new year's eve wishes, resolutions & other ramblings

Like most years, I am having difficulty thinking of a resolution. I could set my goal to lose the weight I gained over Christmas (woops - I was at my goal weight.) I could resolve to get more fit & toned. I could set a goal to invest more money in my RSPs (similar to the IRAs or 401(k) in the USA or the ISAs in the UK). Or maybe my resolution should be to plan my wedding.

But I've already set these goals for myself.

I almost don't believe in "resolutions". Most people's resolutions seem to fail by the end of January. How many people say they're going to get in shape this year, only to stop going to the gym by Valentine's Day? Or quit smoking, but start puffing before the first month of the year is even over.

Instead, I set long-term goals as I need them. I've spent the last year and a half losing weight. Very slowly, much more slowly than 1 pound per week. But it was continuously going down (well, mostly continuously going down) until a couple week's ago when I reached my goal weight - since Christmas, I now have to get back to goal weight. I also want to become more fit, and that is something I've been struggling with. I have bursts of a month of being good, then I'll be lazy for a month. I just signed up for a twice a week aerobics class, and Wade & I will be doing our once a week ball hockey (yep, in a school gymnasium and everything). If I can be motivated to even do one at-home work-out or video per week, that'll give me four solid (one-hour) work-outs a week.

But those aren't my resolutions. Just goals. Yes, I know you might point out that resolutions are goals. They somehow feel different to me, and I feel like my success is more likely if it's just a goal instead of a resolution.

So what will my resolution be? Maybe I won't have one. I don't have one every year.

Or maybe I should make my resolution something that I know (or highly anticipate) will happen. So, my resolution could be to get married in 2009 (specifically June 6th). Then I have a higher likelihood of success.

But that feels like a cop out.
So maybe I should just go another year without a resolution - just spend a little time reflecting, think about my goals for 2009 (and longer-term) and call it a day.

Engagement Story (final)

And to finish off the Engagement Story (you can read the "cliffhangers" from parts one, two, three and four):

Well, let me lead up to Christmas (remember how I didn't want to be proposed to on Christmas):

Usually the week-end or two before Christmas, my parents have a big Christmas party. There's lots of food - veggie trays, shrimp trays, pastries, cheese, followed by either a roast, cold cuts or lasagna for dinner, then chocolates, baked goods, and various other dessert items. They've been doing it as long as I can remember. Family, friends, family-friends - everyone's there. Well, last year it was two week-ends before Christmas (Saturday, December 15).

Wade lives in my hometown, so while I lived 180 km, I was home (well, at Wade's our house) for that week-end. The day of the party, I had picked up most of my Christmas gifts and was going to wrap all of them (or as many as I could!) before it was time to head over to my parents' house. I really enjoy wrapping gifts, but I'm not that good at it. Oh well! I sitting on the floor, almost done wrapping, when Wade came down to have me "chat" with my stuffed giraffe, Twiga (named after one of the giraffes at the Toronto Zoo). Yep, we're nuts, we play with a couple of my stuffed animals.

(This is Twiga, in case you wanted to meet my beloved giraffe. My Twiga has lopsided ears, like the real Twiga.)

Anyway, I'm wrapping, and Twiga wants a kiss. This may seem odd to you, but it was in fact quite normal for us. So I give Twiga a kiss and go back to wrapping. And Wade's pretending to talk to Twiga. Again, normal for us.

I don't remember the entire conversation, but here's an exerpt from Wade's conversation with Twiga (Twiga whispers into Wade's ear, apparently, and Wade repeated her answer to me):
-What's that, Twiga?
(Pause and listen)
-Krista's going to be the centre of attention at her parent's party tonight?
[My birthday had been 6 days before, and I hadn't seen anyone in my family in about a month.]
-What's that, Twiga? What?
(Confused look)
-Krista can't call me her boy-friend anymore? Huh?
At this point, I looked up. I had been sitting on the floor to wrap the presents, so I sat on the couch next to Wade. Wade shows me Twiga, and points at her horn. Yep, the ring was there. And had been there for the past 5-10 minutes.

So that's how it happened.

Tell what do you think?

I'm trying to think about accessories for me and for my bridesmaids. I know, I know, I haven't picked out the bridesmaid dresses yet, but I want to have ideas of the styles.

So ... what do you think?

Let me know which of these clutches (if any) you prefer:
1. Aldo bowtie clutch (gold or silver)
2. Aldo funky zipper clutch (black or red)
3. Payless clutch (lace)
4. Aldo snap kiss-lock clutch (bone)
If you don't like any of these clutches, feel free to let me know what you do like.

Let me know which of this jewellery you prefer (max 3):
1. Aldo bowtie necklace (gold or silver)
2. Aldo "rose" necklace
3. Beaded necklace (etsy seller juliejongleuse)
4. Aldo colourful bracelets (black, gold or purple)
5. Sears beaded bracelet
6. Dangling earrings (etsy seller firelilyjewelrygems)
7. Drop earrings (etsy seller kaskaad)

These items are just meant to give me an idea of what accessories I should pick, if I want a cohesive look. The other option is just get everyone to accessorize themselves! After all, they all are stylish ladies.

Engagement Story (Part 4)

I've already told the beginnings (parts one, two and three) of the engagement story. If you hadn't guessed, we did pick the setting I loved and told you about. We put in a different diamond, you know, one that was a good quality but not perfect (the diamond that was in the setting was 0.67 carat nearly perfect diamond, clarity VVS1 and a D colour). I overheard the jeweller tell Wade my ring would be ready in 2 weeks. So I couldn't resist almost a month later asking about the ring (well, Wade says it was less than 2 weeks later but it felt longer than that). I was informed procuring the diamond took longer than initially estimated. I remember only asking once more about the ring; Wade says I asked a few times. Funny how we remember differently? :)

I should also mention we lived 180 km apart. I was working on the last month of a contract, so we were a 2-hour drive away from each other! We saw each other about every-other week-end.

About a month after he got the ring, my birthday was approaching.

Let me now quantify that I had told him I didn't want to be proposed to on my birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, or any other such cheesey occassion.

But my birthday was fast approaching, so guess what I was thinking? We went to The Keg two days before my birthday for my birthday dinner.

Nope, no ring.

The day before my birthday was the staff Christmas party, so I knew he wouldn't propose then.

I was a little tired on my actual birthday as I had had a good time the night before.

I never dreamed Wade would propose on my birthday ... and he didn't.

And home Wade went, because the week-end was over.

To be continued ...

Goals for 2008

These are my goals for 2008:
-Eat healthy every day
-Be productive at work
-Blog the remainder of our engagement story
-Create a new year's resolution (and think of a new year's resolution)

Do you think I can achieve these goals? I didn't set lofty goals: I only need to achieve these goals for the next 2 days. Then it's a whole new year!
That's all I have to say today. More tomorrow!

Congratulations, Crystal!

And Congratulations, Crystal! My bridesmaid, Crystal, got engaged on Christmas Eve. Two of my good friends and bridesmaids are now engaged (Crystal and Kristy).


P.S. Yesterday, during the Boxing Day Week sales, I bought a new camera. Woohoo! So I can actually start using a camera and putting pictures my computer again. The only downside is I have like 100 pictures on my old digital camera that I have no way of getting off my computer. In case I haven't mentioned it, I have no way to get pictures from my camera onto my computer. I lost the program for my computer to recognize my camera, and it was only on my parent's computer, and their computer had a meltdown, so I have no idea how to get these 100 pictures off my old camera and printed.

The camera is 4 years old. I was told 2 years ago that it was "obsolete" (which pissed the hell out of me, because frankly something that's two years old is "old" in technological terms, but it should not be obsolete!).

Engagement Advice?

This is my blog, so I can offer advice and opninions. If you don't want my advice, please stop reading this post.

I wrote this post because I was thinking "what advice would have been helpful for me to know a year ago?" So here are some things that would have been helpful to know when Wade & I started planning:

1. Don't buy anything. Not yet, anyway. It may be a great price, but it's a waste of money if you don't use it. You shouldn't buy anything until you have an idea of the date (or at least time of year), location, and what both of you want for your wedding!

2. Enjoy the initial excitement of your engagement. Don't worry about planning anything for at least 2 weeks, but even 1 or 2 months (or more) is perfectly acceptable. People will ask questions, but just explain that you're just enjoying yourself now and will start planning in the spring.

3. Go to bridal shows and do all the bridal things you want to do. Take your fiancé if you want to get his opinion (I dragged Wade to one show, and he didn't mind it). Then go to another show with a friend. Then go to another show with the same or other friends. If you're into bridal shows for the ideas you can get, go to as many as you want. But many friends have limited excitement for your engagement. Unfortunately, most of your friends are just not as into your wedding as you are. This won't be true of all friends, but if you have a friend who has gotten / is getting wedding-overloaded, don't drag that friend to multiple bridal shows.

4. Read magazines. My favourite, by far, is Martha Stewart Weddings.

5. Visit (free) websites, such as: Martha Stewart Weddings, The Knot and Brides.

6. Go to blogs. For a starting point, look at "My Blog-Stalkers" (aka bloggers who follow me, all of whom I also follow), as well as my blog roll ("Who I Blog Stalk", aka blogs I read). Then go to The Bride's Café, The Bride's Guide (the blog of Darcy Miller, editor of Martha Stewart Weddings), Something Old, Something New and finally, Snippet & Ink. I follow all four of those blogs, but they are not in my blog-roll because they are pretty much all updated every week day, so I read them every week-day.

7. Of course, there's also WeddingBee. There was quite the controversy when it was bought out by e-harmony earlier this year, and since the change I don't find the quality of comments on the boards to be as good. My favourite blogger was Mrs. Lovebug (who no longer posts for WeddingBee, but her original posts are still available), but I'm now partial to Miss Glitter (aka Carly from Westside Bride, my "blog-twin" who appreciates organized messes & messy organization)! If you read the WeddingBee boards, take what you read with a grain of salt.

8. Don't buy anything yet. Not until you've discussed with your date, theme (if any), colours (if any) and desires with your fiancé. If you've always envisioned a bubble gum pink coloured tea party, and your fiancé hates pink and tea parties, you may have to nix that idea. If you've wanted to get married on the beach somewhere south, and your fiancé wants to get married in your hometown, again, you're going to have to discuss compromises, such as getting married down south then having a reception in your hometown or getting married in your hometown then honeymooning down south. Either way, don't buy a thing, no matter how good the deal, until you have an idea of the date (or at least time of year), location, and what both of you want for your wedding!

9. Enjoy the first few weeks of your engagement! It's such an exciting time.

Safety Saturdays: Holiday Safety

Most of this advice is common sense, but some of it may be new to you. And remember, common sense isn't so common anymore!

Fresh Tree Safety:
-Place the tree in a stand that will hold 2 to 3 litres of water and top it up daily
-Do not set your tree up near a heat source such as a radiator, television, fireplace or heating duct
-Make sure the tree does not block doors or windows (so it doesn't block you from an exit during an emergency)
-Never use lighted candles on the tree (honestly, that should not be a surprise)
-Remove the tree once it starts to dry out




Decorations:
-Choose decorations that are flame-retardant, non-combustible and non-conductive
-Avoid using angel hair (glass wool) together with spray-on snowflakes (this combination is highly combustible)
-Do not use metallic ornaments on the tree because if they make contact with defective wiring they could become a shock hazard (I'll be honest, I never thought of that)

Lights:
-Use properly certified light strings/sets (CSA, ULC, or other appropriately certified)
-Use the proper lights for the environment: make sure your outdoor lights are actually safe for outdoor use
-Inspect light strings/set before use: check for cracked bulbs and for frayed, broken or exposed wires, and discard if faulty
-Do not use electric light strings/sets on metallic trees (a faulty system could energize the tree and shock or electrocute anyone coming into contact)
-Turn off all tree and display lights before retiring for the night or before leaving the house

Candles:
-Place candles away from absoutely anything that could catch fire
-Never leave burning candles unattended
-Put candles in sturdy holders on a stable surface, well away from drafts, curtains, children and pets

The Fireplace:
-Never burn gift wrappings, boxes, cartons, or other types of packing in the fireplace (they burn rapidly and generate too much heat)
-Don't hang Christmas stockings from the mantel when the fireplace is in use
-Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to protect against flying sparks
-Never use gasoline or any other flammable liquids to start a fire (again, I hope this advice does not come as a surprised)
-Use only seasoned and dried wood
-Never leave the fire unattended or let it smolder
-Don't use Christmas trees for firewood

Be safe this holiday season!