Book Four of 2010.

Just finished Stephanie Meyer's second book in her Twilight series, called New Moon. I had read Twilight (the first book) sometime last year before seeing the first movie. Unlike many of Meyer's fans, I wasn't instantly addicted. I think she's a compelling writer and the way she weaves a story is certainly entertaining. I wouldn't say it drew me into obsession or that I couldn't put it down, but overall, I enjoyed the book.

I will make one comment I hope wouldn't offend Meyer, should she for whatever reason read this blog entry. And that is this, I find it disappointing that the most read romance of my generations literary era has been a book about vampires and werewolves. Literature is certainly not what it once was. While I support expanding the imagination as well as the mind, I find myself slightly saddened by romantic literature these days.

I'm sure some of you are wondering and yes, I will read the next one in the series. I'm not sure if I'll do it right away, but eventually.

That's four books so far this year, but leaves me trailing far behind my partner in reading crime. I need to get in gear!

Love,
B

Adventures and Misadventures.

Inspiration I find comes in the oddest of places. I have a tendency to justify my actions. So in my mission to be more financially responsible (if you're new here, you can find plenty of past entries about this journey) I kept justifying hanging on to my one credit card, because I was keeping it paid off. I figured, as long as I wasn't paying interest I was ahead of oh, 99% of Americans. But the point isn't everyone else. The point isn't even the interest. The point is that I was spending more money, because my credit card doesn't have fine lines or cutoffs.

The point of a budget is that when you're spending let's say, $30 for the week on gas - you have none left. So if you get low on gas you better quit driving til Monday. With a credit card it's easy to swipe and pump $33 dollars of gas and then just keep driving until you need more, knowing you'll always be able to swipe again. This to me is a false sense of security. Just because I can scrounge around at the end of the month to make ends meet, doesn't mean that I'm being successful. It means I'm getting by - not getting ahead.

So, in a 90% black ensemble, I am morning the death of my credit card. Yep, that's right...she's gone. I fought tooth and nail for quite a while to justify just keeping her around in my wallet, ' just in case'. But you know what, I've got to quit making 'just in case's' become purchases. So, my wallet is a little lighter today folks!

Despite my drama of using terms like 'mourning' I actually feel great about the decision. It was time to give my budget a kick in the pants. Now that I'm a homeowner with quite a few years of debt ahead of me before I'll be able to proudly claim my 'debt free' status again, it was time to kick it into high gear. And this means that not even a couple dollars is going to slide through the cracks anymore. If it's not in the budget, it's not happening.

For me, the new year has renewed my resolve to stop making excuses for myself and grow. In all areas of life. So, no more justifying. No more comparing myself to people who 'are worse off than me' to make myself feel better about hanging on to bad choices. Just forging ahead with faith.

So, enjoy a moment of silence on my credit cards behalf...

Love,
B

2010 Reading List (completed)

1. The Sweet By & By - Sara Evans
2. Two Little Girls in Blue - Mary Higgins Clark

I will be adding to this hopefully on an almost weekly basis. So I will repost it as I go.

Learning to Cook.

I've promised myself that in 2010 I will learn to cook. For a handful of reasons but mostly because I need more relaxing activities in my life and because I have a sweet new kitchen to do it in. As you can now see.

I decided when I determined I wanted a house that was black and white all over to pick accent colors for each room. Since my living room, kitchen, and dining room are attached, I'm keeping red throughout.

I went on a huge hunt for red appliances and as you can see found a few. I also hit the jackpot with red KitchenAid at Marshall's. I'm obsessed with Marshalls, TJMaxx, and Homegoods. By the time this adventure is over I'd say 90% of my condo will have some from one of those 3 stores.

Putting together my kitchen has inspired my to commit to learning a new recipe per week. But that is beginning after I get moved in. : ] Maybe I'll cook something on a video blog soon. Or at least post a recipe.

Love,

B

The Start of my Reading for 2010.

So, as previously mentioned I have set a goal to read 50 books in 2010. I do not want to pick them all in advanced. That's just boring. So, here are my first 5.

The Sweet By & By - Sara Evans (read & reviewed)
In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day - Mark Batterson
The Last Dickens - Matthew Pearl
My Enemy's Cradle - Sara Young
Basic Black - Kathy Black

Thank you to Karen Code, Krystal Whitten, and Krista Knable for 3 of these first 5 reads. And if you wrote me to suggest books, I have them written down. I'm just taking it little by little.

Love,
B

From Florida...

- Keep God first. It so easy to let my priorities get out of whack. This year I want God to stay at the center of all I do. I want Him to be first and foremost.

- Open my heart to people. Forgetting past hurts or disappoints I want to fully love the people in my life, even when they're undeserving.

- Pray for my family daily. While this has been more of a weekly thing in 2009, in 2010 I want to make time every morning to pray for my family members.

- I will cut the crap. And I mean in my schedule. I will get rid of the unimportant, distracting things in my daily life and use the time for what's important.

- I will take time to enjoy, reflect, and be still. We miss so much when we don't stop moving.

- I will read 50 new books with my friend Joy.

- I will be quicker to listen, and slower to speak (and judge).

- I will get out of my comfort zone, on purpose!

- I will fill my new condo...with furniture, with love, and I hope on a few occasions - with people!

- I will be forgiving of others and of myself.

- I will love my job.

- I will write. Often.

- I will be a great sharer. Of my time, my talents, my affections, and my things.

- I will reevaluate and add to this list regularly.

- I will grow up, with as much grace as I can muster.

Becca Christensen of Tampa, FL

Love,

B

From Pennsylvania...

'What will you do differently this year?'...

'Nothing. I'll continue to get serious abou tmy diet starting Monday, then blow it the first time I have dinner with the girls. I'll buy the shoes I don't need, the dress I won't wear, and the workout videos I won' use. I'll continue to drink too much coffee and eat too many French fries. I'll live for today, forget the past, and make the same mistakes - and I will love every second of it, because my flaws make me me!' - Emily M. Harrigan or Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

From California....

'What will you do differently this year?'...

My doctor wants me to reduce my caffeine consumption to one cup per day. To make this cutback easier, I'm going to savor that coffee from a pretty china cup while sitting at my kitchhen table instead of rushing about drinking it from a paper cup' - Nina Garcia of Oakland, California

Calling All Readers.

I need your help readers...I've commited along with a good friend, Joy Engdahl, to read 50 books in 2010.  So you have probably guessed what I need help with...

I need you to give me some good ideas for books to read.  Comment or e-mail me titles, a lil description, and why you think it should make the list.

Thanks.

B

From Minnesota...

'What will you do differently this year?'...

'Not a thing! This past year has been a tremendous year of personal and professional growth. I have explored my baggage, learned to set boundaries, and achieved some important goals. It is so nice that I'm finall at a point in my life where I do not feel like I am working on something' - Crystal Clancy of Lakeville, Minnesota

From Arizona...

'What will you do differently this year?'...

'I'll eat pasta at every chance I get and not feel guilty' - Natalie Garner of Gilbert Arizona

From South Carolina...

'What will you do differently this year?'...

'I will not let one opportunity pass to tell those I love how I feel about them. - Dorian B Swaney

of Columbia, South Carolina