Hey! (Waves madly!) We're home! I missed you guys! My in-laws gifted us all with the most amazing trip to Orlando for Christmas, and I can't wait to tell you all about it. The only bummer was that Neel was sick and still is, poor man. We got back last night in time to run one load of laundry, order Chinese for delivery and watch the first Harry Potter before falling into bed. Pretty much the perfect New Years Eve in my book. Minus all the coughing.

I start every year with a new (and not-so-new) set of goals, so here we are for 2014. I think after I write this I'll see how I did with last year's goals (wink). I always pull out my favorite line from Pirates of the Caribbean at times like these, "They're more like guidelines, really."

1. Drink water first thing every day (wait, let me grab my water!)
2. Revamp my wardrobe with things I love, leaving behind impulse purchases and with an eye toward streamlining colors, lines, etc.
3. Study a technical aspect of photography each month (e.g. off camera flash, kelvin, etc. What should I start with in January?)
4. Do another 365 this year (more on this later)
5. Find a means (through book or class) to learn flower arranging.
6. Leave behind last-minute Lauren. (I'll probably start working on this one in November or December.)
7. Walk every day.
8. Clear the crap out of my house (8 weeks that Cal is gone, I'm looking at you for this)
9. Tend to my friendships and let go of what needs letting go.
10. Clear out my photography/blogging clutter. This means establishing an editing work flow, ditching old photos and getting straight with some web stuff.
11. Reach for more creative project and collaborations.
12. Find a volunteer project
13. Open my heart to love more and judge less
14. Leap. It was my word last year, and I didn't do it enough. I think I'll use it again. Leap.

So there you have it. Fourteen for 2014. We'll see how I come along with this list-o-rama, but it seems like a good enough place to start with a brand new year. That an loads of laundry and a trip to the grocery store. Life marches on, doesn't it? Last year was pretty good, wasn't it? Let's make this year even better.

1. I think this year is the most scattered I've, no we've, ever been at Christmas. Sometime during my last minute wrapping on Christmas Eve, I lost a vital Christmas present for Cal. Then my mom and I lost two bags of Christmas presents (we found them), and then Neel lost a stocking stuffer. When I went to look for that I found my missing present. I never made neighbor gifts, which is something I generally look forward to every year, and not all of our holiday cards made it out the door. But you know what, we had a great Christmas despite all of that.

2. I think, all things being equal, I did pretty well at not spending money on myself this Christmas. I may have spent a leeeetle more than intended on other people, but I am totally down with that. No guilt there. Trouble is, I still want things. The more things change.

3. I think the second funniest story of the week (getting permission to tell you the first, maybe next week) was during the time my mom was telling us about her time in Italy and explaining a teeny tiny bit of the Italian language to us. As she's describing the various pronunciations of the letter "C," Neel's looking at an antique photo of St. Mark's Cathedral I gave her. "CHA-the-dral," (emphasis on the CHA) he sounds out, as Cal and I lean over and say, "Uh, that's in English." I think my mom is still laughing. Guess you had to be there.

4. I think our Christmas day beach walk is one of my favorite traditions. Last year was warmer; this year cold, cold but crisp and sunny. And spectacularly beautiful. I'm pulling hard to do it again on New Years Day too.

5. I think, SPOILER ALERT, we're all sick. It's my dad's fault. He brought illness upon this house. Poor Neel has it the worst of all of us, and really, I don't blame my dad (that much). I think it's one of those things that when you take your foot off the accelerator things fall apart.

Not sure how much I'll be around at the start of next week, but I'll pop in to ring in to wish everyone Happy New Year! Love you guys!

happy new year! 14 in 14 {still + life}

five things, december 27