source

Happy New Year!!

Instead of choosing a resolution, Layla at The Lettered Cottage chooses a Word of the Year. I think this is so “wonder-full” (which happens to be Layla’s word this year), because it allows you to keep one goal in mind and do whatever you need to do to make that phrase come to fruition.

source

2014 was extremely challenging for me. I hate to talk about really personal things, but here it goes. In August 2014, after 8 years together, HJ decided that he was not ready to be a husband and called off our wedding 3 weeks before the date.

It was the most devastating thing I have ever experienced (hence the short blonde hair and new clothes). But do you know what my word was for 2014? It was Love. And that’s exactly what I did. I loved him enough to let him go and learn about himself and I loved myself enough to love me the way I wanted to be loved. To me, that meant doing things to make me feel pretty, like a sassy, new, blonde hair cut.

It meant spending money on adult purchases, like this beautiful sofa from Crate and Barrel.

It meant accepting love and support from others, including these encouraging letters (some from strong women I don’t even know!)

It meant traveling to Ireland by myself to see my cousin and best friend, Rachel, so we could be together during the hardest time in my life

But now, it is a New Year! And so here is my word:

source

Grow.

This is the perfect word for me this year as I experience my life in a new way. It is so scary and yet so freeing to know that I have so many new choices and paths that my life can take. I am so ready for all of the opportunities for me to Grow in 2015.

Here’s to a New Beginning!

I bought a new car! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I don’t think I can do enough smiley faces to show how happy I am  🙂 Meet Blanca!

source

I had a silver Volkswagen Beetle since I was 17 years old. (Thanks to my loving parents <3) It was sooo cute and bubbly, and every time someone asked me what kind of car I had, they always had the same response when I answered, “That is so you!”. I loved that car. I was able to zip around and easily find and park in spots that were way too small for any other cars. And although Bugley was basically a round car, she never objected to overly successful trips to HomeGoods and generously let me pack her all the way to the top with square objects.

But the past few years, she was in need of repairs, and I was in need of something that would fit my working girl lifestyle. So I started lusting after a white Honda CR-V.

source

HJ and I looked for weeks for a slightly used one (2010), since I liked the look better than the new ones, and also so it would fit in my price range. After I took one out for a spin, I was really “cr-v”ing the car! HJ really negotiated (maybe I should change his initials to MN for Master Negotiator…) got me a great deal, and after 5 hours of inspecting, bartering, and paperwork, we drove her of of the lot that same night!

It was emotional, because I had become so attached to Bugs, but it was soooooooo worth it. AND after celebrating Christmas with my Dad and Barb last night, she received a gift herself! Her very own name plate! (Picture coming soon!)