Happy 2011!

So, last night was new year's eve, and they say you are supposed to spend the upcoming year the way that you rang it in.  Well, if that's true, then I have a WHOLE YEAR of eating delicious home cooked meals, and snuggling with Scott and pups in my future :)  Not only did we have a great night in, but we managed to avoid the ridiculously cold AZ temps!!  Brrrrrr!

In addition to the previously mentioned activities, there are a couple of other ways I'd like to spend 2011 (in addition to crossing some activities off my bucket list!).  Here are some things I am going to (try to) make time for this year:

1. Reading books.  I always say that I want to read, but when it comes down to it, i spend way more of my time watching TV or movies.  I need to get back to finding myself lost in a book.  Maybe this means I schedule solo dates to the coffee shop?  (without laptop, of course!) :)

2.  Working out.  Honestly, though.  I've been trying to get into this habit well before the new year so I'd be ready when it came.  In the month of december, even through the holidays, I was definitely going 3-4 times a week.  With some tweaks in the diet, I think I'm off to a great start!

3.  Keeping in contact with old friends.  I am HORRIBLE.  and it sucks that my BEST friends are so far away.  Or, I've lost contact with them for so long, there is little friendship left.  I am committed to getting this one right.  So, JoJo, Amanda, Abby, Treana, it is on!!

4.  Studying for, taking, and acing my GREs.  I WILL decide what I'm doing in life, and I will do it this year.  Rocking the GRE is the first step in getting in to a grad school... and getting a scholarship to pay for it!

5.  Finding a new hobby.  I think this could be a fun little experiment.  A new hobby a month!  I don't necessarily see this one sticking, but it might be cool.  Some ideas may include: knitting, cooking, glass etching, scrap-booking, photography, etc.  I think this month, I'll start with....? :)

6.  Explore AZ.  Since I don't plan on spending more than a year and a half here, it's time I start making the most of it.  This includes traveling to great places in the state, and really exploring hte culture that Phoenix has to offer.  I'll definitely have to do some research, but here's a start:
Kartchner Caverns, the glass bridge, another trip to the grand canyon, a trip to Tucson, another shot at Sedona, some more trips to Flagstaff, our cabin adventure in Greer, the AZ casinos, 4 corners, and a few national parks.  Plus, a heck of a lot more hiking is in order!

7.  Keeping up with the News.  There was a time when, albeit out of boredom, I read the NYTimes inside and out.  It was great!  I felt so in the loop.  Now I'm lucky if I get in a half hour of NPR each day.  I feel like it's really important for me to know what's going on out there, so I'm committed to making this a priority!

8.  Travel.  Even if it's short, even if it's not very far away.  I need to do this more often.  And now I know I have places to stay in San Fran, Denver, and San Diego... I just need to take more people up on this!  Plus, Scott and I need to spend more time in Denver to decide if that's really where we want to be (granted, in two years from now.. but still!).  We already have a Denver rip scheduled, so I think one to San Fran, (and maybe a third big city?) is in order, some time this year.

9.  Saving money.  I need to be MUCH better with my finances.  It's not so much the big purchases that get me, but the little ones, over time.  Specifically: restaurants, Starbucks, and Target!! Ok, ok.. And Safeway.  I am committed to staying out of Starbucks for quite some time (thank you Scott's family for the coffee machine!!!), Target only minimally, and Safeway only once a week.  Honestly, limiting my time in these three stores is going to save me a fortune.

10.  Keepin' it Clean.  This means my house, my car, my desk, my closet!  I am so much happier when my environment is nice and organized, and lately, I've been in a "let it get real bad, then clean it all at once" mode.  This is gross.  I'm 27.  I can clean my own house.

Let 2011 begin!! :)