2010 in Review

I have no reason to include this photo in this particular post other than his awesomeness.

2010 was a year of change for me, and some of it has been really, really good.

We got our butts moving and made the change to a more healthy lifestyle, including a gradual switch to using more organic products than not.  We’ve been really successful with this one.  I’ve managed to lose and maintain the loss of 5o pounds, and I’m currently training for a triathlon.  I now swim, bike, and run at least 5 days of every week.  More importantly, we feel a lot better.  After detoxing our bodies from so many of the chemicals and preservatives, we really notice the difference if we try to go back to some of those foods.  I am so much stronger physically, and more emotionally even and balanced, than I was at this time last year.

We’ve started to make a financial paradigm shift in our household and so far it’s been reasonably successful.  We’ve cut out things like cable and a land line telephone that we don’t need and hardly used anyway.  Making the shift to organic foods and household products is definitely more expensive for us, but we have also worked to reduce waste.  We use up leftovers as much as possible, and try to buy only the produce we think we’ll use because that’s the biggest waste offender in our house.  It spoils so fast!  The other counterpoint to the cost of organic eating is the savings we make because we are less willing to eat out since we’re now at the point where we notice that the difference in how we feel is directly linked to how we eat.

While I didn’t stick with my Project 365 because I just couldn’t do that and the new fitness program, I do think I’ve made some improvements in my photography skills.  I still have a long way to go, but it’s something I really enjoy and I don’t mind putting in the work.

I had to have my knee fixed after I tore it trying to be all Billy Blanks with the kickboxing.  It’s all better now and I’ve learned that I have to keep it moving and stretched a lot or it starts to get angry again.  Who knew I’d have a Jillian Michaels knee that screamed at me every time I blew off exercise after knee surgery?  If you did know and didn’t tell me, you’re dead to me for FIVE WHOLE MINUTES!

We had a “homemade” Christmas this year with my family, and it was a lot of fun.  It will be even better next year because we didn’t give ourselves much of a head start this year.  Overall it was a great experience and one I hope we continue.  I love the idea of putting thought and effort into something that you make with your hands to give to those you love.  More on this later, including pictures.

There have been friends who have chosen to exit my life this year, and new friends that have warmed my heart with their generosity of love.  It’s always sad when people decide to distance themselves from you, even moreso when you don’t know why, but I do feel incredibly blessed in the friends that I have.  I am not someone who makes friends easily because I find it really difficult to open up to people, so I am especially grateful to have such great girlfriends who have really been there for me in some of my darkest times this year.  The magic of the internet has introduced me to so many wonderful people that I can’t name you all, but I hope you know who you are and how much you are loved.

What’s in Store for 2011?

I don’t do resolutions, I just set goals.  To me that seems different somehow and less destined for failure.

We will continue on our healthy path.  I’d like to lose another 50 lbs, but more importantly I want to feel like an athlete.  I want to finish a triathlon.  I want it so much I don’t think I can explain it, or even why except that I like to challenge myself with things that are hard and, for me, a sprint distance triathlon is hard.  I will move onward and upward from there.  I’d also like to participate in some road races this year – definitely a few 5K races but I want to move on up to 10K pretty soon.  It will take work, but I think I can do it as long as my  crankenknee holds out.

I’m also going to continue to work on my photography skills.  I really love it, and it suits me more than other modes of artistic expression I’ve taken on in the past.  It fits into my lifestyle better.  Cakes take over my whole world – figuratively and literally – when I work on them, so while I love making them for people I love they are a huge undertaking when you are working on them from a very small home kitchen.

I’m attending BlogHer ’11!  I am stepping way outside my comfort zone but I feel pretty good about it, especially since I get to spend time with my childhood best friend.  Neither one of us is going to tell you how long ago that was.  If you’re going I hope you don’t mind if I attach myself to your leg so I’m not awkwardly trying to look all nonchalant.  Because I totally will not be.  Nonchalant, that is.

I will do more sewing this year.  I enjoyed using my sewing machine to make gifts this year and I want to use it more.  I need to be comfortable enough that the enjoyment starts to outweigh the frustration, because right now it’s too far in the opposite direction.

This space is going to get a total makeover, maybe even including an new URL (don’t worry I will notify you well in advance!) because I have completely outgrown the floatingprincess/princess buttercream persona and I’m ready for some change.  I just have no idea what that is yet, so stay tuned.

There are more changes coming our way this year, because what is life without change?  I’d much rather slap 2011 on the ass on 12/31 and say what a great ride it was than float along the status quo.

Have a happy New Year everyone!