My 2011 Goals

I’m not much of a cook.  I never really cared to cook before and anything I make I typically burn.  In fact I grew up on burnt food because my mom was also notoriously great at burning food.  I think it’s genetic (p.s. I love burnt toast); however, I have finally decided it is time to learn.  Something about coming home and cooking after a long workday calms me.  Well, for the most part.  Cooking can be stressful and I don’t have the timing thing down just yet but I’m working on it.  And I find that the more cooking I do the better I get. I don’t dread the grocery store as much as I used to (a fun childhood pasttime was grocery temper tantrums…grocery stores bored me) and sometimes I even enjoy buying new vegetables and throwing them together in a delicious bouquet.  I try and make it fun for myself.  Something about successfully chopping vegetables—without chopping off a finger— and throwing the colorful concoction together makes me feel like a sautéing savant. I love it! As a new year approaches I get more concrete ideas of what I want to accomplish in the coming year.  As always I put too much on my plate and don’t get to accomplish everything, but I hope that I will at least begin some of my goals. 

Goal 1:

Picture from: http://analienparisienne.wordpress.com

I received from my darling mother a fabulous book.  It’s called Lunch in Paris A Love Story with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard.  It follows this woman through her romantic and professional escapades while also discussing food.  It has a Julie and Julia feel but it has more of a focus in French life and love, which I absolutely adore. I love anything Parisian. I dream of going…but that’s for another post.  As you could figure out from the name, the book also throws in recipes from teas to desserts to dinners that the main character may have enjoyed on her first date or after a frisky romp with a sexy Parisian. It’s definitely one of those books that you must read with a side of cheese, crackers, wine, and pretty much anything you can get your hands on because it makes you drool, though no drool marks have been made just yet. But I always dreamt of writing a book similar to this, but instead of recipes I would travel through Europe, seek adventure and add my own artwork to the mix.  I think it could be a fun and unique approach.  I just need to get to Europe first.  So I decided that until my European excursion happens I should follow in this character’s footsteps. I am going to try all the recipes within the book, hopefully take pictures of the process and the finished product, and also learn more about cooking in the process. Some will be simple while others might be a bit sticky, but that’s part of the fun of stepping out of your element. I look forward to reading this fun book whilst also making delicious meals (that hopefully don’t expand my waistline in the process). 

Goal 2:

For years I have wanted to make soaps, shampoos, and conditioners.  I think the more basic and natural you get with your products the better.  Honestly, who really needs Methylchloroisothiazolinone on a daily basis anyway?  I have extremely sensitive skin and certain products just make it worse.  I can’t use sodium lauryl sulfate or any variation of it.  For those who share my allergy, you know how difficult it is to find products without this chemical (can someone say toothpaste?!). But now that I will be working from home instead of an office (which is perfect when you live somewhere with almost sub-zero winter temperatures) I can hopefully take more time to actually pursue said hobby. And once one of my three jobs ends I will have loads of extra time, which will be heavenly. I hope to also show off my finished products.  I think this could be a very fun adventure, even if my better half thinks I take on too many things at once (which is true).

Goal 3:

I hope to actually buckle down and write this book that I have been inspired to write for two years now.  I think it’s an original story and I really am passionate about writing it, but between lack of sleep and three jobs I feel crazed, and when I do finally find time in my schedule to write, my creativity has checked out.  I hope that 2011 will bring me some much-needed relaxation and creativity.


Goal 4:

My own oil painting of a Cosmopolitan

I want to spend more time painting.  I love painting and I need more time and energy to do it. I hope to make time to paint since it really is the most therapeutic hobby.  I also need sleep.  This really should be my mantra.

Goal 5:

My shoe obsession has become a bit dangerous

I want to reorganize my apartment.  Living with a significant other can be difficult, and fighting over a studio makes it even more challenging. I am shoe and clothing obsessed (I blame my mom…I see that I have blamed my mom twice in this post, but it’s only in jest. She may be the coolest person I know, so saying these things doesn’t really seem all that malicious) and the closet is never big enough.  I also hoard papers (perhaps because my experience has always been, the minute I throw away a document that I haven’t needed in months or years, I immediately need it. No joke), and my desk gets the brunt of my destruction.  Sadly my jobs keep me so busy that I often find that the best place to put my clothes is flung over the couch, which makes for not-so-lovely décor and a less-than-thrilled fiancée. But, I can be oddly organized (contradictory, I know). I enjoy getting all my documents together for taxes because I love organizing it and placing it together and calculating it myself.  I enjoy some structure and I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to scheduling, organizing my papers, and cleaning (even though I’m not always so great at it).  My OCD will kick into high gear when necessary.  I don’t have a ton of time for it, but I hope to make more time, because when I do finally find the energy to clean the apartment I go on an all-day frenzy and I don’t stop until I’m finished.  From organizing my documents into decorative binders to creating a concoction that will perhaps attempt to fight the lovely stubborn apartment grim (any suggestions?), I love it all. It’s weird but I always feel so satisfied and productive when I finish.  I want to make my temporary residence feel more like a home and less like a layover.

Goal 6:

My cozy Parisian desk

I hope to find cheap ways to decorate my apartment. I also need to begin some art projects, one of which include the ten wine bottles I have had stored for months—despite fiancee’s protests to get rid of them.

But, I think my ultimate goal is to spend more time doing the things I love and removing the things in my life that get in the way.  Those extra freelance projects that I don’t really need, taking on more work assignments than I know how to handle, all of those get in the way of enjoying life.  I want 2011 to be the year I travel, experience life, spend more time with friends and family, meet new people, and pursue the interests I really love.  I look forward to this challenging new adventure.  See, I have become more decisive already. I think that’s a pretty good start.