Hello, Late Twenties!

I turned 27 on August 22 and spent the day with my mom, had dinner with family, and grabbed a few drinks with some of my sweet friends. It was a really great day. :)

Last year on my birthday I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish in the next year. A few examples: go on a date from an online dating site, switch banks, sell my car, go to the dentist, take two vacations.

This year I asked friends what I should include and they suggested I buy a road bike, read a book a month, and apply to grad school. Some are on the boring side, some should be fun, and others are going to be a total challenge.

So here is this years list:

1. Learn something new each month.
2. Complain less.
3. Apply to grad school.
4. Buy a road bike.
5. Sell my car.
6. Pay off my higher interest student loan.
7. Exercise 15 minutes a day.
8. Keep my clothes off the floor.
9. Spend more time with family.
10. Wake up earlier.
11. Go overseas.
12. Read a book a month.
13. Take a hip hop class.
14. Vote in local elections.
15. Learn to homebrew.
16. Take time off from work every 3 months.
17. Call my grandma more often.
18. Cook a new recipe every week.
19. Open a Roth IRA.
20. Visit an old friend.
21. Wear suntan lotion every day.
22. Make a new friend.
23. Buy local and in season produce.
24. Ask for help.
25. Take more pictures.
26. Get a new tattoo.
27. Go after what I want.

Here's to another year of life! xo, Colleen 

Also remember my Summer Rules? Check out this blog Summer Goals. Happy unofficial last weekend of summer!

Summer Rules

Jupiter, Florida

Summer is flying by! I can't believe it's already July. I've decided that to make the most of it I really need to set some rules for myself.

So here they are:

1. Leave work by 6:30pm every night (minus emergencies).
2. Take two vacations. One down, one to go. I just got back from visiting friends in West Palm Beach!
3. Read three books before summer is over. I'm currently reading The Happiness Project.
4. Ride my bike more, drive my car less.
5. Involve myself in something extremely fun every weekend.
6. Spend time with family.
7. Go to the beach.
8. Complete applications for graduate school.
9. Get a real haircut.
10. Break a few rules!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

I hosted Thanksgiving for the first time and finally made these pumpkin cookies. I was a little overwhelmed at first but I think everything turned out okay with the help of my mom. :)

It has been amazing having time off from work! I have been spending time with family and friends and yesterday I went thrifting.

Here are a few things from around the web. Enjoy the rest of your weekend! xo

I love this hat.

Maybe I need a nerdy boyfriend.

A church converted into a house.

Apple and cheddar scones.

My Cute Mom

I was feeling under the weather today and stayed home from work. When I woke up feeling sick I thought about my mom. I am a super independent lady but I still always look to my mom when something isn't going right or I am feeling sick. Tonight we are getting together and I am really looking forward to seeing her.


I also can't get over how cute I think her style was when she was in her twenties (and now).

[My mom is on the right]

October Weekends

I watched the sunrise this morning after taking my friend Lina to the airport. Somehow watching the day begin makes me feel closer to God.

I went home and took a little nap before going to breakfast at Sabrina’s with my little sister Corinne. We also visited a thrift store, a vintage shop and Old Navy where I thought about purchasing these shorts and this jacket until I saw how long the line was.

We also picked up a loaf of bread from Sarcone’s. I’m thinking of making a pot of chili tomorrow and serving the bread with it. Yum!

*What are you doing this weekend?

*Have you seen any good movies lately?

Tonight I’m going to see ‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story’!

**Also here's a picture of me and my friend Sara on her motorcycle. :)

xo....Colleen

Pain a gift?

"Pain a gift? I wondered. But I realized it was true. In my grief, God was giving me new insights and new friends. And I came to know God better than ever because I needed Him to help me through my grief."

- Charlotte Hutchison

via: Nancy Wright Keller (my mom)

Hello June

I had a feeling you would bring wonderful things and so far you aren’t letting me down.

The past week and a half has been busy! I moved out of my little studio which means I completed my goal to live a year on my own. I moved into a new house with great roommates onto a street that I love. I accepted my dream job and danced away at a lifelong friends wedding.

Packing up my apartment.

Me and my sisters at our friend Erin's wedding.

The best part is that I don’t start my new job until the first week of July so I can sit back and enjoy the month of June. I am seriously happier then ever. :)

Happy Birthday

It's my older sister's birthday today! We are heading over the bridge to Collingswood, New Jersey for dinner with my mom. :)

Me and Meghan holding little Corinne in February 1989

Me, Corinne, and Meghan February 2010 

Love to you, big sister.

xo
Colleen

The Senior

My younger sister Corinne is officially a senior in college. I feel like it was just yesterday, I was leaving for college and she was a tiny little thing about to start high school.

Corinne (on the right) and her cute friends Brittney and Brielle.

I’m so proud of you! There is an end in sight but enjoy it while it lasts. :)

All my love,
Colleen

Mother's Day Weekend

This weekend we cheered for my nephew Ayden as he began a new baseball season.

And then we headed over to Memphis Taproom for lunch and beer mimosas (Ayden had cranberry juice:) to celebrate Mother’s Day. Ayden made cards for all the women in his life. What a stud.