justem: little bits of this and that

New Year.

Remember Us to Life is my favorite album of the year, which says a lot, because some of my most favorite bands and artists released albums in 2016. This song is one of many near perfect ones on the album. "She sets her alarm, five minutes to midnight. And wakes just in time to say her goodbyes. Thanking the old year for all it has brought her. No mention of the things it took away. She's just glad she gets to be around to see another spring come to this town..."  That's kind of how I feel about 2016. Everybody keeps talking about how awful this year has been. I can't disagree - I spent a lot of Christmas Eve last weekend staring at a chair in my aunt and uncle's living room. One year ago I sat in that living room with my Grandpa. He was getting older, his dementia worsening. I don't mean to rag on my family...but dude. Nobody was talking to him. He just sat there all alone in that chair while the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve carried on around him. So, I sat down next to him. Held his hand. Talked to him about where I lived and which kids were mine and things he remembered from his childhood. He told me about snowmobiling and some story that I didn't quite understand other that it maybe involved a much younger version of my grandpa and too much alcohol. It made him laugh. It made me laugh. Our conversation was one that made little sense, but it was everything. I had no idea that within a month he would be gone. This year that chair was empty, along with a little piece of my heart.

I also lost my step-grandpa in 2016. The very first day of 2016. In case there was any mistaking that this year would be filled with ups and some devastating downs. So much sadness for so many people this year. But...dwelling on that sadness seems so counterproductive. I'm not saying that we can't recognize the difficult parts of the past year, but I plan to just say goodbye to 2016 and look forward to what 2017 has to bring and be thankful that I am here to live, to love, to make the most of every day. I wish everyone the best in the new year. I'm just so glad I get to be around to see another spring come to this town...

Five for Friday

The last time I did a "Five for Friday" post was in January of 2015. Think of how many fun Fridays I missed sharing with you all (and by "all" I mean "all three of you who still follow this blog!")  Five for Friday was always one of my favorite ways to share a bunch of fun, things quickly and rather easily, so maybe it will be one that I can commit to trying this year? I'm a bit out of practice...here goes nothing:

1. I know Christmas is over, but I just had to share my new holiday jam - Sharon Jones was one of the many amazing entertainers who passed away during 2016. This song has been on replay at my house for the past couple of weeks...it's pretty much perfect. :)

2. My husband and I had a little holiday party for some of our local couple friends last week. I love entertaining, but I never do it! On a whim, we decided to have an adults-only gathering, and it was a huge success. We were lucky enough to have a wine distributor as a guest, and he brought a bunch of really amazing bottles of wine...or so my wine-drinking friends tell me. I am more of an egg nog + extras girl, myself! I made a bunch of food to serve, including this Crostini with Thyme-Roasted Tomatoes (decent) and this Walnut-Pepper Spread (kinda weird), but my favorite was the charcuterie board I made including lots of Wisconsin cheeses, some meat, fruit, and nuts. It was so pretty and delicious that I made another one for Christmas Eve with my family. I know I'm late to the party when it comes to food trends, but this might just be my new go-to thing make when I have to bring an appetizer someplace.

3. Did you make it to any great after-Christmas sales? I just may have gone to Target...twice. ;) 70% off?! Can't beat that! The first trip I saved $134 and the second time I saved over $30. I stocked up on tissue paper, wrapping, labels, teacher gifts for next year, and of course, a few things I didn't really need but couldn't resist. My favorite finds were a pair of green tree lanterns and a cute Christmas Tree throw that ended up costing me about 7 dollars (in-store deals appear to be much better than online deals!). Next year when I want to buy everything at Target for full price before the holidays, remind me of this post!

4. Do you have a New Year's Eve tradition?  For as long as I can remember, my husband and I have stayed up late and cooked for each other. I don't eat meat, and he doesn't eat dairy, which means many of our favorite meals cannot be shared between us. I love this tradition, though I still haven't decided what he is going to make for me yet!  It's probably between my old favorite standby (leek and lemon risotto) and homemade vegetable potpie. I'm clearly a comfort foods kind of girl! We also usually have a special desert with the kids and do something fun like play games and put on funny mustaches. It's not very exciting, but it's something I look forward to every year! I'd love to hear about your traditions! 

5. Are you in need of something to do on New Year's Day?  Never fear PBS (maybe just in WI?) is running an Anne of Green Gables Marathon! It's settled...I will be in front of the television all day watching Anne with an E. (Okay, in reality, I will tape it all and hopefully watch it at some point in the next couple of months...but oh, how lovely it would be to have an entire day to watch a childhood favorite!) I wonder if Gilbert Blythe will be a dreamy to me as he was when I was 12. ;)

 

Update...

It's been almost a year since my last post on this blog. A YEAR. I can honestly say that this is the longest in the history of me as a blogger that I have NOT blogged.  A lot has changed in the past {not quite} 365 days.  I haven't been scrapbooking. At all. Contrary to popular belief, I haven't given it up altogether, however it is just not something that is a priority for me at this point. I spent 10 years deeply involved in the scrapbooking industry. Design teams, publications, etc. It was so fun, but at the end it was also a whole lot of work. I wasn't enjoying it anymore. I waited until the last minute to complete my assignments. I turned things in late. I just wasn't into it...and that's wasn't fair to anybody.  So, I stepped down from it all.  And, I have to tell you, it felt really good. I haven't created anything since July...and I'm finally now beginning to feel the urge to create again. I feel like it's the classic story of the burnt-out scrapper...it happens to lots of us. I love seeing my work of all my talented friends, and I know that someday, maybe someday soon I will do it again.

What am I doing now? Being a mom and a wife. Teaching again...which is a huge shock to the system when you haven't done it in three years. Instagramming. Reading. Exploring. Enjoying life. 

So...this blog. What is to become of it?  I don't know. I used to be a real blogger. Like...real posts about real things rather than just post after post about scrapbooking layouts.  Of course, now I have a job in the real world, so I have to watch what I say. ;) I would like to promise that I am going to blog again in 2017 - that this blog will be revived, and I will be a diligent blogger... but I also need to be realistic. There's a pretty decent chance that 2017 will be a big repeat of 2016. But, I'm not quite ready to say goodbye forever. I've never aspired to be a famous blogger or a famous scrapbooker or a famous anything. This has always just been my place to just be myself. Thanks to everyone who has been a friend to me and a blog reader all these years - in the words of my three year old, "You're the best!"