a late new year's posting.

I know it's a little way over due, but I thought I would share my new year eve's events with you all. I had a lovely evening spent with a friend. We ordered pizza and watched Letter's to Juliet. Then of course watched the ball drop with our champagne in hand.

I wanted to do something special the next day to celebrate. Growing up in Ohio, we always celebrated with sauer kraut and sausage for new year's. I always looked forward to this time of year just for that reason alone. I thought this was a tradition that was shared among the entire nation. When I moved to Oregon, I found out how wrong I was unfortunately....No one does that here. Needless to say, I decided to bring back this ol' tradition of mine. I decided to invite some people over and make a night of it. I must say, it was quite delicious and I look forward to making it again soon!

I put the sausage right into the sauer kraut, covered it with foil, and baked it for close to 2hrs. at 300 degrees. It doesn't look all that great, but it was, I promise!

I rolled the baked potatoes in a mixture of pepper -red+black, roasted garlic grapeseed oil, and salt before sticking them in the oven at 375 degrees for about 1 1/2 hrs. This made them extra delicious.

I added a salad and a friend brought dessert. We ate, caught up, and played games. It was a lovely way to start the new year. I am so thankful for those I can call friends.

I decided to make a new year's resolution this year. Usually I don't. I spent some time reflecting on the past year, then made some goals for the new one. My main goal for 2012 is to cultivate healthy relationships. I believe people need relationship among one another and those can often be very good and thriving, or ones that bring you down and rob you of joy. I want to surround myself with friendships/relationships that make me better. I want to pour into them with my whole heart. I desire to be a better friend, daughter, sister. I want to have healthy boundaries for myself. This involves recognizing my needs in a relationship and voicing them. It involves me speaking out, standing up for myself, and knowing my limits. I want to start living a healthier lifestyle just in general. Emotionally. Physically.

I have started a work out program (me and the rest of the world). It's called Insanity. And it pretty much kicks my butt every time. BUT I am slowly getting in shape! It sucks and my body hates it right now, but I will push through! I bought brand new tennis shoes. My converse wasn't really working out all that great. It has been years since I have invested into legit tennis shoes. I thought this was a good time to do that, plus they were on sale. :) I am pretty excited about them......

I hope you all had a wonderful new year's! Cheers to new adventures. 

xo, Rachelle