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This and that, and welcome to 2011!

It's the first Monday of 2011 - Happy New Year, everyone!



The year has started off well, and for the first time in as long as I can remember, I rang in the new year at home, with my loved ones. Usually, I'm out at some party or another, totally dressed up, but this year, it was the complete opposite, and it was totally awesome. Drinks, great food, more food, more drinks, card games and me in my lulu's - seriously?

Perfection!


Christmas was filled with wonderful moments and new memories.

It was joyful, festive and happy. For me, it is all about family, and our special traditions. My children are so fortunate to spend almost every day with their grandparents and great-grandparents, and to see old Greek traditions carried on to my boys is very heart-warming. Christmas at my parents house is always so much fun, and of course, a little crazy, too!






Family and good friends and parties and a surprise visit from an out-of-town best friend, a completely unexpected visit that had a bunch of us girls squealing with delight outside my house on December 26th, made this holiday season even more fabulous.




I drank a lot of wine in December, and I liked it. I must remember to keep that up in 2011!

My goals for this year? I have quite a few, actually. It's not like I really stick to resolutions, but it's kind of nice to start the year confident and on a positive note, you know? There is a lot I want to learn this year, so much I want to do with my family, and goals I'm determined to achieve, both at work and in my personal life.

As each year passes, my confidence as a mother grows. My boys are my life. They completely fascinate me, make me laugh, and leave me in awe daily at how smart they are. It's the small things, really, that I love the most. Homework with my five year old, reading books with my almost three year old, and making new memories while on vacation.

I started dieting again, as is my tradition every January, because I'm going to be in a bikini at the end of the month. Diet and exericise! I'll be breaking a sweat in Body Pump tomorrow, and I cannot wait. I NEED the exercise after weeks of terrible (but oh-so-good!) eating.

In a few weeks, we'll be on the beach in south Florida, and I cannot wait to inhale the ocean air again, find rocks and shells with my children, and totally relax. My boys are over the moon with happiness, too.

2011 is sure to be filled with lots of love,


some emotional breakdowns,


amazing discoveries,


and lots of happy memories.












2011 is going to be an awesome year. I am very excited! I am blessed and thankful for my family and for all my amazing friends - thank you. I hope this year is going to be amazing for you all, too.

Comments

Anonymous said…
great post and BTW your hair is awesome!!!!!!! Is that your niece in the first pic?
Gina said…
Happy New Year! Great pictures - wonderful memories behind you and wonderful memories yet to be made!
Shell said…
A bikini? I would cry.

But, you'll have a fun trip!
Liz Mays said…
You're so pretty!!! I'm sure the bikini thing won't be too hard to make happen. But I still can't believe you're excited to work out. I HATE it!
Anonymous said…
Love the pictures! Here's to a great year!!!
I love the wine comment! I need more of that too. Good luck on the goals. Me? The only darn person in the state to LOSE 4 lbs over Christmas. Without trying. Where is that the rest of the year!?
And great pics as always!
Stephanie said…
NYE at home is my fave way to celebrate! Oh, and your pictures are amazing:)
Happy New Years to you and yours!
Lady Mama said…
Happy New Year Loukia. Hope it's a wonderful one for you. The holiday sounds awesome! What a nice thing to look forward to.
CaraBee said…
Happy new year! Good things this year, I am sure of it! And lots of wine!

A bikini, sigh, someday.
Burgh Baby said…
Y'all are so damn cute I can't even stand it!
Unknown said…
It's gonna be great. Love your attitude Loukia! Happy 2011! :D
Sounds like 2011 will be a good year. Starting out in Florida is a good way to start.
Anonymous said…
very nice Loukia, nice to see baby Katerina (my name sake) with you to top your list, as a grandma I can still say they are absolutely
adorable children, all of them, wishing you and the family health
Happy new year to you, too!

I'm starting the old new years diet and exercise, too! A sad, sad state my body is in.
ellen said…
Sounds like such a fun Christmas holiday with the family! And I love that you had an unexpected visit from a friend- how great! Good luck with those new years resolutions... mine is "don't sweat the small stuff" - we'll see how that goes! As I look out the window at snow falling, I'm envious of your FL vaca- have a blast!
Hello...following through Twitter!

Your boys are SO cute!! We celebrated NYE at home this year too with our daughter. I like you, am usually out at a part doing adult things...I absolutely loved being at home this year.
Love the positivity of this post! I'm right there with you Mama! It's going to be a great year, we're in this together!