Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Looking Forward

This fall, I focused a lot on planning things to look forward to as a coping mechanism for living in Charlotte.  The thought of too many unplanned weekends in a month made me downright anxious, so I bought plane tickets like they were candy bars and visited as many east coast friends as I could.  But I can't keep traveling at that pace (or spending so much of my disposable income on plane tickets) so the next 3 months are going to be different for me.  I still have things planned, but far less than I was used to.  It makes me a little bit anxious to look at a less packed calendar, but when I sit down and think about it, I still have things to look forward to.

Here's what I am looking forward to these days!

This weekend I am looking forward to trying a new recipe.  I am going to try making Skinny Taste's butternut squash and spinach lasagna rolls.  They sound super tasty so I am excited to give this recipe a try. 

This month I am looking forward to a long weekend in Charleston, SC.  Some friends from my Minneapolis run club are running the marathon over MLK weekend so I am heading down to hang out with them and cheer them on.  I have heard nothing but amazing things about Charleston so I am excited to check it out.  It's about 3 hours away from Charlotte so I hope to visit this area more than once before moving!

This quarter I am looking to traveling to Austin, TX to visit my college best friend, Heidi!  My other college best friend, Brooke, is flying in, too.  The weekend falls around both mine and Heidi's birthdays, so it will be such a treat to get to celebrate our special days with some of my favorite people!  It's pretty rare for all 3 of us to be together for more than a couple of hours at a time, so I am really excited about this!

This year I am looking forward to traveling to Iowa to attend Amber's wedding!  I got to meet her fiance, Bill, when I ran the Des Moines marathon in October of 2012.  It's been exciting to watch their relationship develop and I am so happy for Amber.  Her wedding is in July so I just hope and pray I am driving distance away from Iowa by then but regardless of where I live, I am going to really try to be there for her big day.  If by some chance I am still living in Charlotte, I will just combine my trip for her wedding with the lake vacation I will take in the summer.  My life is so up in the air for the year so I am not planning much, but this is one date on my calendar that is circled and I am determined to make it there.

I actually could have written about more things I am looking forward to like becoming an aunt again, a trip home and a visit from a good friend! There are definitely some really fun things on the horizon for me!

What are you looking forward to these days? 

18 comments:

Becky said...

"I bought plane tickets like they were candy bars…" what a great line!

I feel like a lot of things are up in the air for me right now too but in this moment? I'm looking forward to the cinnamon rolls that are baking in the oven - it's the little things, right?

So excited for your Charleston trip - it's supposed to be incredible!

Marlys said...

I am excited for your trip to Charleston, too, as I have heard so much about it.
For the present, we are excited for that new grandchild to be born at the end of the month!
For the really present, I am excited for warmer weather to be here - as it will be 50 degrees warmer by this weekend! Now that is something to be excited about!
Your recipe sounds wonderful - butternut squash & spinach lasagna sounds great!

Jeanie said...

Well, I am looking forward to spring -- just because it's spring! We have so much snow, I'm also looking forward to it melting -- though not too fast or we'll have rather a mess! I'm looking forward to a January painting class with Jacqueline Sullivan and just cozying in and ready. No travel for now

But your travel sounds fun and exciting. I think you will love Charleston!

Caroline said...

I was literally just thinking about writing one of these posts! I most likely won't have another day off (besides bank holidays..) until the fall and I'm really struggling with that idea - especially because a lot of my nights and weekends will be filled with photography. I think having things to look forward to, no matter how small, is really important!

You have a lot of great things to look forward to! Charleston is definitely on my bucket list, I would love to shoot a wedding there actually.
I can totally relate to the unsettling feeling of not really knowing what your life will look like in a year or where you'll be. It makes it really hard to make plans, set expectations and really just hold on to anything. Hang in there though, this chapter of your life is almost over!

Anonymous said...

The reason that I was asking you about March yesterday was to possibly plan a trip to Charleston like we keep talking about.

That recipe looks so good. Let me know how it comes out.

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

I'm going to be cooking with butternut squash this weekend, too! I'm making my butternut squash mac n' cheese to bring with us the following weekend to St. Louis (it freezes well). This year, I'm looking forward to finally visiting Sweets' parents' house in Florida, our summer beach vacation on Cape Cod and our Labor Day camping trip to Door County.

Stephany said...

There are some fun things on the horizon for you! I have heard amazing things about Charleston so I can't wait to hear your thoughts. So cool you get to attend Amber's wedding. :)

I'm not sure I have much to look forward to lately! At least not trip-related, since I won't be traveling at all this year. Womp, womp. So I guess I'll have to find the little things to look forward to: like a girl's night out this Friday and hanging out with my brother this weekend, watching football. So thrilling, my life. ;)

Amber said...

There are definitely some fun things on the horizon for you! I didn't realize you Brooke and Heidi would all be together that weekend - extra fun!

I am mostly looking forward to our trip to Ireland and Scotland right now but a smaller thing I'm looking forward to is The Band Perry concert we are going to on Friday night!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

Awww! I am so looking forward to having you at my wedding too!! It will definitely be an experience as it is a very "rustic" and "country" wedding but it will be done I. A very chic way (hopefully!!)

You do have a lot to look forward to! 2014 is going to be a great year. The year you move back home!!

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

I have heard great things about Charleston too, so I'm curious what you think of it :) You do have a lot of great things to look forward to and even a few trips so yay for that!

Linda said...

I have no idea what I'm looking forward to this year!?

I've never been in this state of not knowing before!

Cherry Blossoms said...

I'm so excited for our girls weekend! It will be here before we know it!

Who do you get to host in Charlotte?!

missris said...

Hooray for a trip to Austin! Have so much fun and eat lots of yummy food!

Anonymous said...

That recipe sounds wonderful! As does your trip... have tonnes of fun :) Happy new year!

Abby said...

I may steal that recipe and make it Sunday. Ryan leaves that day - so cooking will keep my mind busy!! :)

You have so many fun things to look forward to! That is so neat that you all 3 will be in Austin together!!! Can't wait to hear about Charleston! Sounds so pretty!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

I love this type of post!! I might have to do this on my blog as well :-) I am looking forward to a couple vacations that are coming up!!

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

You have totally been a travel crazed maniac lately! I am very jealous! I have not been anywhere since MCM in October and I gotta tell you, I have a major case of itchy feet syndrome. Luckily I have at least one trip planned (you know which one I am talking about!) which I am very excited about.

Lisa-Marie said...

I hope you're enjoying your weekend so far! The new recipe made me smile - you have to fill life with little adventures!