Happy New Year from all three of us!

Happy New Year!

December Group Giveaway!

Now's the time! That time of year when we sit down, think about ourselves, and decide how we want to be better. I've always loved making resolutions, but I've never limited myself to making them only for New Year's. I'm a very goal-oriented person, so writing down things I want to accomplish brings me that much closer to actually doing it. 

What are some of your resolutions? Here are our goals for 2013:

+ save 40% of what we make

+ have a baby

+ enjoy every minute
+ be a better journal keeper

If building your blog is one of your resolutions, here's a giveaway to get you going! We've got three different ad spaces, as well as an eyeshadow palette to help you along with your "stop wearing my husband's clothes everyday and only showering twice a week" resolution. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Aloha, A blog hop

Hosted by

Local Sugar Hawaii

&

Lauren                              Amy                              Jessica                          Tess                         Mayra   

An Aloha Affair's Beautiful December Team

Each week we'll feature two of our sweet team members and their responses to our conversation starter so that you can get to know them better.

December's Conversation Starter:

What is the best gift you've ever given or received?

For more info on joining future An Aloha Affair teams please email:

localsugarhawaii@gmail.com

A tender heart

I've had a lot on my heart lately.

I recently had an experience that was unbelievably jarring. Through the whole thing, I prayed with more might than I think I've ever prayed for anything before that I would be comforted and that everything would turn out fine for everyone involved.

I felt the Spirit with me every minute because I desperately wanted it with me. By the end of the ordeal, I felt like I had been softened. I began noticing that the closer I became to God, the more things were falling back into place where they had previously fallen apart.

One morning, about a month after everything began, I received a phone call informing me that the whole thing was over. A literal message from God through one of His angels to not be afraid anymore. That same day, I finished all of my classes an officially became a college graduate. Needless to say, two huge weights had been lifted from my shoulders. I was filled with gratitude and relief, and cried all of the remaining tension out.

I prayed a prayer different from most of my prayers. Usually I have something to ask for. This time, I was only thankful. I was thankful for the friends and family who helped me through everything. I was thankful for my husband who was by my side, supporting me the whole time. I was thankful for all the comfort that was given to me, and that all my prayers were answered.

Later that day, I prayed again. This time I asked that my heart would stay softened, and that the Spirit that had been my companion for the whole month would stay with me.

Since then, I've noticed that, once again, my prayers are always being answered. I'm moved to tears almost daily. Sometimes it's a story that someone shares that touches my heart. Sometimes it's my own thoughts. Sometimes I look at the world around me and am moved by it's beauty. Sometimes my heart aches for others. But I feel like my emotional perspective on life has been permanently changed.

I hope that this Christmas season, you consider the softness of your heart, and seek happiness, compassion, and love.

Back in Bed

This month we've spent a lot of time away from home, which means we've spent a lot of time out of our own bed. There's something about spending a couple nights away from home that makes you re-fall in love with your own bed. The familiar smell, the softness of the sheets, the firmness of the mattress and pillows, and the warmth of the blankets. It's just not the same when you're in another bed. It's colder. The weight of the blankets isn't quite right. The pillows are too firm or thick. You feel like the bed is smaller, even if it's not. And then you walk in to your house, all warm and good-smelling, and you get your jammies on and crawl into bed, being careful to let as little air as possible between the sheets. It's cold at first, as sheets always are when they haven't been touched in a while, but then it warms up, and your feet touch your husband's feet, and you fall asleep, breathing in the smell of laundry and dinner and the candle you just blew out.

Aloha - A blog hop

Hosted by

Local Sugar Hawaii

&

Lauren                              Amy                              Jessica                          Tess                         Mayra 

An Aloha Affair's Beautiful December Team

Each week we'll feature two of our sweet team members and their responses to our conversation starter so that you can get to know them better.

December's Conversation Starter:

What is the best gift you've ever given or received?

For more info on joining future An Aloha Affair teams please email:

localsugarhawaii@gmail.com

Full Photoshoot - David Talley Photography

First of all I want to just rave about David Talley. He was so fun to work with. We woke up before dawn to start the photoshoot, and he just gave me the best direction.

Second, I want to explain this photoshoot. I wanted to do it. For some people, it's hard to understand. It's not for a publication or a website. It's not for a Christmas card or an announcement. Doing a creative shoot was something I always wanted to do, so I decided to do it. I would highly recommend the experience. If you ever have a little money to blow, skip that high-end movie theater date and get some pictures taken.

David and I exchanged emails for a while and talked about various concepts and scheduling. We decided on a couple of themes, and some of the concepts were spontaneously inspired once on location.

What do you guys think? I absolutely LOVE the darkness of all of the pictures - especially the ones in the abandoned house.

Connect with David: website // facebook //

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas! We decided not to get a Christmas tree this year because we've been out of time for more than 50% of the month. The poor thing would hardly get any attention, seeing as 17 out of 31 days we wouldn't be here. Last year I threw an ugly sweater party, so it was a necessary piece of decor. This year, we decided that getting a tree we'd hardly see, would promptly die, and would cost money just wasn't practical. My Christmas-loving self felt sad for the missing holiday symbol, so I made a little paper tree that sits next to our presents. On the dining room table.

One of my awesome sponsors Betsy has some amazing holiday traditions that she does every year. Check out all the cool Christmas stuff there is to do in Chicago!

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Hey everyone! I'm Betsy from Musings of a Museum Fanatic! I am so happy that Tess let me guest post here. One of my favorite things about this time of year is all of the different Christmas events and traditions that happen in Chicago. I'm going to share some of my favorites with you.

This has become one of my favorite Chicago and family traditions. Every year for the past threw years Kevin, my parents and his parents have gone downtown for the Christkindlmarkt. This year was no exception, we went down the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Every year Daley Plaza (since 1997) is transformed into an old world German Christmas market.  There are huge heated ornament houses, booths with all kinds of things to buy, ornaments, hats, steins and yummy German candy.  There are schnitzel and bratwurst sandwiches and of course your mulled wine or hot chocolate in the boot. 

Kevin's dad, Kevin, Kevin's mom, myself and my mom last year.

Another Chicago tradition everyone should be sure to check out is the windows of the State street Macy's. Every year they are a different theme. This year is no exception, although i have heard from some life long Chicagoans that they aren't up to snuff. Although these are still the people who refuse to call it Macy's : )

Skating in millennium park is another long held Chicago tradition. Although this lady has not had the pleasure yet. There are always tons and tons of people and skates always seem to get rented out quickly. For another skating experience you might want to head north to the Hancock building and Skate in the Sky. They have skating on the 94th floor. If you head there be sure to stay and get a drink in the Signature Lounge, it has fabulous views of the city.

The tradition I most want to see but haven't yet is the zoo lights at Lincoln Park Zoo. Every year they put thousands of lights. The best park is the zoo is free year round so its great to just be able to meander over after having dinner in one of the fabulous neighborhood restaurants.

Thank you so much again to Tess for letting me guest post here today.  Hopefully I've inspired some of you to come visit my favorite city next year for the holidays, or at least hop on over and visit me at my blog!  Museum of Science and Industry on the left, Field Museum on the right