the end of a decade

New Year's Eve is a night to contemplate and reminisce about the year that has pass. It is also a night to share with close friends, family, a loved one, or just someone special. Eat tasty food, indulge in a drink or 2, and talk about your favorite memories.

So many things have happened in 2009 that have made me smile.
I got married :)
I went to Paris :)
I went to Texas (finally! after years of wishing to go thanks to Pee Wee's Big Adventure)
Annual trip to Chicago
Bridal shower full of fun new stuff for our house
I quit a job I hated and just got offered a new one (that I hopefully like!)
I got Nikon D90 (wedding gift from my lovely husband!)
Annual trip to California and bonded with my mom and family
Made some new lovely friends and spent a lot more time with old ones and with my family
And many more memories that made this year really special :)

As for the decade....lots has happened. I can pretty much sum it up in 4 words i GREW INTO MYSELF. I learned more about life, I learned more about myself and I finally accepted who I am and what makes me ME.

Happy New year to all and to all a good night :)

(I am not sure where this photo is from; I found it on the Internet sometime last year. I think it fits well for this post)

snow!

after my post on Saturday in which I complained about the lack of snow and the need for sunshine, it finally snowed on Sunday! I LOVE the first snowfall of the season. It usually comes in November, and us Clevelanders have been patiently waiting until the very end of December for it ( I know I don't speak for everyone....there are plenty who HATE the snow....I eventually will once March rolls around).

There really isn't anything more peaceful and beautiful than a quiet snowfall at night. It was the good kind of snow (yes, there is a bad kind too). It stuck to tree branches and everything was whitewashed.

Finally!

(this photo is from our backyard last winter during a snowstorm...haven't uploaded this years snow pics yet)

in need of sunshine

I could really use some sunshine and warmth. My least favorite months are approaching and I start to get really anxious for spring. Usually we have snow here and already had a nice snow storm. So far, there has only been a dusting of snow. Everything else is cold, rainy and lots of wind. Either give me a nice peaceful snowstorm, or let's go on vacation somewhere south!

the first pic was taken back in June 2006 from our hotel balcony in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

second pic was taken in January 2007 in Newport Beach, California

third pic is from our trip to Hilton Head, South Carolina in March 2008

chirstmas time is here...

merry christmas!
happy holidays!

musee d'orsay

Les Invalides

the streets of Paris

candlelight

more of Notre Dame

Notre Dame

I like to consider myself a spiritual person. I don't particularly follow any one religion and sometimes have a lot of issues with the way churches and organized religion is run.

I have multiple Buddha statues throughout our home and an entire shelf dedicated to Taoism and Buddhism in our mini library. I love old churches with stained glass windows and old wooden pews. I wear a red string bracelet with a hamsa hand charm on it to protect me from the "evil eye". I collect rosaries and carry my favorite one with me every time I travel. Parks are my church, they are where I go when I need to reflect or feel peace. I also happen to love those glass pillar candles with saints on them that you can buy in the grocery store and set in front of graves at the cemetery. So my "religion" is a compilation of many different cultures and traditions and I refuse to devote myself to one particular faith.

Now to go in a slightly different direction, Notre Dame was one of the most spiritual places I have ever been. Whoever your god is, I bet he/she was in there.

It was so grand inside. So old, so much history inside the walls. There were candles everywhere and people praying. It was quiet, yet loud at the same time. I think that if I lived in Paris, I might make more trips to Notre Dame to reflect and take time out to think. It was serene.

red

Paris in black and white

The Eiffel Tower...at night

Nothing compares to seeing the Eiffel Tower at night. It sparkles like magic and proves why Paris is the most romantic city in the world!