NaBloPoMo Day 22: Birthday Fantasy List

Tomorrow is my birthday.  I'm going to be 33 years old.  Which is a pretty good number, because it's two threes.  Anyhow, a couple of years ago I made a little Christmas dream list here, so I thought why not do the same thing for my birthday - it's fun to dream, right?

Peacock Feather Earrings

Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens

Alegria Feliz Prism Clog (Disco Shoes) in Size 7.5

Electric Blue Druzy Necklace

A quilt like this gorgeous rainbow stripe

 

Super Pop Book

Daisy Fuentes Sweater

Chevron Wallet

Jonathan Adler Ceramic Unicorn

NaBloPoMo Day 20: Just Once

After seeing Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, all I could think about was how just once in my life, I would like to wear one of these:

Which got me thinking about other things I'd like to have occasion to wear.

Just once.

To feel like a princess.

To glitter.

To be fancy.

For a little while.

To be able to WALK in these!

To sparkle.

To have these wild curls.

Just once, just for a few minutes.  Aaaaahhh...  What's your fancy fantasy?

NaBloPoMo Day 16: 10 Tips for Having a Great Natural Birth

I taught class 3 in the Birth Boot Camp curriculum this morning, about choosing your birthplace and care providers.  I am so inspired by the curriculum and by my students.  I'm teaching a private class right now with just one couple, and since it's just them this week I went to their home for the first time to teach them in their own space.  It was so warm and comfortable, and they are delightful.  They're so interested in everything I have to say, and I can tell that I'm really making a difference for them.  I've only known them 3 weeks and I'm already convinced their birth is going to be amazing.

 Since I was feeling so inspired by birth today, I figured that I would post something birthy here since I don't do it all that often.  I would like to have that crossover more often since I'm so passionate about it and it's a big part of my life.  This was originally published on my blog over at Ready, Set, Birth.  Enjoy!

10 Tips for Having a Great Natural Birth

There are so many things you can do to prepare yourself for your birth.  Here are 10 tips that will get you on the right path to having a great, natural birth!

#1: Consider a doula!  Research shows that a doula’s presence at a birth tends to result in shorter labors, fewer complications, more positive feelings about the experience in general, and reduced need for pitocin, forceps, and c-sections.  If you’re aiming for a natural birth, having a doula by your side for labor support can be an amazing tool.

#2: Trust your intuition.  There is a difference between fear and the sense that something is wrong or unusual or needs to be checked out.  My number one advice to new moms is to trust themselves – mother’s intuition is not an urban myth, and it starts when your baby is still in your belly.  Our inner voice is there for a reason, and if you’ve banished fear from your birthing process, you’ll be able to trust yours.

#3: Banish fear.  If you have fears about birth, take the time to sit down and journal, check out a book about working through fears, or talk to someone – a care provider, a friend, your birth teacher, or even a counselor.  The best way to go into birth is anxiety free and in a state where you are making decisions based on what you want an don the facts of your labor, NOT on fear of what might happen or lingering fears over what has happened in the past.

#4:  Take a childbirth class.  I recommend Birth Boot Camp (haha!), but in all seriousness, find the time to fit something in to your schedule, whether it’s my class or someone else’s.  The two hour class at the hospital with tour is not going to provide you with the information you need to trust yourself in birth and making any decisions that need to be made, the opportunity to practice the techniques you’re learning, and the chance to connect with other parents whose children will be the same age as yours.

#5: Don’t be afraid to switch providers. If your provider seemed supportive at first, but now is pushing for induction or scheduling or going back on his or her word, you don’t have to stay. If you get the feeling they are not supportive of your birth plan, you don’t have to stay. If they don’t treat you with respect, you SHOULDN’T stay.  I switched midwives at 30 weeks because I was just not clicking with the one I’d hired, and didn’t want someone at my birth who I wasn’t comfortable with.

#6: Relax! Spend time while you’re pregnant practicing relaxation and learn how to relax. This is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for a natural birth, which is one reason we practice this at almost every class in Birth Boot Camp. Learning how to breath deep and in your abdomen can make worlds of difference in letting your body birth your baby.

#7: Get rid of negative energy – if there are people around you who want to be present at your birth but are not providing positive energy, they need to hit the road.  It may sound callous to say that you should kick Grandma or your best bud out of the room, but the reality is that their nervous or unsupportive energy can affect your labor, and not in a positive way.  It can cause you to lose sight of what you’re doing and worry about someone else when all you should be thinking about is meeting your baby, or in the worst cases stall your labor because you’re not comfortable.

#8: Educate yourself about birth and what it is REALLY like.  Those birth scenes you see in the movies where the water breaks all over the floor in the grocery store, followed by immediate contractions that have a woman doubling over in pain and then screaming her way through delivery?  Not realistic!  Watching positive, peaceful, natural births not only instills confidence in your body and the process, but can give great examples of the kinds of breathing, toning, and sounds that can be helpful during a natural birth.
#9: Visualize and think positive. A lot of people feel silly at first doing visualization exercises  but guess what? No one thinks it’s silly when Olympic athletes visualize winning the gold, or football players visualize the play that will win them the Heisman Trophy. So WHY not visualize your birth the way you want it to be? Think about trusting your body and how you’ll bring your baby down.

#10: Make a birth plan!  A birth plan is not a guarantee.  It is good to have a flexible attitude about labor and birth because it’s impossible to know what mother nature holds in store for you.  I still recommend that everyone make a birth plan.  In the process of sitting down and writing down what you want and don’t want in your ideal situation, you learn what is important to you, where you are most flexible, and educate yourself about all the options.  This will allow for calm and educated decision making should things not go as planned during labor.

NaBloPoMo Day 12: Not That Kind of Girl

There are certain things that you will never catch me doing in a million years, because I'm just not that kind of girl.  It's not that I don't see value in these things, or that I judge people negatively for doing them.  It's just that for me, it's never going to happen.  I could kid myself and say there are certain things in life that I'd like to experience or go on some sort of conquest for.  But I know I'll never do these things, and I'm okay with that.  Honestly.  Some of these things are just easier to do when you're younger and don't have so many kids and responsibilities and are more fit.  Some just start to seem too young or distasteful as you grow older.  I mean, let's just agree on this.

I will NEVER:

• Have a flower garden or landscaping at my home that is free of weeds and looks as nice as the one in front of Danny's daycare. Unless I've hired someone to maintain it for me.
• Be able to bake anything without following a recipe for measurements.
• Read any books by Charles Dickens.
• Eat Foie Gras.
• Have a TV-free home.
• Go backpacking.
• Walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, or any other crazy-ass suspension bridge.
• Compete in any kind of group athletic challenge, up to and including an iron man, a triathalon, or a marathon.
• Have a house that's dust free.  Unless there's a housekeeper involved.
• Separate my whites and darks when I do laundry.
• Floss on a regular basis.

I'm just not that kind of girl!

So, what about you?  What are the things that you just know you'll never do, even if they seem nice/good for you/rewarding to other people you know who do them?

NaBloPoMo Day 6: What are you watching?!

So, we're a good five or six episodes into fall TV now - it's time to talk about how it's going and which shows we're enjoying most!

I posted my plans for what I'd be watching back in September.

Shows I've Already Dropped or Decided Not to Follow

• Super Fun Night (Pretty sure this already got cancelled anyway)
• American Horror Story: Coven (have heard it's great but I have no time)
• Masters of Sex (Just never started)
• Mom (Watched one episode, wasn't funny enough)

Shows I've Been Recording & Saving

Not really on purpose, but these end up low on the list somehow and I end up building up many episodes and having to watch them later.  Sometimes not until Summer.

• Revenge (Including several eps from last season)
• Homeland (Have only watched episode 1)
• Arrow (Have most of last season also)
• Revolution (Have 4 or 5 left from last season also)
• The Originals

Favorite New Shows

• The Blacklist
• I was a little bit on the fence about this one, but decided to watch it because of James Spader.  I am SO glad!  This is in a tie with Agents of SHIELD as my favorite new show of the year.  It's a little bit Alias, a little bit Criminal Minds, and a little bit just James Spader being who he is.  A good mix of mythology and case of the week too.
• Marvel's Agents of SHIELD
• Joss Whedon.  Superheroes.  I love it.
• The Michael J Fox Show
• I was not going to watch this, but Justin wanted to and it's actually really funny.
• The Crazy Ones
• It's funny.
• The Tomorrow People
• Despite the dorky names (The Tomorrow People?  Ultra?  I blame it on the 70s and love that they threw in a reference - "We didn't pick the name") we are really liking this one.  Also, Mark Pellegrino.

Favorite Returning Shows

• Scandal
• It's just SO GOOD.
• The Walking Dead
• Woah about last week's episode.  I like it when BIG STUFF happens on shows, and one reason I like TWD is that no one is safe, and anything can happen.  I like shows that take big risks.  Also, lots of good out-of-the-prison stuff recently, which is nice.
• Supernatural
• This is just one of my favorite shows of all time.  When the angels fell at the end of last season I think I sat there with my mouth hanging open at the enormity of it.  The last couple episodes haven't been the best, but I know it'll pick back up, and it's still one of my favorite returning shows.
• The Mentalist
• The Mentalist has been really good this season!  Closing in on Red John & seeing the dark side of Jane.  REALLY enjoying it.

What have you been watching?  What are your new favorites, and old standbys?

NaBloPoMo Day 1: Make It Rain

Well, I'm biting this bullet!  I must be crazy.  I have really been missing writing lately, and it seems like having a daily prompt that has nothing to do with anything really might be a good way to ease back into the habit.  It'll be fun, and make me think, so here I am!  I'm determined this time.  Maybe some days I'll even skip the prompt and write about whatever I want! So, where do we begin?

Today's Prompt:  If you found one million dollars in the morning and had to spend it by nightfall, what would you do with the money?

I have written posts in the past about what I'd do with a million bucks, or things I'd do if I were rich.  This presents an interesting challenge in that the money must be used by nightfall.  But, here are some things I'd definitely do:

• Pay off all of our debt, including tax debt, our car, and all of our outstanding medical bills.
• Buy a new car.
• Hire someone to come give my house a super-good deep cleaning.
• Pay my rent in advance for 6 months.
• Buy a 3DS for my older son, and new Leapster games for my younger.
• Go shopping and get ALL the Christmas shopping done 2 months early!
• Buy a package to take my kids to Disneyland and California Adventure.
• Buy plane tickets to go to my sister's recital in May, the Tarrant County Birth Network Birth Roundup next spring, and for us to fly to Spokane and rent a car instead of driving 7 hours to Colville for Thanksgiving at my other sister's farm.
• Make a $50,000 donation to the Bellingham Food Bank.
• Pay off my sister's college loans.
• Make a $10,000 payment on my cousin Emmy's student loans.
• Make a $25,000 each on my Mom's house, my best friend's house, and my stepmom's house.
• Get some new clothes and shoes!
• Get some marketing materials for my Natural Childbirth Classes, including brochures, business cards, and pens, and pay for renting the space for my next 5 series in advance.
• Make a $5000 donation to the WISE Birth Doula Collective so they could provide doula services for low income mamas.
• Make a $5000 donation to my friend Sarah's midwife fund.

What would YOU do with a million bucks and 24 hours?!

Fall TV is HERE!

Image Source

All I can think about today is how much I can't wait to get home so I can watch Marvel's Agents of SHIELD tonight.  I can't even tell you how excited I am to have Joss Whedon back in the lineup!  Seriously, there are NO words for it.

I'm working on a little post to update everything around here since I've been gone so long, but let's get real - we need to talk about Fall TV.  Immediately.  Updates on the job I've been at for almost a year, what my kids are up to, my brain fluid and weight loss.... they'll just have to wait!


Returning Shows I'm Watching

• Bones
• Castle
• Premiered last night - loved it!
• The New Girl
• Supernatural
• Every time I hear "Carry on My Wayward Son" by Kansas I sit at my desk grinning.  It's a serious problem.
• Person of Interest
• I am actually quite behind on this one, but it's still on the lineup.  Justin really likes it!
• Arrow
• Also behind on this one, haven't watched most of last season.
• Revolution
• Still have 9 episodes to watch from last year, but trying to catch up.  Working and being tired at night makes it hard to keep up with all this.  Last year I had multiple shows that I had entire seasons recorded and watched over the summer.
• Criminal Minds
• Law & Order SVU
• Top Chef
• I can't wait!
• CSI
• I kind of skipped the second half of last season for this.
• Vampire Diaries
• Parks & Recreation
• Community
• Glee
• I try to imagine the amount I'm going to cry during the Cory Monteith tribute episode, all I know is it's going to be bad.
• Grey's Anatomy
• Parenthood
• Elementary
• Didn't watch all the episodes last season.  Justin really likes it, and I watched it on and off and liked it.
• Scandal
• Looooooove.
• Grimm
• Haven
• I always forget how much I like this one until it's back on.
• Fox Sunday Cartoons
• Revenge
• Still have a few to catch up on from last season - had the entire season saved and started catching up over summer.
• Walking Dead
• Homeland
• The Mentalist

New Shows I'm Trying

• Almost Human
• Scifi AND detectives?  Probably a hit in our house.
• Sleepy Hollow
• Watched the first episode.  Seems interesting, but I am wondering how it will keep momentum.
• The Blacklist
• Justin loves James Spader.  A lot.  So, obviously.
• Hostages
• Marvel's Agents of SHIELD
• JOSS WHEDON!!!
• The Originals
• The problem is, I totally want Klaus & Carolyn to happen.
• Brooklyn Nine Nine
• I laughed out loud like 4 times during the first episode.  So I'm sticking with it.
• The Tomorrow People
• Super Fun Night
• Rebel Wilson, so I'm giving it a chance.
• American Horror Story: Coven
• I watched the first season of AHS and liked it, but it was totally creepy.  Last year, the promos freaked me out and I was living here without Justin and there was no way that I could watch it after dark home with no other adults.  But maybe we'll try it this year?
• The Crazy Ones
• I like Sarah Michelle Gellar.  Justin loves Robin Williams.
• Reign
• Mary Queen of Scots.  We'll see.
• Enlisted
• Chris Lowell.  Love him.
• Dracula
• It's a vampire show with Jonathan Rhys Myers.  Dude.
• Masters of Sex
• Mom
• Watched the first episode.  Meh.  Not sure.

And no matter what, there are always shows on that I WISH I watched because I know they're good, but I just don't have time to catch up or for whatever reason I don't watch them.  I still want to, though!


Someday Shows

• Sons of Anarchy
• I have gone back and forth, but all I hear about is how good this show is.  Also, this ad featured on Entertainment Weekly's website made me want to watch this show just from looking at it.  I stared at it for like five minutes.
• Dexter
• Just ended, so maybe now we'll watch the whole thing someday.
• Mad Men
• Hell on Wheels
• My best friend watches this and loves it, so I wish I did too.
• Breaking Bad
• Same as Dexter.
• Once Upon a Time
• I watched the first few episodes and then for whatever reason stuck with Grimm, but not with this one.  Maybe someday.
• Downton Abbey

And of course there are some shows that aren't on right now, and I am various levels of excited about different things.  This list is of right this minute, and includes shows currently on TV (whether they're off or on season right now).

Absolute Favorite Current Shows

1. The Newsroom
2. Supernatural
3. Game of Thrones
4. Scandal
5. Vampire Diaries
6. Walking Dead
7. Homeland
8. Haven
9. Grey's Anatomy (yes, still!)
10. Marvel's Agents of SHIELD (I haven't watched it yet, but I bet you $100...)

So, tell me.... what are you watching?  What are your favorites?  What else should be on my SOMEDAY list?

2012 Book List & Goal - MET!

I met my goal again!

Rachael's Books Read in 2012

Rachael Heiner's favorite books »

2012: In Memorium

Hi, remember me!  I still exist!  The last few months, well, the last year really I haven't been blogging or writing much.  Now, it's a new year and I have a plan.  I'm running 3 blogs now (more on that later), but I have a plan including a schedule and lots of ideas.  Let's start of 2013 with a look back at 2012...  Since I have a list loving problem, this will probably crop up here every year.  You can find 2011's list here.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

Got certified as a Birth Boot Camp Instructor, got separated, experienced single motherhood, lost almost 40 pounds (and gained 10 back... more on that later too), read 58 books, became a working mother, took Sam to his first boy scout meeting, started an amazing website, saw a sex book become a bestseller, started writing reviews for a movie website.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

Last year, I resolved to:

• Be under 200 pounds by my 32nd birthday
• Exercise at least 3 times a week.
• Reconnect with my friends through email, visits, and letters
• Schedule special time for Sam
• Learn how to use my camera for real
• Read 50 books
• Write at least 50 pages of my novel
• Improve my marriage
• Use a budget
• Be a better pen pal

Last year I only managed to achieve one of my goals.  I did better this year, with 3.  Maybe 3.5.  I missed my weight goal, and with my latest 10 lb gain, I'm at 222.  Oh well.  I did exercise 3 times a week until summer, then Sam was home, then I started working full time.  I did have special time with Sam when Justin was moved out.  I did read 50 books.  I didn't write 50 pages of my novel, but I did start a new book and wrote at least 50 pages, though I haven't written on it months.  I also used a budget successfully for the first time (go envelope system!).

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My new friend Sarah had her baby a couple of weeks ago.  We're not super close, but I think she's pretty cool!

4. Did anyone close to you die? 

No.

5. What countries did you visit? 

None.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? 

More discipline about running my websites.  Peace.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 

June 12 - found out my sister is pregnant, June 19 - explained to Sam that Daddy was moving out, October 1 - became a working Mom, December 14 - Newtown School Shooting.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? 

Last year, I said my biggest achievement was getting through it.  I feel a little like that.  But the achievement I am most proud of is becoming a Birth Boot Camp Instructor.

9. What was your biggest failure? 

I don't feel like I can answer this really.  There are many.  I'd like to leave them behind.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought? 

My Birth Boot Camp education, and my laptop.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 

My Mom.  She is absolutely amazing and I don't know what I would have done without her this year.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 

No comment.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent, living expenses.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

My trip to Dallas for my Birth Boot Camp Instructor workshop (sensing a theme??), my sister's marriage & pregnancy (YAY!).

16. What song will always remind you of 2011? 

Who Says by Selena Gomez.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier, but it is not hard to achieve that.  THINNER.  Poorer probably.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? 

Made time for each of us to spend time with Sam without Danny, worked on my novel, learned more about my camera, taken more photos, posted more on my websites.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? 

Fought, eaten, been angry, procrastinated.

20. How did you spend Christmas? 

At home with my kids, Mom, her husband, Justin, my sister and her husband.

21. Did you fall in love with 2011? 

No.

22. What was your favorite TV program? 

Really, just one?  I can't choose.  Supernatural, The Walking Dead, Flashpoint.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? 

No.

24. What was the best book you read?

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Gangnam Style.  HAAAAAAAAAA.

26. What did you want and get?

A new laptop, love from my kids, a Birth Boot Camp teaching certificate.

27. What did you want and not get?

Peace.

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

Argo.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

On my actual birthday I was in Colville at my sister and her husband's farm for Thanksgiving and I just hung out, took care of sick Sam and had a relaxing time.  The first weekend in December I celebrated my birthday with a weekend in Seattle that included seeing Life of Pi & Skyfall and dinner at The Melting Pot with my friends.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

If it fits, wear it.  Wish it fit better.  Add bling, and lots of scarves.

32. What kept you sane?

Booze.  Just kidding.  My Mom.  My friends.  Hope.  Faith.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Hm...  the election I suppose.

34. Who did you miss?

My friends in Seattle, especially Brooke.  My sisters and my stepmom.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

Tiffany Burke, Donna Damon Ryan, Sarah, my new co-workers, and all the women in my Birth Boot Camp training.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

I am strong.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"You got every right to a beautiful life, come on
 Who says, who says you're not perfect
Who says you're not worth it
Who says you're the only one that's hurting
 Trust me that's the price of beauty
Who says you're not pretty
Who says you're not beautiful, who says?"

-Selena Gomez "Who Says"

This is Me from A to Z

I saw this over at Ramble Ramble back in February and wanted to do it.  The main reason is because I am a list-o-holic.  I love lists.  Just as my husband.  Since tomorrow is my SITS feature day (squeeeee!) it seemed like a good time to share some random stuff about myself with all of you!

A. Age: 31

B. Bed size: King.  My Mother-in-law bought it for us just before Sam was born and I love it.

C. Chore that you hate: Cleaning the shower.  I hate it.  There is just something about the way you have to bend and scrub.  Also, mopping.  I don't mind vacuuming but I despise mopping.

D. Dogs: I like them, but don't have any right now.

E. Essential start to your day: Protein of some sort.

F. Favorite color: Cerulean blue, interstate green.

G. Gold or Silver: Silver, mostly. I have a few gold pieces though.

H. Height: 5’7″

I. Instruments you play: I used to play the piano, and I hope to re-learn it someday.

J. Job title: CEO of the Heiner Household

K. Kids: Sam turned six yesterday and Danny will be two in a week
.
L. Live: Bellingham, WA.  It's pretty great here!

M. Mother’s name: Edie.

N. Nicknames: Mommy, Mama, Ray

O. Overnight hospital stays: Once when I was very young and got dehydrated, and once when I had Sam.

P. Pet peeves: Misuse of apostrophes, pants with words on the ass, dreadlocks on white people.

Q. Quote from a movie: “If you're gonna eat like an animal, take your food out to the barn." - Prancer

R. Right- or left-handed: Right

S. Siblings: Two younger sisters, Kira is 29 and Lianna is 13.

T. Tattoos & Piercings: Three holes in each earlobe, seven tattoos - pictures here and here.

U. Underwear: Mostly Lane Bryant cotton, nothing fancy.

V. Vegetable(s) you hate: Celery (is that a vegetable?), mushrooms

W. What makes you run late: My kids and the ridiculous amount of stuff that needs to go everywhere with us.

X. X-Rays you’ve had: My collarbone when I was 4 and broke it.  Other than that, mostly just my teeth.

Y. Yummy food that you make: Guacamole, spaghetti with grape tomatoes and chicken, tacos, pizza.

Z. Zoo animal: Red panda.  Any big cat.  Tapirs and wombats.

PAUSE

Things I saw yesterday that gave me pause:
A man with a dredlock mullet.  Seriously?  Business in the front... matted dog in the back?

A woman holding her 1 year old's head while she cried about getting her ears pierced.  I had to leave the store I was in.  I've never had a gut reaction like that, but I totally did.  I know it's a cultural thing for some people, but it was just... icky to me.

A man with dredlocks stuffed into a giant hat-like thing the size of a regular pillow.

The most recent cover of Vogue with Adele on the cover, all photoshopped to hell.  WHY?

It Shouldn't Exist.

1. Dreadlocks on white people.
2. Botox or ever injecting disease into yourself on purpose to be "attractive."
3. Black licorice.
4. Neuticals.
5. Anything with anise.
6. Truck Nuts.
7. Axe Body Spray.
8. Big Johnson T-Shirts.
9. Scientology.
10. Toddlers & Tiaras.
11. Calvin peeing decals. 
12. Almost every Pit Bull song.
13. These song lyrics: "Shush girl, shut your lips Do the Helen Keller and talk with your hips."  (FAIL, 3Oh!3...)
14. El Caminos.
15. The book "Get Married This Year: 365 Days to 'I Do'"
16. Pants with words across the ass (especially in children's sizes).
17. The movie "21 Grams."
18. Mosquitos.
19. Non Alcoholic Beer.
20. YOU CHOOSE - What else?

2011 - The List

This list has been popping up on a lot of blogs I read, and I do love lists, so I thought I'd do it too. I really like the idea of having a list of the same questions and answering it every year around the same day. It's fun to have a little snapshot to look at and compare from year to year.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Walked my son into an elementary school classroom, flew cross country with 2 kids who could both walk (or run away from me) and survived, stayed with my 12 year old sister & my 2 boys for 2 weeks by myself, worried about a friend who has cancer, saw Les Miserables, said goodbye to a place that meant a lot to me.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? 

Last year, I resolved to: Lose 70 pounds and run a 5K, Learn how to take great photos on purpose, Improve my marriage, Write more, Read 50 books, Write letters to everyone I love and Learn to use a budget - seriously, for real.

I achieved exactly ONE of these.  I read 50 books.  2011 was not a great year, and a lot of the time I was trying to just keep going and not thinking about these extras on top of it.  I have made goals for 2012 - some similar, some different.  I'll post those soon.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not that I remember!

4. Did anyone close to you die? 

No.

5. What countries did you visit? 

None.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? 

More time to myself (probably do-able thanks to my awesome Mom), a lot more photos (especially of the kids).

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 

Christmas Eve.  

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? 

I don't feel like I achieved much, honestly.  My biggest achievement was getting through it.

9. What was your biggest failure? 

How do I choose?  I feel like there were a lot of failures this year.  My biggest one...not being able to be there completely for my kids during the times when I was struggling.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? 

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought? 

Well, Justin bought it for me, but my Nook Color.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? 

My little sister.  She turned 13 in September, and during the two weeks I spent with her over the summer, she really impressed me.  She has a good head on her shoulders and was really helpful with the boys while we were there.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? 

Hmm...no comment.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Rent, medical bills, moving, living expenses.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? 

Weekend trip to Seattle with Justin to see Les Miserables in August.

16. What song will always remind you of 2011? 

Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Sadder, fatter, maybe a bit richer, but not much.  I'm working on all 3.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? 

Made time for each of us to spend time with Sam without Danny, worked on my novel, learned more about my camera, taken more photos.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? 

Fought, eaten, been angry, procrastinated.

20. How did you spend Christmas? 

At home with my sister and her boyfriend in the morning, then just the family in the afternoon/evening.  It was a very low-key year.

21. Did you fall in love with 2011? 

No.

22. What was your favorite TV program? 

Really, just one?  I can't choose.  Supernatural, The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Grimm

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? 

No.

24. What was the best book you read?

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Les Miserables

26. What did you want and get?

A telephoto lens, new shelves for the living room, a new house (rental), a day off each week (thanks Mom!), a new phone, a Nook Color.

27. What did you want and not get?

Peace.

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

Hanna, Super 8, X-Men: First Class or The Muppets.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 31 in 2011.  I spent a weekend in Seattle, Friday night went out to dinner and to see "Breaking Dawn" with 9 friends, then spent time alone reading & wandering around on Saturday then spent the night at my sister's house and helped decorate the tree and helped her and her boyfriend plan their trip to Hawaii.  Sunday I spent some time alone then went to my best friend's daughter's birthday party.


31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

If it fits, wear it.  Wish it fit better.  Add bling.

32. What kept you sane?

Booze.  Just kidding.  My Mom.  Hope.  Faith.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Occupy Wall Street

34. Who did you miss?

My friends in Seattle, especially Brooke.  Justin.  My sisters and my stepmom.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

The women in my Bunco group & my book club's newest member, Carrie.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Anything can happen.  Just because you think you know how to do something right doesn't mean you won't screw it up, and then find yourself wondering how the hell you ended up there.  

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"I feel just like I’m sinking,
And I claw for solid ground,
I’m pulled down by the undertow,
I never thought I could feel so low,
And oh darkness I feel like letting go.

If all the of the strength and all of the courage,
Come and lift me from this place,
I know I can love you much better than this,
Full of grace, Full of grace, My love."

- Full of Grace by Sarah McLachlan

Writer's Workshop: 12 Peeks Back at 2011

It's Thursday again, which means it's time for Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop!  We've all got the new year on our minds, so this week it was easy to choose which prompt I'd follow.  I chose #1.) This year in blog posts…choose a favorite post from each month of 2011 and share.

January - I experimented with my new Canon Rebel DSLR and shared some of my first images here.

February - I wrote about the myth of the "grown-up," and the fact that no one I know has ever experienced that moment where you finally FEEL like a grown-up.

March - I struggled with something I am still struggling with - how much I miss my friends.  We are spread out now, in different cities and with different lives, and I still wish we weren't.

April - I shared my thoughts about Sam - our worries about ADD, how Dr. Google can scare us, and how sometimes being a parent is about knowing when to worry - and when not to.

May - Let's be honest.  I only posted once in May.  SAD!  I shared some photos from Sam & Danny's birthdays.

June - So... the early summer wasn't that great for blogging.  SHAME!  In June, I wrote about OTHER writing that I am trying to do in my life.

July - I said goodbye to Borders Books, where I worked for 3 years and spent countless hours browsing books and making memories.

August - At a Phish concert, I watched a woman smoke weed then immediately nurse her baby.  Here's how THAT made me feel.

September - On the second day of Kindergarten, Sam didn't get off the bus after school.  Mommy panic ensued slightly.  This month was a tie (sorry, I'm a cheater!) because I also wrote this review of The Panic Virus, a book about vaccines, autism, and the panic the media can create.

October - It's a photo post, but this Halloween was really memorable for me.  A costume my son loved, made from scratch by me & my husband, my second son being old enough to trick or treat, and the awesomeness and happiness made for a wonderful holiday.

November - I shared about how much I've been struggling again with my weight and my body image.

December - Looking at photos of 2011 in review, I came across photos of protesters being treated horribly by law enforcement and I wrote about how it made me feel.

What memorable moments did you write about this year?

T13: My Grown Up Christmas List

I haven't done the Thursday Thirteen for a while, but I got an idea for a list yesterday and thought, hey, what a perfect fit!  This time of year I spend most of my time thinking about my kids and my friends kids.  So I decided today to think about my wish list - some things that may be in my reach, and others that are just dreams.  Here's what will make me smile (are you listening, Santa?).

My Grown Up Christmas List - 13 Things I Want to Find Under My Tree

Keen Coronado Sneakers

Karokeshi Kokeshi Art Dolls by BigHelmetHead

Island Leaves Cross-body bag by SeamsFineKS

The Beekeepers Quilt (hexpuffs!) by TinyOwlsMagicAttic (and someone to make it for me)

Madison Damask French Blue Camera Bag by JanineKingDesigns

Black and White Damask with Turquoise Ruffles Camera Strap by SnappyStrapsDesigns

Silver Leafy Tree Branch Pendant by ForevermoreCreations

El Naturalista Iggdrasil

Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di VC USD XLD for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

OPI Matte Lincoln Park After Dark

Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7

Lane Bryant V-Neck Cable Knit Sweater

Tickets to Mamma Mia at the Paramount Theater in March

What do YOU want for Christmas this year?

For more Thursday Thirteen entries, click here!