Christmas at the Hollens

I finally took some photos of our house this Christmas. I love owning a house and being able to decorate as much as I please. I also love the DollarTree and the fact that I spent about 40 bucks on everything. Last year I used aqua and silver. This year I decided on gold, silver, and white on the tree. In our kitchen, I used most of our ornaments from last year. It's almost pathetic to think of how excited I was to have banister now to decorate. 

I love Christmas. Hopefully these next few days are easy going at work and then I can enjoy time with my family and friends. Many things have been circulating through my mind and heart as of late and this coming year is one of the unknown, which makes me search it out all the more. 


Here's to some time of reflecting upon 2010 and dreaming about 2011. 

We Have A Strong City

My wonderful box of organic fruit and veggies arrived at my doorstep this afternoon. I took it upon myself, in all of my excitement, to cook some dinner tonight. I'm beginning to enjoy the idea of me cooking meals more often. I have high intentions of baking chocolate chip zucchini bread tomorrow night as well. 

How domestic of me. 

So good. 

And in other news, our lovely friends at Everyday Joe's, have released another compilation album of local artists. The thing I love most is that I know many of the artists found on the record and many of them are very good friends. We have become a little community of musicians and creative people that do what they love and love what they do. 

I am blessed to be a part of this city. So blessed. 

Please listen, donate if you heart so desires. 

We love you. 

Healthy Eating

I stumbled across this company, Door to Door Organics,  a few days ago and I was so stoked to find that they deliver locally. I love the idea of supporting local farmers, having a box of delicious, organic vegetables and fruits delivered straight to my doorstep twice a month, and knowing that I am taking better care of myself and my husband. 

I can't wait for Monday! (Never thought I would say that.) Monday is the day that they deliver to our area and I cannot wait to cook some meals I have never endeavored upon and to know that I'm eating healthy. For those of you that don't know, I recently went on a diet and lost thirty pounds and my goal is to maintain that weight loss before I continue on the next stretch come January. (More on that in another post.) Being able to finally lose the weight has made me completely rethink the food I put into my mouth and I really do desire to eat healthy foods. 

Here is what will be in our box this coming Monday: 

5 ea. Roma Tomatoes

1 ea. Red Leaf Lettuce

1 ea. Collard Greens bunch

1 ea. Fennel Bulb

1 ea. Carrots 1LB. Bag

2 ea. Zucchini Squash

1 ea. Cucumber

2 ea. Pomegranate

2 ea. Anjou Pear

2 ea. Kiwi Fruit

2 ea. Pinova Apple

2 ea. Pink Lady Apple

4 ea. Navel Orange

I can't wait! I need to grab my mom's chocolate chip zucchini bread recipe from her and actually try it out! 

Again, please go check out their website. 

Door to Door Organics 

#12: Read a book every month

As a part of my 25 things before 25, I vowed to read a new book every month. I have gone above and beyond that lately, consuming a lot of books, which I am fully alright with. 

Some of the titles as of late....

Juliet, Naked

This book was a very quick, but enjoyable read. I consumed it in about two days, when I need to be doing a lot of other things, but this book was my aid to my procrastination. 

One Day

This book takes place in the lives of two people, one day every year for a number of years. It is all about the ups and downs of their relationship and how their lives intertwine with one another. I believe they are also making a movie out of it. 

The Opposite of Love

Some of my girlfriends and I decided to start a book club, nerdy and awesome, I know. This was our first pick. We randomly chose this one late one night at the bookstore and the choice deemed itself wonderful. A story of love, loss, and love found again. It was a total chick book, but in the best way possible. 

Eating Animals

Open at your own risk, for you will never eat the same again. I've been greatly researching the foods I eat and the condition in which our food industry is in. I'm slowly but surely making the change of taking meat out of my diet, for personal and health reasons, but also due to the condition that we find our food industry really in. This book is packed with tons of research, facts, humor, and is a perfect tool for those that want more knowledge about what really eat. 

We are what we eat. 

Omnivore's Dilemma

This is my current read, much like the book mentioned above. I think it is good to know what it is we are actually eating. The necessity of our food has changed greatly over the years and the chicken we even eat today doesn't hardly even resemble to one our grandparents consumed when they were kids. 

I like books like this that challenge me. 

I am sure there will be many more titles to come, but these are the few I have devoured. Now that I have been out of college for a few years, it's refreshing to be able to read whatever I want. 

On a much cooler note, I have a feeling that I will be getting one of these for Christmas. 

Beyond excited.