& that's the way life goes

I found the post I did for a look back on 2010 and I figured it should be easy enough to do again…

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
   Traveled out of the country to Ireland, started raising a puppy, saw Kid Rock in concert
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
   I don’t really believe in new years’ resolutions though I do try to make goals for myself throughout the year.
3. What countries did you visit?
   Canada and Ireland
4. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
   A finished basement, a bay window, a slimmer waist
5. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory?
   Hiking in Dingle, the view was amazing and I was with the person who’ve I’ve spent over 8 years with.
6. What was your biggest achievement of the year??
   Starting a new job
7.  What was your biggest failure?
   Weight gain, not taking care of myself
8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
   No, thanks goodness, unless you count the pulled hamstring that still bothers me.
9. What was the best thing you bought?
   Tickets to Ireland
10. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
    Meeting Vinny Lecavalier and getting his autograph, our first trip abroad, gaining a new furbaby
11. What song will always remind you of 2011?
    Ceelo Green’s F*ck You
12. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
    So much happier and more grateful for everything that I have
13. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    Organizing
14. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    Complaining
15.  How did you spend Christmas?
    With C, my dad and the furkids. Comfy, relaxing and perfect.
16. Did you fall in love in 2011?
    There were definitely moments where I fell more in love
17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
    I don’t hate many people – so no
18.  What was the best book you read?
    I read a decent amount of books but nothing comes to mind.
19. What was your greatest musical discovery?
    Country music! I love Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert
20. What did you want and get?
    a Kindle, puppy, Vinny’s autograph
21. What did you want and not get?
    long weekends during the summer
22. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
    29 – it was the last day of my job and I just wanted a low-key evening.  C and I spent the only long weekend up north on the boat and working on the cottage.
23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    Being more organized!
24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
    comfort with some business casual thrown in
25. What kept you sane?
    my friends, my furbabies, hockey, tkd
26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
    Alex O’Laughlin
27. Who was the best new person you met?
    I met a whole bunch of people who are now my new co-workers
28. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?
    Change is good.  It is hard and there are times where you question moving on but you are where you need to be.

- – 12 Changes in 12 Months – -
http://12changes12months.wordpress.com/ 

The first week of January is coming to a close.  I’ve been sticking to the plan to run 30 miles in January.  In the past week I’ve ran 8 miles.  In addition, since the weather has been so nice I’ve walked Scooby and Liko for some extra mileage.

My food diary is helping me keep track of what I put in my mouth.  I’m not restricting myself necessarily, but I do think about what I eat because I have to write it down.  I have to lose the weight I put on.  Not only because it makes me feel better but because there are numerous health problems that run in my family and keeping  the weight off is the best way at avoiding health issues.

If you’ve made new year’s resolutions or goals how are they going?

I’m obsessed with watching everything Alaska on tv.  Clearly, if these shows are being aired to peak interest in travel to Alaska, then they are working, at least on me.  It’s like a whole different world that has cities closer to Russia than the state’s capital.  How crazy is that?  Alaska is just so wild and untouched it’s hard to wrap your head around.  The vastness is unimaginable.  Some villages don’t even have running water.  And almost 85 days of complete daylight? Crazy.  I get my Alaska fix from these shows.

Alaska State Troopers on National Geographic

via Nat Geo

Coast Guard Alaska on The Weather Channel

via Coast Guard Alaska

Flying Wild  Alaska on Discovery

via Flying Wild Alaska

VIP Alaska on the Travel Channel
(though this is far from a  favorite)

So have you ever been to Alaska? Would you recommend a trip? 

I’ve been feeling pretty good lately.  I think it’s all the time I’ve had off and withou having massive amounts of things to do.  I like using my vacation days to actually go somewhere and this is probably the first time that I’ve had a lot of time off with nowhere to go.

I dig it.

I’m even thinking that it might be possible to make time to blog again.  I’ve been kind of out of it for the past 6 months with my new job and no real inspiration to write.  Before I left my old job I purged my reader.  I unsubscribed to blogs that I didn’t connect with.  Even though I’ve been “away” there were a handful of blogs that I continued to read on my phone before I went to bed.  A couple of them I’ve never even commented on, I just like the way the blogger writes.

Here are a few that made the cut.  If you are looking for new blogs to read maybe one or two of these will interest you.

LifeLoveandHighHeels - I’ve been online friends with this awesome lady for a couple of years now, through a couple different blogs.  She just moved from one Minnesota city to another for a new job and a new adventure in life.

The Lovely Nora – She is just someone I would love to hang out with for the day.  Her writing is interesting, heartfelt and inspiring.

Erin B. Inspired – I don’t even know when I started reading Erin’s blog but she’s got cute animals, down to earth posts about every day life, DIY tips.  What’s not to love?

Katelin –  I feel like I’ve been reading Katelin since I started blogging 3 or more years ago.  She always seems so happy, positive and living a fun life.

Life is Bananas – I adore her sassy writing and great photos. The end.

Any blogs you think I need to check out? I think I’m ready to add some more to my reader

Stephany and Katherine came up with a great approach to making small changes that last.

The goal? 12 changes in 12 months. 

Where to start…well I talked about my non-resolutions (because I suck at keeping them) I have some weight to shed.  So for January the goal is to trick myself into liking running.  I ran my first 5k last March and I plan to run the same one this year and then another in April.

I don’t love running and I probably will never run more than a 5k, but it’s a goal and definitely something I can accomplish.  To jump start running becoming routine I’ve started 30 miles in 30 days.  It doesn’t matter how I log 30 miles in January or how long the runs take me, it is just about getting out there.

I’ll run as much as I can outside because Stella, at 11 months, is a ball of energy and the added exercise and fresh air helps her sleep better through the night.  When it’s impossible to run outside I have an elliptical I bought last year but I hate it.  It is so hard!  It takes me forever to log a mile because it’s not broken in yet.  *whine, whine, whine*

Here’s to a healthier new year!  Are you participating in 12 changes? If not, what is on your list of things to accomplish this year?