I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day,
a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps
a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.
(J. B. Priestley)

Hello lovelies, I’ve missed you dearly! It’s hard to believe that I took almost a whole month away from blogging. I hope the past few weeks have been kind to you.

Although my break from blogging was unscheduled, it was exactly what I needed. The Mister and I had a chilly, but very fun trip to Ohio for Christmas, and a quiet party of two at home for New Year’s. It was truly the perfect ending to 2011.

Despite a few bumps and unscheduled breaks along the way, this past year was an excellent time for KaileenElise.com. My heart is filled with love and gratitude for those of you who show up daily, drop in regularly, or stop by once to participate in my story. Thank you for being such a wonderful source of inspiration, accountability and friendship.

Top 5 Posts in 2011:
A Creative Weekend To-Do List
Half Marathon Playlist
Let’s Reverb
Welcoming Summer
Blogger’s To-Do List

Also, the site traffic and pageviews are up 70% from last year!

Speaking of highlights, I wanted to share my deep gratitude to those of you who participated in #reverb11. The project took many forms as individuals and smaller groups adapted it to their liking. For me, reflecting in my journal turned out being the best way to examine my year and establish intentions for 2012.

My focus for this is year simple: healthy living in mind, body and spirit.

Through the next few weeks, I will reveal my goals, reading list, and words of the year. I’ll also share my intentions for January, with weekly recaps on my main focus for the month: Whole Living Magazine’s 2012 Action Plan.

Thank you again for being such a sparkly part of my 2011. Here’s to great things to come!

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind.
To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy,
is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
(Calvin Coolidge)

I love Christmas music. As soon as we were finished with our Thanksgiving leftovers, I started pulling together mixes and new stations on Pandora. There’s something about holiday tunes that gets me in the spirit and lifts my mood.

Three of the best holiday Pandora stations I’ve found include: Bing Crosby & Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, and Indie Holidays.

I’ve also made a playlist with a few of my favorites for this time of year. I’ll have this list playing in the background while finishing up our Christmas cards, wrapping gifts and baking cookies. All the links lead to iTunes, so head over and have a listen!

Linus & Lucy / Vince Guaraldi Trio
The Christmas Waltz / She & Him
Winter Song / Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
Sleigh Ride / Ella Fitzgerald
Jingle Bells / James Taylor
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! / Aaron Neville
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree / Brenda Lee
‘Zat You, Santa Claus? / Louis Armstrong
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas / Frank Sinatra
White Christmas / Bing Crosby
December / Norah Jones
Silent Night / Sarah Brightman
Holly Jolly Chirstmas / Michael Bublé

What are your favorite holiday songs, albums and/or Pandora stations? I would love for you to share in the comments below!

Image Credit: Sterne – Stars via Gertrud K

Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself.
(St. Francis de Sales)

Today is the introduction of a new project called Good Eats & Gratitude. An exercise steeped in mindfulness, a series of posts recognizing what feeds us. Musings on two elements that are vital to a happy existence — food nourishes the body, gratitude nourishes the soul.

Good Eats. Recipes to try, restaurant highlights, insights on eating well.
Gratitude. Kind people, inspired ideas, breathtaking moments.

We had a quiet Thanksgiving this year, just me and my Mister. I signed up to run an 8K Turkey Trot. The weather was gorgeous and there was a big crowd. I listened to an awesome playlist and ran faster than expected. It was a great way to start the day.

We went all out. Cooking a full meal and planning to eat leftovers for a few days. There were family traditions like deviled eggs, spicy green beans, and his grandma’s mashed potatoes. There were also a few recipes I wanted to try.

One of the most delicious components of the meal was the Rustic Herb Skillet Stuffing from What’s Gaby Cooking. Her blog post sold me—she said it was so good that she made it 3 times last year before Thanksgiving day! It was everything I could ever want in a stuffing: fresh herbs, delicious mushrooms, and perfect as leftovers.

As another side, I made Caramelized Brussels Sprouts from Eat, Live, Run. Jenna posted about these in October and I wanted to make them ever since. These are such a delicious treat, a perfect mix of healthy crunch and colorful sweetness. Even if you’re not a huge brussels sprouts fan, I recommend giving these a try. I’ve already made them again since!

I also made Oh Joy!’s Cardamom & Cream Cheese Squares for dessert because as Joy puts it, “These squares are a combination of sorts—half no-bake cheesecake and half pumpkin pie—with a touch of cardamom. They’re great for dessert or even as a mid-afternoon snack.” She was right, we enjoyed them for dessert and a few afternoon snacks.

This was our fourth Thanksgiving together.

Somehow it seems to get better each year. The night before we planned our timeline—when to start prepping things, etc. It was a game plan for ultimate oven management. We sat down for dinner 10 minutes earlier than scheduled… a Thanksgiving victory!

I have so much gratitude for my Mister. For his family and friends. For the choices he’s made and the man he is today. For the paths our lives took to get us here, and what we have accomplished together.

Image Credit: utensils via limonada // Rustic Herb Skillet Stuffing via What’s Gaby Cooking // Caramelized Brussels Sprouts via me // Cardamom & Cream Cheese Squares via Oh Joy! // I’ll Give You What I Can via Brandon Christopher Warren

If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to,
no one with which to share the beauty of the stars,
to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life?
It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning.
This is harmony.
We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.
(Mitsugi Saotome)

Happy 27th birthday, Mister!

This past year was an eventful journey. You encountered happiness and sorrow. You experienced joy and anger. You kept your sense of humor and displayed remarkable courage. I watched as you pursued your goals, slayed evil dragons, and unpacked boxes.

We spent our first Christmas together. Welcomed 2011 with a kiss. You cheered me on during my 1/2 marathon. You were accepted to business school. We moved into our first home. We spent days snuggled on the couch.

Your intelligence continues to impress me.
Your wit keeps me entertained.
Your quirks make me smile.
Your love pushes me to become a better person.

For some people, 27 is a blip on the radar. An insignificant stop between 25 and 30. I have a feeling this is going to be a banner year…

Here’s to your 27th.
Remarkable. Memorable.
Filled with health, happiness, success and love.

Image Credit: via We Heart It

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children:
one is roots, the other is wings.
(Hodding Carter)

My dad is one of the most important people in my life. He’s been there for me through thick and thin—and as I’ve grown up, our relationship has evolved.

When I was younger, we didn’t always get along. My dad showed his love by enforcing rules and holding very high expectations. My swimming career provided plenty of opportunity for disagreements and bonding. A former collegiate (and nearly professional) football player, my dad knew the dedication required of great athletes. He taught me that incredible things would come if I believed in myself and worked really, really hard.

My dad’s quirky sense of humor, strong opinions, amazing business sense and loving nature are just a few things that I love about him. The picture above is from my first visit to NYC. Dad was there on business and I flew up from Raleigh to explore the city for a day.

Even though we’re currently living 2,000 miles apart, we are closer now than we’ve ever been. I know I can call him when I need advice or a shoulder to cry on. He sends me text messages of love and support that always make me smile. I feel incredibly lucky to call this man my dad.

Happy Father’s Day!!

Time is limited, so I better wake up every morning fresh
and know that I have just one chance to live this particular day right,
and to string my days together into a life of action, and purpose.
(Lance Armstrong)

This was a long week. I don’t know about you, sometimes it feels like the weekend will never arrive. Then, around 4 o’clock on Friday the weekend sneaks up on me. Last night my Mister and I took it easy with a bottle of wine, delicious perogies, and a little Friday Night Lights. I’m looking forward to more relaxation this weekend. For those of you who are celebrating, I wish you an Easter filled with joy, love and happiness.

No matter what your plans might be, take a moment to do something creative. It’s my hope that this creative weekend to-do list adds a little encouragement to create an extraordinarily joyful weekend of your own. Please share your plans in the comments below or write a list for your blog and link back to this post…

put something pretty in the mail
tie dye easter eggs & make deviled eggs
consider trying the blog love e-course
explore a nearby city & go out for a yummy lunch
catch up on season one of Treme before season two begins
make a colorful springtime side or a spicy veggie chili
find inspiration in new May magazines
explore the concept of creative tithing
journal, relax & enjoy some fresh air

Image Credit: via we♥it

All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.
(George Harrison)

Hello my dear friends. I’m excited to share that today is my 26th birthday! To celebrate, I have curated some sparkly inspiration on Pinterest. I’m certain you will enjoy taking a peek.

Since today is a Tuesday, I have work and the usual routine on my to-do list. Since it’s my birthday, I have a fun sushi lunch date scheduled and a celebratory dinner with a few favorite people later tonight. After some well-earned birthday indulgence, I plan to open a few gifts, enjoy some bubbly and just relax!!

Thanks again to all of you who supported me on my half marathon adventure. Your sweet tweets, texts and phone calls have meant the world to me. Stop by tomorrow if you’re curious about the playlist that helped me stay motivated… I can’t wait to share it with you!

Image credit via Pinterest

See the positive side, the potential, and make an effort.
(Dalai Lama)

Reverb 10 kicks off today with a lovely prompt from Gwen Bell. It’s already got me reflecting on this year and manifesting what’s next.

I hope you all had lovely Thanksgivings. Ours was quiet, simple and full of gratitude. It’s hard to believe that I haven’t posted here since November 21 – this might be my longest break in blogging history. I feel like quickly catching you up on all the happenings before fully diving into December.

This past Sunday I left Raleigh for a trip to Las Vegas. I attended college at UNLV and my old roomie / best friend still lives out there. It was my first trip back since graduating. We had the best time catching up and walking around campus. We even met up with my old swim coach. So much has changed, but a lot is exactly the same. As I look back, my heart is filled with great memories and gratitude for the time I spent in Sin City.

I’m currently en route to Napa to visit my grandparents and meet up with the rest of The HQ. We’re meeting IRL to combine our magical forces. I am giddy and overjoyed about the few days that lie ahead.

Life have been wonderful lately and I am so delighted that Reverb 10 is taking flight. I am ready to write on our daily prompts and to connect with all the lovely participants.

I created the following playlist to help ring in December. It will be playing in the background as I reflect and manifest. I hope you enjoy it and find inspiration in listening to the tunes below!

Animal – Miike Snow
Sleepyhead – Passion Pit
Lasso – Phoenix
Dog Days Are Over – Florence + The Machine
Firework – Katy Perry
Parachute – Ingrid Michaelson
Smily Faces – Gnarls Barkley
Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
Only the Young – Brandon Flowers
Secrets – OneRepublic
Winter Song – Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
Sing Me to Sleep – Fran Healy feat. Neko Case
Crayon and Ink – Allison Crowe
Warm Whispers – Missy Higgins
Every Time It Rains – Charlotte Martin
Landslide – Lior

all links lead to iTunes

Image Credits:  | iTunes album mosaic

Hello my dear friends. I hope you’re starting off your week with sparkle, style and sass!

Today is my mister’s 26th birthday, so I’ve been a bit busy celebrating with him. I was so excited after wrapping his presents yesterday that I asked if he’d open them early—I’m not very good at keeping surprises a secret.

After work we went to a delicious dinner and caught up on life, work and future plans. To finish the evening, we spent some major time standing in line at the Apple store for a brand-new iPhone 4!

I simply adore my mister. He is a smart, strong and silly man who loves me just as I am. (Plus, he’s an amazing proof reader who catches my typos before they make it to you.)

It’s been a treat to shower him with love, gifts and extra kisses today. I hope we can always keep Steve’s words of wisdom in mind… Stay hungry. Stay foolish.

image credit: via weheartit.com ~ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark.
In the hopeless swamp of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all,
do not let the hero in your soul perish and leave only frustration
for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach.
The world you desire can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is yours.
(Ayn Rand)

Happy 4th of July, friends! I hope you are enjoying beautiful weather and patriotic celebrations. This last week has been an interesting test of stamina, patience and passion. An exciting opportunity landed on my desk and without much notice, I was pulling together a presentation for a key player at my company.

Between quarterly reviews and this surprise meeting, I found myself closely examining my strengths, areas for improvement and places to apply more focus in my work, real and online lives.

The results of said meeting revealed an interesting conundrum: I bring a lot to the table in my current role, and still have plenty of time to grow with what I’m doing now. Rather that dilute my attention by taking on another job responsibility, it is probably just best (for me & the company) that I focus on the task at hand. It wasn’t exactly the result I was pining for, but I’m happy all the same. It’s funny how life works out like that sometimes.

With an extra day of weekend and no ‘out of town’ plans, I’m looking forward to lots of relaxation, creativity and fun in the days ahead.

The following collection of creative to-do’s are intended to inspire extraordinarily joyful weekends. Consider this a friendly tap—or slight tug—towards exploring creative shenanigans of your own desires. I invite you to join in!

set intentions & goals for the next 1/2 of 2010

grill delicious kebabs on the bbq

drink plenty of water & wear lots of spf

splash around in the pool like a little kid

dive deeper into sarah susanka’s the not so big life

check out these patriotic tweets

mix up a new yummy cocktail for poolside indulgence

create a playlist that inspires spontaneous dance parties

roll out a blanket & enjoy fireworks with friends

image credit: AlphaTangoBravo / Adam Baker