AfricanKelli

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One of my favorite photos of the year. I’m at work in Bolivia, helping prep this woman for her surgery by our volunteer team.

It sounds silly, but I feel like I really celebrated life this year. I took great trips, spent time with loved ones, read more books than ever, listened to some great new tunes and reached one of my life-long goals of getting on the triathlon train. Okay, the triathlon training train.

Highlights:
~I taught my 80-year-old grandfather to email (Hi Pap!)
~I sat at the top of Machu Picchu
~I finished my first novel
~I threw a Prom party and actually talked all my girlfriends into wearing our old dance dresses out. To Macayo’s.
~I became friends with Ruby
~I finished my grandmother’s sweater
~I baked. And baked. And played frisbee and baked. And visited the bagel shop and baked. And then to celebrate it all? Yep. I baked a bit more.
~I rode a mechanical bull. Sober.
~I dove into the dating pool with gusto and learned a thing or two about myself in the process

I’ve loved this year and look forward to the adventures of 2007.
~I’ll see Italy
~I’ll write for a commercial magazine
~I’ll have my book published
~I’ll camp
~I’ll learn how to bead
~I’ll write my second novel
~I’ll learn Portuguese
~I’ll finish a 1/2 Ironman
~I’ll ride my bike or take public transportation to work once a week
~I’ll buy less and use what I have more

May you have someone to kiss when the ball drops (or if you are in AZ, when the giant tortilla chip drops),
K

Ah, Down Week — one of my favorite times of the year. The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve when everyone seems to be relaxed, lounging around in new clothing and having egg nog sunny side up for breakfast. I’m seeing lots of movies, eating way too much party food, sleeping in and writing stacks of thank you cards. I really enjoyed my time with family and am actually looking forward to going back to work next week. In the meantime, round two on the party circuit as we celebrate the birth of 2007.
{Note: Time to dust off the old resolutions and make some new ones. Like more crunches and less Capt’n Crunch.}

A few reviews:

~Blood Diamond is a great movie, although shockingly violent. You’ll never look at bling the same way again. Plus, it’s shot in Mozambique, so you’d get to see where I work. Jennifer Connelly has never looked more beautiful. Leo’s Boer accent sounded good enough to me.

~Second Hand Lions is a sweet, wonderful film. Have you seen this one? I found it in a stack of DVDs my parents own. Lovely and great to watch with kids.

~January’s issues of both Real Simple and Martha gave me the oomph to reorganize my closet and take a much more critical look at my pantry. Have you seen the January cover? Does anyone’s kitchen actually look like this?

~Justin Timberlake on Saturday Night Live? One: You cut a hole in the box. HILARIOUS.

~The FDA approving cloned animals for meat and dairy production? So, so glad I’m a vegetarian.

Three cheers to Down Week! Back with photos next week,
Kelli

Merry Christmas y’all. I am five days into a fantastic break and am enjoying every second of it. I’m eating too much, sleeping way too much and watching endless movies. Life is good. The only way it could be better is if my brother hadn’t been snowed in outside of Denver. However, even he is making the best of it. He called me this morning from the top of the ski lift.
“Kel, we’re talking 8 inches of powder. Doode. It’s like, totally a Merry Christmas.”

Doode.

He’ll be here soon enough and then it’s back to Phoenix and the routine. I hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday too!

~K

Everything’s wrapped. My cards are all mailed. My little Christmas tree is looking quite bare now that the gifts are being delivered. I drove to work truly enjoying a gingerbread man for breakfast. I’ve so enjoyed this holiday season.

{I think about how much fun Christmas will be when I have children one day. I can’t wait to do Advent calendars, hang their stockings, go cut and decorate a tree and create family traditions. One family tradition I know I’ll continue is an orange in the toe of the stockings. I’m not sure how this started in our family, but my brother and I on cue poke at the toe of our stockings Christmas morning and say, “ORANGE!” More than likely this was because we grew up with a bunch of citrus trees in the backyard and my parents had quick access to an additional treat. Regardless, it is always fun to have a bit of routine to holidays.}

Wrapped and delivered this week:

Embroidered T-shirts. I stole this idea from Melissa.

Yep, there is more of that pointsetta fabric. Needless to say, I’ve gotten my money’s worth!

Who doesn’t want a tee with a bit of African sass?

An embroidered saguaro cactus tee for Molly. She was my partner in Shelley’s City Swap. Who is my partner I wonder?

I sewed up a couple drawstring children’s activity bags too. These were stuffed with crayons and coloring books and sweets. They are for some friends who will be traveling this Christmas. Keeping the kids busy and happy keeps the parents cheerful too. Non?

And a poppy wristlet, using the last of my photo fabric paper. I love that photo!

I’m officially out of Adventathon photos and completed projects. Phew. Handmade Christmas was a success this year. Tomorrow I travel to be with family. Be well friends!
Merry Christmas,
Kelli

Giddyup. I heard that at the bagel shop this morning when dropping off some Christmas goodies for the poker boys. That was nice to hear. They received peppermint brownies, double chocolate brownies and low-fat pumpkin brownies.

Low-fat pumpkin brownie recipe here.

I threw in a few pumpkin peanut butter cookies for good measure too.

Tonight I’m celebrating Christmas with one set of grandparents. I’m pretty clueless when it comes to buying gifts for men. I don’t know what to craft for them, if anything. And the wallet, cologne, belt thing only lasts on repeat so long before you are a dreary predictable gift-giving mess. This year, I’m baking and mixing for the men in my life.

Pumpkin spice cake for my grandpa. My grandma doesn’t bake for him anymore, so I know this will be a hit.

And trail mix for a few others. Pretzles, peanut M&Ms, raisins, apricots, chocolate chips and a new water bottle to boot.

The Christmas kitchen is officially closed for business.

~K