I want to keep plants alive....

I love to garden and have had three very successful summers. I must admit though that my husband does do a lot of the work which makes me a little worried. He has recently told me that this summer, the garden will be more of my responsibility because he has a lot going on. Yikes! Exhibit A, this picture displays my forgetfullness. This plant that is shown, my mother in law had for thirty plus years! We have had it for close to four years. Look at it!!! What happened? I cut off the really dead parts in hopes of rebuilding but it doesn't look good. I want to keep this poor plant alive!!! I want a green thumb!

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I want to sit on my porch!!

Today was a beautiful day. One of the first, spend as much time outside as you can days. And we did. We sat in the backyard playing with the dog and then surfing the internet. We sat on the front porch reading the neighborhood's newsletter. We even grilled our dinner and ate outside. As we sat, I realized how much I have missed my porch. I love my porch and cannot wait to spend more time out there as spring aproaches us. The winter helps us appreciate lucky days like today. When spring is here, we must stop and soak it up and continue to appreciate the small moments.

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I want to shop at the farmer's market!!!

This picture shows just a few of the goodies I bought this morning at the farmer's market. I had to leave because I could no longer hold all my bags. Too heavy!! This place was beautiful and I am now in love! I loved seeing all the produce and all the people talking about how their products could be used. Talk about community! I will definitely be back next week. This may be a little of a challenge stretching this food out through the week but I am up for it! Next week a bigger challenge will be getting my husband out of bed to join me. I need more arms!!!

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I want to hate sweets...

I am weak. I can't say no. When somone offers me something that is chocolate and full of deliciousness, it takes everything in me to say no. I don't crave fried food or big pasta dishes, I could go on with out those things and be fine. But with chocolate, it's a different story. I had been getting better, but today was not a good will power day. I do know that treats are good but I want to go by one of Michael Pollan's rules which is, "Treat a treat, as a treat." So simply said and so simply understood, but so hard to follow. In my way of thinking, everything deserves a treat! Great, I was recognized at work, time for a treat. Yay, it's Thursday, a treat sounds good. Awesome, it's 2 o'clock, thanks for the treat. Ahhh! It must stop. But as this issue repeatedly happens, I will start tomorrow. I will hate sweets!!

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I want to cook good food....

I love sitting down to the dinner table, taking a bite of what I just cooked and hearing my husband say, "this is good stuff." I want to do that and hear that everyday. I like to cook- trying new recipes, chopping, and mixing. I just seem to run out of time more days than I like and we end up eating something thrown together. I had been picking out what to cook for the week so I didn't have to come up with something every evening. It was going well but it takes so much time planning and preparing. But I must say, when I do it, I love it. And today was one of those days- Black bean burger with sauteed squash and roasted potatoes. Far from gourmet, but putting it together made me happy and eating it made my stomach smile. I must remind myself, good food, is good for me. So tomorrow I'm thinking polenta cakes....

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I want to go to bed early.....

I am known to be a morning person. I jump right out of bed without hitting snooze, ready for the day. I have even been described as "peppy," which for most, can be a lot to handle in the a.m. Even on weekends, to sleep until 7:30 is a dream. After late nights and some extra wine...I still get up!

Every now and then I wake up and I think about how I cannot wait to go to bed that night. I think about it all day-no matter what the day, hectic or relaxed, I look forward to pulling those covers up and falling fast asleep. Most nights I do try to go to bed early, do some reading and fall asleep before I can even bookmark the page. My favorite, which is rare, is crawling into bed at 8:30. Which I do realize most school age children go to bed later than that!

It's not even that I love sleep because I don't. I don't like naps or take naps- it's just being in bed that makes a perfect end to the day. So tonight- I will not get easily distracted, I will sip on some bedtime tea, and hit the hay.

Yay bed! Peppy for bedtime, for a peppy morning:)

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I want to set an intention....

I love the beginning of a yoga class when we set our personal intention for our practice. What is the purpose, why are we here and what do we expect. Through the class we are reminded to think back to that intention in order for us to get through all those chaturangas and the burning in our thigh as we hold warrior for what can feel like eternity. My intention this morning was "pace." Often in the early mornings I tend to rush or worry about the time. But as I thought about pace, I slowed down and really took my time- experiencing each posture, breath by breath, and even the transitions. If I set an intention to my daily life, with that reminder, nothing can get in my way.

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I want to run....far.....

Being outside, giving my dog exercise and letting my mind go are just a few reasons why I like to run. Not to mention it's probably the greenest form of exercise and you can pick up and go anytime and anywhere. In 2005 I liked running so much that I ran a marathon with two good friends. Talk about serious training- including lessons on being so sore I couldn't walk down stairs!

Since then, I have kept running consistent, three miles or so, a couple times a week. Maybe a dozen times since then I've ran five or six miles. Nothing in comparison to that 26.2. Recently though, the urge for a long one is creeping up again. We have a marathon that runs through our neighborhood and every year we cheer them on. It's actually one of my favorite things to do. Even when driving in our car and we see a runner, my husband will honk the horn and we'll say, "You go girl!"

There is a half marathon in April which would satisfy this urge. The thought of commiting does make my stomach turn a little. I do want to run and now is the time. Today was a good start. I think I ran five. Let's keep the motivation going and we'll see how far I can go next week.....

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I want to be an encourager....

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I want to be an encourager.....

As someone said in a meeting the other day, I, as well as them, chose my career when I was five. I wanted to be a teacher. I wanted to be a teacher to show students how to have confidence in themselves and I wanted to introduce them to the wonderful world of learning- and how it is always exciting. When someone asks how school is, I say, "I love being with the kids." If we could just read and write and create all day, it would be perfect. Though schools are changing, I never want my inspirations to be pushed aside.

I am not the typical teacher of the year, but this year I had some believers and they voted me into that special category. And I must say, it felt pretty darn good. Now, of course, I have to worry with such an honor- living up to the title and making sure it is deserving.

Although, as I was reflecting of the awesomeness of today I realized that all I really needed to hear was that I was doing a good job and that someone appreciated it. We all need more of that. "You're on the right track," makes us feel safe and gives us purpose. When we see something good we need to say it. Everyone loves a compliment- let's let people know they are needed. What a happier work place it will be! So to end today and to look forward to tomorrow....I want to be an encourager.

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I want to keep my New Year's Resolutions....

Well, it's February and I'm still talking about New Years resolutions, so that is a good sign. I am a lover of resolutions, always trying to be something/try something new. One year I had about twelve. I had three for work, three for love, three for home, and three for health. One too many for sure. This year is much more simple. This year I'm resolving to drink more wine. Yes. One glass of red wine every day. I have never been a "during the week" drinker, but since January 1st, I have been going strong. The reason behind my resolution goes beyond my love of wine. And yes, I love wine. But it is more about tryly unwinding after the day-Taking time to sit, enjoy, and soak it all in. A celebration of the closing of a hard day or celebrating the end of a great day. So, cheers! Cheers to keeping my resolution and to enjoying a moment of every day!

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I want to be free of mess...

Please look at this drawer and the top of my dresser. So embarrassing! This happens every other week or so. There comes a moment in the week when I realize that it is me that I keep having to clean up after! And it's only Tuesday. I want to start and end the week the same way-without reorganizing. My mother always said, "A cluttered room equals a cluttered mind." In my case, it is my dresser drawers. My mother's saying will be my mantra as I reorganize and try to find that official "place" for everything. Good-bye mess.....

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I want to give love and show love in the simplest form

Hug. It is so simple and so sweet. It can make an uneasy moment become welcoming. It can give hope in moments of despair. I have heard that couples should hug for 6 seconds daily. Those hugs make you reconnect, warm you up, and shows you care. I practice this daily with my hubster and those six tiny seconds have become something we look forward to when we both get back from work and need that feeling of love. Recently, I heard that now it's not just one six second hug, but three! Who has 18 extra seconds to waste on hugging! Everyone does and I am up for the challenge. Think of what a better place this world would be if everyone had three six second hugs everyday- Either by a partner, a friend, or a parent. Hugging feels good inside and out, so open those arms and let someone in! Happy Valentine's Day!

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I want to be a blogger....

So here we are, trying another new thing. I have a problem with seeing something I like and then wanting to take it on. Not only do I want to take it on, I want to be good at it. I want to be a blogger so that I can share these new things I'm trying. I want to hold my self accountable for finishing my new adventures. I need to remind myself of where I'm going and what I have accomplished. That is my purpose of blogging. To share and to learn from ourselves and each other.

Post #1- complete!