December 31: Resolution You Wish You Had Stuck With

I am not big on New Year's resolutions.  Don't know why -- maybe because I feel that most of the time I don't think you stick to them... and even more importantly I fear (and probably know) that 99% of the time I personally won't stick to them.

However, I do like to set goals, and am working on helping myself to set attainable goals and reach them.  Some of my 26 Things before 26 were more goals than just things to do (and probably the closest things to resolutions I have ever set).  Of those, which one do I wish I had stuck with the most?

7) Scrapbook 2 spreads a month.

I recently had a 'aha' moment while making some Christmas gifts.  I LOVE crafts.  And more than that, I think I know why.  I have a pretty analytical job and approach most things administratively.  There isn't much of a chance for me to express myself (although I do often express my opinions on things) and crafting allows me opportunities to use the other side of my brain.  I am considering a couple of New Year's resolutions this year (why not? its a new decade, let's try something new!).  One of them would be for me to do something crafty each Sunday (thanks for the awesome idea Christy!). 

Anyway -- I wish I had known this about myself earlier.  I wonder how that might have changed the year and how I dealt with things.  What resolution do you wish you have stuck with?

Dec 30: Best Ad

I don't watch commercials much anymore.  Now that I have had DVR, I "tape" everything and then fast forward.  Why waste my time with ads telling me how I need to be skinnier or need to be on this drug to be happy.  Seems like a HUGE waste of my time and energy (I don't need to worry any more about how I look and feel); not to mention if it isn't made to make me feel like "I have to have this to make myself feel better" then it is how I am missing something if I don't own it (and goodness knows I am materialistic without being told I need more junk to pack into my room)...

However, I consider a good ad something that will make you laugh.  I particularly like the new Luke Wilson AT&T ads.  They make me laugh.  I also really enjoyed this ad from 2008 (ok so way old, but I laugh out loud almost each and everytime):



That being said -- what is the best ad of 2009?  How about a PSA that made me stop and think. I found it through a college friend's blog. 



It is an encouragment to me personally -- everyone can be MADE to be perfect, but most aren't and will never be.

What would you conisder to be the best ad you saw this year?

Dec 29: Best Laugh

I love to laugh.

No really.  I consider a simple pleasure in life.

And if you can make me laugh, I mean really laugh, the kind that comes from the gut, then you will probably be considered a friend for life.

I also think the best laughs are when you are with friends being silly.  It is harder for me to laugh at myself (I embarass pretty easily), but if I am comfortable enough around you that I CAN laugh at myself, consider that a really, really good thing!

Ahem.  But back to the post title.  What was the best laugh of 2009, for me?

Any time I was with Rachel and Laura and laughing.  Typically I am laughing at Rachel's ability to get Laura to do impressions (which are spot on, BTW).  I think my two best laughing memories were Laura's Celine Dion impression at Downtown Disney (and if I didn't think she would hunt me down and kill me, I would post the video) AND Rachel's "beast" (a guy in Disney World on the bus next to her whose shirt read: I hope you like animals, because I am a beast).  The picture of that moment is priceless (and again, I won't post it because I am pretty sure I would be murdered in my sleep).

Ok, now make me laugh -- what were you moments that made you laugh in 2009?

December 28: Best Stationery

I love the way the Gwen Bell describes this prompt:

December 28 Stationery. When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What
was your stationery find of the year?

It sounds like she may have a small obsession with office supplies, or at least paper... like me. I could be wrong, but that is how this obsessed-with-all-things-officey-and-organizational-girl interprets her words.  Did you know that about me?  I could literally spend hours an office supply store like Office Depot, Staples, etc.  It has been this way since I was kid.

What did my say when I was little? "Trees quake when Jaye P. walks by.  She has so much paper in her room they know they killed their tree neighbor."

What was my favorite part of August? back to school shopping.

What was my favorite day in college? the day I had all my syllabi and could organize my planner and get my supplies together.

I have to control myself.  I won't let myself walk down the offic supply aisles in Target, etc for fear that I will buy pens or paper (and goodness knows that I have more than plenty of those!).

That being said -- I don't know I had a favorite stationery find of 2009. 

I loved to be organized, though, and nothing brings me greater joy than spending time making my various lists for the week: what work related things need to get done, what non-related work things need to get done, groceries, music to download, purchases to save for, etc.

I am not more happy than when doing that -- sad I know. 

The second part of Gwen's prompt implies (at least to me) productivity.  And I am never more productive than after I make a list and start marking things off of it.  Every Monday after I update my planner, I can hit the ground running.  So it is my planner that gets my juices flowing and is quite possibly my favorite stationery.

I need a life. 

PS. This post has inspired me to show you my planner -- but that will not be today.  I need to first get the pictures off my camera.  But look for it!

December 19: Best Car Ride

Laura, Rachel and I with our friend Jenn at Fall Retreat after the Best Car Ride of 2009.  (Laura is in blue, I am in purple, and Rachel is in the brown jacket).

Laura and Rachel... two of my best friends in this whole entire world.  I am pretty sure that they know me better than anyone else.  It could be because I let them know things about me... but it could also be because we live together.  Amazing what you learn about people by just living with them. ;-)

That being said, my favorite car ride of 2009 was back in October.  It wasn't necessairly fun -- we had life to air (living with your two best friends can sometimes lead to misunderstandings); but it was good.  Does that make sense?  We talked stuff out -- and I hope each of us felt things resolved. 

What do I remember about the car ride?  It was dark.  Laura drove.  We had Chick-fil-a for dinner as we left Raleigh.  And we were headed to the middle of nowhere.  OH, and that we were the first ones to arrive at Camp Whatever-it-was called.  We still aren't sure how that happened.

What was your best car ride?

Live for the Comma...

If you read nothing else I point you towards on this blog, read this blog entry at Stuff Christians Like.  Please.

PS.  Are you living for the comma?  I know I am.  If you do live for the comma, how do you show that to others around you? 

December 18: Shop of 2009

2009 was the year of cutting back on spending... not only for me, but for most of the country.  I have at times spoken of my debt on this blog.  And I must say, through the grace of Christ and His mercy on teaching me this lession, I am slowly but surely climbing right on out of debt. 

That being said... I still like to shop. :-).  I have just put myself on a budget -- and have had to tweak it as I have learned things about myself and my spending habits.

First, I model my budget off of Bryan Allain's -- he shared it once on his blog.  It was just a great format to use and I really appreciate the breakdown.  Thanks to Bryan for doing a lot of the hard work for me (figuring out the categories, etc) and then sharing it.

Second, I have realized I will "borrow" from categories if I don't get certain categories in cash. I now spend cash only on groceries, eating out, clothing, and entertainment (movies, etc).  It has helped me control my spending tremendously.  It also makes me wonder where I spent all of my money before adopting the budget and cash-only spending in some categories. 

All of that being said -- I think I have an idea of where I spent most of my money (and still do)...

iTunes.

iTunes is defintely my shop of 2009.  And most likely the shop of my life.

I love iTunes (and my iPod).  It is far too easy to just download one song... or a whole CD.  I don't think I could list all of the music I have bought this year (Hanson EP, Brad Paisley CD, songs from Fee, all of the Glee music, and much, much more)... but let's just say it was probably way too much!

That being said in 2010, I am sure iTunes will still be my best shop.  But I am not planning on ways to curb my spending on there (when it is tied to your debit card, it is too easy to go over budget).  My friend Stephenie told me about this great idea!  Buy yourself an iTunes Gift Certificate.  That is all you get each month.  When it is up, it is up!  Then either reload at the beginning of the month or buy a new one.  Genius!  I am planning on trying this out in 2010.  Wish me luck!

Cottage, Part IV

We are getting closer and closer to having the cottage all completed!  To say I am excited might be one of the biggest understatements of the year.

Over Thanksgiving my mom and I spent six days painting the inside of the cottage.  And it was just as exciting as it seems in your mind...

Well, it wasn't all that bad.  Mom and I love music, movies and Harry Potter on Audio CD.  I have an iPod with a docking station.  Solution to what could have been a very quiet week (we were in the middle of nowhere after all)?  Listen to all sorts of stuff on my iPod hooked up to the docking station!  We discovered Harry could only be listened to while painting walls.  Why?  Because when we were painting the trim (yes, all of it in long slats- see picture below) the job was too tedious to listen to spoken words.  We needed music to jam to.  Unfortunately my jam music is slightly different than hers... we just took turns choosing the music.  We also watched listened to some Friends episodes, Sweet Home Alabama, and Miss Congeniality. 

Ok, ok -- enough of my written recap.  Here is the cottage in pictures.  Looks real now, doesn't it?

The front (back?) of the cottage -- this is the view from the street.

View from the living room -- you can see the lake, and we think it makes you feel like you are in a tree house.  Our house is on a bluff so we look out OVER lots of the land.  I like it!

View from the deck -- it is massive with a porch portion, too.  I think this excites me the most.  I can see myself relaxing out here each summer, enjoying the sun with a really good book.

This was how we dried the trim -- and just as a note, we filled that scaffholding four times with painted trim.  It was the worst thing we had to do.  Never again  I tell you!

And of course, the beach.  Even in the cold, Lake Michigan looks beautiful, don't you think?

December 17: Word of the Year

Wow Gwen Bell, you certainly know how to stump me.  Make me choose one word for the year? 

But, if I had to sum up 2009 I would say:

2009 was hard.

period.

end of story.

I will explain more when I get around to writing my post for December 9th (biggest challenge).  I'll make sure to link to it so you can see why.

What is your one word for the year?

Dec 16: Best Tea

Ok, so I have a hard time picking favorites... but never have a hard time telling you what I don't like.


Did you know that I don't like tea? At all. I don't like it hot. I don't like it cold. I don't like Green Tea. I don't like it with milk... and even though it is a crime here in the south, I don't like Sweet Tea.

Bummer! My first day back and I can't really participate. Oh well -- I can tell you a favorite coffee shop moment!

I have this awesome and amazing friend Teal who now lives in Boston. Because we both are awesome royally suck at keeping in touch we get to only talk when we are in the same place. Anyway, I was able to catch up with her this August at Caribou while she was in town. I had my favorite smoothie at Caribou and it was nice to be encouraged by that sister-in-Christ. Boy do I wish Boston was closer.

Hiatus

Sorry for the long hiatus.  I don't even know what has happened... my time seems to have just disappeared, both at work and at home.  I guess it is December and that is quite common.  I plan on being good from now until the end of the year... finishing out Gwen Bell's Best of 09 series (and working backwards to catch up), and posting some other fun things.

Because I do want to finish out Gwen Bell's challenge, I will try to go back and answer all the days I have missed, which is quite a few.  OH well... not much I can do about it now.  So, make sure you check out all of the bestof09 posts!

I hope your holiday season is going well!  I am starting to feel more in the mood of Christmas, which is great.  Maybe it is because I am finally finished shopping and am thisclose to having everything wrapped. 

Merry Christmas!

December 12: New Food

I am not an adventureous eater.  But I would also say I am not un-adventureous either.  I just tend to eat at places I know because one, that is where my friends eat and two, I am a creature of habit.  If you put it in front of me, I'll at least try it.

BUT it is also important to note that I am somewhat picky when it comes to food, especially the texture of food.  I don't put milk on my ceral because it makes it soggy; the look of oatmeal and grits make me want to gag; yogurt is both gross because of its taste and its slimy texture. So, even if I try something there is no guarentee I'll like it or ever touch it again.

Now, back to the prompt from Gwen for today -- best food of 2009.  Is it sad I can't think of anything new I tried?  No, I am not kidding. 

However, I have learned that I actually really like salad -- especially if you use baby spinach as your lettuce.  YUM!  I'll claim that as my new food for 2009 -- I like, maybe even love, a good salad!

December 11: Best Place

Little Point Sable, Michigan. 

Hands down my favorite place on earth.  That is where we are building the cottage my friends and just even getting a glimpse of it at Thanksgiving made me all warm and fuzzy inside.  I cannot wait for it to be finished so I can spend lots and lots of time up there.  There is something completely refreshing about being away from things, away from the computer and cell phone reception, etc.  Until the cottage is complete I leave you with this beautiful photo:

December 10: Album of the Year

I love music -- and almost have it on.  At work, my iPod (which is never far from where I am at) is on; sometimes on a specific new CD I downloaded, sometimes on my very random playlist "Life is Work," sometimes on just an artist.  I can promise you'll never know what you will get when you walk into my office.

That being said -- what has been my album of the year?  How about I narrow it down to two of my favorite playlists of the year?

1) As I blogged about here "Encourage my heart," was a great playlist for me this past summer, right when I needed it.  I put the list up on that post and it still continues to be my favorite go to when I need a little pick me up.

2) Glee Playlist -- with almost every song from the show.  Because let's be honest, I LOVE that show and have listened to the songs almost non stop.  Seriously.  Even if you don't want the show, there are some great covers of awesome songs.  I don't think you'll be sorry you selected some of their music!

That being said I have also really enjoyed Hanson's (as in Mmmbop) new EP (with my fav new song World on Fire), John Mayer's new album, select songs from Muse (who I didn't know about before the U2 concert -- sue me), and plenty more!  What good music am I missing and need to add to my iPod?

December 8: Moment of Peace

I don't take time for myself very often.  There are lots of reasons for this -- my job is ridiculous, I like to hang out with friends and don't often say no to hanging out, I have a hard time sitting still...

But when I started searching through my Good Things posts I started to think about when did I take a moment to relax and just take time to breath.

My favorite moment(s) of peace was my trip to Maine with Laura.  Can Maine be both my trip of 2009 and my moment of peace for 2009?  Gwen Bell gets final ruling... but I say yes, yes it can!

Laura and I took it easy in Maine.  And there is something about a small town that immediately puts you at ease.  We were in no rush to get anywhere.  We had very little cell phone service, no internet or TV.  I read in those four days more than I had all year.  We would get up in the morning, go on a small adventure and then come back to relax for the afternoon before heading out for dinner and another small adventure in the evening -- there was the wedding to watch,

there was napping in our sunfilled room,

there was the kayaking,

there was the hiking in Acadia National Park.

Yep, already more at peace just strolling down that memory lane.