This ain't a post about black-eyed peas and greens....

....but it is a story about a wonderful New Year's Eve meal.  Traditionally, as a child NYE meant bonfire parties, 1000 plus piece puzzle building and huge helpings of BEPs and collard greens, all mixed up with rice and hot vinegar.

Oh, how times have changed. Now my friends and I have started the tradition of getting all glammed up, scoring reservations at a swanky restaurant, and indulging in a beautiful (if pricey) meal to welcome in the new year.

For 2011, we returned to the start of this tradition (from NYE 2008), Orlando's beloved Moonfish, smack in the middle of Restaurant Row (that is Sandlake Road if you are familiar with Otown).  Moonfish is a great surf and turf restaurant with an Asian flare, known for fresh fish, melt in your mouth steaks, great service and a fantastic happy hour.

Speaking of Happy Hour, since our reservations were for 6:30pm, we arrived a little early and took advantage of the half price cocktails in the bar, while our table was being prepped.

Cheers to what a great year 2010 has been!

I had a dirty gin martini, of course. It was wonderful.

Speaking of wonderful....here are my beautiful friends:

Ashley, Jenna and Patty. You know our group is going to be the life of the party when the four of us (plus the silly, unphotographed boys) get together!

Ashley wanted to try my martini, since I was raving about it.

Nope, still not a fan. "tastes like salt water, ugh"

Our fun and playful (not to mention patient! we had a party of 18) server.

You have a love a restaurant that not only has beautiful menus, but provides the exact origin of the fish being served that night.

Not to mention that Moonfish has a fantastic wine list, too. Jenna and I split this lovely Malbec.

We loitered over drinks, and fun stories from the year before dinner was served. 

Swordfish ala Oscar. 

Divine. Beautiful. Orgasmic. Lovely. Fresh. Mind blowing. Perfect.

What a great "last meal" of 2010.

After happy hour cocktails and free flowing wine, things got a little silly. There was a balloon, and well...I'll let the pictures explain:

Love to all!
Happy New Year from,
~the little GRITS gal, all grown up and celebrating NYE in style, Jess

PS. I loved this picture of Sarah and Ash at dinner, so I just had to throw it in. My new DSLR rocks!

Good Bye to 2010....

....you were a good friend.

It's that time again....to reflect on the past, get ready for the future, and drink more champagne in the present. New Year's Eve is my favorite holiday, because as I've said before, it is the one holiday that unites the entire world in celebration. For this one night, it matters not what race, religion, gender, sexual preference, taste in music, style of clothing, or beverage of choice defining us. We all bid adieu to the previous year and lean hopefully into the next, longing for new beginnings, fresh adventures, and more memories.

Um, and it's also time to check in with those goals I set 365ish days ago, for 2010. Let's just say I was a little insane lofty.  I blame it on the peace and serenity that comes from Christmas Vacation. Well, that and I'm a born overachiever....but I didn't achieve quite as much as I planned in 2010. Let's tally up the damage: 

The Semi Abnormal Goals from 2010 (read the full descriptions here, if you are so inclined)

1. Be more charitable
2. Practice more yoga
3. Get a passport and use it
4. Run a 5k and a 10k
5. Read a new cookbook each month
6. Go riding more often (both horses and bikes)
7. Take better care of my hands and nails

So, how did I do?

1. Success!  Even though I didn't end up blogging about specific charities, I contributed to multiple causes over the past year, plus as the Beta Club Sponsor at the high school I teach at, I organize drives for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Relay for Life (American Cancer Society).
2. Fail. I was attending one vinyasa class at my gym semi-regularly over the spring and summer, but once that class was canceled, my mat hasn't left the trunk of my car.
3. Major Fail.  I just applied for my passport two days ago! But the good news is my bestie Ash and I are doing a 3ish week tour of Europe this summer...stay tuned!
4. Semi-Success. I ran the 5 mile leg of the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Relay back in October, but haven't really run since, just little 2 mile jaunts around the neighborhood.
5. Major Fail. I still haven't finished reading that Top Chef cookbook that Jenna gave me for Christmas last year! I did start subscribing to both Cooking Light and Food and Wine, in addition to all the blogs and dailies I get via email, but reading the books didn't happen. I'd like to re-approach this goal again in the future, but not until some of my education certification things are finished.
6. Major Fail.  I bought a bike rack. It's still in the box. Yep. Also, I haven't seen a horse in the past year either.
7. Success! While maintaining nail polish chips (because chipped nails irk me to no end) is a little time consuming, my hands look much nicer, I can't chew my nails anymore because of the polish and my nails are much stronger now, too.

What else did I do this year? Enjoy the review:

Traveled: (stateside, of course!): to Charlotte (x2), DC, Orlando and WPB (countless times)
Celebrated: birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, engagements, life!
Built: an abarnment, aka studio apartment from the studs up
Taught: my crazy, but wonderful science students
Read: some really great books (I promise you a separate post on this one!)
Lived, Loved, Cooked and Ate (and drank!): 'cause that's what I'm all about, and I don't think you can have those 4 separately

What are my goals for 2011? You will just have to stick around and find out! Happy New Year, my friends. Let's make it a great one!

Love to all,
~the life loving gal, Jess