Just a minute of my time...

Resolutions and goals for 2012

 

I've been working on my list of goals for 2012 and thought I would try something different. Instead of coming up with specific goals for the year, I thought I would try different goals each month. Some may hang around longer than a month, but I will at least give them their 30 days due.

• My running goal - the only one going the entire year is several things combined.  It is a goal to reach 1200 miles and also a goal to run 12 half marathons in 2012

Monthly goals are the following:

1. A month without made in China - I read the book "A year without made in China" and would like to dedicate a month to keep myself and my family aware of all the things we are filling our house with that are made in China
2. Daily journal- whether it be a written journal or an art journal I want to devote a month to putting words on paper daily, and see where it takes me
3. Reading - one month using any spare moment I have to read, instead of facebook or message boards.  Getting lost in a good book, I miss it! A dedicated month to rekindle my joy of reading!
4. Pay it forward - Opening a door, buying a coffee or just a smile can really change someones day, and change yours in the process.
5. Organize and clean - Taking the time, room by room to clear things out, organize and get rid of clutter
6. Scrapbooking and Creativity - dedicating time for scrapbooks, and being creative each day.
7. Christmas in July - Come up with gifts for Christmas and start making them to be more prepared for gifts throughout the holidays
8. Making time for friends and family - Those lunch dates you always say will happen one day, make them happen.  A month of making dates for coffee, lunch and catching up with old friends.
9. New Recipes - Digging out all those recipe books and try some new dishes, who knows they may become new family favorites!
10. Something new - doing things or eating things that are different from the same old choices, try the things I've never thought to try before.
11. Count your pages - Spend a month using all your current scrapbooking and crafting products on hand.  Count how much you get done
12. Combo - one month to do several of my favorites from list above

Now I just need to choose the months on which they will apply - with the first month being a month without made in China... lets see how this goes!

 

One little word

I have been going back and forth trying to decide my word for 2012.  Last years word CHALLENGE really worked out well for me.  I challenged myself throughout the year to do things out of my comfort zone and now have a great year of memories and I'm more willing to try something new!

This year I was tossing around words like Embrace, Enlighten, Educate, Trust, Belief to see which one would stick, and I kept coming back to ENLIGHTEN since it seemed to encompass them all.

en·light·en

[en-lahyt-n] 

verb (used with object)

1. to give intellectual or spiritual light  to; instruct;impart knowledge to: We hope the results of our research will enlighten our colleagues.

2. Archaic . to shed light  upon.

Synonyms 
1.  illumine, edify, teach, inform. 

Keeping with the education, that I plan to continue and learning more about things like my mothers illness, better health and fitness and of course improving my running performance, it seemed to cover them all. While also covering things like trust and belief as I enlighten myself to them.

Do you have a word to define your year?  Check out Ali Edwards blog to learn more!

2012 running goals

With the new year around the corner, we needed to firm up our plans to reach our goal of 12 half marathons in 2012.  Trying to plan around events known and unknown for the upcoming year has been a struggle... we've chosen over 12 races to give ourselves options if life gets in the way of our plans.

A few not on the list, but still in consideration are the Disney Princess, The Nike Womens in San Francisco, and the Las Vegas half...

1/28/2011            Planet Adventure Winter Half Trail Indianapolis, IN

2/11/2012            Cedars Frost Bite            Lebanon, TN

2/11/2012            Strawberry Plains Half Strawberry Plains, TN

3/18/2012            Mercy Heart Half            Cincinnati, OH

4/01/2012            Washington DC Cherry Blossom 10 mile

                             (not included in 12, but thrilled we got in)

4/15/2012            Gulf Coast Half Pensacola, FL

4/28/2011            Kentucky Derby Mini Marathon    Lousisville, KY

5/20/2012            Rite Aid Cleveland Half Cleveland, OH

5/16/2012            Cincinnati Flying Pig       Cincinnati, OH

6/10/2012            Lake Health Distance Classic       Concord, OH

6/17/2012            Canton Marathon  Canton, OH

7/21/2012            Alexian Brothers Sports Festival Hoffman Estates, IL

8/13/2012            Columbus Half Columbus, OH

8/21/2012            Little Miami Half       Cincinnati, OH

9/15/2012            USAF Half Dayton, OH

9/29/2012            Road runner Akron half marathon

10/15/2012          Indianapolis Marathon Indianapolis, IN

10/16/2012          Nationwide Columbus Marathon Columbus, OH

11/5/2012            Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Indianapolis

11/5/2012            Mason Half Marathon            Mason, OH

11/12/2012           Louisville Sports Commission Half   Louisville, KY

12/2/2012            Tour de Ashland*       Ashland, OH

Races in bold are our goal races with a few extra to cover any unforseen changes.  Looking forward to running in 2012

Check out more fitness Friday blog posts here 

Cookie Exchange

The annual cookie exchange is always a holiday treat I look forward to! Even baking 17 dozen cookies is enjoyable for me, its all a part of the holiday, and I'll come home with 16 dozen different cookies, and that can't be bad...

I am so blessed to have such a wonderful group of friends!

always a different plate you get to take home from the event

all sorts of yummy treats that taste good, and LOOK good too!

spending time with our cousin

contests for best container

 

I am grateful for this holiday time I get to share with family and friends

Remembering his birthday

In talking with my favorite farmer up the road a few months back, he had mentioned that his birthday was December 15th, and, as any female would do, I put that in my memory for a later date, because I knew I would be going back to it!

Soon December was upon us, and I began counting down to his birthday. What do you get someone for their 89th birthday? I kept asking myself this question...  but then I realized it wasn't about what we got him. It was about taking the time to visit him and remember his birthday, that is what mattered.

Chelsea picked up the balloon and cupcakes, while I tied a ribbon around the two prints I had mounted on foam core of his farm. Reaching his house, we realized he wasn't home and we would have to return later.

By the time we got back by, it was 7pm and dark out. I knew I wanted to get a picture, but at this hour I didn't know how much we'd be disturbing a farmer whose wake up time was surely in the 5 o'clock hour.  We knocked at the door... no answer, and when I opened the screen to knock again, I found his keys left in the door.  

After a moments hesitation I turned the keys and opened the door, he lives in an old farm house, so this only led me to another door and his basement. I could hear the television playing one of those shows I remember watching when I was a kid and knocked again, after a bit of shuffling, he arrived at the door.  

It was 7pm and he was alone on his 89th birthday watching what sounded like some TV land show from the 70's, he arrived at the door smiling. He had no expectations of his birthday, what he had gotten that day had been enough, as he is with every day of his life, always happy with what he has.

While he couldn't believe we had remembered his birthday, he was even happier after our visit, and so was I. He laughed and smiled as we told him about his keys in the door, and commented, well at least I locked it on the inside, and continued that it was too many birthdays that made him forget. Just before we left, Chelsea hugged him and we again said Happy Birthday. He talked of how lucky he is for all the great neighbors he has, but truly we are the lucky ones to know him.

I can only hope his evening was brighter with our visit, but I know that mine was and will be for a long time... 

 

New York

I don't think I'll ever get bored on visiting New York City. There is always something to see, always something going on, and at Christmas time... always busy!

The tree at Rockefeller Center

We arrived early, and got a quick tour of the city from our bus driver... seeing the new building going up at the 911 site, and how much progress they've made, since it was just a year ago I was here!

We got to see so many things this trip and I couldn't believe how much we had done by 10am

top of the rock was an awesome site I'd recommend for anyone visiting the city

So much fun outside and inside this store!

Strawberry fields was amazing and one of Zach's top spots to visit

lunch in china town and then a walk through little italy

the windows at Macy's

the crowd at Macy's!

Times Square

the crowd of santas throughout the city all gathered in times square!

Remembering Ryan

Today Ryan would be 24 years old. It's hard to believe, since I only knew him as a sweet, small boy...

In keeping his memory alive I enjoy paying it forward throughout the day and sharing Ryan's story. This year we are also looking into building a scholarship for Ryan that will continue to keep his story and memory alive!

one of my favorites

Happy Birthday Ryan, hope your getting lots of cake!

2011 goals

And so yesterday was the day I met one of my 2011 goals of running 1000 miles!

It was an awesome feeling, and I could have even cried, but didn't, as I finished running 10 miles, on the treadmill no less! And not only did I reach that goal, but I ran those 10 miles in 97 minutes, which is just shy a 10 minute mile, and for me, and 10 miles.... that's pretty darn good!

So now here I am on this fourth day of December, deciding if I can pull out another 100 miles and make it 1100 miles for 2011?

 

December Work in Progress details

Ahh, some time to play...

I had an idea as soon as I looked at the January Work in Progress kit, and with my stash of mini books started to play.

I first painted the chipboard book with red paint, and then sprinkled with glitter, only to find I didn't like the look as much as I thought, so I painted another coat over that and fell in love.

and quotes are always my favorite to put a mini together quickly!

The biggest part of putting a mini book together is coming up with a theme, once I'm there, everything seems to flow easily, most of the time a specific sticker sheet or paper can give you the theme your looking for.

I still have to journal some pages, but the quotes themselves say a lot!