Happy New Year!

After a long holiday hibernation... I'm back.  I took a little time off of work, blogging, checking email (mostly) and pretty much everything else to disconnect and spend some quality time with my family and friends.  Boy was it worth it.

Bob and I adopted a new dog. Taz is the most recent addition to the Kacich family.

We went for lots of walks.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our families.

My mother-in-law and I took my nieces Lily and Julia ice skating. That was a really fun day!

My dear friend, Heather, sent us a bottle of homemade apple brandy.  Looking forward to trying this!

I wore these fun nails on New Year's.  We had a great night filled with fancy drinks, fancy dinner, fun games and fabulous friends!

It was a great break.  Now, I'm looking forward to focusing some energy on getting our house decorated and in order.  I'm REALLY looking forward to growing my photography business.  I've got a few engagement sessions and family sessions lined up for the beginning of this year already.  I'm looking forward to seeing the Kacich family grow again in about a year - Matt, my-brother-in-law, will be getting hitched to Jackie.  Oh yeah, and Bob and I will be taking a trip to Ireland this spring.  It's going to be a great year!

BIG Snowstorm

At least that's what they're saying... 10, 12, 1,439 inches, oh my!  Weather is all anybody is talking about right now.  It's so funny.  What's hilarious?
This:

I'll be making a pit-stop after yoga for some wine.  Have you stocked up yet?

Grey Skies

(via eeicenbice on Flickr)

I don't know about you, but I've had enough with the grey skies.  It's seems like an eternity since we've seen the sun.  So, this weekend I'm planning to bring a little light into my life with dinner and merrymaking with friends, some live music and some much needed sun salutations.  51 days until spring!

Cloud Umbrella

On this gloomy, slushy, seemingly rainy day, this pretty umbrella has me smiling.

Temps are unseasonably high here (for another couple of days) and the snow is turning into a gross, brown slushy mess.  The sky is overcast and they're saying it could rain tomorrow.  That won't, however, put a damper on my New Year.  I've treated myself to a 6-day staycation and am loving every minute.  I've been super productive the last day and a half, so after Winston and I head to the dog park I may just curl up on the couch with a cup of hot peppermint tea and read a book.  Sigh...

Happy First Day of Winter

A lovely quote for the first day of Winter:

I am younger each year at the first snow. When suddenly, in the air, all little and white and moving; then I am in love again and very young and I believe everything.
- Anne Sexton, 1958

Ansel Adams

Mmmm, Pasta

Tonight the weather is a fright out there so I'm staying home, eating a hearty meal and curling up with my two lovelies, Bob and Winston.  We took care of the hearty meal part in a serious way.  Big Belly Portabello Pasta. Mmm, mmm, mmmmmm!  Thank you Rachel Ray for this delicious 30-minute (well, maybe 45-minutes in my case) meal.

                                           From stove top

                                           To dinner plate 

And, speaking of food, I think we may have to try salad pizza for our next Sunday night ritual.

Adios Snowman

Watching the Today Show this morning I was shocked to see that the story of the CUMTD bus driver running over the snowman made national news.  These students built this snowman in the middle of a campus street waiting for cars to drive right through it.  After a few cars swerve and miss it, this MTD bus veers into the opposite lane to take the snowman out.  Hilarious.

I love the change of seasons.  Last night and today we've had a big snowfall in Central Illinois.  It's beautiful and Winston couldn't agree more.  He had his first experience of playing in the snow today and it was adorable.  Besides being scared of and trying to attack the snow shovel, he really loved being elbow-deep and jumping through the piles of snow.

Hello December

This morning I would like to extend a warm (well, chilly I guess) welcome to December.  It's been a long time coming, but you have finally arrived once again.  I have missed your early days that present us with beautiful snowfalls like this morning's display.  How gorgeous!

And, I can't wait for sledding!