New Year . . .

The end of "Lameness" and "Non-Success" is upon us. This is the end of "floating through life", as my sister Ivy put it. I am pretty much done {funny how I can't bring myself to say "through"} with boring, do-nothing, be-nothing-ness.

Currently I am working on the following items:

Joining in the Chelean Extreme awesome-ness with my sisters {I will NOT be the fat sister this summer!!} http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/chalean_extreme.do?code=CHALEANEXTREMEDOTCOM

Cooking up a storm with my new Calphalon pots and pans and blogging about my kitchen escapades

Working on becoming a runner {outside too, not just on the treadmill in front of a movie} instead of wishing I were a runner. Step one, join a team and conquer the Ragnar Race {http://www.ragnarrelay.com/losangeles/index.php}

Doing SOMETHING every weekend! It could be small and boring, like organizing a closet, or fun and exciting, like exploring a new niche of Southern California {hey, we might as well explore the heck out of it while we are here, right?} NO MORE DO-NOTHING WEEKENDS!!

So to begin:

I talked to Sunnie today {visit her blog "Livin' Lite, and read about her goal to do a different kind of work-out every week for a year, so fun!} and she encouraged me to jump right in to Chelean and join the rest of my hottie-sisters instead of trying to catch up. They are only a week into the program, so I won't miss out on much skipping the first week. Tonight I am going to print off the calendars and program checklists and review the DVDs and start on Burn 2 tomorrow.

I would like to keep a journal about the dinners that I make, along with the recipes and things that I changed or will change next time I make that item again. Because I always get into those ruts where you make the same four things every week and you think, "I used to make other things that I really liked and I can't remember what they were!!" To start I am just going to list what I have made this year and will start adding recipes from today forward.

1/1 - Black Bean soup from my current Eating Well magazine

1/2 - Lentil Soup

1/3 - Breaded Baked Chicken tenders w/ steamed Broccoli

1/4 - Salmon, Steamed Snap Peas, & Roasted Red Potatoes w/ mustard vinaigrette

1/5 - Awesome fish tacos and chowder from a little "Fishette" in downtown San Diego

1/6 - Sunnie's yummy Carrot Coconut Soup

1/7 - Chili Verde Burritos w/ homemade Guac

1/8 - Roasted chicken and potatoes w/ BBQ sauce

1/9 - Cheesecake Factory for my Birthday

1/10 - Breaded Baked Chicken Tenders w/ Roasted Sweet Potato

1/11 - Sausage and Potato Soup

1/12 - Salmon and roasted whatever-vegi-I-pick-up-at-the-Farmers-Market today

I have always had the desire to be a runner, but never got further than my treadmill. Not that I think treadmill running is bad, just that it isn't what I consider REAL running. Some things that hold me back are:

-My good running shoes are buried somewhere in our huge storage unit

-I am afraid I won't succeed, so instead of being disappointed I just don't do anything {LAME!!}

-I don't really know any good, safe places to run

So to counter these ridiculous things that are holding me back I am going to do the following:

-I bought a cheap, but nice pair of Adidas running shoes at Costco today

-I am going to take a cue from Nike and JUST DO IT!

-I am going to ask around because I know a few runners that live in my area and I'm sure they could tell me where they run

Okay! It feels better to have written it down and formulated a plan. I will report on my progress shortly . . .

Well, I guess the last item on my list is to do something, ANYTHING, with the weekend, besides sit around at home. We are signed up to take Flying Trapeze classes that begin February 13th, so I only have to plan 4 weekends worth of activities before those six weeks come with all their circus-fun! We have an annual pass to the Zoo and Wild Animal Park. I have always wanted to see the seals at the Children's Pool. Sea World is always a fun destination. Riley would be entertained if we went to the Aquarium. We are less than two hours from LA {including Venice Beach, a popular Roller Skating spot}, and Disneyland. There is always Catalina Island too. We live in a popular vacation destination, it should be really easy to find something to do. Any other suggestions?

So, there you have it! I have some goals and some ideas of how to tackle said goals. I guess this is where the fun begins! Don't chicken out now darling, our new life of non-lameness and success starts here!!

WOOHOO!!