Assessing 2010

My goals list for 2010 was varied and long. I was able to accomplish a few of the items, but most of them are still in progress. 2011 will see the completion of a few more of those goals as well as the birth of some new ones...but I'll post about that later.

1. Blogging. Blogging everyday went really well until my laptop died. I managed to use one of the kids computers for a few weeks until we started the process of moving back to Michigan. With all the hustle and bustle, blogging fell by the wayside. We are still not settled yet, but I've been feeling guilty about my neglected blog, so I thought a recap of 2010 might be a good way to put things into perspective. I still have no computer to call my own, so blogging for 2011 will still be sporadic, though I'm hoping to make a better job at keeping it up this time around.


2. Project 365. Ugh! I really, really tried to make sure I took at least one picture every single day. At first I was upset with myself for missing a day or two, and then a whole span of 11 days went by without a single snapshot. So now I've come to realize that it just wasn't meant to be and I shouldn't beat myself up about it. I haven't printed pictures at all since May. (shudder!) I have been keeping track of my photos and making notes here and there for when I'm ready to assemble the scrapbook, but I'm not nearly as on top of it as I was in 2009. Let's hope 2011 goes a little smoother.

3. Marathon. I started my training right on time. I did very well keeping up, with only a few lazy days. I made it to 15 miles and then we began the very unorganized move to Michigan. Once again my plans to participate in a marathon race have been derailed. But not in 2011! Oh, no! This is the year. I'm doing it.


4. Web Store. I designed the blog header, worked on graphics for the webstore page, even signed up with my store name. I made a handful of objects d'art to sell but never got around to adding them to the site. Again, moving takes a lot out of you.

5. Photo Challenges. Pull out tissue...My Rebel sat in a padded cell for 6 months without a single click of the lens to brighten its days. I didn't take any pictures until Christmas and then it was just normal Christmas stuff. I've had neither the time nor the inclination to participate in a photo challenge...sniff...so sad.

6. Book List. My goal was to double 2009's reading list. I don't think I made it to 82 books this year. I was keeping a detailed list on my laptop, but since it died over 6 months ago I couldn't tell you how many books I've read in 2010. I do know that it's probably very close to the same number as '09. I'm hoping 2011 will see an increase in leisure time for reading as well as better documentation of said reading list!


7. One Little Word: ACTION. The first half of the year saw a lot of action. I was doing quite well with my goals. Moving across the country put a damper on most of those goals, but I still kept them in mind, turning them over, examining them, re-evaluating them. I have a new word in mind for 2011. I'm still mulling it over. I'll let you know what it is as soon as I know for sure that my word choice is the correct one for the new year. That one little word is going to have a huge impact - so it needs to be the right word!

8. Debt. We did manage to pay off the truck loan early, and got rid of one credit card. That was as far as we got. We are still in debt. I seriously dislike being in debt. Debt reduction is still on the goals list for 2011.

9. Homeschool. Things got off to a fairly good start this fall. Even with the moving around the kids were able to maintain their workload. The holidays always set us back, but now that it's the new year, school will once again become our focus. Good things are happening.

2010 Top 10

In celebration of the last year, here are my Top 10 photos of 2010. Making my "2010 Favorites" file was so fun. The last year has seen a lot of changes for our family. So many good memories here! I'm excited to see what 2011 brings!

This photo is fun because you can see us in the reflection in the left lens of Mickey's sunglasses.


Our home away from home: Winter Garden Little League fields


Little Man at baseball camp, knocking out some batting practice


The Girl's new hair cut, with some fun color :)


Little Man in his All-Star uniform


Friday morning coffee dates


Making the trek north to Michigan


Enjoying the fall colors


The first big snow storm of the year


Playing with Christmas lights

Journaling Me: Sewing Memories

I actually used to have one of these. My mom had picked one up somewhere and stored it in my bedroom. It was just something that took up valuable play space until I took a Home Economics class in 7th grade. That class spurred my passion for sewing. My mom taught me how to thread the machine and I taught myself how to sew stuff on this very old, very cool sewing machine!  It makes me sad to think about how this beautiful machine met a dastardly end when my parents divorced. Anything my mom was unable to get out of the house ended up in a huge bonfire. So sad that my dad was so spiteful that he would destroy her belongings. Everytime I see one of these machines now, I am swept back to my early days of sewing leggings and big jackets, turning old clothes into something new and stitching away at halloween costumes.

Project 365: Week 6

WEEK #6

Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010  Jeremy and his friends set up a little tent with his sleeping bag so they could stay out of the amazingly cold wind and play their video games.

Monday, Feb. 1, 2010  I made a batch of brownies and tried cutting them with the heart cutters. I sprinkled them with a little bit of powdered sugar. yummy :)

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010  Chad's checkerboard scarf is all finished!

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010  Blue Me Away nail polish. Love it, love it, love it!

Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010  Working on scanning pictures from MY childhood. I've started my Journaling Me Project and I'll need some of these photos to go with the journaling.

Friday, Feb. 5, 2010  Birthday cupcakes. I played around with my food colorings and used some pretty ribbon to make my cupcakes look like balloons! I used my pretty liners but they don't show up very well.

Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010  J had baseball camp today, so I spent my birthday working in the concession stand at the little league fields. It was a nice day, but very cold, very strong winds again. Glad we had hot cocoa!

It's my Birthday!

Happy Birthday to me! It's the birthday almost all women dread: 39!
(not me!)

I can't believe it. I certainly don't feel it. Nor do I look it :)

 One of my big projects for this year is an "all-about-me" scrapbook. Cause let's face it, I don't show up in the family scrapbooks all that often! :(   The idea is to answer a question about me, my childhood, my interests, etc, on a regular basis, I was thinking bi-weekly- but if I get really ambitious I'll try for daily, to use in the scrapbook. The hardest part will be finding pictures to go with some of these. I don't have a lot of childhood photos to choose from at the moment. I have a list of a hundred or so questions, that I'll answer randomly. This project will start tomorrow. Today, I'm just going to have fun!

January Photo Challenge: Reflections

In an attempt to get a bit more creative with my photography, I've looked up a gaggle of photo challenges on the internet and made myself a list. One of the items on my New Years goal list is to learn to use my cameras to their fullest potential, and get out there and take some photos! Challenge number 1: Reflections

Downtown Disney window display. You can see me and Chad in the bottom left corner if you look really close. I was just a little too short, so you can only see the top half of my face.

This is the pond at the RV park in Winter Garden. I timed it just right to get some nice movement on the surface as well as the play of light and shadow. I think I annoyed the ducks, though.

And this is me, hunkered down under the slide. I'm such a goof.

I used my little Sony Cybershot for this photoshoot. It was way too cold outside to pull out the Canon. My hands were frozen and sleet was sliding from the corners of my eyes. The wind was insanely bitter. But despite the weather I managed to snap 50 photos! How 'bout me?! These 3 are my favorites so far. The month isn't gone yet, so I plan to add a few more photo shoots to my challenge files. Wanna play?