{"id":5637,"date":"2018-01-02T09:09:03","date_gmt":"2018-01-02T14:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=5637"},"modified":"2018-01-02T09:09:03","modified_gmt":"2018-01-02T14:09:03","slug":"out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=5637","title":{"rendered":"Out With the Old, In With the New"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s that time again- time to look back at the past year and remember what happened, and to make resolutions and plans for the upcoming year. I love remembering the previous year, and making lists of the good that happened, don&#8217;t you? Let me start with the very beginning of 2017&#8230;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It started with a wonderful New Year&#8217;s Eve party with our youth group. It&#8217;s tradition for us to always get together and ring in the new year, dressed in anything from tuxedos to leis, depending on the year. Last year the theme was 1950s-1960s, which only happens to be one of my favorite eras. We had a darling little diner which served shakes and sliders, and we got to dress up in lipstick and heels to our hearts&#8217; content. Check it out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5773\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?attachment_id=5773\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?fit=3264%2C2448\" data-orig-size=\"3264,2448\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 5s&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1483211226&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.15&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.033333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_9530\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?fit=640%2C480\" class=\" wp-image-5773 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?resize=640%2C480\" alt=\"IMG_9530.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?w=3264 3264w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?resize=1024%2C768 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?resize=360%2C270 360w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9530.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5774\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?attachment_id=5774\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?fit=1184%2C1776\" data-orig-size=\"1184,1776\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_9564\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?fit=200%2C300\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?fit=640%2C960\" class=\" wp-image-5774 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?resize=640%2C960\" alt=\"IMG_9564\" width=\"640\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?w=1184 1184w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?resize=200%2C300 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?resize=768%2C1152 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?resize=683%2C1024 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9564.jpg?resize=180%2C270 180w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5775\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?attachment_id=5775\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?fit=3264%2C2448\" data-orig-size=\"3264,2448\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 5s&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1483211162&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.15&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;250&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.041666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_9525\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?fit=640%2C480\" class=\" wp-image-5775 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?resize=640%2C480\" alt=\"IMG_9525.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?w=3264 3264w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?resize=1024%2C768 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?resize=360%2C270 360w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9525.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Then there was the golden weekend in Norfolk, Virginia, which we spent eating sweet potato hash and soaking up the sunshine and finding the best fish taco place ever. Speaking of which, if you&#8217;re ever in Virginia Beach, check out Pelon&#8217;s Baja Grill. So worth it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5776\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?attachment_id=5776\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?fit=3264%2C2448\" data-orig-size=\"3264,2448\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 5s&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1493494008&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.15&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;32&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00055991041433371&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_0280\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?fit=640%2C480\" class=\" wp-image-5776 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?resize=640%2C480\" alt=\"IMG_0280.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?w=3264 3264w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?resize=1024%2C768 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?resize=360%2C270 360w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_0280.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>After years of an aversion to most forms of exercise, I discovered one I actually love. This was pretty shocking to my very non-athletic self, and a very pleasant surprise.<\/li>\n<li>I read\u00a0<em>On Writing Well,\u00a0<\/em>by William Zinsser. It is about writing (go figure), but it is so interesting it kept me up at night. Definitely check it out if you want to read back over your previous writing and see that it is all trash.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=5075\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">I finished a 5k<\/a>, which was a very good feeling, and also determined running is not what I want to do with my life.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5214\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?attachment_id=5214\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2035-e1534419370217.jpg?fit=3088%2C2320\" data-orig-size=\"3088,2320\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;2.2&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 7 Plus&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1509180329&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;2.87&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;25&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0051813471502591&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;3&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_2035\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2035-e1534419370217.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2035-e1534419370217.jpg?fit=640%2C481\" class=\" size-full wp-image-5214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/IMG_2035.jpg?resize=640%2C481\" alt=\"IMG_2035\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There was the trip to NYC in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=3035\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">February<\/a>, and again <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=5646\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">last month<\/a>, which I would talk about, but I&#8217;m pretty sure you&#8217;re sick and tired of hearing me go on about that city.<\/li>\n<li>I started this blog! I&#8217;d been writing elsewhere, but Rosie coined the name Striped Pineapple this spring, and I&#8217;ve been posting weekly here since then. And speaking of which&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/img_1345.jpg?w=640\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>I wrote <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=4119\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this post<\/a> on a whim, and accidentally collected quite a following of single Mennonite girls through it. It was by far the most popular post of the year. Well. It just goes to show you never know what the masses want to read. \ud83d\ude00<\/li>\n<li>I bought a new-to-me car, and relish having working AC and windows that roll up and down on command. It&#8217;s the little things, y&#8217;all.<\/li>\n<li>There were not one, but two major snowstorms. For North Carolina, this is quite a feat, and one I was tickled pink about.<\/li>\n<li>So many tacos were consumed, and yes, that is totally worthy of its own bullet point. Apparently, the love for tacos runs in the family, because for our Christmas celebration, we had a taco bar! Best thing ever.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5280\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?attachment_id=5280\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024\" data-orig-size=\"4032,3024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 7 Plus&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1509477645&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3.99&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;80&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.2&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_2075\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?fit=640%2C480\" class=\" size-full wp-image-5280 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?resize=640%2C480\" alt=\"IMG_2075\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?w=4032 4032w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?resize=1024%2C768 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?resize=360%2C270 360w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/IMG_2075.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Padres finished their <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=5489\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">house remodel<\/a>, and although this isn&#8217;t exactly a personal accomplishment, it is amazing to have a new light and airy place for our family to congregate. There are two (TWO!) pantries to have pantry talks in, and lots of room for all the kids to bop about and the adults to eat popcorn in.<\/li>\n<li>There were several episodes of camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Camping is so much work that I have mixed feelings about it, but on the other hand, a bit of mountain time restores peace of mind like little else. Also, I faced my fear of water and went tubing and jumped into water far deeper than my head&#8230;and it was a blast.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"5883\" data-permalink=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?attachment_id=5883\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?fit=4032%2C3024\" data-orig-size=\"4032,3024\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone 7 Plus&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1503750004&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;3.99&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;20&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00065789473684211&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"IMG_1670\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?fit=300%2C225\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?fit=640%2C480\" class=\" size-full wp-image-5883 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?resize=640%2C480\" alt=\"IMG_1670.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?w=4032 4032w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?resize=300%2C225 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?resize=768%2C576 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?resize=1024%2C768 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?resize=360%2C270 360w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?w=1280 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_1670.jpg?w=1920 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>And now 2018 has come upon us, full of opportunities and adventures and growth. The beginning of a new year feels so hopeful to me. I love making goals and habit changes and anticipating good to come.<\/p>\n<p>For this new year, a couple of my resolutions are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Get published somewhere besides my blog. (Working on it.)<\/li>\n<li>Read all the unread books from my library, minus a few exceptions. (I can&#8217;t read the French one, not yet.) There are a lot!<\/li>\n<li>Do a little exploring of this lovely country I live in, and hopefully a bit outside as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I can&#8217;t wait to see what adventures come upon us this year. Here&#8217;s wishing you a fun and peace-filled year. Cheers!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s that time again- time to look back at the past year and remember what happened, and to make resolutions and plans for the upcoming year. I love remembering the previous year, and making lists of the good that happened, don&#8217;t you? Let me start with the very beginning of 2017&#8230; It started with a wonderful New Year&#8217;s Eve party with our youth group. It&#8217;s tradition for us to always get together and ring in the new year, dressed in&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=5637\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[87,88,244,94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-five-things","category-food","category-reviews","category-travel"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/IMG_9582.jpg?fit=7122%2C2348","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8A8kG-1sV","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2218,"url":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=2218","url_meta":{"origin":5637,"position":0},"title":"My Family","author":"Rachel","date":"February 1, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"We moved to Erandique in 2005 knowing approximately one person in the whole town, \u00a0and with just a little pile of belongings. With not much to do and no social life to speak of for the first while, it was inevitable that my family and I would quickly become either\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Relationships&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Relationships","link":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?cat=92"},"img":{"alt_text":"046O4371 copy.jpg","src":"http:\/\/cuppacoldwater.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/046o4371-copy.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"http:\/\/cuppacoldwater.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/046o4371-copy.jpg?w=350&h=200&crop=1 1x, http:\/\/cuppacoldwater.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/046o4371-copy.jpg?w=525&h=300&crop=1 1.5x, http:\/\/cuppacoldwater.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/046o4371-copy.jpg?w=700&h=400&crop=1 2x, http:\/\/cuppacoldwater.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/046o4371-copy.jpg?w=1050&h=600&crop=1 3x, http:\/\/cuppacoldwater.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/02\/046o4371-copy.jpg?w=1400&h=800&crop=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6864,"url":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=6864","url_meta":{"origin":5637,"position":1},"title":"Court Square Flat News","author":"Rachel","date":"October 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes there are about a dozen things I want to tell you, but none of them are worthy of their own blog posts, so they sit in my head, gathering lint and fraternizing with their fellow baby ideas in there. The only way to fix this, since none of them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Downtown adventures&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Downtown adventures","link":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?cat=86"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6025.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6025.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6025.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6025.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/IMG_6025.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5738,"url":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=5738","url_meta":{"origin":5637,"position":2},"title":"Day 19: Dumpster Diving","author":"Rachel","date":"February 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"You are totally allowed to give me a sideways look for this one. But a few years ago while visiting a friend in Pennsylvania, she suggested that we go dumpster diving that evening and see what we find. Always up for an adventure that feels like breaking the law without\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Downtown adventures&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Downtown adventures","link":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?cat=86"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/img_2659.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/img_2659.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/img_2659.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/img_2659.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/img_2659.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6419,"url":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=6419","url_meta":{"origin":5637,"position":3},"title":"Favorite Moments in Paris","author":"Rachel","date":"May 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I have found a new favorite travel activity. While in Paris, I stole Lyn's idea and created several running lists of memories. Feelings evoked, food we ate, extra pleasant people, that kind of thing. Even just a few short weeks later, I look back on it and realize I would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Travel&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Travel","link":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?cat=94"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sitting by the Seine in Paris","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/DSCF7884.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/DSCF7884.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/DSCF7884.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/DSCF7884.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/DSCF7884.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3206,"url":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=3206","url_meta":{"origin":5637,"position":4},"title":"Relating to Someone Who Just Broke Up","author":"Rachel","date":"May 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Have you ever had a friend break up and felt yourself at a complete loss for words? It's hard to know if you should mention their ex, pretend like the relationship never happened, give them space, ask questions, or what!\u00a0You want to help, but without experience,\u00a0you don't know how to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Musings&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Musings","link":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?cat=91"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/img_7817.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/img_7817.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/img_7817.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/img_7817.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/img_7817.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1130,"url":"http:\/\/www.stripedpineapple.com\/?p=1130","url_meta":{"origin":5637,"position":5},"title":"How Gratitude Works","author":"Rachel","date":"August 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Gratitude is a funny thing. 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