New Year's Eve & 2012 Resolutions

2011 was a year of ups and downs.  Ryan was technically home, but his ship happened to be out to sea the majority of the year.  School was extremely challenging, but I graduated!  Moving without Ryan wasn't fun, but thanks to friends and family, the move was successful! A few close and very admirable lives were lost and will be remembered with smiles on our faces, tears in our eyes, pride in knowing them, and love in our hearts.  J-man came to live with us!   Emotions ran high. Challenges were plenty, but conquered with determination.  Overall, it was a year of growing and learning.  Here's to hoping 2012 is rocking with less tears and more smiles, new adventures and lots of love!  Happy New Year!

My Night Through Photos:

Curls!!

Me and my honey!

I love these two!

It's nice to start the new year with goals and a sense of extreme ambition, but when those goals aren't accomplished, it's quite the downer.  This year, instead of setting the annual lose 10 pounds and workout more, I have decided to improve my health and general state of well being in other ways.

Number One: Have a More Positive Attitude

Over the past few years I feel as if I've become much more negative or less optimistic and I don't like it, so I am going to change it starting now.  Yes, this transformation has officially begun.  To achieve my positive attitude goal, I have strongly encourage Ryan, with a little guilt, to join me in my mission.  It's easier to have a partner in crime!

Number Two: Write More Letters

I love, and I mean LOVE, receiving and writing letters, so I am going to write a bit more this year and hopefully make others smile!  This is in addition to birthdays and holidays.  It's the receiving a handwritten letter in the mail on a rainy Tuesday excitement that I want people to feel. 

Number Three: Be More Creative

In my personal style and home decor, I plan on being a bit edgy and embracing what I think works well together as opposed to what catalogs tell me work well together.  In achieving this goal, I will become more confident and expressive in my style...hopefully!  Cooking is another aspect of life that I want to be more creative in...try new recipes, making more from scratch, maybe even starting a cookbook...that's really ambitious though.

Number Four: Health & Happiness

Eating healthier, getting outside, drinking more water, flossing more often, using lotion, smiling, praying, reading, more dates...doing things that are better for my body.  I am not putting a weight loss goal on myself.  I am putting a be healthier in all aspects of life goal on myself.  Let's see how this works. 

And in brief, I would like to incorporate the following into my life a little more in this 2012 year:

Dancing...I love to dance, but haven't done much of it lately, so I'm breaking out my dancing shoes this year!

Photography...with my sweet camera and new editing program, I am determined to improve my photography skills.  This isn't quite a new year resolution; it's more of a I have time, so I'm finally going to do it!

GMATs...Yes, they are being taken before March.  I am determined to study and do well on them.  Don't ask me my score.  Standardized tests are NOT my specialty, but if I want to go for my Phd, I must do well on them. 

Couponing...Over the past few months, I have fallen off the bandwagon and it is time to hop back on.  Time to bring on the savings!

Oh and being employed would be nice, but that isn't something I can achieve solely on my own.  The applying process, oh I've got that down, it's the being hired process that is a little shaky these days. 

I wish all of my friends, family, and readers a blessed 2012! 

Much love.