2009 is going to be a good year! I've slowly started making some changes and and I've decided this is the year when lots of goals will be met. Here's a list of what I hope to accomplish. What are your resolutions?

1. Consistently have fresh flowers in the house.
2. Start a realistic workout routine to have a more healthful lifestyle.
3. Continue building wardrobe with classic pieces and incorporate more color.
4. Find a fulfilling job.
5. Continue making the condo feel more homey and finish painting all rooms.
6. Plant a full spring/summer garden with flowers and a few vegetables.
7. Try two new recipes each month.
8. Start an annual Christmas letter/card tradition and make something in the kitchen for neighbors and close friends.
9. Take a trip with Stephen that doesn't involve visiting or staying with family.
10. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
11. Read at least 8 novels.

Image via Leaca's Philosophy

If you weren't able to get your Christmas cards out in time this year check out these fun New Years cards.

Image via Elum Designs

I'm so excited to finally share all of the goodies I purchased for Christmas gifts from fabulous Etsy sellers! I hope you found equally great things for you and yours and if not, here's some inspiration for next year!

Images via Things are Better with a Parrot, story by mia, blissful images, Things by bubbo-tubbo and simplesong design

Today is a busy travel day for me but I wanted to pop in and say hi! The wedding was beautiful and it was great being able to see my family, if even for a short amount of time!

Stephen and I celebrated our Christmas on the 23rd, which already feels so long ago! {I'll share some Christmas goodies that were both given and received in the coming days!} In the meantime, I'm starting to think about my resolutions/2009 wishes. I hope you have a great week and are still enjoying this magical time of year!

Image via Mrs. French

Whew, it's the first full day of winter and it definitely feels like it! No snow here yet, but cold, cold wind has arrived.

Posting will be light here until the week after Christmas when I'll pop in again to say hi and share some of my favorite Christmas surprises and memories.

I'm off to Arizona on Christmas Eve and then onto Napa for a wedding. I'm really excited to see my family and friends, even if it is for a quick trip. I do hope you have a wonderful holiday, whichever you're celebrating. As always, thanks for reading and I'll write again soon!

Cheers!
Sarah

Image via flickr

This hat seems very appropriate given the weather across the country. Wish it came in woman's sizes.

Image via American Eagle

It's the last weekend before Christmas. Can you believe it? I hope you've finished your shopping and are able to enjoy this magical time of year. What do you have planned? I'm going to a little holiday shindig, celebrating Christmas with my in-laws tonight followed by dinner out at my favorite Mexican restaurant and seeing A Day in Pompeii exhibit with some girlfriends on Sunday. I hope you have your shopping done and fun planned! Happy weekend friends!

Image via flickr

How dreamy do these cashmere throws look? If I only had $495 to spend on a throw... {Thanks Mrs. French for the introduction!}

Image via sofia cashmere

Time just ranked the 50 best websites of 2008. They're all great but I especially like these:

Digital Vaults- More than 1,200 historical records have been digitalized for you to visually explore. Think things like the first man on the moon, Greta Garbo's documents to become a U.S. citizen and private presidential letters. Fascinating.

Free Rice- Simply the easiest way to give to others. For each trivia answer you get correct, the site donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program to help end world hunger.

Urban Dictionary- The dictionary of dictionaries. This site defines all the slang terms you're hearing.

Apartment Therapy- Having little money and having a chic abode have nothing to do with each other and Apartment Therapy proves it. Galleries, forums, ideas and free decorating advice. What more could you want?

Zeer- Now you can actually know what you're putting into your body. Zeer features millions of grocery items with listed ingredients, nutritional information and taste reviews.

Picnik- A super easy photo editing software for those of us that still haven't mastered photoshop.

Searchme- Just like google but cooler. Where google features lists of websites, Searchme has pictures. Google reads top to bottom, Searchme reads left to right. Perfect if you're a visual person and want to see if the site offers what you need without having to click through. {pictured above}

Hulu- A hub for TV shows, Hulu offers both cable and network shows on one site. It also offers movies. Best of all though, the picture can be adjusted to full screen instead of the thumb nail size picture seen on many network websites.

Someecards- If your sense of humor is just a little off center this is the e-card site for you. Think cards that read "May you never let the crumbling economy get in the way of fulfilling my Christmas list", "Sorry your birthday is overshadowed by the holiday season" and "Happy Hannukah to a Jew who celebrates Christmas". Love it!

Carbon Rally- Save energy and help reduce global warming by taking simple challenges like shortening your shower by 2 minutes or properly inflating your car tires to help with fuel emissions. Compete with people locally and globally.

Kiva- Kiva lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty. As little as $25 is all it takes.

For all you iPhone lovers out there, check out TIME's list of the Top 10 Applications. I definitely found a few new ones to download. {image above is the Pandora application via TIME}

Yet, another awesome handmade birthday card to share with you. I'm definitely loving how it would be appropriate for old or young, male or female. {image via amyb13}

105 years ago today the Wright Brothers had their first lighter-than-air flight. That's pretty dang amazing when you think about where we are today!

If you're still searching for last minute wrapping goodies these embossed hang tags are perfect. {image via TheHollister25}

This little one has a great grasp on life and death. It's adorable.

I have a tree full of ornaments my mom passed down to me. Each ornament evokes a memory and for nearly every one I can remember when I received it. So, last year I decided to purchase only one ornament each year. Something that will remind me of the year past. Last year I actually got two- a frame with a picture from our wedding and a gold dipped leaf I fell in love with when my mom visited Charlotte.

This year I'm going with this beautiful white clay dove. In this turbulent year I've found myself hoping over and over again for peace and love- exactly what this beautiful dove stands for. And as we move into 2009, it is what I will continue to hope for in this turbulent world. {image via paloma's nest}

If you love architecture as much as I do I think you'll enjoy this slideshow of 100 unusual projects around the world.

I have very mixed feelings about the auto bailout but definitely know it impacts more than just Detroit. This interactive CNN map shows what each state contributes in the area of jobs, parts, sales and wages. I definitely learned a lot and I hope you will too. {image via flickr}

A few days ago I stumbled upon this vintage white milk glass vase on Etsy but sadly, didn't act fast enough and it quickly sold. Then yesterday I did a quick search on Ebay and found the exact same one. And for only $3.75 plus shipping! It's the perfect size- 5 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall. I can't wait to put a large peony in it this summer.

Love this sweater dress. It's not too short and comes in just the right color. {image via Banana Republic}

Thanks to Erin, I now have finally found my holiday wreath. I'm thinking one for the front door and one for the back.

FYI- this wreath does not come with the bow. :(
{image via PotteryBarn}

For as long as I can remember Anchor Steam Christmas Ale has found its way into my families annual festivities. It's released from early November through mid-January with each year featuring a different brew and newly designed label. This year marks its 34th year. I love seeing all of them together. {image via Anchor Brewing}

For one of the best giveaways this holiday season be sure to check out Design Mom's 12 Days of Christmas. All you have to do is leave comments- easy, peasy.

I cannot get over the beauty of Mrs. French's new pinks and purples collection. {images via blissfulimages}

Check out this delightful set of free, printable holiday gift tags. I wish I wasn't done wrapping! :) {image via delight.com}

When I took our Christmas decorations out last week I realized we only have one stocking which definitely won't do. I love how fun this one is and love it even more now that it's 50% off. {FYI- I just got an email-if you enter "SHIP IT" at checkout you'll get free shipping on top of the great discount!}

I love my iPhone but one of the things I've missed was being able to listen to my favorite public radio programs live. Not anymore. Now with the touch of a button, the Public Radio Application allows stations around the country to stream live directly to your iPhone or iTouch. Seriously, this phone keeps getting better.

Loving this stylish little tray I spotted on Design*Sponge. {image via Jayson Home & Garden}

The ceiling mounted light in our hallway have got to go. I'm really loving the clean lines of this one. Now, I just need to choose a color. {image via Lighting Direct}

My friend Tracy is having her first baby next month. She loves to cook so I sent her this cookbook. {image via Williams-Sonoma}

I'm still trying to work accessories in outfits. I'm loving this bracelet. {image via The Met Store}

I never shop at Abercrombie but wow do they have some cute scarves. {image via Abercrombie & Fitch}

This past weekend I indulged in quite possibly my favorite holiday treat, peppermint ice cream. I have my mom to thank for introducing me to this deliciousness. So this past weekend when I picked a cartoon up, offered some to Stephen and he decided he didn't like, I quietly smiled with a grin and thought... "Good, now I don't have to share." ;)

If you're looking for sylish, printable labels you must check out Jordan's new endeavor Stuck Labels. {images via Oh Happy Day}

Lovely mirrored advent calendar from my favorite store. {image via Target}

Doesn't this look fun? {image via USAToday}

How cute are these?! {Although I really don't understand how fingerless gloves keep your hands warm!} {image via knitsational}

Isn't this cape beautiful? It would work wonderfully over holiday dresses or with jeans and flats for a dinner out. {image via sarahseven}

I recently saw these flats in person and they are super cute. I love the price and especially love that they look like the much more expensive Loeffler Randall ones I've seen at department stores! Gotta love knockoffs! :) {image via Gap}

Today the search is over for my quest to find the perfect moss! It's a beautiful shade of chartreuse and looks very real. {image via PotteryBarn}

We've been doing some decorating to the condo and I wanted to share what's been done. I hope you like everything as much as we do!