2011 was a busy year for family, personal restoration and business.
I have done so much yet feel as if I have done nothing. I hope you can relate.

In 2012 many of us will make New Year's resolutions. I, however; will not.
All I can do in 2012 is to remind myself to do my best.
Some days my best will compare to the sun's brilliance,
other days my best may look suspiciously close to a pile of crap.
No matter which my best turns out to be on that particular day or task,
the sun's brilliance or a pile of crap,
I know each plays a part in creating beautiful things in and around me.

My 2012 wish for you:
Celebrate your sun's brilliance and those piles of crap for each will create beauty in and all around you.

Monday night my house was filled with 15 people all willing to belly up to the bar and cook under the guidance of the professional chef. For 3 hours everyone (even the men in the crowd) chopped, mixed and seasoned while enjoying not only each other's company but Skinny Girl Margaritas.

Never forget the liquid encouragement.

If you ever wanted to throw a cooking party but wonder if it would work I tell you now - just do it. Monday night chicken fajitas and pineapple salsa never tasted so good!

... was a bust.

It's been rainy and overcast here so the much anticipated Super Moon sighting on Saturday was blocked by cloudy, rainy skies.

What's not a bust is my yearly cooking party tonight! I'm looking forward to having 15 guests here to help cook chicken fajitas and pineapple salsa while washing down Skinny Girl Margaritas. Should be a great time!

We've rescheduled Meatless Monday in our house due to the festivities and will pick it right back up on Tuesday for those who are following along.

During a recent walk with our family dog I was fortunate enough to get reacquainted with an old friend. She and her 3yr old daughter came running out of the house to greet us. It was great to see her, meet her daughter for the first time and be reminded about what a great friendship we had growing up. Her and I used to spend afternoons together, had many sleepovers and kept each other company while our Mother's had their various woman's parties.

It got me to thinking, what happened? How did our lives separate so that we never kept in touch? Is it possible to reconnect after so much time has passed? Over the past 20 years we each got married, moved away, began our families and somehow lost sight of our friendship along the way. Funny thing is we both ended up nearly next to each other, only 3 houses separate our houses, at nearly the same stage in our life.

While I remember being fast friends with her I can not remember any of the details. I don't remember her favorite color, hobby, food, what she wanted to be when we grew up etc. I don't even remember when her birthday is or her actual age other than knowing she is younger. It's as if I am meeting an old friend and a complete stranger all at once when I see her.

So I am now faced with a large amount of guilt, for not keeping in touch, sprinkled with a healthy dose of curiosity. I feel compelled to reach out and make an attempt towards renewing our friendship but struggle with 'how.'

I can keep walking past their house in attempts to see if she'll come out again, hoping she doesn't think I am stalking her, or I can just stop by some day with a basket of something (wouldn't it be nice to remember some of her likes and dislikes here!) but don't want to seem to pushy ... again stalking comes to mind.

So here I sit at the crossroad of indecision.