homemade peanut butter cups

So, here we are.  Day thirteen of twenty thirteen.  A lot of people didn't think we'd make it this far, whether it be God's wrath, Mayan prophecy, or zombie apocalypse, but we're still here, alive and kickin', brains intact.

It's hard to believe that this month is about half over already.  I know I'm constantly commenting on how fast the time flies by, but seriously... it does.

To recap this month so far:

 

My New Year's celebrations were on the seriously mellow side this time around, but I have to tell you... I'm not at all ashamed to inform you that I called it a night at the respectable hour of 9:45pm this January 31st.  Or that I spent the better part of the morning January 1st scrubbing the greasy crud from my kitchen stove. 

These simple acts, cleaning my home because I have the day off and the urge for a project, snuggling up to my sweetheart hours before any fireworks are thinking of exploding in colorful celebration, make me feel good.  It's just that... well... simple.

a look back

It's officially 2013, friends.  I'm so glad that we've made it this far together.  And even gladder that 2012 carried with it so many amazing experiences, transitions, and new opportunities.  It hasn't been the easiest year, that's for sure, but, as they say, the best things in life usually take the most work.

I'll happily continue to load up on the tough stuff, so long as life promises to keep throwing its amazingness in my general direction.  I have a sneaking suspicion that 2013 is going to be off the charts.  I'm gonna hustle my butt off to make it that way, anyway.

But before I launch into ideas and recipes to kick off the new year, I want to take a look back at some favorite posts from 2012.

Will you reminisce with me, friends?

oatmeal sweet potato bread

 

I read an article yesterday about two of my least favorite things in this world; fear and trust.  I personally have a difficult relationship with both of these concepts, mainly because I collect and store fears with more determination than I ever have any salt or vinegar, and I turn my back to trust just as persistently.

The article states that:

"The good news is that fear is merely an illusion. Fear is something we invent. The only thing that    gives it any power is when we listen to it.

So since we create fear, that means we can destroy it. Fear loses its power over us if we stop listening to it. 

When it creeps into our head, we can acknowledge its presence, look for what we can learn from the fear message, thank it for its concerns, and then refuse to listen. 

It’s a choice that we can make."