2013, Here We Go!

Well, we're almost a month into 2013 and it's time to talk about Resolutions. Did you make any for this new year? I'll admit, I've been struggling a bit with trying to figure out what I'd like to accomplish during the next twelve months. Last year, I did a pretty good job with two out of my four resolutions: I read more, thanks to my Book Club, and I definitely cooked more, thanks to Transatlantic Tastes, but I didn't spend less money (judging from the numerous pairs of new shoes in my closet) and I didn't really worry less. (I knew those two would be tricky, especially the worrying part - Captain Over-Thinker, right here, folks).


Since I was so successful with my "more's" last year, my overall resolution is to Do More: Cooking, Reading, Whatever.


My cooking partner and I are planning on keeping up with our cooking, but we've decided to step it up a notch and branch out from the wonderful Jamie Oliver. (N is convinced we're now "advanced" chefs. We'll see how this goes.) As we're both pretty active on Pinterest, we've come across a lot of recipes that we're looking forward to trying out. So, one resolution: Cook More (Again).

As I said above, I read more in 2012, thanks to the Book Club I joined with some friends. As I now have a Kobo Vox, courtesy of my mother, I've been downloading books like they're going out of style, but that hasn't stopped me from actually purchasing physical books as well. What I'm currently reading: Forgotten, by Catherine McKenzie. I've read her other two books, Arranged and Spin and loved them both, so I'm looking forward to this one very much. Book Club has started up again this month so I'll also be reading Wild, by Cheryl Strayed in the next couple of days. So, my second resolution: Read More (Again).

My last resolution is to Do More in general. "Do more what?" you might ask? Do more whatever. Do more cardio at the gym, do more volunteering, do more exploring, do more blogging, whatever! Just do more. Use the time I have to do as much as possible. As I said in my 2012 Year in Review, quoting the Holstee Manifesto: "Do what you love and do it often." Well, I'm going to do more of what I love, and do it often.




I called 2013 my Break Out Year, and I think it really will be. Time to "Do More" for me, because I owe it to myself. So, with almost one month down, here we go. Here's to 2013! My Break Out Year, the best year yet!

I've got my game face on. Bring it, 2013!

The Book Club

At the beginning of the year, I mentioned that one of the things I would like to do in 2012 is read more. One great way to accomplish this was to join a book club, and as luck would have it, one of my friends decided to start one.

I never thought I would be someone who would enjoy being in a book club, but the past 10 months spending time with and getting to know the other women in the group has been really great. We've all said that book club is something we look forward to every month, not just to read a new book each month, but to catch up with one another and see how we're all doing. I feel like I've gained a whole bunch of new friends!

It's also a great opportunity to read some books that you may never have picked up if not for being in a book club. We've covered a wide range of books; some fiction, some biographies, some an easy, light hearted read, others a bit darker and move heavy. We haven't liked all the books we've read, but even that gives us something to discuss - what we loved or didn't like about each story.

Our most recent read was The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. It was an easy read and I found it really pulled me in, so much so that I hated having to put it down at night when it was time to go to bed. A tale of three sisters who had grown apart early in life, they all make their way back to their childhood home at the same time. It was an interesting look at the relationships between sisters, something that I've never really experienced, only having an older brother. If you have a sister or sisters, it might be a neat book for you to try.

Next on our list is Bossy Pants, Tina Fey's autobiography. I'm really looking forward to starting this as I think Tina Fey is hilarious and can't wait to see what she has to say about her life.

I'll post an update again soon on some of the other books we've read in book club. Until then, why not try a new book yourself? You never know what you'll enjoy!