Goal #4: Read a New Book Every Month

Now that I am not in school, I feel like I have to try a little harder to educate myself and keep my mind active. So, I take my love of reading + love of learning and there we have a goal that I will love to do (almost as much as the shoe habit that I am thoroughly enjoying). I have read a few books so far-I am currently reading the book called "Girlfriends talk about Men". It is pretty fun and I figure I can use all the tips I can get, right? I am going to the library tomorrow so that I can just rent the books I need. Now, what to read next. Any suggestions?

Goal #3: Update the Blog Often

It seems that for a time, I was updating often and it was always fun! But, I have gotten a little behind-not for lack of things to say, but just for lack of motivation. Now that I live far away from many loved ones, I rely on blogs to keep up with people and I assume that they do the same. So, my resolution is this: Update the blog at least once a week. Even if it is just a sentence or a picture, once a week. It will keep me in the habit of working on my writing and keep me in better touch with my BFFs. I miss you, my friends outside of Pleasanton! I have added a new BFF to my list here. She is great-always happy to see me, gives great hugs, always lets me drive and decide where we are going, and likes to eat all of the things that I eat. Here is a picture of her: That's all for now. See you next week! I promise...

Goal #2: Get a Haircut and Get a Real Job

I am pretty sure that this one is a song title. I have moved away from my most favorite hair stylist ever, so I have been in a bad way as far as the haircut goes. I love my huge curly hair, but it really does grow OUT-not DOWN. And it has been growing out since I last saw my favorite hair stylist in October...you get the picture. So-I have to decide what to do with it now. I am making this one a goal because finding a new hairstylist is quite the process. I can color it myself, but the cut is crucial. So for now, I will be maintaining the mane and sitting in the back row wherever I go because I don't want to block anyone's view.
GET A REAL JOB-I have officially begun the job search as of the second week of January and whenenver I go through this process I am highly discouraged when there are not a ton of people knocking at my door offering to pay me a lot of money to do something that I love. With benefits. And reasonable hours. I know that at this time in our economy's history I need to be patient and keep putting myself out there. The job will come. So for now, I will keep putting in the work to find work. There is a fabulous job out there just waiting for me to find it. Maybe I can be a hair model...

Top 10 of 2010

I am a goal-oriented girl, so I always set goals at this time of year and so far have been successful at meeting them. I am pretty practical about this and in the past my goals have included such things as: Get my degree (done), learn a new skill (done), Move out of Logan (done), and...well, you get the picture. So, I am setting 10 goals this year and have decided to post them one at a time-otherwise this post would get way too long. I also have decided that I needed some fun goals to balance out the lofty ones. So, for this first goal of 2010, I decided that I should set a fun goal to get things started right:

GOAL #1: Buy a new pair of shoes every month.

Now I have to admit that this idea was not my own, but I loved it, so I am making it my goal this year. The rules are simple-all I have to do is buy at least one pair of shoes every month this year and I will be a success. They can be any kind of shoe. To get myself started off right, I actually bought 2 pairs. I didn't need them, but I wanted them and they were the right price-with tax and everything they ended up being $11.64 total and I love them:


So for goal #1 I am 1 for 12 and feeling pretty good about it. Stay tuned for some more goals...I've gotta go shopping:)

Top 9 of 2009

Along with this time of year comes an opportunity to reflect on the past year at the good times and the bad. Luckily, I, for one had a great 2009, so here are the 9 highlights in no particular order:

1. The TV show Glee. It is funny and has singing. Makes me happy every time that it is on.
2. Fall Season in Logan which includes Homecoming Week. I spent my last beautiful fall in Logan and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the snow-less season. I am always awed at Heavenly Father's creations when I get to observe the wonders that happen in nature.
3. I Graduated! This one definitely deserves an exclamation point! After a lot of random happenings, I have finally achieved my goal of having a college degree. I have always known that I am a smart girl and now I have a piece of paper that backs me up on this theory.
4. I moved to California. After achieving the above, I decided that I needed to hightail it out of Logan. So, on October 29th, 2009, I pulled out of Logan for my last time and drove my belongings to California. So far, this has been a great move for me and although I am still looking for a job, it has been really good to be here.
5. No Broken Bones! Anyone who knows me, knows that when I can say that i haven't broken even one bone for a whole year, this is quite an accomplishment. Concussions do not count.
6. Kelly Clarkson concert with Laura. Apparently this is becoming a yearly sister tradition and I am really happy about that. We got to see her outside in Orem this year and she did not disappoint.
7. I survived the Canyon in the winter. This should be printed on t-shirts for people that can say that they survived the crazy canyon unscathed. I did it through 3 blizzards and the Jeep and I survived with style so we have definite bragging rights.
8. I got to welcome a new brother into my family. Jen and Ryan got married Vegas style in February and we all had a blast enjoying some time with the fam and playing for the weekend. Other weddings worth mentioning: Shayna and Jeremy, Brad and Tanja, and Marisa and Eric. I love when people are in love.
9. It was a good year to reconnect with some loved lifelong friends and their families. And to reconnect with my own family here in Cali. There is no better sound than to hear an 18-month old squeal with excitement when you go to her house:)

These are just the highlights of what was a really good year for me. Hope that it was this good for everyone. Stay tuned for my Top 10 of 2010...time to set some goals:)

Singleton Living. Seriously.

In my world as a single girl just barely over 30 (that's my story and I'm sticking to it), I find myself in a very weird place socially. I have just moved home and am attending a family ward which definitely has its ups and downs. I have been here long enough so that people know I am sticking around, but they just don't quite know what to do with me. I find that I am very complimented when people ask why I am not married because that means that they actually wonder. I get the question from the well-meaning people as to if I am single, as always, and I have to say that I am now getting the most unique responses to my answer to that question. A new acquaintance who is married and has some kids even responded, "Lucky!" when I stated my single status. The following conversation that I had on Sunday with an older sister in the ward let me know, however, that I am in a whole new league:

SISTER: So, I have been meaning to talk to you-you have been on my mind a lot lately.
ME: Oh? That's nice, what about?
S: Well, how do you feel about getting married?
M: I feel good about getting married, why do you ask?
S: Well, it is something that I think you should do-have you thought about how you are going to make it happen?
M: Uh...Uh...well, since coming to California, not so much.
S: You really should. Think about it I mean. Do you need some help?
M: Uh...Uh...Apparently.
S: Oh, good, because I was kind of the Yenta of the singles ward when my husband and I were serving over there and since being released, I haven't had the opportunity to work with a young-ish person and get them married. I miss that.
M: Wow. Okay, Yenta. Are you sure that you are up for the challenge? (I really did say that)
S: Oh yes-you just have to have an open attitude and not be picky. I will consider it my project to get you married.
M: Excellent. Isn't it time for class?

So, as a result of this conversation, I have decided a few things: 1) I will have an open attitude. I will be open to anyone who considers themselves a Yenta. 2) I am really not picky. Well, except for a couple of things. I need someone to be at least my height within an inch or taller than me. I am not a bodyguard. I need someone who will laugh at my jokes. I am pretty funny. Other than that, I am pretty flexible. 3) I am pretty sure that I am still young! Not young-ish like she said. YOUNG.
Now, if anyone wants to join "Team Get Anne Married"-you are welcome to. I will get you Yenta's number. Seriously.

Thanksgiving at the Beach. Seriously.

For Thanksgiving this year, it ended up being just me, Laura and the parents, so we decided to accept an invitation to spend big thursday here:It was a great day to spend with family and friends, so of course we decided to spend some time taking pictures of ourselves:
And after a great day of stuffing ourselves, walking on the beach, and taking naps on the porch with the sound of the ocean in the background, we came home and got to hang out with our favorite Barlow:It was a great day and we had a bunch of fun visits from friends and family throughout the weekend and even got in a little trouble with the law:Or, as we call him, Officer Barlow...Anyways, I love this holiday season and the opportunity that it brings to remind me to be thankful for everything that I have.