A new year..

Photo courtesy of Top Shop.

2012 went surprisingly fast. It was a year of first experiences including carving a pumpkin and participating in the Color Run.

I also turned 30, which honestly, I was dreading. But amazing friends, loving family, and supportive students' parents made turning 30 into something I could appreciate.

I had a lot of great moments this past year, but the best moment if I had to choose would be traveling to Europe, particularly going to the Harry Potter Studio Tour in Watford last summer. It was such an amazing experience getting to see the sets, costumes, props, the special effects used, and animatronics. I was just in awe of everything there. If you love Harry Potter like I do, I highly recommend it! I do still want to go to the Hogwarts in Florida, but I am so glad I got to do the tour in London. Hands down, it was the best experience of 2012.

Here are a few highlights:

Enjoying a pasty before getting on the bus!

Welcome to the world of Harry Potter!

About to enter the Great Hall.

Costumes

The sets

The props

Okay, I got a little carried away with all the photos. :) I had so much fun there!

New Year's Resolutions..?

Like many people, I have made many, many  new year's resolutions in the past which have inevitably failed. Or more accurately I have failed to execute. So this year, I am not making any. Am I giving up? Well, no.

I'm just going to start changing my habits and my attitude. Love more, complain less, appreciate every little blessing in my life, and live for God!

Which leads me to my fast. In the past I tried fasting for a day (or half a day) because of church, but never really thought about why I was doing it. There wasn't really a goal in mind. I visited my friend this past weekend in Atlanta and I attended her church (Victory World Church) and the pastor talked about a 21 day Daniel fast they were starting this coming Sunday. So I am going to start.

For a foodie like me, this is pretty hard. Especially because I love everything that I cannot have: bread, rice, sweets, coffee (Starbucks!), and fried food! But this will discipline not only my body, but spirit as well and I am hoping to continue eating clean for 2013 (because I am not  getting any younger).

I will write more about the fast this Sunday, when I start.

I started some early "spring" cleaning on my apartment (which is a MESS) after I got back from Atlanta.

Now it's time to clean my kitchen pantry!