2010 Prospectus

I love making lists, and what better time to make a master list than the New Year? Here's my current vision for 2010:

Home.

*Finish downstairs bath.

*Give the front porch a makeover.

*New windows in the sunroom?

*Rewire the 2nd floor? (Awaiting estimates)

*Continue cosmetic remodel of 1st floor.

*Hopefully get 1 bedroom updated.

*Garden!

Health.

(Do I even need to say it?) You know the drill for this perennial favorite: eat better, exercise, slim down.

Professional.

Take 2 more graduate classes.

Financial.

2009 was the year of financial flux. Between the new job, new house, tax credit, money in, money out, heat & water bills...we're still not sure what a "normal" month is going to look like.

So:

*Figure out our monthly budget.

*Save for travel.

*Save for home improvement.

*Open a Roth IRA.

*Bring lunch from home! (Huge financial and dietary failure of mine)

Travel.

One big trip (current frontrunner: Alaska) with several little trips (VT, ME, NH) sprinkled in.

General.

*Establish a daily routine.

*Explore our new community.

*Do a better job keeping in touch with old friends.

*Keep reading lots of library books.

*Act on my "six month rotation" mentality (I'll explain later.)

Happy New Year!

~LT

New Hampshire Weekend-Part 1

Our weekend away was perfect!  It was everything we had expected and then some.  Let me just say, even though we've done a fair amount of hiking and camping in both Maine and New Hampshire, we were blown away by the stunning natural beauty of Franconia Notch State Park.  The interplay of rock and water was just amazing.

MAJOR highlight: I saw my first MOOSE!  

Some pics:

Kinsman Falls:
Pemigewasset River:
The Cascades:
The Flume Gorge:
The Cascades & Me:
We're hoping to head back up there this fall...so much more to see!

Coming Soon: Part 2 of the New Hampshire Weekend

10 Year Anniversary!

Drum roll please....

On May 11, Steven & I will be celebrating TEN YEARS TOGETHER! I can't actually believe it's been that long, which is a good thing--time really does fly when you're having fun. :) Yes, I realize that now that we're married, the wedding anniversary could trump the dating anniversary...but honestly? I feel like those 10 years encompass such a significant decade of our lives, and the vast majority of our relationship, so focusing on the relatively short, but admittedly more "official", 2 years of marriage seems a little...bleh?

If I had the time, energy, and motivation to make a highlight reel, it would go something like this: senior prom, graduating from high school, white water rafting trips, Woodstock '99, going off to college, many trips to mid-coast Maine, graduating from college, great trips abroad with great friends, getting our first 'real' jobs, moving to the Boston area, getting engaged, a couple more trips, getting married!, becoming Uncle & Auntie, a couple job changes, and viola!

Here we are, reminiscing.

To celebrate, we're going away for a weekend and I am really excited! We are heading up to the Franconia Notch area of New Hampshire and treating ourselves to a stay at the Sugar Hill Inn, which looks beautiful, and is known for it's delicious gourmet breakfast.  YUM.  By day we'll be hiking around, getting a good dose of the outdoors and checking out the scenery--by night we'll be dining fireside, sipping bubbly, and enjoying our suite.  Cannot wait!