Another year down! 2011 was a crazy one. Lots of tears and laughter and crazy. Pretty typical of my whole life I suppose. Major events seem to be my curse. I mean specialty. Whatever.
This year though, I did actually complete my list. 12 things, 12 months. I think this year is the first that I actually got all of them done out the ten or so years we have been making one so that is a major accomplishment for us. #Winning!
So, here you have it, the 2011 list, complete with links to the posts about each! (Well, except #2 and #8 because lets face it, we had a garage sale but made no money so it would not be a great read anyway and the video for #8 is coming this week. You'll just have to trust me on that one.)
1. Spend some quality time with my mother. Its not going to be easy and it may not be for long but I need to see her without my kids. Since having D, we really haven't spent any time together, just the two of us. So its time to date my mother again. COMPLETED 4/23
2. Have a garage sale and get rid of what we don't sell through donation. Or just donate it. What ever we have to do to declutter. We have so much stuff. It really is ridiculous the amount of just stuff we have stored in the garage and the attic. Its everywhere! So, we need to get rid of it. COMPLETED 9/30 (See above for story..)
3. Take the boys to Stone Mountain Park. If you are local, you know what I am talking about. If not, look here. It may seem hokey but its something that I know they would really enjoy. COMPLETED 11/12
4. Plant (and not kill) some plants or flowers. Yeah, we rent but we are free to do what ever we want to the yard and house and its something I have never done. Even as a kid, we always just let grow what the people before us had planted. PART ONE (4/5), A LITTLE HELP (4/6)
5. Complete the 30 Day No- Spend Challenge. This one is going to be hard for me. I am a self professed shopaholic so the idea of not spending any money except complete necessities is going to be a hard one for me. A good challenge for a good change though. COMPLETED 10/30
6. Take a class, of some sort, to better myself. I'm not getting all ambitious and crap here. Just something like a knitting class or computer class of some sort. Maybe even Zumba! Something fun. COMPLETED 10/4
7. Give up soda (as in: carbonated beverages/ Coke/ Pepsi/ whatever you call it in your neck of the woods) for at least 3 months. I know it is bad for you for so many reasons but sometimes it is what I reach for. I want to see if the sodas I have really have that much of an effect on my health. I started today (1/1/11) let us see how far I get! COMPLETED 11/29!
8.Learn to do the Electric Slide. Corny? Yes. Shut up, its not your list. Still, its something that I can't do and something that will be a challenge for me. I have two left feet and a really crappy memory. Should be interesting. COMPLETED 12/31! (Just under the wire, video coming soon!)
9. Visit my Nana. She only lives about an hour away and for some reason we have the hardest time getting up there to see her. In fact it has been over a year already. She is my only living Grandmother and has hardly met the boys so its time to get serious about getting up there. COMPLETED 11/26
10. Go see a movie or show with my husband. We were talking about it this evening and neither of us can remember the last time we actually went to a theater, without the boys, and saw a grown up movie together. COMPLETED 12/1!
11. Visit Turner Field and watch the Braves play. D will love it and it means a lot to T to share it with his son. COMPLETED 5/23!
12. Hire a professional photographer to take some good pictures of us as a family. Its time for a family portrait of epic proportions. COMPLETED 8/29
All done! Now to take about a 24 hour break before I get to pounding out the 2012 list! Next year is going to be full of more home based challenges. Getting things in order and organized. Something long over do.
As for now, auld lang syne, my friends. The past year has played an amazing role, good or bad, in shaping us as human beings. As individuals. You can leave the time behind but you can't and shouldn't leave the experiences behind. Heres to the past and the future! Happy New Year!
Showing posts with label 2011 List. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2011 List. Show all posts
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The 30 Day No Spend Challange
Well, I did it. I went for 30 days and spent no money. Well, except for groceries and gas and such. Of course. Granted it was a few months ago, in October and I just forgot to write about it until now. Still, it was hard. Way harder than I thought it would be. Its crazy how easy it is for us to spend money. Of course, I am one of those crazy bargain people that never pays full price for anything. I use coupons and shop the clearance sections. I am a penny pincher by nature. I was raised that way. To make every last cent count so you can splurge on the important things in life. Like your kids or vacation or that new toy you've been eyeing for yourself.
The only problem with being that kind of shopper means that you pretty much have to buy things as they are available at a certain price. For example, I shop the end of season clearance for next years clothes. If something is on sale at the grocery store I buy enough to last through the next time I know it will be on sale (yes, retailers, you really are that predictable). Its a piece at a time type thing. Crazy? Maybe, but I saved a ton of money so its well worth it. I can feed our family of four, three of which are boys, on about $200 a month. The other thing people usually say is that they don't "have time" to save money. That one always makes me wonder a little...
Anyway, as you can imagine, not spending money for a whole month was almost traumatic for me. First was the big grocery shop at the beginning. I am not used to buying a whole month's worth of food as once. Some of it was full price even! *Gasp*! Seriously, I think I died a little when they gave me the total. We did, however, have enough food to feed us for almost the whole month and it was kind of nice to not have to think about going out to the store every few days. Still, If we were craving something, we were just screwed.
We actually made it the whole month not buying anything outside the necessities. The problem is, by the time we bought a months worth of groceries and such at the beginning, we ended up coming out the end with almost as much as we do normally.
That was a sad realization but kind of good too. It means that we are able to save enough month to month on the day to day household operations to pay for the extras and still put a little away. Doing it the other way, we spent it all on food.
Does that seem backwards to anyone else?
It seems like the point of doing a no spend challenge should be to change your spending habits for the better but it just kind of made me like the way I do things better. My way is at least more fun. Which is usually the point, isn't it? If you can't find the time and money to have fun, then what fun is having the time or money to begin with?
The only problem with being that kind of shopper means that you pretty much have to buy things as they are available at a certain price. For example, I shop the end of season clearance for next years clothes. If something is on sale at the grocery store I buy enough to last through the next time I know it will be on sale (yes, retailers, you really are that predictable). Its a piece at a time type thing. Crazy? Maybe, but I saved a ton of money so its well worth it. I can feed our family of four, three of which are boys, on about $200 a month. The other thing people usually say is that they don't "have time" to save money. That one always makes me wonder a little...
Anyway, as you can imagine, not spending money for a whole month was almost traumatic for me. First was the big grocery shop at the beginning. I am not used to buying a whole month's worth of food as once. Some of it was full price even! *Gasp*! Seriously, I think I died a little when they gave me the total. We did, however, have enough food to feed us for almost the whole month and it was kind of nice to not have to think about going out to the store every few days. Still, If we were craving something, we were just screwed.
We actually made it the whole month not buying anything outside the necessities. The problem is, by the time we bought a months worth of groceries and such at the beginning, we ended up coming out the end with almost as much as we do normally.
That was a sad realization but kind of good too. It means that we are able to save enough month to month on the day to day household operations to pay for the extras and still put a little away. Doing it the other way, we spent it all on food.
Does that seem backwards to anyone else?
It seems like the point of doing a no spend challenge should be to change your spending habits for the better but it just kind of made me like the way I do things better. My way is at least more fun. Which is usually the point, isn't it? If you can't find the time and money to have fun, then what fun is having the time or money to begin with?
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Soda-less
When I was writing up this year's 2011 list, I tried to think of a couple of things that would challenge me personally. I thought about giving something up that I knew would be a hard sell and came up with soda. Coke. Pepsi. Whatever you call it in your neck of the woods.
Now, I have never been a soda addict like some people I know. I love a nice cold Coke as much as anyone but its not that have to have with every meal type of deal that some people have. Of course there are some things you just have to drink coke with. Like chips and dip. I drink soda probably 3 or 4 times a week. So did I take the easy road? Yeah kind of but I saw it as working up to giving up something I really can't live without: Sweet Tea. Something I drink with every meal. Yee haw.
At any rate, I actually found it harder to give up soda than I thought it would be. I knew that I would be better health wise at the very least. Soda is horrible for your health. It is bad for your teeth, your bones, your liver, your everything. With all the artifcial sugar and flavors and BPA lined cans, its kind of amazing that any of us can still stomach it knowing what it is doing to our bodies.
Drink it we do though. Thing is, it really is something you reach for without really thinking about. Those clever marketing folk make us think we need it. Think we need it to stay awake or to go with certain things. Like chips and dip. Hey... gotcha.
So, one day at the end of Summer, I got a bee in my bonnet about not drinking any more soda for the rest of the year. I knew I had made it a goal to not drink any for at least three months as part of the List so I figured if I was going to make it stick, I had better give myself time to slip up and start over. Once I set my mind to something, I mean to do it. This was no exception.
Even though I had given myself time to slip up, I am proud to say I made it the whole three months without so much as looking at a carbonated beverage. I thought about it from time to time and there were certain times where it really would have been nice to have a nice cold Coke.
Thing is though, the longer I went, the less I thought about it. The less I craved it even with certain things. Like chips and dip. I started noticing that I was feeling better after meals. Especially the meals I would have eaten with a nice cold soda. I wasn't as bloated and uncomfortable. I didn't have that crazy sugar crash a few hours later.
I felt.. weird. Good weird.
Not run a marathon good but noticeable nonetheless. I suppose that is what I was looking for though, huh? So, there you have it. Experiment passed. Will I go back to soda? Probably. Lets be real here but will I go back to drinking it even semi- regularly? Probably not. Why would I?
I would encourage you to try to give something though. Something you might not even realize you think you need. Caffeine in general is always a good one to give up. I did for several years before I had kids. You can't beat that high with all the Red Bull in the world. Thing is, you don't realize how much something is holding you down until you give it up.
So, what is something you would like to give up?
Now, I have never been a soda addict like some people I know. I love a nice cold Coke as much as anyone but its not that have to have with every meal type of deal that some people have. Of course there are some things you just have to drink coke with. Like chips and dip. I drink soda probably 3 or 4 times a week. So did I take the easy road? Yeah kind of but I saw it as working up to giving up something I really can't live without: Sweet Tea. Something I drink with every meal. Yee haw.
At any rate, I actually found it harder to give up soda than I thought it would be. I knew that I would be better health wise at the very least. Soda is horrible for your health. It is bad for your teeth, your bones, your liver, your everything. With all the artifcial sugar and flavors and BPA lined cans, its kind of amazing that any of us can still stomach it knowing what it is doing to our bodies.
Drink it we do though. Thing is, it really is something you reach for without really thinking about. Those clever marketing folk make us think we need it. Think we need it to stay awake or to go with certain things. Like chips and dip. Hey... gotcha.
So, one day at the end of Summer, I got a bee in my bonnet about not drinking any more soda for the rest of the year. I knew I had made it a goal to not drink any for at least three months as part of the List so I figured if I was going to make it stick, I had better give myself time to slip up and start over. Once I set my mind to something, I mean to do it. This was no exception.
Even though I had given myself time to slip up, I am proud to say I made it the whole three months without so much as looking at a carbonated beverage. I thought about it from time to time and there were certain times where it really would have been nice to have a nice cold Coke.
Thing is though, the longer I went, the less I thought about it. The less I craved it even with certain things. Like chips and dip. I started noticing that I was feeling better after meals. Especially the meals I would have eaten with a nice cold soda. I wasn't as bloated and uncomfortable. I didn't have that crazy sugar crash a few hours later.
I felt.. weird. Good weird.
Not run a marathon good but noticeable nonetheless. I suppose that is what I was looking for though, huh? So, there you have it. Experiment passed. Will I go back to soda? Probably. Lets be real here but will I go back to drinking it even semi- regularly? Probably not. Why would I?
I would encourage you to try to give something though. Something you might not even realize you think you need. Caffeine in general is always a good one to give up. I did for several years before I had kids. You can't beat that high with all the Red Bull in the world. Thing is, you don't realize how much something is holding you down until you give it up.
So, what is something you would like to give up?
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Stone Mountain Christmas
After coming through the beautifully lit gate and oohing and ahhhing at the lights, we followed the Wonderland Walkway to visit Stone Mountain Park’s very own Snow Angel at her Snow Palace at Memorial Hall. The boys checked out the beautiful Snow Angel's Palace but the angel herself had an errand to run so we missed seeing her there.
That was okay though because right next to the Snow Angel's Palace was the cookie decorating station! The boys enjoyed picking out their own cookies, icing colors and cookie decor before finding a seat and getting to work. D was all about making the cookie look right before eating it, K not so much. I can't say I blame him. Mama loves cookies too.
After we decorated our cookies, we headed out to stake out our spot for the Christmas parade to see the arrival of Santa Clause! The parade was full of beautiful lights, dancing characters from the live shows, the beautiful Snow Angel and of course the big man himself. K kept yelling for Santa from his perch on my back and I thought for a minute I might lose some hearing out of that ear. He was so excited, he couldn't contain himself. When we went to visit him later though, he wasn't quite so thrilled.When the parade was finished, we checked out some of the other Christmas family activities like the Polar Express 4D Experience, storytelling with Mrs. Claus and of course a visit with Santa. The higlight for the littles was, of course, the Polar Express 4D show. The movie is big in our house right now thanks to my mother and I'm not sure either one of them moved the whole time. They were totally mesmerized.
The boys sat through all of the shows really well though. They were perfect for every age group. I was happy to see that they had a great mix of everyone's favorite Christmas and Holiday songs and the boys were happy to dance and sing along to the ones they remembered from last year. Toyriffic was an energetic and enthusiastic event that had us all dancing in our seats.Of course we ended the night with the magic of the Snow Angel as she flew high in the sky helping the kids "create" real snow and fireworks. The perfect end, to a perfect start to the Holiday season.
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Admission prices for Stone Mountain Christmas are $27 (plus tax) for adults and $21 (plus tax) for children ages 3-11. Vehicle entry to Stone Mountain Park is $10 for a one-day permit or $35 for an annual permit.
Dates: Nov. 12- Jan. 1
Location: Crossroads® at the base of Stone Mountain
Information: (770) 498-5690 or visit www.stonemountainpark.com
COMING SOON TO STONE MOUNTAIN!
Snow Mountain returns to delight families with the region’s only snow park featuring more than 20 snow tubing slides. Situated on what is commonly known as the “Laser Lawn,” the snow park features tubing runs – including the AVALANCHE ALLEY family tube ride and the Snow Zone area where younger kids can tube, make the ultimate snowmen and snow angels and throw snowballs at a snowball shooting gallery. After playing in the snow, warm up at the crackling bonfires, roast marshmallows and enjoy s’mores. Dates: Nov. 23- Feb. 20
Location: Stone Mountain Laser Lawn
Information: (770) 498-5690 or visit www.snowmountainpark.com
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Alpharetta, Georgia: Where Mama Got Her Groove Back
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| I am the ginormous on in the back. |
Our first stop after meeting up at the Atlanta History Center was Alpharetta, a city that exclaims they have "the right blend of hometown charm and big city sophistication". Alpharetta is the home to Verizon Amphitheater and the only American Girl Boutique and Bistro in the South East among other amazing shopping and dining opportunities.
Our experience was a little more hands on that a little shopping though. We got to learn to ride dirt bikes, have an amazing lunch, and have an amazing hotel experience!
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| Hot stuff, no? (Really, it was HOT.) |
Once we got all fitted into the gear, we were ready to hit the dirt.
For those of you who have never ridden a dirt bike and are curious, it is so much fun. It is very physical and tiring but its the kid of thrill that you just can't explain to someone. Words don't really express the adrenaline rush.
After a few hours getting down and dirty (and loving it) we had an amazing lunch at the always amazing Pure Taqueria and got a chance to chat with the ladies from the Alpharetta CVB. We got to learn about some of the amazing events that go on in Alpharetta including the "Scarecrow harvest" in which local groups and school all decorate a scarecrow and they place them all around town. We got to see some of them and the work put into them was awesome! Of course there are lots of other events all year round including things like the Tree Lighting Ceremony coming up soon.
Of course after a long day of getting down and dirty on the dirt bikes and a filling lunch, we were all exhausted and, honestly, a little smelly. So we headed to the Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta to get checked in to our room. Now, this was no ordinary hotel room. We got the American Girl treatment.
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| Pink! |
After checking out our rooms and, of course, a quick shower, we were off again to the city of Lawerenceville for dinner and ghost tour to haunt our dreams. Stay tuned.
If you would like to read more about how to book your own adventure or get more information in general check these sites out:
Atlanta Metro Travel Association
Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Buereau
More awesome Alpharetta Events
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
Atlanta Marriott Alpharetta American Girl Package
#OTPATL - The Twitter Hashtag from our adventures
Monday, August 29, 2011
My Beautiful Boys
This week, I was lucky enough to meet up with the lovely Porcha of PKey Photography to have some pictures of my boys taken. I had hoped to have some pro pictures done of all of us but it just wasn't in the cards this time. Maybe a little later this year we can get around to that. If not, I say this counts for the 2011 list. Mostly because of how completely thrilled I am with the results. She was able to captured a lot of the boys' personatlites and I just love them.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Father and Son
Last Friday night, T took D to his very first baseball game. They completed number 11 on the 2011 list and saw the Atlanta Braves play at Turner Field. I think T was more excited than D when they left to go to the park but it was definitely the other way around when they came back. I was worried that D would get horribly bored and they would have to leave early but they stayed for the whole game plus the fireworks!
D has been talking about it since they got back home and he is so excited to start trying to play baseball in the yard. Every time we pass any thing baseball or Braves related in a store he always notices and says " I'm gonna play baseball!"
D has been talking about it since they got back home and he is so excited to start trying to play baseball in the yard. Every time we pass any thing baseball or Braves related in a store he always notices and says " I'm gonna play baseball!"
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
I Growed A Thing!
Look! I have broccoli! I made that broccoli with my hands!
Well, okay maybe not made it but I haven't killed it yet and they are actually making a vegetable! That deserves something, right? I planted them a few weeks ago because they supposedly like the colder spring weather and I'll be damned, the do! I was nervous a few times, especially when it rained for a week and dropped into the 30s a few nights but they are still thriving and sprouting.
Then there is the curled parsley and the lemon balm. The lemon balm I actually removed from the garden "area" because I wanted to make room for other things but it is thriving just sitting on top of the ground by my garage so I am leaving it. The parsley is taking over the little garden area as well, so it will be moving to its new home, a planter, very soon. Then it will join the herb garden on my patio table with all its herby friends.
The rest of my garden so far is still in pots by my front door. Its not quite time for it to go in the ground. We still haven't had our blackberry winter and I don't want them to get all frosted over and die. So far, I have strawberries, bell peppers and tomatoes. I think I am going to keep the tomatoes and the strawberries in their pots though. That way I will have more room in my garden area for other things. Now I just need to figure out what those things are going to be.
The herbs are going to go on the table in my yard. Right now, they are hiding safely in the hall that leads to my front door because we had a hail storm last night and I didn't want them to get all banged up. There is Rosemary, Sweet Basil, Cilantro and Chives (aka Green Onions). Oh, and the parsley that is shortly to join it. Hopefully. Unless I kill it trying to move it.
So, far so good though! I haven't killed any of it yet. Normally by now, I would have forgotten to water them and killed all of them off. Then cried about it and refused to throw them out. Yeah, not particularly a green thumb here. Now we just have to make it through the rest of the summer. Keep your digits crossed I don't kill them all off.
* In case you don't remember/ weren't around/ skipped over it, growing something and not killing it is on the 2011 list. This adventure, is to be continued...
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| BROCCOLI! |
Then there is the curled parsley and the lemon balm. The lemon balm I actually removed from the garden "area" because I wanted to make room for other things but it is thriving just sitting on top of the ground by my garage so I am leaving it. The parsley is taking over the little garden area as well, so it will be moving to its new home, a planter, very soon. Then it will join the herb garden on my patio table with all its herby friends.
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| Lemon Balm |
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| Parsley |
The rest of my garden so far is still in pots by my front door. Its not quite time for it to go in the ground. We still haven't had our blackberry winter and I don't want them to get all frosted over and die. So far, I have strawberries, bell peppers and tomatoes. I think I am going to keep the tomatoes and the strawberries in their pots though. That way I will have more room in my garden area for other things. Now I just need to figure out what those things are going to be.
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| The Strawberries in their potted home. |
The herbs are going to go on the table in my yard. Right now, they are hiding safely in the hall that leads to my front door because we had a hail storm last night and I didn't want them to get all banged up. There is Rosemary, Sweet Basil, Cilantro and Chives (aka Green Onions). Oh, and the parsley that is shortly to join it. Hopefully. Unless I kill it trying to move it.
So, far so good though! I haven't killed any of it yet. Normally by now, I would have forgotten to water them and killed all of them off. Then cried about it and refused to throw them out. Yeah, not particularly a green thumb here. Now we just have to make it through the rest of the summer. Keep your digits crossed I don't kill them all off.
* In case you don't remember/ weren't around/ skipped over it, growing something and not killing it is on the 2011 list. This adventure, is to be continued...
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Desicions, Desicions.
Could it be? Was the groundhog right? Early spring? I don't know if the weather we have been having is or isn't an early spring but man is it nice! Its been so warm and breezy and perfect. We have spent the majority of every day outside for the last two weeks. A few of those days, we have stayed outside in the yard way after dark and enjoyed a cookout or even just sat and let the kids play.
Last weekend I got the foundation set for my garden area. I got all the dead herbs out of it from last year and got all the roots and weeds dug out and then tilled it up really well. I got the area around the mail box ready for flowers and did some clean up around the front entry where it had obviously been neglected for many years.
Now comes the hard part though. Deciding what to plant. Do I plant some veggies in the garden area? Do I just go the easy route and plant some delicious herbs? What kind of herbs do I buy the most? What about flowers for the front? Do I buy annuals or perennials? Something that blooms now or later or never?
I wish this was an easier task. I am just too fickle. I really would love to grow my own organic veggies. I think that is probably the most money conscious thing but there is not a huge space alotted for it. Granted we could expand the space but most every thing I have ever tried to grow in the past has died and withered away within a few months so I am not wanting to invest a huge chunk in it this year anyway.
I think I may go with some Zinnias or Peonies, both of which I love. Dr. Google says that both are relatively easy to grow but the Zinnias will bloom summer wise better. I may just go the easy, cheap route and get the Pansies that T thinks are the only think I can keep alive. Its like he knows.
This weekend I intend on going to the local grower and checking out what they have and get some professional advice instead of trying to figure it all out for myself. This is the one part of the 2011 list that I really don't want to screw up on this year. I need to be able to keep something alive that isn't human before I even go there with a living, breathing pet.. Is that weird? To practice on plants? Oh, well. Its my thought process at least.
Have any of you ever planted a garden like this? Any advice for an extreme novice?
Last weekend I got the foundation set for my garden area. I got all the dead herbs out of it from last year and got all the roots and weeds dug out and then tilled it up really well. I got the area around the mail box ready for flowers and did some clean up around the front entry where it had obviously been neglected for many years.
Now comes the hard part though. Deciding what to plant. Do I plant some veggies in the garden area? Do I just go the easy route and plant some delicious herbs? What kind of herbs do I buy the most? What about flowers for the front? Do I buy annuals or perennials? Something that blooms now or later or never?
I wish this was an easier task. I am just too fickle. I really would love to grow my own organic veggies. I think that is probably the most money conscious thing but there is not a huge space alotted for it. Granted we could expand the space but most every thing I have ever tried to grow in the past has died and withered away within a few months so I am not wanting to invest a huge chunk in it this year anyway.
I think I may go with some Zinnias or Peonies, both of which I love. Dr. Google says that both are relatively easy to grow but the Zinnias will bloom summer wise better. I may just go the easy, cheap route and get the Pansies that T thinks are the only think I can keep alive. Its like he knows.
This weekend I intend on going to the local grower and checking out what they have and get some professional advice instead of trying to figure it all out for myself. This is the one part of the 2011 list that I really don't want to screw up on this year. I need to be able to keep something alive that isn't human before I even go there with a living, breathing pet.. Is that weird? To practice on plants? Oh, well. Its my thought process at least.
Have any of you ever planted a garden like this? Any advice for an extreme novice?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
In Hiding
Thats me. I have been hiding from all of my social media outlets this week. Turned my Twitter notifications off and hid from the blog posts lurking in the back of my mind. I needed a reboot. A reboot to set my self straight on where I am going with all this. A reboot to organize my priorities. A chance to chase some other ventures. Playing with the boys and pining for spring.
I am having a harder time than I care to admit bouncing back from Christmas and the past month. I am so tired all the time. I know its part weather, part pain and part loss but I really need to get back on my feet.
So, tonight, I am going to get some supplies to start my plants. I am going to try to pick out some flowers and seeds to start for the garden. We have the perfect spot on the sill in our kitchen to give the seeds the sun and warmth they need to get ready for the real spring. I am hoping that having a little green and a project around will help out with the blahs.
I am telling you all of this, not to apologize for my absence but to let you know that I am coming back. Coming back with a renewed vigor to get this thing going in a better way. I am working rearranging some things around here. Thinking about putting in some ad space and I will be doing some more reviews. In the last week I have realized that I need to open this blog up more. Expand its horizons so that we can both grow. I have never been a shrinking Violet and I have no intention of allowing RMM to go that route either.
So, hang in there. If any one out there has any advice or guiding words, I would love to hear it. Or, if you ever just want to talk or vent or tell me that you hate my guts, feel free to do just that. My contact info is linked in the bar above. I would love to hear from you.
Buckle up, lets ride.
I am having a harder time than I care to admit bouncing back from Christmas and the past month. I am so tired all the time. I know its part weather, part pain and part loss but I really need to get back on my feet.
So, tonight, I am going to get some supplies to start my plants. I am going to try to pick out some flowers and seeds to start for the garden. We have the perfect spot on the sill in our kitchen to give the seeds the sun and warmth they need to get ready for the real spring. I am hoping that having a little green and a project around will help out with the blahs.
I am telling you all of this, not to apologize for my absence but to let you know that I am coming back. Coming back with a renewed vigor to get this thing going in a better way. I am working rearranging some things around here. Thinking about putting in some ad space and I will be doing some more reviews. In the last week I have realized that I need to open this blog up more. Expand its horizons so that we can both grow. I have never been a shrinking Violet and I have no intention of allowing RMM to go that route either.
So, hang in there. If any one out there has any advice or guiding words, I would love to hear it. Or, if you ever just want to talk or vent or tell me that you hate my guts, feel free to do just that. My contact info is linked in the bar above. I would love to hear from you.
Buckle up, lets ride.
Monday, January 3, 2011
2011 List
So, last year I got frustratingly close to completing the 2010 list. It seemed simple enough. 12 things, 12 months. Get it done. This year, I intend on getting them all done. Come Hell or high water.
Here is the trick this year though, I intend on posting about all of them. Last year I didn't post about most of them because I was holding back. I used the excuse that they were too personal or boring. This year though, you guys are gonna hear about all of them. That is the bonus item on my list this year. I hope you are able to stick around and find out how it all turns out.
Here you have it, my official "Things I want to accomplish in 2011" list:
1. Spend some quality time with my mother. Its not going to be easy and it may not be for long but I need to see her without my kids. Since having D, we really haven't spent any time together, just the two of us. So its time to date my mother again.
2. Have a garage sale and get rid of what we don't sell through donation. Or just donate it. What ever we have to do to declutter. We have so much stuff. It really is ridiculous the amount of just stuff we have stored in the garage and the attic. Its everywhere! So, we need to get rid of it.
3. Take the boys to Stone Mountain Park. If you are local, you know what I am talking about. If not, look here. It may seem hokey but its something that I know they would really enjoy.
4. Plant (and not kill) some plants or flowers. Yeah, we rent but we are free to do what ever we want to the yard and house and its something I have never done. Even as a kid, we always just let grow what the people before us had planted.
5. Complete the 30 Day No- Spend Challenge. This one is going to be hard for me. I am a self professed shopaholic so the idea of not spending any money except complete necessities is going to be a hard one for me. A good challenge for a good change though.
6. Take a class, of some sort, to better myself. I'm not getting all ambitious and crap here. Just something like a knitting class or computer class of some sort. Maybe even Zumba! Something fun.
7. Give up soda (as in: carbonated beverages/ Coke/ Pepsi/ whatever you call it in your neck of the woods) for at least 3 months. I know it is bad for you for so many reasons but sometimes it is what I reach for. I want to see if the sodas I have really have that much of an effect on my health. I started today (1/1/11) let us see how far I get!
8.Learn to do the Electric Slide. Corny? Yes. Shut up, its not your list. Still, its something that I can't do and something that will be a challenge for me. I have two left feet and a really crappy memory. Should be interesting.
9. Visit my Nana. She only lives about an hour away and for some reason we have the hardest time getting up there to see her. In fact it has been over a year already. She is my only living Grandmother and has hardly met the boys so its time to get serious about getting up there.
10. Go see a movie or show with my husband. We were talking about it this evening and neither of us can remember the last time we actually went to a theater, without the boys, and saw a grown up movie together.
11. Visit Turner Field and watch the Braves play. D will love it and it means a lot to T to share it with his son.
12. Hire a professional photographer to take some good pictures of us as a family. Its time for a family portrait of epic proportions.
Here is the trick this year though, I intend on posting about all of them. Last year I didn't post about most of them because I was holding back. I used the excuse that they were too personal or boring. This year though, you guys are gonna hear about all of them. That is the bonus item on my list this year. I hope you are able to stick around and find out how it all turns out.
Here you have it, my official "Things I want to accomplish in 2011" list:
1. Spend some quality time with my mother. Its not going to be easy and it may not be for long but I need to see her without my kids. Since having D, we really haven't spent any time together, just the two of us. So its time to date my mother again.
2. Have a garage sale and get rid of what we don't sell through donation. Or just donate it. What ever we have to do to declutter. We have so much stuff. It really is ridiculous the amount of just stuff we have stored in the garage and the attic. Its everywhere! So, we need to get rid of it.
3. Take the boys to Stone Mountain Park. If you are local, you know what I am talking about. If not, look here. It may seem hokey but its something that I know they would really enjoy.
4. Plant (and not kill) some plants or flowers. Yeah, we rent but we are free to do what ever we want to the yard and house and its something I have never done. Even as a kid, we always just let grow what the people before us had planted.
5. Complete the 30 Day No- Spend Challenge. This one is going to be hard for me. I am a self professed shopaholic so the idea of not spending any money except complete necessities is going to be a hard one for me. A good challenge for a good change though.
6. Take a class, of some sort, to better myself. I'm not getting all ambitious and crap here. Just something like a knitting class or computer class of some sort. Maybe even Zumba! Something fun.
7. Give up soda (as in: carbonated beverages/ Coke/ Pepsi/ whatever you call it in your neck of the woods) for at least 3 months. I know it is bad for you for so many reasons but sometimes it is what I reach for. I want to see if the sodas I have really have that much of an effect on my health. I started today (1/1/11) let us see how far I get!
8.Learn to do the Electric Slide. Corny? Yes. Shut up, its not your list. Still, its something that I can't do and something that will be a challenge for me. I have two left feet and a really crappy memory. Should be interesting.
9. Visit my Nana. She only lives about an hour away and for some reason we have the hardest time getting up there to see her. In fact it has been over a year already. She is my only living Grandmother and has hardly met the boys so its time to get serious about getting up there.
10. Go see a movie or show with my husband. We were talking about it this evening and neither of us can remember the last time we actually went to a theater, without the boys, and saw a grown up movie together.
11. Visit Turner Field and watch the Braves play. D will love it and it means a lot to T to share it with his son.
12. Hire a professional photographer to take some good pictures of us as a family. Its time for a family portrait of epic proportions.
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