In with the new....

"I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second."
Bridget Jones' Diary

I typically do not believe in making resolutions on the sole account that I can never keep them.  To me, it seems a bit soul crushing to be all hopped up on the "newness" of the year, to make these promises to yourself, and inevitably break them... don't you? 

On the flip side, I'm in a rut.  I'm finding that I'm in this endless cycle of not really being 100% happy in the end due to the previous choices and habits that have led me to this place.  That being said, I think it is time to resolve to make some resolutions.  (Disclaimer: the previous statement does not allude to anything cryptic or indicate regret with where I am, so please don't start the rumor mill... I'm simply stating that I'm at a standstill and now it's time to make things happen!)

Here are the things that I'm hoping to do in 2010:

1. In 2010, I will be more in charge of my happiness and will seek out situations, people, and places that make me happy.  Basically, I will remove as much negativity from my environment as possible.
2. In 2010, I will not be afraid of change.
3. In 2010, I will get in shape.  Seriously.  And to do this, I will work out no less than 3 days a week, and one of those days will be with a personal trainer (at least through the end of February).
4. In 2010, I will keep the house in better shape.  Chores will be completed daily, rather than weekly.
5. In 2010, I will pay off all of my credit cards.  And I already have a plan in action to do this! :)
6. In 2010, I will demonstrate more patience with my family and friends.

There are probably other things I want to do, but these are the big things that have been looming in my mind the past few weeks.  I think they are all do-able.  Some of the prospective outcomes of these resolutions are already frightening to me, but I have to remind myself of resolution #2 up there, right?  I'm hoping that in one year from today, I can look back at this post and check off all 6 of the resolutions.  Or at least say that I worked on accomplishing them up until that point.... and that they didn't die off with the final bubbles in my champagne glass tonight!

Happy New Year everyone.... I know it keeps being said, but 2010 is going to be a great year!

You're so vain....

So I had a nice 4 hour spa day yesterday and I am feeling wonderful daaaaaahling! The reason why I was so lucky to enjoy a 4 hour spa day is a long story -- basically, I was gifted one at Mother's Day by the hubbs, and the spa felt that I needed another one due to some things that happened while I was there. I didn't feel that a re-do was necessary, but who am I to turn down a spa day?

At any rate, I had an AMAZING facial yesterday. I have never had dermaplaning done (not sure if I spelled that right....), and I think I'm officially addicted. Up until this morning, I had been contemplating Botox, Restalyne or something to help with what I can only describe as Father Time taking over my face. Perhaps it is motherhood, or maybe my uber-stressful job, but I am noticing fine lines like never before. I know it is inevitable, but I am 28 for crying out loud!

I hadn't planned on having dermaplaning done yesterday, but the girl who did my facial said she does it to almost all of her clients, and honestly I didn't know she had done it until it was already done. To those of you who don't know what it is, basically, they take a surgical blade and exfoliate your entire face with it. Since it is a blade, it removes all the baby fine hair that covers your face along with all the nasty, dead skin that is sitting there on your face too. Because it is a fairly intense form of exfoliation, I understand that you shouldn't do it more than 1x every 4 or so weeks.

At any rate, I was washing my face and noticed that all of those fine lines that seemed so prominent just yesterday morning were.... gone! Not like disappeared, but I seriously did not notice them until I was nose-pressed-against-the-mirror examining my skin. I put on my foundation (love love love Korres' lightweight foundation) and I think I finally have that airbrushed look that I have longed for when looking at all those gorge models in the magazines..... *sigh* love it!

Has anyone else had dermaplaning done? Am I just a bit kooky for liking it so much? Honestly, I am not one to get facials that often, but it is one of my new year's resolutions to get them more often (along with some others that I'm working on.... look for that post by this weekend), and I'm definitely feeling like more dermaplaning is in my future.....

The most wonderful time of the year!

I absolutely LOVE Christmas. A little piece of my heart breaks when we have to take down the ornaments, even though I know it is only a year until the next Christmas. And I've found that I enjoy Christmas more as an adult than I did as a child. Or perhaps it is just that I enjoy it differently. I truly do love giving gifts, but what gets my heart jumping for joy are the lights on the houses.... the holiday songs.... and being together with family and friends. Here are a few shots of our Christmas... enjoy!

Christmas Centerpiece....

Oh you know, just a little bit late. I'm hoping to catch up on blog posts today, and as long as Campbell is watching Blues Clues, I might just get it done! :)

I've been wanting to post this for a couple of weeks. I put together this centerpiece for our dining room when I was in the throws of decorating. It cost me a whopping $12 to put together... seriously! I love it though, and love the way it puts a little glow on the table ( the picture doesn't it do it much justice, however).

Here's the breakdown on supplies:

- Large jar = $5 at Walmart (can you believe that? Might have been a mis-price!)

- Strand of battery operated lights= $7

- A bunch of un-used ornaments= Free (but I think they were like $1 a few years ago at Ikea)

- Extra garland unused from a few years ago= Free

I pretty much just willy-nilly tossed the stuff in the jar, turned on the lights and viola! Christmas joy! I'm loving the the battery operated lights so much that I'm thinking of incorporating them in all of my centerpieces... at least for a little while! :)

Where does the time go???

Ok, seriously. I was hoping that I would be much better with staying up on posting on the blog. Ugh. Time just slips away from me so quickly, especially with the holidays. What have I been doing with all my "free" time, you ask? Ummm.. here's a quick run down.

- decorating the house

- Christmas shopping

- CLEANING!

- working (blaaaaah)

- and then of course, dealing with Miss Campbell being sick....

The house is all Christmas'd up! I've gotten creative with centerpieces, so I'll post those in the next few days, as well as our home all decorated.

In the meantime, here's a shot of the fam. This was intended to be the Christmas card this year, but alas- we've decided to forgo Christmas cards this year. No time to get them done! Soooo....

Happy Holidays from the Norwoods!