It's Twenty Twelve and Resolutions are a'Cookin'

It's a NEW YEAR which means a clean slate. A chance to start anew.
And the resolution list has started at 1.

I've got the normal - lose weight, drink more water, be more organized, budget better, etc., but this year I've put a little more thought into it. 2011 was a year of reflection, personal growth and discovery and I want 2012 to be the year of the "new me."

My (current) list is as follows:

• Put at least $100 into my savings each month
• Run at least 1 5k race a quarter
• Blog at least once every 2 weeks (maybe putting it in writing will encourage me...)
• Do at least 1 creative project each quarter

I think that's plenty for this year. I hope to do a lot more, but who knows. Let's see how much of these first few I get accomplished before I start adding 10 more :).

In the meantime, one thing that's not on my list, but seems to be happening more and more, is cooking. I've never been much of a cooker, but my new beau (:)) most certainly is and together we can make a mean meal.

Have you ever heard of Brown box veggies? IT. IS. WONDERFUL!

It is literally a brown cardboard box filled with fruits and vegetables grown right in your state! (Or at least mostly in your state - sometimes they have to import some things.) I'd never heard of it before, but Fabulous Fox (my bf) introduced me to them and we've been cheffing up gourmet meals ever since! In several of the boxes we have received butternut squash and I'm not sure if you've cooked one of those babies before, but I never had. Anywho, we've looked up several recipes and one of our favorites is Shrimp and Butternut Squash Soup. It's a Martha Stewart recipe and it's delish!

We've made it twice and can't get enough. It's probably my favorite soup ever! We also made a butternut squash risotto which later became a soup :). All very yummy and something we would have never cooked on our own had we not gotten the box.

Not only are the veggies and fruit fresh, they encourage you to make things you wouldn't normally make or try and that's always fun. Because hey, if it turns into a disgusting mess, at least you know not to every buy it in the store :).

I'll end tonight's post on this note. Have you all seen the email that lists all the things you should do for 2012? Mine was called the Handbook of 2012. Here are the items:

HANDBOOK 2012

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2011.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minutes’ walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others.   You have no idea what their journey is all about. 
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make PEACE with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:

25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything.

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come..

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

After reading it, I decided I needed to follow at least half of them and I share them with you hoping you'll find some of them inspiring as well. I wish you all a very happy and accomplished 2012. I'm excited to see what my future brings and look forward to seeing my resolution list this time next year :).

Happy New Year! Night!