New Year's Resolutions

Each year I make some resolutions for the new year. Each year I start out committed to keep and uphold each and every resolution. Each year I fail miserably, usually by January 3rd. So THIS year, I have convinced myself that if I put my resolutions on my blog for all (or the two of you that actually read it) to see, then I will HAVE to "stick with the program". I am optimistic, although I am not holding my breath.

1. Lose weight.
I am stuffing the last of my Reese's into my mouth as I write this!! Goodbye sweet friend. Parting is such.... um.... hard to do!

2. Get healthy.
Yes, I realize that this goes hand-in-hand with #1, but for me, I am so out of shape and could live off nachos and salsa that I really need to do better.

3. Find a paying job.
Now this one is going to be tough. First of all, I am a stay-at-home mom and rather like it. Second, I am a homeschool mom. Can't exactly bring along a 7-year old to the office. The perfect job for me would be one which would allow me work from home and still get paid. Any leads anyone?

4. Be neater.
I am a mess. Not only am I a mess, but I am a messy person. I am the queen of piles and baskets. There are so many piles and overloaded baskets in my home that need to be sorted through that if I start now I MAY finish in 2020!

5. Be more optimistic.
Is there such a thing as being pessimistically optimistic? If so, then I am that am MORE! I can find fault in everything (except Reese's - the food of angels).

6. Make a budget and stick to it!
This is another hard one. It would be easy if it were just me writing checks and using the debit card, but when you add in another person (no matter how much you love him), it just makes it more difficult. On more than one occasion, we have both paid the same bill on the same day!

I think I will stop here. Six seems to be a pretty round number, and a number that I think I might actually be able to do (yeah, right). I will try hard. I actually got on the elliptical TWICE today!! I may not be able to walk tomorrow, but at least I did SOME physically activity today to counteract the chips and salsa I had for breakfast.

Bren

Random Dozen

It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for "Random Dozen" from Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.



1. Gingerbread: For or against? Discuss.
I like the taste. However, I do have a problem eating body parts off of a cookie (makes me feel sort of like a cannibal) and gingerbread tends to give me the.....um..... um.... Let's just say that I end up in the bathroom a lot!

2. Is it important to you to always stay (live) close to family?
We live next door to my husband's father and step-mother and an hour away from my dad and step-mother. So, I guess the answer is "yes".

3. Which holiday pretend character do you wish really existed?
You mean some holiday characters are PRETEND?!?!?!

4. Which holiday movie best represents how you feel about Christmas or life?
It varies from year to year, but this year would be "It's a Wonderful Life" BEFORE Clarence gets his wings. Is that being a little pessimistic?

5. Is there a particular Christmas song that you're enjoying now? Any that you're tired of?
My favorite Christmas song is "Sleigh Ride". I can sing it all day much to the dismay of those around me. My ringtone right now is "A Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". I've never liked the song "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". It probably has something to do with the line Oh give me some figgy pudding and give it right now and them not leaving until they get some. Who are these pushy people and remind me never to invite them to my house!

6. What is your favorite way to remember those less fortunate at Christmastime?
Each year we try to provide gifts for someone else, whether that be a shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, or presents for a family in our community.

7. Does it upset you to see "Xmas" instead of Christmas? How about "Happy Holidays" etc., instead of "Merry Christmas?"
It doesn't upset me. I don't use "Xmas" myself, but I have to respect others. In fact, due to my restrictive size, I'm pushing for the new slogan "Happy Elf Day"!

8. How many Christmas programs are you attending this month?
Let's see, I've been to the Nutcracker ballet with the Girl Scouts, I've seen my daughter sing in church, saw the in-laws in their cantada, and going to see a Christmas play tomorrow. Anything else anyone wants to throw onto my calendar? Since I homeschool, no school programs this year!

9. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Any chance of that dream becoming a reality?
Yes, I'm dreaming. I like to watch the snow - DON'T LIKE DRIVING IN IT (see last week's Random Dozen). Before global warming (yes, it REALLY does exist!) I'd say yes, there is a chance of a white Christmas, but we haven't had a white Christmas in a very long time.

10. Tell me about a Christmas present you received as a child. Pics are always nice.
One year I got a BIG doll house for my Barbies. It wasn't fancy, but my dad had made it and that made it special.

11. How many Christmas parties are you attending this month?
Lost count!

12. How do you keep yourself centered on the significance of Christmas?
This year I'm finding it very difficult! Any ideas?

Bren

Random Dozen

Each Wednesday, Linda at 2nd cup of coffee posts questions called "Random Dozen". So, thanks to my sister-in-law (The Bug), I have now joined in and will be posting my answers.


1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about?
My height. I'm not sure that I accept it, but have come to terms with it. I am 60 inches (that's 5 ft for the not-so-math-inclined, and saying 60 inches sounds taller than 5 ft). I'm not sure when I stopped growing, but it was probably sometime in junior high. My height-challengedness is biological. I can trace it back generations on both sides of my family. I've heard of surgeries that can actually make you taller, but they sound very painful. So instead, I married a man who is 6ft and can reach things on the top shelf.

2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom?
I can identify with many TV moms. I loved the cool and smooth way that Claire Huxtable handled her kids, the caring and loving nature of Caroline Ingalls, and the kookiness of Carol Brady. But there are many times when I most identify with Roseanne Connor and her "don't you mess with me" attitude.

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn?
Six years of French, so.... no. Forgot it all. I wish that I spoke Spanish. It would make communicating with many parents a lot easier. However, we do have large Hmong and Romanian populations in our community. But, those languages are way to complicated for me!


4. Who is your personal hero?
I have two heroes. My mom and my mother-in-law. Both were diagnosed with cancer on the same day and both fought hard until they just couldn't fight any longer. They passed away within nine months of each other.


5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in?
Preacher cookies. This is what my Grandmother called them because you could "Make 'em quick when you saw the preacher walking down the road towards your house." Most people call them boil cookies or no-bake chocolate cookies. Whatever you call them, I'm gonna eat all of them!

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value.
Most all of my decorations have special meaning. I started collecting nutcrackers several years ago and have amassed in excess of a hundred. I also collect hippos, and have quite a few hippo ornaments that I will not part with. Our family Christmas tree is filled with ornaments that have been made by our children or picked up throughout our travels to remind us of where we were. The oldest ornament is a heart with my name and Dr. J's name that we bought on our honeymoon 20 years ago. Our Christmas stockings are very sentimental because they were made by my mother. Growing up, my sisters and I had similiar stockings with our names on them. As we each grew up and got married, my mother made a stocking for our husbands as well. Then the grandkids. Each one is a little different and reflects some kind of interest that that person has (Dr. J's has a basketball on it). When she passed away, other family members took over the job. So, the tradition continues.

7. How do you feel about snow?
Having grown up in Florida, I still find it fascinating. I like to watch it fall and watch the kids play in it. For me, it is too cold and wet and the Florida driver in me would rather strip the hardwood floors than drive in it.

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything.
Now that I am homeschooling my youngest, I don't have to get up early to make sure she's on the bus by 6:50. We sleep in and probably get a good nine hours in.

9. Tell me about your first crush.
The Karate Kid! Ralph M. (I am not going to try and tackle spelling his last name) I had his posters plastered all over my wall. Now I enjoy watching him on Ugly Betty.

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw?
I'd probably draw a cartoon of Ziggy, then curl up and go to sleep.

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast?
The current temp, which usually gets me in trouble later in the day when the temp changes.

12. Favorite Christmas movie is?
I LOVE sappy Holiday romantic movies. I have DVR'd most all of Fa La La La Lifetime!


Bren