On Profile Blurbs & Resolutions

I guess it's time to rethink my profile blurb:

2007 is a brand new year, ripe with possibilities. It's my year to get healthy, organized and nourish my creative side once more. I will give myself time and permission to write on a regular basis. I can't call myself a writer if I'm not writing. And so I will. Look out world; here I come!

I wrote that last January, filled with hope for the new year. I shouldn't feel bad about 2007 since I accomplished some of what I'd hoped to. On the "It's my year to get healthy" front, I've lost over 26 pounds. As for the "nourish my creative side" part, I attended a wonderful private writing conference (which ended up being pretty expensive) because I decided I was worth it, as well as joined a new critique group.

Finally, the "I can't call myself a writer if I'm not writing" section... That part's more complicated. I succeeded in finally getting it through my head that I have permission to write every day, but the actual writing is the tough part. I had to put my healer story on the back burner because the plot was going nowhere. I started a witch story, but I can't seem to get my voice right. I have been writing, but not as regularly as I should. December was so busy, I didn't write a single word! That can't happen again next year. I won't allow it.

All in all, I'm pleased with the strides I've made in 2007, I just need to kick it up a notch. I need to renew my goal to write every day, even if it's only for a half hour. I'd like to write for two hours, but most days I don't have that kind of time. Once I have a half hour down, I'll up it to a full hour. I should be able to manage that.

I'm off to mull over my new profile blurb and my New Year's Resolutions. Have you been thinking about yours?

Wrapping and Baking

Thanks to the stores being open till midnight yesterday, I finished my shopping and was able to spend the whole day wrapping and baking. I found the cutest glass cookie jars last night which I've filled with cookies for my special neighbors. (Yup! The baking is done!) Aren't they adorable?

I have my family's presents (which we are exchanging tomorrow) all wrapped, plus a few for my husband's family (which we'll be exchanging Christmas night) so I'm in pretty good shape. Now I'm off to deal with the laundry and wash my hair. It's always exciting around here, let me tell ya.

I hope all of you are doing as well as I am. :)

Ohhh!

Today a vendor brought a homemade dark chocolate cake with thick, gooey, and very, very sweet coconut icing that made me eternally grateful I've been passing up 95% of the goodies around the office. I took a small slice (considered larger) and called it breakfast.

I don't understand people who use the expression "too sweet." To me there is no such thing. After I ate that piece of cake, I was happy, satisfied and energized for hours. Nothing lifts my mood like sugar.

Christmas Craziness

Sorry I'm so quiet. Christmas is kicking my butt. After much shopping every night this week, I've managed to narrow my list down to 11 people--one of whom is my mom who gets multiple gifts--plus my neighbors (and some family) who usually get baked goods, and did I happen to mention nothing is wrapped? I'm looking at 20 such gifts right now, sitting on my desk, taunting me with their nakedness.

If I play my cards right (and no, there will be no Christmas cards this year, but possibly New Year cards) I may get everything done on time. No slacking for me this weekend!

Healthy Lifestyle Update: Last week's half pound brings the total to 26 pounds lost. Temptations have been great this week, but not as great as I thought they'd be. Sometimes it just takes putting yourself in the right frame of mind. I'm there 95% of the time. The other 5%, I splurge, or walk away and pine. :)

Happy frantic holiday shopping to you all.

temptation pt II

Thursday: Later in the day someone put a macadamia nut and fudge pie in the break room. You can bet I was jazzed I didn't eat a donut when I cut myself a bite-sized piece. Oh, was it ever delicious!

Friday: We had our company holiday party and I figured my diet was shot. Surprisingly, the buffet was small (but nice) and not as dangerous as buffets can be. I filled half my plate with salad and had about 1/3 of a cup of pasta and ate a couple of ounces of chicken breast. The dessert table had mini (1" size) items. I had just 2, German choc cake and a fruit tart. Diet accomplished!

I also won a prize, which should be titled "temptation pt III", a $50 gift card to the Cheesecake Factory and a $25 gift card to the movies. It's partially my fault I won this particular prize. There were 30 prizes and we received 3 tickets to put in a little box next to the prizes we wanted. Being Healthy Lifestyle Girl, I could have put all three of them into the women's bike box, but I didn't. :)

Life is full of temptation at this time of year. The closer we get to Christmas, the greater the temptation. So far, so good. I lost 1/2 pound last week and am fitting into stuff I haven't been able to wear in a couple of years, like the red pantsuit I wore to the party yesterday. I liked the way I looked in it, so I'm not going to let myself go too crazy this season.

temptation!

My uncle used to say, "I can resist anything but temptation." He was a lover of corny jokes. Anyway, two different people brought donuts today. I'm not really a donut fan (fried things bother me, especially in the morning), but I really want one today. A cake one, white cake with white icing and sprinkles. I just don't want to eat 15 grams of fat at breakfast since I've been trying to keep it between 20-25 grams for the whole day and my lean cuisine is a higher fat one today, 9 grams.

Sigh.

But I really want a donut.

Really, really do.

December Already?

I simply cannot believe it's December, let alone December 12 already! I have 45 people on my list (a couple of those people I buy multiple gifts) and I've only crossed off 7 of them. I usually send 90 to 100 cards and I've yet to write one. I always bake 8 to 10 recipes of cookies, candies and breads for at least 10 different families and I've yet to take out my recipe card file. And I don't even want to think about the 8 gifts I usually send to our various off-site locations at work. Last year I baked each of them a nice-sized tin of fudge. This year they'll be lucky to get a storebought tin of butter cookies!

I am in serious trouble this year!

It's going to kill me monetarily, but I'm going to have to resort to the gift card solution for most of my list. Finding bargains all year round is so much cheaper, but I just didn't seem to see any this year. As for the cards? I may just snap a family photo, have photo cards made and send them without including handwritten letters--a first. I feel guilty that I'm even considering not baking this year, but what's a girl to do? If I make all one thing, it'll be faster. Perhaps some nice cranberry-orange bread loaves wrapped up with foil and a bow will have to do. It'll be a refreshing change from my usual assorted holiday platters. And store-bought tins of cookies it'll have to be for work, cuz there's no time to make all that fudge. ::sigh::

How are you doing this year? Ahead? Behind? Do you have any holiday tricks for getting everything done? I'm all ears.

New Ace Pics

Ace has been a member of our family for nearly a week now and his transformation is incredible! Gone is the hyper little Frenchie who thought everything was his, and in his place, a calmer, loving, more well-mannered boy. We are so happy to have him.

Here he is just hanging out:


Ace and Lulu flashing Bully grins:


And finally, a little photo we like to call "Dogs are not allowed on the furniture in our house":

Waiting on Critiques

Friday, it was my turn to post a scene in an online writing workshop. The writer is not allowed to make any comments regarding the critiques for the first week. (Basically, week one is for critiques, and week two is for chatting about the critiques.) So far, two members out of a possible 24 have written crits. I expect to get at least a dozen or more. (We have two scenes per month, but only have to critique one of them, though most of us try to do them all.)

I'm really open to, and interested in, anything people have to say. While the scene I posted is something I've worked hard on, it just doesn't feel right to me. I don't mind writing a really awful first draft, but the first chapter needs to feel right in order to go on and write that first draft all the way through to the end. The first chapter will change once I rewrite the manuscript, of course, but getting that feel of the protagonist's voice (and mine for each particular work) is essential.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to the various critiques and opinions and hoping to take a little bit from each one so I can improve my chapter and, in turn, the focus of my entire manuscript.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Healthy Lifestyle Update

Today the scale says I've lost 25 pounds. Yay! I'm halfway to my goal. Just thought I'd share.