From Me, To You, With Love: Hi.

Wow. February 1, 2012 -- how are we in your presence?

Hi, friends and family (and stalkers)!
A belated Happy NEW YEAR! to you! and you! and you, too!
I've been out and about celebrating life; having fun with friends, and enjoying this AWESOME winter weather. (It's only snowed twice! My outdoor exercise regime thanks you, Winter 2012!)

So 2012 things:
2012 has been filled with babies, babies and more babies. Total so far: 2 boys and 1 girl.
2012 has been filled with news of an engagement: Erin is off the market!
2012 has been filled with people. I love that.

While many sat around and contemplated future resolutions, I ran around town with some amazing people who were on the East Coast for a little New Year Fun. The gang of Californians graced me with their presence and I was so happy to have been able to ring in a new year, full of new beginnings, with some of the most wonderful people I know!

Thanks for spending time with me, everyone!

Moving on...
New Year, New Becks?

Social media is a powerful thing. From Twitter to Facebook and some of your blogs, I've been able to track your resolutions. Some of you are really succeeding, while others -- well, there's always next year.

There was a point in my life where I felt setting those new goals every year was really important. Don't get me wrong, goals ARE important; but this year I've decided to take a step back and evaluate my heart. So aside with the eating healthier, keeping my room clean, etc, my new direction is...

Drum roll please!

I want to be more OPEN with people. That's it! To prove this point, I wrote a pretty honest "update letter". I sent it to EVERYONE I've ever saved into my GMail contacts (most were acquaintances if I'm honest). Upon sending it, I felt like I got the wind knocked out of me. How do people wear their heart on their sleeve?

However, I was so, so, SO surprised by some of the people that responded. I was really touched the fact they took 11 hours to read a novel of an e-mail and to write that they appreciated hearing my heart. I didn't want anyone to respond because I was embarrassed to have written something so honest -- but I love knowing it was embraced. Talk about cannon-balling into the "openness pool".

Here's a little collection of photos I stole from fun friends, who all have made 2012 wonderful so far.

An impromptu lunch