2014 in Review With 101 Challenge Update

Friends, 2014 has treated me very, very well, and I hope it's been the same for you.  I have grown and been stretched and challenged so much, and I can confidently say that I'm a better person than I was this time last year.  It's very encouraging to see the ground I've covered and to know that I'm still moving forward.

Here are a few highlights from the year!

New Books Read in 2014

The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson

This is my most recommended book from the year.  Especially in light of the situation surrounding The Interview and the government of North Korea's crimes being brought before the UN, I think everyone should read this book to become more familiar with what life is like in NK.  This book is fiction, but it is an amazing and wide open picture into North Korea.  Read it.

The Hunger Games trilogy, The Book Thief, The Noticer, and Divergent also made it into my hands.

101 Challenge Update

My blog went through some major changes, which I'm really happy with.

I believe Caleb and I are on track to pay off all our student loans before my challenge ends!
I'm still really glad I have set these goals for myself.  They keep me going, and it's cool knowing I'll be able to cross more off my list in 2015.

New Foods in 2014

I got pretty serious in the kitchen a few times this year.  Nothing like a real challenge to make you pray dinner won't be disgusting.  Besides all the new things I've cooked, here are the new things I've eaten:

Edamame, coconut oil, umemashi, somen noodles, fried oysters, and rose water
Our favorite restaurants in Atlanta: bartaco, Noni's, and Miso Izakaya

Other Updates

I was selected as a Yelp Elite last this summer!  It was a total surprise, and I take it as an honor and a responsibility.  I also got to meet some other Yelp Elite at an event, which was super cool.  I'd never done anything like that before!

 I won a giveaway for the first time ever, and I hosted giveaways for the first time ever.
Caleb and I have made friends in Atlanta!  We've gotten to hang out with people from church, I've made some friends at my belly dance classes, and I've also met two girls from the internet!  Woohoo!

Year in Review Holiday Postcard

Happy New Year!

Paula Dorf review: Lipstick and Blush Reviews

 Every lip needs a touch of legend.

Put a pop of passion in your day.

These are the slogans for the products I got to review this week.  Paula Dorf's lipstick in "Legend" and blush in "Passion."  And once again, I have before and after pictures for you, because science.

Recommended with Big Hero 6

If you have the chance to see Big Hero 6, take it take it take it!

 This is my new favorite movie.  It's set in San Fransokyo, a city made up from San Fran and Tokyo.  It reminds me of Serenity, and I would totally want to live there if it were a real place.  The graphics are beautiful, and I love the combinations of American and Japanese aesthetics and culture.  My favorite part of the movie, though, is the characters.  They are each absolutely perfect and round and real.  The story is great, too.  I laughed, I cried, and for the first time since The Incredibles, I wanted to be in the movie.  This was one I wanted to see again right after it was finished.  When you go see Big Hero 6, be sure to stay through the end, like the Marvel fans do, then let me know what you think of the movie!

Gift Ideas for the Budding Nail Artist

New polishes are always fun, but here are some things besides polish that can take nails to the next level.  If there's someone in your life who loves to do nails, I can guarantee that she'll appreciate anything off this list.  By the way, this post is very information heavy, but it's all for you!

Recommended with Baked Chicken & Mushroom Skillet

I've tried another recipe from Damn Delicious, and once again, Chungah hits it out of the park.  Last week, I made her baked chicken &mushroom skillet for a wonderful dinner.  This was my first time using mustard in a recipe (I used a garlic whole grain variety), and I loved the new flavor.  The sauce was so beautiful creamy, the mushrooms were perfect (I used button mushrooms), and I couldn't get enough of this dish!  I have no added notes-the recipe is great as is-just a strong recommendation to try this soon!  Yummy, yummy, yummy.

See this week's recommended links after the jump!

Foxy Holiday Giving Inspiration

Just like with the star gazer collection last week, I've curated some foxy favorites for gift giving inspiration.  I tend to pin lots and lots of fox things, so this collection took me a long time to narrow down!

Old Factory Candles Review + Giveaway

I've had the opportunity to try out some new candles, and I want to share my experience with you!  Old Factory Candles advertises their candles as "true to scent," which had me super excited, especially when I saw which scents they sell.  I've never heard of a candle that smells like chai tea, and even if the candles weren't true to scent as advertised, I was definitely willing to bite at the chance to test them out.  And so, when it was time to decide, I chose the Coffee Shop scent trio, which includes a coffee bean, hazelnut, and a chai tea candle, all in adorable little 2 oz. bottles.

Homemade Masala Chai!

I am so excited to share this recipe with you all!  I love-love-love chai, and I felt like a thrilled little kid when I found out I could make it at home last year.  It wasn't until this summer that I had all the ingredients I needed for a good chai, and to be honest, there's still one ingredient I leave out, but I am very pleased with what I have, and I want to tell you about it!

Recommended with Masala Chai

I know I usually put my recipe and my links together in one post, but I decided to split these up since the pictures of the homemade masala chai (!!!) process take up a lot of space.  Here are this week's links, friend!

Inspiration for gifts for the stargazer

Guess what!  I've been working on my Christmas present to you guys, and I'm planning on releasing it next week!  (Here's a hint.)  I've been working on it bit by bit since August, and I'm hoping it's going to be really valuable to you.  In the meantime, though, here is some night sky gift inspiration for the stargazers among you.

What Are You Like When You're Sick?

Last Monday, I woke up with a dull headache in the back of my head, the kind that makes you want to be in bed with no responsibilities and with the lights out.  Instead of going back to sleep, I had to head to work, which momentarily became my least favorite place to be.  Thankfully, most of my human interaction was over the phone that day, and I noticed that I was especially gentle and kind whenever I had to speak to someone.