Food Baby and 2012 Favorite Things

Gap Ponte Pocket Dress (splurge) :: Anthropologie Kirklees Sweater Coat (pretty option) :: Anthropologie Bow Tied Beauty Boots (similar) :: Hue Tights :: Michael Kors Watch (similar) :: Forever 21 Square Link Necklace (recent) :: BCBG Pave Leather Bracelet (Great Dupe) :: Forever 21 Pyramid Link Bracelet (splurge, save)

School Drop Off. Eighty pounds of food for lunch. Starbucks. Another eighty pounds of delicious food cooked by mama for supper. More berry Chantilly cake. Clementines.

This dress is just the thing to cover bulging food babies created by my mama's scrumptious eats. Yep, they're still visiting, and I may not fit into any fitted clothes for a while. I come from a family who likes to shop and on one of our several shopping excursions, I did find this beauty that may be worn to death due to its forgiving silhouette:








Ann Taylor Orange Shift Dress

$25 from $138 with their current in store promo of an extra 50% off sale items. Comfy, and the regular 2 would've fit perfectly, but there weren't any left, so the 4 was purchased with no sizing issues. The dress is shorter, sassier, and more mod than shown in the stock photo. Thought I'd share since this will transition nicely into spring and even summer.

My folks are here for another four days. Please pray for me that I can resist the half a cake left taunting me from the cold depths of the fridge.

I was also recently tagged by blogger friend Franziska, so I thought I'd join in on naming some of my favorite things from 2012 (sorry, F, that I'm just now getting around to posting this - hosting family is hard work!):

Favorite Makeup

Hmm...I tend to stick with what I like when it comes to makeup, as my SAHM routine consists of: tinted moisturizer, light powder, blush, lip stain, mascara. I did switch out my blush last year to Nars Torrid, and I love its lasting pigmentation; I layer it over a light dab of Cover Girl creme blush so it lasts all day. I also invested in a Clarisonic Mia 2 via Amazon, and my dry/splotchy Colorado skin has recovered exponentially, paired with the Philosophy Purity face wash.

Favorite Book

I am a voracious reader whenever possible: I read the news daily from several sources, follow blogs faithfully, get obsessed with subject matters and will read a dozen books on them, and there's nothing more rewarding than getting enchanted by a work of fiction. Despite being a former English major, I'm usually not too choosy when it comes to selection, but I'm fairly judgy upon finishing a book. I did read quite a few books last year but of
the bunch, these are a few authors I'd recommend for easy, entertaining reads:

Joshilyn Jackson: a longtime favorite, her A Grown Up Kind of Pretty is thoroughly enjoyable. I'd recommend every one of her novels, and a few are connected, so I'd read them in order by publication date.

Elle Lothlorien: She's an e-book publisher, but her storylines are original, her dialogues are hysterical, and if you like romance without the cheesiness, you'll be glad you picked up her books. The Frog Prince is my favorite, but her other efforts are just as quirky and funny.

Michael Connelly: I discovered his Harry Bosch series early last year and have read most of them (they began in the 80s). I like well-written, smart detective novels, and you must read this series if you're also a whodunit genre fan.

Favorite Song/Album

I'm embarrassed to say this, but this former obsessed-with-Indie-bands gal can barely keep up with what's new on Top 20. I listen mainly when driving around on errands, so my choices are definitely judge-worthy: the new Flo-Rida tune, a few Mumford & Sons ditties, and (cringe) that Maroon 5 collab with Wiz Khalifa. Judge away, I can't even think of the specific names for these songs. I do have the best of U2 on CD and on repeat in my car, and I'm contemplating just filling my CD player with my 90s CDs.

Favorite Movie

Act of Valor. Two reasons. Primarily, I enjoyed the movie. Hits very, very close to home for me. The ending made me cry. I'm not a movie crier, so that says something. Tecumseh's poem? More crying. I also rank this as my favorite movie because most of my movie watching is done via On Demand or Redbox, and my memory is hazy as to what actually was released this year. I mean, I think I finally watched Inception this past year, but I guess it doesn't count since it's already a few years old. My #2 favorite, by the way.

One Thing I'm Grateful For

I won't enumerate the obvious ones, but I'm going to have to mimic Franziska by saying that I'm really fortunate to have forged wonderful e-friendships with fellow bloggers this year. We live all over the place, with varied backgrounds/families/professions/schools of thought, but those very things have had me learn so many new perspectives last year. I definitely can dress myself with a little more finesse and effort, and I hope to continue to meet new blogger friends while building stronger friendships with the ones I met this past year - you know who you are!

Greatest Challenge

Most definitely Husband's frequent absences due to work obligations. I don't and can't get too much into it, but he's been away for work-related reasons for approximately half of his career since college, the bulk of that time being during our dating/married life. It is what it is, I'm extremely proud of his extraordinary achievements and recognition in his career, and he is truly someone I and others respect, in every way, but the absences do create frustration, worry, stress on occasion, especially with Baby Warrior growing old enough to start being cognizant of his daddy being gone.

Goals/Hopes for 2013

A lot of major events are happening this year for our family, including possible confirmation of a temporary move in 2014, perhaps adding to our family, and weddings/trips/family separation as Husband prepares for a looooong overseas trip for work. My goals are to improve my patience, find something to giggle about every day, handle horrendous, ridiculous situations with grace, and learn to rely on others for help when needed. Oh, and make it out to see dear friends on both coasts this summer.

My fingers are cramping from excessive typing after being semi-MIA this week, but please feel free to post your own 2012 Best Ofs!