Need Something to Read?

I make it a point to always read the book club book for the month.  Even if we don't actually talk much about the book at our monthly get-together, I like to have it read.  And I usually like our book choices.  But I absolutely loved February's book choice.  It's called The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. 

I had a hard time putting the book down and read it all in a day and a half.  I think if I hadn't had a date, I would have just read it in one fell swoop.  This book has an intriguing story filled with magic, secrets, and love; all bound to and happening in the setting of an unusual circus that is only open at night.  I'm not sure if my fellow book club girls liked it as much as I did because we don't meet until the first week of February, but I'd recommend this book to any of my friends.

Happy 2012!!!

Year End Recap - 11 in 2011

Hard to believe that 2011 is already over.  It seems like just yesterday that I was turning 27... And now we're all the way back to my birthday month.  I did a lot of fun things this year and enjoyed keeping track of my goals/resolutions monthly.

11. Finished the mini-marathon back in May!

10. I never did have a party at my house.  But I did host book club, had several dinners with friends and sisters, and had both family and friends over to hang out at various points during the year.  Maybe I'll have a birthday party for myself in January...

9. I read all the book club books for the year plus a few extras for good measure.  We have a great list for 2012 and I can't wait to spend more evenings with all the girls.

8. I fulfilled my bridesmaid duties for Erin's wedding back in October.  It was a wonderful vacation and such a joy to be a part of Erin and Ben's big day!

7. I did okay with the organized chore list.  I'd like to think I don't need things written down, but it does help remind me that it's time to vacuum again.  I think this'll be a permanent thing (or some variable of it).

6. I never did learn any Spanish.  But I do still own the Spanish for ER nursing CDs, so maybe I'll start that in January too.

5. Saving money for a set goal was helpful this year.  I used it to buy my new bike.  And now it's going into a "new-car" fund.  It'd be more fun to spend it, but I know I'll be glad in a few years when I'm car shopping.

4. Try new things?  I did my fair share of this throughout the year.  As far as December went, I can't say I really did anything new and exciting.  I did open a Roth IRA... not exciting at all, but at least new :)

3. My goal of letting things go this year?  I'll give myself a pass on this.  I definitely purged stuff physically which was the easy half.  And this month, I think I did a good job of not dwelling on things I have little to no control over.

2. Going to services at least once a month was a huge fail.  And one that I'm fairly disappointed in myself about.  It shouldn't have been that hard, but I only managed to make it to the High Holy Days services.  Two out of twelve is not super.  I'm putting this on my reevaluation list for 2012.

1. And last but not least, enjoying the small things.  In December and throughout the whole year, I feel pretty good about this resolution.  This month I got to catch up with my Riley crew and spend some time with my high school friends!  Not to mention the wonderful holiday time with the family!

(Yes, I'm in scrubs in these pics.  I met them out when I got off work at 0030.  Well worth it!)

I'm making a couple of resolutions this year, but no 12 in 2012.  11 was a lot to keep track of and while some of them weren't truly resolutions as much as goals, I'd rather focus on a few personal things this coming year.  All in all it was a pretty great year.  And I'm hoping for equally good and maybe even better things to come in 2012. 

Happy New Year to all of my family and friends!

Putting Pinterest to Use

I love Pinterest.  I could/do spend hours on there looking at all the fun/cute/yummy/inspiring things it has to offer.  But as much as I pin the craft and food ideas, what I've used most so far are the hair ideas.  I  have always been a creature of habit when it comes to my hair.  I have 5 go-to's.  Down and straight.  Down and curly.  A regular ponytail.  A messy bun.  Or a French braid.  I never really stray from those basics.  Maybe I'd throw a side pony in or have my curly hair clipped back.  But I wasn't creative with hair-do's and definitely didn't know how to make my hair stay with just bobby pins.  But thanks to Pinterest, I'm branching out.  I was going to get my hair cut shorter, but now that I have all these fun ideas, I think the long hair is staying for a while.  Who know 6 bobby pins could do this to my hair?!

Or 3 knots, 1 bun, and 10 bobby pins to do this?  Love it!

Pinterest

I joined Pinterest yesterday.  I had been putting it off because I was pretty sure it would be a huge time suck.  But after hearing enough good things about it from friends and family, I finally caved.  My cousin Angela was nice enough to send me an invite.  And I immediately realized I was right about the black hole of time that it will be.  But I am already too interested in it to consider un-joining.  So I'll just have to fit in a little more internet time into my schedule and cut out something else, maybe cleaning ;)

November Recap - 11 in 2011

It's getting so close to the end of the year.  November flew by and it's crazy to think it's already almost halfway through December.  Time seems to go so much quicker around the holidays.

11. Mini marathon = done.

10. No party plans in the works for people to see the new house.  And with the holidays here, I think this one will have to be bumped to 2012.

9. I read November's book club book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  It was so good, I'm now halfway through the next book in the trilogy.  Can't wait for the movie to come out!

8. Erin's wedding is past.  It was so much fun!  I'm kind of sad all that bestie time is over :(

7. The organized chore list is still on track.  Some days I'm even getting two things done so I don't have to worry the next day about fitting a chore in.

6. I didn't think learning Spanish would be as important at my new job in Carmel, but I still could have used it a couple of times.  I'll have to think about forwarding this goal to the 2012 list.

5. Saving a set amount of money is going well.  Contributed more to the new car fund this month!

4. New things I did in November?  I started and quit a second job in one day (not awesome, but definitely new).  I got to see Breaking Dawn at a pre-premiere premiere (8pm before the midnight premiere).  Ash and I went ice skating for the first time in who knows how many years!  Hmmm... that might be all I can think of.

3. Letting things go happened both with stuff and feelings in November.  I cleaned out some of my closets, which was desperately needed.  And I tried really hard not to let some annoyances I had this month show to others around me.

2. No Shabbat services in November.  I think high holy days might be it for the year.

1. I feel like I've really been enjoying all the small things this month.  We spent Thanksgiving in Texas which was so much fun.  Lots of family time with food, drinks, and card games.  I also had lunches with friends, sister time, and some great dates with a fun new guy ;)  And yes, that picture is half of the cousins staring at the TV during Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure they noticed I was taking pictures.

Only a few weeks until the end of the year and I'm sure it will go just as quickly as this last month!

Front Door = Fresh Produce

I had previously bought a Groupon for GreenBean Indiana delivery.  They deliver fresh seasonal produce to your doorstep.  When I got home from work, my first delivery was waiting on the porch!  It all looks so good.  I got lettuce, crimini mushrooms, avocado, brussels sprouts, carrots, green beans, apples, pears, and tangerines.  Since it's 0100 in the morning it really wasn't the right time for cooking...  But I did have a tangerine and it was so yummy.  Can't wait to get into the veggies tomorrow!