A New Year A New Me

Every year I make a list of goals I have for the year. Cook more, eat less crap, exercise. It's the same routine. I'm still doing that, with hopes of following through fr once. But this year, here online, I thought I'd make a personal blog resolution: To keep it real.

More Photographs.

More interaction.

Less comparing myself and my blog to others.

More honesty.

Less big company reviews.

More supporting mom-owned shops.

Less arguing.

More passion.

More returning the comment love.

More giving back to charities (like we did for March of Dimes).

There are blogs I LOVE to read. And every time I visit them I leave smiling and refreshed that there are still bloggers like this and this (and there are so many more but these are a couple of my many favorites).

When I go through my reader I see posts full of reviews, giveaways, pleas for more subscribers, and advertisements. I got swept up in this movement this year. It began to consume me. Not in 2011.

Now, if a giveaway is included in a post it's at the bottom, in italics, and more discreet. If you leave a comment, you're entered. No hoops to jump through, there aren't a million ways to enter (because some people have all day to enter every way possible but most people don't) if you just comment on the post you can win, and there's maybe one way you can get an extra entry.

I was brought down by a handful of people on twitter, surrounding births of friends, my birth, decisions I was making regarding it, and how I've chosen to raise my child. I've found blogging about thinking about becoming a mom is much less controversial than decisions that come along with becoming a mother.  I let it get to me, but I won't in 2011.

I can't sensor and alter every line I type for fear someone will misread it the wrong way and think I'm talking about them. I can't write in fear of offending. Or worry a joke toward myself will be taken the wrong way. I'd never intentionally hurt someone, but I can't waste precious time trying to correct every single misunderstanding.

I won't sugarcoat things. Actually, I think I'm good at not pretending like my life is perfect. That would be hard to fake.

I'm coming back next year. Stronger. Happier. Unafraid.

I'm gonna do me.

Happy New Year.

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

Last year I wrote a list of things I hoped to accomplish this year, and posted it on my blog, here's what it said and how I did:

This year (last year) I hope(d) to:

-Learn how to cook I learned a few recipes, but need to learn more!
-Eat better ... Until I got pregnant (Spawnie's fault!)
-Give up caffeine
-Read the good books daily - I SUCKED at this. But I did have a good streak in the middle/ toward the end of the year.
-Go on more real vacations Trip out west, vacation on a lake, and Caribbean cruise, Chicago, Atlanta, not bad!
-Enjoy one of the last years without spawn best year of marriage so far!
-Learn Yoga Started in August!
-Exercise more (aka ever)- Still working on a daily routine.
-Keep a good blogging streak It's been fun!
-Volunteer more- I can do better
-Babysit And I did this A LOT more than I thought I would
-Be a better wife- Can do better.
-Get back into the habit of writing a daily journal- I did it on and off, but does blogging count?
-Start a gratitude journal- Still need to work on.
-Pray more Happy to say I have!
-Be brutally honest- I'm not sure what I meant by this, but I don't like this resolution...
-*Get knocked up It was a maybe but I did it!

*= maybe

So I did a lot, but there's still a lot to work on! 2010 I hope to:
-Prepare to be a good mom
-Learn how to cook more healthy meals for my family
-Take a prenatal yoga class
-Create and stick with a fitness plan
-Take a birthing class with my husband
-Have a healthy baby
-Save enough money to be able to take a full maternity leave
-Not totally neglect Snoop because of Spawnie
-Visit New York City
-Write in my gratitude journal
-Learn how to sew baby things
-Finish all of the hairbows I owe people for donating to March of Dimes (by Jan/Feb)
-Keep enjoying blogging, don't make it "work"
-Visit the temple more
-Read my scriptures daily
-Prepare and execute weekly family home evenings
-Find ways to serve others
-Enjoy being a new mom

So there you have it! My list is longer, and funny how so much is about "mommy" stuff! WEIRD! What are your resolutions?

The Resolutions

2008 was a good year for me. Here are some of the things I did:

-I adopted my puppy Snoop
-Graduated college, and spoke at my graduation ceremony
-Continued reporting for a station in Salt Lake City and quit before I could get laid off.
-I got a new (better) job as an anchor/reporter in the WARM city of Austin, Texas.
-Became a suga mama
-Learned how to sew
-Started a dog collar business (still trying to make my money back)
-Made new friends
-Got an iPhone :o)
-Celebrated my 4 year anniversary
-Started "monthly mini-vacations" with my hub-a-lub
-Cried less
-Grew up more
-Became an avid blogger

This year I hope to:

-Learn how to cook
-Eat better
-Give up caffeine
-Read the good books daily
-Go on more real vacations
-Enjoy one of the last years without spawn
-Learn Yoga
-Exercise more (aka ever)
-Keep a good blogging streak
-Volunteer more
-Babysit
-Be a better wife
-Get back into the habit of writing a daily journal
-Start a gratitude journal
-Pray more
-Be brutally honest
-*Get knocked up


*= maybe

I have a feeling 2009 has a lot in store for me. Between my three blogs and two journals, I'll have a lot of stuff to look back and read. Moving to a new place for the first time in 5 years has been a new challenge for me, but I think it'll give me the opportunity to grow in ways I didn't know. Hopefully 2009 will bring me growth in my career, marriage, relationships and spirituality.

Cheers to 2009!