2011 Year in Review

Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!  I can vividly remember last New Year's Eve, my cousins and I standing around my kitchen island and toasting at the end of the countdown.  We told each other that it's "our year."  We say that every year.  So, has 2011 really been my year?  Sure!  It started out pretty difficult, but as the year went on, everything just kept getting better and better and better.  Here are some of my highlights of 2011.

February:  We said good-bye to our beloved and sassy Grandma Mary.  We know she's partying it up up there.

February:  I cut bangs and still have them.  Yes, it's a highlight.

March:  5 days of Maui, baby!

June:  Finished my first year as a 4th and 5th grade teacher, after 5 years of teaching K/1, AND I earned my professional certificate.  It was quite a stressful career year, which is probably why there are no big highlights for April and May.

July:  Met Mario in Vegas for one mission--see Celine Dion!

August:  rented a house on San Juan with the cousins.  Epic 3 days together.

September:  Mom turned 60, and lookin' good.

October:  Signed up for my first half-marathon.  Stay tuned in June for how the "Rock 'n' Roll" went.

November:  Ardon threw a surprise party at my place for my 30th birthday.  He's awesome.  And OMG I'm 30?!

December:  Christmas with the family.  A highlight of every year.

That was it for 2011.  Bring on 2012!  It's gonna be my year.

Merry Holidays!

From our family to yours!

Non-Resolution Resolution

As we near the end of 2011 and ring in the new year of 2012, it's time to re-evaluate life and figure out what to resolve.  For many (myself included) it's a time to start a new diet, work out regimen, clean the house more, or to cut something out cold turkey.   For others, it's more financial--shop less, eat out less, and for Seattlites, brew coffee at home.

The truth is, I really suck at honoring my new years resolutions.  For me the resolution lasts for about 3 weeks, then I'm over it.  Lent rolls around and for 40 days and nights I'm back on it until Easter.   Yes, working out, eating better, or saving money could all enhance my life, but let's face it. . . They're all pretty torturous.  In addition, they are all things that I've gotten better at over the years ("gotten better at" doesn't mean I'm totally good at it yet).  So, what is something cool that I can call a resolution?  This year, I'd like to take a new approach. . . Add something to my life that will bring me even just a lil' bit of joy, almost like the non-resolution resolution.  Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of things in my life that bring happiness--I have an amazing family, wonderful friends, my health, a great career, a beautiful city condo, and a truly incredible boyfriend.  Really, I couldn't ask for more.  But I know there are other things out there that can just help me keep balanced.  What can I do to enhance my quality of life, or increase my happiness and decrease my stress?  It could be something like take more baths, go to more happy hours, always have a fresh bouquet of flowers in the centerpiece vase, or write in a journal.

So, what is my non-resolution resolution?

Cat Picardal's 2012 Resolution:  explore Seattle more.  In the last 8 years I've found all my favorite spots--restaurants, parks, shopping--and have enjoyed all that downtown and Capitol Hill have to offer.  But I know there's so much to this city that I have yet to see and experience.  2012 is the year for me to live like a tourist.

Another Goodie

Couldn't help but smile when I opened this one up from Mar.  Oh, Romano...

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New, Improved Condo Christmas

My decorating philosophy is that there are no rules in decorating.  By no means am I a home decorating expert.  I hardly decorate, but I like to think I have some sort of style knowledge.  For me, it's pretty simple.  If it looks good, it looks good.  I don't think I have a particular style.  I'm not "modern," or "global," or "shabby chic."  Most of the time, things will just catch my eye and it's a must-have (and I'll wait for it to go on sale), so I'll find a place for it at home and put it together in some kind of aesthetic way.  The aesthetic part is something I'm continuously learning more about as I add more to my home.  Sometimes less is more.  Other times more is more.  It's all about making the most of your home and creating a space that you can look forward to come home to. 


After living in this flat for a little over 3 years, I have learned that decorating a home happens little by little.  You gotta live in it a little bit to figure out what works for you.  It's actually been quite some time since I've tackled any home decor around here.  After a while I don't even notice what things look like anymore.  I have just realized that it's usually around the holidays that I like to re-evaluate my living space, and this year I gave the living area focal wall a bit of a make-over.  All it took was 3 new pieces that I bought, bringing out a few old pieces I forgot I had, a little bit of re-arranging, and voila!

Before.  Christmas 2010

After.  Christmas 2011

Notice how last year all the books were standing, just like they are at a library.  A couple of weeks ago they were still standing like that.  I pulled out a book I wanted to look through, and all the other books went sliding off the sides of the ledge, including the heaving books on the left, which knocked over the vase, which then went falling like Humpty Dumpty down to the cement floors and shattered in a million pieces. (I know.  I know.  I should have known better than to leave books free standing like that.  It was bound to happen.)  One vase down and a solution to the books really kick-started this little project (or maybe it was just my excuse to update things around here).  Who says books have to stand up? 

They're Baaaack!

One of my favorite times of the year is here!  I'm so stoked for this season.  Go, Dawgs!

Choppin' it up

Ardon just chopped up a song called Playing House by Active Child.  Here is the original.  

A music company hit him up and asked him to make a quick video to showcase the MPC (the machine he's using to press all those buttons to make the beat. I have no idea what it stands for.), and after a suggestion from a friend, he decided to use the sounds from Playing House to make the beat.  The end result is pretty dope. 

Here is Waystyles on the MPC with sounds from Playing House by Active Child.