With Resolve

Whew!  What a lengthy blogging break it has been.  That's what makes it entirely your own, I suppose - each blog post is based upon your season in life.  I thought the new baby would slow me down (more on her here), but I actually posted pretty regularly during maternity leave.  It was the dual return to work/onset of the holidays that sidelined my regularly posted thoughts.

With that in mind and a little push from the online community (namely, acurls and references to True Confessions Tuesday as well as the cool bucket list on a cohort's blog - hey, when I stalk someone, I do it properly), I decided to get back in the saddle.  What better time of year than the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve to post overly bold goals for the world to see?  I've combined my blogging to do list, new year's resolutions, fitness goals and bucket list into this one blasphemous post.  And, it's on the interweb - what better motivation to stick to it?  Without further ado:

New Year's Resolutions for 2011

1.  Post to all blogs (personal, family, work and hobby) at least four times per month.
This regimented schedule is not because I actually believe that regular posting is necessary on a blog - I believe it should be at one's own pace.  However, I'm needing some discipline in several areas, and this is related.  Likewise, I plan to keep up with journaling a bit better.  More on that in a future blog post.  Other upcoming updates: my new obsession with the Fitbit and the aforementioned bucket list and true confessions.

2.  Hit my goal weight by May 1, 2011.
While I won't publicize it here, more on the general subject in that upcoming Fitbit post. 

3.  Participate in two athletic challenge events this year.
Currently, the ONSC team has challenged me to compete in the Bentonville Half Marathon on April 2nd (coincidentally, my 34th birthday).  I'm not even sure this is feasible for me since I am definitely not a "runner."  But, I figure that training as though I'll participate (TBD later) is a great way to get in shape per goal #2 as well as set a good example for my seven year old daughter, already a running zealot.  I'd really like to eventually do a sprint triathlon (usually 12 mile bike ride, 3 mile run and 750m swim).  However, I'm not much of a swimmer.  I've seen some new triathlons with a kayaking component to replace the swim, which would be cool.  Alternatively, I may just try a 5 or 10K.  Regardless, I'd like two solid goal events to work toward.

4.  Keep it simple.
"They" say not to cite broad goals as new year's resolutions as they are unachievable.  True.  However, this has deeper meaning for me on a number of levels, so it will be my 2011 mantra.  Overall, I'm just trying to slow down the frenetic life pace, enjoy friends and family, live in the moment, say no to things, truly embrace the things I do say yes to, and in general do it all with a bit more simplicity and grace.  I get great inspiration from Tsh Oxenreider at Simple Mom, queen of the Simple Media empire - it is very worth checking out the various blogs and sites therein.

5.  Family time.
That's all - it's simple.  We are doing better and better about family outings and building memories.  Sometimes it's an outing to the Botanical Garden or the zoo, other times it's just grabbing ice cream together or going for a hike.  There's no "monthly date night with my husband" or daily focus time goal here - just more of it in general.  With this goal comes a focus on remembering to let kids be kids.  Sometimes I'm exceptional at this, other times it falls by the wayside and I am far too regimented about our routines.  The discipline and routines certainly set the scene for the good times, but what matters more than the discipline and routines is actually having the good times.

I believe that is enough for today in the category of the grandiose and far-reaching.  Off to the races!

Kids, Collecting & Journals

One of my new favorite websites and blog collections is Simple Living Media.  Their five sites/blogs are fantastic - see them at the bottom of their homepage: Simple Kids, Simple Bites, Simple Organic, Simple Home School (full of great tips whether you do or not) and Simple Mom.  

I loved this article on kids & collections posted today on Facebook, and had to recommend it as well as repost my response below, because Lee Valley is such a fantastic, undiscovered gem. 

Regarding kids and collections:

Great article, and I'm absolutely smitten with all the Simple Media sites! My child is an avid gatherer of all things outdoors, from dried cicada skins to leaves, rocks and dozens of other small, fragile and often formerly-living things. 

Far and away the coolest thing I've ever run across is from Lee Valley Tools (www.leevalley.com), which should be explored in it's entirety without skipping sections you think don't apply to your life (like woodworking). Their products are amazing, such as the little canisters that attach to bags and kids for contact info or fun messages. But I digress... 

For collectors like my child, you must check out the inexpensive and very cool watchmaker's cases. They stack, display and look great. We have one for mini shells from a vacation, one for yard items... the list goes on. They are great for kids and adults alike.  

Seriously, check out the watchmakers' cases mentioned above.  They turn everyday things and kids' collections into curated collections, and they are great for getting kids to limit what they gather.  For example, Sophie found some pussywillow tips and carried them along a walk stroking them, knowing they were the perfect size for her collection tins.  They are a great way to preserve special things and display them without clutter - I obviously can't rave enough about them.  Good for beads, office supplies, you name it.  A few pictures of some of Sophie's (these are the smaller ones, which are about 3" x 8" each:

 As long as I'm singing their praises, a few other cool items from Lee Valley:

- Gardener's Journal

- Cool old fashioned items for kids

- Great items for gardeners and for birding

Speaking of which, it isn't available through Lee Valley, but the Journal 10+ is one of the cooler items I own and a great gift.  Instead of multiple notebooks, it's a 10 year diary/journal in one.  It's great if you only want to jot a sentence or two a day (a great quote from a kid, something notable that happened or the every day things that make up a life), but there is plenty of room to go into more detail when time permits.  It's obviously a little pricier than your average journal, but you're buying one for ten years - that's $4 a year.  It's SO worth it.

I think that concludes today's random musings.