I am always forgetting what I want to read next or what books I want to add to my collection.  I thought if I made a list here it would help me to remember.  I am always open to suggestions about what to read next too!

What I Absolutely Want To Read This Year!

The Way It Spozed To Be by James Herndon
Notes From A Schoolteacher by James Herndon
Preaching by Fred Craddock
R.T., Margaret, and Rats of NIMH by Jane Leslie Conly
Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
Unless by Carol Shields (I thought I had read them all)

What Might Be Good Fluff/Fun To Read This Year

The rest of the Shopaholic Books - I think there's 3 left I haven't read? She gets married, she has a baby, she checks into rehab?
I was thinking it might be fun to re-read the Little House on The Prairie Series as I haven't read them since I was like 10.
The Second Clan of The Cave Bear Book by Jean Auel
Maybe the Outlander Series?
I was also thinking of re-reading Pillars Of The Earth by Ken Follett and then reading the sequel World Without End.
I want to read some Christian Fiction (the library seems to refer to it as 'inspirational')


Some Titles/Authors/Series That Have Been Suggested To Me

The Sookie Stackhouse Books - I think I may be Vamped Out though
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series
Something called Stephanie Plum?
Jennifer Crusie
Chelsea Handler


I think all this equals about 25 books doesn't it. :p  That's not counting the 4 books I have on the go right now (I always do this to myself and then forget to finish some of them...).

Here's to Good Reads!

I made these for Christmas as well.  They took a while to get the hang of the pattern, but once you've got it it's easy peasy.  The key is to realize that you are really working 2 separate yarns and stitches...not trying to work 2 separate yarns into the same stitch.  I just used some cotton I had on hand.  The contrast is lovely (and needed in this pattern).  My first attempt was a beige with dark beige.  It was impossible to keep track of what I was doing.

Spiral Dishcloth

Around and Around We Go!

I made these two flower hot pads for my mother for Christmas.  I like how they look.  I think they look wonderful.  Bright and Cheery.

But - there are 2 big problems with them.

1.  You'll notice it's more of that awful awful awful acrylic pink that I seem to have a never ending horrible supply of.  Blech.  It's true.  There was tons of it.  Both pink and blue.  There's still more.  I'm sick of it.  Sick of the bad acrylic that is rough and thick and fake feeling.  I think I'm going to let the BAD PINK ACRYLIC CRAPPY YARN (and the blue stuff too) have a rest and just sit in my stash for now.

2.  I think I discovered what 'killing acrylic' is.  Once you attach all the pieces you're supposed to iron the hot pad so the middle petals lay flat.  Well...you can't tell from the pictures but the BAD PINK ACRYLIC CRAPPY YARN all kind of fused together and started to look almost dirty?  I was so not impressed.  NOT IMPRESSED.  Also the because it all started fuse together it now has that initial iron in it's memory (if that makes sense) -- even though some of the petals were not perfect.  I tried to fix it...but it didn't work.  What a way to end a project.  I"m glad I only made 2 of them to start.  The variegated yarn is cotton and it ironed quite well.  I was pleased with that.

Super Close Up Of Hotpad

Phew. Glad I got all that out of my system. I feel a little better now. Sort Of.


I don't even know if I want to put these on Ravelry cause they turned out so icky (see, see that one inside petal that is not LAYING NICELY FLAT?  Gah!).

I thought that it would be a good idea to do a BIG OL' RECAP of all the resolutions I've decided on. 

If you're tired of all this resolution talk and navel gazing then just let your eyes glaze over and click away.  It's okay.  I understand.  Repetition is boring for readers.  This is mostly just for me, because the more I write about my resolutions, the more I will actually remember what they are and follow through.  Hah.

1.  Health And Wellness

Read 25 books in 2011
Fling 2011 Things in 2011
Eat better and Exercise more
Weekly Honey-Do Jar

2.  Being Green And Activism

1 New Green Item/Activity a Month
1 New Fair Trade Product a Month

3.  Career And Crafts

Finish that damn cross stitch (maybe)
Destash down to 1 Plastic Bin And Canvas Bag
Make a totally awesome bedspread for our bed

4.  God's Call

Read the New Testament in 2011
Complete The Leadership Development Module And take 2 MDIV Courses

5.  Money Matters

$500 in our EF by 2012
Accrue No New Debt!
Build up our Holiday Savings
Use The Jars/Cash System

I plan to set up side bars for the stuff that needs side bars and I'll update them as I go along. 

I'm excited to get flinging, researching new products, reading, and saving money!  2011 here I come!

Money Matters

• Build up our EF again. -- $500 in our EF by 2012.  That means we need to save $42 a month (or about $9 a week)  to have about $500 in 12 months.  I think that's doable.  Easily trackable with a sidebar!
• Develop a realistic plan with regards to paying down our CC debt/loan debt.-- I want to think more about this still and run numbers.  A good place to start is by not accruing any more debt.  This is my first goal in regards to debt!
• Build up our Holiday Savings again. -- Up first is saving for our February Weekend Getaway for Husbands Birthday.  Details to follow.  This also calls for a sidebar!
• Go Back on the Jars -This has begun!  Took the money out yesterday.  The big thing with this is PERSEVERANCE for us.  Even if we fall of the cash bandwagon, I want to get right back on it ASAP.  None of this, "Oh well, we have fallen off...best to forget about it".  Nuh - uh.  We are going to perservere on this one!

• I want to move more into purchasing 'green' products.  -- The goal being to either move 1 new 'green' product into our usage (ie. shampoo, soap, clothing) or to move 1 new 'green' activity into our lives (ie. bussing, reusing something, whatever, not using something that is not green).
• I also want to begin purchasing Fair Trade Products -- The goal being to move 1 new Fair Trade Product into our usage (ie. coffee, soap, make up, whatever).

These are both easy to track with a sidebar and fairly self explanatory.

• Complete the Leadership Development Module this spring/summer and register for an appropriate number of MDIV courses for the fall/winter -- Self Explanatory and something that I am eager to start!
• Read the New Testament in 2011 - Definitely going to do this again.  Self explanatory and easily trackable with a side bar.

All that's left to talk about is the Money Matters stuff.  & I'm not sure what all I want to say about that stuff yet.  More thinking to do.

It's feeling nice to be reflecting and musing about stuff and things again.  Hah.  Stuff and Things.  I'm so descriptive.

So, lets hash these goals out some more.  Figure out what exactly I want to do in 2011. 

Let's start out with #1 on the list

1. Health And Wellness

• Read 25 books in 2011 - Pretty self explanatory and easy to track with a sidebar.
• Fling 2011 Things in 2011 - Anything that leaves the house either to the garbage, donating, selling, or giving away counts EXCEPT for paper.  I'm not sure exactly how to deal with paper.  1 piece of paper cannot count for 1 thing (or can it?).  Maybe 5 pieces of paper will equal 1 item?  Or I could just decide as I go along.  This is also easy to track with a sidebar.  I may or may not blog about all the items we get rid of (I mean, do I really want to come on here and post every time we throw out a tupperware container that we can't find a lid for? -- probably not). 
  
  We need to focus on purging toys, paperwork, kitchen related items, and my Dad's stuff (tools mostly) that has taken up space in the basement.
• I want to eat better and exercise more.  - Still not sure about this one...might just stay as a general goal.
  
  I have been playing badminton at lunch with the guys once or twice a week.  I definitely want to keep that up.  I want to go for family walks again.  I definitely want to walk the dog more.  I want to exercise at home again.  I am going to think about this more.
• Weekly Honey-Do Jar - Pretty self explanatory and easy to track with a sidebar.  1 Jar, items written on paper and in the jar, 1 Honey-Do drawn each week.  I don't want these to be stressful or all to time consuming things though.  Stuff like 'arrange cutlery drawer', 'clean fridge', 'vacuum stairs' (something we never seem to do) are good.  I am wondering if there should be 2 jars - 1 with things Husband is good at doing and 1 with things I'm good at doing?

• Read 25 books in 2011 - I worked on this last year.  It was about the only thing I kept up with, but I didn't make the 25 goal.  I think I ended up at about 19 books read.  I have a problem with getting about half way through a book and losing interest and never finishing it.  Right now I have 4 books on the go...so that's a good start!
• Fling 2011 Things in 2011 - I need to declutter.  We have so much stuff it's becoming ridiculous.  I started this the other night.  We went through our closets/drawers and took out all the old clothing we never wear anymore.
• I want to eat better and exercise more.  But I'm not sure how exactly I want to go about this yet.  I want to eat less chips and walk the dog more, but I don't want to get into so many walks a day and so many veggies a week....it's too much to track and to easy for me to fall of the wagon.
• Honey-Do Jar - I want to make a Honey-Do jar for both me and the Husband to work on - maybe do 1 thing each out of it a week?

• I want to move more into purchasing 'green' products.  Right now we purchase environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent.  I bought green laundry detergent last week.  I want to investigate other products and stick with buying good for the Earth things.  I'm thinking I'd like to add 1 new product or 1 new green activity (ie. hanging clothes to dry or something) every month into what we purchase/do.
• I also want to begin purchasing Fair Trade Products and move them into our rotation for products.  I'm thinking that 1 new product every month is a good as well for this one.

• Build up our EF again.  It's true.  We have no EF anymore.  It's kaput.  Gonzo.  Bit the Dust. I'd like to have $500 in our EF by 2012.
• Develop a realistic plan with regards to paying down our CC debt/loan debt.  I'm not sure what it is yet...but I don't want to declare 'pay off all debt' and then not be able to follow through and lose interest and give up all together (remember, learning from my mistakes this year!)
• Build up our Holiday Savings again.  I'd like to go camping this summer (more then once!) and go somewhere warm next winter too.
• Go Back on the Jars - Living on cash for variable spending is the way to go for us and will make us stop to think about every purchase we make (especially regarding those expensive dinners we're so fond of).

• Finish that damn cross stitch. Or at least get it mostly done?
• Destash - I made a good go at this last year, but I seriously still have so much yarn that I need to do something with it all because it's just sitting in tubs/bins and taking up space.
• Make a bedspread for our bed.  I really want to do this...but I can't find the PERFECT pattern yet.
• Career Stuff?   I dunno.  Keep plugging away?  Apply at what interests me?  I don't really like my job, but I like the benefits and flexibility I get.  The benefits (extra holidays, time off) and flexibility are going to be very important this year.  I think I might just plan on staying put (unless something fabulous drops itself in my lap).

• Complete the Leadership Development Module this spring/summer and register for an appropriate number of MDIV courses (hoping for at least 2) for the fall/winter (dependant on timetabling and scheduling).
• Read the New Testament in 2011 - This was a goal from 2010 that I did not complete.  I read 2 books in their entirety - Matthew & Mark.  I am making this a goal again this year. 

So, I think that's everything that's floating around in my head without going crazy.  Some of them will require daily attention, some weekly, & some monthly.  I wonder if some should be 'must do's!' and if some should be 'would be nice to do's!'  Some of them are no-brainers.  Like taking the Leadership Development Module and working on destashing.

Last year very early in the New Year I wrote that 2009 was a year of CHALLENGE for my family (and boy it sure was).  We faced many challenges in 2009.

If I had to describe 2010 up in a word or phrase I think it would have to be a year of MISFORTUNE.  That's my polite way of phrasing it.  If I was just letting it all hang out here I might call it the year of SUCKING BIG DONKEY BALLS.  It sure seemed like me and everyone I know was being hit with bad shit from all corners.  Some Major.  Some Minor.  I don't want to get into it again.  If you desperately want to know what happened you can skulk my old posts, but a lot of it I didn't even Blog about.  I know I did a lot of posts that were just pictures of things I've made and I focused on reflective posts for my Discernment Year.  Oh and I blogged about our Trip to the UK quite a bit as well.  I suppose I was trying to focus on the positive and stay in some kind of happyish little bubble.  But lets move on.  I say I don't want to focus on it and then I start going on about 2010 again.

It almost seemed fitting (in a sad sad way) to end 2010 with an allergic reaction to antibiotics covered in hives sitting in the ER being triaged (literally we rang in 2011 as the nurse was taking my blood pressure).  It's like my body was trying to purge 2010 out of it making way for 2011.

What do I want 2011 to be?  Hmm...it's a lot to think about.  So far this year seems so open to possibilities and potential.  But, so did the beginning of last year and look what happened there. 

I want 2011 to be the year that I PERSERVERE.  I want it to be the year that when unexpected things happen that I don't fall off track, that instead I just take a small detour and get back on the road.  I want it to be the year where I stay focused, where I follow through. I want it to be the year where I continue on long after others have stopped or long after I normally stop.  I also want 2011 to be the year or realistic goals and plans.  I don't want to make grandiose statements and then not follow through at all (which is what has happened in the past).  I don't want to get distracted in 2011.  I don't want to drop what I start and climb onto another bandwagon (or blogwagon).

In short.  I want a lot.  Hah.  I think for me the trick will be to not want everything.  To not want to accomplish everything.  To not want to do everything.  To not want to fix everything.  It's hard for me to actually look at things realistically and make a doable plan with reasonable steps.  I need a map.  That's what I need.

Hello World!  Hello 2011!  Hello Interwebs!  Hello Myself!

I've been pretty much AWOL from blogging over this Christmas Season.  Things have been super busy with work (well, sort of--okay, not really), church,  crafting, preparing for the Holidays, visiting with family/friends, and then recovering from an allergic reaction (HIVES!  HIVES!  Everywhere!  On Me!  2 trips to the ER!  Eleventy!) for the better part of 10 days.  But I am Hive free now (mostly, I can still feel some lurking underneath my skin) and I am finally ready to welcome 2011 into my life.

I remember last year at this time I had so many hopes and plans and dreams for 2010...that all kind of fizzled when bad stuff started happening.  I didn't succeed at any of my goals for 2010...same as from 2009 (oh, heck, lets just say that I have never followed through on any resolutions EVER).  I didn't read 25 books (although I tried...I read more then I've ever read in years).  I didn't read the New Testatment.  Heck, in true Dinah fashion I never even made any goals for half of the areas I wanted to focus on in 2010.

I wrote this January 1st, 2010:

This year, for 2010, I don't want to jump into anything. I don't want to panic and write something just because that's what everyone else is doing. I really need to sit down and examine what I need to work on in 2010 and what I want to work on. I need to have a plan with steps, not just a vague statement. I want to work on what I am passionate about. I want to change myself and the world and my family.


I'm going to hopefully have about a weeks worth of meditative and reflective blog posts detailing what's going to happen in 2010. This might look like a month by month strategy. Or something more open, without any numerical boundaries.


I believe I want to focus on these areas in 2010:


1. Health And Wellness
2. Being Green
3. Money Matters
4. Career And Business
5. God's Call

I'm thinking I should just cross out 2010 in that block quote and replace it with 2011 and try again.  I know I'm on to something here...I know I am dagnabit!

This year, for 2010 2011, I don't want to jump into anything. I don't want to panic and write something just because that's what everyone else is doing. I really need to sit down and examine what I need to work on in 2010 2011 and what I want to work on. I need to have a plan with steps, not just a vague statement. I want to work on what I am passionate about. I want to change myself and the world and my family.


I'm going to hopefully have about a weeks worth of meditative and reflective blog posts detailing what's going to happen in 2010 2011. This might look like a month by month strategy. Or something more open, without any numerical boundaries.


I believe I want to focus on these areas in 2010 2011:


1. Health And Wellness
2. Being Green
3. Money Matters
4. Career And Business
5. God's Call

There.  That feels better.  Hah!  I've got a new(used) plan for 2011. 

Stay tuned!