2009 in pictures. A picture a month. Except July. Because there was no way to choose.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July needed two

August

A hard run on a foggy morning

September

i love the ocean

October

Sara Watkins at Natasha's

November

my man is serious about his frozen yogurt.

December

and i finish the year with my favorite person

Happy New Year!

Wow. Where did 2009 go?

I’ve been working on so many end-of-the-year posts that just aren’t going to happen. I work New Year’s Eve, New Year’s, and the day after. So I just waited too long to get all of my summarys up. But my weight loss journey birthday AND my blog birthday are coming up very soon, so maybe you’ll get them then. Or maybe they’ll just be fashionably late next week. We’ll see.

But I do have resolutions. They are simple and quick.

I’ll review first, though. My resolution for 2009? Wear heels more often. Check. I’m wearing them regularly 3 or 4 days a week. I rocked that resolution.

So 2010? 3 resolutions. Because 3 is my favorite number.

1. Read more. I’m aiming for a book a month. This is the stack of books I want to read. Or reread. Or that I started and didn’t finish and need to start again. I’m not counting the 2 books I’m in the middle of. Or maybe I should…

2. Keep running! My goal, again, is 12 races in 2010. I wanted to say a race a month, but there is nothing going on in January that isn’t either a) really long or b) more than 2 hours away or 3) on a weekend I work. So 12 in a year. And I’m on a schedule complete with stickers (and lamination)! (We ran in the sleet tonight, by the way. Just so you know. Check out my run log blog.)

3. Keep better track of what I cook. I post most things here, but I used to do a really good job keeping an actual cookbook. Typing out recipes. With pictures of food and family. Putting in a binder in a protective sleeve and creating an index and page numbers at the end of the year. Yeah, now I just have a kitchen drawer full of papers with lots of splatters. I need to do better. (No pictures of splattery recipes, sorry.)

So there it is. Nothing crazy that I can’t maintain. No crash diets. No mention of weight. That’s just who I am today.

In case I don’t see you tomorrow, Happy New Year’s!

I have been busy today.

thanks Nate for snapping the picture!

I’ve been doing Kung Fu. My dojo? (left to right) Hagrid, my yet-to-be-born niece Ella, Me, Nathan, and Fox Mulder.

Because that’s how I roll.

I swear, you guys. My arms are sore from the boxing. My legs are sore from the ski jumping. This Wii thing is killing me! I try to do a few strength/balance games and then cardio to get my heart rate up. I haven’t braved the yoga yet. That’s for tomorrow.

I’m working on resolutions. And FB’s year in review post. But now, I must sleep.

Fat Bridesmaid asked us to spill our presents. So I am.

We had an awesome Christmas.

Nathan proved that he knows me well by my gifts: book, apron, necklace, Lush stuff, and a coloring book of Christmas ornaments. I had been eyeing all of them. He really pays attention to me.

As always, gift cards galore. I’m set for Starbucks for a while. But our two biggest gifts.

From my parents:

I have a big nice camera, but I made the comment at the Turkey Trot that I would have liked to have a little one to carry with me. And I have one now!

And from Nate’s parents?

Followed by spending more by from my parents…

Nathan and I played nonstop all day yesterday.

I created our whole little family on our WiiFit. And, just like in real life, getting a picture with everyone looking and with eyes open was impossible!

My chubbiness is depressing. But it was so much fun working out with all the Miis we had created – Alton Brown, Barney Stinson, Dana Scully, Hagrid, Voldemort. So much fun!

I probably undid all my work because I was sipping chocolate wine the whole time, but who’s counting?

(and, just for kicks, I updated my progress page!)

I just have to share some of our Christmas highlights with y’all.

If you ever EVER find yourself in eastern Kentucky, seek out a Giovanni’s. I don’t know who had the idea of creating a Christmas box for this greasy pizza, but they have my vote for sainthood.

My dad makes these cookies? They are everything that is awesome about breakfast. Oats, chocolate chips, cranberries, and (yet to be applied as of this picture) espresso icing.

My brother Zak told us that our gift was a puzzle. I opened the bear and Nathan opened the hamburger (it was in the freezer – don’t worry). It took us forever to get it, partially because we didn’t think Zak would even know, but the innkeepers at our favorite bed and breakfast are Bear and Patti. A gift certificate! I still can’t get over the brilliant presentation of this gift!

My brother’s dog, Lilly, is the cutest dog ever. She was always in the middle of the action.

My brother Nick is a daddy-to-be. He got a “first guitar” for Ella. And he picked out “Faith” by George Michael. If only I had a plastic flute, we would’ve played “Don’t You Cry” by Guns and Roses. Oh, I can do it. And it is hilarious.

My brother Zak decided to make Christmas Day the official Ugly Christmas Sweater Day. Only he didn’t tell anyone else. Everyone quietly whispered things like, “Is that the style in Kansas?” or “Is he wearing a woman’s sweater?” I guess the Ugly Christmas Sweater thing hasn’t hit Eastern Kentucky yet. But Zak is doing his best. And striking a very professional model pose, don’t you think?

My mom and dad. Mom just can’t smile at a camera. I don’t know why. She knew I was taking the picture. She smiled and looked away. She either smiles or looks. Only one. Every time. It cracks me up.

My Mamaw scratched her first lottery tickets. She didn’t win. It was a bummer.

Of course, music was everywhere. And I took lots of pictures of Nathan. It’s what I do.

I hope your holidays were as comforting and restful as ours!

Being home home is bizarre.

I seriously think I’ve had more sugar in the last 48 hours than I’ve had in the last 10 months. And Christmas dinner? Pizza rolls, mini corn dogs, mystery chicken dip. Everything I go out of my way to avoid in my real life.

I’m not sure exactly how it happened.

I look back on Thanksgiving. I had trouble with snacks, but I did well at the actual meals. I think that’s just because of the holiday itself. Thanksgiving is about cooking and eating. Very focused. More whole(ish) foods because people have more time to cook. But Christmas? The meal is only a part of the celebration once you throw in decorating, shopping, wrapping, baking, etc. That led to convenience food at our main family dinner. I don’t want to use the excuse that I didn’t have a choice, but my choices were very limited. And, based on Thanksgiving experience, I didn’t think it would be necessary to bring things that I wanted to eat.

So I just brought lots and lots of cookies.

But, like Thanksgiving, I’m really proud of my desire to refocus. I don’t want to eat like this anymore. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life eating mystery foods and loads of sugar. I don’t even want to do it tomorrow.

I feel so blah. I’m taking naps. I’m burping a lot. I’m lazy and tired and blah. After 2 days. It’s crazy.

I’m not looking forward to my sugar crash tomorrow, but it’s gonna happen. I just made a promise to Nathan that I’m done with sugar. And he’ll hold me to it.

I’m not beating myself up for my food choices. But I’m getting back on the horse. Starting now. I’m planning to run in the morning, assuming the weather cooperates. I don’t know what dinner with Dad-in-law tomorrow will look like, but I’ve just got to do my best. And push through the sugar crash that’s gonna hit me hard. Tomorrow evening, I’ll be back in my own house, my own bed, my own kitchen.

And it’s on.

I’ve also made the decision that I don’t want to know how much I gained over Christmas. I don’t need that discouragement. I’m going to work my tail off for the next week and get on the scale on New Year’s Day. And hope that it comes out even.

So tell me how you ate over Christmas. I’m really curious how you handled it and what you learned. But don’t beat yourself up!

(And don’t wait until New Year’s to get it together! Do it TODAY!)

So it’s Christmas Eve…and I went for a run! And I broke a rule.

For those of you who have ever tried to cross a street with me, I have rule issues. I follow them. I only cross in a crosswalk. And I like to have the walking man to tell me it’s okay. I don’t cross a solid white line when I drive, meaning I don’t turn from the shoulder. I like rules.

But I’m ahead of myself.

I went for a run today.

I left Mom and Dad’s.

Made a stop to get toiletries I’d forgotten.

Had to make a grocery stop to get a few things Mom needed for dinner. I love that small towns still paint the store windows with holiday messages. It warmed my heart.

I had planned to park at the church where we were married.

But then I saw this.

And you know what? I parked there anyway. Because I got married there. And because it’s Christmas Eve.

So much for rules! You should be proud of me, being a rebel and all!

Anyway, I could see her and she gave me her blessing.

I ran a slow 5K to seasonally appropriate music.

Not only am I a runner, but I ran on Christmas Eve. I love who I’m becoming.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Why do I love being at my parents’ house?

I’m awake at 1:22. Blogging. Watching tv. In bed.

I’ve already made plans to work out before we start our holiday festivities.

My family is so encouraging without being nagging. I was going to bed and said, “I’m gonna have one last cookie before I brush my teeth go to bed.” My little brother said, “You don’t really want that cookie. Just go brush your teeth.” And he was right.

My dad is thinking about making homemade eggnog.

I realized tonight, while brushing my teeth, that I really do look a lot different.

Did I mention that I’m blogging? In bed? watching tv? Yeah, I thought so.

(I do miss Nathan, though. He’s staying at his dad’s tonight. I love you, honey!)

In case I don’t see you for the next few days, have a very Merry Christmas!

I thought I understood triggers. I’ve dealt with smells and having food right in front of me. But today I experienced a crazy trigger.

Mr. Kwik.

Yes, a convenient store.

We moved back to Lexington a little over 2 years ago. Before that, we lived in a small town with a small convenient store. Every morning for over a year, I stopped here for breakfast. A Starbucks drink and a package of MiniMuffins. Every day. $2.53. Spare change went into the Relay for Life jar. Every day.

We visited our old town today, mostly to visit our friends that own the Kentucky Fudge Company. Then we gassed up at Mr. Kwik. I decided I was thirsty so I went in to get a bottle of water.

Immediately, without thinking, I started looking for the MiniMuffins. They weren’t in their usual spot. Where were they? They would taste really good with a Starbucks drink. Maybe I’ll just get that. I counted the cash I’d grabbed. $3. Surely they were still the same price, right?

Then I was like, “Whoa Nelly!” Did I want MiniMuffins? Not at all. Do I even like Starbucks drinks? Absolutely not. I got my bottle of water, put my change in the Relay for Life jar, and walked proud out of there.

But, man, that was scary. It was crazy how quick I could have totally veered off course. How quickly my habits had overtaken my logic. Absolutely crazy.

Now I’m ready to look for triggers over the next few days. I know being home for Christmas will bring them out. Maybe I’ll make a game out of it? Keep a tally?

Here’s wishing you a trigger-free holiday!

(I posted tonight’s run here!)

I have been so productive today. I feel like Pioneer Woman. Or Martha Stewart. Or Not Martha.

Five hours. Five double batches. 486 cookies.

Peanut butter chocolate chip shortbread.

Nutella Palmiers.

I LOVE these. Orange cranberry cookies.

Nate’s only request: Andes Mint Chip Cookies.

My mother-in-law’s butter cookies.

And when all was said and done…

Kinda makes last year seem puny!

I’d also bought what I needed for chocolate chip cookies, cranberry white chocolate chip cookies. Maybe later.

But look at these cute takeout containers I found! They now hold cookies for my coworkers!

I’m also working on a new project – a new place for my running log. I didn’t run today, but I am going to put up my running schedule. So you’ll have to check it out.