Before I head off for a week full of indulgence in the Caribbean (! – I still can’t quite believe it myself), I figured it’d be a good idea to do a little check-in and see how I was doing on keeping those resolutions I made for the new year. This is the first time I’ve ever formally set out a list of tangible goals for a year, and actually had anyone to really keep me on track – your encouragement, as well as the support of friends, family, and coworkers has made an enormous difference, and really motivates me to succeed in sticking to my resolutions. Unkept resolutions usually become that way as a result of one day’s worth of declarations, and several weeks of disregard. Unacknowledged resolutions have zero potential to be accomplished, and I’ve found that having a support system, as well as a changing of habits and schedules, makes an enormous difference in dedication and achievement. Since 1st January, I’ve added a couple more resolutions to the list – so I figure now’s a good time to share them, and also to see how I’ve done for the last two weeks! 
1. Reading. I vowed to read one book per month (a seemingly rather tiny goal in comparison to some of the resolutions I’ve seen, but a long way from my two books of 2009!), and for the last fortnight I’ve made the effort every couple of days to set aside some time before bed – I’ve been going upstairs an hour or so earlier, curling up and reading a wonderful book. I’m rediscovering my lifelong love of literature, and I feel there’ll be no problem at all if I keep to my altered schedule.
2. Cooking. Sweet seems to have undertaken this little resolution as well, and recently, we’ve had quite the culinary adventures. We started with the avocado creamed chicken and baked parsnips, and after unintentionally overdoing it on cream and butter, have pulled out the Kitchen Bible his sister got us for Christmas. It’s full of tonnes of recipes from all around the world, and even has little pictures of what it’s supposed to look like, which keeps things easy. We’ve made tuna-pasta bakes (and, in comic misunderstanding, set our mouths on fire when two whole 
chilli peppers were crushed onto MY PLATE rather than being mixed into the whole 8-serving-dish); a delicious and ridiculously easy Italian dish full of spices, asparagus and sundried tomatoes (who knew buying them in oil made such a difference?); Chicken Jalfrezi, and an Asian beef concoction full of experiments (cooking vermicelli noodles are the most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen – here’s a video of Sweet’s initial attempt, taken while preparing for a house fire!). I’ve learned different ways of preparing food, and the best part, in addition to actually being able to see exactly what you’re consuming, is spending an hour in the kitchen actually doing something together instead of blobbing in front of the TV.
As for the daytime; I’ve switched my breakfast to a regular morning helping of All Bran Strawberry Bites. 
It’s very healthy, and the strawberry part’s on the inside, not those horrible freeze-dried flakey bits of fruit they use in other cereals, so it actually tastes nice too. I make sure I have a big glass of water before I head out as well as the coffee, to balance out the hydration, and I’ve started keeping bulk packs of water bottles under my desk, as well as a bag of apples. It’s a wonder I didn’t get scurvy in 2009, but this year, as well as cooking more, I’m vowing to eat more healthily all day long, too.
3. Kicking the anxiety. I found myself toward the end of the Christmas holidays starting to worry about going back to work, about if I’d forgotten things, about getting back into routine, about doing a good job and of course, about standing up and teaching my little class again. So much so that on the day before work I lay awake for hours, my closed eyes’ attempts at slumber sabotaged by my mind’s constant looping of thoughts and concerns, and was barely able to function the next day. But Friday rolled around, and after a week of getting back into a schedule, I went into work with a skip in my step. It was Teaching Day, and instead of worrying, I told myself I can do it, and I’m actually looking forward to it. I’ve been doing it for a few months now, and have become more comfortable with my material, and if I think about it as helping people; giving them needed information, as opposed to the old “all eyes ore on me and everybody wants me to fail” mentality I struggled to escape, I found myself floating through the morning. My heart rested as normal, comfortable in its pace, and not beating up a storm trying to escape my chest. Doing a 180 of your thought pattern is a tough thing, but as with my other resolutions, it’s all about changing habits. It’s working so far – now to keep at it, aim for bigger classes, less prep, and even applying it to other areas of my life. (Body image, anyone?)
4. Losing the back pain. Unfortunately, I haven’t. I’m still in horrible amounts of pain all day long, but I’m actually sticking to a schedule here, too – a daily schedule, with (somewhat excruciating) strengthening exercises to help support myself using muscles I haven’t used in ten years, modified situps in an attempt at some sort of toning, and, thank you Kijiji, I bought a second hand little elliptical machine for my living room I plan on using three times a week. (Which also ties in to my added resolution of fitness).
5. Learning to drive. It’s still winter. All sorts of treachery lie on those roads. This one I can hold off until spring.
6. My other added resolution: sing again! I used to sing in a punk rock band and have no nerves or qualms about performing to crowds. It was full of adrenaline, excitement, and being that in control of music that rocked was the best feeling ever. Since I lost my confidence, singing plummeted to the very bottom of the things I wanted to do – but I always secretly loved to belt out the Wicked soundtrack whenever nobody was home. So I bought a couple of karaoke games for the Wii, and Sweet and I have been taking turns rocking out, which is surprisingly AMAZING amounts of fun. I told my dear coworker about them – and she confessed she had the same goal! We’re going to keep each other on track, and hopefully at some point this year, actually go do karaoke. In front of strangers. Or maybe I’ll just pull a Jenn, and serenade you over the small screen – at least that way I’m less likely to fall over in a fret of nerves.
So my dears, I think I’m doing okay! How are you doing with your resolutions? Tell me all about it, and I can’t wait to hear when I get back. While I’m away I’ll be leaving you in some very capable hands (all of whom I adore dearly) – much love to all of you, and thoughts/prayers against missing luggage would all be very much appreciated while I’m gone. 🙂
Also – everyone who stopped by to comment on my second entry in the Weddingbells finals is a total rock star. Seeing all your comments pretty much made my day on Monday and I’m so lucky to have you all in my life.
See you on the other side, lovelies!
Prose and Constellations 
These are all wonderful resolutions! I fully support them as your blog friend!
I would love to get rid of the back pain and anxiety as well! Here’s to DOING and hoping!
Have fun in the sun!! Can’t wait to hear all about it 🙂
Aw thank you! We’ll keep plugging and hopefully by 2011 be celebrating both being gone 🙂 I’ll miss you!
I hope you have a fabulous vacation, and I look forward to hearing all about it when you return!
It sounds like you’re making good progress on your resolutions for the new year. I never made an actual list of mine, but I think I may. You’re so right about keeping track and having support – it makes the world of a difference!
Wow! You were in a punk rock band? That’s totally awesome and makes you even more fabulous!
Oh, thanks! Lists help for sure – something to be accountable to! 🙂
Glad you’re doing well- I hope you can taste again after the chili blast!!
Have a great time away, I can’t wait to hear about how awesome and relaxing it was! Getting out of your normal routine sounds brilliant.
Getting out of this WEEK sounds brilliant!! *Headdesk*
B’s replacing his super-turbo-fancy-man car with a car that he can use to teach me to drive (and buying a motorcycle so he still gets that fun-factor, but that’s another story). I agree, learning to drive in winter can wait ’til next year… I prefer dry roads for my first lessons, thanks!
Aww too cute!! I wish Sweet had a motorcycle 🙂 We can learn to drive together!
ha, that video was entertaining!
have a wonderful trip! im envious! 🙂
Thanks! I was SO scared of getting burned alive with rogue oil splatterings but it turned out okay 🙂
Um, those noodles? Awesome. I don’t think I have ever seen that before. Way to be adventuresome in the kitchen!
Sounds like you have a great start on you resolutions. I’m sorry to hear you have such back pain — I hope your routine helps you kick that to the curb.
Have an awesome time in the Caribbean, lady! I can’t wait to hear all about it. 🙂
Thanks – they were lots of fun! (But way too difficult to actually eat, haha) Thanks for your thoughts – I hope this year will be the year of kicking it, too 🙂
have a fabulous trip, my dear!
Thanks love! I’ll miss you!
Have a fantastic trip! Have you read Her Fearful Symmertry yet? It was one of the favorite books I read last year. I can fully relate to belting out the Wicked soundtrack. There’s just something so therapeutic about it.
I’m just about halfway through! I’m loving it so far – especially the whole two pages on Doctor Who, I was in heaven!! I’m going to read the rest on the plane 🙂
Have a fabulous trip, love!!! I’m sorry to hear your back pain isn’t getting any better 😦
Aww, thanks. I’m hoping a week of warmth will help 🙂
Please tell me that’s not your car in the ditch!
LOL it WOULD be if I’d mustered up the courage to give it a TRY at this time of year!! 🙂
Yay for vacations!!! Hope you come back even more rejuvenated than before!!!
Good job on keeping up those resolutions. I’ve been cooking more as well. The fitness resolution is seriously hard for me, but I’m trying to keep up with that. Sometimes I’m lazy, and being sick recently doesn’t make me want to go to the gym. ha.
Here’s to continuing to make this year a good one 🙂
Blog more about your recipes and we can trade off! 🙂 The fitness resolution is very hard for me too – I hope you feel better soon!
You go girl! After much hard work and many interesting and jam packed days before your holidays remember to leave work behind, relax and enjoy beach life…and tell us all about it so we can live vicariously through you!
As resolution buddies I’m positive many fulfilling and fun times are ahead. I look forward, in admitted trepidation, to karaoke games on the Wii and wonder how close to achieving my resolutions I will get over the next few months…
Wii can do it? SORRY I had to 🙂 I’m looking forward to it!!
I think you are doing great!! You have def made great progress in a very small amount of time.
I have been doing good on my no Starbucks Lattes thing – and am pretty proud of myself since I am a block away from 3 different coffee shops & people are always asking me to go get coffee with them! 🙂
Have a fantastic get away!
That’s some pretty strong willpower, good job! 🙂 & thank you!
I’ve become sort of addicted to Jamie Oliver, and that’s why I’ve started to make an attempt to make better, more presentable food.
What are you reading?
Right now I’m reading Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger – and I’m taking a Terry Pratchett book (love him) as well as The Lovely Bones on my trip – I want to see the movie, but I refuse to watch it before I’ve read the book 🙂
I tried a Jamie recipe last week! Fancy prawn mayonnaise sandwiches with spices and stuff for lunch – I think north American shrimp are a little more “potent” than the English prawn though; we couldn’t finish them lol 🙂
Loving your new resolutions. It is great that you are continuing to add them. Also LOVE the fact that we are friends on the book now. I too would like to read a little more and kick the anxiety. Let’s go, we are making this happen! Ha.
And I will totally be supporting your Wedding Bells blog!
Best,
Hannah Katy
good job on your resolutions and have a blast on vacay! take lots of pics!!!
Have a fantastic trip!
Great resolutions. It always gives me a little boost of motivation when I hear about other people maintaining and achieving their resolutions.
You used to sing in a punk rock band!? I think we need to see some proof of that =)
Your little comment about the chile peppers ont he dinner kind of made me laugh in all honesty, even though I’m sure it was quite awful. I have made a similar mistake, but not with something spicy. I wasn’t thinking when they said 2 ozs of dried parsley LEAVES not flakes…and so 2 oz of parsley flakes went into the dish. Fortunately it came out ok but I was a bit embarassed!
Are you on good reads? If you aren’t, you should be as I would love to keep track of the books you are reading and maybe add some to my list.
Travel safely, have a blast!
Well I hope you have a blast on your vacation! Hope you’ll post lots of pics of your time there…
Your little video was pretty funny and it was so fun to hear a snippet of your English accent! 🙂 Everyone loves an English accent, of course!