*Simply Happy*

Monday 1/2/12

one... two... one-two... this is a fun date in time. 

Today is my sil's 33rd bday... Happy Birthday Becky!  Love you! 

For Becky's birthday we went to a late lunch at Cheesecake Factory.  One of the best menu's of all commercial American cuisine right now.  It's interesting, I don't remember CCF always having a good menu.  Rightly so, since the point of the joint is good cheesecake.  But then they went from good to great by hitching their creamy cheese goodness to some of the best savory delights!  So, well done CCF.  More interesting than this random thought of mine... We didn't even order any cheesecake.  I suppose the different topics covered during the meal, including the evil in carbonated soda, wishing we all had the amount of money needed for personal trainers and committing to drinking more water this year, cheesecake would have been a bit hypocritical.  Nevertheless we had a lovely lunch.  I hit one of my Project 52 goals: I ordered New Orleans Shrimp.  (I substituted broccoli for rice.)  It was positively delicious! 

 

What was not so delicious was the aftertaste of the Rose Bowl Parade being today.  Just weird.  I think I understand the respect of not having the parade or football games on a Sunday as that is a traditional day of rest in stereotypical conservative culture.  To be honest, I totally forgot the parade was today for the first hour and a half of being up.  Sally and I had watched a bit of Phineas and Ferb when I remembered and we turned it on.  It just didn't feel the same.  Yesterday was New Year's Day, not today.  O'well, we don't have to think about it again for a while.

Something I might worry about for the next few weeks is the amount of cuts they showed of girls crying this season of Bachelor.  Good grief.  I do want Ben to find what he is looking for in a significant other; I want that for everyone.  I do, however, think it is a bit unfair for the producers to pick women/girls that act like they haven't been watching the show for years.  I mean, really, you just had no idea it was going to be so emotional?  I've been hearing this line in the cameo interviews every season since the show aired.  By the way, the first episode aired March, 2002.  That means that the girls that are 21 or 22 years old were children.  They have been raised on this show, watched it with their high school friends and college dorm mates, etc.  So early runner from my view on the couch: I like Rachel.  She was the first girl out, the only girl to really pull off wearing a red gown.  I didn't mind that he picked the horse rider for the first impression rose.  All in a all a good first night.  I thought the London girl might be around more than just tonight, but she has enough personality to more on with her life. 

Back to reality in my life tomorrow.  Back to a 5:45am alarm clock, back to work/ministry.  I've enjoyed a week off and sleeping in and spontaneous activities.  I enjoyed celebrating Christmas and New Years with family and friends.  I enjoyed my birthday, too!   I am also so grateful to be back at story time, back to a schedule and working in a place that God has called me to.  He allows me to grab His hand and another person's hand and put the two together, take a step back and watch Him work in their life. 

What did you observe in your day today?

 

Project 52

Starting with this first day of this new year, 2012, I look down the road at 52 glorious weeks.  So many things to do, say, accomplish, value and address.  Here is my attempt at putting them in list format and following through. ( For a glimpse of the former: In 2011, there was Project 35. )

Project 52 - 2012

1. Memorize 25 Bible Verses.
2. Go out of the country.
3. Make 25 new recipes.
    *Brie Stuffed Meatballs with Balsalmic Reduction Glaze (Jan 9)
    *Panettone French Toast with Blueberries (Jan 21)
    *Ratatouille in the Crockpot (Jan 21)
    *Veggie & Pork Egg Rolls (Jan 23)
    *Fried Rice (Jan 23)
    *Chicken Tortilla Soup in the Crockpot (Feb 4)
    *Chicken Roulade (Feb 6)
4. Read 12 new books.
    *The Help by Kathryn Stockett (Jan 9)
    *The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Feb 2)
5. Go see 8 movies at the theater.
6. Send 52 hand written notes to family/friends by US Mail. ( 19 / 52 )
7. Stay overnight somewhere besides home 4 times.
     *CoDA Retreat, Newport Beach ocean front home (a-mazing!) (Jan 27, 28, 29)
8. Visit the Mouse House 10 times. (1/10)
9. Cook in the crockpot 25 times. ( 3 / 25 )
10. Go on three family hikes.
11. Visit 2 Art museums or galleries.
12. Lose 50 pounds.
13. Post on my twitter account once a week.  (1/52)
14. Ask a thought provoking question on FB once a week. (1/52)
15. Have lunch away from my desk and off campus 25 times.
     *Sharkey's with Erika
     *Islands with the OR Team for Allyson
     *Veggie Grill with Dre, P1, & Kristen
     *Ayres Hotel with Andy, Caleb, LV (although I was late and didn't eat but it was a lunch meeting.)
16. Become a proficient beginner at piano.
17. Use my sewing machine to follow a real pattern.
18. Make 3 sewing projects.
19. Plan 3 extra creative dates.
20. Finish Sally's 1st grade scrapbook with her.
21. Eat at a Food Network Chef's restaurant.
22. Get a real facial.
23. Host friends to a Spoon Tasting Party.
24. Pick up my Master's Degree from the school already.  Sheesh!
25. Go to a professional sports game.
     *I went willingly to a Super Bowl party and actually watched the game on a huge tv...does that count?
26. Through the use of coupons & club card, save $1,200 at the grocery story. ($147)
27. 6 Professional Pedicures. (1 / 6)
28. Eat gluten free for a week.
29. Pick one day a week to be absolutely television free. (3/52)
30. Share at Story time 9 times this year.  (1/9)
31. Go to the gym 52 times.  That's once a week, Christie!  (2/52)
32. Go to 5 different farmers markets.
33. Enter something in the OC Fair.
34. Teach this year, more than once. 1, 2
35. Unplug from cell phone for 24 hours a couple of times this year.
36. Go on 6 Farley Family Lunch Adventures. (1 / 6 : We went to Bruxie 1-1-12)
37. Write with intentionality once a week...52 times, for one hour.
38. Attend one concert.
39. Give 6 random gifts that are just because.
40. Attend a retreat.
     *CoDA Retreat (Jan 2012)
41. Make a seasonal wreath for the front door.
42. Paint our bedroom.
43. Get a new pair of specs.
44. Order fish 6 times. ( 1 , 2, 3 / 6 )
45. Go on a boat at least 3 times.
46. Buy a couple of pairs of shoes that are not black or brown.
    * Purple Suade Pointy Toes by Nine West - Beautiful
47. Spend a whole day taking pictures of whatever I do.  Then blog about it.
48. Clean my purse and bag that I take back and forth to the office out once a week.
49. When I have lost the 50 pounds, document the trip to the Gap that I have so missed!!
50. Fear less and love more.  Do this intentionally once a week. Blog about it.
51. Paddle-board 3 times.
52. Let this year, 2012, be defined by our family word: Pursuit.  Pursuit of balance, pursuit of who God wants me to be this year, Pursuit of friendship, Pursuit of ministry.  Blog about each of these four phrases & more if there are more to write about.

52 Weeks.  52 - 7 day opportunities to pursue life.  And I intend to!