weekly gems

Source: etsy.com via Kelly on Pinterest

• Best. App. Ever.
• An excellent idea for displaying and organizing a collection of sunglasses!
• Secrets of people who rarely get sick.
• Loved this Refinery 29 tour of Coach's NYC offices!
• Ten celebrity marriages that were even shorter than Kim and Kris's crazy 72 days.
• Will you join the thankful challenge?
• I'm looking forward to all of the movies and shows featured in Buzz Sugar's November Entertainment Must Haves!
• Definitely want to try out these recipes: healthy and quick fish meals, cranberry pear sauce, sweet potato risotto, and whole wheat autumn apple pizza.
• 150 AWESOME gift ideas!
• Ten things to do when insomnia strikes.
• I adore these shoes!
• Five tips for making your house appear cleaner than it is.
• Inspiring wallpaper download for November from MML.
• Love these weddings: one, two, and three.

weekly gems

Source: None via Kelly on Pinterest

• OH MY GOSH. I am in LOVE with this tumblr that collects things related to all my favorite comedic stars and movies/shows - especially the tributes to my hero Tina Fey!
• The top ten toy family fun award winners for 2011! Excellent inspiration for my godchildren's presents.
• Love this illustration blog (found via Lox Papers).
• Can't wait to try these recipes: roasted butternut and sweet potato whole wheat lasagna, stovetop mac and cheese, and pumpkin buttercream cupcakes with chocolate Halloween toppers.
• Check out EW's must-see fall movie list before you head to the theater this weekend!
• As a big Van Gogh fan, this book has made my to-read list.
• Creative ideas for organizing your closet.
• Greatly enjoyed this interview with Boy Meets World star Ben Savage!
• Instructions for a DIY soy candle...definitely want to make some!
• Inspired by these weddings: one, two, three, and four

design dreams: word art

Source: crapivemade.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Source: fromblankpages.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Source: projectsbyjess.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

I really like the idea of words as art. The word art above are all babies' names, designed to be hung in a nursery. While I am not a mother and not searching for nursery decor ideas, I do like the examples above as inspiration for word decor in general. Which style do you like best? What word would you display as art?

new year's, all year

source

Hello, lovelies! I hope you all had a fantastic New Year's celebration. Mine was wonderful! : ) I had fun watching a movie and playing games with close friends.

Have you made any New Year's Resolutions? I usually start brainstorming mine a few weeks in advance, but I have always believed there's a week's leeway in making and starting them : ) The past few years I've made resolutions, but never totally kept them (as I'm sure many people can relate to). Well, I'm at a point in my life where I am satisfied with how things are going (at least, the things under my control) but would like to continue to challenge myself, grow as an individual, and make my life richer.

As a result, I have made some New Year's Resolutions and intend to keep them all for of 2011. As a college senior majoring in education, I have learned a lot about writing objectives for lessons and units - in other words, specific goals for learning that can be measured. I've realized most of my old New Year's Resolutions were too vague to motivate me or hold me accountable. As a result, I have tried to make my goals as specific as possible. I will record my journey of keeping my resolutions in a new beagle & bear series New Year's, All Year. On the first Monday of every month I will provide an overall update on my resolution keeping, as well as mini-updates throughout the year/when appropriate.

I would LOVE for the readers of beagle & bear to join in the 2011 New Year's, All Year Challenge, whether it be with one resolution or twenty. We may or may not achieve all of our goals, but we will strive to do so and gain much in the process! : ) If you are joining in the challenge, leave a comment saying so, and I'll add your name to the list of challenge participants.


Here are my 2011 New Year resolutions:

• Complete a 5K race
  
• Develop blog further through establishing fixed features, engaging series, and gaining followers/building a community
  
• Get a full-time job teaching social studies grades 7-12 and/or apply to graduate school
• Read 25 books of my choosing
  
• Make a perfect omelet
• Go camping
• Bake one new recipe a month
• Cook one new recipe a month
• Create and wear wardrobe with intention by purchasing and wearing items that match my identified style, can be dressed up and down, and can easily be mixed in with items I already own, as well as donating/selling items I no longer wear
  
• Reach a healthy BMI
  
• Eat at least two servings of both fruits and veggies every day
  
• Work out at least 3 times a week
• Go to mass once a week
• Teach Madison how to stay and give paw
• Save substantial amount of money
• Give loved ones thoughtful and fun gifts that have meaning to our relationship or that feed their loves/hobbies
  
• Decorate/design home with intention by identifying a decorating style/theme and actively pursuing ways to execute said theme
  
• Complete at least 40 service/volunteer hours
• Learn to knit and make at least one scarf

Check back here later today for tips on writing measurable and reasonable New Year's Resolutions. I hope you decide to join the challenge! I am super excited to start it and share my journey with all of you!

Happy New Year!