And just like that...

...2008 came to a close! It’s January 2nd and I’m back to life as I know it. My alarm went off at 5:15 am this morning, and my days of vacationing are over! {I have to say, I'm glad the first day back in the office after the holidays is a Friday! Yeah for the weekend!}

With the New Year already here, I can’t help but think of my New Years resolutions. As I started to write down all my goals for 2009, I wanted to find out the real definition of a resolution. {Thanks dictionary.com!}

res-o-lu-tion [rez-uh-loo-shuh n]
–noun
1. a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something.
2. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.
3. the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute; firmness of purpose.
4. the act or process of resolving or separating into constituent or elementary parts.


So, with that, here are my Resolutions for 2009!

Take more pictures
After getting married, I have totally dropped the ball on taking photos at even the most important occasions. I came to this realization when I was creating our Christmas card this year. I was surprised to find that we only had a few photos recapping this year's milestones, so it's my resolution in 2009 to be more snap happy. Which leads me into the next item on my wish list - a new "fancy" camera! Here's to a picture perfect 2009!

Slow down...
I have a tendency to get caught up in the rat race of life, and I need to slow down and take some time to "smell the roses." With the busy schedules life can bring, I want to purposefully make more time for Kelly and myself in 2009. We are really good about having a date night once a week, but I have a tendency to overload myself and wear myself down that all I want to do is come home and crash. Here's to a relaxing 2009!

Work out regularly
Kelly is really good at sticking to his work out regimen (almost to a fault), and I am really good at coming up with excuses why not to go to the gym (but then complain when I gain weight!) I've kept up the workout routine for a week now, and I want to continue making this good habit stick! Here's to a FIT 2009!

Finish my reading list
I've developed a terrible habit of buying books with the best intentions of reading them. However, I get busy (see Slow down... above) and I put them on the back burner. I did finish one of my many novels, Marley & Me, over the Christmas break and what a sense of accomplishment! Currently on my reading list are:

• Blue Like Jazz
• The Same Kind of Different as Me
• The Shack
• Grace for the Moment (a daily devotional)
• Facing Your Giants
• He Chose the Nails

And the sad part about this list is that I've started every single one of those books! Here's to an educational 2009!

Stop biting my nails
This has always been a vice of mine and I'm ready to kick this bad habit for good! (Does this mean more manicures?)

Don't do anything drastic to my hair
Every year, about half way through the year, I get tired of my "do" and feel like I need to reinvent my hairstyle. This year, the day of my cousin's wedding, I chopped my hair off and dyed it brown. Horrible. Horrible idea. Here's to a year filled with long, blond hair. (Who said anything about it being natural?)

Travel some place amazing
With the ability to fly for free, why not? Hawaii is definitely on my list! Do you have any vacation spots you'd like to recommend?

Well, I'm sure I'll have more goals for 2009, but I think that's all for now. What are your resolutions??