this month: december

FEELING : joyful about having my family here in Cali to celebrate the holidays!

LEARNING : to keep our Christmas decor sweet and simple. 

PRACTICING : our timer cam skills as we attempt to take our holiday card photo ourselves. *The suspense!* 

MASTERING : healthi(er) desserts since Whole 30 has completely changed my mind on food.

EATING : momma's cooking and a fun birthday cake!

PLAYING : all the Christmas tunes and... 

FINISHING : another Christmas playlist, coming to le blog soon!

READING : this blog for Advent this year.

WATCHING : Home Alone, Miracle on 31st St, The Grinch, Polar Express, A Christmas Carol, etc... :)

WEARING : jackets and boots 'cuz the weather is chilly, just how we like it this time of year.

WORKING : on our arm muscles as we saw down our FIRST Christmas tree!

WALKING : up and down Hobby Lobby because...Hobby Lobby!

TRAVELING : to an unknown destination for my birthday weekend. ;)

DESIRING : all the rich hot chocolate and Christmas carols galore.

CELEBRATING : Jesus' birth <3 and mine too... :)

Cheers to December, my favorite time of year.

this month: november

FEELING : nervous, excited, and like a champ as I prepare to do something I have never done before (read EATING)

LEARNING : that kindness goes a long way.

PRACTICING : self-control with buying Christmas decor because these stores are k-i-l-l-i-n-g it. 

MASTERING : the nae nae. LOL

EATING : only Whole 30 approved food starting on the 9th with a few girl friends! we got this.

PLAYING : Adele's, "Hello" in excitement for her album '25'. coming about a month before I turn 25. *how timely

FINISHING : my old schedule at work to transition to having Fridays and Saturdays off! Thank You Lord!!

READING : "Rising Strong" by Brene Brown and so far it's been life changing. Big statement, but so true.

WATCHING : Christmas movies at the end of the month :)

WEARING : gloves! yep, I cant believe it either, but that's what happens when you work in the mountains.

WORKING : out again on a regular basis after finally accepting that our Cali lifestyle is not = to our Chicago one but
WALKING : everywhere is something I miss all the time.

TRAVELING : to LA for a day, and maybe to the dessert. Let's see!

DESIRING : all the chilly days for cozying up.

CELEBRATING : Thanksgiving!! I just love the holidays...

this month: october

FEELING : ready to start making our Christmas cards and buy all things Christmas! Too soon? :)

LEARNING : that it's ok to ask for what you need, and not feel sorry about it.

PRACTICING : self-care. (thanks Moody)

MASTERING: patience with the foster kids I work with, slowly but surely....

EATING : so many avocados because paying $.49 verses $1.50 (Chicago price) each makes me want to buy them all!

PLAYING : those dag on p90x videos again; they always find their way back into my life. lol

FINISHING : this post has taken me way too long.

READING : a new book, finally! 

WATCHING : Ted talks here and there.

WEARING : more sweaters and boots, figures crossed!

WORKING : on getting back to blogging. it's going to happen people...
WALKING : back to Target to return the perfect media cabinet that came with very imperfect scratches. #thestruggle

TRAVELING : locally, as we plan to stay put for a bit.

DESIRING : to watch the sunset every night by the ocean.

CELEBRATING : this abundant life!

this month: september

FEELING : nervous about G starting school as we ease into the busy life again.

LEARNING : how to defend my opinions and not apologize for them. Being an adult is funnnn. 

PRACTICING : gratitude in this very different season of our lives I still can't seem to get used to.

MASTERING : our Cali. to-do list!

EATING : all the chocolate we brought back from Brasil, little by little of course. 

PLAYING : The Ask Pr. John app when I need some encouragement.

FINISHING : the hunt for a new read!

READING : mostly photography blogs and Ann Voskamp because she is too good.

WATCHING : Scandal againnnnnnnn.... :)))))

WEARING : shorts and dresses...still shorts and dressses. Like.. this weather does not change! :) // :(

WORKING : on our expectations for how many vacations we can take in one year. lol #carioca 
WALKING : to the Griffith Observatory in LA to see the sunset.

TRAVELING : up and down California to show the mother and sister in love our new coast.

DESIRING : a visit to Chicago to see my favorite little person whose growing so much I can't stand it!

CELEBRATING : 6 years since the first time I told G I loved him. I think the fact that we both know the exact date that happened is pretty special. 

this month: august

FEELING : the waves crash at my feet in Ipanema.

LEARNING : priorities when it comes to how many hats to take when traveling out of the country. 

PRACTICING : my balance on the water.

MASTERING : those packing skills as I try to fit most of my things in carry-on!

EATING : real food, I could cry!  Like fried yucca, fresh passion fruit, doce de leite picole and pizza with catupiry! 

PLAYING : all our Brasilian music in the car, and getting excited.

FINISHING : all the laundry and apartment cleaning before we go!

READING : something on the plane which has yet to be chosen.

WATCHING : the sunset over the mountains.

WEARING : my Flamengo jersey again one year later.

WORKING : on our to-do list while in Brasil, including some of those touristy things...
WALKING : around the cenrto da cidade with Dre and Julie!

TRAVELING : to Rio de Janeiro!!! If you haven't guessed it already :)

DESIRING : some artwork from Rio, let's see!

CELEBRATING : Gui and Camilla's wedding, the reason for planning this trip in the first place! 

After having dinner together in Rio last year, we dreamed we could come back for their big day, and to think it's actually happening is so exciting! Thank You Lord for providing the way!

this month: july

FEELING : a little bit anxious about some possible major changes in our life and...

LEARNING : to trust God in this inbetween, waiting process. He's good at putting us back in these places in life.

PRACTICING : my Portuguese skills as we prepare for a very special trip!

MASTERING : how to use my graduation gift from my parents, a Fujifilm Instax film camera! 

EATING : juicy oranges from the orange groves at work.

PLAYING : with my succulents after neglecting them all June long. :(

FINISHING : le blog silence. (hopefully) 

READING : new summery recipes! 

WATCHING : House of Cards season one. 

WEARING : "Romance" by Calvin Klein every time; the same perfume G gifted me on our wedding day.

WORKING : on time management.

WALKING : into new restaurants to scan through the menu is one of our favorite things to do.

TRAVELING : to tropical places on our coast as we continue on our California adventure!

DESIRING : to meet our newest family member, Camila, and baby fever may be kicking in again...

CELEBRATING : the arrival Angie, Jon and Nathan to the West Coast, here to stay :)

this month: june

FEELING : ready to see our families in um...2 weeks! :)

LEARNING : how to say no to snacking, just because I'm happy. Yep, it's a real thing people.

PRACTICING : dating on a budget, which means movie nights at home and sunsets at the beach among other things.

MASTERING : how to pack all the things  in a carry-on + personal item because, buddy pass.

EATING : wedding cake.

PLAYING : catch up on our tans, since May brought more cloudy days than expected.

FINISHING : the first half of this year in disbelief with how fast it's going by.

READING : the newspaper...mostly for coupons. Ha!

WATCHING : Jasmine Star's online photography class which has been sooo good.

WEARING : my Nike's as we climb up those mountains we've been staring at from our windows for 4 months.

WORKING : on adding art work and photography to our very bare walls.
WALKING : on the beach at least once a week please.

TRAVELING : to the East Coast, and you bet NYC is on our list of to-do's!

DESIRING : a good read! Any suggestions?

CELEBRATING : our 4th wedding anniversary!! june is totally our love month <3

this month: may

FEELING : like it's summer time, but oh we're still in spring, yet the sun keeps shinning and making my skin sting.

LEARNING : what it means to love.

PRACTICING : purposeful and thoughtful choice making.

MASTERING : anything is hard thing to do;  I'd like to master intimidation because loud kids + pool = not cool.

EATING : delicious Mexican for Cinco de Mayo!

PLAYING : the bass for worship is something I miss a lot.

FINISHING : my probation period at work...3 months went by so fast.

READING : Come Away My Beloved when I need encouragement. 

WATCHING : Survivor and proud to say G's hooked since I've watched it with my fam since season one.

WEARING : a pretty dress to Doug and Stacy's wedding in June! Now, to find shoes.

WORKING : while separating time for rest is a priority.

WALKING : to breakfast is on my list of to-do's, just because we still can.

TRAVELING : perhaps to LA, probably to the dessert but most likely to a new hiking trail near by.

DESIRING : God while lost, or is it wander?

CELEBRATING : love, because love conquers all.

this month: april

FEELING : ready to see some friends from Jersey, for real this time! (see March's "feeling")
LEARNING : compromise, because that's what marriage does to ya. :)

PRACTICING : the art of returning more than I'd like. Oh yes it's an art, right Michelle and Julie? 

MASTERING : kasdiafadalsdmosjaftihfakdnaodh - I couldn't think of anything. lol

EATING : donuts from a popular place in our city for the first time soon, and I hear they're amazing.

PLAYING : with Nathan as many times as possible; he has no idea how much Tia has been looking forward to that!

FINISHING : an intellectually challenging book called, YOU THOUGHT you were finishing a book at all. Yep.

READING : instruction manuals to build all our furniture needs, but really G's doing it better. 

WATCHING : Survivor reruns because our antenna doesn't pick up the channel and paying for cable isn't our thing.

WEARING : swimwear  to OUR pool and I can't believe I'm actually saying that. 

WORKING : hard or hardly working fluctuates about 10 times a day.
WALKING : and tiring a little to quickly for someone who used to walk at least 2-5 miles a day. 

TRAVELING : to Mexico is taking longer than I thought.

DESIRING : all the crying babies to stop following us around because another few years of waiting sounds really good.

CELEBRATING : the process of building our home because last month it was still just a hope. 

this month: march

FEELING : happy about having Fabz & Merc *hopefully* visit us next week!
LEARNING : to ignore emails that tell me I need that new dress as I enter  month two sem shopping.

PRACTICING : self-control, obviously!! ^^^^^

MASTERING : work out videos on YouTube that feel so much better than paying for a gym membership. 

EATING : birthday treats for and with my someone special.

PLAYING : our new mixed CD's in the car that remind me of the mixed tapes days.

FINISHING : the search for our lost mail with every new text that says, "It came back...."

READING : papers because who likes to proof read their own work right after finishing it anyways?

WATCHING : shows that are nothing but guilty pleasures I am too embarrassed to list here. But seriously, Chris.

WEARING : dresses as the forecast so far reads in the 70's. 

WORKING : on shifting my mind to mid-week = weekend, if that makes sense. 
WALKING : for hours thanks to work, I love you. 

TRAVELING : means mini road trips, and we'll be venturing to LA soon.

DESIRING : to finally call the place we've been waiting to move into, home. 

CELEBRATING : G's birthday with more than a few surprises along the way!

this month: february

FEELING : excited, nervous and a bit scared about getting into this full time position at my new "grown up" job. 
LEARNING : how to share one laptop between us since we sold mine before the move, yay!

PRACTICING : CPR to be certified, but hoping I won't have to use it.

MASTERING : snooze time in the morning which makes the actual time I'm up way too close to the afternoon.

EATING : more fruits and veggies, take two/

PLAYING : Bethel's new album on repeat! So so good.

FINISHING : this mini vacation we've had with open schedules and lots of free time; it was good while it lasted.

READING : has been on the back burner although I have 4 books that are about halfway read. 

WATCHING : movies almost every night while keeping $25 in our pockets every time; we love you internet.

WEARING : sweaters...so that it sort of feels like winter?

WORKING :  on staying hopeful when I absolutely don't feel it.
WALKING : to the groceries to help save money on gas.

TRAVELING : by car for training during rush hour, hence ^^

DESIRING : joy...

CELEBRATING : God's endless provision through amazing people in our lives with jaws dropped and warm hearts.

this month: january

FEELING : excited about starting the new year on the west coast; living in Cali. was once just a dream.
LEARNING : the names of new (to us) gorgeous plant life around our new dessert-like home.

PRACTICING : patience as we wait for an opening on one of the four apartment complexes applied!

MASTERING : all the driving around the Escondido area - with the help of Ways, for now. 

EATING : lots of fruits and vegetables, becaussssse , the holidays. 

PLAYING : Coldplay's Ghost Stories, which I'm still not tired of listening to every. single. day.

FINISHING : nothing at the moment; right now it seems like everything is in good forward motion.

READING : the Psalms.

WATCHING : the last season of Parenthood which begins next week! why must it end?! why?

WEARING : neutrals, neutrals and more neutrals!

WORKING : full time, soon and very soon at the first job I applied to and interviewed for. *miracles
WALKING : so much less than normal and booing this car life because of it; drive on.

TRAVELING : no where far for now, but oh are we making plans for 2015!
DESIRING : for friends to visit us ASAP; so much missing.
CELEBRATING : g's citizenship! Now, we both of have duel citizenship and are feeling pretttty fancy. 

"To the good behind us and the great that awaits. Here's to you, 2015."

Happy New Year Everyone!

**"This month" posts is the newest series on the blog this year, inspired by a fun & fashionable blog called sittinginourtree, written by Kelsey Bethune! I loved the idea of starting this series as a way of  purposefully thinking about each month, and also being able to look back on a summery of what was going on in our lives this year every thirty days. I hope to capture the sunset on the first of every month and not filter them for these posts. As you can see. today's golden hour at Carlsbad beach was absolutely beautiful. We believe this may be the closest beach to us after we move into our own apartment - no complaints here!