Resolutions: Time to Lay 'em Out There!

I love to cook- no secret there. My grandmother was an amazing baker, and my Mother has always been creative and edgy in her cooking style. This is probably where I get it from- my yearning to experiment and make gourmet dinners at home. Accompanied by a bottle of $5 wine, a great home cooked meal can turn an upside-down day right-side up.

One thing I have learned though is planning is essential! You can't easily make all these delicious meals and recipes you find without the proper ingredients. So throughout the week I think about what I want to eat NEXT week. I grocery shop accordingly and viola! No xanax (did you know that word is a palindrome? huh me neither! so cool! I'm a nerd ok keep reading) needed because we don't have fresh rosemary because you NEED fresh rosemary for the potatoes, and Ah! dang now the whole damn dinner is ruined! Insert: crying, breakdown, hysterics--horrible, horrible, horrible! --> So planning really does help.

I have knocked the number of meals I cook (from scratch) down to about four per week. So four nights I cook, and the other three- well Sammy there is tuna in the pantry, and a frozen pizza- you know where the stove is. It's sink or swim and sometimes I just don't have it in me. I need to relax too damn it. As much as my pursuit to be Wonder Woman has not expired (and never will) even the boss lady needs a coffee break! Or a day off...Right? RIGHT!

So I have a new attitude about this year. The past 365 days of 2010 did not make my life hell without some valuable lessons learned; that I am actively putting into play for this year. I know, I know New Year's was almost a month ago. Hey, in my opinion it is never too late. Plus, I have been doing these things since Jan 1, this is just the first time I am writing them down together :)

So here are my resolutions:

1) Don't stress over minor issues.

2) (Continue to) Plan Ahead, and repeat #1 (DON'T STRESS)- take each day as it is, and know that tomorrow is brand new. Good for reinventing yourself, or giving something that you didn't succeed at the first time a second try. As long as I try my best, and plan accordingly things will be A-OK.

3) Be more outgoing. I have been so introverted this past year I have almost forgotten who I am . While I have made some great friends here in Houston so far, I still feel so disconnected from this city and people. I have been so focused on accomplishing the tasks at hand that I have become.... quiet. My mind is working, but my mouth has come to a skreetching halt. Yes friends I know- SHOCKING! Me of all people am not a quiet person. But in retrospect at times while I was in a room with more than, well me and Sam, I sometimes would just listen. Absorb. I guess the world was spinning so fast I haven't had the energy to participate. Well that sure as heck is going to change.

4) Be Healthy & Happy. What would a New Year's Resolution list be without something to do with losing weight or being healthy? Not a list at all darn it. So yes, every year millions of people vow to lose massive poundage and eat only carrots and water. I am not one of those millions. I believe that health is a state of being and way of life. You are either healthy or you aren't and it isn't only measured by your pant size. One of my coping methods of not having my mom and sister, family, or friends here with me in Houston is that I totally threw caution to the wind and started eating everything in sight. Houston has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the world!! So what does that mean?? To take respite I have hundreds of THOUSANDS of eateries, cafes, bistros, wine bars, and taquerias to indulge in. Not to mention the completely dangerous Crave, gourmet cupcakery. So I inevitably put on a couple pounds and though it isn't the end of the world, and my clothes still fit (mostly), I wasn't feeling my best. In effort to reduce the amount of whispers saying "Jeez, Kim has gained a little since she left last year" I started getting back on track BEFORE the new year (in October 2010) and have been doing well! I feel better and look better. So my goal is to continue to be healthy by eating a balanced diet of sweets- just kidding! Healthy fare, and to exercise regularly. I have done well by hitting the gym 4 times a week, and trying new things to put a little punch in my workouts. I am really enjoying it too. I have to say that I am a better person, spouse, and employee when I make fitness a priority. After all shouldn't it always be a priority? It is so easy to get caught up and fall victim to fatigue (and couch potato syndrome), but if I push through I always feel better. I relieve stress, which goes back to #1, and clear my head so I can continue on my journey without feeling like I am a drone.

5) The last and final thing on this year's list is to Bring Joy To Others. During our move I came across and read a note that was sent to Sam from one of his fraternity brother's mother. His fraternity brother was killed in Afghanistan serving in the United States military. We attended the services together last year, and though I didn't know James, I could obviously see how deeply he had touched the people he had spent his life with. It is always sad to lose someone, even more tragic and when they are young. In her note, Jame's mother talked about how in the movie "The Bucket List" they ask two questions: Did you find joy in your life? AND Did you bring joy to the lives of others? She said it was clear that James loved what he did in the military, and had found joy for himself. She also said it was clear that James had brought joy to so many people including the brothers of Zeta Sigma Delta. Through the years I have lost friends as well, and the loss continues to make me thing about mortality and how we only have so long here on this precious earth. We have only so much time with our family and friends, and to make a difference in whatever ways we wish. I am not going down a morbid path. I just want to make sure I live my life with meaning. I want to live so that I am constantly seeking joy, and bringing others joy too. Whether it be through a smile to a homeless stranger, helping a friend in need, or making someone laugh for no reason at all... to bring them joy will bring me joy too.


So now that I have my pretty little list, its time to put it in to action.

WOWZERs Has It Really Been THIS LONG??

So its safe to say that my first year of blogging was not overflowing with content. But its a new year, and the dust has finally settled. I mean, 2010 was a CRAZY and obnoxious year for me. UGH! 2011 has got to be more fun than dealing with the absurdities (is that a word?) of what seems like a lifetime packed into only 365 days. OK to bring people up to speed here goes. I moved to Texas with the love of my life Sam. He is everything I am not, and makes me want to be better than I ever dreamed possible. It took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I am not the center of the universe, and to allow someone else to have some sort of control over my world. He does it well, and without his love and support I would be nothing. Nothing.

I have always been one to be very in touch with my inner-being. I think about the universe a lot, and how it all comes together and how things are SUPPOSED to work... It's the Libra in me. I am all about balance and trying to be Wonder Woman. I think it's possible, and I won't ever stop trying. Well, naturally after moving 1800 miles away from my "life" as I new it, and embarking on something totally new (and stressful); insert, new career, new home, new hubby-to-be, wedding planning, dealing with government run offices more than one should EVER in one lifetime, buying a house, AND trying to make a decent living, cook delicious dinners, keep up with physical fitness (stay a size 4/6 for the rest of eternity and get rid of the armpit pudge that has been torturing me for my entire life), AND squeeze in somewhat of a social life, and keep my sanity? Are you tired yet? Because that was what my year pretty much looked like inside and out-- Non-stop. I knew I had to do something. So every free moment I got I tried to distract myself. Read a book, try cooking something new, ANYTHING... I had to slow down. Monday through Friday I was running at top speed and had to take it down a notch on the weekends. So I thought why not BLOG? Why not share all these crazy thoughts that have been spinning in my head. I mean I have to let them OUT! Or I might just go bananas.

So trying new things has been a great way to stay up-beat in the midst of chaos. But unfortunately for the last year, even though I have done a good job on distracting myself and slowing down on the weekend to enjoy the simple things, and live in the moment I have not done a great job of documenting, or sharing those experiences. I mean in one year only four posts? Gosh you must be bored. I apologize! Immensely! Well this year I am adding one more item to the balancing act. So you will be seeing- no hearing- NO reading a lot more from me!... It will be fun and spicy and I hope you like it.