2013: Strength

I thought long and hard about goals/changes I want to make for the upcoming year. I was trying to explain my outlook to someone and it came off really kinda bad sounding lol. But I want to be more selfish in 2013. I spend so much time thinking about how other peoples feelings are effected and most of the time I put others far in front of my own self. Which isn't a terrible trait, but sometimes you need to take some time for yourself. So I plan to give back to myself a little more, and not feel so guilty about maybe spending money on things I want rather than having the inner conversation of wants vs needs. I want to pamper myself a little more and I want to travel by myself somewhere pretty this year too.

So with all that in mind, I have chosen my 2013 word, strength. Not just in the physical get fit kind of strength but more about finding the inner strength, although physical fitness kind of strength is part of that too. I'm kind of billing it as the year of me, and just kind of explore different avenues of interests and just be a student of the world around me.

If you believe in horoscopes and Chinese symbols, I researched that a smidge too. I'm an Ox and an Aquarius. They never really lead you to believe that bad will come to you in the new year... but hey, I enjoy their optimistic approach. And I swear I had the whole take time for myself thing planned way before I read this horoscope, maybe they are right? 

Aquarius (from horoscope.com)

If you've heard of the book How to Make Friends and Influence People, the aspects given this year will help you become an expert in both. It's not a matter of "learning" how to get along, but rather sensing what's wrong in a situation and making it right.

February 8 [um this is totally my birthday-does that mean something extra special?!], when the Moon is in Aquarius (also enriched by other aspects) you can more easily think on your feet during conflicts. This is especially convenient, as you're likely to be knocked around from place to place a lot this year. With all the coming and going you'll be doing, you'll need to keep your stamina up more than ever.

Take time for yourself this year, because the otherwise intense attention you might get from friends and family could overwhelm you. You may have to give yourself a crash course in not expecting too much from yourself. You're only human, and in the end, it's your very humanity that will make you respected and loved by the ones you care about.

Ox

The year of ambitious Water Snake, February 10, 2013 to January 30, 2014, brings good luck. Water Snake is your friend! It supplies a welcome, calming influence. You'll be more social and confident. 

A Snake year rewards ambition. You'll feel more relaxed with people you don't know well. Practice entering a room as if you own the place! Your greatest strength will be found by developing mutually beneficial relationships. 

The November 3 New Moon/Solar Eclipse can bring you to an important crossroads in your life. It's a powerful time for new beginnings. Don't hesitate to consult wise elders whose opinions you respect.

Job-

Snake years are lucky for any Ox willing to work hard and try to read the signals people are sending out. It's important to speak your mind. Have the courage to break with any arrangement where you feel you aren't appreciated. Avoid taking sides in power struggles. 

Networking helps you find a new or better job. The last week of July and first week of August are especially lucky for improving your career. You'll be well liked by co-workers, supervisors, and clients.

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Good Luck in everything you want to accomplish in 2013. And remember... a lot of people didn't think we'd be here, it's in overtime now, time to make it count! 

Love,

North of 10th

New Year Sneak Peek

I'm getting serious for this whole New Year, new me kind of attitude. What better way to feel different than to look different. I chopped six inches, and added some highlights. 

More to come...

Lately

Lately I have found myself completely distracted within the depths of my own mind. I'm constantly distracted by thoughts of change and ways I want to better myself. I keep thinking of all the things I want to accomplish in the new year. I love the new year because although it seems cheesy and cliche', its the perfect time to sit down and evaluate and reflect.

I know I might be jumping the gun here, but I've already got an early start on one of my goals, simplify life. And my first step was deactivating my Facebook. Gasp! I know, how will I survive. I'm actually really looking forward to it, it will be nice. I've given up Facebook for lent before so that was 40 days. My first goal is to go 3 months without Facebook. This may sound completely trivial but I spend way too much time just sitting and staring at the newsfeed waiting for it to update in a social media zombie stare. I mean lets be real for a second, realistically if the Walking Dead Zombies were to have just their basic instincts intact most of them would probably just sit and stare at their computers or smart phones, that's pretty much what this generation does anyway and people could probably easily confuse them as zombies, instead of moaning brains they would more likely be speaking in internet meme's and making grumpy cat faces.... but I digress. 

Phase 1 one of 2013, simplify. I mean I always have time for Facebook and have severely neglected my blog, and sadly one of my goals was to blog more. I have like 60 posts this year, that is like 5 a month, pathetic. What happened to the other like 360 days? So I promise since I'm on Facebook hiatus, there will be more blogging. Easy... try to contain yourself. They may be short and sweet, but I'll come up with something to keep us all entertained.

The tradition I started last year, choosing one word to focus on rather that making specific goals, will continue again this year. I have already chosen my word. I've researched this a little bit and from what I read people really do well with these kinds of resolutions. You can fail and still be succeeding at the same time. I will share my word a little closer to the new year to keep you all in suspense. But here is a little story to kinda explain how the 2013 word came to be and goes along with the whole wanting to change and how small things can make a big difference without really even thinking about it.

You see just ten weeks ago I decided that I wanted to grow my nails out. I have always been a biter/picker of my nails and the only time I've ever had pretty nails was when I had fake ones put on once for a homecoming and once for a prom. I always felt that my stubby little nails were too short to look pretty with polish on so I never wore any, but always kinda wanted to. So one day I said maybe if I have polish on them I will be less apt to pick at them. So for $10 and a few coats of OPI Lincoln Park After Dark I went to the salon and had my nails painted (I'm really picky about how my nails look, I've mentioned this, I don't want them to turn out looking like the blind man down the street did them, so I pay people) Then something happened. Whenever I would get start to want to pick and bite I would see the polish, cuss myself and fight the urge of boredom or stress, whichever it was at the time. And before I knew it, I was no longer a nail biter/picker and now have nails long enough that I feel more girly and get to wear pretty polish. I've fallen in love with the Sally Hansen Salon Effects strips which let me do my nails at home without being streaky or messy and looks halfway professional.

This may seem like the smallest thing in the world, but it's given me proof that under all my excuses I am capable of change, be it a small one in the scheme of things, but it's change. Changing a habit I've had for as long as I can remember was kind of difficult at times, but now I wonder what else I can accomplish... stay tuned.

Christmas Day 2012

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and spent a lovely day with loved ones. An important lesson I feel I should pass along, don't eat an entire candy cane of Reese's peanut butter cups in one sitting, sure it looks like a small amount and you might think you can handle... do yourself a favor and don't try it, just trust me.

We had the traditional sibling stocking exchange, which is always exciting and has grown to be one of my favorite parts of Christmas. I will make sure I do not wait until the last minute next year... for reals. I started/finished my shopping this past weekend and o.m.g people are redic this time of year.

Whoa, that's a lot of candy

Look at NiBo's creative wrapping job

It's a slinky! 

Fingers crossed it's a winner

Nom, Nom

Dad joined in on some reindeer games

Gma & Gpa are very excited to be watching the games 

Well bah humbug, back to work tomorrow. What a big ol' bummer that is. I hope you enjoyed your day off, Merry Christmas from everyone here at North of 10th! 

I Bought Christmas Cards

... but I didn't send them out, sorry bout that. But instead I will send them out into the world to all my readers. Its a cute little ice skating penguin with a purple sparkly scarf. 

I also may have put a sweater on my cat, he did not enjoy.

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

Love, 

North of 10th 

Christmas Cookies

We spent a better part of the evening decorating Christmas Cookies! A.Drama thinks she is a cookie Picasso and just because she has had some cake decorating experience she thinks she can talk down to other people's cookies. I was told several times that I am an amature and that I'm holding the frosting bag wrong. Well la de da! Our cookies turned out fabulous, although just looking at them may give you diabetes, so look at your own risk. We also may have had a kitten incident, we had set the cookies on our back porch to cool and inadvertently closed a kitten out there as well. After a loud crash we had a few casualty cookies and found an adorable kitten imprint on one of the cookies (see picture below)

They may not be up to Martha Stewart quality but we had fun!

A.Drama's beautiful fan favorite wreath

Franken-Frosty

The Oliver foot cookie

Cookie Picasso hard at work

NiBo even helped!

Santa's Reindeer

Today was too beautiful to not take advantage of the great weather. I tried to get the whole family to come see the reindeer with me but I was only able to drag NiBo along with me, he wasn't as excited about it as I was. But he did go ahead and feed them, even after he said he wouldn't! Turns out reindeer enjoy graham crackers, who knew. They were also a little sad there isn't any snow, they like to jump and play in the snow, makes sense since there is probably a bunch of snow at the North Pole! 

Baby reindeer

That's my hand

NiBo