Well...hmmm

I did so well posting last month...maybe I need to do some sort of challenge all the time. I'll just give a little rundown of our month and hopefully get to some more interesting topics (Quinn's upcoming 4th birthday, the Oscars, my learning of Quickbooks...ok, that's not interesting) in the very near future.

I've recently started watching Downton Abbey, and much to my surprise, am enjoying it very much. I'm not usually a Victorian era enjoyer, but this is a bit more spunky and plush, if that makes sense. I'm only on the 4th episode of the first season, but I'll definitely be carrying it forward. The first season is currently on Netflix Instant and I'm recording Season 2 on PBS so I can enjoy it when I finish Season 1. That's one great thing about British programming, very short seasons.


I just finished reading Divergent, and it was a really good book. I won't go as far as great or revolutionary, but definitely enjoyable. Plus I have a 1-degree of separation from the author, which is always fun. Its a YA sci-fi dystopian thriller, definitely in the same vein as The Hunger Games, but different enough to make it worth checking out. It is a planned 3-parter, which part 2 coming out in May of this year, and I will for sure be adding it to my list.

Ross and I celebrated our 7 (!) year anniversary a few weeks ago. We were able to get away for one night to Sarasota. We stayed at a fairly nice hotel (good deal on Travelocity anyway) on the beach (which we didn't go to). We were able to go to St. Armand's Circle, which is a very charming shopping/dining area of Sarasota. If you are ever there, give it a whirl. We had an excellent anniversary dinner at the Crab and Fin, where I would put on my return-to list for sure. All in all, it was a wonderful way to celebrate 7 years of wedded bliss. Ok, that was a bit schmaltzy, but you know what I mean.

So that's us for the month. Quinn is doing fine, and hopefully I'll be taking more pictures and posting more of his stuff in the next few days. I don't think I've taken a picture of him since the beginning of the month. Don't worry, he looks the same, just in desparate need of a haircut.

Kim's 4 Word Book Review

It's hilarious. Read it.

One More Good Idea

I recently realized I forgot one of my Good Ideas, and its probably one of the most important. I need to try every day during the week that I work to leave the house by 8:40. This is definitely a challenge for me, and I don't know why. Quinn is supposed to be in class by 9, but he's not considered late until 9:10 and that's probably something I fall back on too much. Another reason I am late is because in many ways, my son is his father's child. Getting up in the morning is one of those ways. Those who know Ross know that he is a night owl to an extreme. Quinn isn't quite as bad, but he's probably on his way. He also tends to move (and don't let my next phrase fool you, I'm not an 85 year old man) slower than molasses in January. I try and motivate him to move, but it doesn't work a lot and sadly, it often leads to my frustration. So I guess this is really 2 Good Ideas in 1 - get out the door by 8:40 and ease up on my frustration levels.

Hello 2012

A new year is upon us once again. It just keeps coming faster and faster. As I've been thinking about the year ahead, I've decided to make a "Good Idea" list. Not really resolutions, just, you know, good ideas. That way, if they don't get achieved, they were just good ideas, not anything set in stone. So here's my list....but first, the first picture of Quinn in 2012. Not the best, but still cute (which, ironically, is similar to what he said when I put these new pj's on him..."I'm cute now!" Modest, huh?)

Good Ideas

1. Strive everyday to find God's peace and joy in the world that really are there.

2. Find my passion. This may sound weird to some, but if you know someone who has a passion, well, you definitely know it.

3. Lose 5 lbs (ok, really 10-15 might be better ideas).

4. Get better with my camera.

5. Organize something, anything.

6. Read at least 15 books (I have a super secret goal of 20, but I'm sticking with 15 as my public goal).

7. Be more active in my community.

8. Be the best wife, mom, friend, daughter, sister, etc I can be. And that does include blogger.

A lot of these are just generalities, but you know, things to focus on. I have some other private things too, so it comes out to quite a bit. But what would life be if not for the challenges.

PS - Oh, and I did reach my goal for last year, which was read 15 books. Completed 12/30/11. Woo-Hoo.