Promises I Can Keep

At the threshold of each New Year, I vow to become a thinner, thriftier woman who smokes less. And at the end of every year, I am still have a few extra pounds, credit cards that beg for mercy and a pack a day habit. My blogmate posted some very realistic resolutions that actually sound as fun as they are attainable. I like her style. I even stole one of hers!

1. Spend more time outdoors: As much as I feel I deserve to vegetate on my couch while indulging in a Real Housewives marathon and eating chips, I always feel so much better when I hit the road, beach, trail or tennis court. Inspired by my continued reading of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (seriously... I have read it three times in the last month. I am a little obsessed), I am even kicking around the idea of hiking part of the Appalachian Trail one day. Not that I am quite ready for it now but let me go all Chinese proverbial and point out that every journey begins with a single step. My stepdaughter wants to learn how to place tennis so I need to drag myself out of the house and in to the sunlight on weekends. We are moving to South Carolina in the summer, thus giving me an excuse to get out and explore a new area. There are so many reasons to DVR those Housewives marathons. After all, I can always watch them at night!

2. Start pairing all the wine I drink with actual homemade culinary masterpieces (made by me, of course!): My Pinterest boards dedicated to food are insane. You would think I was Julia Child. And while I do get the occasional wild hair and prepare a gourmet five course meal, most nights (especially weeknights) find me going for the conventional grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. Which is fine but would be so much better if I made a grilled Swiss and apple sandwich and a tomato basil soup from scratch. In 2013, I would like to stretch my culinary prowess and challenge my palate more often. My stomach will thank me.

3. Drink more wine: Duh!

4. Continue to tinker with this blog and still have fun doing so: Our blog started out as a way for two friends to keep in touch and inspire each other from across the miles. I have a blast doing and I feel like we have already come a long way (just take a peek at our earliest posts... and realize they are only four months old). But I can still step up my game artistically and style-wise. I have a notebook full of outfit ideas that need to become a reality. I have a tripod and a slightly better camera than when I started. The tools are in place, now it is time to use them.

My Walden Pond Is A Swamp In A Construction Zone

While taking a sunset stroll, I stumbled across this swamp area that is being cleared. With all the construction going on in this town, there is no telling if it will be a new strip mall or a doctor's office or part of the golf course within a few months. There was something so stark and ugly about all the razed trees and the swamp yet somehow the setting sun's light made it look so serene. Almost like it was supposed to be this way.

And thus ends my philosophical musings about nature. Eat your heart out, Henry David Thoreau.

Sweater: American Eagle
Jeans: American Eagle
Boots: Old Navy
Scarf: Target

Taking A Hike

Why are hiking boots so ugly? I knew we would go hiking while on our girls' weekend at Bryson City so I searched high and low for a mildly attractive pair of hiking boots. These are the best that I found:

Gross but comfy

Sweater: Old Navy
Tank and Yoga Pants: Target
Puffer Vest: Eddie Bauer Outlet
Boots: So ugly I shouldn't even give them props but I picked them up at Shoe Carnival

Doing my Captain Morgan pose on some slippery rocks

Postcard views from The Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Fall splendor