Resolutions Update- December 2013

I know there are still a few days left in 2013,but Matt and I leave for Virginia on Monday.So I'm going to do my last resolution update now. This has been my BEST year at making and keeping my new year resolutions and I have already started thinking about my 2014 goals.

My personal goals for 2013:
1. Blog 2 times a month
2.Do personal scripture study
3. Read 50 books
4. Lose 50 pounds


Goal #1-

I have 100% with this goal and I'm really happy about it. I made this goal thinking that 2 times a month would be super easy to do,but some months it was challenging to have 2 posts. I'm really grateful that I have kept up this blog,because it is so fun to look back at all the fun times Matt and I have had together since being married.I can't wait to see what makes the blog the next year!

Goal #2- 

For my personal scripture study I have been reading the Doctrine and Covenants. I have only one section left,so I'm confident I will finish on time. I have learned so much from setting aside time to read my scriptures on my own. My testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ has grown so much this year and I know doing personal scripture study has been a huge help with that.

Goal #3-
This goal was HARD! I would call myself a reader,but I have never done well with having requirements with books. I also underestimated how long it would take to read 50 books! I did read 28 books which is at least 2 books a months which is pretty good. I also started 4 books that I'm hoping to finish eventually.

Goal #4-

This goal I focused on the most this year. I have made the goal to lose weigh in years past,but this year I finally was able to stick with it. I ended up losing 40 pounds and have kept it off! I've also learned more about food and health,by making changes to my diet. I never realized how much bad food makes you feel like crap before. I'm hoping to be able to lose even more weight this next year.

Thanks everyone who supported me or encouraged me this year! 

I went down 2 pant sizes

40 pound comparison picture-same shirt

Sugarbush Farm

On Saturday we decided to drive up to Vermont and visit a cheese and maple syrup farm. My cousin had visited it a few months before and had brought us back some of the cheese they make,so we were excited to see it for ourselves.  It's about a 2 hour drive to the farm and there was snow on the ground! Which was big change from Mass,because it hasn't really snowed here yet. They have about 14 different cheeses and they let you sample all of them and their maple syrup! So yummy! It was a fun trip.

We put our tree up right after Thanksgiving dinner!

the view was beautiful

the buckets they hang on the trees 

the machine they use to make the syrup

we loved this covered bridge 

it was sunny ha

On Friday we went to Yankee Candle the flagship store and it was such a crazy experience. We were in the store for 2 hours! And our noses were on smell overload. My favorite part was the Christmas area. They made it look like a German Forest and it snows every 4 minutes! 

The huge candle that could burn for 20 years!

Thanksgiving 2013

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving this year. My parents got into town the Monday before and stayed until the Monday after. It was so nice having family in Massachusetts!  Monday night they got to our apartment pretty late and then Tuesday we just hung around our apartment because I still had work and Matt had one class. After I got home from work we headed up to Boston to do some temple work at the  temple. We got there a little late for the session so we decided to go eat. We wanted to eat at Panera, but it had closed so we found this hole in the wall Mexican place that we didn't want to get our hopes up about,because the Mexican in Mass is really lacking. But it was so good!! And they didn't charge for chips and salsa which is also rare out here. After dinner we went back to the temple and did sealing and we had a wonderful experience! My sister Jessi had booked us an amazing hotel near the temple,so we headed right over after we finished at the temple. We were not disappointed!! The hotel was so beautiful!

In the morning at the hotel they had the best breakfast! An omelet bar made to order. We wanted to explore Boston with my parents,but the weather was looking dreary,but we decided to venture out anyway. We made it to the Old North Church and Paul Revere's house when it started down pouring we rushed back to the car and decided to skip the sight seeing and just head back home.


Thursday we slept in and watched the Macy's  Thanksgiving Day Parade and started making dinner around noon. We were able to have all the food on the table by 4:30! It was delicious and definitely a Thanksgiving I will remember. Now enjoy the pictures!

my face about touching the raw turkey 

peeling potatoes 

making rolls

finished turkey!

food!!

the pies

matching parents 

we made a pecan pie b/c apparently new englanders don't eat it

The temple!