Monthly Resolutions...

... are what I am now working on. I've decided that making a resolution at the beginning of the year is more committment than I am able to, well,.. commit to. I am a list person- when I clean house, the first thing I do is make a list. I love the feeling of accomplishment when I can mark something off my list and know that it is completely done. Therefore, I am combining my list-a-bility and my desire for a new resolution, and doing a Monthly Resolution. Hopefully, four weeks of working on a new resolution will start a new, good habit for me and it will become a lifetime resolution instead of just a monthly thing. I'm picking two small, easy to do goals for this month, since this month is halfway over already.

#1. Drink more water. I never drink enough water. I don't really like it. I'd so much rather have a tall glass of semi-sweet tea. Granted, my sweet tea is nothing like everyone else's. I put about 1/3 of the sugar most people do, and I buy decaf tea, so it's not the caffeine that I'm addicted to. It's the tea taste- the way it tastes like summertime, the way the condensation forms on the outside of the tall glass and drips down it's sides in slow motion like drops of summer rain tracing the outside of my bedroom window panes. Water is so much less romantic than a tall glass of tea, but right now, there's not much in this world that is more unromantic than my hips, so I'm choosing to drink the H2O and end my affair with my tea. My measurable goal is 6 full glasses of water a day. Baby steps, people! Baby steps! I may increase from there, but 6 is the minimum.

#2. Be early for everything. I have the curse of the Holders, and I'm late for everything. I will be late for my own funeral! I've been doing alot better about it lately, but I would like to make this an official goal to not be late for anything at all (as it is within my power of course) for the rest of the month. Whether it is work, church, bible study, meeting friends or whatever, I am going to be more than on time,.. I'll be early! I've been driving to work about 20 minutes early for a few weeks, and I sit in my car and just chill out before going in to the rat race, and I'm noticing that I'm less stressed, and in a much better mood throughout my shift. I don't have to worry about speeding to get there, or hunting a parking spot, and I can do little things that I normally have no time for (today, I trimmed my fingernails and organized my purse). I am hoping to keep this up and apply it to everything else I do.

I hope you are all having a great April and stay tuned for my May Resolutions!! What is the one thing you would work on for a solid month in hopes it becomes a daily habit?

Spring Fever!

There are few people in this world that are as excited that it is April as I am! One of the things I love most about living in SC is our seasons. We have 4 very distinct seasons, and for someone who gets bored easily, that's a blessing. When asked what my favorite season is, I always say "whichever one is coming up next" because I anticipate it so much- the foods, the festivals and activities, the holidays, the weather, the clothes- and then about halfway through it, I'm done. I'm ready to move on and get to the next set of foods, festivals, holidays, etc. haha. By late August, I'm craving pumpkin pie and Halloween parties. By early November, I want Santa- Now! When January hits, I start looking at fabrics of daisy print and shamrocks. Now that it's officially April, and the dogwoods are blooming up and down my street, I am tickled pink!

When I have time, I like to organize my grocery list in two parts- things that I must get at Ingles, and things I can get at the Dollar G. Paper products, shampoo, cards, canned goods- usually come from Dollar G. Meat, produce, etc- from Ingles. I'm not sure if it saves me all that much money, but I feel like I'm being smart, so I do it. On occasion, I walk through the book section to see if there are any cute coloring books I can spoil my neice with. Yesterday, I found myself in the garden section. I was amazed at how much stuff they carry! Ever since we got married, I've wanted my own little garden. I tried growing tomatoes in a planter on the porch of our first apartment, but they didn't do so well. I tried growing peppers in a planter on our back porch last summer,.. again,.. it was a flop. I'm thinking I should move onto something else,... like flowers. I love flowers! All kinds, all colors, all shapes,.. I love love love them. I also love the cheesey tacky garden ornaments. Not so much the ceramic gnomes, but I did see some wire flowers that you stick in the ground and they were really tall. I thought that was cute. And chimes,.. there was an awesome chime I saw yesterday there too. They even had potting soil! I started on my garden at the end of last summer, but didn't finish it. It's small, in front of our house, and needs alot of work. I think it'll be a great summer hobby for me. I can't wait to finish what I've started! Pictures will definitely be coming soon!!

Also, this weekend, we (myself and Dan, Lavinia, Natalie, a friend, and my parents) are all going to Lake Jocassee. We're taking a boat with us, so we can travel around the perimeter of the lake and see some waterfalls. I can't wait,.. I love waterfalls as much if not more than flowers. Flowers along side a waterfall? Wow. I may not be able to contain myself! haha. Spring time,.. I love you!

Come back soon for some pictures of me and my spring time bliss!