Happy New Year/Resolutions!

Its another year...and that means looking back on what did (and did not) happen last year.

Here's last year's "resolutions":

1. Get to target weight (for wedding and honeymoon) by exercising and cutting some calories (read: Chocolate).
2. Update my budget. I have a loosely based one, but I think its time to ramp it up a bit.
3. Try to read one new book every two months. Even if its an older book, I'd still like to be reading more. Especially in the wake of the writers strike. There is nothing on tv.
4. Get into a yoga/pilates class.
5. Do a movie a month with my girlfriends. This is what I forsee actually happening instead of a book club.

And here's my view of how each one worked out:

1. I did end up getting to my target weight, and once I lost my job I was even under it for a while...but I have to say I've gotten to a more appropriate place in my life where I feel if my pants fit and I feel good, that's a better measurement of my "weight" than a number on the scale. I will continue to try to put the same philosophies into practice, "eat a little bit, not a ton", "Don't deny yourself, just make it a small treat" and "try to eat better more flavorful food instead of processed stuff". I have to admit that fast food doesn't taste good to me now, and we don't eat out all that much because we've found we make just as good of food at home and its more fun to cook and experiment in our own kitchen. I also learned that I can't cut chocolate out of my diet, but now I buy super dark (over 60% cacao content, which has more antioxidants and is better for you) and I'm satisfied with a little bit instead of like a snickers bar.
2. I did end up revamping my budget, but planning a wedding will take it out of you. I still get "budget envy", but I'm getting to a better place where I really think about things before I buy them. I have a "Closet Revamp" word document on my computer where I put a list together of the things I really need to have a well rounded classic wardrobe. Those things I have no problem buying, especially not if its on sale for a good price. I think extra hard about stuff that's not on the list and I found shopping online is great for me. I look online, if I like something, I'll go to the store to try it on. If it looks good on me, I'll keep it in mind. The entire process takes so long that I'm almost devoid of impulse purchases. This way I feel good about things I have in my closet and I stick with colors that I know look good on me. Its not foolproof, but I'm only human.
   
3. This pretty much failed miserably. I did read a few books, but not as many as I would have liked. Although I love the amazon.com wish list. That's pretty amazing.
4. I don't know why I have such a hard time exercising. I could walk to the end of the Earth and back and not think twice, but the very thought of 'exercising' makes me ill. I have to work on this.
   
5. I did get one started and it was a lot of fun...but people's schedules get complicated and then people can't make it and then instead of being fun it becomes a schedule nightmare. I think this is pretty much the same way people think that book clubs turn out. Perhaps I'll pick a few awesome movies and just do one every few months instead of "once a month". Plus movies are so expensive these days (although it is nice to get out of the house), I could spend 20 dollars on one dvd and that would cover the cost for me and my sister to get into a MATINEE at Bridgeport. If then my Mom, Marlene, Tara and any of my friends borrowed the dvd, that to me would more than cover the cost of it- plus I'll have it for any other time I want. So perhaps I'll work on having a movie night at the apartment. Plus, we can have cocktails and be as loud as we want.

Now that I've gone over last year, here is what I hope 2009 holds in store for me:

1. I've got to exercise more. I don't know to accomplish this, but I have an idea that might work: Marlene got the Wii Fit for Christmas (our gift to her, Tara, Steven and I) and she's loving it. Steven and I have been talking about getting one for Rock Band/Guitar Hero (which I totally love, thanks Keith) and there are a lot of other games that could be very cool on there too. So that could be an idea.
   
2. I made myself a pretty good craft list when I had time off and I didn't have any time to get to it. But I need to have another hobby and my friend Mel had a resolution to be more crafty and I really liked that, so we are going to try to be more crafty together. She wants to do Apron and Scrub making, which sounds good. We've talked about making Bath Bombs from the Martha Stewart magazine and then doing more cooking and baking. I love the sound of all of this. Some of the things on my list are: Scrapbooking the wedding photos and other photos, experimenting with baking more and trying all the "Bon Appetit" magazine recipes, blogging more about my recipe experiments, sewing more, making more cards and maybe even special stationary and making home made gifts.
   
3. Get better at home decorations. We're going to be moving soon and I want to get into a more grown up style at the new apartment. I think a lot of the things we have now will work into it, but I want to take it to the next level.
4. Plant a garden this summer. I loved my Mom's garden this year and I really want one of my own. If I can't have my own, I want a patch of theirs so I can plant my own special stuff and take care of it. I love watching it grow, harvesting it and then spending time in the kitchen with my Husband making meals out of what we've got. Its so fresh and good for you. Then I want to spend some time with my Mom freezing and preserving the rest for use through out the year.
   
5. A special 25th Birthday. I really want to do something memorable for my 25th birthday. I'm toying with all kinds of ideas, but not sure what to do. I've had the idea to do a birthday party at Saint Cupcake, or a beach weekend, but I haven't been able to settle on anything.
6. Grow my hair back out and keep it healthy. I loved the feeling of chopping it off and donating it, but part of my problem with maintaining it in between was health. I'm going to have to add some more nuts and oils into my diet and take better care of it.

So there it is...I'll be working on all sorts of things this new year, a new job, a new apartment, maybe, possibly, some day soon- a new puppy...most of all, I'm looking forward to a new spring, warmer weather and achieving some dreams we've had on hold. Here's to all the mystery and hope that a new year holds!