So in honor of tonight’s game, I thought I’d revisit some of my past Chapel Hill shoots to try and share some of the places and people that make Chapel Hill hold such a fond place in my heart.  GO TARHEELS! 

With these recent warm temperatures, I’ve daydreaming about warmer days spent outside in the backyard with Michael & Orvis. I came across these pictures I took in my family’s backyard in North Carolina last March. Aren’t these some of the cutest garden accessories? I’d love to add some unique accents like this to our own backyard this spring. Terrain has some of the cutest garden accessories, as does Napa Style! And how about this fold-down bar for our patio? I’m quite positive our patio would not be complete without it!

Am I missing other wonderful sources for outdoor decor? I’d love to hear some of your favorites!

We took an evening stroll around North Adams before we enjoyed a delicious meal at a new-ish restaurant downtown, Public. The next morning we woke up to a snow-covered North Adams- what a treat! Before we left to head back to Maine we had the most splendid visit at the MASS MoCA! Seriously, we cannot stop raving about the featured Sol LeWitt exhibit, and look forward to future visits to the museum. Our drive back on snowy Route 2, with all of its red barns & giant fir trees, was so lovely!  Seriously, I cannot wait to return!

We loved everything about the Inn at Perry Cabin so much that we’re already planning a return trip this spring! I’ve seen photos of the property when the giant hydrangeas are blooming, so perhaps a summer visit is in order too!

This past summer I took a book and my favorite beach towel down to Willard Beach, just a few blocks from our house, a total of two times. Twice! Michael & I used the lovely wooden kayaks that he, his father, and his best friend built just one time. Once! Somewhere along the way I promised myself I would take an entire day, hop on a ferry, and explore a new island in the Casco Bay, and I simply never got around to it. (The same thing happened with my hopes for renting a surf board for a day.)

My greatest hope for 2012 is that I truly make time to enjoy the life that’s right here in front of me, despite the craziness of wedding season and my ever-growing to-do lists. The beach, the trails, the ocean – enjoying life (outside) in Maine was one of the main reasons we chose to move here. Why not do everything I can to truly experience all that this exceptionally lovely place has to offer?

2. Challenge myself. 

My friends and mentors, Justin & Mary Marantz, are constantly reminding their loyal blog readers to push themselves and dream bigger. A month or so ago an unexpected, yet challenging opportunity landed right in my lap. New York-based photographer, Alice Patterson and her sister/studio-manager, Beth, asked me to come speak at one of the Central New York PUG meetings in early 2012. Of course, my first thought was naturally, “me? Really? Really . . . me?” It didn’t take me long to realize what a perfect chance this would be to get out of my comfort zone and really push myself. And maybe make some new friends along the way!

This opportunity, for someone as shy as myself, reminds me of yet another Marantz bit of wisdom- a quote I bookmarked on their blog once. “You have to be willing to be uncomfortable. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. It may get tough, but it’s a small price to pay for living a dream.” – Peter McWilliams

(Next week on January 10th I’ll be heading to Syracuse, NY to speak with the CNY PUG group at Alice Patterson’s home. If you’re in the area, I’d love to meet you!)

3. Document personal memories. 

It seems as though this would come quite naturally to a photographer, but I think we all have difficulties taking photographs of our personal lives. I don’t own a smaller, more portable camera, so I rely on my iPhone and Instagram app a lot. As my friend, Emily mentioned on her blog earlier this week, Instagram really is perfect for sharing bits & pieces of your daily life. And these, are often the moments and memories that I unexpectedly seem to cherish the most.

4. Floss regularly. 

And I won’t pretend that all my resolutions are grand scheme, deeper meaning items – this is one of my resolutions every year, and each year I am so on again, off again with it. Hopefully 2012 will be the first of many years of impeccable dental habits.

I’d love to hear some of your resolutions for 2012- feel free to share them in the comment box!

(Click here for last year’s slideshow!) Happy New Year’s Eve!

2012 is shaping up to be quite an adventurous year as well, with work trips planned to places like Cape Cod, Newport, RI, France, Stowe, VT, and more!

Random acts of kindness like this remind me of the wonderful clients I get to work with, and the friendships we’ve formed along the way. Thank you, Kit, for the scrumptious surprise!

I picked up two lovely wreaths- one for the front door and one for the studio door- at Whole Foods this year. They smell so delicious!

I found this little jingling set of bells at Asia West yesterday, and these bottle brush trees came from a recent visit to Folly 101- both darling shops in the Old Port.

We have this cute felt ball wreath from West Elm hanging on our armoire, and we picked out these wooden penguins (they’re supposed to represent Michael, Orvis, and me- ha!) and trees from Folly 101.

Our tiny tree that we bought from Pottery Barn last year!  We’re most excited about the fact that there are three black labs in such a tiny area- totally symbolic of our obsession with our dog, Orvis.

A little pig ornament from Folly 101 and a penguin from Wyler’s!

The Santa! This was made for my grandmother by one of her students when she was a teacher. When I would visit my grandparents’ house after school during the holidays, I always rushed through the door to get a Werther’s (or seven) from this Santa’s belly. Year after year, my grandmother placed Werther’s candies in this little homemade Santa, and when she gave it to me a few years ago, I couldn’t imagine not filling him with Werther’s myself.

I found this little bird at my favorite store in Wiscasset- Rock Paper Scissors! Yesterday I spotted this recycled glass tray + pear candles from Asia West, and included these tiny bottle brush trees from Nicola’s Home in between.

Our homemade wreath is on the backdoor and the other Whole Foods wreath is on the studio door!

I’d love to hear about your favorite holiday decorations! Cheers!