Ahhhhhh - how nice! An award!

I received this The Best Follower Award from Travel & Dive Girl!

I stumbled across her blog a while ago and her sense of humor is awesome and her posts are always funny!

Go stop by her blog and have your daily dose of laughter!

So here are the questions filled in with my answers of course!

What is your current obsession?
Being a stay at home mom. I guess this is my obsession because until recently, this was my 'career' and I am hoping to get back into that 'career' some time in the near future. We will see! Also, being craftier. I have done some scrapbooking but hope to do more and also I hope to complete the baby shoes I started for Xander soon.

What are you wearing today?
Well, now I am wearing some comfy fleece pants and a t-shirt - so attractive! Earlier at work, I was wearing grey dress pants, a black tank top and a black cardigan with argyle print.

What’s for dinner?
Ohhhh, it was yummy! We had fettuccine alfredo (a boxed kit) with chicken and broccoli. So good!

What’s the last thing you bought?
Hmmm, probably groceries. Yeah actually it was a blood glucose meter (don't ask. unless you really want to know).

What do you think about the person who tagged you?
I don't know her all that well yet but hope to get to know her more through our little blog world! She is always honest, insightful and funny. The way she words things consistently cracks me up! She's fun!

If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?
I would have to say in Napa Valley or possibly Sonoma! So beautiful and peaceful and it seems like they just have a slower pace of life up there and I love it!

What are your must-have pieces for summer?
Flip flops in tons of colors and a decent fitting swimsuit even if I don't love the way I look in it.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
To the tanning salon for some color and to the salon for a manicure and pedicure. Relaxing!

Who do you want to meet right now?
Hmmm, that is a tough one. I think it would be fun to meet Reese Witherspoon in person since I think she is adorable. I would like to see what she is really like!

What is your favorite color?
Pink! (Don't hate me - I just cannot help myself!)

What’s your favorite spectator sport?
Football for sure though I also love hockey!

What is your dream job?
Stay at home mommy! But I guess if it was a 'real job' I would say owning a small boutique.

What’s your favorite magazine?
I don't really have one but I do read all the parenting type magazines.

What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
Where do I start? Navy and black together (unless they are meant to go together, but even then it is questionable). Brown belt with black pants or vice versa. Socks with sandals. Pants that are way too tight on women paired with a too tight top leaving a large muffin top. Ick. Don't people look in the mirror?

What kind of haircut do you prefer?
Short bob-ish do. I want to grow my hair out but always chop it off. I am thinking about trying it again but we will see how it goes!

What are your favorite movies?
Ever After

The Rock

Legally Blonde

Shooter

Many more.....

What inspires you?
Thin people who have so much self control and can keep themselves from eating everything they want.

What do your friends call you most commonly?
Just my name - Sarah. I guess a few people call me by my last name.

Would you prefer coffee or tea?
Coffee. I don't drink tea. At least for now I require coffee to function.

Which other blogs do you love visiting?
Check out my sidebar and you will quickly see! Lots of money saving blogs and a few for entertainment!

Favorite Dessert/Sweet?
Any type of cheesecake.

Favorite Season?
Fall. Spring is a close second. Warmer than winter but not as hot as summer. I love the changing of leaves and the colors of fall.

When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Ugh. When am I going to finally get it together and try to lose some weight?

What brings a smile to your face instantly?
My baby and most other little kids.

What would you do if you were made President for one day?
Relax in the white house and enjoy the thought that I have so much control. But one day wouldn't be enough to do anything.

What is your favorite song (new or classic)?

My favorite classic song is "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey and my favorite newer song is "Love Game" by Lady Gaga.

Rules for those who are tagged: Respond and rework – answer these questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own, and add one more question to the list. Then tag eight or ten other new set of people.

Ok so here are the few people I am passing this award along to - hopefully they will take it and post it to their blog! (And I also don't have 8). :)

Amy @ The Broker Bunch

Jill @ Carter's Crew

Sharon @ Good True and Beautiful

I'm not as sad as I seem

So I have to come to find out that some of my recent posts might be a little too depressing and make me sound like I am unhappy about everything.

I think I need to clarify. Oh and just a warning, this could be long. Very long. :)

First of all, I realize the importance of having gratitude and being thankful and positive. My mom always made us write thank you notes and say thank you for everything growing up. I am by nature a grateful person.

I guess by reading my blog people might think I am an unhappy person who just complains a lot. In real life - I am not 'that girl'. At least not most of the time. (Hey, everyone has their bad days, right?)

It seems I have been more of 'that girl' recently. I have been down lately about things going on in our life. I guess I sometimes do feel like things have been unfair and I have wondered 'why me?' more than once.

You see, it all started with the birth of my son. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom for as long as I can remember. When I got pregnant with Xander, my husband and I talked about how I would stay home. The problem is, we didn't plan for it. At all. In other words, we really didn't save our money or spend smartly like we should have. So after 11 months, I went back to work.

I think this is the main source of my sadness. As I said, all I ever wanted was to be a stay at home mom. It is like having your dreams shattered. I cry about it. Often. Think about it this way - imagine all you ever wanted was to be a nurse. You went to school, put in your time learning and then there are no jobs. Anywhere. Ever. That is what it feels like to me. I know I don't 'deserve' to stay at home with my son but I miss him so much every day it hurts.

The other thing that makes me complain more than I would like to is my actual job, not just the fact that I have to work at it. The job I am doing is not something I would like to do long term. The job is ok, but I feel like it is not a job that I want to do much longer. I am not complaining about the job because I should be grateful to have a job (I know I know) but I also know realistically the job I am doing now will not make me happy and will not fulfill me if I have to stay working permanently.

So on to the positive.

I am so thankful that I have an amazing husband. Taking him for granted is one of the worst things I can do and I think I sometimes do it. He is hard working and smart and kind and a great father. He works so hard at his job - he has literally called in sick twice in the last 2-3 years. He is dedicated and always puts in extra time at his job (which I sometimes wish he wouldn't so we could see him more). I have to remember he could be so much worse - a drug addict or an alcoholic or someone who is not there for me and my baby.

I am so thankful for my little man too. He is so sweet and he has been so healthy since he was born. He did have jaundice right after he was born but other than that he has been pretty healthy. Every time I see a story about a little kid with cancer or something else it makes me sad but also very thankful for the health of my little boy. He is such a joy to watch and be around and I love him more than words can say. I can't imagine life without him and wouldn't give him up for anything in he world.

I am thankful for my health (and I use that term loosely because I am diabetic and am overweight - but I don't have cancer or anything like that). I am thankful for my parents and my siblings and my in laws too. I could have a strange or dysfunctional family. I have a great family and am very thankful.

I am thankful we have a roof over our head. Our house is not falling apart and though we could stand to do some things to it, it is overall a nice house.

We have two cars that are running (for now) and they get us where we need to go.

Ok so now that I talked about some things I am thankful for, I want you to know something you would never know unless you worked with me.

If I ask for help on something at work and you help me I will thank you every way I can. I probably will say thanks at least 3 times because that is how I am. I don't like confrontation and I want people to know that I am grateful and not rude or ungrateful. I make sure to say thanks every time and try to keep a positive attitude at all times. Or at least to most people and most of the time. It is sad that I can take out my frustrations on my family and friends that are closest to me.

So in summary, I am sad and sometimes mad but I am going to work hard at being more positive and happy. Not because anyone tells me I should but because I know I should and because I want to be happy and I want to try and be positive. All I do is drag myself down and sometimes those around me when I have a negative attitude. I do think right now is harder for me because of the season (winter always gives me the blahs - as diagnosed by Travel & Dive Girl) and also because of other circumstances in my life. But, I think this year could be a good year if I believe it will be and if I make good choices. I think that is my goal this year. Make better choices and try to be happier.

There you have it. Take from it what you will. I will try to be more positive - after all, the title of my blog is 'our happy life' and gosh darn it, we do have a happy life! Oh and one last thing, I realize my thoughts are very random and don't always go in order but that is just how my mind works! :)

New Year's Questionnaire

I realize this is a little late, but I have seen this around the blog world and thought I would fill it out for myself if for no one else.


1. What did you do in 2009 that you have never done before?
I was a mommy all year for the first time! Xander was born in 2008 but I didn't have a full year with him then since he was born in November.

Oh yes and one more thing I am super proud of - I ran for 20 minutes straight. For me that is a big deal. I realize for most people that is no big deal but for me it is.

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions and will you make more for 2010?
I don't think I made any last year but I did make a few for this year (although I didn't call them resolutions, just goals).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2009?
My sister Nicole had her son Eli in April. :)

4. Did anyone close to you die in 2009?
No and I am grateful for this.

5. What countries did you visit this year?
Countries? How many people in the US visit more than one country a year? (I guess if you are on a cruise you might stop at more than one). But for this girl it was a big fat zero and probably will be again for the next few years. Traveling to other countries requires lots of money which is something I don't have!

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More money, less debt and better health.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 21st. My baby boy's first birthday! Other than that it was a boring year.


8. What was your biggest struggle in 2009?
Realizing I had to go back to work because we couldn't afford for me to stay home anymore. I am bitter about it almost every day and wish something would change so I can stay home again.


9. Did you suffer any illness or injury in 2009?
Nothing new that I didn't already have before.

10. What was the best thing you bought this year?
My Cricut machine for scrapbooking. I can't think of anything else interesting I bought so we will go with that.

11. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I suppose my little boy's. He is a good boy and learning to listen to his mommy when she tells him to do something.

12. Whose behavior disappointed you?
I suppose my own.

13. Where did most of your money go?
My hospital bills from having the kiddo. Also diapers and clothes for Xander!

14. What did you get really really excited about this year?
Christmas and Xander's birthday.

15. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Hmmm, I would have to say several but there are too many to name.

16. Compared to this time last year, are you: much happier, much nicer or richer?
No to all of these which is sad.

17. What do you wish you had done more of?
Exercise and saving money.

18. What do you wish you had done less of?
Eating, spending money, being lazy and taking for granted staying home with my son.

19. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I didn't fall in love for the first time but fell more in love with my husband and son.

20. What was your favorite TV Program in 2009?
Tough one because I like several but I will have to say The Biggest Loser.

21. What was the best book you read this year?
Babywise, Babywise II and Toddlerwise. My kiddo would be much worse off if I hadn't.

22. What was your greatest musical discovery this past year?
I know many other people have said the same thing but Lady Gaga for sure.

23. What did you want and get?
I don't think much of anything. It seems more like I wanted a lot of things that I didn't get, and not just physical things.

24. What was the best movie you saw this year?
Harry Potter hands down!

25. What did you do on your birthday and how old did you turn?
I didn't do much I don't think and I turned 27. I think me and my husband went out sometime within a week of my birthday for dinner.

26. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
Oh, a few things. To have lost more weight, if I would have been able to keep staying at home with my son and if we would have been better with our money.

27. How would you describe your personal fashion statement this year?
For most of the year I would have said sloppy since I stayed at home but since the end of the year I would say dressy since I wear nice work clothes 5 days a week.

28. What kept you sane this year?
My son and husband.

29. What celebrity did you fancy the most?
I am not sure what that means but I don't follow any one celebrity. I just read occasional articles on celebs.

30. Who did you miss this past year?
Not really anyone but if I had to pick I would say my sister since she lives the farthest away.

31. Who were the best new people you met this year?
I would say my new co-workers. Especially Christina!

32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year.
Life is hard and never fair. No matter how bad you want some things, sometimes you will never get them. If you want something you have to work really really hard for it.

20 questions

1. If you had to could you take a vow of silence for 48 hours?

- Not sure I could. If someones life depended on it, then yes. I guess it depends on the reason I am doing it.

2. What is your favorite kind of soup?

- Chicken tortilla - my momma's recipe. With tortilla chips. Yum!

3. How often do you cut your hair?

- Oh gosh, it has been about 3 or 4 months. That is unusual for me - it used to always be 8 weeks at the most. Mommyhood has taken over!

4. If you had to could you do your own income taxes? And have them be correct?

- Yes. Todd does them normally but I think I could in a pinch!

5. What is your method to reading a magazine?

- I didn't know there were methods. I guess I would say front to back?!

6. How many magazines do you subscribe to?

- I am not sure right now. I know we get Rolling Stone (I hate it), Reader's Digest, Parents, Baby Talk, Parenting, Self, Shape, Oprah and maybe 1 or 2 others.

7. What is/was your paternal grandfather's name?

- Robert.

8. And your maternal grandfather's name?

- Robert - haha (see above).

9. I know I'm tired when:

- I stop talking so much.

10. What color(s) do you associate with Spring?

- Green

11. What color are your eyes? Did you inherit them from or pass them on to anyone in your family?

- My eyes are blue. I got them from my dad and mom. My son also has blue eyes.

12. What do you have in your glove compartment?

- The car manual, insurance info, pens, envelopes.

13. Who are you in 6 words?

- Loyal, spastic, loud, talkative, loving, determined.

14. What is your favorite current tv drama?

- Um, does a soap opera count? If so, Days of Our Lives.

15. Who do you think is NOT funny, but others think IS funny?

- Hmmm. That is tough. Not much I guess, I try to find the humor in everything.

16. Three things you've been meaning to do, but haven't gotten around to yet:

- Lose 40 pounds, re-read the last 2 Harry Potter books, get a job.

17. What is your noodle of choice?

- Fettuccine.

18. What commercial are you so sick of?

- The Palm Pre commercial (creepy looking girl) and the KFC double down chicken sandwich. It was a tie - they are both annoying and it proves I have seen them too many times because I know what they are about. ***Special note - I just learned that KFC is testing out this sandwich in two markets only, Omaha and Baltimore, Maryland I guess. Weird. So if you haven't seen it then you must not live in one of the two cities. ***

19. If you gave birth today to octuplets and had sole naming rights, what would you name them? You can assume four of each sex, or make your own mix-up.

- Piper Elizabeth, Paige Joy, Hannah Renee, Reagen Nicole, McKenna Brianne, Brayden Michael, Justin Matthew, Derek James.

20. Is there something hanging over your head that you need to do right now?

- Scrapbooking, cleaning my house, the backyard.

100 Things

So, I recently started blogging more often and switched from Wordpress to Blogger. I have stumbled upon a few blogs that I really enjoy and this is one of them:

http://remembermoments0823.blogspot.com/


I thought this was fun. 100 things about me. Though 100 is a lot, I think it makes you think and remember things that have happened in your past and also makes you realize certain things about yourself. I did a very similar thing to this on facebook, but that was 25 things. Now I am going to try to come up with 100! Here goes!

1. My middle name, Katherine, is after my mom's grandma's middle name.

2. I have been married a little over 4 1/2 years and love my husband more than he knows!

3. I have one baby who just turned 5 months. I am not sure I want another baby though.

4. I am a stay at home mom which has ALWAYS been my dream job.

5. We are kinda poor so I may not be a full time stay at home mom anymore. A PT job may be in my future.

6. We had three dogs. We recently got rid of two. Don't think we are bad people - this was so hard for us to do and many tears were shed over it.

7. I love to do laundry and dishes, but hate cleaning bathrooms and vacuuming.

8. I want a tattoo really bad but am not sure I will ever have the guts to get one.

9. I used to have my belly button pierced and hid it from my mom for about a year.

10. I have never 'officially' broken a bone, but think I may have broken my toe. Never went to the doctor for it though.

11. I graduated high school but never went to the ceremony.

12. I took piano lessons for 10 years and wish I had a piano to play these days.

13. I was a swimmer off and on for about 8 years.

14. I have an unusual obsession with popcorn.

15. I love diet coke but gave it up - at least buying cases to have in my house.

16. I have my ears pierced but barely ever wear earrings.

17. I used to work at a jewelry store and obtained a large diamond in the process.

18. I own more purses than I could ever carry - I should sell some.

19. I love watching Husker football and feel mad and sad when they lose.

20. I have only been out of the country once - on my honeymoon.

21. I have only flown in an airplane 4 times. That's right, 4!!!

22. I love Chicago and am certain I could live there.

23. The three places in the US I want to visit the most are New York, Florida and SoCal.

24. The only place outside the US I REALLY want to visit is France/Europe.

25. I would love to sky diving but again, am not sure I will ever do it or have the guts to do it.

26. I am paranoid when water skiing that a fish is going to bite my rear, so I always clack my skis together a ton while I am waiting before the boat gets going.

27. I eat string cheese by taking bites out of it, but not by 'stringing' it.

28. I have a red car. I only like red, white, black and silver cars. I would take another color if I had to but other colors would never be my first choice.

29. I buy the Sunday newspaper mostly for the coupons. I do read some of it though.

30. I secretly hope my son says 'mama' first instead of 'dada'. :)

31. I don't wear socks much during the winter - only when I am leaving the house.

32. My favorite movie is Legally Blond. I wish I looked like Reese Witherspoon.

33. I admit that since staying at home, I have become a closet addict of Days of Our Lives.

34. I had my son by c-section and I never want to have another one. Ouch.

35. There are about 950 new diapers in my son's closet right now. I am obsessed.

36. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 23. One of the worst days of my life.

37. If there is also a regular door to enter, I will always choose it over a revolving door.

38. I want invisalign for my teeth more than I can say. I hate my teeth.

39. I am always curious what people are doing with their lives. Some might call me nosy, but I think of myself as interested or curious, possibly bored.

40. I hate going to the post office particularly because of one mean nasty lady who works there.

41. I hate to shower, though I do it daily. I love the clean feeling but I think a shower is like work.

42. I have an obsession with clean hands. I'm not worried about germs so much, but I like them to feel clean. Because of this, I don't put lotion on my hands very often.

43. I have always been blond. I am not sure if I will ever be anything other than blond.

44. I can always get a decent tan, but I always burn a few times each summer first.

45. I want to be a great scrapbooker! I just started and am terrible so far. I hope to keep doing it and getting better.

46. I like to see myself as crafty, but don't get a lot of chances to show that off. I used to do more creative stuff as a kid but don't have much time for it anymore.

47. I love getting the mail! I always hope there will be something great in it, but usually it is mostly junk mail.

48. I like rap music. I don't like the words they use sometimes, but love the beats.

49. I actually like Walmart unlike some people. I love how I can buy most everything in one store. I also like Target, but they are more expensive on most things.

50. I love drinking coffee. I don't have it much since being pregnant and now nursing my son.

51. I was good at English and Math in school. Those two don't usually go together.

52. I love washing and folding baby clothes. It makes me happy to see such tiny things.

53. Even though the American dream is to have a big house, nice cars and lots of extra money, I am actually looking forward to downsizing slightly. Too much stuff is chaos for me.

54. I am not interested in gardening and the like. I don't like bugs or spiders and don't like dirt much either.

55. I hate summer. I guess I hate humidity more than summer itself. Give me 60 any day.

56. I could spend all day every day on the internet. A baby prevents this, but that is good.

57. I think every single day goes faster than the last. I am pretty sure this is because I don't work anymore. When I did, the days lasted sooooo long! Also because I have a kid now.

58. I was on a diving team for one summer when I was in junior high. I was just ok.

59. I used to work out 2 hours a day when my husband and I were dating. Gone are those days.

60. I love to watch hockey and know much more about it than most guys would believe.

61. I am a little bit of a bottled water snob. I can do tap but much prefer bottled.

62. I don't think I am a pack rat but tend to stockpile stuff when it goes on sale.

63. My fingernails always grow pretty long before they break or are cut. I have good nails.

64. I have a lot of books, but none of them are classics except The Hobbit.

65. I love the Harry Potter series and am not afraid to admit it. I think the movies were disappointing though because each one had to leave so much out for times' sake.

66. I love pictures and frames. I have way too many all over my house.

67. My husband and I play Scrabble and Chess together. I taught him Chess and he now kicks my tail every time we play. I do win at Scrabble though.

68. I could eat cereal for any meal of the day.

69. I hate spiders. I don't just dislike them, I hate them with a passion. They scare me and can make me nauseous.

70. I love to play guitar hero. I am not that good but love it anyway.

71. I have a ton of candles in my cupboard. I love candles but forget to burn them much.

72. My favorite color is pink. I love most pink things but a pink car might be pushing it.

73. I love to take pictures. I wish I could be a photographer.

74. I regret not having more pictures from my honeymoon. I don't know why we didn't take that many.

75. I didn't like high school. It was ok for the first 2 years but the second 2 years, I hung out with older people not in high school anymore, mostly my sister and our mutual friends.

76, I got 2 speeding tickets within 2 months of each other and I haven't had one since. I have been driving for 10 years.

77. I won a coloring contest when I was little. The prize was a huge stuffed bunny.

78. Shhh, don't tell my mom - I used to find my hidden Christmas presents almost every year.

79. We had a pool and tore it out. We have a hot tub and it doesn't work.

80. I lived at home with my parents until I got married.

81. I need at least 9 hours of sleep a night or I am not a happy camper the next day.

82. When a telemarketer calls, I pick up then hang up. I am mean I guess.

83. I haven't been camping since I was a kid. My husband and I agree that a hotel is better.

84. Siddhartha was THE most boring book ever. Ever.

85. I use google for everything.

86. Pregnancy was the longest 8 months of my life. I wanted to meet the baby so bad!

87. I was only pregnant for 8 months. Lucky me. Xander was born at 37 weeks!

88. My husband and I broke up a few times while we were dating. Before we got back together for good we were broken up for almost 3 months!

89. I own a ton of nail polish but never do my nails!

90. I am convinced that the medical profession is somewhat evil and that they don't want to find cures for diseases because of how much money would they would lose out on.

91. Regarding #90, I am somewhat of a conspiracy theorist.

92. I get really nervous speaking in front of crowds even though I am outgoing.

93. I am double jointed in my hands, fingers and elbows.

94. I hate the Wizard of Oz. It creeps me out. Kinda like some people with clowns.

95. I speed at least a little bit most of the time. I have toned it down since having a baby.

96. I only have one grandparent left. My husband doesn't have any left.

97. I don't see my mom as old enough to be a grandparent. She will always be young to me.

98. I don't see myself as 26! I still feel like I am 21.

99. Until the market crashed, it was a game to me to play around with stocks. Fun stuff.

100. I am not interesting at all! I have a boring, simple life, but that is ok with me! :)

Blah, blah, blah.

I swiped this from someone else's blog.

Three things in my fridge that define life right now: (1) Yogurt - a healthy snack that both my husband and I enjoy. (2) Buffalo sauce - we have been obsessed with buffalo chicken recently. (3) Vitamin water - I got awesome coupons that made these free - otherwise I would not have bought them.

Three recent acquisitions: (1) My son. Does that count as recent? (2) An obsession with couponing (shout out to all the amazing women out there who have blogs dedicated to saving money). (3) Bike for Todd. We cancelled our gym memberships but have a treadmill, weight set and now a bike for Todd. He wanted a fun way to do cardio.

Three classics I reach for every day:(1) Deodorant. (2) Lotion. (3) My son! I don't know if he is considered a classic, but this is my blog! :)

My kids right now, in three words or less: One, sweet, adorable!

My sweetie right now, in three words or less: Not home, work. :(

What's on my to-do list: Laundry, scrapbooking, showering.

What I do often that relates to the season right now: Nothing really. I guess opening the blinds and windows.

What I'm listening to right now: The TV. I haven't been listening to much music recently but should more.

What I'm worried about right now: Money, money, money.

Which news stories I'm following right now: None, I am not too interested in the news as most of it is about the economy and it depresses me.

What I'm reading right now: Babywise, Babywise 2 and Toddlerwise. Need to read the 6th Harry Potter book again before the movie comes out in July!

What I'm looking forward to right now: Moving! Not that I don't like Omaha, but moving will start us on a road to financial recovery because that will mean Todd got his own store!

One small thing that's making me happy right now: My baby boy Xander who is sitting next to me on the couch right now. :)

Dec. 28, 2008

Copied older post:

Stealing an idea from my sister-in-law Amy, I decided to make a list of 30 things that I would like to do by the time I am 30. I am actually going to make the list now and try to start doing them as soon as possible. If I get them all done in six months or a year, great! If it takes me until I am 30, oh well! I just want to make a list of things that I have always wanted to do but never got around to or things that I was always afraid of trying. Since this is my list, I reserve the right to change the list by removing one thing and adding another. I will always have 30 things, but may change a thing or two if I decide it is something I really don't want to do or can't physically or financially do. So, here goes!
1. Get a tattoo - probably of my son's name or initials.
2. Lose 30 pounds. This is from my pre-pregnancy weight so this one will be extra hard right now. I need to lose the rest of the baby weight first. This could take a while. :(
3. Scrapbook my son's first year of life. This one should be easy thanks to Amy. I have the kit to do the scrapbook, I just need to start working on it and make sure to finish it.
4. Go on a hiking trip - not sure where or how yet, but something that would be a decent hike. Something that takes a few hours and makes me super tired and sweaty. Even if it is somewhere around here, I just want to feel proud of myself after hiking for a while and not quitting.
5. Get family pictures taken. This one should also be easy now that I have a son. I haven't posed for a "professional" picture since my senior pictures in high school and would like to have a family picture done with Todd, me and Xander.
6. Start playing piano again. I took lessons for ten years and haven't played in almost that long. I will never forget how but always wanted to get back into it. I don't currently own a piano so this could be a challenge, but I could someday get a piano or a keyboard.
7. Start swimming again. Another thing I used to do and haven't done in quite a while. This was my high school sport and I wish I could do this as a regular form of exercise but I don't currently have access to a pool. This may never happen, but it would be enjoyable to swim two or three times a week as a workout.
8. Do another scrapbook of some sort besides Xander's baby scrapbook. I have always wanted to tap into my creative side, but never felt like I had time to do so. Being a stay-at-home mom now takes away the time excuse.
9. Visit two states that I haven't been to yet. I only visited California for the first time when I was 24 and would love to visit some other states since I haven't traveled a lot in my life.
10. Be able to run 3 miles without stopping. I have never been a runner and this goal goes along with the losing weight one. I have been in great shape before, but was never good at running. I have always wanted to run for a while without having to stop.
Ok, that is 10. I think I am going to stop with those for now and come up with the other 20 later. I want to think about these and make sure they are all things I really want to do. I will post the other 20 at a later time and when I do, I will copy these original 10 and then add on from there so my list is all together. After reviewing the first ten, I noticed that some of them are "goals" or "resolution" type ideas, but I don't really care what they look like to the outsider, I just want them all to be things I really want to do and feel passionate about.

Dec. 8, 2007

Copied older post:

This is really weird. I don't think anyone I know will ever read this and maybe that is a good thing. I feel like I am in junior high and am writing in a "diary". How silly!

I often find myself needing an outlet - someone or something to take my mind off the stress of everyday life. Maybe this is just what I need. I am the kind of person that never has a moment where my mind is not racing. I have always talked a lot. It seems I almost always have something to say.

My brother recently told me he thinks that I am unintelligent because I talk a lot. It is funny how someone can look at you, interact with you and judge you, when in reality they know very little about you. Granted, he is my brother but we have never been close. Suddenly, he started dating a girl who works in the same field as I do and he no longer thinks I am dumb. His girlfriend and I are both registered reps with the SEC (a stock broker, if you will) and both passed the "smart kid" test. He decided that the girl he is dating is certainly not dumb, therefore, I must not be either. This makes no sense to me! I was the exact same before he met her as I am now.

I am a person who is very logical. I am not a person who belives too much in gray areas. I think things are black and white, right or wrong and up or down. I don't like when things aren't reasonable and don't make sense. I suppose most people would say they agree with that statement. The difference is, when things don't make sense to me, I get extremely upset. Most people would let it go, but I get frustrated when things that should be very simple, become very complicated. I don't suppose I have much more to say. At least not for tonight.