Hooray Instagram

1/ Tinkerbell banner + cupcake toppers I made for my nieces' birthday party.
2/ Fresh flowers from Trader Joe's...my weekly indulgence.
3/ Hostess gift. (Cookies and cream popcorn [whaaat?] from a new little popcorn shop down the street that opened a few months ago.)

Looking Forward

Enough reflection on the past, let's look to what this year will (hopefully) hold. Here are my goals for 2012:

//Help my clients reach their fitness goals. I'm planning to do this with goal sheets and assessments at various increments throughout the year. Though I'd love to hear if you have any advice in this area!

//Move toward becoming an expert in the fitness industry by reading motivational books + industry-specific non-fiction books, networking with people I admire and who know a lot more than I do, taking classes from others, + going to at least one conference.


//Try new athletic feats: skiing, dance, + an ultramarathon.

//Expand my business. I want to talk more about what I do to new people that I meet.

//Read the Bible and pray each and every day...not just to do it, but to help my mental state, to help me grow closer to God, and to help me to be a better person.


I'd love to hear your goals or your thoughts on mine. Let's make this a great year!!

xoxo, Alicia

[images via The Sweetest Occasion's Pinterest]

Welcome, 2012!

It has been such a nice holiday season. And New Year's weekend was just perfect: dinner on NYE with family, ringing in the new year with great friends, and a brunch this morning.

2011 was a pretty great year. I made some goals last year and thought I would write about how they went, in case you were interested:) but mostly for my own documentation:

//I became a certified personal trainer + expanded my Pilates clientele base as well.


//Patrick graduated from nursing school + it was truly the first time since Patrick and I have been married where we both were able to work at jobs that we are just in love with (how much does that improve everyone's moods?...it's amazing!)

//I ran a marathon (+ another half!)


//I read more classics (Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Cannery Row by Steinbeck, Intruder in the Dust by Faulkner, and Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis). I wanted to read more non-fiction, but didn't get around to it:)


//I took a class through my church on how to understand the Bible better.

//Patrick and I started eating healthier (lots more fruits and veggies). What a difference in the way we both feel!


//I traveled a little: Lexington in January, St. Louis and Chicago in June for a wedding and also for our anniversary, San Francisco in October, and Cleveland in December.

How was your 2011? I'm looking forward to a fresh new year ahead full of new goals and new experiences. All the best to you and enjoy your day tomorrow if it's a vacation day for you!

xoxo, Alicia

[all images via Glitter Guide's Pinterest]

Wedding Shower

I'm throwing a bridal shower for my best friend a week from today. I'm so so excited for her and her fiance:) (I hope the shower turns out the very best because that's what she deserves!) These are the invitations I designed and sent out last week. I was going for a Kate Spade-inspired invitation because she loves Kate Spade! Probably my favorite part of the invitation is the envelope, where I freehanded some polka dots on the liner with a Sharpie gold paint pen that I found at Target.

And in other news, MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Have a wonderful weekend with your family and friends. xo, Alicia

A City Christmas Tree

We got our little tree at a Christmas tree stand a few blocks away. Isn't it cute? I love the sequin tree skirt (found at Target), the vintage-looking lights (also found at Target), and the adorable garland (from etsy shop stephlovesben). It makes me so happy!

HymnSing

Happy December!! I hope you have been able to take a moment here and there to savor this season of giving to others and to celebrate the true meaning of this season. I am trying to make a conscious effort to REALLY do that this year. My Christmas shopping is almost done(!). It seems getting that accomplished early really helps being able to focus on being with friends and family and just realizing the abundance that I have.

My church is doing this event called HymnSing this year. I'm pretty excited because I'm helping to plan it with a good friend and I think that it's going to turn out to be a really cool way to enjoy Christmas. It's at a local coffee shop and we'll drink hot cocoa and eat sweets and hang out and sing carols. And I was lucky enough to be able to create this little flyer for the event!

So if you're in Cincinnati, you should come! It's this Sunday from 6-8 pm at Red Tree Gallery in Oakley square. xo, Alicia

StephLovesBen

I am in love with this shop...every single thing is so flippin' adorable!! A great resource for parties and for Christmas decorating!

Shopping guide from StephLovesBen: /1/ Felt Christmas Ornament $3.50 /2/ Yarn Pom Pom Garland $13 /3/ Gold Glitter Garland $12