My 2011 Resolutions!

Long story short: I was in a car accident that caused me to make the rash decision of youth, based on fear of dying in Reno, to move to LA. I had walked so thought I was all good. Apparently, the Journalism School didn't think so, their GPA requirements are higher than the rest of the school and I needed to retake two classes. Big problem- I had already moved to LA. SO, I had to switch majors to General Studies from my double major of Journalism and Theatre. It was the only choice that I can do online. April's my deadline and I'm almost done!

I can't believe I'm getting married in five months! It's an incredibly nerve wracking time in someone's life- the planning, the money, the time, the energy, the stress, and the amazing party surrounded by your loved ones at the end of it all. I can't wait to marry Nando. I think the reason is that we both already feel like we're married LOL...so there won't be any surprises! The reminder of the wedding being only a day and a day to celebrate the beginning of the rest of our lives helps me through the times where I feel like throwing the invitation samples across the room. Our marriage is what comes after and that takes work, dedication and love....that's what's worth the stress, time, and energy!

After 3 years of not having my driver's license, I'm ready to get it back! I left the driving world for financial reasons but, I'm in a place now where I can get back to it. I love the freedom that comes with driving; the ability to get in and go wherever you want, whenever you want is exhilarating. I do appreciate the patience that public transportation has taught me but, I'm ready to get back into the driver's seat.

The most popular of the New Years' resolutions- everyone wants to get in better shape. The worst habits are broken by daily reminders of motivation and something better. I got a wake up call on Halloween when I entered into a breakdancing cypher (a circle where breakdancers battle it out) and mid-way into my battle, my chest start aching and I felt like I couldn't breathe. Now, I'm not the best breakdancer by far and I usually only won battles by outlasting my competitors so this was a major wake up call to me. Oh my God....I feel like I'm dying and it's only been 5 minutes- what's going on!?!??

Since then, I've started walking the second half of my commute, adding 6 miles to my week. I still don't think it's enough, since when I was trying out the Michael Jackson Experience game with my niece, I was still out of breath after a couple of rounds of Thriller. I hope in this next year, that I can find a routine that sticks, helps build back my endurance, makes me healthier and, as an added bonus, makes me look fantastic in my wedding dress. As my brother said after watching me do the Experience, "you're the most out of shape skinny person I've ever met". I don't want to be that person and if I don't start taking care of myself in my thirties....when will I start?

I hope after the first two are taken care of, that I'll be able to get back to reading for the joy of it. Thanks to you Lunchers, you've refueled my love of reading and I have a great TBR list to start off this resolution. I'm sure there will be more to come but, it's a start. Plus, the fact that I live across the street from a library should make it relatively easy!

I've always loved traveling and I hope to get back to it once the financial responsibilities for #1-3 are finished. We're already planning on spending next holiday season with Nando's family in Puerto Rico and going on our honeymoon in Barcelona, so we're off to a good start! I'd love to take a trip a year...and hopefully through Cross Cultural Solutions (for why, see #7).

It's so easy to volunteer nowadays- they have every sort of activity to match your interests, time, abilities with those in need. I've found my match through VolunteerMatch.org. Even with my crazy schedule, I still help out with troubled teens via an advice website and domestic violence via a hotline.

If you like to travel, there's Cross Cultural Solutions that will send you to anywhere from Ghana to Costa Rica to Peru to China and everywhere in between. You can go for as little as a week to as long as you want. I've gone to the one in Peru and it was the most amazing experience of my life. In the morning, you work and in the afternoon, you can sightsee.

I'm already doing this but, it's my newest of all my passions so I hope to continue it in 2011. I love making a meal out of love and have found it quite relaxing, even if when I finally sit, it feels really good, The way I can tell if Nando really likes it or is just hungry and could literally eat a horse, the way I feel when I've "slaved over an oven all day" and my loved ones are deliciously content; those things fill with me such joy in just the way a new skill when you finally get it right can.

As you can guess by now, I LOVE food! If I'm not cooking it, I will be eating it. My hunger (try to forgive me that pun) was only fueled when I moved to the foodie capital of the world, San Francisico. My favorite local publication/blog, 7x7, made a list The Big Eat SF of 100 SF restaurants/pubs/cafes, etc to try before you die. I'd like to start making my way down the list in 2011. Any of you SF Lunchers are more than welcome to join me :)