Guidelines for 2011

I'm not much for resolutions. Mainly because life happens and things change and fall by the wayside...my resolutions are more like guidelines, which help me change and better myself. For example, last year I set a resolution that I'd try to do a triathlon. Unfortunately that didn't happen because of grad school/pool/wedding scheduling issues, but I did run a half marathon, which I personally think is an equal accomplishment.

Anyways, below you'll find a few of the guidelines I hope to live by this year...

- Complete my MA and take steps towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

- Smile more, even at perfect strangers

- Move, sweat or get my heart rate up for at least 30 minutes every day

- Re learn how to knit

- Stand up straight (ie practice yoga more often for posture reasons)

- Surprise Jon in a good way(somehow- I can never catch this guy off guard, he knows me well)

- Grow something edible

- Cook through Moosewood

- Wear lipstick sometimes

- Try for another 1/2 marathon

What are your resolutions or guidelines for 2011?

pros and cons

con: I am currently in a panic study state over an exam I have tomorrow

pro: But I am sticking to my resolutions and remaining calm, carrying on, taking time for myself to do yoga, swim or run, it is really amazing how clear your mind gets from just a 1/2 hour of exercise!

con: we have a friend coming this weekend and our apartment is a mess!

pro: we have a friend coming this weekend!!! and my husband said last night (direct quote) "I think I'm going to clean the bathroom, if I clean a little bit each day the apartment should be great by the time our friend gets here!" * I swooned seriously

con: Due to snow,work, ad stress we have not gone the grocery store and have no food! I am tempted by frozen pizzas, etc

pro: I did saddle up and walk to Belmont butchery on Monday and bought a whole free range chicken. (Belmont Butchery is amazing, and local and I love it) which I roasted with carrots, onions, potatoes- leftovers for a whole week! and some how my amazing husband turned part of the leftovers into super yummy chicken tortillas!


Phew, the pros are equal to the cons! Off to study! Trying to stay positive for this test on Friday!

P.S. On a totally unrelated note, I have been having some crazy feet issues with running. I start out fine but when I get to mile three, I am getting the worst cramps in my feet! I'm drinking enough water, but do I need inserts? Any thoughts ideas from runners out there there in the blogosphere!?

I'm just saying......

that if the New York Times needs someone to visit all these places I am happy to be considered :)

31 Places To Go in 2010 is a great article. This combined with my recent travels to Mexico has given me the bug. I want to travel and see more of the world. Right now.

Additional goal for 2010 - Plan trip to one of these 31 locations......or somewhere new and exciting

tri time

I always admire those bloggers who write about their daily workouts and their trek toward accomplishing amazing feats of strength (marathons, triathlons, etc). As I mentioned in the earlier post, one of my resolutions is to compete and train for a triathlon- this one specifically.

Now I don't want to do this because I think I need to lose weight or get into shape, but because I need to feel like I can accomplish something successfully. This past year of grad school (specifically the last semester) has made me feel so darn crappy about myself, and actually question whether I should stick with the path I am on.

Last semester I was so darn stressed out that I rarely worked out and I think it really impacted how I felt about myself. In other words, no endorphins = sad, angry, frustrated, whiney, etc.....I also ate like a college kid, which made me feel really super duper gross all the time-ie chin zits. So my hope is that this training will accomplish two things: 1) working towards this goal will help me become a happier person which 2) will in turn boost my confidence in myself!

So I have five and a half months to get this show on the road. I love the tavern Triathlon here I come! If anyone has any training tips I'd love to hear them now!

resolutions

We had a great NYE at our friend's first annual "New Years the &*$% Out of Yourself" party. I don't have pictures, but lets just say there was some purple sequenced mini skirt action from Forever Twenty-One going on. The hubster (of course) decided to attend as a black hole (because they absorb all things sparkly, etc) while his bff dressed up as a super nova...so sad I did not capture this dorky friendship in action.....

New Years Day, per usual, was spent in pj's so I've put off my resolutions until this moment. I have several, but I'm only going to share two or three....I'm a little nervous about posting them here, but I'm hoping it will help me actually stick to them....gah....

1. Confidence- it has been rocked this past semester by graduate school, but I'm going to take some names and get it back. Regardless of how graduate school treats me, I'm already successful, I held a fabulous full time museum job which I left by choice to return to school, can cook a mean quiche, and play a mean game of charades- restoring my confidence is the primary goal of 2010!

2. Tri - a few years ago I signed up on a whim for a triathlon and learned midway during the bike ride that signing up for triathlons is not something one does on a "whim". This year I'm going to train and rock the socks off one or two this summer.

3. Make Time - I realized that I tend to neglect friends, family, husbands, myself, etc when my confidence is lacking and my stress level is high. I plan on making time for those I love.