My Year in Review

A lot of changes have happened in my life in 2010, and I wanted to do a quick retrospect of them all!

This year I ... turned 23 in January.

This year I ... quit working in the field I had worked in for seven years, and found a job using my college major.


This year I ... moved to Portland, Oregon and love every minute of living here!

 

{via}

This year I ... moved in with my boyfriend, and find it so wonderful to spend quality time with someone you love every day.

This year I ... (we) adopted a cat from the Oregon Humane Society named Oreo.

This year I ... started a blog, and have really enjoyed being part of the blogging community. It's safe to say that I'm obsessed with reading blogs.

This year I ... went to my first Oregon football game after graduating.

This year I ... had so many amazing times with great friends and family!!

{Carrie Underwood Concert}

Happy New Year Everyone - here is to 2011!!

Fill in the Blank Friday

{via}

1.   New Year's is (awesome/lame/other): fun but a little lame at the same time.  I feel like there is always a build up about what you should be doing, but most of the time I feel like having a laid back evening at home with friends and watching the ball drop.

2.  Last New Year's Eve I: was still living in Eugene, and we went to a local campus bar.  I remember it being a great time with great friends!

3.  My New Year's resolution is: 1) donate money to the Oregon Humane Society so that they can continue to help pets like the cat we got, 2) really start working out on a regular basis - get out and walk more! 3) crochet another scarf to wear next winter. :)

4.  The best way to spend New Year's Eve is: with friends in a low-key environment. << I agree with you Lauren, the best way to spend any evening is with friends!

5.  My prediction for an up-and-coming trend in 2011 is: flare jeans becoming popular, which I'm hoping doesn't happen because they really are unflattering!

6.  This New Year's Eve I will: here it is New Year's Eve and we still haven't made definitive plans, but we will probably watch a movie, go out to dinner, drink some champagne, and watch the ball drop.

7.  A fresh start is: always a wonderful and refreshing thing to have in life.  This year I think I've had quite a few "fresh starts" and it feels better than ever!

New Year's Eve Cocktails

 {Sorbet & Champagne Cocktail}

{Red Currant Champagne Cocktail}

 {Pomegranate Champagne Punch}

It seems like everyone is talking about the end of a year and decade (can you believe that New Year's is tomorrow!?).  It got me thinking about what cocktail would be perfect to celebrate the new year.  Martha Stewart has some delicious sounding drinks on her website, click the above links to see the recipes.  What is your favorite celebratory drink?

Wish I Was Here Wednesday

I wanted to play along with Olivia's series on her blog today.  She is a fellow Portland blogger, so I'm sure that she along with anyone else living in the Pacific Northwest can understand why I would rather be laying by the pool in Mexico rather than be in rainy and sometimes snowy Oregon.  I took this photo a few years ago on a family vacation to Cancun.  This vacation was wonderful because it was the first family vacation we had taken in years, and I have a lot of wonderful memories from it!

Outfit Inspiration

{InStyle Magazine via}

 
Since I haven't explained this weekly Outfit Inspiration series that I started a couple weeks ago, I thought I would take the time to explain my thoughts behind it.  I read through so blogs and magazine on a daily and weekly basis, and am consistently inspired to take more risks with outfits, trends, and styles.  I wanted to share some of the outfits that I'm inspired by in my every day life. 

Now onto this week's inspiration.  While I love both of the above outfits and their full and semi-short skirts, I am really drawn to Rashida Jones's outfit.  This is a look that I like to wear in the summer quite often, but I think with a pair of tights it would be perfect for winter weather.  I will probably have to put together a similar outfit this weekend!

New Year's Eve Outfit

{Forever 21 Skirt Via}

{Michael Kors Skirt Via}

{Target Xhilaration Tank Via}

{Steve Madden Shoes Via}

I've been struggling to decide what the perfect outfit is to ring in the 2011 year!  In my opinion the style in Portland is a little more casual than dressy for most events, but I've been lusting over the sequin skirt or shirt, and glitter shoe trends.  I think I want to try one of these trends for New Year's eve, but I'm hoping not to spend a large chunk of my paycheck on them.  If you have tried these items, how would you say is the best way to wear them and what is the best value?

Weekend Wrap-Up

 {Lights on Peacock Lane}

 

 {"City" lights of Roseburg}

Thursday night I celebrated Christmas early with my boyfriend, we went to Henry's Tavern for dinner, and then to Peacock lane, since it turns out the Christmas ships had already stopped for the year.  It was one of the best nights I've had in a long time and can't think of a better way to celebrate.

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas weekend.  Santa treated me very well this year and I got a lot of things on my wish list, and was able to spend some wonderful time with my family and both of my parent's cats!  I have to admit, I was beyond happy to be back in Portland yesterday after an almost five hour drive (a lot of wrecks and rain!) it was nice to order some pizza and play a board game. 

Tonight I'm going to a get-together at Bridgeport Brewery in Portland. Can't wait to hang out with more pals!