New Year, New You

Most people spend these last few December days thinking of different things they can announce as resolutions. Most stick with them for a few day tops, others simply forget and never start. I can admit to doing all of those things, never really committing. I have been thinking today of resolutions that will excite me and make me want to see it through. So here they are; a not so long list of my commitments for the year.

Become fluent in Spanish

Get healthy

Forgive

To love

Let go

I thought about explaining each one but I thought it was best to keep you guessing. I will keep you updated on my efforts. I wish you all the best!

They can only be loved {via}



To live somewhere like this for one year {via}



To be here... {via}

I've been busy so I haven't been updating as much as I would have liked to. Especially since this is my favorite time of year to indulge on decor, photography and browsing for great Holiday ideas. Unfortunately this year I didn't get to go home, my family is flying to California tomorrow for a week full of sunshine and glimpses of "The Beautiful People" (what my uncle calls celebrity's). I however will not be going with them. Not to worry though, I am already making plans for March and May so I will get plenty of jet-setting in for 2012. I better get back...

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

'

If I lived somewhere tropical... this would be my room. {via}

Stunning {via}

My alter ego {via}

I will never give up on you {via}

simple {via}

I want a camel {via}

I love EE Cummings {via}

Love this {via}

Proud of her {via}

One of the things on my bucket list is to ride across Australia on a motorcycle {via}



Sitting on the patio and playing the guitar is one of my favorite things {via}

I love love love the color and textures {via}

Beauty shots are my favorite {via}



I ask myself this all the time. {via}

For some very strange reason I like this. {via}



You are never too old to make a mess. {via}

So one month later.

Good news, I have sold two of my paintings and I have 2 appointments for 3 others! I am so happy to have finally marked artist off of my list.

So now for a little venting and a catch up with me. I have been in a transition for the past couple of weeks, I needed it so much. I guess you could say that I took a few weeks to step back and really look at everything in my life. It was hard, but I'm pretty sure that I ended with what I was looking for or missing previously.

Part of me is still wishing for the "move back home" thing to happen but I still haven't gotten the okay, so until then I am patiently waiting... not very patiently. One thing I am excited about is that the fall / winter part of the year is my favorite. So from now until March you will see me checking the weather channel for snow, almost daily.

Enough rambling I will let you get back to you're blog viewing.

Very true... {via}

After the many years of saying I wanted to be an artist, I finally feel that today that dream has become real. The opening of my Etsy shop Holland & Hazel would not have been possible without the support of my friends and family. So to them I say THANK YOU! In school I was always excited about art class, I even took some more than once so I could have art every semester. Since my school days I have tried photography and graphic design, both of which my passion grows daily, so now I feel very anxious to produce more. If you have any questions or would like to place an order please email hollandandhazel.info@gmail.com

Proud to be Native American. {via}

HE IS SO HOT {via}



So many people take architecture for granted... absolutely stunning. {via}

Danny & Sandy forever!! {via}

I've spent so many hours like this on my driveway growing up. {via}

This is so great, so many different things come to mind when I look at this... {via}

This is sexy {via}

Gossip Girl in Paris {via}

I can imagine some pretty amazing parties here... {via}

I am making room somewhere so that this can happen. {via}

I love how cozy this feels. {via}

Skiatook, Ok {Photo by Erica}



I love hearing stories about how fabulous the 40's and 50's were. {via}

Sad that this is true. {via}

I wish they still made doors this stunning. {via}

Love everything in this picture. {via}

I would bleach my hair to have ends like this. {via}

PUMPKIN COOKIES WITH CARMEL FROSTING

Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups all-purpose flour

Frosting

3 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Pinch of salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Stir in pumpkin. In a medium bowl, sift together the baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, salt and flour. Add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

To make frosting: In a medium saucepan, combine butter, cream, and brown sugar over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture just begins to boil; remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Cool then stir in confectioner's sugar. Spread frosting over cooled cookies.

The frosting is the star of these cookies, and it's a nice change from the cream cheese frosting that often accompanies pumpkin desserts (I love that version too, though). Really, they're more like little pumpkin cakes. They're so moist, I've left them out on the counter overnight and they were still fantastic the next day. These don't flatten much during baking, and the dough is a bit sticky to flatten it before baking. I flatten mine slightly with the bottom of a glass just as they come out of the oven. Once they're frosting, no one knows! This recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies.

{via}

Such a fun & creative idea. {via}

The perfect guest bathroom. {via}

I wonder what happened once the picture was taken...{via}

These are so great! {via}

The simplicity and fun of this kitchen are what makes it. {via}

This is fabulous. {via}

I love finding photography that has just a bit of mystery in it. {via}

OHMYGOSH! {via}

My fav twins.{via}

I have always loved these! {via}