Off To A Good Start!

Happy New Year! Wanna know how I rang in the new year? Sleeping (and most likely snoring up a storm)! I'm SO not a late night person and lately, I've been going to bed earlier and earlier. My eyes get pretty tired and I can barely keep them open much past 9:30 anymore. Egads, does that mean I'm getting OLD? I'm SO turning into my mother! She used to go to bed early and now I know why. LOL On the flip side, I wake up fairly early and am just raring to go! *Ü*

It's amazing to think we are embarking on a new decade. I so remember as a kid thinking getting to the year 2000 meant our lives would be so futuristic (kind of like the Jetsons-I think I'm dating myself big time now). And now we are starting a new futuristic sounding decade. Amazing!

I know a lot of bloggers are posting their resolutions or goals for the upcoming year. I don't know that I have many new goals. I think my goals are to continue on the path that I am currently traveling. I've been seeing success in changing my mindset to be more frugal. I've discovered that thrift store shopping is a blast and have some neat things added to my stash. I've enjoyed the hard work involved in working on getting my house in shape and I want to continue working on that. I keep babystepping toward a life that is simpler and hopefully more fulfilling with less "stuff" and more contentment. I want to recommit myself to maintaining and improving upon the areas I've been working on.

I'm pretty happy that I've been exploring new ways of being crafty. I've challenged myself to learn some new techniques and new skills. I hope I've grown as a crafter and I don't want to stop exploring things that appeal to me.

One thing I jokingly told myself I would do in the new year is to finally learn how to work a project on double-pointed needles. I have tried using them before and felt hopelessly muddled about figuring it out.

Amy has wanted me to knit a giraffe as shown on the cover of Itty Bitty Toys. I've had the book for a while, but felt intimidated because the toys are knitted in the round on double pointed needles. Yesterday I sat down to see if I could finally figure it out. Lo and behold, I think I've got it. I think maybe, just maybe, all the projects I've made using circular needles helped make it "click" for me! I've started the body of the giraffe and feel really good about it.

I've been working on some socks for Steve...originally planned as a Christmas present, then shifted to a birthday present and now will get them done when I get them done. His birthday is tomorrow and I'm no where near being done. I haven't gotten to the heel yet! Oops. It's okay, he's got a new flat screen AND a new blu-ray player, so I think he's done pretty well in the gift department. (I needed a bit of a break from the pattern) I may just wrap up the work in progress and tell him he'll get them as soon as I get them done. LOL The thought has been there, if not the ability to work on them as much as I thought I'd be able to this week. (He took the week off from work, and I've taken advantage of the fact by doing some other things while he's been home to watch the girls).

I thank you for your visits and all the encouraging thoughts you share. I hope that 2010 brings you much love and success in reaching YOUR goals!