Saturday, December 31, 2011

Goodbye 2011. Hello 2012.

As 2011 comes to an end, I am contemplating realistic goals for 2012.  My list is by no means complete but it contains the following so far:

1.  Blog more.  I know I said this last year too but that didn't seem to work.  This year, I have found some cool blogging tools to help me plan out my posts better. 

2.  Complete one book and send it to a publisher.

3.  Be more organized.

4.  Stay on top of couponing so I can save where I can.

5. Knit more gifts so I do not have to buy as much just before Christmas.  I have a pretty good list of ideas started already. 

6. Shop for Christmas gifts throughout the year.  This should be easier to accomplish as we are only buying gifts for the kids.  All gifts for the adults must be homemade. 

7. Garden.  Mom and I want to have a nice vegetable and herb garden this year so I am committing to helping her with that.

                            

2011 was an okay year.  Nothing major or drastic happened.  However, I have been in a particularly blue mood since well before Christmas and wishing that would pass before the ball drops. 

I am hopeful that laying out my list of goals for the coming year will, in some small way, assist to elevate me from the blues.  

There are some things to look forward to in 2012.  Princess Ivi's 16th birthday.  My 35th birthday.  My sister and family's trip to Florida which should include my nephew's first trip to Disney World.  Lots of changes for my brother's family.

I am cheerfully optimistic that 2012 will be a good year for my family. But I think the past has taught us all that we can begin the year cheerfully optimistic, however, life often gives us the unexpected.  Too often this year, we were caught off guard or unawares by life's unexpected occurrences.  Therefore, my main goal this year is to be more prepared for the unexpected.  So we will try to save more money, can and freeze more food, and whatever other little things we can do to be more prepared when life throws... well, when life throws life our way. 

Wishing you and yours a joyful and safe New Year!!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

10 Things You Have to Do Before Christmas/Hannukah/The Weekend

Here is my top ten list of things to do before the holiday.
  1. Make fudge and other goodies.
  2. Ship gifts to my sister
  3. Shop for my brother, sister-in-law and nephews
  4. Wrap all gifts
  5. Knit a pair of leg warmers
  6. Drive daughter’s boyfriend home.
  7. Plan menu for Christmas Eve.
  8. Shop for food.
  9. Go to work everyday and accomplish to-do list.
  10. Sleep so I am not a grump on Christmas morning.
Of course, as I think, there are a lot more things I need to do in addition to this.  Bummer.  I need to find a way to clone myself.  I would like a knitting self, a working self, a cooking and cleaning self, a hang out with daughter self (the real me)...and I am sure there are more.  

Friday, December 16, 2011

Happy Birthday Jane Austen!!

Today is my favorite author's birthday.  Jane Austen was born 236 years ago today.  I always wonder what Jane would think of the world today.  How would she feel about love in today's society?

In honor of Jane's birthday, here is a quote she said...


"But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way."  Northanger Abbey
 
Happy Birthday, Jane!!
 

Christmas Party Friday's

Photobucket

My favorite part of December is knitting Christmas gifts for the people I know who will love them and use them all the while appreciating the time and effort put into a handmade gift.

The Christmas song I can listen to over and over is Please Come Home for Christmas by the Eagles.  I love them and when they sing that song, it makes me want to go home.  I also love Marshmallow World sung by anyone and That’s What Christmas Means to Me by Stevie Wonder.   

My favorite Christmas gift when I was a child was...

If traveling anywhere in the world were an option I would spend Christmas with the one I love.

Christmas movies are cute but sometimes irritating.  I am not a huge fan of Rudolph, Frosty or the Baby New Year but I will watch White Christmas a hundred times if I could..

My must have Christmas treats include fudge (peanut butter and penuche), cookies (no set kind but some type each year), ribbon candy, and sea foam (although this just started this year).

Decorating for the season looks like tasteful decorations which are mostly mementos that my daughter gave me/made for me.

When it comes to Christmas gifts I prefer to make some by hand to those I know will appreciate them, go overboard for my daughter, and buy one or two gifts that are perfect for each person without spending too much money.

The Christmas season makes me feel stressed because I always want to do more than I can, thankful for my family and friends, sad because my daughter has so few people in her life, and lonely for the one I love.

To me Christmas means family.

My thoughts on Christmas....Christmas when my daughter was small was wonderful but I have to say that I am loving it as she is getting older because I never know how she will use her creativity to make Christmas special in her way.  It is a treat to see what she does each year.