Resolution #2 ~ Continue my green journey. I love the outdoors, nature, animals, the planet. So it only makes sense that I should do my part to take care of it, and there are so many ways I can improve. As I mentioned before, I came up with a great system for collecting my recyclables last year. I hated the look of having a bunch of bins stacked up or beside each other to separately hold the recyclables, and putting them down in the basement would have been out of sight, but also too much hassle and therefore I probably would not have done it. My solution was to purchase an old dresser (from the Rescue Mission Thrift Store for only $15), take out all of the drawers, and cut out the drawer supports. Then I put 3 trash cans lined up inside it, and hung a simple, inexpensive curtain across the front, so it just looks like a piece of furniture. We keep it on the covered side porch (to eliminate any issues of odor inside), and I use the top of the dresser to decorate (changing the decor out with the seasons/holidays). Then we use a very large outdoor trash can for the plastics, since they usually take up the most space, and keep it next to our regular trash can. The only problem we have run into with this system is taking the recyclables to the recycling center when the cans are full. We did pretty good with it for about a minute, and then kept forgetting. And since the cans are full, we started throwing away things that should have been recycled. So for this year I am striving to do better with actually taking the recyclables to the center. Or actually, it will need to be Shane doing this since he has the appropriate vehicle.
Then I also want to start switching over my cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and other household necessities to those that are gentler on the environment. I had started doing this at one point in time several years ago, but found the eco-friendly options to be a bit pricey. I am hoping that they've come down in price, or maybe I could just switch some items but not all. I'll have to look into that. I'd also like to research some better ways to control fleas on the pets, rather than coating them in harmful pesticides once a month. We have some pretty hardy fleas around here, but I'm willing to at least try some more natural methods.
The last couple of years we have tried our hands at gardening, but have not had much success. We got the plants to grow, but they didn't produce since our yard is so shady. I think this year I want to experiment with some things that tolerate shade (I've read that leafy greens tolerate some shade), and I have a friend who has much better success with her garden and is willing to trade some of her produce for fresh eggs from my hens. I also have plans of starting a small compost pile at the back of our yard, and the chicken manure should come in quite handy for that!
So I'm pondering my resolutions for 2010 but I'm having some trouble due to a killer sinus headache! Resolution #1 might have to be "Get over this rotten cold"! Seriously, though, my health is going back on the list for this year. I do seem to get a little better at that every year, so there's hope for this one!
I would like to get back into some yoga practice. Shane bought me a pretty new yoga mat for Christmas, and I can't wait to try it out! I have had some issues this year with sciatic pain (ouch!), and a kind friend showed me some feel-good moves for that. I have a couple of good yoga DVDs that are really designed to be "yoga goes cardio", but I think I might also want to branch out to some slower, stress-relief types of yoga as well. It's also time to broaden my horizons in the cardio arena. I love walking, but did kind of get in a rut with it earlier this year. I flirted with running, so maybe I'll try that again. And I would LOVE to get back into hiking, but I really need a hiking partner (it's just too dangerous to by myself any more!). Any takers?
I'll be seeing the doc later this month to get the tummy meds started back up, and she'll be happy to know that part of my health resolution will be to actually take my thyroid meds every day like I should. I often forget on the weekends, and then by Monday I feel like kaka. You'd think I wouldn't do that to myself!
You'll notice that diet and weight loss are not part of my health resolution. I took that part out years ago 'cause it was just too darn frustrating! Of course, if I can get the other parts of my resolution going strong, particularly the exercise, weight loss should be a pleasant side effect. And I just plain hate dieting! Since I don't eat anything with 4 legs, my diet naturally consists of a lot of fruits and veggies. And my tummy issues tend to keep from too much fried foods. I do have a weakness for the sweets, though! Perhaps I'll just try to drink a little more water and little less sweet tea?
I love New Year's Day, and not because I like to party. I love the feeling of new beginnings and second (or third or fourth or fifth) chances. I know, I know. A new beginning could also begin on my birthday each year, or after the cleansing season of Lent, or Confederate Memorial Day, or any old Tuesday. But for me, the start of a new calendar year feels fresh and promising. Perhaps it's because I'm coming off the high of celebrating the greatest beginning ever - Jesus' birth.
So 2010 will be launching this Friday, and I am one of those annoying people who makes all kinds of resolutions about what I will do with my year. To revisit a few of last year's resolutions:
1. Volunteer more - I've done some in 2009, but could do more. I've helped out a few times at the local animal shelter, and I've taken on the volunteer position of Children's Ministries Leader at my church (which actually has turned into quite a time-consuming affair, so maybe I have fulfilled this resolution after all?).
2. Pay off my unsecured debt - Complete and total failure! With needing a new roof unexpectedly and having to have emergency surgery this summer, the debt has actually increased.
3. Be kinder to the environment - I've made some strides in this area, but still have a lot more work to do. I started a jam-up system for separating my recyclables, but, alas, they never seemed to make it to the recycling center. I now have 4 large cans full of plastics, aluminum cans, paper, and glass; and shamefully have had to throw out a lot more with the regular garbage because the recycling bins are full.
4. Become healthier - Did great the first half of the year with exercising most days of the week, but then fell flat after the surgery. Gotta' get back in the groove!
Not only am I one of those annoying people who make New Year's resolutions, but I also love hearing about others' resolutions! Sooooo..... What will your New Year's resolutions be?
I admit I am powerless over coffee. I wake up smelling coffee every morning, even before the coffee pot is on. I consume copious amounts of coffee to wake me up in the morning, and then often return for more in the afternoon. I am not too picky - I drink alone at home; with friends at the local Starbucks, Joshua Cup, and Jittery Joe's; I even do it at work, and *gasp* in the car.
My addiction started when I was only 16, in the basement coffee bar, The Magic Bean. I started with sweet-tasting concoctions with fancy names, like Mochaccino, Caramel Macchiato, Mocha Frappe. As time went on I started drinking the foulest of brews, like regular old commercial black, straight from the pot.
My addiction affects every part of my life. I get headache-y and snappish if I don't have my morning cup. I have to constantly caution my kids, "Be careful! Mommy's got hot coffee in her hand!" Driving with one hand on the wheel, the other balancing my cup because my car's cupholder is too large, causing my cup to wobble and coffe to spill out. I am overly friendly with the bathrooms around town.
Excuse me, but I've just finished my first and need to refill my cup.....
Eke! I seem to have forgotten how to blog! Have I really not blogged since OCTOBER?! And so much fun, interesting things have happened in my life during November and December! So sorry to my loyal followers, who I think might only be my grandparents! I PROMISE to do better!
Tonight we embarked on our annual journey of light-gazing around town. Usually, we save this adventure for Christmas Eve night, but due to Christmas Pageant obligations at our church we decided to alter our tradition slightly this year and go on Christmas Eve Eve.
We started out with a couple of spectacular displays across the street from one another on Tucker Road, and after a slight detour to get gas we headed over to Glen Hill Court. As usual, almost every yard was filled with lights and inflatables! Of course, there were a lot of smaller displays on the roads in-between. Then we drove over for the grand finale at the Chick-A-Fla (as Emmy calls it), where they have a tunnel of lights over the drive-thru, set to dance along with Christmas music. Luckily, we had a nice long wait in the line to get our food. It was phenomenal!!
Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so instead of pictures from the lights we saw, I'm posting a pic from Christmas past.... Now off to drink cider and watch Christmas movies with the kiddies...
