flower?

The tulip – for it’s simple elegance

What is your favorite bird?

Though not one for birds I’m partial to small, scrappy finches asking for my crumbs

Who are your favorite prose writers?

Pushkin, Hugo, Emerson, Thoreau, Proust and Anatole France

Who are your favorite poets?

Shakespeare, Keats, Wilde, Edna St Vincent Millay

What are your favorite names?

I have several at the moment. Girls: Kate, Chloe, Sophie, Madeline and Emma. Boys: Matthew, Paul, Lachlan, Joshua, and Trey.

What is it you most dislike?

My own worst qualities

What event in military history do you most admire?

Hannibal Barca crossing the Alps with elephants and defeating the Romans with an extremely tired army.

What reform do you most admire?

Any that is truthful

How would you like to die?

Fulfilled

What is your present state of mind?

Hopeful

What is your motto?

Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of anyone else. (Borrowed from Judy Garland)