Movie Mondays!

I love movies...who doesn't? Unfortunately, between the kids and the writing and everything else... I haven't seen movies in years! But this year, I'm taking more time for myself. Which means watching movies :D

I figure if I have a weekly blog assignment to blab about a movie, I'll actually get it done.

So you're forewarned...Monday's are about movies around here. And since I haven't seen many, they might be pretty old, but new to me!

Art Journal Every Day?

My friend Nicole is my craft goddess, and she's starting the Art Journal Every Day. I want to be crafty...and sometimes I can manage a few craftastic moments...

So I signed on, opened a new notebook and did a collage type thing. It's nothing spectactular, but it was fun to sit down and do it. Plus, I recycled 2 old magazines once I had skimmed through them for material.


Another step in my promise to feed myself this year - body, mind, soul...and apparently, creativity.

One Year Ago & One Year From Now

Last year one of my friends posted something on her blog that really resonated with me, so I posted my version here. These were my goals for 2010 ::

Learned - How to focus on things that matter
Changed - my exercise habits (in that I need some!)
Figured out - A way to get Grace to sleep, Hayden to feel
confident, and Bayley to relax more
Completed - 2 novels
Stopped - Obsessing about weight
Started - Sleeping 8 hours a night (see Figured Out for a
clue as to why I'm sleep deprived)
Acquired - A hot tub.
Yep, that's the first thing that came to mind, Not a SUV for Jeff or the piano I
claim to want. Saw that and thought - hot tub.
Given up -
Fast food, because upon examination, it's disgusting. It doesn't matter if the
kids like Happy Meals. I can buy them the toy for $1.
Visited - At least 2 National Parks. (Crater Lake is first
on our list.)
Left behind - Weight issues, for good.

I'm quite happy with my progress! The girl started sleeping & so am I, I've found a few workout classes that have changed my perspective a wee bit, visited Crater Lake & Mt St. Helens, figured out that nighttime prayer relaxes Bayley and fills Hayden up, and completed two novels. OK, one and completely revised another. It still counts. I completed half of my goals!

2011 will be even better. Some things are the same, but this year they all feel so much more attainable then they did last year. I think it's knowing that I made it through half of the list that's given me more confidence.

In 2011 I will have...

Learned - How to manage my writing time to be more productive (remember those 4 book years?)

Changed - my relationship with food. It's fuel, not a friend or a reward.

Figured out - a way to spend more time with Hubba Bubba

Completed - 2 novels

Stopped - Obsessing about weight

Started - A solid exercise habit

Acquired - Fabulous vacation photos...

Given up - Facebook games. I do them when I am on the phone...but still, they take up too much time!

Visited - Disneyland, Las Vegas, NY, & Hawaii (hey, dream big!)

Left behind - Weight issues, for good.

Go on...you try it.

2010 Reads

I think 2010 may have been my slowest reading year ever...either that or I forgot to keep track of them very well ala the eHarlequin Book Challenge! (12 Blaze, 1 Desire, 1 American, 1 Presents, 1 SuperRomance)

1. Knowing The Score by Marie Donovan (Blaze)
2. Better Naughty Than Nice by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis & Rhonda Nelson (Blaze)
3. Just Fooling Aroung by Julie Kenner & Kathleen O'Rielly (Blaze)
4. Born on the 4th of July by Jill Shalvis, Rhonda Nelson & Karen Foley (Blaze)
5. Wanted! by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Blaze)
6. Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler
7. This Is Why You're Fat by Jacki Warner
8. The IntenSati Method by Patricia Moreno
9. The Tycoon's Son by Cindy Kirk (Mediterranean Nights)
10. No Wonder My Parents Drank by Jay Mohr
11. Love, Lust & Faking It by Jenny McCarthy
12. A Homemade Christmas: Creative Ideas for an Earth-Friendly, Frugal, Festive Holiday
13. Cherry Bomb by Carrie Borzillo-Vrenna 
14. Married By Mistake by Abby Gaines (SuperRomance)
15. The Greek Tycoon's Blackmailed Mistress by Lynne Graham (Presents) 
16. The Best Man by George Davidson
17. The Shift by Wayne Dyer
18. Indulge Me by Isabel Sharpe (Blaze)
19. Once A Cowboy by Linda Warren (American)
20. Innuendo by Crystal Green (Blaze)
21. Seduction By The Book by Stephanie Bond (Blaze)
22. Dangerous Curves by Karen Anders (Blaze)
23. Cody by Kimberly Raye (Blaze)
24. Touch Me by Jacquie D'Alessandro (Blaze)
25. More Than a Millionaire by Emilie Rose (Desire)
26. Yours For The Night by Jasmine Haynes
27. The Spark by Gaesser & Dougherty
28. A Broom of One's Own by Nancy Peacock
29. Sliding Into Home by Joanne Rock (Blaze)
30. The Law of Attraction, Plain and Simple by Sonia Ricotti
31. Feng Shui for Romance by Terah Kathryn Collins
32. Double The Pleasure by Lori Foster, Deirde Martin, Jacqui D'Alessandro, Penny McCall 
33. Believe It, Be It by Ali Vincent
34. Made You Look by Jamie Sobrato (Blaze)
35. Winter's Heat by Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jade Lee & Anna DeStefano

LASIK

Since I loathe wearing glasses, and constant eye issues were preventing me from wearing contacts...I went in for LASIK surgery. There was a bit of worry that the corneal scarring would prevent me from having it, but a corneal specialist came in and fixed me right up.

Kinda. Things are still kinda blurry and eye strain is an issue. But, by next week I'll be seeing better than I have since I was 9. I'm quite excited!

How Stocked is Your Kitchen?

An article at Organizational Management made me wonder...just how many of the 80 kitchen essential ingredients do I have? Try it...

1. Garlic powder.
2. Sea salt. Nope....Kosher salt & table salt.
3. Whole or ground pepper. Just regular black pepper
4. Sage. It's in the garden...most of the year.
5. Red chili flakes.
6. Chili powder.
7. Bay leaves. At the old house I had a bay leaf bush. I miss it. Haven't been able to find another.
8. Ground coriander.
9. Onion powder. Really? I do have some...but I don't like it.
10. Cumin.
11. Ground mustard. The Hubster hates mustard.
12. Cayenne pepper.
13. Paprika.
14. Basic steak seasoning. Montreal steak seasoning! I also have a basic salt/pepper/garlic powder that I use for chicken.
15. Dried thyme.
16. Potatoes. TONS of Russets. I need to latke
17. Mushrooms. I tend to buy the regular button mushrooms...in the styrofoam package.
18. Onions.
19. Leafy green lettuce.
20. Bell peppers. Red
21. Garlic.
22. Apples.
23. Bananas.
24. Lemons and limes.
25. Oranges.
26. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
27. Chicken thighs.
28. A whole chicken.
29. Steaks.
30. Short ribs. Never gonna happen
31. Salmon.
32. Catfish.
33. De-veined, peeled shrimp.
34. Pork chops.
35. Ground beef or turkey. I need to get some. Always a good idea to have on hand
36. Canned tomatoes.
37. Canned fruits. - pinapple, mandarins...and fruit cups for Grace
38. Peanut butter.
39. Black beans.
40. Lentils.
41. Whole grain bread.
42. Baguette.
43. Salami. Oh...good idea!
44. Ham.
45. Sliced turkey.
46. Cheddar cheese.
47. Swiss cheese.
48. Avocado. Usually...but not right now.
49. Olives.
50. Pickles.
51. Good vanilla. Nope. Store brand. I like the flavor better
52. Cocoa powder. Two kinds :)
53. Half and half. I keep evaporated milk on hand instead.
54. All-purpose flour.
55. Whole wheat flour.
56. Granulated sugar.
57. Confectioner’s sugar.
58. Baking powder.
59. Baking soda.
60. Semi or bittersweet chocolate.
61. Whole grain crackers.
62. Dried lasagna sheets.
63. Spaghetti or fettuccini.
64. Ziti or penne.
65. Egg noodles.
66. Couscous
67. Quinoa.
68. Pancake mix.
69. Whole grain cereal.
70. Oatmeal.
71. Green beans.
72. Corn.
73. Edamame. not for my brood
74. Frozen Potatoes. no thanks
75. Bacon.
76. Strawberries. ew, not frozen!
77. Blueberries.
78. Almonds.
79. Stuffed pasta.
80. Pre-baked pizza crusts.

Bonus Essentials
Red and white wine vinegar.
Honey.
Marmalade jelly or preserves.
Tomato paste.
Salsa.

Cardio Jam

Thats the name of a fitness class I let my girlfriends talk me into. According to some of the dancers in the class, it's like Zumba without the rules. Since I have never Zumba'd...I have no idea. It's a crazy fast paced dance blitz that proves just how few peopple actually have any natural rhythm.

And yet...I still show up. It's not for the Michael Jackson song, that's for sure. Or the booty shakes. Or the chest pumps. For some reason I seem to enjoy flailing about a room in all my uncoordinated glory.

But only with my girls. I can Stability Ball or Yoga on my own...but I need moral support to Spin or Cardio Jam!