A List for Tuesday

Since I missed last week there will be two bonus lists this week! Enjoy!

Chris turns 32 today, so this is Five Random Things I Love About My Husband
(in no particular order)

1. He's a really really good dad. So good, in fact, that both of my sons are daddy's boys through and through.
2. When I make him promise not to laugh before I tell him something, he tries really hard not to laugh.
3. When I buy yet another notebook he just smiles and nods.
4. He's one of the only two good-looking red-heads in the entire world.
5. Although he has no interest in YA fairy tales, he's very supportive of my writing career.

Five Things That Suck About Being 30

(in no particular order)

1. I feel old.
2. Because I feel old I notice "old" things about me, like the fact that my face is not as elastic as it once was, and there are hints of wrinkles soon to come.
3. I thought I would have done so much more with my life by now.
4. I had always hoped to be published before I was 30.
5. My back hurts. I don't know if that's because I turned 30 or not, but it's true nonetheless.

Five Things That Rock About Being 30

(in no particular order)

1. The other day someone told me I looked like I was 22. Maybe they were lying, but it was really sweet.
2. I feel like I'm growing into myself.
3. I've accomplished so much in my life!
4. There are so many great experiences coming ahead, and I'm getting more wise and mature by the day.
5. 30 is a lot younger than I thought it was.

Any tips for surviving in my new decade?

A List for Tuesday

5 Things I Don't Have Time to Write a Whole Blog Post About
(in no particular order)

1. I received a promotion at work! I'm going from Sales Associate to Key Holder. More money an hour, more hours a week, more responsibility all over.
2. I wish, as always, that my family lived closer. Especially when I'm looking for babysitters.
3. Chris's Grandpa Davis passed away just after Christmas. His funeral was really beautiful and Chris did a great job dedicating the grave.
4. Dane is 21 months. Terrible Twos here we come.
5. I'm going to start taking a picture of the boys every day to chronicle their changes over the year.

Sorry I don't have time (or the energy) to go more in-depth with all of these.

Being "Internet-Free" and What It Means to Me

For the month of December I went off-line. I use that term loosely, however, since I still used my computer, phone, and Kinldle Fire quite a bit during the month. Basically it was meant to be a break from mindless time spent on the computer on Facebook, on Pinterest, reading blogs, and playing games.

Here's what changed:

• Then: I would get on my computer first thing in the morning. I wouldn't do anything else until I checked Facebook, my email, Pinterest, my personal blogs, everyone else's blogs, and any other sites I was crazy about at the moment.
• Now: I didn't even think about getting on the computer today until well into the afternoon, and that was only because I had to check for an email I was expecting.
• Then: I would lose myself in x for hours on end.
• Now: Unless it's a movie/TV show, I'm on my computer for about 10 minutes at a time. Maybe.
• Then: Constantly behind my laptop screen.
• Now: Playing on the floor with my buddies.
• Then: Small panic attack if I didn't check x ever few hours.
• Now: I could go days without any of it and I wouldn't feel out of the loop at all.

All in all my month off helped put things back in perspective for me. In December I actually misplaced my computer for days and didn't notice until I needed to print something off. Dutch and I bonded over building Lego, especially when he realized I could look up the instructions on "the 'puter." Dane sat on my lap for almost an hour while we read books together. Chris and I spend more quality time together, instead of sitting side by side, but worlds away.

I would recommend "unplugging" to anyone who feels like technology has taken over their life.

A List for Tuesday

Today marks the end of my one-month hiatus from internet. I'll blog about that later. As this is the first Tuesday of the new year you are going to get some New Year Resolutions goodness. These are the goals I made last year. I must say that I did pretty well. 1 and 2 were both a complete bust; I totally rocked 3; didn't quite make 4; did pretty well on 5; blew 6 out of the water; 7 is still a work in progress, but I didn't ruin my life over any of them!

My New Year Resolutions for 2013
(in no particular order)

1. Read all the books on my shelves that I own but have never read.
2. Go to every temple in Utah.
3. Send Metta and the Moon-Witch to potential agents. I've given up on The Stone Flower for the time being (which has nothing to do with any rejections).
4. Lose some more weight.
5. Finish another book (this year I'm hoping to finish Rona and the Wolves).
6. Get my office organized.
7. Become a better photographer.
8. Write poetry again.
9. Journal more.

What are your resolutions?

A List for Tuesday

5 Reasons I Love My Job at Paper Source

1. My boss Meg is awesome! She's a fun mix of my sisters Heidi and Heather. (Heidi: when someone says something random she always says, "These potatoes are so creamy" or "Mary mashed 'em.")
2. It's a beautiful place to work. I mean that literally. You walk in and it's bright with lots of color everywhere and it just makes me happy.
3. I'm good at it. I've been working there for less than a month and I'm being considered for a promotion.
4. It's really fun to help people with their projects or wedding invitations, or helping them come up with ideas for gifts.
5. It's nice to have something that's just mine. I don't share it with anyone else. I haven't had that in a long time and I really needed it.

What do you love about your job?

Unplugging in December

This morning, after having spent a good portion of the night not sleeping, I came to a decision. I am going to "unplug" in December. Only my computer. I need my phone, obviously, and movies are a big part of the Christmas experience, so I won't be unplugging anything else.

I realized how much time I spent on my computer. A lot of time I'm not even doing anything, just burying my face in the screen and wasting time. Sure I do good things on my computer, but I think the "junk" has overtaken something fierce.

So, beginning December 1st, I am going to do all my writing by hand, not read my emails, not play Diablo III and stay away from Facebook, Hulu, and all those wonderful writing blogs I follow. I won't be posting here either, of course, but that really isn't much of a difference since I only post about once a week (if that).

There are two notable exceptions to this rule, however. I may have to use the computer at work, and I'm also working on a super-secret project/gift. I'm hoping to finish it before December, but that might not happen. Other than that I am staying away from all things computer-ish.

So if you need me call, write a letter, or drop on by! I'll be having fun with my boys, paying more attention to them than I have in a long time (possibly ever). I'll be trying my best to get that warm, glowing Christmas feeling. I'll be baking cookies and listening to Christmas music; decorating and wrapping. NOT multi-tasking, and NOT worrying about anything but my little family right here and right now.

If you need anything before then, you better let me know now!

Merry Christmas!

A List for Tuesday

5 Random Things Because I'm in a Random Mood

1. I have a fear of getting prematurely old. I saw a picture of a girl my age (who I went to high school with) and she looked like she was about 40. What if that happens to me?
2. I love my job. Really super-duper love it. And my boss is awesome.
3. I am in full Christmas planning mode and it's fun to make the choices of what to buy the boys. This year we're giving them 4 gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.
4. I wish I had money for a whole new wardrobe. I'm tired of all my clothes and want to start over from the ground up. Not gonna happen.
5. My boys have been so busy lately, they make me tired just watching them!

Tell me one random thing going on in your head.