New Year...Same Me...But Improving!!

2010! Finally! 2009 brought heartache and loss along with joy and new beginnings..and I'm glad it's over! What 2010 has in store for us remains to be seen. Health & happiness & and brand new beginnings.

I have the same priority goal I have every year. To lose the weight. LOL. I've been trying for it seems like forever. In 2006/2007 I lost 40 pounds. Kept 35 of it off for quite a while. But 2009 brought back 1 pound and 10 of his buddies. That's right...11. Ugh. Such a small number sure can do a lot to a girl's hips & thighs. I don't even want to talk about the belly...Gross. I'll keep up with mild humor here as I don't want to burst into tears. That's pretty much what I do when I think about it. *sigh* I don't want to be miss skinny...I want to be miss happy with me. Currently in the body department....that's a no, not happy.

My 101 has a few weight loss related goals. #4, #6, & $7. Lose 30...crunches...workouts 3/week. Let's see how that goes. I've started out positive. This morning...January 1...I've already done the "20-minute weight loss setting" workout on the elliptical machine. I honestly haven't worked out in a couple months so I'm really proud of myself today. I'm drinking water (and coffee in the near future) I had a few reduced fat wheat thins and a clementine for breakfast. I do plan on greens & beans later today though...for our wealth this year =) I must have had digestive problems last year because I recall eating a lot of greens and beans...but no 2009 wealth to speak of hmmm.

On to more 101 updates. I've been reading the Montana Creed series by Linda Lael Miller. I loved them. I read all 4 novels in a little over a week. Couldn't put them down. Something about those cowboys she writes about...

Completed goals #47, #49, #50, & #62. I finally returned that dish with the pudding I made in it. I also after searching forever it seems, found me some sunglasses. I am so picky LOL.

I did get a chia pet for Christmas. I haven't opened it yet, but I'll take pics when I do. Happy New Year.

It May Just Sound Like Rambling...

It may just sound like I'm rambling, but I need to get a quick update on here. This time of year there is barely time to sit down to read my updates..much less write a new one. I'll be better after the first of the year at this. A real quick rundown of some items I'm working on...
Got my son in Basketball. I love that. I've done several nice things for my brother lately...but only one was enough to mark it off the list. I've ordered ravioli and baked tacos off menus...and I've never ordered those things before. They were both really good. I ate at Daddy Joes for the first time. I know that's crazy. I just never got around to going there. LOL. I also ate at On The Border. Bronco's is way better than On The Border but it was ok. I've had one yardsale..not many people came out...but I made $50 so that's good. I happen to know that I'm getting a chia pet for Christmas so I'll get to grow it. =)
It's going to be easy to get back into a soap I like because I want to watch as much As The World Turns as possible. They are cancelling it September of next year. =( They should have cancelled Bold and the Beautiful and left As The World Turns alone.

I won't lie, I've been there before :)

After my date Friday night I was planning to write about visiting a restaurant I've never been to before. I almost did...technically I had never been there. I had been to one in another town about 10 years ago though. So I won't lie, I still have all my restaurants to visit. Yum. More eating out I guess :) I did get a couple things accomplished this week though. I'm getting the crunches in 3 days a week. (No weight loss to report yet...sigh) I had another night out with my mom. We ate at Ruby Tuesdays...the salad bar is so good. I wish they hadn't closed the one in town. There is no where to make your own "good" salad anymore. I finished another book. (I'll update the book blog) AND...another friend finally posted a 101 list so that one is done. Oh I almost forgot I finally got Ariel back on the rearview. It's a pewter keychain of Ariel (the little mermaid). I got her in Florida and she fell off quite a while back and I've been meaning to find a way to hang her back up there. I cleaned the car out last week and decided it was time to get it done. I love my Ariel hanging down from the rearview :) Oooh how it's the little things that tickle our fancies. Oh..btw..It was Longhorn Steakhouse that I ate at. It was SO good.

A Month Sure Can Fly By

Wow this month has really gone by! I've only got one week left to try a new recipe :). What will I ever come up with? We shall see. Pass any recommendations along. I edited a couple of my previous posts today and added pictures. Daddy's motorcycle is one. I finished the first part of the Beth Moore Daniel Bible study. The second half will be shortly after Christmas. I'm really looking forward to it. Doing 100 crunches 3 times a week just got a LOT easier as I am now in possession of an AB Lounge. Hooray for sexy abs. ROTFL. This didn't end up being month one of working out three times a week...I failed horribly at that one. I'm in the middle of one of the books on my list of 5 on my friends favorites. My bulletin boards look great and are seasonally updated as I wished. There are pics of them in my facebook photo album. Please check them out and comment my creativity LOL. I need a certain friend (not calling any names) to hurry up and post a 101 so I can mark my #88 as completed. haha.

Forever a Krispy Kreme Girl :)

#46 Try A Dunkin' Donut. DONE! I went to the DD yesterday and got a donut with sprinkles...and a pumpkin spice latte. The latte was ok as far as pumpkin spice goes. I'm not that crazy about it. The donut was GROSS. I threw 3/4 of it away. Now I know that I haven't been missing anything. It left that yucky greasy feeling in my mouth for a while, though the donut itself was kinda dry. I felt like I needed to keep licking the roof of my mouth & that feeling just wouldn't go away. My daughter felt the same way. We were truly raised to be Krispy Kreme girls. Krispy Kreme is the ONLY doughnut...just as Pizza Inn is the ONLY pizza. (In my book!!)

The 101 Books

My goal is to read 101 books + 5 on my friends favorites lists...
I'm going to list them here as I finish them.
1. Secondhand Bride - Linda Lael Miller
She is my favorite romance author. This is the 3rd in the McKettrick cowboys series. I have the 4th (last) checked out from the library today. Hopefully I'll have it written on here next week.
2. Patrick Swayze & Lisa Niemi - The Time Of My Life
I rarely buy a book. I bought this one the day it came out. He was such a strong man and he really fought his sickness. He held on for a long time, and I'm happy he took time to share some of his life story.
3. Debra Winger - Undiscovered
This book is pretty much a compilation of Debra rambling on about different times of her life. Debra starred in one of my favorite movies alongside John Travolta, Urban Cowboy. She doesn't talk about it very much in her book. It was kind of confusing, but intersting. I saw it while browsing biographies at the library and thought I'd check it out.
4. Stormie Omartian - The Power Of A Praying Wife
This is one of the 5 books that I want to read from friends favorite lists. I am so glad I was led to read this one. I really learned a lot. I suggest all wives read this book. I checked it out at the local library.
5. More Than A Memory - Dorothy Garlock
First book I've ever read by her. Pretty good. Based in the 1950's. Young love, couple gets married, forced to divorce, find each other again 8 years later.
6. Good In Bed - Jennifer Weiner
Recommended by Sarah. Glad I read it...It was really good.
7. The Shack - William R. Young
Everyone keeps saying you need to read the Shack, so I read it, and I wasn't really that crazy about it. I like details..and when it ended..it just ended...where were the details???
8. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
I hope the movie is good, because the book is not. There were icky parts I wish I'd never read. Oh well, they can't all be good.
9. Logan - Linda Lael Miller
10. Dylan - Linda Lael Miller
11. Tyler - Linda Lael Miller
12. Creed Country Christmas - Linda Lael Miller
And thus completes the series of the Montana Creed Brothers. Awesome Series.
They are cousins to the McKettricks who you know I love to read about.
13. Prairie Tale - Melissa Gilbert
Half-pint's biography. It was really good.
14. Waiting For Morning - Karen Kingsbury
Finally read a K.K. book, I loved it. I cried and really got some good messages from God from this book. Couldn't wait to read the 2nd in this series of three called Forever Faithful.
15. A Moment Of Weakness - Karen Kingsbury
Book 2 in the Forever Faithful Series
16. Waiting For Morning - Karen Kingsbury
Book 3 (final) book in the Forever Faithful Series. Really good. Thanks again to the friends who highly recommened Karen Kingsbury. I already have the first 5 of the Baxter series...starting them as soon as I finish the book I'm reading now.
17. How to Lose Your Ass & Regain Your Life - Kirstie Alley
Kirstie's biography..before she became the Jenny Craig spokesperson.
18. Finding It - Valerie Bertinelli
Follow-up to Losing it which she wrote after losing the 40 pounds. Good Book.
19. Redemption - Karen Kingsbury
LOVED THIS! Recommended by some friends at church. It's the first book in the Baxter series...which I think is 15 books total. I'll just list them. You should really REALLY read them. In order... =)
20. Remember - Karen Kingsbury
Book 2 in the Baxter Series
21. Return - Karen Kingsbury
Book 3 in the Baxter Series
22. Rejoice - Karen Kingsbury
Book 4 in the Baxter Series
23. Reunion - Karen Kingsbury
Book 5 in the Baxter Series...last in the Redemption...next comes the Firstborn series..which continues the Baxter family story. Awesome Books...All 5 so far. I laughed, and I certainly cried.
24. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
I hope the movie is good. The book was okay. I didn't like the ending. Oh well, you'll have that.
25. That Perfect Someone - Johanna Lindsey
Tenth book in the Mallory family series. I was so excited when I saw it at the library. I'd been waiting for it to come out under another title. She changed it. Loved the book.
26. The Rustler - Linda Lael Miller
Third book in the Stone Creek series.
27. Stone Creek Christmas - Linda Lael Miller
Fourth in the Stone Creek Series. I Have the next one here to read soon :)
28. Sunday's At Tiffany's - James Patterson
Unusual book by Patterson about a girl whose imaginary friend is back in her life as a grown up...and real.
29. Like Me - Chely Wright
Country singer writes a book about being lesbian. That's pretty much it. Not what I expected. But I must have missed the announcement that she was lesbian. However...I liked reading about other musicians and stuff.
30. Bridges Of Madison County - Robert James Waller
Bought this book at a yardsale. Totally fell for it when I read it and thought the characters were real. Apparently I wasn't the only one..wikipedia says tons of people looked for the real work of the fictional photographer.
31. While I was Gone - Sue Miller
32. Montana Dawn - Stone Wallace
Really good historical fiction. Western.
33. Denim Ryder - Stone Wallace
Loved this book..hated the way it ended. After reading Montana Dawn I wanted more work by the same author and found this one.
34. Sweet By And By - Sara Evans
I really enjoyed this one by country star Sara Evans.
35. Stranger's Bride - Denise Hunter
First in a series of 4 historical christian fiction. I really liked all 4.
36. Stranger's Bride - Denise Hunter
37. Never A Bride - Denise Hunter
38. Bittersweet Bride - Denise Hunter
39. His Brother's Bride - Denise Hunter
40. The Texas Wager - Jodi Thomas
41. When A Texan Gambles - Jodi Thomas
42. The Texas Reward - Jodi Thomas
43. Wrestling With Angels - Carolyn Arends
44. The Profiler - Pat Brown
Biography of a famous profiler. I didn't like this one, all the cases she wrote about are still unsolved. Ugh.
45. Amber Photograph - Penelope J. Stokes
46. Like Dandelion Dust - Karen Kingsbury
47. The Murderer's Daughters - Randy Susan Meyers
48. The Ultimatum - Nancy Moser
49. A Creed In Stone Creek - Linda Lael Miller #7 in the Montana Creed series!
50. The Help - Katheryn Stockett - AWESOME book! It's based in the 60s. The movie comes out in August and I can't wait to see it.
51. Bossypants - Tina Fey
52. Smoke Mirrors and Murder - Ann Ruletrue crime stories
53. Georgia Bottoms - Mark Childress
54. Reshaping It All - Candace Cameron Bure
55. Deadly Masquerade - Donita Woodrufftrue crime
56. Last Talk With Lola Fae Gilroy - Thomas H. Cook
57. The Girl She Used To Be - David Cristofano
58. Fragments - Marilyn Monroe
59. Penumbra - Carolyn Haines

Rode The Motorcycle

My brother took me for a ride on Daddy's motorcycle today. I didn't think I'd ever get to ride it again, and today was definately the last opportunity I'll ever have to ride it. I didn't even have that bike in mind when I put ride a motorcycle on my list. I'm really happy it was Daddy's though. It certainly wasn't the same without Daddy driving. I miss him so much.