The end of 2012...on to new beginnings!

Well. It seems we all survived the apocalypse. Or, it happened and the government is covering it up.

I'm looking back over 2012, as I'm sure many people are, and I'm wondering what I've accomplished, what I should have done different, and how I've changed.

I've accomplished a lot, actually. Small things but they add up just the same. Just as too many small things can overwhelm us negatively, we really should look at the small accomplishments too and let the positive overwhelm us.

--I've learned several new knitting techniques. This opens up many more possibilities for my craft.

--I've learned more about how I interact with people. This frees me to be me and know what I am and am not capable of and most importantly, to be okay with this.

--I've learned that mentally I can be objective about things and that I still need to work on that externally. Case in point is my job. I love the job. I really like the majority of my coworkers. I love the company. The benefits are respectable. BUT. I took a net $260 a month loss to work there under the impression a raise to a more livable wage would occur when I was hired on from the temp agency. The $250 I saved on auto parts? Does not make up the $1300 net loss on income over 5 months. As of today I still have not had the review & raise I was promised when I was hired on July 29th. And so I have to objectively look at this and make the best decision financially so we can thrive instead of survive--and unfortunately having a good work team does not keep the electricity turned on.

--I've learned too that I need to focus on me a lot more and this job does not allow that. After working 9-1/2 hour days, it's hard to come home, cook, clean, workout, and relax. Having Wednesdays off just does not make up for it.

--I'm remembering what I've done in the past to make things work when it comes to leading a healthier lifestyle and I've dug those tools back out and am preparing to put them to use again.

--I am so blessed for the friends I have. Doc, HunniBear, Miss Kitty and EmeraldWytch have been such a huge blessing this past year. They've really helped me cope and learn to cope. And all my other friends, too. Though we don't all always talk as much as we would like, I am still blessed to have you in my life.

--And of course, family. I didn't get to see any of my family this year and that really hurt. It falls along the lines of that net loss up above, though. There just wasn't enough money to travel and some members of my family I just know I'm on borrowed time now. This Christmas may have been my last chance to see them.

For 2013 I have some selfish goals. Okay, so really I have two goals. And lots of little tidbits.

Goal 1: Knit 12 hats for myself. I have them picked out and the patterns in order in a file folder. I will be printing a poster on which to hang a picture of each hat as it is finished. I'm doing this because I always find my knitting ladies so adorable when they wear their knit hats and berets and tams and thought why not?

Goal 2: Walk/bike/hike/run 2013 miles. For some, this is easy. It is only 5 miles a day, after all. But I'm back to not being able to walk up a flight of stairs easily again and so this will be a very good map to health.

For the little things:

Using my Richard Simmons Food Mover again. Try the recipes that I loved and work with Doc to create new ones.

Learning to read Tarot cards. They've intrigued me for decades. I printed off a course back when B&N offered online classes. It's time.

Take time every day for me. Meditation, journaling, whatever.

Create one piece of art daily. To this end, my brother was awesome enough to get me a watercolor lesson a day calendar--I can't believe he remembered!

Ultimately, by the end of 2013 I want to have a nice emergency fund and be working from home nearly full time and part time as a "bread and butter." I want to have my Etsy shop established and would love to be a part of next year's Crafty Mart.



2013. The year of Me.

Memories...

I am strong.
I am determined.
I am sexy.
I am passionate.
I am brave.
I am greater than.

So - I clicked on a random post of mine from 2010. Well, not exactly random. The title caught my eye: "**warning! very long post!!** It was almost TGIF..."

It was from a day that started off really well, went sharply downhill emotionally, and ended on a neutral-to-positive note with what I took away from it. As I read a few others from roughly that time period - I realize how far emotionally I have come. How strong I really am. And I'm glad I found that mantra above back. I think it's time to print it and hang it up to remind myself every day that I am all of those things.

As I go back over a few more older posts I'm amazed at quite a few things:

My creativity.
My willingness to share.
My acknowledgement of what I knew and know are my "trouble areas."

But mostly - with how far I've come in a few short years. And that gives me a lot of hope for the future.

Happy Saturday

Back after a long absence!! Moved to another state - son moved to yet another state. lol Today's blog:

Well - yesterday turned out to be interesting. I knew we would be going out to The Winking Lizard for dinner and drinks as a friend was having her birthday dinner there. I planned on one thing in my food planner but when we got there - well, they had a Mardi Gras menu and the Spicy “N’awlins” Flatbread Pizza just called my name. No side, just a nommy flatbread pizza. MyHoney and I also split a New Years Paddle - samples of 4 beers:

GLBC Edmund Fitzgerald Draft - Robust Porter (USA) 5.8% ABV
Complex, roasty aroma with a bitter sweet, chocolate-coffee taste

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter Draft - Porter (USA) 4.7% ABV
Big aroma and flavor of vanilla with chocolate and roasted nut

Stone Smoked Porter Draft - Porter (USA) 5.9% ABV
Chocolate and coffee character with a light smokiness

Alltech Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale - Strong Ale (USA) 8.2% ABV
Full of vanilla, wood and bourbon aromas and flavors from 6 weeks of lagering in freshly decanted bourbon barrels.

The best was, by and large, the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. The aroma was pure joy and the taste was fantastic. My second favorite was the Vanilla Porter while MyHoney's was the Edmund Fitzgerald. Funnily enough, my third favorite was the Edmund and his was the Vanilla! And we both agreed that of the 4 we liked the Stone Smoked Porter the least.

I was very pleased, once I added in all the ingredients, to find I stayed on the lower end of my calories for the day. And for the taste? WOW. Too bad it's a limited time menu item!

Overall - I had a pretty good week. I stayed on track calorie-wise and did manage to hit the skier twice. I'm not doing the arm part of the skier - just trying to get the legs coordinated! I may get brave and ask MyHoney to give me some pointers. I am now officially looking forward to spring and getting a bicycle again. He's an avid cyclist with no problems riding 12 miles to work. And he has the calves to show for it. Very muscular and he happens to look mighty fine in his kilt!!

This next week will be continued focus on tracking my calories and getting in a bit more exercise. I know that eventually I need to break my diet soda addiction - and for all who say to drink coffee or tea or other caffeinated beverages - it's not that easy. One - coffee and I have a love/hate relationship. I love the smell - it hates my stomach. And it's not the caffeine. It's the artificial sweetener, aspartame. But - when I'm ready to give it up, it will come as naturally and easily (yes, easily for me!) as quitting smoking 19 years ago.

On to the next week!!