Happy New Year 2013

Hello friends!  Happy New Year!!  How are you?

So wow.  It’s been a while since I’ve been here – nearly two weeks.  And no it wasn’t because of the end of the Mayan Calendar.  #worstapocalypseever   Actually, I hadn’t really planned to take an official blogging hiatus, but can I tell you?  Being unplugged for the past couple of weeks has been really great.  A wonderful chance to recharge and just enjoy the holidays with my family.

On Christmas Eve we spent the day with my parents at their place on the lake. 

And then on Christmas we spent a lovely, quiet day at home.

{{{pssst…hey santa…i love my new macro lens!! }}}

So usually the week between Christmas and New Year’s I spend at home doing extremely boring things like taking down decorations and watching Real Housewives marathons.  But this year was special – Tripp’s mom was celebrating a milestone birthday this year (don’t worry Pi…your secret is safe with me ).  So instead of staying at home in my sweats catching up on my Bravo, this year we went on a cruise.

We drove down to Galveston the day after Christmas and the next afternoon we boarded our Carnival cruise to Cozumel, Mexico!

It was the first time for Tripp, Kelsey and me to go on a cruise and I have to say – five days of no cooking and no cleaning was heavenly.  Throw in a day at the beach and, well I’d say it was win-win!

Kelsey’s favorite thing…besides drinking beer at 10:30 in the morning on the beach (no wait that was mine )…the little towel critters left by our cabin steward every night.

Aren’t they so cute!!

Kelsey was so delighted by these little cuties that I promised her I would make her a towel critter every night until she goes back to school.  #dontmakepromisesyoucantkeep

I will say this about a cruise – the entire crew is so wonderful and they work really hard to make the passengers happy.  Our cruise director, Jen, greeted each morning with her chipper British accent announcing the activities of the day (Kelsey and I were veeerrryyyy tempted to try the line dancing class).  And every evening at dinner we were treated to a little dance number by the wait staff.  Apple Bottom Jeans was a real crowd pleaser.  Because what says ‘elegant dinner night’ more than Flo-Rida and T-Pain. 

All joking aside though, it was really nice to spend time together with Tripp’s mom to celebrate her birthday. 

We got back to Galveston on New Year’s Eve.  Just in time to ring in the new year with our friends in Houston.

And then finally, we drove home on New Year’s Day.  Which also happened to be Tripp’s mom’s actual birthday.  A ten-hour car ride…he really knows how to treat his momma right.  

So here we are friends. 2013.  It should only take me four months or so to get used to typing that.   But it’s all good.  I’m looking forward to the new year.  Love the idea of a blank slate.  A fresh start.  New possibilities.

I’m also excited about a new photography class starting up this week and diving into to my first 365 photography project. 

So with that I think I’m going to wrap things up tonight.  I’d love to hear about your holidays or any classes/fun projects you’re embarking on.  Or if you’ve heard any good hip-hop songs lately. 

Wishing you a New Year full of peace and joy friends!

Love, Kelly