2014 in Reverse

2014 in Reverse. An awakening of my soul, a stirring of my heart, a spark in my heart, a light in my eyes. What I discovered in 2014...

I discovered the beauty and mystery of a land, once powerful, now dusted by sand and ancient tombs. Pharaohs, once held with such esteem and power, nothing but bones and dust. Ominous and beautiful

Gelato. The cool sweet lightness, a tingling kiss on your lips after an exotic night of tapas under the twinkling lights of ancient cities.

Rain. The beautiful pureness, the quiet stillness, the continual rejuvenation of life even when life seems gray and dreary.

Romance. Beautiful wishful promises made in a fountain. A proposal of grandeur, filled with empty promises but nonetheless a fairytale. A romantic notion filled with language barriers and sweet gestures.

History.  I explored a castle that once brimmed as the center of life. A lighthouse, a beacon. Now a beautiful and quiet retreat in the middle of a bustling city.

I explored the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. I dipped my fingers in one side and felt the pulse of the other.

I discovered that sometimes it doesn’t matter how long you’ve known some one, but when two souls are destined to be together time becomes obsolete. Friendship is wonderful and beautiful and it’s the missing piece in your life. Surround yourself with the truest, most honest and beautiful people.

A fun bikini can change a girls attitude completely.

The heat of summer, the damp coolness of a shady palm tree. The aroma of tropical flowers and the sound of exotic birds that entice you deeper into a garden.

I’ve discovered that true love is worth the wait, demonstrated by my sweet friend. I’ve watched many brides walk down the aisle but none as sweet as her. Being by her side, watching her grow and change, seeing her support and love him til the ends of the earth; It’s a beautiful demonstration of how Christ loved the church and how love is a daily commitment to lay down your life for another.

Things are really bigger in Texas.

I discovered the waters of the mountains, again. That rush and adrenaline. The excitement of the fear of the unknown that is just around the next bend.

The unexpected beauty of a drive and coming upon a field of sunflowers. A happy field. A content field. A field of dancing souls, singing to the sun and stretching upward with exuberance and joy. Pure joy.

The sweet kiss of sun. Tanned tummys and sand between my toes. The peace and serenity of the waves continually kissing the shore.

I realized that I can survive a job transition. Leaving one job for another. Taking a step towards a greater future, a bigger plan. Not letting fear hold me back. Taking a leap of faith and trusting God has a bigger plan. And I made it, I am surviving and thriving in exactly where God wants me to be.

The sensation of grapes between your toes. Hello “I Love Lucy”

Passion. A revitalization of a once-dormant part of my soul. The freeness and abandonment of everything but two souls, intertwined on the dance floor.  Feeling with more than your hands and feet, but with your whole body and soul. Letting the music take over your body and for moments of pure abandonment, let nothing matter except the raw feeling of the music twisting around your body.

NASCAR. Now that was random.

Inner strength, raw strength, strength of a fierce woman. My strength doesn't come from a man, it doesn't come from validation- it comes from focus, determination, power from God and most of all my own sweat and tears.

Red lipstick. Give a woman the right shade of lipstick, and she can conquer the world.

Watch out 2015, I’m out to conquer the world, and you’re right in my grasps...

Snow Day Adventures

That anticipation. Wondering if the call will come in. Fingers crossed. Finally 6am rolls around and the call comes, work is closed! What a glorious phone call!! I don't think I have been this excited for a snow day since high school. Snowpocolypse was here and the world appeared as it was coming to an end; good luck finding a loaf of bread within a 5 mile radius. 

So what does the Traveling Cupcake do on her snow day?
1) Snuggle with her puppy (after doing an intense flexibility Pilates workout: note the fun rebounder in the background) 

2) Be amazed by God's creation, covered white with snow

3) Bring the puppy out in her cute pink snow coat and watch her explore this new world

4) Help your brother shovel your car out of the garage 

5) My favorite thing: bake bake bake.

I haven't had a chance to create a stock pile of gluten-free, healthy snacks for weeks it seems so I took this opportunity to spend a good 6-hours in the kitchen food prepping for the weeks ahead. Here's just a few highlights from the day: 

Blueberry Bark

Protein Peanut Butter "Cookies"

Rice Krispy Treats...okay these aren't actually that healthy, but they are Gluten Free :) 

Seriously, spending time in the kitchen is one of my favorite things! I also made a GF chicken and asparagus stir-fry, meatloaf for a later date, peanut butter protein cups (healthier version of a Reese), homemade granola and I may or may not have broken down and made chocolate pudding...but I won't say.

Jack had a friend spend the night so I spent the rest of the night hunkered down watching every great movie out there: You've Got Mail, The Holiday, Notting Hill, Father of the Bride I & II, and of course Pride & Prejudice... while enjoying a glass or three of Pinot Grigio, hey it's gluten-free!

I hope you all enjoyed Snowpocalypse 2014 and had just as great of a day as we did!

The Traveling Cupcake

2012 was an incredible year of travel adventures:

London, Basingstoke, Bath, Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, York, Nottingham, Surrey, Stratford-upon-Avon…and all sorts of other little charming towns all throughout England.

2013 I stayed a little closer to home and traveled around the US: Charleston, San Francisco, Myrtle Beach, Yosemite National Park, Phoenix, Philadelphia,  New York City, Hershey, Lancaster County, Charlotte, Washington DC, Minneapolis, Raleigh, Hudson, Excelsior and of course the sandy shores of Wilmington called me home a few times. 

Have I mentioned I love traveling? 

I love traveling throughout the United States but there is something wonderful about going abroad. It's been about a year since I've gone out of the country and probably for the last 11 months the travel bug has been bugging me. It's time to go somewhere.

Someone asked me once why I love traveling and I wasn't sure how to explain it other than you get to be someone completely different when you're in a foreign city. There is something so therapeutic about being completely anonymous is a foreign city; no one knows who you are, where you came from, what you've been through, where you're going. You get to make memories, meet new friends, try new things and explore the surroundings in such a raw and natural existence. It's something I've never been able to harness anywhere else. Simply put, adventures are the best way to learn.

You learn what it takes to survive in a foreign city. You learn to adapt to a new culture and language. You learn to accept others. You learn how much you can withstand. You learn who you are. You learn what you want, you learn what you don't want. You learn that everybody is so different yet we all have a common ground. You learn that life is so much bigger than your hometown. You learn to be you and that…that is the most wonderful part of traveling this girl has learned.

So its time to pack up my life into a suitcase, book a flight, and head off to a grand new adventure. Here's to another adventure from, The Traveling Cupcake. 

My One Word

I don't need to tell you how hard it is to keep up with New Year Resolutions. Why do you think they start pumping out the Weight Watchers, Curves and Nutrisystem ads like they're going out of style from about Christmas until February? They want to suck you in while you're most susceptible to change which just so happens between December 31st and January 1st. Yeah sure it's wonderful to sign up for a weight loss program, promise to spend more time with family, finally pay off those loans and what not, but how many of us fall off the bandwagon somewhere between March and April (if you've held on that long). 

What if this year was different? What if a year from now, you look back and think, "WOW, I really have achieved my goals & I'm better for it?". 

For the past two years I have forgone the typical "New Year Resolutions" in lieu of something I find to be much more practical, applicable and rewarding:
My One Word.
I pick one word that I am going to focus my energy, quiet time and effort on for the whole of that year. That one single word replaces all those broken promises to yourself. Your word allows you to have focus, clarity and direction in the new year.

You don't have to spend every waking minute focusing on that word and how it applies to your life. You reflect. You pray. You have quiet time. You meditate on how you want it to impact your life. It really is a launching pad for a life transformation.

For the past two years God has worked through me and transformed me for the better. Two simple words that I chose in January transformed my life each year; sometimes not in obvious ways- but as I sat there on December 31st each year, I reflected on the past year and was amazed at how quietly and strategically the Lord changed my heart, my mind and my attitude. Subsequently, other things that used to be on my list of "resolutions" actually got mastered for once. 

So who do you want to be in 2014?
 Do you want to have more faith? Do you want to be more focused? Do you need to have hope? Do you need change? Do you need to simplify your life? Do you need to show love? Maybe you need to surrender to God's will. Maybe you simply need to listen more.
 Decide who you want to be in 2014 and chose a word that will follow you this whole year; you'll be amazed a year from now how much God will transform you when you just pick one simple little word.

Check out http://myoneword.org/ for how MyOneWord began.