What did you resolve to do in 2014?

Did you ever notice that the only time we talk about New Year's resolutions is on New Year's Day and maybe a week or so into January? Why? If it's a yearlong commitment, don't you think there should be some check-ups along the way, perhaps a quarterly report? Or do we all just fall off the bandwagon by February and March? Well, I'm proud to admit that for at least the last year or two I have been a stickler for my New Year's resolutions or as I am now calling them, my goals for the year. So, we are more than halfway around the bend of the year and I thought I would take a look back at my goals and check my progress now while there is still room to improve!

Goals for 2014:

Spend more time with friends and family.

Since January, I can honestly say I have made an effort to spend more time with friends and family. I'd like to have more parties and dinners at the house in the next few months, including Friendsgiving (let me know if you want to come) and a football party, and see some of those friends that I haven't had a chance to see. I have dinner almost every other month with some of my former library ladies, there's been some Pinterest parties and book club meetings too. So, let's get together if we haven't yet this year! I'd love to see you!

(A special stop in Columbus on the way back from Indy for a visit with the Stelzers and birthday celebrations at PNC Park for Barbara!)

Save money and BUY A HOUSE. 

Well, priorities have changed a bit - paid for a honeymoon and are still paying on the ridiculous car repairs needed on the G6. We are saving, so that is a huge step and we are definitely trying to be more financially responsible. We've look at a few house but haven't found anything and have come to the realization that it might not happen this year, which just gives us more time to save. I'm not ready to come to the realization either that I may not be walking distance from Highland Park.

Finish building my dollhouses.

When it was crappy out, this goal was going so much better. I have no desire to sit inside right now and finish my three unfinished dollhouses.

Be healthy.

I'm proud to announce that other than the stomach bug that killed me before the half marathon, I have been relatively healthy this year. I drink more water. I eat healthier. I lost 10 pounds. Remind me to take my allergy pill and my vitamin and I'll be even healthier!

RELAX.

Surprise, surprise...I'm making strides at learning to relax. It hasn't been easy. I'm still pretty tense. I'm not letting my to-do list get the better of me anymore. And huge breakthrough - I have been planner free for almost six months! The app and Google calendar trick is working well.

DO MORE.

At the beginning of the year I wanted to read, write, photograph and cook more. Well, I've done all of those except probably write. I've read 36 books already this year. I try to photograph fairly often and I'm improving my skills in the kitchen. So I have definitely welcomed back some of my hobbies into my life and am trying others.

(Fun picture from a day seeing the zoo from the lens of my camera.)

How are you doing on your resolutions or goals for the year?

2014 I have to admit, you haven't been so bad! Here's to a happy and healthy remainder of the year!

Let's take a selfie!

I'm not big on selfies but this Pinterest challenge was fun. I just took one selfie every day for 30 days. As you can see most were either at work or on the back deck in my pjs or workout clothes.

Spreading Birthday Kindness

I like my birthday to be a huge celebration every year and definitely more than just one day of festivities! This year, I started celebrating on Saturday and I haven't determined an end date yet but I want to do something different for this birthday. I want to make my birthday not just about me, so I'm going to do "25 Days of Random Acts of Kindness." In honor of my age of course. Honestly, I will be doing my correct age whatever that maybe be, which you can see below. Here is my list (in no particular order) of what I plan to do during the course of the next few weeks starting tomorrow. Let me know if you would like to be the recipient of one of my random acts of kindness and you just might be!

1. Pray for a friend or family member.

2. Arrive on time.

3. Ask if I can help.

4. Bake a treat for someone.

5. Buy school supplies to donate to an organization having a school supplies collection drive.

6. Donate to the food bank.

7. Hide money at the Dollar Store.

8. Hold the door for someone.

9. Leave a generous tip.

10. Leave a positive comment on a blog or website.

11. Make a bird feeder.

12. Make a homemade card and send it to someone.

13. Send a note of appreciation to someone.

14. Send a surprise package to someone.

15. Smile.

16. Use less plastic.

17. Write a thank you note to someone.

18. Write a letter to someone who made a difference in your life.

19. Write a letter to an elderly relative.

20. Make a take what you need sign and hang some place random.

21. Share a feel good playlist.

22. Leave a nice note for Dennis.

23. Bring treats to the office.

24. Put cart(s) away left in parking lot.

25. Pay a friend's tab.

26. Say "I'm sorry."

27. Make a donation to a charity I support.

28. Donate books.

29. Write a letter to a former school teacher.

30. Be proud of myself.

31. Hug someone.

My list could be a lot better but I have to keep my budget in mind. I'm excited to make my birthday not just about me but others as well. I will post at the of my journey with my progress!

So, happy birthday me and now I will return some love through random acts of kindness!

Thank you for the music!

Thank you for the music, for giving it to me!

 

A few weeks I was blessed with such an unexpected gift - a piano! One of Dennis' colleagues was moving and needed to get rid of a piano. I've had my heart set on that beautiful baby grand piano at my parent's house but Beth says its her retirement. So I jumped at a free piano!!

 

I can't wait to start playing again. It's only as an adult that I can say I am so grateful to my parents for giving me the gift of music. I'll be the first to admit, I suck but I love it. Most parents promote music but let me tell you living with Mark Nurnberger is a whole different ballgame.

 

When your dad is a musical genius and your parents met in theater, you grow up in a world filled with music and Broadway. It's a shame that all that musical influence didn't produce more talent. The best I can do is play The Battle Hymn of the Republic by memory.

Thoughts from my musical childhood...

 

I fell asleep every night to the sounds of WQED on my radio except for Saturday nights when I listened to Delilah because I was afraid of a radio show called Hearts of Space.

 

I had no choice. You will play the piano. You will play in the band or sing in the choir.

 

While most children my age were watching Disney films, my sisters and I were watching musicals on VHS...Oklahoma, Gigi, Carousel, Sound of Music and of course, White Christmas.

 

I was a regular at the Pittsburgh Symphony Fiddlestick's performances.

 

During summer evenings at Lakeside, we had to sit through two numbers of the Lakeside Symphony before we could go play mini golf, get ice cream or go to the movies.

 

Looking back, it wasn't terrible growing up in a world of beautiful music. I have an incredible appreciation for classical music and theater. I love to sing and play the piano.

 

I was stubborn and I never realized how grateful I was to my parents until I had a choir teacher in high school who further instilled in me musical appreciation.

So, hopefully the piano tunes coming from our apartment will be more than The Battle Hymn of the Republic.



Just Another Week at the Library

Well, it was just another crazy week of summer reading at the library. As I look back at the numbers, I'm pretty happy considering I had no idea what to expect.

 

...134 people registered for summer reading (that's actually huge since they have never had more than 50 register apparently)...

...six science experiments conducted with two programs and two outreach visits...

...one outfit ruined by cornstarch and coke (that's an improvement from previous summers)...

...five stories read during programs and storytimes...

...only one kid had an accident on the floor (no joke)...

...participation of almost 150 for the week at programs, outreach and storytimes...

 

It was a whirlwind week that started with Splish, Splash Science Camp and Fizz, Boom Science Camp. Together, the kids and I learned about floatation, aerodynamics and chemical reactions! The week continued with two storytimes, a teen program and three outreach visits. I'm ready for a nap.

 

Next week's agenda includes lots of painting, crayon art and recycled art! Creativity abounds at the library!

 

If you haven't signed yourself or your children up for summer reading, what are you waiting for? Get to your local library and register!

Dying to Run

Last Saturday, Meg and I ran the Run or Dye 5K at Lutherlyn with one of her work friends. It was definitely not your traditional run, which I was not expecting and although I had fun I'm not sure I want to do it again.

 

First, EVERYBODY did this run and I mean EVERYBODY. These were not runners. People took strollers into the woods!

 

Second, it wasn't timed. I was kind of hoping to check my 5K time for my training for the Great Race but it wasn't.

 

Third, I was sick of people's comments about Lutherlyn. It's a camp people! The trails are in the woods. That's why the trails aren't paved! Think about it.

 

I had dye everywhere! My toes were purple. My ears were blue. I was blowing pink snot. It took a lot of scrubbing to get clean.

 

 

It was worth running or dying just to feel in shape compared to the other runners who were definitely struggling for breath after a half mile. At the marathon, I feel out of shape but here I felt like a fast runner. That was well worth it!

Fizz, Boom Read!

Summer reading has commenced!

 

It was a little tricky to start with planning and figuring out what my new community needed and wanted for summer reading. The community was used to a very different summer reading program in the past and last year's did not end well. I was determined to use summer reading to help rebuild the library's tainted reputation.

 

Monday was the official kick-off. Participants of all ages could come and register and sign-up for programs. They could also enjoy donated Eat n' Park cookies, visit the balloon artist and win door prizes. I was stressed to the max that no one would show up because that's how this community works too...not incredibly supportive of the library.

 

So, for me...one would have been a success.

 

Well, I was pleasantly surprised when more than 50 came to the kick-off and as of this morning nearly 90 were registered for summer reading. That is a huge improvement in programming for my library. This is just the beginning. I still have to get through six weeks of programming basically on my own with now help.

 

Ready, set, go...see you in August!