Resolve.

2011 is going to be a year of change for me. Mostly because I need to, but some unexpected, I’m sure. After all, we’re (90% sure) moving cross country, most likely to Cincinnati. My job is getting bigger and more kickass than ever, and I love it so much now. I feel like Katy Perry’s firework video, like this:

Life feels like it is just exploding! Marriage and the entire mystery of what our lives will be after Chad graduates. So, with that said, here are my fairly simple resolutions:

1. I will walk or play my dance game 5 times a week. Really, I love the dance video and I like our area ok, so I don’t mind doing either. Been waiting to do this for slightly warmer weather, and here it is.

2. I will be neater. Seriously, laziness has got to go. I’ve had my nice few months of lazy newlywedded bliss. Now, I need to deep clean everything more often… because I love when the chrome fixtures shine.

3. I will quit listening to shitty music because “it’s on.” No more Bieber, Rhianna or Lady Gaga just because they’re on. I’ll keep the Kesha though.

4. I’m making healthy dinners, meal planning and not eating out. Kills two birds with one stone: staying healthy and saving money.

That’s all I really want to say I’ll do as of right now… honestly, there’s a lot on my plate this year (and I can’t wait to share some of it with you in the next few months!) and my expectations aren’t too high.

resolve.

List of 6 that I am 90% sure I can accomplish this year:

1. Plan a wedding, get married and move to Dallas/Athens (hopefully Dallas. Pray for us that Chad gets into school there!)… and start life as one half of “The Morgans.” Getting to this goal involves: patience, understanding, prayer, faith, love, compassion and organization.

2. Actually do the 30 Day Shred for 30 days. Figure out if it works. If it does, repeat. Getting to this goal involves: patience, hard work, determination, willpower, healthy eating and sleeping on a normal schedule.

3. Stop spending money and start saving. No more eating out all the time, no more random purchases. This goal requires me to be more content with what I have, how I use it and how if I am not using something, someone else may be able to do so.

4. Recenter my friendships. I’ve been building some great friendships after a whopper of a drama this past year, and I want to continue to grow in my friendships with those people. I think meeting new people would be great, too. Basically, I hope to do more to be a better friend–and reaching that goal will require patience, devotion, being happy with myself and giving more to others.

5. Be clever. I know, that sounds weird, doesn’t it? But I mean it–on all counts. I want to be clever in how we spend, so that we do have great times with friends without going out and spending a fortune. I want to be clever at work, finding more ways to get my job done easier and to help my bosses. I want to be more clever in finding ways to spend time with people–getting a workout buddy, having “healthy family dinners” with friends once a week, studying together or just watching our favorite tv show with a glass of wine. I think it’s a good skill, and one that takes work. I was inspired by the fact that I always find a way to decorate our christmas tree, and I always spend $15 or under to do it, or how I planned 7 healthy meals a week out of only $60 of groceries. I mean, it can be done–and it always is better to find a clever way to do it! To reach this goal, though, I need to be on track, better at communicating, dedicated, patient, observant, strong and resourceful.

6. Take more pictures. I know, I know, this one seems so easy… I mean, take more pictures, you just have to load the camera in your purse and keep it charged. But it’s so easy to get caught up in the moment, to not enjoy what’s in front of you or where you are, and to just keep pushing through. I think this could be just as easily titled “don’t take things for granted,” but I truly want pictures. I want the memories of each photo, to be reminded of all the opportunities that I am fortunate enough to experience each day. I think this will truly be the hardest (if you’ve ever seen my camera, you know why!) but I think that the task of taking a picture for each day of the year would be awesome. I don’t truly mean one each day, but I mean at least 365 pictures next year, and at least one batch a week. I have two flickrs and I’ll post the links up here when I start.

SB

PS-if I made a seventh, it would be to always back up your work, always, always. Computers fail/get stolen/broken/fried/rendered useless all the time. I wish I had saved more pictures from last year… and will definitely be saving more this year. Plus, mandy just got a TB of space on her external hard drive… and she’s willing to share. So yeah, no excuses this time.

bored during the 8 minute Po Sc 371 roll call.

So man, I really feel the whole working out thing. i dunno, i’m just all about that right now.

I guess I just feel so much better and kind of feel energetic since I’ve been all cooped up and sick all weekend/week. UGH!

I have a lot to do tonight but hey, I’ll get it done. And I do have to go to redfern tomorrow. I hate going there. god I hate it.

ok, class is starting. i’ll update more later!

sore throat.

so i’m sick. this sucks, because I’ve been trying to get into an exercise routine. I exercised last night but man did i pay for it when i was trying to sleep. it sucks!

i have been eating healthier and trying to take more vitamins so i hope i get over it soon. and I’m trying not to deviate too far from eating well, though i did a bit last night and this morning. I just have to get through this weekend and feel better!

perhaps i will make some spicy chicken noodle soup later, or another sort of spicy soup. maybe Chad will be nice and make it for me

But hey! I have gotten in a full hour and a half of exercise in the past two days, and I’m proud of that. I might not make my “8 minute mile” by April, but I feel good knowing that I’m trying. It’s the end of January and I’m still trying hard to do my resolutions.

I did take more pictures, I am trying hard to be more patient, or if i’m not being patient, explaining why i’m frustrated and apologizing for it immediately; i’ve read some of “Le Monde” (It is at lemonde.fr, not lemonde.com); I read “boring” pieces in the NY Times that taught me some things i’d have never known and I’ve gone to as many classes as possible (I have been sick this week ; I tried no processed foods and I aim to try to stop watching tv sometime next month… there are more, i know, but it’s cool to try new things.

I’m also trying to be more open this year and do more with my friends and my school stuff. I like my job and I’m excited about this year.

Oh, and I joined SparkPeople (sparkpeople.com)… it’s almost exactly like weight watchers online, except with calories instead of points. And I have motivation! (I can’t say anything about what it is for now… perhaps you can guess.)

PS: you should subscribe to my RSS feed for your gmail bar (over your email) if we’re friends! I am attempting to do the same for my blogroll, though some of the RSS feeds are being difficult.

my new years resolutions.

lots of posts today, mostly because i’m trying to catch up.

here’s my goals for 2009.

my goals

i will be able to run a mile in 8 minutes by april.
i will be a size 14 when i put on my graduation dress.
i will not eat processed foods for an entire month, or maybe even a year.
i will read an interesting book once a month. * see list
i will make my own pasta and sauce on sunday nights.
i will stop watching TV after dinnertime, unless there’s a new office on.
i will go to class.
i will go to the greenville county museum of art.
i will read the most boring looking piece in the NY Times each day so I can expand my brain and interests.
i will read le monde occasionally so i don’t entirely give up on french. once a month is ok.
i will take more pictures and remember to charge the camera battery once a week.
i will go to the botanical garden one day each month to read my book of the month.

list of books:

predictably irrational by dan ariely
the world is flat 3.0 by thomas friedman
stuff white people like by christian lander
what to eat by marion nestle
the money book for the young, fabulous and broke by suze orman
the five people you meet in heaven by mitch albom
the guernsey literary and potato peel society by mary ann shaffer and annie barrows
the ascent of money by niall ferguson
emma by jane austen
postcards by annie proulx
queen of babble by meg cabot
election by tom perrotta