Tag Archives: New Year’s resolutions

The New Year, Being 2012!!

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Slim Paley photo

Happy New Year’s Eve Everyone!!

Pretend the clock says midnight please

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The ‘Best Laid Plans o’ Mice an Men’ finds me at home on New Year’s Eve with a sick husband and the Tragedy of a Totally Wasted Good Blow-dry.

   No party for Mr. & Mrs. Slim Paley.

And so, my dear friends, we meet again on the precipice of another New Year together.

Yay!!

I raise my glass to you

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Slim Paley photo

We’re getting along super well, aren’t we? Who knew?! OK, one or two readers cranky over the Angel thing, but what’s Christmas without a little dust-up?!

Truly, I’ve ‘met’ so many lovely people through Slim Paley (ps. wouldn’t you think after two years of writing this, spell check would stop suggesting “Palsy” as an alternative for Paley?? but, there I go, digressing already)

  I know I’ve said it before but I’ll repeat myself;

 I simply couldn’t have done it without you

 I mean one could, hypothetically, be the blog that falls in the woods…

But somehow that singular act suits the noble tree much more than me.

I like  company :)

Part of the pleasure of friendship comes from sharing the highs and lows of challenges, successes, failures and general “life lessons” we encounter on “The Journey” (definitely one of the most over-used words of 2011, right?)

Yes, we walk our own path, but celebrating and occasionally commiserating together helps to remind us that we converge more often than not.

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 I realize that’s a ‘Very Special Oprah’ moment for me, but it’s true.

So I’m going to be completely forthright and admit that I totally sucked at keeping up my resolutions in 2011.

omg-HOPEless! but who cares, if I don’t?

 Tomorrow is another year…

So here’s to that,

with some new and some re-cycled resolutions, in utterly random order because let’s get real; why would I want to start the New Year off organized? That would be way too much pressure.

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New Resolutions

1. Don’t put pressure on myself.

2. Wear sunscreen religiously.

3. Do at least 1 creative thing EVERY DAY and keep a list so I’m accountable.

Possible Creative Activities; paint, work on Younger Son’s scrapbooks ( he graduates high school this June and it’s his present), take photos, print my photos (there’s a concept!), garden, write, cook, invent new drink recipes.

4. Learn 1 new thing EVERY DAY. Again, keep list in an effort to stay accountable.

5. Take a little time out at least a few times a week to actually enjoy all the beautiful coffee table books I’ve acquired over the years and then donate all books that no longer speak to the place I’m at now.

8. This is also going to be my year for purging not just books, but all my drawers, cupboards & closets. After 19 years in this beautiful house, it’s time for a  little residential lipo as it were.

9. Watch more movies. Dare I say for me they’re a bit like sex-takes some effort but then you think, actually, this is kind of fun. (my kids don’t read the blog)

10. Use my Clarsonic at least 2 or 3 times a week. I warned you the list was random.

11. Start running. Nah, just kidding. I did consider it though after watching “Mission Impossible 4″ the other night. Tom Cruise likes to run doesn’t he? and he does that locomotive thing with his arms crazy fast.  I thought; hmmm, some upper arm work there-could be a good thing. But then my sister told me running is super bad for your joints so, phew…dodged a bullet there.

12. I WILL practice yoga more often.

I had a few more resolutions… In fact, I thought of so many good ones as I was trying to go to sleep last night, but poof! they’re gone. That does remind me that #13 is to get more sleep. I’m getting custom fitted ear plugs and staying off screens at least an hour before bedtime starting tomorrow. I went on a site for the earplugs and somehow managed to find cute pants. I’m telling you, I have a special talent.

14. Drink Green tea, but not at night.

15. Look for some changes on Slim Paley in 2012 too, although I guess that’s not really a resolution but it does get me up to 15, which is a good place to stop for now.

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I wish you multiple blessings in the New Year-good health, happiness,  a grand adventure or two, laughter and the love of good friends and family.

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2012- Bring IT!

xoxo

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Slim Paley photo

Oh wait! I almost forgot… remember my Toasted Marshmallow Martini from last week?

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Be Careful!!

Check this out; Click here

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This Fleeting World…

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“This Fleeting World is like a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream, a flash of lightening in a summer cloud, a flickering lamp, a phantom, and a dream…”

(From The Diamond Sutra)


……….. Meanwhile…back in Santa Barbara…it was a magnificent day


Today, the 3rd day of the New Decade, I sit in front of my keyboard still daunted by the prospect of writing down my “Resolutions and Twenty-Ten Wish List”

The truth is the moment it is set to paper is the moment I set myself up for failing. Yet I do it every year like an obedient little lemming – albeit a lemming with a singular nature…

This year I am setting goals within reason that are easily attainable and therefore might hope to achieve some level of success until mid February.

So here goes, in ABSOLUTELY no order of profundity or lack thereof;

- This will be the year that I cease reading books the minute I realize they’re stinkers, as opposed to my ridiculous habit of forging on like there is an English teacher over my shoulder, all the while swearing like a sailor about how shite the book is.  Too many books, too many blogs, too little time.

-I will be DECISIVE.  I    will    be   decisive.  I will be MORE decisive than I’ve been in the past. I WILL make up my mind quickly and with authority.  Do you think this is good idea???

- I am going to have grown up nails.  I’m going to stop pretending that as long as my toes are pretty that my fingernails can be the ugly step-sisters.  No longer will I have the nails of  Skeletor with a 6 week old manicure.  Manicures are not an indulgence, they are a necessity.

 

- I will listen when people tell me their names when we’re introduced and then I will use their names while conversing with them.  Then I will repeat all those names to my husband in the car on the way home and quiz him the next day. Well, maybe not that last part.


-I will throw away all most of my ratty Uggs   AND my “Valley of The Dolls” sweater (named thus for the pilling, not because I look like anyone in the film when I’m wearing it)

-I will sit up straight (installing a mirror by my desk was like the best decision ever- for more than one reason :)   )

- I will endeavour to refrain from using connective words such as “like”, “um”, “you know”, and “honestly”.  As they’re spilling out of my mouth I want to smack myself, but it’s difficult…I have teenagers…I live in California!

- I will always take my mascara off before bed, sprinkle freshly ground flax over any food I can and will stop using Sriracha sauce and truffle salt on my popcorn after 9:00 9:45pm.


-I will be more spontaneous.  I will be the most spontaneous damn Virgo you’ve ever seen.  As for having the reputation of being more likely to take a trip to Angkor Wat than leave my house for a movie after 7pm.- Ha!  Kiss that girl good-bye.

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Slim Photo………………….Sunrise at Angkor Wat

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- I will NOT sweat the small stuff.  Like the mirror STILL not being installed on that bathroom renovation from, oh about 50 posts back.  Who cares? It’s only my SON.  He can come and use the mirror by the side of my desk.

- I will not sulk when I lose board games.

-   I will open the good wine, light the best candle, arrange fresh flowers and have music on in my home even when I’m by myself.  Because these are little things but they make me happy.

Slim Paley Photo…………

- and lastly, but most importantly as I know it will help me achieve all the other things;  I WILL work out.  I will do pilates and not talk and moan the whole way through.  I will do yoga and not cheat on downward dog.  I will hike and not turn it into a walking picnic.


SO IT IS WRITTEN, SO IT SHALL BE DONE.

(but as always, I reserve the right to amend, add and delete from this list)