Look, there goes another lemming...

I wasn't going to do a New Year's post and I wasn't going to list my "New Years Resolutions". Mostly because I think New Years Resolutions are kind of cheesy and silly. If you're going to work on something and set goals, then why do you have to wait until January 1st to start? If it's important enough, you should start working on it right away, no matter what the date, right? Well, in theory yes that's true. But the truth is people (myself included) need a little kick in the pants. It can be difficult to actually get started on your goals and if a certain date helps you to get started then who am I to judge, right? I guess I don't like "Resolutions" because it's almost expected that you're going to fail and you'll do really well for the first couple of weeks but then you give up. But, I digress...that's a tirade for another post.

Instead of listing 'resolutions' I am going to list things that I want to do/accomplish in 2010. Isn't that the same thing, you ask? No. It's not...simply because I say so.

Just go with it...

1. Physically fit - cliche, a little but I don't really care. I'm not saying 'lose weight' because that involves a whole steamer trunk of baggage associated with dieting and all that. But I do want to be healthy. So I don't really have a target weight or a dress size in mind. I'm also not doing this for the boys...because honestly, I don't think that will change all that much.

2. Financial Responsibility - It's just me. I have no one else that is dependent upon me to be financially responsible. So if I spend a little too much on a new outfit or maybe an adorable pair of shoes (ahem) I'm the only one that has to deal with the fallout. I think that's part of why I haven't been better about my spending habits. I'm not saying that I run up a balance on the credit card or I'm constantly shopping and spending money. I just don't really think about it that much and that leads to trouble. I'm closer the 30 than 20...isn't it time that I start being smarter with my money? Save more, spend less.

3. Do fun stuff around town. Including but not limited to...
3a. Three Musketeers at Hale (Draper)
3b The Scarlet Pimpernel at Hale (Orem)
3c Michael Buble Concert
3d UMFA

4. Music. This is kind of a blanket goal. I'm still taking voice lessons and I want to take it a little more seriously, meaning actually practice between lessons. Contrary to what I've thought my entire life, I'm not an alto and according to my teacher, I'm not even a Mezzo...I'm a soprano. Who knew?

5. Go Skiing at least 3 or 4 times.

6. Fold and put laundry away instead of letting it sit on the floor of my room all week

7. Read a European History Textbook cover to cover. anyone know where I can get one??

8. Cook more - this will help with both 1 & 2.

9. Learn, memorize & perform Italian aria without making a fool of myself

10. Grad school...please...for the love!!!

11. Learn to knit something other than a scarf

12. pay off piano (so close!)

13. pay off medical bills

14. purge and organize closet - including shoes sniff, sniff

15. Take spontaneous road trip -the spontaneity may debatable seeing as how it's on the list but go with it..

16. Tuacahn - that happens every year anyway, I might as well add it to the list

17. Read 30 books and post reviews

18. Go to a bonfire

19. Host a dinner party

20. Go through photos and order prints, frame said prints and give to subjects of photos and hang on walls.

21. Journal more frequently

22. Read all the books that I have purchased but have yet to actually read

23. Compile family photos/stories into nice little book...this should be an ongoing project

24. fix desk drawer(s) so they actually close & buy screw to put on handle of second drawer

25. replace and/or refurbish night stand


I'm sure I'll come up with more stuff as the year progresses or the need to tweak these listed, but I figure this is a pretty good starting point.

Uh....

So if this guy just sang the guy's part I would say he's pretty sexy but the fact that he can sing the girls part believable and well just sort ruins it for me...that and the fact that he's singing a duet with himself.

Personal Victory

I was perusing DSW.com on my lunch break and came across these beauties. They're on sale...50% off...my size. It seems like it was meant to be. The stars align and I think of all the compliments I'd get on these shoes, how great they'd look with my black dress and then I slowly drift back down to reality and remember, even if they are 50% off, how often would I really wear these? How many other pairs of shoes do I currently have in my closet in this same color family? How often do I wear those shoes? Remember that budget thing? Crap. So I will just gaze and admire but know that these won't ever grace my closet and I won't ever see them with my black dress.



sigh.....

Winter boots

As anyone that has seen my closet or my feet in the winter time can tell you, I don't have practical shoes. I have heels, ballet flats, boots (heels with no traction), sandals, sneakers so old they leak...you get the idea. I've finally gotten to the point in my life where I will no longer buy a pair of shoes just because I like them. I am trying to get out of the mentality that I can buy a new outfit to match the cute shoes. Don't get me wrong, I love shoes and always will and I will continue to purchase cute shoes but I will first ask myself, how often will I wear these? Do I have anything to wear them with? Do they look like they will hurt my feet? If the answer is yes to two of those three questions, I am going to try my darnedest to put the pretty shoes back on the shelf. BUT if I need them, well...that's a whole other story.

You would think that after living in Utah almost my entire life, and having experienced 25 Utah winters, I would have snow appropriate shoes. I don't. I have a very hard time buying shoes that are practical because they tend to be less that cute. If I were smart I would design practical, cute shoes that don't cost a fortune. I don't know why someone hasn't thought of it before!

Too bad Santa didn't leave these under the tree for me this year.

Christmas 2009

Christmas has come and gone and despite my back causing problems, I think it was a success. Christmas Eve was at my apartment this year. I had a lot of fun planning and preparing for the dinner. Growing up Christmas Eve was a big deal. We always had a delicious dinner and the dining room always looked beautiful. My mom would have some sort of centerpiece that was pretty and festive. We'd use the nice dishes and silver and everyone would like nice. No Jeans. Christmas has changed a little over the years. We've gotten a little more relaxed but in recent years I've missed the Christmas Eves of years past. But I thought this year was very nice. We had a delicious dinner (Pat became a man and carved his first turkey), sang carols and just spent time together. This was probably the best Christmas I've had in a long time.

Merry Christmas Everyone. Hope you all had a fabulous time.

My thoughts for today...

8:15 am - You know it's cold when your nose hair freezes walking from the car to the building.

8:20 am - why! Why! WHY...did I lock my laptop in my desk and then leave the key at home?!?!? WHY!?!?!

9:35 am - when opening a carbonated beverage, it is probably best to not do so around expensive electronics...lesson learned.

10:39 am - it'd be pretty awesome if when they built our new workspace (cubicles, lighting, networking, etc.) they actually finished it before we moved down to the third floor. Instead we get to try to talk to students and make phone calls while surrounded by drilling, hammering and general construction chatter and clutter.

12:12 pm - Do you ever have one of those days where you try wearing something different (combining different things or clothes that you haven't worn in a while) and when you leave the house you think you look great but after wearing it for an hour or so, you feel frumpy, lumpy and/or generally uncomfortable and you make a mental note not to wear that particular outfit again...? That's me today.

1:26 pm - I think the reason I loved Cup of Noodles so much as a kid, besides the fact that I only got them when Ice Skating up at the Park City Ski Resort, is because it's the only time you could ever slurp something and get it all over your face and clothes and it didn't really matter. Unfortunately, that same logic does not apply to a working adult. Too bad....

1:27 pm - Surprising fact, mini kit kat bars are more popular than mint truffle Hershey kisses. Who'd of guessed?

3:16 pm - Another reason Cup of Noodles is better as a young thing - I am now hungry.

3:34 pm - Why is the last hour and half always the longest part of the day??

4:28 pm - I am currently using one headphone and answered the phone with the headphone ear. I think it's time for me to leave.

4:52 pm- Oh for the love...is it time to leave yet?

Shake it up

I'm a restless creature....sort of. Sometimes I will get the urge to just get in the car and go. Where? I don't know but I just want to go. I never do. You see, I have this thing called a job and I have rent and bills to pay every month. I would love to just jump on a plane and head to Europe or some tropical island or Asia....see something I've never seen before. It tends to come in spurts. I'll be fairly happy and content with where I am in my life but then BAM! out of nowhere, I get the urge to take off. Like now. I live a pretty good life. I have a great apartment, a good job, a plan for the future, good friends and family but I'm getting restless. I feel the need to shake things up a bit. Usually when I feel this way, I rearrange furniture. Problem is, there's nothing to rearrange. I have too much furniture in my bedroom - it won't fit any other way and I can't really rearrange the rest of the apartment as I live with someone. So instead, I'll just blog about it and try to find some way to channel my nomadic instinct.