Sunday, January 31, 2010

2010 Goals (check-in #1)

It's hard to believe one month of 2010 is already history. I have decided to post check-ins at the end of each month (mainly so I can look back and see my progress).

My first goal was menu planning. I did this each week (it makes grocery shopping so easy!). We might of switched a few nights around but we had a home cooked meal at least 5 nights a week. I've realized it hard to plan for the weekends because plans can always come up or change. But I am satisfied with what we did this month.

Goal #2 was getting fit. This is the goal I am most proud of. I signed up for a monthly class pass at my rec center. I went to 4 classes a week, and played soccer once a week. I feel like I can already start to see a difference. My arms and abs are toning up! Each week I have been running an average of 4.5 miles a week. I just notice a huge change in my energy levels too by working out. I also love the instructors so it is fun to go. I also got these cute shoes:


My third goal was to learn to sew. Well, I am still working on that one. I became frustrated with my sewing machine a few weeks back and haven't started it back up.

Number 4 was pay off school loans. That one is still a work in progress. (which reminds me, I need to increase my automatic withdraw)

My favortie goal is number 5. I am down 3 books this year. I think this is pretty good. Right now I am reading 2 books at one time and in my students class they are reading a book on tape so I am including that because I am listening along as well. By the end of February I should have another 6 books done. I have added the Good Reads app to my blog to keep track easier too!

As for #6, I have about 40 things on my list. It's harder than I thought to get 101 things!

Overall I think this month was on the positive side for my goals. Now I just have 11 months to keep going up!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Crafting

Making different crafts is probably my favorite hobby. I love going up into my craft room, turning some music on and just create. I look at other blogs and sites for ideas. I have been slowly building up my room. Here is how it looks today:






I just love it!


I made a banner for a baby shower and ever since I've wanted to make another. I thought Valentines Day would be perfect since I don't decorate too much for this "holiday". This one cost around $2 to make. I am already planning on making one for St. Patrick's Day too :)





My real passion is making cards though.

This is my favorite one. How cute is the envelope right :)



This weekend I am going to class with my brother in laws girl friend to make a jar and some cards; I can't wait :)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Updating The Decor-Bathroom

I haven't been totally in love with our bathroom ever since we painted it a year ago. The orange shower curtain wasn't doing anything for me anymore. It was dark and not the look I was going for. I saw on someone's blog the cutest shower curtain with branches and birds on it and I fell in love. Well, as it turns out, it is no longer in stores anymore :(. So I was on the hunt for a new shower curtain. I found this one for $40 at Urban Outfitters, but really, I did not want to pay that much for a shower curtain so I was on the hunt! I ended up finding the exact one at Bed Bath and Beyond (score! I got to use a 20% off coupon!) and got it for around $30 (still a little more than I wanted to spend but I was in love!). You can see the old, dark, curtain here. Now, on to the new look..


So much better right?! I think it really brightens up the room. Now here is the part where I need your help. See those painting on the right? They do not match anymore. I am having the hardest time figuring out what to replace them with. I was thinking of another painting/picture, but of what I'm not sure. I want to keep the organic sort of feeling going. What thoughts do you have? I would really like to get something off etsy.com, so do you know of any shops that I could find something great?! Please leave me your comments!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Time Travelers Wife-Review


It truly has been a long time since I've read a book I was completely in love with from cover to cover. This story was a love story that was unlike any another. Can you imagine meeting your future husband at the age of six?  That was the case for Clare who met her husband out in the meadow behind her house, only to have him vanish a few moments later.
The format of this story was something I had to get used to since it does go from the 70's to the 00's. There also were times when Henry would be time-traveling Henry, which was a little hard to follow. But, all in all this was a great read. Now I can't wait for this weekend so I can watch the movie (I LOVE Rachel McAdams), and I hope I am not disappointed.
So there is my first book of '10. I need to speed it up if I want to get to my 50! I already went to the library and got a new book to read-Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Spread the Love



Loves of Life

Katie over at Loves of Life is hosting a 2-14 swap. I didn't get to join in the last one she did (it was a scarf swap), and I was jealous of all the fabulous gifts everyone got. This swap is for Valentines Day. Who wouldn't love to get a little something from a fellow blogger! Click on the image above and head on over to her site to sign up!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

2010 Goals

I don't want to call them resolutions, my goals aren't to resolve any problems. I like to call them goals because they are things I want to achieve by the end of the year. I don't have too many, some are simple, and some are more complex. I am ready for the challenges that I am setting myself up for!

2010 Goals 

1. Meal planning
upgrade-your-meal-plan-a-menu
I was really good about this for a few months last year. I think once summer hit and I was off work I fell off the wagon. It made it so easy to shop for groceries knowing what I needed every week. I have a long list of recipes saved that I need to try. If you have any recipe suggestions feel free to comment :).

2. Getting Fit

I really enjoyed my workout classes 5 days a week in the summer. My gym didn't offer classes at night once fall came around, and I had no motivation to go workout. I just checked my gym's website and starting this month they will have 5 classes a week I can go to! I think this will be an easy goal to accomplish!

3. Learn to Sew

My wonderful in-laws got me a sewing machine for Christmas, which I asked for. I used a sewing machine years ago in jr high school, but haven't touched one since. I would love to make new pillow covers for the living room, and curtains for my craft room. Again any suggestions on this would gladly be accepted :)

4. Pay off School Loans

Really compared to other people my loans aren't that much. This is the only debt we have (besides our home), and it would be awesome to pay it off. I paid my car off in August and it felt great. Starting this month I plan on tripling my payments to get it paid off faster. Again, I think this will be an easy goal.

5. Read 50 books this year

If you asked me to read a book three years ago, I would have told you no thanks. Ever since I started as an interpreter in the school systems I realized I had a ton of free time. I started reading books of movies I had seen (The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, etc) and really fell in love with reading. I have my list on Good Reads. I have read 45 books since fall of '07. I know I could read a lot more than that, which is why I am setting myself up for 50 in 2010. I think its do-able. What's your number one book you would recommend?

6. Make a 101 Things in 1001 Days List

I always see everyone else make these and I think to myself how good you would feel once you finish off your list. I was thinking about making it now, but I have to think of 101 things! My goal is to have a finalized list by my birthday (May 6). I think that would be a good day to start something new!

I will have updates on all my goals as we go through this new decade together!

Friday, January 1, 2010

Here's to 2009 ...

It's hard to believe today is 2010. What a year the last one has been! I like to do my years in review so I can look back on them. I can only hope 2010 is a wonderful year! 


January


A & I went skiing. This is something he really enjoys, where I am still learning. We like to go a couple times a year. It is a fun hobby for the both of us to do together. I am looking forward to doing the same thing thing year! 


February



My cousin and his wife brought little Ava into this world. It has been fun to see her grow up! It's hard to believe her 1st birthday is right around the corner!


I also was approached by my wedding photographer to do some bpics for promotion. I also did this as A's Valentines Day gift. I am so glad I did this! I think every women should get these done! It was a blast.

March


My step-mom arraigned for family pictures done at her  house. I remember my baby brother wanted nothing to do with the photographer! I can't believe how long my hair is in these pictures!

April


The start of kickball season! I look forward to this every year! Our team name is Jimny Kick-It
(clever right!?) Kickball is always a good time. We play all the way through the end of July!

May


Andy's brother Cody graduated from Marine's bootcamp. It was nice to get away for a weekend (which was also my birthday :) weekend) My favorite part was going to see the beach. We were only 20 minutes from Hilton Head Island and A's parents drove over to let me see the beach for my birthday! I teased them because my actual birthday was spent on an airplane. 

This was also the month I decided to chop my hair off! I am so glad I did it! I still am in love with the cut. I really thought I'd miss my long hair but, surprisingly I don't!

June


This might of been my favorite month of the year! I went for a girls long weekend to Nashville, TN. My friend (on the right) moved down there two years ago. She asked Megan and I to come down for the CMA Music Fest. I am so glad we did this. Not only did we see some awesome bands (Darrius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Dierks Bentley,  & Reba) , but Heather got to show us around the city. I think this is something that we will do every year. I can not wait for this year!

The next place I got to go to was Vegas! A had been before but it was my first time. I really think he enjoyed showing me around the city and all the casinos (on his first trip there he played poker at the MGM for 8 hours!). While I didn't come back a big winner, A won back all the money that paid for the trip! I loved this city and would go back in a heart beat!

July 


A's cousin Stacey came back in for a visit from Denver. We all went to a grill out followed by catching a Red's game. I love going to the ball games in the summer.

August


My step-mom had a mini photo shoot. Looking at these make me miss the summer. I was so tan!

 
This is also the month we got Carson a friend. Here is Nala.

September 


A and I celebrated our one year anniversary. It's funny how one year till the wedding feels like it takes forever, but the first year of marriage flies by! I am looking to many more years celebrated!


We also lost A's grandma Apple on the 22nd. I loved Apple like my own grandma and we both still miss her very much.

October


This month we celebrated my bff Lauren's 24th birthday!

It's also the month I got my new camera that I still am falling in love with!

November




Thanksgiving at my house. I LOVE hosting things at my house. I get into the whole thing. Every year my brother and I switch off so Thanksgiving '10 will be at his house.

December


Going to cut down our Christmas tree is one of my favorite things about this time of year. We look forward to the first weekend in December every year!

Christmas day. This was our 8th Christmas spent together, 2nd married.

And to finish off the year..

After the Bengals game on 12/27 I got to hang out with Chad Ochocinco. I follow him a twitter and got an invite to party with him after the game. So Lauren, David, and I went down to celebrate the Bengals AFC-North victory. Chad in under the Budweiser sign, Lauren and I are right below him (we were close enough to reach back and could of touched his leg) David is in the front to the right. We were holding up the 15 for the late Chris Henry. Awesome way to end the year! (Lauren and I also saw him the day before at the Gap and chatted in line with him!)

So that was my 2009! Of course there were things I left out but I remembered the highlights. I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store!