A Great Book Year

This is going to be the year. I may not blog every day, but I will when I can. I may not read or listen every day, but I will when I can. I’m going to forget about writing for anyone but myself. At this point, I’m sure I’m the only one reading this anyway. My reviews will be for me, myself, and I. What book will I start the year off with? I believe it shall be The Hobbit. A long favorite but one I’d like to revisit, especially considering the movie that just came out, which yes, I did indeed see. And I’ll be enjoying this classic in a different format, since I’ll be listening instead of reading this time around.

I’m also intrigued by 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I’ve completely read 23 books on the list, and partially finished several more over the years, but there are many on there that I’d like to finally get to. I make no promises on how many total books will be part of this year’s reading list, but I will say perhaps every other book I read will be one from there.

There is really no other activity I enjoy more than reading. If I could do it all day, every day I’d be the happiest person on Earth, Twilight Zone twists aside. I’d never promise to read a book a day. I think when I try to make reading a chore, or a job, or any kind of obligation, I lose the fun and enjoyment. So this year will be the year of reading for fun and pleasure. I want challenging books, interesting books, sad books and funny books. Good books and hopefully not too many bad ones.

Basically, I want a great book year.

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Get Started Bento Challenge

I’m thinking about doing this.

Get Started Bento Challenge

Starting January 13th, you make a goal list for five weeks relating to your bentos, and then follow that list until February. Whether it’s healthier bentos, bentos at least three times a week, or whatever. And you post your bentos to the flickr group, Just Bento. I’ve already joined the group and posted my super cool bentos from last night.

I’m really glad I made those before going to bed, because I ended up oversleeping. All I had to do was brush my teeth and grab my box, and I was ready! What a life saver (and by life I mean wallet, it would have been fast food for lunch).

More bento business to come…

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Water Boy’s Bento

I made my first bentos last night! I first heard about American Style Bentos from this awesome mom-run website, Lunch in a Box. It really inspired me to start making my own, and I finally got my first chance. Water Boy has to take a cold lunch to daycare tomorrow, so I decided to try out my (nonexistent) bento skills. I ended up making one for each of us, as one of my Resolutions for the New Year is to start taking a lunch every day. The containers for my and Water Boy’s bentos are from Fit ‘n Fresh, a neat tupperware system for portion control. They were easier to find then actual bento boxes, which I would need to order from online. So much for buying less this year!

On to the Bentos!

Water Boy has faux sushi, with ham and mozzarella cheese, whole grain gold fish, and a ranch cup on the bottom layer. Top layers are halved green grapes, carrot chips, and snap peas. Caprisun not shown.

Water Boy’s Bento
Originally uploaded by firefaery2

I also did a close up of the faux sushi, because I think for a first time it turned out really well.
(Faux Sushi is made by layering your ingredients on a tortilla, rolling it all up, and slicing it. Finger food for kids and adults, and no raw fish necessary. Not that I would mind, I love real sushi too!)

This one is for me. Bottom layer is two ham, cheese, and lettuce sandwiches cut into dinosaur shapes, because we were having fun with the new sandwich shaper we picked up at the same time as the boxes. Top layer is the same as Water Boy’s, but I didn’t halve my grapes. I also am taking a salad, not shown.

Last is Stillmog’s, with ham, turkey, and cheese faux sushi, a ham and turkey dinosaur sandwich, a string cheese stick, and green grapes in his regular old tupperware box. Outside is vanilla yoplait yogurt, grapefruit, and whole grain goldfish. I’m hoping he won’t starve, but it might be a near thing. (sarcasm)

I was really impressed with myself after this, but obviously it’s really not that difficult. This is similar to the sandwich shaper I used, but mine was Chefmate and 2.89 from Target. I’m thinking of making Water Boy at least one home lunch a week, just to get used to it. I hope to someday be making his lunches every day.

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New Years Resolutions Part 2: The List

2009 New Years Resolutions: In No Particular Order

Blog at least once a week

Lose 52 pounds

Cook at home more often (this may need refining to number of days per week)

Go organic as much as possible

Live Greener (recycle more, use less, use cloth instead of paper)

Garden and compost (I have a big stack of pots and a courtyard, for container gardens)

Learn to sew/knit better

Reduce debt by at least 50%

Save at least 2000 dollars

Play outside more often

Turn off TV/Computer/Video Game at least one night a week

Start Learning French (this one I’ve already started)

Finish writing a story (short or long) and submit to a publisher

Clean and declutter and keep it that way

Ride bike to somewhere (even around the block) at least once a week

Get more involved in local community (volunteer, go to events, talk to other bloggers)

Try a new local restaurant twice a month

Make new friends

Run a mile and a half in 15 minutes or less

Join the Airforce

Buy fewer consumer goods (rent movies, borrow books, less toys, thrift store clothes)

Wear more hats (I need a really good fedora)

Get a wedding band tattoo (We both seem to be allergic to the metals in our rings)

Play my clarinet more (or ever)

Read to Water Boy every night (this one has been great fun so far!)

Get Maya-kitty spayed

Visit local attractions more often (museums, galleries, parks, community centers)

Go to the gym at least three times a week, and the track at least once

Pack both Stillmog’s and my lunch every day

Write letters to my friends (not so green, maybe I’ll reuse paper from around our house)

Make a Household Planner (I saw this on a site and loved the idea)

Make no late payments! (This one will be very very difficult, we are terrible about this)

Start tracking my calories (I’ve been trying to use Sparkpeople, but I’m not very good)

Go out on dates with my spouse creature, Stillmog, at least twice a month

Start a family game night (to include any family member or friend who wants to come)

Reconcile with my uncle and my cousin

Spend more time with my dad and youngest brother (or any)

Talk to my grandparents more often (than once a year)

Take more pictures of Water Boy and post them to my flickr, myspace page, and here

Re-vamp my fish tank (it’s looking a little dark and gloomy)

Start trying to get my e-business, Wings&Things;, off the ground (crafting business!)

Possibly conceive baby number two (this is debatable, as I would want to stay home with them)

Get some house plants (we need more green inside)

Do…Something…with my hair

Have I missed any thing???

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New Years Resolutions Part 1: The Big One

I have many, many resolutions for the New Year, some of them realistic, some of them probably not so much. I’m going to try, though, and that’s all anyone can ask.

The first one, and the one most pertinent to this blog, is to write on here at least once a week. I’d prefer more than that, but let’s not kid ourselves. I’ve had this blog for two and a half years, and made 48 posts so far, counting this one. That’s a post about once a month, and there have been a lot of dry months. I do plan to *gasp* back-date some upcoming posts, just so they will actually be relevant to their times, so my count should go up.

But I would like to get in a regular post at least once a week, because though it may not seem like it, I love my blog. I love blogs in general, and I read many of them. Why should I read other people’s blogs, but not write in my own? So that is my first resolution for the year.

Write a blog-post at least once a week!

There will be an actual list upcoming, hopefully tomorrow.

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