happy new year!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a fun, relaxing, love-filled holiday season. I know we did! Holidays are more fun when you're married :)

We kicked off vacation with the NC State v. ECU basketball game and seeing Anchorman 2. Both really, really great shows! Then we headed to Salisbury to do our big Craddock Christmas. With 17 people and a new baby, we decided to play Secret Santa and White Elephant. It was a big hit! We always have so much fun when we're all together, and we were ALL together for the first time in a long time! We headed back to New Hill for a Cameron Christmas late on the 24th and did nothing but eat and bum around all Christmas day - my definition of perfect. I made sausage gravy and biscuits and a cheese danish, and we also had gravlaks (my dad's are TO.DIE.FOR) and the most unbelievably delicious Christmas dinner I've ever had. Chateaubriand with homemade horseradish sauce, baked potatoes and asparagus. I'm drooling! We ended the day by going to bed at 8:30 :) Payton and I did some post-Christmas shopping on the 26th and then headed home. I can't remember the last time I was so relaxed. I cleaned and organized and caught up on some projects I had been putting off, all while wearing my owl PJs. I didn't want it to end!

On Saturday we had our December (double) date night at Angus Barn! Payton and I had never been before, so we thought we'd splurge for the holidays. We had a great time with Pam and Wesley, even though we weren't overly impressed (DON'T SHOOT). I've been completely spoiled my whole life when it comes to steaks, so I never order them in restaurants because I'm always disappointed. Although my filet was delicious, it just didn't stand up next to my dad's! Plus, my plate was so screaming hot that it actually cooked my what-started-out-as-perfectly-medium steak to well done. Boo! I'm sorry to all the die-hard AB-ers out there... but come to my house for a steak dinner and you'll understand! I did absolutely love the atmosphere and the rest of the meal, however. Overall, AB is so charming at the holidays and it was totally worth it. Plus, Payton made steak and eggs with the leftovers the next day and it was so, so good!

And now we're here. 2014 has arrived and I'm looking forward to a fresh new year! I have never made or liked new year's resolutions, but I would like to make a little (realistic) to-do list. Here it goes:

1. Write down a favorite moment from each day in my new Erin Condren planner. It will keep me feeling grateful!
2. Try a new Raleigh area restaurant each month.
3. Spend more quality time with Snowball, and get him back into light work.
4. Plan a trip for our one year anniversary.
5. Convince Payton to buy that truck he's been dying for.
6. See a show or two. Or three. (First up - Les Miserables in February with my mama!!!)
7. Put more effort into hanging out with friends and being more social. I'm so young, but act so old!
8. Have a big summer barbecue at our house.
9. Finish 4 books. That may seem sad, but I just don't read very often...
10. Eat less junk food/snack less.
11. Floss (almost) every day.
12. Be a more patient, understanding wife and appreciate my husband's talents and efforts more.
13. Take Scout on more walks.
14. Watch more Netflix. We just started Breaking Bad and I'm in the middle of Revenge.
(and one for good luck)
15. Take full advantage of our new..........................................

Next time, the secret will be revealed! I'm really dragging this out and making it a bigger deal than it is, but it's very exciting to me! Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!

PS- I need to send a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE congratulations to one of my favorite couples in the universe and two of our best friends, Camry and Eric, on their engagement!!! You two deserve all the happiness in the world and I could not be more thrilled for you!