Goodbye 2008

So my friends it is that time of year again. As another years comes to a end it it time to reflect. I am choosing this blog to write about things I would like to accomplish in the new year. One could call them resolutions. I call them a list of things that I would like to do or work on. It's a little less intimidating that way.

• I would like to be more crafty. I want to try to make more thing, like scrub tops for example. I really don't think that I can see myself scrap booking yet, but maybe some small things. I would like to learn how to sew well enough to make some things. I would love to make some aprons. I have seen the cutest fabric lately. I would also like to attempt to make more gifts for people. I think that homemade things are so thoughtful.
• I want to become more fit. I don't really want to lose weight. I have come to learn that numbers are a bad thing to focus on. I want to become stronger, develop more stamina (that's what she said), and become a healthier person. Between school, work and personal life things I have really learned the importance of taking care of your body. I know I can't change somethings about me, but I want to learn to love me. And taking care of myself is that best way to do that.
• Spend more time with friends
• Laugh more. 2008 was a sad year for me, so I want to make 2009 a fresh start with lots of laughter. As Jimmy Buffet said, "if we couldn't laugh we all would go insane"
• Don't worry so much. I am constantly working on this. I am such a horrible worry wart. Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn't get you anywhere. I also want to focus on the things that I can control in my life and stress less over the things I can't. I know that I can't change this over night, it will probably take years to change these habits. But you got to start somewhere. I also want to stop worrying about where I will be in 5 years or 10 years. I have done this to much in the past and I lost out on so much that was happening in that moment. I want to work on living each day to it's fullest. That is something that my Grandma really showed me how to do.
• Reduce my carbon footprint
• Budget and save. This is hard because I get budget envy really bad sometimes (thanks Julie for that term). But I got to focus on the end point and that makes it worth it. Also when you budget it makes buying things a little more special. You really got to think about what you are buying. I read somewhere that you should write down every single purchase you make for a week and see where your money goes. Maybe I will try this little experiment.
• Finish my Grandma's cookbook
• Refuse to let the dysfunctional people in my life make my life dysfunctional
• Read more

I'm sure that I have many more things to add, but that is all that I can think of. What is your list for the new year? I hope that the new year is very blessed for you all and brings you lots of happiness and joy.
Cheers!
ps- sorry for all the spelling errors. It's late and for some reason the spell check wont work. I will add become a better speller to my list :-)

Christmas and Snow

Christmas has come and gone. And I have to say that I am happy that it's over. This year was even more crazy than most because of the weird weather that we had, but I will talk more about that later. It was insanely hard getting through Christmas with out my grandparents being there. I noticed it the most when I would be doing things that somehow involved them in the past. Like baking cookies was always something that my mom and I did with my grandma. Or putting up the angel on the tree that I made when I was in pre-school that my grandparents kept all these years and made my mom promise that she would put it on the tree still once my grandparents were gone. Not having them to call on Christmas morning or have dinner with that night. But I the thing that I tried most to focus on was the memories that I had and what I could do to carry their memory on. Because that is what keeps them with me. Ok, on a happier note I got some pretty cool gifts. My favorites were:

• my GPS. She needs a name. I was calling her Lola, but that is what I named my mom's GPS. Maybe mine needs a new name. She currently has a British accent.
• my leather riding boots
• the recipe binder that my mom got me for the cookbook I'm making of my grandma's recipes
• The last 2 Twilight books

Now onto the snow. What the heck happened! It is NOT supposed to snow that much in Portland. I dislike the snow now that I have a job that I have to go to no matter how bad the weather is. That's the crappy part about working in health care, people don't ever stop being sick or injured...no matter what the weather is like. I was fine with the snow, I've got chains and four wheel drive on the explorer. It's just that once the ice hits you can't do anything to make you a better driver. You are just stuck with whatever happens. I have to say that I don't think that I have ever seen so much snow in Portland in my entire life. It was insane. I was so sick of it. Snow becomes work. I had to shovel so much. That is one thing that is nice about the rain, you don't have to shovel it. I also became bored out of my mind on my day's off. I was supposed to fly to Bend to see my parents there, but my flight got cancelled. So I had a couple extra days to sit around. Relaxing becomes boring fast. Thank goodness that I never lost power. Here are a couple of pictures to show you the snow accumulation.
This was the first day of snow. It was pretty and made me a little happy.


This was one week later. Sorry if it's a little blurry, it was so cold out that the shutter on my camera was having trouble closing.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Well, it seems that winter is finally here. The snow came down like crazy today. I had to work, and let me tell you that is one thing that I don't like about my job. Just because the weather is bad, doesn't mean that people will stop being sick or injured. I had to be at work at 7am this morning. When I left for work the weather was clear and fine, but I took the explorer just to be safe. And boy am I glad that I did! I watched out the window as the snow fell down wondering if I would be able to make it home, or if I would have to take the hospital up on the offer of a room for the night. I left at 3:30pm and thanks to my mad skills at putting on chains and some 4 wheel drive I made it home safe and sound. I found out that I don't have to go to school tomorrow so I get a day off. I so excited. I will actually get to do some holiday baking now. I was really upset that I missed out of baking cookies with Julie last weekend. Maybe next year we can start baking Christmas cookies together.

Ok, I'm going to go attempt to catch up on some TV shows if my internet will allow me. I will leave you with some pictures I took tonight of my yard. Stay warm!

holidays are here

Life has officially become even more crazy than usual now that the holiday season is officially among us. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Thanksgiving was fairly good. It was hard since it was my first major holiday without my grandparents. Christmas will be even harder. I think that it's when you are used to having a tradition that includes them, it's weird to do it without them there. My biggest void was making holiday biscuits with out my Grandma. But I know that she would be happy that I am carrying on her traditions without her. This year was a quite meal since my uncle's family really doesn't get along with me and my parent's....understatement of the year! But the dinner was amazing!

I did participate in a little activity known as Black Friday. I did some shopping with my mom. I got my annual supply of socks. Along with alot of Christmas presents. I have to say that i was very disappointed with the lack of DVD's on sale. I waited all year to stock up and they let me down! Especially my TV on DVD.

It's official I'm going to Hawaii! Ryan and I are leaving on the 7th of January. I think that Heidi and Chase are getting married on the 9th. It should be a good time by all. I'm excited to stretch my new photography skills thanks to my class. But really, how can you take a bad picture in Hawaii?

I've been working out hard. I'm at the gym 6 days a week for about 2 hours a day. I have to admit that I'm sore almost every day. But it feels good. I am starting to notice that I'm sleeping better at night and have more energy. But also it's a set time that I can take for myself. And I don't get to much of that any more with school and work.

School is going well. It keeps me to busy. I will be happy when it's over. It's been weird because I'm on a different schedule than what I have been used to. So that means that my term isn't over until January. Which sucks because I come home from Hawaii on a Sunday at 11pm and have to be at school for a final at 7:50 the next day. Yikes! At least it's a long flight, hopefully I will study.

I'm proud of myself. This year I have almost all of my Christmas shopping done already. It's a good feeling. Hopefully it will take some of the stress away. I have been spending a fair amount of time shopping for myself. I'm trying to find a new swimsuit and it's nearly impossible to find a swimsuit (let alone a cute one) this time of year. I think that this is insane! Lot's of people travel to tropical places in the winter. Why don't stores carry swimsuits year round. It's so hard to buy a swimsuit online because you really need to try them on. *sigh*