I know, I know...

Shame on me for my hiatus. I apologize! I won't make excuses, I will just say I started a new job.

Yay! It NEEDED to happen. I was no longer happy...in fact hadn't been in awhile...sometimes it takes longer than it should for me to be honest with myself. Know what I mean? I'm always so scared to admit that something isn't working out. When I finally do though, things start falling into place.

But that's how gut instinct works...and gut instinct is something I'm working on listening to more and more. Which leads me to my next point. I was reading through my 101 goals, because really it's why I keep this blog going. More of a personal sounding board to keep my thoughts and goals on track. Otherwise I forget. I'm making alright progress...although the section seriously slacking is the adventure section. Ouch! So my theme for this upcoming month? CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE CONFIDENCE. To step out of my comfort zone in my personal life, work life and social life. I've definitely improved that in '10, but I can take it much farther. So, for April, I pledge to:

~listen to my gut instinct as much as possible

~ask questions and speak up...I have important things to say!

~stop worrying about what people who do not matter to me think about me or my life

My version of spring cleaning. Slightly more precise goals will make my vision for myself happen.

I have much more to tell you...about my new job, our recent trip to Mexico (Cozumel is amazing!) and the hiccups along the way. I didn't even post on my guidette birthday party! Shame on me...

New lunch experience!

Some of you may know I'm attempting to "eat clean" – which doesn't mean bland, boring food as many people think. If anything, searching out tasty, healthy food has opened my palate up to a whole new world! I've tried so many things I would've NEVER ever ate back when I was a sugar-addict. I now love tomatoes (whipping up a quick bruschetta toast is the best for an easy supper!), spinach, eggs, oatmeal...yum. I can't let chocolate go completely though...so I've learned to make my own chocolate chunks for my morning oatmeal out of carob powder, cocoa powder, agave and a bit of coconut oil...so rich and delish. That reminds me, coconut is now my new obsession. More on that later...

Anyway, my lunch today. There's a place downtown I didn't know existed until my sis told me about it. She works right beside it on Jasper Ave. It's called Healthfare, and prides itself on local ingredients and healthy food. The inside is entirely made up of environmentally sustainable materials. It's bright, clean and cheery...I loved it. And while it's not cheap, it's a nice healthy treat every once in a while. Today I got their sweet potato fries (although I saw they were actually yams...anyone have any comment on this!?) with their low-fat garlic dip (ahhhmazing!), and an asparagus dill salad. Tasty. Healthy. Love it. Check it out if you're nearby. I plan to try their peanut lime chicken rice bowl next.

Anyone else have any other healthy haunts they love in Edmonton?

Cuuuuuute.

So you know that folder on my desktop? Where I used to cram wedding inspiration photos? Well now I use it a little less for wedding ideas, and more for whatever happens to strike my fancy. Check out what I've been hoarding.

She has crooked teeth exactly like mine. Therefore I heart.

So I'm not a huge fan of Kristin Cavallari, but I love her easy, breezy beach looks. She always looks natural and unfussy...it's refreshing.

Love the freshness of Miss Blake. Love the outfit, and everything about it!

Lately, I've been loving how cute Lea Michelle has been looking. She rocks...I love Glee and wow, what a voice!

So I'm not positive I love the colour...but the cut in AMAZING. And her figure looks unreal in this. Love, love, love.

What a gorgeous barrette, no? I would love to try this with my hair. The texture is just divine.

Love everything about this look! I want the outfit, and I adore her hair and makeup.

Halfway?

Like a lot of my online friends, I'm still plugging away at my 101 goals in a 1001 days. Here's the latest I've been able to check off:

Redo the second bathroom. This one was a biggie. And we're pretty much there. All we need to do still is find a special knob for the tub. We need a particular one that is difficult to find. We found a cheap one but the plastic snapped the first time I used it...so in my mind, this is close enough to done! Pictures will be coming soon.

Do a proper chin up and pull up. Yay! This was tough for me, and I'm still excited I FINALLY made it. I can to three chin ups and only one or two pull ups. So I'd like to get those reps up to five...then ten.

Write a handwritten letter to Travis. I used to always do this, years ago. I finally wrote one for his 26th birthday, instead of a birthday card.

Get a library card and use it. I've got five books to read ASAP!

So I think I'm only about halfway (eep!) but if feels good to check off more, even if it's only a few.

Let's daydream for a bit.

I follow the runway sometimes...but nothing has got me this excited in a long time. How dreamy are these dresses from the Elie's Saab's 2010 collection? I also love the fact that the runway itself looked watery and reflected off the shimmery dresses. If I could have another wedding (to the same man of course!) I think I'd wear something totally different (not white!). Maybe I'd wear the last one here...the muted teal...and theme the whole wedding with that airy, dreamy feeling. Beautiful.

A smart card.

Finally...after probably TWO years of thinking about it, I've got my butt down to the library and snatched myself a library card! 12 bucks. And I can stop trying to read books I want in the bookstore! Ha. The only small annoyance is that all the new or popular books are on hold constantly...for a lot of my top picks, I'm number 203 or 167... I hope it doesn't take too long!

I just finished reading The Road, (2007 Pulitzer Prize winner) and that got me back into my urge to want to read. It was an unusual style. So barren and cold. But I enjoyed changing it up from my usual (will have to see the movie now too. Who doesn't love Viggo?) The thing is, when I'm reading, I love it. It's hard for me to put a book down...I just becomes far too long between my good reads. So I'm pledging to get back to reading regularly, not only for fun, but also for ways to improve my vocab and explore different styles. And it's always a great conversation starter too. We spent a lot of time talking books with the ladies at a family get-together this past weekend in Three Hills (Trav's Dad's side) and I was dismayed to realize I hadn't read one of all the top picks! So that's how I created the list below.

I have them on hold right now. Do you guys have any other must-reads I should get my hands on?

~Glass Castle

~Eat, Pray, Love

~Poisonwood Bible

~Book of Negroes

~Kite Runner

~The Last Dance (Josephine B. Trilogy)

~In Defense of Food

~How to Make Love Like a Pornstar (hehe)

I know these are some picks that have been popular for awhile now, but it doesn't matter to me. No more I should...I will! Book club anyone?

Playing the game...

So I like being cyber-tagged...I'm not to the point where it happens often (which is totally fine!) so I enjoy it when it does happen. Megz from This Next Step passed this along:

Write 10 things that make you happy, and then tag 10 people to do the same:

Easy peasy! Perfect timing too. It's Monday, which is reason enough to think happy thoughts. Here's the big ten right now (but they'd probably be different tomorrow!)

~Hank and Saku sleeping with me when Trav is on nights

~Bodyrock.tv

~Learning to eat clean and becoming a better cook because of it

~Reading again (I've got a list must-reads!)

~Playing with two-year-olds but not living with them (yet) ; )

~Oats with gooey chocolate chips

~Planning a vacation

~Having a clean house

~Throwing my hair into a messy bun

~Teaching a great dance class when everything just connects

Been feeling a little blah lately...but this is a fantastic reminder to keep my chin up, as my Mom would say. Thanks Meaghan. Oh, and this is an open invitation...so please go ahead and tag yourself. (I'm not lazy, I swear...I just want people who want to actually do it to do it!)