What's Been Going On

It's been a busy last couple of weeks.



Wednesday and I got to share a seat on the long drive home for Christmas. You can see how happy we both were about that.



Green Bay Packers still going strong! Woo hoo!



There has been baking.


And cupcake eating.



And possibly a pretty exciting concert in the semi near future.

What kind of new things have you been up to this New Year?

2011 Book List

It's a new year and a new list of books to consume. I love getting a new book and totally being taken in by it. So without further ado this is my list so far:

Safe Haven – Nicholas Sparks (Not a huge Nicholas Sparks fan but I've heard good things about this one)

The Help- Kathryn Stockett

Winter Garden – Kristen Hannah ( I loved Firefly Lane, started True Colors but didn't get a chance to finish it, I will probably go back to that one at some point)

Heart of the Matter – Emily Griffin ( I generally like her writing style and her books are so easy to read)

The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes – Diane Chamberlain

South of Broad – Pat Conroy (I ordered this one and am anxiously waiting for it to arrive)

American Wife – Curtis Sittenfeld

The Glass Castle – Jeannette Walls

Savannah Breeze – Mary Kay Andrews ( My sister has been reading Mary Kay Andrews' books and liked them and lent me this one. Paula Deen is a fan of the series so with those two endorsements it can't be wrong)

Deep Dish- Mary Kay Andrews

The Devil in the White City- Erik Larson

The Kitchen House – Kathleen Grissom

So that is the list I'm working off of right now. It's a pretty good sized list but I'm always open to adding on if there is a really good book out there that I have missed.

Got any great book recommendations to share?

Why So Serious?

Growing up I'm sure a lot of people would probably have classified me as a pretty serious kid. Blame it on being the first born child, being Type A or whatever but I can't say that this label wouldn't have been inaccurate. I took my school work seriously, I took my family seriously and stayed out of trouble.

The older that I get the more I find myself drawn to the other side though.

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Fun fact: The husband and I went and saw Dark Knight at the midnight showing when it was released which happened to be the day before our wedding. Maybe a little crazy but it all turned out good :)

I find myself really drawn to people that don't take themselves seriously. I think that this is both a reflection of where I am now in my life and where I want to be. We aren't talking about people that are bums and have no ambition in life but more about people that just seem to take things in stride and have fun with what is going on. Can laugh at them self and aren't afraid to make some mistakes in the risk and challenges that come their way.

A lot of the people that I would throw on to my list of the not taking things too serious kind are pretty usual suspects around this blog:

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I think not taking things too seriously, the hang ups, the slips ups and the mess ups, helps you to survive with a lightness in your step. This is something that is really easy to remember when the path is free and clear and super difficult to remember when things are going the opposite of what you expected or hoped for.

"Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it." - Lou Holtz

Do you consider yourself to be a serious person? What helps remind you to crack a smile and worry less?

It's All About Perspective

I'm bacckkk!!!

I've been re-decorating, can you tell?

I really wanted to freshen things up on my blog. I didn't like that the title and overall first impression was tied to my Etsy shop. Don't get me wrong, I love my Etsy shop and my little business has been so much fun and I plan on continuing to grow my business.

But I wanted a blog that wasn't all about business.

So For Better of For Curious was born.

I think it is pretty safe to say that I'm an optimist and I don't believe and wasting your energy and time on the negative or things that you can't control in life.

Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but you don't get anywhere.

I also happen to be a curious soul that is always trying to learn more, do more or getting excited about a new idea.

You could say that the main change on this blog is all about the perspective.

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And when it comes to perspective I can't help but think of Anton Ego in Pixar's Ratatouille.

"You know what I'm craving? A little perspective"

Moving forward I plan on making this blog about that things that really interest me. About the things I get excited about. Trying new recipes. Finding ways to make clean and healthy eating also enjoyable. Not forgetting to enjoy food. Making myself more bendy, which means being more dedicated to my yoga practice. And all the pretty, beautiful and amazing things that visually inspire me.

Want to be curious with me?

What's In My Name?

Going along with my previous post I'm definitely feeling a pull to change things up around this ol' blog with the impending new year just around the corner. I know that I want to blog more about things that are important to me, like living creatively in design, cooking and life. More healthy stuff that is still GOOD stuff. So I feel a name change coming on. The current name is also the name of my design business and works great for that but since this isn't meant to be a BUY THINGS FROM MY ETSY SHOP kinda of blog I think I need a new title.

I have a few names in mind that I have to chew on for a little while and see if they fit.

The End and a New Beginning?

A lot of people get very contemplative about what they have or have not achieved in the past year. I feel like I have acheived a lot in the past year, a lot that I have to be proud of. I started Wonderland Papers right as the year was beginning and I have had so much success with it. I'm pretty notorious for burning bright white hot for something and then burning out and not following through with things all the time but I feel like I broke that pattern with the launching of WP. It has been a great experience and I hope that it continues to grow even more in the next year.

One thing that I do expect to change, in what direction I'm still not sure of, is this blog. My first blog was one that I created for family and friends when my husband and I were engaged. It was a lot of fun and the subject was pretty firm and set, wedding stuff. Lots and lots of wedding stuff. I got a lot of compliments on the blog that it was resourceful and heck, even a little funny. I enjoy writing and it seemed they enjoyed reading it.

After the wedding I started posting things about our life and what was happening. It eventually became a private blog because we started to get concerned about there being too much information about us out there. It was hard to find a balance for it all and that blog is kind of dead now. I think the last post on it was from this past Easter and it really only had photos on it.

And then there is this blog, the Wonderland Papers one. Granted, I started it because I felt like it would be a good tool for my company. But since I'm not getting married the idea of thinking and posting things about weddings anymore is kind of boring to me. And of course that is the main things that brides want to see. Therein lies my dilema.

It all comes down to the idea that I don't know what my voice is for this blog right now. I have a lot of interests and things that I'm thinking about and get really excited about, but I don't know that its blog worthy. I love food and cooking and more and more I care about doing all that in a healthy but not overally strict and rigid kind of way. I also know that while opening yourself up and being personal makes you a lot more likable there is always privacy and what is too much info to consider also.

I don't know what the next step is but I figure that to get there you have to start here, with a good deep look inside to figure out where you are before you move from that spot.

A Christmas Survey

1. What is your favorite Christmas Movie?

The Nightmare Before Christmas and Love Actually. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (the original one that includes the elf that wants to be a dentist). I also love The Christmas Toy (anyone remember that one?) and the Muppets Christmas Carol. Yeah, I kinda love Christmas movies.

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2. Favorite Christmas Song?
Christmas is all Around – Billy Mack, Love Actually. Seriously, it’s my favorite.

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There will always be a special place in my heart for Amy Grant's Breath of Heaven which I sang with my BFF Holly one year at her church. Looking back I have no idea how she convinced me to SING in front of people. Like I had talent or something. Ha!

3. Favorite Holiday Memory?
My brother coming into my sister and my bedroom and then making sneak trips at night to see what was under that tree. All at 3am. Trying to make my brother believe in Santa as long as possible with the help of my sister and I and some truly ridiculous "stories" that we told him and proof of Santa that we created. Ok so they weren't "stories" or proof, they were straight up lies but it was the thought that counted and we wanted our little baby brother to believe in Santa just a little bit longer :)

4. What kind of cookie/treat do you like to make?
I don't discriminate. I eat them all. I don't have a signature cookie recipe for the holidays. I just might have to change that. I will be attempting to make Christmas cake pops this year though.

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5. Have you ever made an igloo? Like a real igloo?
Has anyone been able to say yes to this that isn't an Eskimo? Do Eskimos do surveys?

6. Do you love Starbucks?
Only time I think about Starbucks during the year is during the holidays. I get cheaper and cheaper as I get older though and can’t rationalize $4 a cup.

7. What makes the perfect Snowman?
One made of...snow? I've only made one in my whole life, April 1st in Ohio with my siblings and faux sibling (cousin) Alex. It was a sad and adorable snowman at the same time. Florida kids in less then half an inch of "snow".

Gotta love my awesome teal puff jacket and my Vanna White skills there.
"This is a snowman".

And then a couple years later I realized I still don’t like snow.

Still making hand gestures. Some things don't change.

Meet my husband, the viking. He’s just keeping his face warm.



8. What is your favorite part about Christmas?
I love the music, the movies and the food. I love the Christmas style and decorations and how it can bring out the good in people. Presents are probably my least favorite part. I’m not a stuff person. I’m very blessed and so is my family which is what matters the most.

9. Best gift you have ever received?
I have gotten a lot of good ones. I'm not sure which one is the best. I know, sounds like a cop out. A lot of memorable ones, I believe my husband’s goal each year is to get me to cry over my gifts, cause I’m an emotional girl like that. The heart diamond necklace that he got me two years ago was pretty amazing, I wear it every day. So was the Tampa Bay Lightning jersey he got me the year before that. And for the record, I cried more happy tears over the jersey then the necklace. I'm just saying.

10. What is the snowman's name on Rudolph?
Sam. It’s Burl Ives in the movie which I think is the voice I associate the most with Christmas.

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11.Silver or Gold?
I like silver jewelry. And its a great Sam the Snowman, errr Burl Ives song.

12. What is your favorite Christmas decoration?
Christmas candles cause it makes the apartment smell good.

13. What's your Christmas decorating style?
We'll call it "eclectic" but really right now it just means that I have my Christmas stuff and John's Christmas stuff trying to all look festive together.

14. Do you hang stockings?
Yup, not that we actually do anything with them once they are hanging.

15. How many days do you celebrate Christmas?
1? I look forward to Christmas but it’s really an overwhelming holiday in general. Being able to go home and visit the family is the best.

16. What was your favorite ornament on the tree as a child?
My mom had this really old ornament that had a bird (I think its a bird) that would spin when you put it above a Christmas light because of the heat from the bulb. Coolest. Thing. Ever. But it is a very old ornament and birdie don't spin no more.

17. Where will you be spending this Christmas?
In Florida, splitting time with both or our families. Loading up the car with 2 humans, 2 fur balls and all our gifts and heading back to the Sunshine State. This doesn’t make me a snow bird though. Because I said so. Never thought I would want to see Christmas lights on a palm tree again but I totally miss it.

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18. What is your least favorite Christmas movie?
The Christmas Story. My husband and I have a mutual loathing for this movie.

19. What do you want for Christmas this year?
It’s a secret, one that I want so bad that I don’t want to jinx it at all. It’s not something money can buy though. And I wouldn’t actually get it till after Christmas but if we can use some Christmas magic to make it happen I would gladly take it. Oh and world peace of course.

I wouldn't mind getting this guys for Christmas

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Gingerbread Yogis!

20. Have you been naughty or nice this year?
Always nice, I leave the naughty part to Wednesday and Wylie. He hams it up. She judges him for it.