Another year of the 12of12 project.

This was my favorite project last year, so I'm excited to do it again this year. It's fun to look back on a year of random days, and see what happened during them.

1. self portrait as we were getting ready for the day.
2. harley checks out the snow pack (I could not get him to look at me.)
3. my day started with a visit from a plumber. pipe bursting = new kitchen floor for me.
4. the Rapunzel cupcake the Girl was saving for her after-school snack. she did test out the icing.
5. gearing up for a busy day in the office. I had 3 conference calls and 2 meetings on the schedule.
6. on the first of those calls. I only chew my lip when i'm thinking numbers. I must have been working on a project budget or something similar.
7. a to-do list for the day. those of you who know about my 'five-thing' rule will laugh at how out of sorts this one is for me.
8. the girl came home from school and went straight for her cupcake.
9. the stack of papers I sorted through. wow, they add up fast.
10. Riley had 'homework' to do: a snowman to color and a mitten to glue stuff to. I think she was working on the mitten here.
11. at some point, she got out with my heart shaped rocks (which are off-limits to her).
12. the day ended with some reading- finished one book, started another and read up on some swim drills.

Found Elsewhere

Hey Ya'll: I'm blogging over at the "I Am Enough" Collaborative Today. Head on over and check it out!

New Year's Intentions

I still haven't completely chosen my word for the year, but I'm not really that worried about it yet. This is something I've done religiously for the past several years, so it's on my mind a lot, but I'm not rushing it. The right word will find me when it's time, and in the meantime, I'm focusing on my New Year's Intentions.

"Resolution" is such a concrete, hard and fast word, and while the type A, perfectionist in me loves the idea of setting resolutions, the realistic part of me knows that life sometimes (often) intervenes and that I'll be disappointed in myself if I don't keep my resolutions. I know this about myself, so I only set one "New Year's Resolution" every year: to hold lots of babies. Holding babies makes me happy, so I am sure to keep this one. Ta-Da! Easy, no? (so easy and so successful that it's been my resolution every year for about three years. )

What I do instead is set some intentions for myself each year. These are, basically, things I want to see happen, projects I want to complete, trips I want to take--those types of things. I feel like this allows me to approach my life with a desire to consistently and conciously improve, but not from a place of scarcity. (Does that make sense?) I already have everything I need to be happy. The idea of setting intentions is to direct my energy towards those things that add richness and zest to an already wonderful life. The other thing I like about intentions is that working towards goals in this manner directs the focus on the process and the reasons, rather than the outcome or results. A much healthier mindset for me to embrace (thank you, Jen McGown, for this interpretation of intentions. you said it perfectly and helped inspire this post.)

So, the intentions for 2011 are:

To 'put first things first'. Defining my priorities is important to me, and I am constantly asking myself if I'm spending my time (and money and energy) on what really matters.

To focus on healthy living. I try to keep an emphasis on getting enough rest, eating healthy, whole foods and getting plenty of exercise. These things keep me sane, and if they aren't a huge part of each decision I make, they often get left behind.

To find S-P-A-C-E. During the past year, but especially during the past few months, I've felt totally overwhelmed by the sheer amount of commitments that I have. So much so that the idea of a couple of hours without something scheduled makes me giddy. Feeling this obligated makes me really anxious, because one thing I know about myself is that I need time to myself to recharge and re-balance. So I'm setting the intention that I'll open up more space in my life to enjoy my days. To do what I love, and not what I think I should do. To spend time with people I really enjoy rather than those I feel like I need to see. To play. To travel with my girl. To rest.

I'm feeling good about these intentions, and believe they'll help me move in the directions I am seeking for myself and my kiddo. Keeping it short and simple works for me.

My three-year-old has evil plans for me

Queen Mama and Princess Riley, January 1, 2011

It all started with this drawing.

"Look, Mama. I drew you a picture!"

She was so excited to show me this drawing. I could see that there were two people, and I was thrilled because it was the first drawing she has done (that I have seen, anyway) where her people had recognizable parts. There were definite arms and leg, eyes and mouths, and I had to laugh at the expression on the person on the right.

"Tell me about this picture, Riley. Who is this?"

She told me that it was me and her, and then proceeded to show me that she was the shorter figure, and although we both had bangs, she had longer hair (now that she has seen the Rapunzel movie, she is determined to have the longest hair possible, and most certainly longer than mine). She also told me that I couldn't tell in the drawing, but her dress was prettier and "twirl-ier" than mine.

"Why isn't my dress as pretty as yours, Riley?"

Apparently, I was the queen and I had spent all my money on a dress for her, so I had to make mine out of blankets and garbage bags. But then she must have thought that I was hurt by my clothing material, so she did offer this one consolation...

"You know what, Mom...since you are the queen, you do get a prettier dress when you die. Which will be soon. Because the hungry, hungry hippos come out of the cave to eat the queen every year after Christmas."

"Well, that doesn't sound very nice. I don't want to be eaten by hippos."

"It's better than being locked in the fairy dungeon."

"If you say so..."


I swear, I couldn't make up the stuff that comes out of her mouth. I love that she has an active imagination, but should I be worried about the fact that she's dressing me in garbage and planning my demise?

Getting back in the groove

Today, I am:
**transitioning (slowly) back into my routine.
**working. from home. in my pajamas. not a bad compromise considering it's still a holiday (for me) but I have loads to do.
**grateful that the Girl woke up feeling 'healthy and strong' (her words) and wanted to go to school. she didn't feel so hot yesterday, but she seems to have inherited my "bounce-back-quickly" tendencies.
**sipping yerba mate while I review some work documents. this may be a new obsession (the mate, i mean. not the work).
**forcing my washer and dryer to work overtime so I can catch up on laundry (is this a never-ending struggle for anyone else?)
**making a list of the many errands I need to run- more now than before the holidays (how does that even happen?)
**dreaming about which Squam classes I want to register for (can I just take them all? please...?)
**trying to decide between a run, swimming, or a Spin class...perhaps a swim/run brick, if time allows (it probably won't, but we'll see.)
**enjoying the view of the hot (and super nice) construction workers who are working on my building (I can't help it! I have a thing for manly men who do manly things. it's a sickness, really.)
**considering my 'word of the year' options. narrowed down to two or three (maybe i'll use all three.)
**looking forward to some XC skiing and some snowshoeing this week (bring it!)
**finishing up some writing projects (really excited about these ones!)
**jonesing for some new music (itunes gift cards, baby.) what are you listening to these days?

How about you? Are you feeling back in the swing of things now that the New Year is upon us?

(Intermin) Word of the year for 2011

I've received a bunch of emails asking what my word for 2011 is going to be.

Um...yeah.

I have no idea yet.

I'm narrowing down a series of words, but I have not settled on any of them yet. I'll know the right one soon enough, but the right word hasn't found me yet. So in the interim, and because it's really fitting for today, the word I'm focusing on is 'CHILL'.

Great Salt Lake, New Year's Day 2011

Recipe for New Years Eve -- Riley-style

Start with several cups of hot chocolate (extra whipped cream, please.)
Add in some quality time with the pink Zhu-Zhu pet.
Combine with one homemade pizza with a pepperoni smiley face (for the Girl) and mushroom and onion hair (for mama).
Finish off with several rousing games of CandyLand (guess who won them all...)
I'm really not a fan of New Year's Eve, and this year was super cold, so this is the perfect way for us to spend my evening. She's the perfect New Year's Eve date (despite the many wardrobe changes.)

I hope your New Years was safe and festive.
Happy New Years, ya'll.