First Currently of 2015!

Well, it's technically still 2014 here, but close enough. Linking up with Farley.

Listening...Our obsession over the past week has been House of Cards. Amazing! We are halfway through season 2 with plans to finish it tonight.

Loving...My husband got me a beautiful right hand ring for Christmas that I'm in love with.

Thinking....2014 wasn't that awesome of a year; I hope 2015 is better.

Wanting...Today was bitterly cold, but I'm hoping it makes it to the thirties tomorrow so I can hike.

Needing...Five days until school starts again. So not ready, but I need to get back in that frame of mind.

Yes: I plan to hike at least once a week in 2015. Yes, even in the winter.

Maybe: As long as vacation time can work out for my husband and my parents (who dog-sit), we hope to plan a trip to northern MI this summer.

I wish: My dream trip right now is actually a cruise to Alaska. Sadly, not in the budget.

I hope you all have a fantastic start to 2015!

14 in '14

This is a fun link-up! And most likely, my last post of 2014. Linking up with A Teeny Tiny Teacher, et.al. for this one.

14. Favorite Quote

I have always loved this quote.

13. Favorite article of clothing

This year I succumbed to the blanket scarf trend and loved it!

12. Favorite movie you watched

Honestly, it may be the movie I just saw last night. I read the book this year, too, and loved it. The whole journey of this woman just really spoke to me. We can find ourselves by losing ourselves in nature.

11. Favorite TV series

I have many, but one I really got into this year was Homeland, so I'll go with that.

10. Favorite restaurant

We ate at Frontera Grill in Chicago for the first time ever this year (a Rick Bayless restaurant) and it was fantastic.

9. Favorite new thing that you tried

Not totally new, but I acquired a renewed love for hiking after our trip to the Smokies and now we go almost every weekend.

8. Favorite gift you received

Tough question. Probably money for our new leather sofa from my parents. I love this thing.

7. Favorite thing you've pinned

It's always clothes:

This is from the blog Franish.

6. Favorite blog post

I found this blog from Secondary Solutions about plagiarism to be helpful and informative.

5. Favorite accomplishment

Doing all the landscaping in our front yard by ourselves.

4. Favorite photo

The view from Clingman's Dome, the highest point in Smoky Mountain National Park

3. Favorite memory

Probably our aforementioned trip to the Smokies.

2. 2015 Goal

Save more money!

1. One little word

Wanderlust

Christmas Questionnaire

I thought it would be fun to link up for a little Christmas Questionnaire this year.

1. When do you decorate?

We put our tree up the weekend before Thanksgiving this year, but waited to do the outdoor decorations until the weekend after. My husband has to work Black Friday and the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so it's hard to do all decorations that weekend. Here's our tree:

2 Elf or no elf?

No elf; I don't have kids and I teach high school, so I really have no use for one.

3. Christmas cookies or no baking for you?

I think we're baking cookies next weekend--likely just some sugar cookies that we decorate with icing and sprinkles. What I REALLY love is when other people bake Christmas cookies and I eat them.

4. Favorite holiday tradition?

Ever since we've been married, my husband and I (and now our dog) pack up in the car Christmas Eve night with some coffee or hot cocoa and drive around listening to Christmas tunes while looking at the neighborhood lights all around our city.

5. Favorite Christmas movie?

Hard question, but I think it's gotta be:

6. Snow or no snow?

I don't mind a little snow on Christmas Day, but otherwise, no snow!

7. Favorite Christmas song?

("Christmas Eve Sarajevo" by TSO)

8. Favorite gifts to give and get?

On my list this year was a right hand ring from my husband, a Tory Burch purse, and gift cards for clothes.

I am horrible at buying for other people! And my husband reads here, so I don't want to spoil his gifts :)

December Currently

Wow! How is it already December? I think Thanksgiving helped November fly right by. Hopefully these next three weeks do the same :)

Linking up for this month's Currently.

Listening...Last month, I was listening to Songza too! But this time, it's the Christmas tunes I'm crankin'.

Loving...We put up all our outside and inside lights over the weekend. It looks so purty :)

Thinking...My husband is hard to buy for. Or should I say surprise. He ordered a few things himself that I am giving him as presents lol, but I also want to surprise him with at least one gift he isn't expecting.

Wanting....We have pretty much planned out our vacation for next summer, minus actually booking our lodging. We're headed up to Mackinac Island and the Traverse City area of MI, and I could not be more excited. I want it to be here nooooooow.

Needing...Our Christmas cards came in, and I have a bunch I need to address.

Giving....If you know me, you know animals are near and dear to my heart, so we always drop off a bunch of supplies around the holidays to the animal shelter where we got our dog. I hope I can make their stay at the shelter a little more comfy until they find their forever home.