a flash of delight

“When you’re young, your whole life is about the pursuit of fun. Then, you grow up and learn to be cautious. You could break a bone… or a heart. You look before you leap and sometimes you don’t leap at all because there’s not always someone there to catch you. And in life, there’s no safety net. When did it stop being fun and start being scary?”

– Carrie Bradshaw

In 2011 I plan to leap more. What about you?

photo by slumbering heart

It’s 2011! I have a good feeling about this year. It’s already making me very happy!

“I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.” Neil Gaiman

While I do like sitting down and making resolutions it can sometimes make me feel like I’m beating myself over the head with “you didn’t do this”, “you should have done this”, “you should have done this”, “you should have done more of…” You get the picture. So when Erin, Anne, Crystal and Bri made their lists of “non-goals” I decided to do the same and make a list of things I do well and don’t really want to change.

I jumped at new opportunities like assisting Rachel at a wedding and spent 10 days in France to name a few.

I blogged (a lot). That may sound silly but I feel like I’ve connected and met some of the most amazing people through blogging. I hope for more of the same this year.

I drank a lot more water and cut out a lot of sugar.

I took a lot of pictures.

I wore dresses.

I kept trying with my family.

I read my scriptures every single day.

I wore red lipstick.

I made my bed every single day. (This is a big one guys!)

I started taking salsa classes.

I gave in to the fact that I’m completely obsessed with this sweet thing.

Happy New Year friends! May 2011 bring you sweetness, inspiration and joy. xo

Is it bad this was a tough list to write? Why do I find it so easy to kick my own butt? Maybe I’ll make cutting myself some slack a new resolution.

I bought two bunches of big, fat peonies at Trader Joe’s and made this peaches & cream pie. You can’t go wrong with sweet smelling and sweet tasting.

photo by me

So… I blew it on the Christmas cards this year. I usually LOVE sending them out. I love sending mail (and getting it is fun too) but I just didn’t get my act together in time.

Instead I’m going to send New Year’s cards! Hooray!

If you’d like a card you can email me your address (joiebutter at gmail dot com) – I’d love to send you one!

Now I can get back to freaking out about the fact that there is only 9 days left until Christmas!

ps – how gorgeous is this photo by i.anton? i love it.

kind of awesome

photos: Sudio Ve

and boy are we tired

Highlights include:

Three nights at Temple Square
Going to the Christmas Devotional with Chelsea
Meeting baby Sadie, baby Gianni, baby Bode, and baby Rose
Seeing Chelsea, Megan and Billie and everyone else!
Going to the temple with Alyson
Harlow being the BEST little traveler ever

ps – people are SO nice when you have a cute little doggie with you. Even the TSA were dying over Harlow. I am never not traveling with her again.

{photo of Harlow and Bruce (aka super stud)}

This post is late… but not because I’m not thankful.

I’m thankful for big things: for a Heavenly Father who loves me everyday, for the freedoms I enjoy a citizen of the United States, for good friends and my family, for a car that is paid off and runs, for my health, for a steady income, for the opportunities I’ve had to travel and for my faith.

And for the little things: for hot showers, contact lenses, flat irons, cell phones and cameras. For the fun people I’ve met through twitter and blogs (like Naomi, Rachel, Nicole, Helene… who are all amazingly talented. And the ones I’ll meet soon). For big down comforters and fluffy pillows and warm socks. For fresh pomegranates and figs and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

I am so thankful!

photo belongs to alicia bock