I'll be going through the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping tomorrow, hoping with crossed fingers, that I can still find things I need to get to make it all work right.
Why have I waited until the last minute, you might ask? Well, it's sort of tradition. My husband and I usually have a rough month in December and in to the beginning of the year, and we have for quite some time now. But it's all good. Seriously. I'm thinking positively now. He's working. Full-time. It's working out schedule wise. We have support from family and friends. So I really think 2011 is going to be OUR year.
I'm writing still and I'm still surprisingly having a great time enjoying the story. I just wish I could clone myself so that I could write faster and get it out quicker, but alas that technology isn't available for purchase (at least not in my budget, lol). I've got things planned for 2011 (involving writing of course) and I plan on reading more, call it a New Years resolution. Which reminds me ... here is my 2011 resolution list:
1. STOP drinking soda/sugary drinks - if I'm EVER going to lose weight and keep it off, I have to revert myself back to when I was in high school and soda was a special treat. I'm trying to teach my oldest about the 'evils' of soda, but it's not going to stick in his head until I actually make a better example of myself; thus I've got to kick the habit and do it quick!
2. Read more - Stephen King said it best ... he reads, reads, reads, writes, reads, reads and reads some more. If I'm EVER going to be any where near a true success story, I've got to keep reading. It doesn't matter what I read either ... indie, trad, magazines, whatever ... as long as my brain is reading, I'll be happy. I don't want to set myself up with a number of books to reach, because I don't want to set myself up for failure. I'll just say it point blank, read more. I'll be happy if I can get 2 books or even 500 books read in 2011.
3. Write more - The only way I'm going to be a better writer, is if I keep writing. So the obvious one here is ... write. Whatever comes to my mind. Even if that means actually keeping up with this blog (which I always have a habit of starting blogs or journals or notebooks, only to give up entirely on them six weeks later). I'm going to try and write short stories. More poems (even if they're not selling and they're there purely for my enjoyment). And eventually, hopefully, more novels.
4. Spend more time with my kids - Well that's a given, but I'd really love to go on fun day trips with them. Take them to the library. Take them to a petting zoo. Take them mini-golfing. Something fun and out of their normal routine.
5. The usual 'watch what I eat', - But I may take it to the next level if money permits. Everyone talks about Weight Watchers and how wonderful it is. I will admit I tried it in high school (when I was a senior and at my heaviest in child/teen-hood), and it never stuck. I found myself not really 'wanting' to go along with everything. I was stubborn. I felt my weekly 60 minute dance class (jazz) was enough exercise for the week. Boy was I so wrong. Did you know you're supposed to break a sweat for at least a 30 minute interval every day? Eek! I haven't broken a sweat like that except for my weekly cleaning of my bathroom.
6. Teach my children how to pick up after themselves - I don't make a mess. I hate messes! I cringe at cleaning, but know that if I don't do it the mess will remain. My hugest problem with cleaning large messes is, I don't ever know where to start! The biggest culprits of messes in my home (aside from my slovenly husband) are my children. I've taught them how to do laundry, but they never follow through with the rules. Now that I'm not working like a crazy banshee I can take the time to guide them in weekly chores and enforce those chores/rules when I'm home.
Well that's it for now ... I'd add things like, save money, budget, time management, be friendly, smile more...etc, but let's just start with the bigger things first and see how those go before I add more things to my plate. :)
Merry Christmas (Happy Holidays, whichever holiday you celebrate this time of year) and Happy New Year!! May 2011 be a wonderful year for you!!!
<3<3 Julie <3<3