Happy 2010!

I know this is a little late, but Happy New Year!

I've taken a little more time than most do to reflect on the past year and what's to come in 2010. Mainly because I've been too lazy and sore to get off the new couch. Why am I sore? Well, because Billy and I have decided to do P90X. Again. More on that later though.

Overall, 2009 was pretty darn awesome. It didn't start off so great because my grandmother passed away, so we started off the year at a funeral. I still haven't taken her name out of my cell phone contacts and I think about her all the time, especially when I make her amazing Pumpkin Cake and whipped potatoes.

I turned 26.

Billy and I got engaged.

Billy and I got married.

So yeah, I think 2009 was a great year. I don't know how 2010 could top it, but if it doesn't, I'd be ok with that. I'm actually looking forward to just BEING. Last year seemed so crazy and full of excitement that I can't wait to just let everything sink in and enjoy it.

I do have some goals for 2010 though. Our two main objectives for this year can be complete by the end of March if we stick with them, and I hope we do!

1--P90X. If you have not heard of P90X you may be living under a rock. No, it's not a cult. It's a DVD-based workout program, but it is INTENSE! This is our 3rd go-round with it. The first time we started around September, then all the wedding excitement and busy-ness got in the way of us finishing. We started AGAIN shortly after we got back from our honeymoon in Hawaii, but then the holidays hit and, well, you know how that goes. We started on Saturday the 2nd, so tonight will be our 4th workout this week: the dreaded YogaX. It is like Yoga on Crack AND Steroids. I hate it. But I love it.

2--Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. My dad has barked at me to do this for I don't know how long. I actually enjoy Dave Ramsey. He makes learning about finances and how to take care of yourself financially quite enjoyable. We listened to the first lesson this weekend and filled out our Quickie Budget. We're in decent shape. We have a good grip on what our debts are and what we will need to do to be debt-free. The hard part of this is, like anything, following it and sticking to it. I really want Billy and I to have a very financially sound future, and I think if we start this now we have a good shot at it. Plus the fact that DR's office is around the corner from my office doesn't hurt. And it's across the street from the mall. Did he do that on purpose?? Sure, until we get a grip on things financially our fun projects around the house may be put on hold. The camera I want will have to wait. But those are sacrifices we are willing to make!

Say your prayers that we stick with both! Encouragement in the form of comments is greatly appreciated. :)

There are a few other things I'd like to accomplish this year:

• Find a church we like and go regularly.
• For Billy and me to keep working on having a healthy marriage.
• Try at least 1 new recipe a week.
• Eat locally. Nashville has a great Farmer's Market and our neighborhood has some great local food resources and we want to start taking advantage of them. I've started reading the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and it's really shocking how much goes into getting our food from one place to another. I'm no tree-hugger here but I want to know where my food is coming from! Hopefully we can build some planter boxes in our backyard this year and do most of the gardening ourselves, but whatever we can't and don't grow ourselves is really less than a few miles away. I think we can handle that.
• Keep up the reading. I average about 3-4 books a month--less during the holidays of course, but I just love to read. I'm in a book club and for that we're reading The Help. Yes, I read 2 books at once. If I don't get them mixed up, I'll tell you about both when I finish!
• Learn to sew. My awesome in-laws Bill and Cindy (I really was blessed in that department!) gave me a sewing machine LAST Christmas. I've taken it out of the box once. Hopefully by this time next year I will have at least fired it up and figured out what the heck a bobbin is...
• Take more pictures. I have a pretty decent point-and-shoot. I've somehow managed to jack up the settings on it trying to shoot in Manual mode, but I'll get it figured out. Pretty self-explanatory.
• Get up earlier. Ugh. Not doing so hot in that department.
• Get better at the housekeeping thing. Having a job really gets in the way of that, doesn't it? Really I would just like to get up early enough to make the bed for the day (see above). Stay on top of the laundry--which would actually require folding it after drying it instead of dumping it in the basket. I'd like to start making our own cleaning products, try to not kill plants, etc. We'll see.

So that's pretty much it. I will definitely update on how the P90X and DR stuff goes. You'll get some book reports. You'll of course see some pictures, of food and the house. House pictures will inspire better housekeeping efforts, so I think this all works together quite nicely.

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

mg