07.01.2011

a.k.a., the half-way point of 2011. My goodness, how time flies! It seems like just a couple of months ago I was writing about my resolutions for 2011. Like I said in the original post, I have never stuck to the resolutions I have made, but this year has been different. I haven't been the best at keeping up with the 4 things I set out to do this year. But, I am working on it! And so.....a recap. Perhaps seeing what I have excelled at and what I have failed at will keep me going strong for the remainder of the year!

Read at least one book each month: Check!

I have been absolutely successful in doing this. In fact, I don't even think of it as a goal that I want to achieve each month. I just finish one book and move on to another. I was never a big reader in school (I think one of the only required reading I ever finished was Catcher in the Rye) but I can honestly say I am a reader now! {Books I have read so far in 2011}

Go to the gym, 4 times a week, without complaining: 75%-check

I really don't like to workout. Rephrase: I really don't like getting off my lazy behind and going to the gym. But once I'm there, I can workout and feel great afterwards! Overall, I'm going probably 2 or 3 times a week, and complaining about it only once in a while. And since it's summertime now I'm swimming laps at the pool on the days I can't work up the motivation to get sweaty and do squats. For now, that is good enough for me!

Become better at keeping up with friends and family: Semi-check

This is something that I've never been great at. I always think if something big or exciting or horrible or scary or wonderful is happening with my friends or family, they'll call and let me know. And vice-versa. But what a horrible way to think! So while I may not be engaging in a weekly phone update with my BFFs, I do try to reach out via phone call, text, e-mail, Facebook, and dinner dates as often as I can. This is one of those things that will become more important as time goes on, and I intend to master it. Stay tuned. 

Cook or bake something new once every week: Pretty Much Fail

I started out this year like a champ on this one. I was baking cupcakes, breakfast bars, fruity treats and cookies. And I was trying new dinner recipes all the time. But come March, it all went downhill. I can't even remember the last time I cooked a meal for me and my roommates. So this category could use some major improvement! Please send any quick and easy dinner recipes my way, I'd love to try them out.

I hope the remaining 6 months of 2011 are as great and full of new adventures and surprises as these have been. Come December, I will be excited to be able to say that I stuck to my resolutions for the entire year....I hope! :)

Books

I've been reading like a mad woman lately! I have turned into a girl who prefers to curl up in bed with a good book over watching whatever is on TV. I've read at least one book each month so far this year, and I would recommend all of them! So go to your nearest Barnes & Noble, library, or Amazon.com and get to reading!


Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner  --  I read the majority of this on my flight to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl in Orlando in January. A light and quick read. Not my favorite book ever but still interesting enough to keep you hooked. So save this one for a long car ride or when you're laying by the pool.  

Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea and Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang by Chelsea Handler  --  February was a month where I needed a few laughs. And Chelsea did the trick. I was seen on more than one occasion laughing out loud in public. Hey, it happens.

The Go-Getter Girls Guide by Debra Shigley  --  I swear by this book. I think every young female twenty-something should read this how-to on how to become successful at being successful in anything you tackle in life. Thank you, Ashley, for this wonderful gift!

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and The Next Thing On My List by Jill Smolinski  --  I spent a good amount of time in April laying poolside, riding in the car to Hilton Head, and getting in bed early, which gave me a lot of time to read. If you like fictional books with some good ol' American history, Wench is a good read for you. Based in the mid-1800s, this book tells a different tale about slavery and the moral complexities of that era. On a different note, The Next Thing On My List is a light, quick, fun read about a woman in her twenties searching for purpose. And it has inspired me to make a list of my own to complete before I'm 25.

The Lion by Nelson DeMille  --  As part of a two book series, DeMille writes about a psychotic terrorist who is taking revenge on the United States. I could not put these books down (the first is The Lion's Game) and I highly recommend both!  

Decision Points by George W. Bush -- I am currently in the middle of W.'s memoir, and I love it. No matter if you loved/hated/or were indifferent towards our 43rd President, it's a wonderful insight into his life, political journey, and time in office.

Sweet Tooth, Beware!

In keeping with my New Year's Resolutions, I have been doing quite a bit of cooking and baking. And I found that I really love it! I have also found that I can cook (nudge to all of my friends who use to ruthlessly mock what they interpreted to be epic failure in the kitchen). Anyway, I spent a lot of time in the kitchen over the weekend and I wanted to share the recipes I used with y'all.


On Friday night I cooked dinner for myself and the roomies. I saw this recipe for a spicy pork lettuce wrap on a friend's blog and thought it sounded absolutely delicious. Fact: It was! It will definitely be a repeat meal in the house.
Then there was dessert. Let me start by saying that I love cupcakes. Let me finish by saying that I love baking cupcakes.

I found this recipe for Black Bottom Cupcakes online, and boy oh boy are they tasty!

Chocolate cupcakes

Added the cream cheese filling

The finished product.
The presentation is not as great as the taste....A new challenge for next time.

And in the Valentine's Day spirit, I made Red Velvet cupcakes with a delicious cream cheese icing. (And I'm not talking about the cake mix out of the box.) Yummy yummy!

I cut the end off of a Ziploc bag to do the icing.

All of these recipes come highly recommended from a girl who loves food. Let me know if you give any of them a try!

Brand New Year

Orlando is where it began. 2011, that is. I rang in the new year with some of my best friends and we had a blast! Not only that, but the first day of the year was spent watching Alabama beat Michigan State in the Capital One Bowl. And for the last two days, the South has been hit with a snow storm which gave me an excuse to lay around, drink hot chocolate, and be lazy. Oh! And what snow day would be right without building a snow man?! A great start to what I hope to be an extremely fulfilling and exciting year.

Which brings me to my goals for 2011. Many people set goals and resolutions on January 1 of each year. I must admit that if I have ever made resolutions, they are generally forgotten by February. I'm hoping, however, that this year I can make it all the way. In an attempt to hold myself accountable I am posting my goals for all to read. Maybe you can help keep me accountable as well :)

Read at least one book each month. (I got this idea from my Dad. He has done this in the past, and I really liked it!)

Go to the gym, work out, and get in shape! And not complain while doing so. (At least 4x a week)

Become better at consistently keeping in touch with friends and family.

Cook or bake something new once every week.

I am hoping that by making a conscious effort to accomplish these goals, they will not only be "those things I did in 2011," but they will become my lifestyle. Only time will tell.