san jose... a hop, skip, and a jump away

for Christmas i wanted to surprise andy with a day trip out of town...

it had been FAR too long since we had gotten away just the two of us, 

and i wanted to try something NEW AND FUN.

i decided on san jose. 

the idea was to just hop in the car for 2 hours, and see a shark's game.

it was amazing.

i found us the perfect seats online, and we had a blast!

after the game (sharks WIN), we hit some local bars.

downtown san jose was just beautiful, and full of youthful energy!

i wish we could have stayed longer!

as an added bonus, one of andy's friends (simon) was in town and we had lunch the next day!

meow!

love love love-

shawni marie

sample samples sampleitous

it's no secret, i love samples.

and all of last year i collected more than i should share...

it was a bit out of control.

one thing i want to focus on this year, is being more appreciative of what i have.

and so one of my goals is to go through 5 samples a week...

and share them here, and let you guys know what i think...

check back next week for the reviews <3

love love love-

shawni marie

my week in pictures...

i broke out the old art journal...

and created a new page, for the NEW year!!

planned a whole menu for the week, including an old favorite... shepard's pie

wore my favorite tights... two days in a row (shhh...)

found this AWESOME photo project

and this one <3

made pork and bacon and brussels (my favorite)

and stole this puppy from my love <3

hope ya'll are having a wonderful week!

love love love-

shawni marie

new years, new cheers

it's a new year. 

a fresh start.

i have always been big on them. not on resolutions, really...

just the whole idea of a "fresh start"

you can do anything you want to, last year is wiped clean.

last year i let a lot of time pass me by.

i was busy, but i wasn't really doing much.

i lived my life just fine, and i am grateful for that time... 

but somewhere along the way i became lazy...

i became too tired to do things that used to make me happy.

crafting, blogging, reading, and writing took a back seat.

i have no regrets of course...

i had a wonderful year.

one in which i fell in love with the most amazing man.

one in which i tested my personal strength more than i ever thought i would.

but i want MORE this year.

and i think that's okay.

i am actually pretty certain it is.

i remember 2009, and how hard i pushed myself to make all my dreams come true.

at the end of the year, i felt SO proud.

i remember 2010 and how i felt looking back, and how it motivated me to keep pushing.

2011 was a good year, but i want more for 2012.

i want to set NEW goals to push myself further...

cook, read, write, love, share.

those are the things i want MOST this year.

of course, there are little goals attached to each category, but i want to take it slow.

i don't want to let myself down this year.

in a way, i feel like i did last year.

January's Goals

-Art Journal again. My lovely friend Viv introduced me to art journaling, and I miss how inspired it made me feel. i look forward to writing my thoughts down in a creative way again...

-Read my fancy cookbooks. Each year my mom buys me at LEAST 4 fancy new cookbooks... and i leaf through them, but i never take the time to READ what other chefs have to say. i want to.

-Drink Less. Truth be told, i love my wine. it's so delicious. but i realized sometime last year, that it made me a little lazier. and the couch became my friend. along with criminal minds and popcorn. i want to get OFF the couch, and start living my life again.

i have more for the following months, SO many more...

but i want to take it slow, i don't want to bite off more than i can chew

this blog has really blessed my life. 

i know i stayed away a lot last year, 

but the comments and emails i have received from readers 

have given me something i couldn't have asked for...

THANK YOU to everyone out there who bothers to read this.

i love you, and i look forward to sharing 2012 with all of you <3

love love love-

shawni marie

don't forget to remember me...

i can't believe it's almost Christmas...

this year has just flown by, hasn't it?

i am grateful for each moment...

but more grateful for a new fresh start

your life can be anything you want it to be, you just have to remember that

oh the world will throw us curve balls, and we may not be ready... 

but it's the grace that we handle those balls with, that make us the women we will be tomorrow.

i believe in a higher power

a God who created me with a purpose in mind

my ONE goal next year, is to discover what that purpose is,

how to serve Him and my community by finding my PURPOSE

i am thankful for another great year...

but even more thankful i have another one to follow...

xoxo-

S