Bring It 2012!

2:22 pm on Saturday, December 31st and I have absolutely nothing to do. I LOVE THAT. Ethan is fighting a fever and just lying down, quietly. Ron is working. I have a ton of errands to run (laundry, food shopping, staples, stockings....so I guess I do have a lot to do) but alas I can't very well leave my son all alone to battle his 101 degree temperature. So I have nothing to do.

I have done a lot of thinking about what 2012 is going to mean for me. I made a couple of resolutions for 2011, none of which I even remember but it was probably the usual fare - save money, lose weight, do more community service. I had a word for 2011 too - de-clutter - which I worked really hard at but was unable to accomplish fully. The fact of the matter is that my home is cluttered because it's too small. And until the renovations are complete, the clutter will continue.  My office was cluttered because I had not a moment in the day to just do some basic filing. So while de-cluttering as a goal is not going anywhere, I have moved on to a new word for the year - FOCUS. It will indirectly include de-cluttering, saving money, losing weight, blah, blah, blah. But yes, FOCUS is my word of the year. The common denominator is ME. I am going to FOCUS on ME, inside and out. I am well on my way.

1. New job - CHECK

2. New beauty regiment - CHECK

3. New exercise routine - CHECK

So while I will continue my 40 and Fabulous blog posts on the 17th of each month, I am adding a new component to my blog. On the 12th of each of month, from January to December 2012, I will be FOCUSing on ME and I invite you to join me and focus on yourself. On the 12th of each month I will be taking a photo of myself, or having someone else do it. No matter what state I am in, I am going to take that picture. I am going to look at that picture and appreciate myself for who I am regardless of what my hair is doing or where I am going. Focusing on myself will make me a better worker, a better mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend and a better person overall. I hope you will be inspired to join me on this journey and do the same for yourself.

So like the title of this post says, bring it, 2012! Because it's all about me.

Uniquely Unique, NY

What's not to love?

216 Days and Counting

$40          Trip to the hair salon
$25.00     1 hour in a midtown Manhattan parking lot
$300        New Interview Suit
New job closer to home making more money...PRICELESS!

WHAT
A
YEAR!

I am so glad that 2012 is only 2 weeks away. It cannot come fast enough. I am so excited to start a new job that my current colleagues have noted a new bounce in my step, as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. And it has.

Everyone says that change is good, including me. A quote about change has been part of my email signature for a long time.  But DAMN! The changes at work have been stressful and anxiety-ridden. I think I was the most excited for the changes that I knew were coming, but the changes went so over the top that morale has taken a huge dip even among the most optimistic among us. While I am going to miss most of the people I work with, that is all I will miss. I am happy to give up the one-hour plus commute, the huge gas and toll bill,  the early morning alarm and some of the unpleasant feelings that led me to leave my current place of employment. Those who have become important to me and who have developed a friendship with me, will not be lost to me. I am not moving out of state or going hours away. I"m just going into the county next door. I cherish my experiences and I have learned a ton, but alas, it was just...time to go.

So goodbye 2011. And good riddance. 2012, here I come...hitting the ground running and diving in head first. Can you hit the ground running and dive in head first at the same time? Probably not, but you get my point. So "say a little prayer for meeee."

By this time next month, I'll be reporting on how my first 2 weeks at the new job are going. And I have a great new series of posts starting January 12, 2012. So get your cameras ready and do your hair, or not. I am going to encourage those of you who read my blog to develop stronger self confidence and love of self and our imperfections. Trust me you'll love it. But more to come in a month. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Picture of the Month