In with the New

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

As we get ready to enter the year 2012, I have thought of 12 goals to focus on in the new year.  They are:

12.  Keep up with my shopping ban.  Alright, so you caught me.  The dress and tights that I am wearing are new . . . and I also got a couple of more pairs of tights . . . and a sweater . . . and some oxfords . . . BUT I did use a gift card . . . though I went a smidge over my allowance on the gift card and they were all clearance items.   Though I am going to be very good until the wedding.  I have given my self clearance, however, if I happen to find the perfect cape or the perfect sleeveless trench.  But that's because I've been wanting those forever.

11.  Keep up with my quitting smoking.   Just because I haven't had a cigarette in about 10 days doesn't mean I'm out of the woods yet.  But, I hope to keep this habit licked in the new year.

10.  Think more positively.  This goes both for thinking more positively about myself and being optimistic . . . but realistic at the same time.

9.  Catch up on all the nagging little to-do's on my list. Like little cleaning projects, avoided doctor appointments and back yard maintenance.

8.  Fix up my blog page.  I am quite technically illiterate.  I use Blogger because it is easiest, but I don't know what to do with my layout (or how!!!).  This year, I hope to be able to seek out one of those blog layout gurus to spruce up my space.  Anyone have any good recommendations?

7.  (Really and truly) take up sewing and learn just how to work my machine.  Even though I took my sewing class back in October, I still don't know how to thread the bobin on my machine.  I still want to learn how to sew like a pro.  I mean, it's in my blood after all.  Since Pat got me a dress form for Christmas and the kids got me sewing patterns, I guess it's really time to hunker down and get 'er done.  (I promise to never use this expression again.)

6.  Take more pictures . . . and get a new camera (?).  I always take a lot of pictures every year, but I always push myself to take more the next year.  You can never have too many pictures.  Also, even though it is a far fetched dream, it would be AWESOME to get a "real" camera and/or lens at some point this year.

5.  Have more one on one time.  I am realizing more and more the older that I get (and Mama's gonna be 3-0 this year) the importance on one on one time.  This could be with one of my kids, with Patrick, with Matty or Chris or just one on one time with myself.  It is important and every time that I do it, I feel better about myself.

4.  Be a better budgeter and start keeping a check registry.  I know, I know, keeping track of your money should go without saying, but for the past few years I've been living so paycheck to paycheck that I often just kind of guesstimate what I have and what I can spend.  This year, though, I am going to be diligent about keeping track of my funds.

3.  Go on one adventure.  This may or may not include me letting Patrick take me camping again.  Or taking my kids to Fort Laramie, like my grandparents used to take me when I was little.  Or take the kids to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

2.  Start a savings account.  This is going to be an expensive year with the wedding, but Patrick and I have also been trying to save up for a house as well.  I hope to be able to budge myself for wedding stuff and have a separate budget for the house.  Perhaps #12 and #11 will help me with this goal.

1.  Successfully have the wedding of my dreams on a budget without driving myself to an unrecognizable form of Bridezilla. 

Electric Blue Dress with Pockets and Mustard Tights-Xhiliration from Target; Pleather Buckled Boots-Payless; Earrings and Choker-vintage from Grandma; Knitted Hat-Forever 21; Floral Trench-Old Navy, thrifted

Today is your last chance . . .

Do you all remember the $20 discount to eShakti's online store that I recently featured ( remember this dress?)?  Well the kind folks of eShakti have decided to extend your ability to take advantage of  the discount code ROBIN0811. So if you missed it the first time, here's your second chance!  This code is valid through December 31, 2011 so don't delay if you are interested.  Second chances don't always come around this easy!

Out with the Old . . .

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

As Twenty-Eleven gets ready to bid us farewell, I would like to take a moment and recognize my top 11 moments (good and bad) this year:

11.  Best surprise of the year . . . (other than the biggest and best surprise--see #1) was a tie.  The best surprise I got all year was when my mom called me up one random idle Saturday afternoon and told me that she had been offered free Linkin Park tickets and she wanted to know if I could go.  Best.  Show.  Ever.  And made even better that I got to go with my mom.  The other one was for Pat when I threw him a surprise party for his 30th birthday.  I had his best friend and sister in on it and even his other best friend from Wisconsin was able to make it.  He was so stoked.  The next day, though, my house was covered in blue frosting.  Covered.  

10.  Best Karma Day ever . . . was this day. 

9.  The best parts of my year  . . . were of course spent with my family and friends.  And, I was blessed this year to experience my first full year with my "new" family, i.e. Pat's family.  I am so blessed to be able to spend the time with the most amazing people in the entire world and gratuitous that the circle of people that I know and love is expanding.

8.  Best lesson learned this year . . . was that I really can do anything--so long as I have the right people to motivate me.  This year, I did a lot of things that I never thought that I would do in my life (or at least enjoy in my life, I probably would done them at some point).  For example, I went camping for three days, was completely and utterly disgustingly dirty and had an amazing time.  I went and watched Pat race.  I went sledding (usually I am way too petrified of the cold).

7.  Best proudest moments of the year . . . were spent watching my sister graduate, seeing Conner score as high as a middle schooler on his math proficiency test, watching Kaden play football and baseball, spending time with my daughter, celebrating my one year anniversary with Pat and enjoying where I work.

6.  Best accomplishment of the year . . . was a recent one.  I finally was able to quit smoking.  

5.  Saddest moment of the year . . . was when my Grandma Marlys died in April.  She had gotten Dementia and moved to a nursing home about five minutes from my house.  I had never lived that close to her before.  From the day she moved in until the day she died, I went to visit her every Wednesday.  I would take a Starbucks and just bullshit with her for an hour.  She didn't remember where she put her glasses, but she could tell me all about her life as a young girl.  I will always cherish those talks and how close her illness allowed me to be with my Grandma.  

4.  Best new hobby of the year . . . was in April when I started this blog.  I have been ever so grateful for this experience.   Not only has it strengthened my sense of creativity in a sartorial way, but also something for me to be proud of, meet new people and gain new inspiration. 

3.  As always, the most wonderful time of the year . . .  is always Christmas and this year was no different.  Having my kids on Christmas morning is totally amazing.

2.  The best road trip of all time . . . had to be the one we took this summer.  We went to Cave of the Winds, Royal Gorge,  Sand Dunes, a gold mine, the Mesa Verde, the Black Canyon,  Arches, Dinosaur Monument and Winter Park.

1.  And the #1 thing to happen to me this year, was . . . GETTING ENGAGED!

Yellow Shear Polka Dot Detailed Cropped Top-Target; Black Ribbed Turtleneck-International Concepts, thrifted; Boyfriend Jeans-Refuge, gifted; Knit Knee Socks-Ross; Black Lace Up Booties-Nine West, gifted; Necklace-Kohl's; Earrings-gifted; Fleece Jacket with Fur Collar-Target

Tomorrow is your last day!

Do you all remember the $20 discount to eShakti's online store that I recently featured ( remember this dress?)?  Well the kind folks of eShakti have decided to extend your ability to take advantage of  the discount code ROBIN0811. So if you missed it the first time, here's your second chance!  This code is valid through December 31, 2011 so don't delay if you are interested.  Second chances don't always come around this easy!

Here's what we've done for the rest of the year:

Chinook Me All Night Long

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Today was pretty warm (highs in the 50's), but the wind . . . was being a major drama queen.  It's a good thing I was wearing sweater tights as well as OTK socks because I definitely had some, as Bob put it, "racy" moments.

Today I wore my eShakti dress as a skirt to help remind y'all about the $20 discount to eShakti's online store.   You can see the dress on its own here and here.  I order to take advantage of  this deal, just use the discount code ROBIN0811 at checkout. The code is only valid through December 31, 2011, so you only have two more days!

Work has been painfully slooooooow this week.  Apparently, most people have this whole week off.  For real?   At any rate, it is a nice change of pace in order to get stuff done I've been meaning to.

For example, I spent my day today cleaning out and organizing our storage area.  It has been massively neglected for quite some time.  I don't mind though.  I kicked my boots off, lost the blazer and jammed out to the likes of Shoop and Let Me Clear My Throat while I dug through the dust and debris. 

After work, I came home to Patrick grilling some absolutely amazing burgers on our new grill.  My mom and her boyfriend got it for us for Christmas (ours finally bit the dust earlier this summer, probably when Mercury was in retrograde). 

I am so uber stoked to only have four(ish) hours of work tomorrow and then start another long weekend.  Having Christmas and New Years on the weekend rocks my world! 

Dress (worn as a skirt)-c/o eShakti; Wine Colored Turtleneck Sweater-gifted; Short Sleeved Blazer-Kohl's; Sweater OTK Socks-Kohl's; Suede Knee High Brown Boots with Buckle Detail-F21; Bracelets-Kohl's and souvenir from Four Corners; Earrings-Kohl's; Necklace-SIFA