Last Day of 2010

So it is the last day of 2010. I got home from visiting the family last night and I'm spending the last day of the year preparing for some of the changes I'd like to see in myself in 2011. I know everyone spends time putting together "resolutions" for the New Year only to abandon them after 5 or 10 days - but I'm really hoping that by focusing on a couple of lifestyle improvements, I will have the fortitude to implement them permanently.

Via Flickr By Sprengben

As I stand here, typing this (listening to the washing machine & the faint sound of the "Fairly Odd Parents" in the background), I can't help but feel very strongly about being on a schedule. I'm a list-maker. I do & die by lists. BUT I don't beat myself up over the unaccomplished - I just add it to the next day. This has to stop. I really want to start jogging / running in 2011 but if I don't stick to my list / schedule I'll just end up having a list of running & chores come Saturday that I can't complete (not to mention make me feel like $h**!). So instead of my lifestyle change being to workout or eat better - my goal is going to be to follow the schedule I set for myself each day.

My second commitment is to keep better records. I'm terrible about balancing my checkbook or writing down what I've eaten during the day. I have to be accountable for my mini-decisions during the day and the best way I know to do that is to keep a record. There are THOUSANDS (literally) of apps for my iPhone to help me do this - I just don't take the time. This too, MUST stop.


I guess what both of the commitments boil down to is me taking more time for me and doing something constructive with it INSTEAD of sitting in front of the TV watching reruns of Gilmore Girls...


It's time to get my ass in gear for a Happy New Year!

Funky ideas

Funky ideas by jenniliz on Polyvore.com

Am I living a soap opera?

I can just hear theme music and old Macdonald Carey voicing "Like sands through the hourglass, these are the Days of Our Lives" in my head as I live this day.

I pride myself on being as "low maintenance" as possible, I don't ask for drama - but as a good friend pointed out recently on a trip to Austin: "You just seem to attract crazy!" That friends is a fact. Maybe there is something on my face or in the way I carry myself that makes all the crazies out there think I'd be down with sharing in the fun.

So I'd like to go on record to the universe: just because it seems like I can handle it, doesn't mean I want it.

Turn off the hourglass!

Without a car??? For a year???

So the question has been posed: Could you live without a car for a year?

My answer: Absolutely NOT!

A couple of months ago, I went without my car for the weekend and almost went *crazy*! Living in an area with very limited public transportation and no real job prospects within walking distance, I can't imagine not having a car and not changing my current living situation. The closest grocery store is a little over a mile one-way so that is definitely doable, but work is a little over 12 miles away and I don't imagine I could walk there on a daily basis (especially in the HOT Texas summer heat). My apartment before was close to the bus line so that would be a little easier to get further, although since everything here is so spread out a trip to work just one way would take well over an hour and still require me to walk the last mile from the train to my office.

I've definitely been to cities that were set up for public transportation (hello Boston, NYC & SF) but the Dallas / Fort Worth area is definitely not one of them. So for now - I can't go without a ride!!

My family is entertaining, among other things

If I had to pick three words to describe my family...

1. Entertaining
If you take a step back after an afternoon (or an hour) with my family, you'd realize that:
  a. you are glad you aren't related to them
  b. although we are crazy, we love each other
  c. there is no movie or play out there that would leave you as entertained as we just did.
  d. despite our drama and insanity we are freaking endearing

2. Insane
Yes, we are all certifiable. There is no escaping it. 1/2 my family has been institutionalized and the other half (myself included) are just counting down the days. BUT we are insane together and that is all that matters.

3. Dramatic
I guess this goes back to the entertaining point, this one can be more than a little annoying though. I view the entertaining times as fun but the dramatic times as just that - dramatic. I live in a family of drama queens - they aren't happy unless the sky is falling and they will tell you about it, rather loudly. No Chicken Little is not a part of my family, but he'd fit in just fine indeed.

It is TOTALLY NOT SPRING without Cadbury Creme Eggs

Oh Easter, how I've missed you & your good friend Cadbury Creme Eggs...

My FAVORITE candy every is the Cadbury Creme Egg, and while most would say that it is totally disgusting it is the best sugar filled chocolate encased treat ever made :)

Every day I...

Three things I do every day...

1. Check & Update Facebook
I can't help it, I think I'm addicted! There are days I can't remember what I did and how I kept up with people before Facebook, isn't that SAD?!?!

2. Breathe
This too, I can't help! Breathing is more of a necessity than an addiction or luxury. Just another habit, I can't seem to kick :)

3. Watch TV
I have a DVR and unfortunately, I don't know what I'd do without it. It has been ages since a day passed that I didn't watch *some* TV.

What an eye opener!! Thinking (aside from the breathing) I need to take a step back and simplify... maybe I should look at getting rid of my internet & cable???

Reruns of Gilmore Girls still hold up!

I wasn't really into Gilmore Girls when it first aired but as time went by and I caught a few episodes in reruns, I began to really appreciate the humor and wit of the show and I was hooked! The episodes air weekdays on ABC Family, and the series just started over a couple of weeks ago - this is probably the 8th or 10th time I've seen these episodes and I see something new and funny every time.

If you haven't caught Gilmore Girls, I definitely recommend it!

Snow in Fort Worth!

What a day! Woke up this morning to about an inch or so of snow and by the time I left for work it was over 2 inches! Crawled to work and the snow just kept coming. Took a bunch of photos, worked a bit and headed back home.

The entire way back, the snow is falling harder and harder when I finally get home my driveway is COVERED in snow and I end up getting stuck in a sludge / ice spot that I can't get out of. I go in to look for a shovel and (wait for it...) I don't have one! The forecast calls for super freezing (upper 20s) temps tonight so it looks like my car is going to be frozen in front of the house :(

On the upside, Roscoe had a blast in the snow. Hope you enjoy the photo!

A short poem with no 'L'

There once was a chick from Texas, who hated each one of her exes. Her job was a chore and her existence was a bore so she moved on to another destination.

My birthday pick flourless chocolate cake!

My special dessert would be a slice of Flourless Chocolate Cake! It is TO DIE FOR! If you've never tried it before, I highly suggest it - although it is not for the chocolate novice. Below is a great recipe:

Ingredients:4 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder plus additional for sprinkling

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F and butter an 8-inch round baking pan. Line bottom with a round of wax paper and butter paper.

Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring, until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs and whisk well. Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes and invert onto a serving plate.

Dust cake with additional cocoa powder and serve. (Cake keeps, after being cooled completely, in an airtight container, 1 week.)

My prediction is that this will be YOUR fav too!

I'll live anywhere as long as it's got great weather (for the most part)

Right now, the biggest factor for me in where I live is that it is a bigger city, close to lots of activities, I have a well established network of friends and it is affordable. I would like it to be closer to my family but I'm actually only about 5 hours away by car and an hour by air so I can't complain too much.

If I could pick the "perfect" place to live, it would definitely encompass the attributes of a big city, affordable, close to activities, close to family and the weather for me can be a deal breaker. I don't deal with the cold very well at all, so wherever I end up must be warm and must not regularly get snow. Honestly, I should probably be a California girl but the affordability and family factors knock it out before consideration.

Today, the weather is leaving MUCH to be desired. But, then again, I'm in Texas where the motto is "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes."

My logo will represent my company well

In my new company logo, I would make sure that it had primary colors and simple lines. Clean, crisp, and simple. I wouldn't want a potential customer to think that my company wasn't creative but rather that we are more focused on what we can do for you rather than worrying about how exciting and busy our logo was/is. My logo would inspire trust in simplicity and delivery.

My money's on the pack of squirrels

Strength in numbers! Squirrels are amazingly agile and quick. I think that in a face-off a pack of squirrels could do some real damage to one lonely peacock no matter how large his feather are.

I miss my youth

I miss being a kid. When I was a kid, I wished I could be a grown up and get to do exciting and fun stuff. I hated that I had to go to bed early and couldn't watch certain TV shows or movies but I loved getting to go outside and play or ride my bike and just hang out with my friends. I miss not having to worry about bills, cooking, cleaning, driving, responsibility, and working. I guess instead of missing my youth, I really just miss the feeling of no responsibility. Yes, the expectations my parents had on me to make good grades and good decisions were stressful but they weren't my focus.

As an adult your focus becomes being a productive member of society, being honest, and taking care of yourself. There are many more people depending on me now - and I don't even have kids or a family. Instead, I'm a role model for my nieces and nephews and other friends' children. I'm a success (or embarrassment as the case may be) to my parents, friends and extended family.

The older I get, the truer the statement "Youth is wasted on the young" becomes. The sad thing is - I'm not that old...

Tylenol will help a headache

It depends on the type of headache I have. I mostly am able to get rid of regular headaches with good 'ol Tylenol but when I get migraines the only cure is sleep, darkness and a cold wet washcloth on my neck while I'm going to sleep. One of the things I'm working on now is to try to cut off the headaches before they start. I regularly get headaches from grinding my teeth or clenching my jaw, so I'm trying to be more aware of when I'm doing that and find other ways to deal with my stress and frustration. So far, it is REALLY difficult!

It'll be different this year

This year, my plan is to let go of more. I tend to stress out about things that I have absolutely no control over and it turns me into a bad mood or frustrates me, not to mention the adverse affects on my health. There are lots of things in this world that make me angry: traffic, people, the ramifications of my past decisions... the thing that I'm working on keeping in mind this year is that I can't worry about those things becasue I can't contol them. This year, I'm going to worry about controlling my actions and reactions and the rest is not important.

Guess we'll see how it works out!

I can't say 'no' to Mexican Food

I have the most difficult time saying no to Mexican food. It is my FAVORITE type of food, and probably the most fattening on the planet (which is probably WHY I love it so much).

A good breakfast better include Bacon

Bacon
Everything is better with BACON!

Eggs
Actually, I prefer egg beaters. Eggs are just yummy, with salsa and cheese or perhaps in an omelet.

Hash Browns
Potatoes are the best!

Cheese Grits
For those of you who don't know what grits are: Grits are basically coarsely ground corn. You would mainly find grits in the south and are an excellent alternative to oatmeal. Whereas you'd sweeten oatmeal you spice up grits. In addition to a great breakfast food, they have recently began popping up on dinner plates with fancy cheeses, peppers, to shrimp. Simply Delicious!

My flip flops are my favorite shoes

flip flops
I love the "free" feeling of flip flops. They are comfy and always remind me of summer. I am one of those crazy people that wear them regardless of the weather. It could be 10 below and I'm bundled up with flip flops on - I just can't help it. My toes like to be free to wiggle!

I stay warm with my gas fireplace

I stay warm curled up on the sofa with a fire going underneath a comforter or heavy blanket. I absolutely hate the cold!

Summertime, I'm ready for you to come back quick!!!