a new year. (minus 14 days)

new year's came ... and went. i was sick ... a week later, i was better. i finally de-christmased ... then it took marc a week to bring in the bins from the garage so i could put it all away. we had snow ... then it rained all day on friday and melted everything ... then the temps plummeted and it all froze. you want to talk about a blank slate? this is it. we're starting from absolute zero. everything is in "rev up" mode right now.

2013 is two weeks old and it still feels like we're trying to get traction.

my birthday arrived last week, bringing with it turning 39 and trying to figure out how to avoid hitting 40 in 365 days.

however, i made the best of it. folded some laundry ... got my car washed ... took myself out for birthday lunch at noodles & co after a visit to barnes & noble. all good.

marc had made "surprise reservations" for dinner. all i knew was that we were headed downtown. the options were limitless, so i didn't even try to guess where we'd go. turns out, we went to a steakhouse. full of men in suits. it was yummy, though i've decided this year i will "surprise" marc with dinner somewhere that makes amazing quinoa salad and grilled fish.

however, i also got the complete series box set of "the west wing," and that is pretty fabulous.

and, as i do every year, i finally sat down to think through my intentions for the coming year. no resolutions ... that seems like too much pressure. but i always need a plan with some guidelines once mid-january hits and the holidays are safely put away.

so this year i will ...

1. get my butt back to the gym. once this cough goes away.

2. do one project around the house, start-to-finish, every month. in the pipeline: finally hang pictures on the walls; get the pantry organized; get our bathroom organized; finally put together and make useable the crafty room; plant something in at least one of the beds around the house; start a raised garden.

3. get the photography biz fully up and running, including new promo materials and a new web site. and rediscover the joy of taking photos just to take photos.

4. be a more present mom. take the time with my kids that they need, and try to keep a little elbow room in our days and weeks so that there's no reason to say no.

5. and take them somewhere for spring break. we haven't had a "spring break" in six years. it's time.

here's to hoping.

Comments

[Katrina]

happy belated!!! Don't let 40 scare you. :)

[Casey Boyd]

Happy Birthday! To having 365 more days of thirty something :)