My 2010 Intentions

Resolution - something that is resolved or dealt with successfully

I don't really like the word "Resolution" when it comes to starting the New Year. It sounds so definite or absolute as in I WILL DO THIS, I AM RESOLUTE. Well, I'm not all that "resolute", I'm leaning more towards "gently inspired". In fact, I really like that term. Gently inspired!

I tend to like things that are similar to the "Pirate's Code" from the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean movies. When the Code didn't fit the situation to their liking, it suddenly became more of a "guideline" or a suggestion. As in, I'm going to try to resolve or deal with this according to the Code - but don't hold your breath! I like that a little better for my purposes. Flexibility. That way, I'm not beating myself up at the end of the year when I haven't kept my RESOLVE and finished the ridiculous list I set myself up with twelve months prior.



So I am leaning towards calling them my "suggestions" or "intentions". The definition I like best when it comes to suggestion is: the process by which one thought leads to another especially through association of ideas. That pretty much describes how my brain works: A thought comes into my head and before I can act upon it and complete whatever action is required, a new thought related somehow (or not) to the first one pops in and the whole thing repeats.

It's a vicious cycle as I don't seem to get things done even though I do have good intentions. Intention has a great definition of what one has in mind to do or bring about. Which leads us back to "resolve" which is a synonym of intent along with purpose, design, aim, objective, goal, etc. So, enough of the word wars with myself and enough driving you nuts. Below is a partial list of things I would like to work on this year and show some progress in. I am going to post it on my sidebar so I have to look at it regularly and encourage or inspire myself to take action towards crossing things off throughout the year.

Breaking things down into smaller, bite-size chunks is another thing I've learned recently. It works with eating, so it should work with everything else in life. I figure if I break some of my list down into weekly, monthly, or even quarterly sections, it might be easier to swallow. Putting them down for the world to see might just make me hold myself a little more accountable too?

Jules' 2010 Intentions

• Get the website up and operational


• Blog with more regularity


• Allow more time for creativity


• Be more flexible - physically and mentally/emotionally/socially/etc


• Spend more time riding and exercising


• Eat healthier


• Keep a cleaner house


• Spend more time with girlfriends


• Work on my photography


• Take my vitamins

• Love more

This list is by no means complete or in order. I'm just adding things as I go and will probably update it on a fairly regular basis. It is one of the things that I am going to use as a motivation to help myself get organized and more focused this year.

motivation - stimulus, influence, drive

Sorry, couldn't resist one more! Have a great day....

2010 Blog Resolutions

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you have started 2010 off happy and healthy. We're happy, just working on the healthy part now. I do want to take a moment to tell you that I am grateful to EACH of you for taking the time to visit me and offer such great support. 2009 was a bit of a downer year for us, but starting my blog and meeting so many of you was a definite highpoint. Thank you for being my blogland buddies!

I have been doing a lot of contemplating (and not of my navel) while hanging out at the hospital with Mom. A lot of this thinking has centered on what I'd like to do with my blog. I want to find out what YOU would like to hear about, learn about, or whatever is on your mind. It would be really interesting to know what keeps you coming back to visit me. Do you like the giveaways? The reviews? Too many photos, not enough? What about the blog hopping events? I'd love to get your honest feedback or any comments on where you'd like to see the blog go this year.

I have a few changes already in the works that I hope you'll enjoy. This list is just a partial one for now. I plan on making an "official" one this week sometime. Step 1: quit procrastinating...

• Regular reviews/giveaways (starting with a stellar one later today from Carolina Pad.) Recently I have been introduced to some products that I really like and am working on sharing them with my readers. I plan to only do reviews on products that fit into our lifestyle here at MoonCat Farms and that I feel would be of benefit to you.
• I'm also going to work on sharing more of my crafty and gardening projects with you. Since we'll have Mom home soon, we should be back on more of an even keel and I can concentrate more on matters around the house and yard. I have many, many unfinished projects that are just begging to be acknowledged.
• Another feature I think I'd like to implement is to regularly introduce you to some of the blogs that I spend a lot of time visiting. I'm hoping to possibly do some interviews with a few of these fascinating people and let you get to know them too. There are so many great bloggers out there just waiting for us to find them.
• Getting more people tuned into a greener lifestyle is also a goal of mine for this year. I'd like to use the blog to share many of the tips we've learned about and have introduced into our lives.
  

Dad has an annoying habit of saying that my sister and I both "open our mouths and let whatever is in our brains pop out". Lovely, huh? But, unfortunately true. There isn't always a filter in place and the TMI (too much information) occurs, more on my sister's part of course (ha). I've noticed this tendency with my blogging. I'm all over the place. I've been reading some great sites on improving your blog and most of them seem to say that you need a theme and need to stick to it. The reader needs to know what to expect. Is this true for you?

I'm a very "eclectic" person with a bajillion projects going at any given time. I get bored very easily and I'm afraid my blogging has shown that with the wide range of stuff I've blathered on about. I really don't know if this is good or bad, but it's pretty much me. I jump around a lot (not physically, bad knees) and I tend to write about whatever has popped into my little pea brain at the moment. Does this annoy you as a reader or does it interest you because it isn't the same thing every day? Mr. MoonCat says that's what keeps him stuck to me - he never knows what's next! Poor guy. Why do YOU stick around to hear about my navel gazing and tea-guzzling cats?

As Ed & Frank from the old Bartles & James commercials said, "Thank you for your support!"

"Tea, Earl Grey, Hot"

Since I'm kicking back right now with a big cup of hot tea in my hand while trying to keep Bugsy from drinking it, I thought I'd mention that I will be doing a review on some teas from Golden Moon Tea next month. I have become quite the tea addict since I found out I can't drink coffee any more. Mom tells me that as a little girl, I drank tea all the time with Gramma and while sitting in her friends' laps. I guess I just got out of the habit until now.

I am so amazed by the humongous variety of teas out there to explore. The list is almost endless. So far, one of my (and Bugsy's) absolute favorites is Earl Grey Tea . I never realized how yummy bergamot smells and tastes.... As Captain Picard always ordered, "Tea, Earl Grey, Hot." (I know, I know, I'm also a closet Trekkie... "Make it so, Number 1!")

While you're waiting to ring in the New Year and for me to get my rear in gear with the details of my taste test, you might like to find out more about the world of tea by "enrolling" in the cool Tea University from Golden Moon Tea. It's not really a school, just a collection of everything you could want to know about teas. I've learned quite a bit such as the proper way to brew your tea and what time of day certain teas are appropriate. Check it out and I'll be back soon with my review.