New Year's Resolutions

It's that time of year again. Looking back at my resolutions from last year, I didn't do so well. I did work on my photography a bit, but in some ways I think it's gotten worse! I certainly didn't try yoga. Numbers 3, 4, and 5 were a moderate success. Progress was definitely made. #6 and 7 I'm still working on, and #8 will always be on my list!

Perhaps I need more do-able resolutions this year! I'm intrigued by the approach a couple bloggers have taken. Run Lucas Run has a beautiful (free!), downloadable template you can fill in with your answers to nine thoughtful questions. She also includes a template you can fill out with your children.

{photo via Run Lucas Run}

 Tsh from Simple Mom has a list of 20 questions to reflect on on New Year's Eve. Once you've reflected on the past year and are ready to think ahead to the new year, Tsh shares a downloadable PDF with a list of questions to help you set goals for the future. 

I've printed out both of these PDF's and hope to have some time over the weekend to think about the year ahead and put some goals and plans in place.

Another idea that always inspires me is Ali Edwards One Little Word project. I haven't come up with my word yet, but have a few I'm mulling over.

What are your goals and resolutions for the new year? How do you come up with them?

Just Ask! Life List

This is my entry in the Just Ask Bucket List Getaway Giveaway. Just Ask offers a breast and ovarian cancer screening and is encouraging people to share 15 things that I want to enjoy in my lifetime as a reminder to be aware of my health. Want to enter? Head over to TodaysMama.com to get the details.


I've been working on my Life List for a while now, updating as new ideas come to me, and crossing off a few things here and there. One dilemma, should I put things on my list that I've already done, but would have made it on my list had I begun it when I was younger? Not sure of that one!


Here are 15 random items from my list, in no particular order:


1. Learn Italian.
{photo via Pinterest}

2. Have a photo make it to "Explore" in Flickr.
{photo via Pinterest}

3. See Machu Pichu.
{photo via Pinterest}

4. Have a totally handmade Christmas.
{photo via Pinterest}

5. Make a family history cookbook.
{photo via Pinterest}

6. Hike the Pilgrim's trail to Camino de Santiago in Spain.
{photo via Pinterest}

7. Eat at Chez Panisse.
{photo via Pinterest}

8. Read all of Shakespeare's plays.
{photo via Pinterest}

9. Raft the Grand Canyon.
{photo via Pinterest}

10. Live in a modern home.
{photo via Pinterest}

11. Learn to grill a perfect steak.
{photo via Pinterest}

12. Set up a rain barrel.
{photo via Pinterest}

13. Visit the tea plantations in India.
{photo via Pinterest}

14. Buy a Coach purse.
{photo via Pinterest}

15. Live in San Francisco.
{photo via Pinterest}

Follow updates to my Life List on Pinterest!

Mid-Summer Check In

Wow. It's been a month since I've posted. Who would have thought I'd be busier in the summer than during the school year! This is what I've been up to:

Between the boys' year-round swim team practices and meets and our summer pool swim team I've spent a lot of time driving to and from pools, sitting at meets, and helping manage our summer swim team. We've had qualifiers, State championships, weekly summer meets, a distance meet, and finally Divisionals and end of summer Age Group championships. One more meet next weekend (Relay All Stars) and all swimming will end for us . . . for one month. We get the month of August off. And boy do I plan to enjoy that month!

What else have we been up to this summer?

We cried through the final Harry Potter movie, watched the garden shrivel in the heat, tried to avoid cooking as much as possible, spent 30-40 hours making the swim team video, read the Dragon Tattoo trilogy,  and spent time with good friends.

The boys have obviously spent a great deal of time swimming. They also (individually) battled a swimmer's ear infection, got a driver's permit and took driver's ed, had sleepovers, tried to avoid summer work, and spent lots of time with friends.

I got the best news the other day; Kieran's school is moving into a brand new school and due to permitting issues, the start date of school has been pushed back a week! He was due to start school two full weeks before his brothers, effectively ending our summer vacation mid-August. Having that extra week is an amazing gift!

So what do we still want to do with the rest of the summer?

1. Go on vacation! We leave soon and can't wait!

2. Calder exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery.

3. Have a cocktail party.

4. Watch for shooting stars.

5. Make milkshakes.

6. Watch a TV series.

7. Play games.

Other things not on our original list I'd like to do:

1. Plan an amazing 40th birthday party for my husband.

2. Back to school shopping.

3. Go to a couple summer concerts.

4. Sleep in.

And a few housekeeping things that need to be done:

1. Organize the basement.

2. Sell a few things on Craig's List.

3. Menu planning for the fall.

As of today we have four weeks of summer left before the youngest goes back to school, with one additional week for his older brothers. That time will fly by.

Back on the Wagon?

Boy once you fall off the blogging wagon, it's really, really hard to get back on! Somehow life has gotten in the way of blogging--too much to do, not enough time I guess! I'd really like to make an effort to post regularly again though, especially with summer just beginning!

Here are some things I'd like to blog about in the near future:

1. Our vacation to Florida.

2. End of school, end of an era.

3. Summer plans.

4. Summer "musts".

5. Fave summer meals.

6. Happenings in the garden.

I need to get into a regular blogging schedule I think. Hopefully that will help. Once you miss a few days you start to feel so behind that it gets harder and harder to start up again. So I'll not worry about what I've missed, but just start from today. Deal?!

Just Do It

There was a Nike ad back in the 90s that changed womens' lives. I don't remember it myself although I must have seen it, but it has resurfaced in a couple different places lately and it's so inspiring that I'm glad I've found it now, almost 20 years later!


You were born a daughter.
You looked up to your mother.
You looked up to your father.
You looked up at everyone.
You wanted to be a princess.
You thought you were a princess.
You wanted to own a horse.
You wanted to be a horse.
You wanted your brother to be a horse.
You wanted to wear pink.
You never wanted to wear pink.
You wanted to be a Veterinarian.
You wanted to be President.
You wanted to be the President’s Veterinarian.
You were picked last for the team.
You were the best one on the team.
You refused to be on the team.
You wanted to be good in algebra.
You hid during algebra.
You wanted the boys to notice you.
You were afraid the boys would notice you.
You started to get acne.
You started to get breasts.
You started to get acne that was bigger than your breasts.
You wouldn’t wear a bra.
You couldn’t wait to wear a bra.
You couldn’t fit into a bra.
You didn’t like the way you looked.
You didn’t like the way your parents looked.
You didn’t want to grow up.
You had your first best friend.
You had your first date.
You had your second best friend.
You had your second first date.
You spent hours on the telephone.
You got kissed.
You got to kiss back.
You went to the prom.
You didn’t go to the prom.
You went to the prom with the wrong person.
You spent hours on the telephone.
You fell in love.
You fell in love.
You fell in love.
You lost your best friend.
You lost your other best friend.
You really fell in love.
You became a steady girlfriend.
You became a significant other.

YOU BECAME SIGNIFICANT TO YOURSELF.

Sooner or later, you start taking yourself seriously. You know when you need a break. You know when you need a rest. You know what to get worked up about and what to get rid of. And you know when it’s time to take care of yourself, for yourself. To do something that makes you stronger, faster, more complete.

Because you know it’s never too late to have a life. And never too late to change one.

JUST DO IT

-Nike


(from Keka's Blog via Tara Whitney.)