Reaching a goal

At the beginning of the year, I wrote about how I don't make resolutions, but I have continuing goals that I create throughout the year.   One of my many goals that were created in the last few months of last year that I discussed was "De-clutter" my house.   You can ask anyone who has been to my house, I don't live in a clutter-filled house.   It's well kept and everything has a place - I just have a lot of "everything"'s :)   Over the past couple weeks, I have made a lot of progress in putting together piles/boxes of things to sell at my family's annual yard sale this year - many of which I am quite proud of myself for.

When I was in high school, I had a friend whose parents had tons of VHS tapes and DVDs (DVDs were just starting to come out) - probably half a wall full of.   I really liked that idea because I could just be hanging out searching for something to watch and whalah - lots of options right in front of me.   And thus started my "addiction" to buying movies.    I always bought movies at a discount price (pre-viewed 4 for $20 or 5 for $20 sales at blockbuster, columbia house, flea markets, etc).   My collection  included over 250 movies, a full bookcase full.   Unfortunately, I rarely got up and picked a movie from my collection.   

At first I decided I was going to get rid of all my movies, and then I started looking through it, and there were just some that I didn't want to part with.   Some were good classic movies such as Shawshank Redemption and ET; others were great movies for kids (for when the kiddos are older) such as Cars, Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc; some just never get old like Crash and Mean Girls; Others were good cinematic education for the kiddos when they are much older (if DVDs still work) like John Adams (tv series), 9/11 movies, An Inconvenient Truth, Pearl Harbor and Holocaust movies; and finally there are just the ones that are just enjoyable to watch now and then - the Harry Potter series, Office Space, Thank You for Smoking, Mighty Ducks series (yes I really do own all 3 movies AND find them enjoyable).  

But even with that - I made a lot of progress.   I went from having 6 shelves of a bookcase full of movies and TV shows down to 2 and a half!    Maybe in a few more years Ill be more willing to get rid of more - but at least now Ill stick to renting through RedBox or something.

I also have cleared through most of my Phillies stuff, and gotten rid of most of a bookcase full of items.    Just like the movies, I'm getting rid of about half of my stuff and calling that a lot of progress for now.  

On the list to go is 90% of my bobbleheads, little knick-knacks, some mugs, the media guides, Phillies magazines and half of the books I had.  

On the list to stay is all the phanatic stuff (for the kids bedroom), all the autographed memorabilia, the games that I kept as collectors stuff but will keep for playing with the kiddos (Phillies 2008 Champions Monopoly, Phillies 2008 Champions puzzle, Phillies Checkers), half the Phillies books and the Phillies Yearbooks.   Oh and of course staying and was never a consideration of going was my collection of baseball cards, the seats from Vet Stadium and the things that I actually use such as hats (got rid of half of them last year), shirts, blankets, etc..   So I guess I didn't quite get rid of half the stuff - probably less than a quarter of my stuff - but this is a BIG step :)

I still have a few more smaller areas to go through, but now I really just need to post the furniture Im looking to sell and have the yard sale (already scheduled for April 21st) so I can really get started into turning our den into a guest bedroom/playroom, which means going back out and spending money....but I promise to try and reach my goal of being more of a "minimalist" as well!   Its all a work in progress throughout my lifetime, not throughout a year.

Only real things left on the "goal" list that I made are get more active in judaism and pick up a new skill or two.   But for those skills - gardening will be out of the picture for a little while, Im thinking more like photography and knitting...

New Year, New You

Okay, well that title is super cheesy and I totally don't believe in it, but it was stuck in my head from good morning america and I couldn't think of a better title for this post. 

I, personally, am not one to make new years resolutions.   When people ask what my resolution is, I say I don't have one and then I joke that I want to lose weight.  In all reality, I'm always working on losing weight, and I almost never start a diet with the new year, because I find that is just a set-up for failure - at least for myself.    And Im sure if you did some research, you would find that resolutions are typically not kept for very long.

As my neighbor jokes, and it's so true, we see all the resolutioners for a few weeks, because they walk/jog/run around the neighborhood across the street from us (as its a popular exercise route for this area), and then after a few weeks/a month all the sudden all those folks slowly disappear.

Although I don't make New Years Resolutions, I do constantly have goals that I create throughout the year, so below are some of my goals that I have been on my list for a few months now, but Im hoping since Im putting them out there, Ill have a bit more success with them.

"De-clutter" my house.  For those that know me and have been to my house, you know that I actually don't have a lot of clutter in my house at all.   I used to be very OCD, and so everything is nice and clean, has its own place, and there is plenty of open space.   But with that being said, my office/den has a lot of STUFF in it, and we almost NEVER use or look at that stuff.   So my goal over the next 4 months is to declutter those rooms, and any other place where I might have STUFF.   Much of the stuff will take some time for me to be willing to part with, because its Phillies stuff that I have collected, but I know that it is time for me to realize what I really should keep.   I truly believe that the souvenirs are your memories and photographs and there is no reason to keep on buying junk that just sits on a shelf.

Be more minimalistic.   To advance on the item above, its one thing to clear out the stuff - its another to realize you don't need most things and to stop getting them.   I've already made a lot of advancements in this area.   Ive stopped buying A LOT of stuff because we really don't need it, so Id like to keep that going, and make some smaller advancements with that.   I don't want to be a complete minimalist - I enjoy the pleasures of many things that I do/will own and the experiences of my life, but I would really like to simplify my life.

Become more active in the Jewish Community.   When I was in elementary and middle school - I had Hebrew school (and to a certain extent, summer camp).   When I was in high school I had B'nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO).    When I was in college, I had Hillel and Jewish Student Association.   But once I became a young adult out of college, there was no organization to keep me involved, and I didn't join my synagogue because they didn't have a reasonable rate for single (or married) young adults - and there really wouldn't be any value to paying for my synagogues membership to me because its a much older member base - so they don't have much going on for my age group - and I could do all that without being a member.   Id really like to find a good Jewish organization that I can get involved in that gives me the same things BBYO and Hillel did - social activities, volunteer opportunities, Israel and Jewish education, etc.  

Re-organize my life. I used to be so OCD and organized in my life.   And then I got dogs, and they take a lot of time from your life to care for them properly, exercise them, etc.   On top of that, work got crazy busy and I was putting in lots of extra hours there.   So instead of coming home, walking/exercising for an hour, cooking dinner, getting some chores done and reading; I ended up working late, taking the dogs for a shorter, 20-30 min walk, making a fast dinner or just snacking and sit in front of the tv and be lazy.    I would like to get back to my earlier schedule and/or find an in -between.   One BIG way to do this, is I want to minimize my TV time.   I was never a big TV person (I don't think) until the last couple years, so I'd like to start to knock it out again.  As I've said since I signed this most recent cable contract, I can't wait til its expired, so I can just cancel the cable portion and just get internet.   Ill hook up a computer to the TV, and use that for any tv viewing when I REALLY want to watch something.

Pick up a new skill or two.  There are a lot of things that I would EVENTUALLY like to learn.   I don't expect to learn them all this year, nor do I expect to really learn them all.   But I do hope to take the time and try and learn some of them sooner rather than later.   

• I've always enjoyed photography and had a lot of positive feedback from my friends and coworkers on many of my photographs when I was more diligent with taking pictures.   I hope to eventually get a DSLR camera and get back into photography, and maybe get a lesson or two on the DSLR so I can take advantage of all its features.
• Id love to learn to knit or something.    When I was at a BBYO summer conference, there was a knitting "class" that I signed up for - and I failed miserably.   For the life of me - I just didn't get it.   But Id like to give it another, more serious shot.   I think itd be great to be able to make some things for myself, my family and friends, and be able to make others to donate to good causes - such as scarves.
• I've tried my hand at gardening, and have had some successes and some failures.  Id really like to put more effort into it and learn the ins and outs.
• Id like to be more confident in my abilities to do real DIY around my house.   Im fine with building furniture, putting up shelves, painting, etc, but Id like to be able to do more and be more confident in being able to do that stuff.   Specifically, things like completely re-doing a bathroom, building a shed, etc.    There is LOTS that Id like to do around the house, some of which I know would need to hire a contractor for (new patio in front and in back with overhang, additions to house, etc.), but there is plenty that I know I could do on my own with the right equipment, knowledge and skills.

Continue to live a healthy lifestyle.  Although I'm not always eating healthy nor do I exercise day in and day out, I think that I keep a good balance of healthy living within my life.   I fully admit that I could always do more, but I'm happy with where I'm at - and that's what counts, so it is my goal to continue this healthy lifestyle.


Pick up the walking.   This may sound very redundant (and even a contradiction) of the above, but to me walking is not just my exercise - its a hobby and a big source of enjoyment and relaxation for me - so to me, this is a separate point (although it does still fall into the above point).   I don't want to make it a point to walk everyday, because there are always days where you just don't want to go out - so Id like to keep the "schedule" I currently follow, but Id like to find some new routes, and start increasing my lengths.   Currently, my average walk is 4 miles, which isn't bad, but Id like to get my regular weekend walks up to more of 7 miles and start to train again for a marathon, the goofy challenge and/or another 3-day.

If you want to join me in any of these goals, let me know and we can work on them together.   If you have the skills to teach me one of those new skills, and want to teach me, let me know that as well - as I can mix time with friends while learning one of those skills.

Here's to hoping that I have some success in some of these goals, and that you also have success in whatever goals. "resolutions" or life-style changes you may have for this year.

What a great start to the week...

After going to bed at 9:30pm last night, I woke up today after hitting snooze for 1 hour 40 minutes (although I don't remember hearing the alarm or hitting snooze for the first hour).   You'd think 8 hours of sleep would be more than enough when I normally get 6 hours, but apparently my body really wanted to get to 9+ hours of sleep.

After getting a really late start to my morning I go downstairs to see LOADS of frost on the ground, which means I can't just run out the door - although that ended up being a good thing, because I forgot how much of a mess I left the kitchen after giving up on coating my first round of truffles.

After finally getting on the road, traffic wasn't so bad to get to 295, and then as soon as I got to 295 I found out that Hubby's place of employment wanted to kill my car and myself.   I had my car in the shop on saturday because the battery light was going on.   The good news is that my battery was just really dirty and needed to be cleaned.   The bad news is that they never fully shut my hood, and it wasn't noticeable until I got on the highway and all the sudden my hood was shaking and looked like it wasn't very far away from flying off and causing an accident.   Luckily, I noticed it quick enough and was able to get over to the shoulder and slam it closed - but WOAH!  

Once I got on the road, traffic came to a screeching halt - there was a one-car accident up ahead.   Stupid people don't know how to drive.   When I finally passed that, the guy in front of me refused to go above 60 in the left lane - and the speed limit is 65 AND he was in the freaking left lane.  

After finally getting around him, the rest was smooth sailing - and amazingly, work has been the same as well - FINGERS CROSSED.

Looking forward to a short work week and a long weekend.    And eventually finishing all of my holiday baking tonight (hopefully, but possibly tomorrow night).

Hope you all had a better start to the day than me :)

My life the last month

Work, work, work, work, work, travel for work, travel for work, travel for work, work, work, work, work, family plans, wine, work, travel for work, travel for work, work, work, travel for work, travel for work, flight cancellation during work travel, work, work, work, work, work, travel for work, travel for work, travel for work, work, work, work, day off, sisters wedding, laundry, work, work, work, work, travel for work, travel for work, travel for work, work, work, day off to prepare for Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, FREE WEEKEND!!!!, Work, Work, Work, Work, Work, Work, Sunday OFF!!, Work, Work, Work, Travel for Work, Travel for Work

Any that is what my life has looked like for the last month and next few weeks...

Life is....

BUSY!   Its that time of year at work.   Well I guess its always that time of year except in the summer and that one really bad year.   But as soon as September hit, work got really busy, and therefore I have a thousand posts in my head that I want to write (if I can even remember them), but I barely have a second to write them - I really need to get back to completely OCD and have my life scheduled out like I used to (yes I was that crazy!).

Well, eventually I will finish finish all the posts I started over the last month and start (and finish) all the posts that are in my head, but in the meantime, I quick recap of the past week or so:

- We are officially getting Kali!!!  We got an email the other week about her giving us a little description of her personality - and Adam and her will be best buds!   She loves her foster mom because her foster mom just lies with her and cuddles.   Adam could never get me to sit still and cuddle, nor can we get Charger to do that (well sometimes we can), so maybe adam will finally have his match :)   We will be changing her name to Kalas (in honor of the great Harry Kalas).   I think we will give her a middle name - but Im not set on anything yet.   My friend Marci recommended J-Roll (nickname for Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins for those non-Philly, non-baseball folks).   I do like that, and I definitely want a Phillies name - any thoughts?  Plenty of names in my head - Tug, Schmidty, Utley, Dutch, Whitey, LA, list goes on and on and on....

- Adam and I unofficially gave Charger a middle name - cause if Kalas gets one, he should to!   For those that don't know, although some might think his name is Charger because he charges someone as soon as he sees them (we - ie. I - are working on that), he is named after the Dodge Charger, the name just fits his personality perfectly.   I wanted to give him a taste of the Phillies, but then Id have to give Kalas a car middle name, so I comprimised - although I did pick this one.   His new middle name (when its not Barks-a-lot or something that we are just teasing him with) is Mustang.   Charger Mustang Needleman

Trust me those are not the things that have been keeping me crazy busy, just the stupid things that I felt like sharing right now :)

Oh - and I started to follow a new blog, and Im starting from posts in the end of August, and only gotten a few in, but I really like this one.  Sadly I like it cause it sounds like she is in the same boat as my sister-in-law and I with our in-laws - but its entertaining.   If you like my crazy MIL stories - go check out Elle at This is Mommyhood - she has some good ones up there about hers.

Hopefully Ill catch up on blogging this weekend - but more than likely not since I have a list a thousand things long (in my head) of what I need to do this weekend...