Grand Ideas

2011 Goals/resolutions

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I’m not usually a “writing down my goals” sort of person, but I have been inspired by reading other people’s blogs.  Plus, it’s fun to make lists!  So I’ve put together a bunch of ideas I have for stuff to do this year…I’ll reassess occasionally and see what I’ve accomplished, what I’ve decided isn’t so important after all, and make some changes along the way.  Flexibility is key…

Theme for 2011:  Be happier and try new things

2011 Goals/resolutions

Happiness Project—I have joined up for the year and will see what Gretchen Rubin throws my way.  I think many of the things I’m going to list here will be things that make me happier—so that should work out well.  We’ll see how the project goes through the year though—I reserve the right to modify as needed! (I’ve realized I don’t need Gretchen so much as my list was really made through her influence!)

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As far as goals/resolutions go I’ve made a very specific list by category.  I’ve read that resolutions and goals should be specific so I’ve tried to do that here…I will update in purple things I accomplish, in blue for scheduled activities.  If I have to modify or add something I’ll use green. I’ve had a really fun time over the past few weeks coming up with this list, so don’t mock me –I am a list maker and a planner.

Career:

1.  Take another summer pedagogy course, either Mimi Zweig or another Suzuki Institute Course. Went to Ottawa, Kansas to take Book Five with Susan Kempter.

Not summer, but related: Went to Mark O’Connor Workshop in February, attended SIUE Teacher workshop with Susan Kempter

2.  Participate in the SAA’s “Parents As Partner’s Online” in January/February, plus my article “Making Tone a Priority” got reused

2.  Take another SLSO audition…if the opportunity presents itself.

3.  Play on two chamber music concerts.

4.  Another private student recital in June. June 5

5.  Pare down my schedule for fall—too much driving around, not enough quality teaching time (this is less specific, but I don’t need to be specific yet!)

6.  Read one book per month about teaching or child education/psychology.

  • January: Teaching from the Balance Point AND Teaching with an Open Heart by Ed Kreitman
  • February:  The Wonder of Boys by Michael Gurian
  • March:  Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
  • April: The Social Animal by David Brooks (will finish soon, was siderailed due to theft of kindle)
  • (May/June, got derailed)
  • July:

7. Appeared on Fox2 Morning Show in January with Chamber Project St. Louis (not planned, but still awesome!)

Relationships:

1.  Be nicer to Chris.  Try not to get upset over small things!

2.  Do at least four creative, fun, “date nights” with Chris, something other than dinner/movie (i.e. Kitchen Conservatory class, dance class, ballgame).

3.  Do something with a friend each week.  Could be lunch, pedicure, coffee, movie, whatever.  I’ve been doing great with this—I  am not going to list stuff anymore (at this time) as it’s been lots of stuff, but the main goal of being friendly and social and getting out of the house has definitely been happening.

Fun:

1.  Entertain at home at least four times during the year-one down!  Planned 4th of July party.

2.  Have another cookie swap party.

3.  Cruise or other fun vacation in summer!  Somewhere I haven’t been before. (Probably not, since now we are saving up for a wedding and honeymoon!)

Food:

1.  Try new restaurants—at least one per month.  Use groupons or the like as available.

2.  Cook three new recipes per month.  Preferably a healthy recipe but anything would fit the bill.  I have a Cooking Light Cookbook and magazines that should serve as good inspiration, in addition to tons of bookmarked recipes online…

3.  Continue to try for 7 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Uncategorized but no less important

1.  Quit biting my fingernails and fingers!

2.  Get rid of 11 things from each room (inspired by reverb10).  Enlist Chris to help out. Make that 11 things EACH month from a room. Okay, I’ve gotten somewhat bored with this one…why 11?  But I have been trying to “declutter” sometimes.

  • 11 articles of clothing from the bedroom (actually more!)
  • 11 (well, more than) pieces of “jewelry” from my jewelry box

3.  Read one “classic” novel per month (have downloaded many to the kindle so should be no problem)

  • January: War and Peace (thought I’d start big!)
  • February: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—didn’t realize how short this was!
  • March: Sense and Sensibility—enjoyable!  No Pride and Prejudice though…
  • April: Great Expectations- I found this really challenging.
  • May: Moby Dick
  • June: Don Quixote?
  • July: Crime and Punishment
  • August:
  • October:  Dracula
  • November:
  • December:

4.  Read one additional nonfiction book per month:

  • January: Free for All: Fixing School Lunch in America (for Mrs. Q’s book club)
  • February:  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (so good!)
  • March: The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration
  • April: Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer

5.  Monthly Financial Goals: (optional)

  • February:  No New Clothes (except maybe a new pair of running shoes)
  • March: Taxes
  • April:  Chris’s Taxes

Health/fitness

1.  Continue eating healthily—lose 15 more pounds by June.  Maintain that weight within a 5 lb range for the rest of the year.

2.  Continue running—do 3 to 4 half marathons, maybe a couple of 10ks or 5 mile races and continue to improve on the 5k.

**Minimum of 12 races as I’ve signed up for the “Run for the Bling of It” challenge!

bling

Race Plans/ideas thus far:

Have you made any goals/plans/resolutions for the new year?  Or do you prefer to take things as they come?

Books

My kindle #reverb10

Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?

reverb10.com

I’m back on track!  This is today’s prompt Winking smile

Most memorable gift that I received this year? 

Well, I just got it, but I think it will be life changing—my Kindle.  I didn’t know I wanted one until my mom suggested it. Suddenly it seemed like a fantastic idea!

It is lighter than a book and I can read lying down in bed without my hands going numb.  That in itself is enough to sell me on it.

If only all the books I currently own were on it.  I have three bookshelves full plus stacks on the floor.  Then again, some of the space on the bookshelves is sheet music.

For a few years I had said, oh, nothing could escape turning a page.  I am easily swayed.  No more bringing five books on a long trip.  Now I just need my kindle. 

Random thoughts

A Healthy Lifestyle #reverb10

Prompt: Defining moment. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.

reverb10.com

(december 29, almost caught up!)

I’m definitely seeing a theme of my year.

Defining moment or series of events:  well, that’s EASY.  Joined the gym, met Joe, signed up for a year of personal training with him.  Couldn’t have changed my life more completely!

And yes, I’m still the same person I was before, I just am more committed to a “healthy lifestyle.”  I still love to read, listen to NPR, play the violin, etc.

When I started training with Mike, in our initial interview he asked me “How long have you been committed to a healthy lifestyle?”  I thought that was funny, because until that moment I didn’t realize I was.  Last night I was invited to a good friend’s house for wine.  I asked if I could bring anything—she suggested I bring a snack.  I brought carrot sticks and hummus…and we ate all the carrot sticks!

And I’m skipping December 28th’s post because it is too similar to my New Year’s resolution post I’ve been working on for awhile Smile

(fyi december 28th prompt—in case you want to try it yourself–

Prompt: Achieve. What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.)

HBBC: December 25: 7 f/v: 1 point, December 26: 0 points, December 27: 7 f/v: 1 point, December 28: 0 points, December 29: 1 mile walk: 1 point, workout with mike: 4 points, 7 f/v: 1 point, total: 6 points, December 30: 4 mile run: 4 points, workout with mike: 4 points, 7 f/v: 1 point, total: 9 points

Random thoughts

Joy #reverb10

Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

reverb10.com

(December 27 prompt)

 

I love this prompt as it really speaks to my outlook on life.  Like the earlier post about a sense of wonder, finding joy in ordinary moments is a similar concept.  I find joy in many small things.

If I had all day to ponder this prompt, I’m sure I’d come up with tons of ideas, but right now I am thinking of winter smells and sights (fireplaces/snow), Christmas decorations and lights, and children playing the violin.  But I’m having trouble thinking of joyful ordinary moments—hmmm….

In all honesty, what brings me the most joy is my adorable cat.  She is so warm, furry, squashy, and pleasant natured that it is impossible not to feel joyous when I see her sleeping on the corner of the bed or rolling around on the kitchen floor.  I know that’s not one moment, but many, throughout each day.  It is amazing how much a pet adds to my life!

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I call her Fatty—and this picture represents a joyful ordinary moment in our lives together. 

Random thoughts

Lobster Mac ‘n’ Cheese #reverb10

Prompt: Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth & touched your soul?


reverb10.com

(december 26)

This year I completely changed my outlook on food and how I eat.  With the help of my personal trainer, Joe, I revamped my diet to include tons of veggies, lean meats and fishes, and whole grains.  I ate large quantities of salmon, tuna, mahi mahi, couscous, brown rice, whole wheat bread, spinach, lettuce, broccoli…and really learned to enjoy eating those things.

BUT.  Those things are forgettable. 

What is NOT forgettable is the lobster mac and cheese at Herbie’s.

Each week Chris and I go out to eat and have a “cheat meal” where we eat what it is that we have been craving and denying ourselves (let’s not get into a discussion over whether said denial is appropriate or healthy, leave it BE).  We discovered a wonderful restaurant in the Central West End called “Herbie’s” that serves a mean martini, according to Chris, and…though it is not on the regular menu, often has a special called Lobster mac and cheese.

Heaven.  Each bite is a bite of heaven.

Twisty, cheesy noodles, with truffle oil and crunchies on top.  It’s seriously the greatest thing I have ever eaten.  Words cannot do it justice.  As I type this my stomach is rumbling, GROWLING, for the mac and cheese (which shall be denied until our next visit…). 

The first time I ordered it…was one of my first “cheat meals” on THE DIET.  It was approximately a month in.  I felt guilty…dare I eat this most delicious meal ever?  Would I be able to go back to eating fish, rice and broccoli after experiencing this meal?  The answer to both questions …a resounding YES!   (suggestion:  pair the appetizer size with the herbie’s house salad for a complete meal). 

thoughts about violin, teaching, running, life.