Lucky New Year!

I would have titled it Gelukkig Nieuwjaar... except, Dunc already did that. I didn't want to be repetitive, so I translated! YAY!

It seems like a lot of people are posting resolutions around this blogosphere, so I thought I would join in with a few of my own. Granted I usually just make changes in my life when I think of them and want them to happen. - examples: Cash Diet (March 2009), Operation Save More Dollars (September 2009), Lose the Office 20 (2008-2009). But I have been thinking about doing a few things that just happen to coincide with the beginning of Twenty Ten!

Eat less sugar. 

Although I don't consume the daily americano and sugar dose that Dunc is planning to deal with, I do have a MASSIVE post-dinner sweet tooth. And I cannot turn down homemade baked goods (hence the need to lose the office 20). Recently, Rob said goodbye to desserts and hasn't looked back... mostly. He raves about more even energy levels and just generally feeling better. I would like that. I find sitting in front of my computer at work to be draining enough, I don't need to add in afternoon blood sugar variations. Over the last year or so, I have done a lot of experimenting with other sweeteners (Agave, honey and maple syrup) and we have mostly rid of refined sugars, but I still have my work cut out for me.

But I will never let go of the crombler!!!

Run a race EVERY MONTH!
I already have January covered with our race this morning. And I have a half marathon in March and a FULL (ahhhhhh) planned for June. So I have my work cut out in filling the rest of the year. I will take any and all suggestions (unless you offer ridiculous distances... I am sadly no Ultra marathoner). I am toying with the idea of running the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Fran... and maaaybe the St. George Marathon... maybe.

Determined to race face!

Travel more!
This may not really be a resolution, but Dunc and I always talk about doing it and haven't really gotten out of the country since Europe 2006... seriously 2006? In order to ensure the commencement of traveling adventures, after we returned from our NYE celebrations at around 3am, I bought us round-trip tickies to the UK (with a 9 hour layover in Reykjavik for some quick exploring). Watch out England, Duncan and Betsy are going to take you by storm!!! WOOO! (Side note, I've been researching ticket prices to the UK for about a month, the purchase was not a crazy drunken escapade. I take my cheap ticket locating skills very seriously.)

Seriously, '06. We go!!!

Cook more. And more.

We received a lot of awesome kitchen gadgetry and literature this year (Thanks Momlette, Bob, Mamsie, Dad, Thonky and Nell!!!) and I do love spending time in the kitchen, so I resolve to try a new recipe every week and hopefully blog about it. Look at some of the pretty things I get to cook in!

A beauty of a stoneware cassoulet. The potatoes we cooked and served in it last night were SUPER delicious.

And yes, these are mini casserole dishes. It is okay to be jealous.

Improve photo skilllllz.

We also received a new lens and digital SLR photography books (Thanks Dad and Thonky!) and I really want to do the camera justice. So I will be reading and learning a lot more about photography this year, maybe even take a few classes.

Be green(er)!

We definitely need to offset our travel carbon footprint with more green efforts. Although in a rented home, we are limited... alas we cannot remove the house entirely from the grid or replace our old inefficient washer and dryer, but we can continue to reuse, reduce, recycle, compost, mulch, grow more of our own food, let the yellow mellow and look for more new ideas from Jody! We have saved ourselves money and reduced our space in the landfill with our efforts, we are down to the smallest trashcan the city provides, 5 gallons and we still don't fill it. We hate garbage.

Oh and learn to drive... a manual vehicle.

I think Dunc will soon be tired of having to drive me everywhere and I've only logged 15 minutes in the driver's seat. Only stalled once! WOO!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I hope 2010 will bring you everything you hoped and dreamed.