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Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!
Welcome 2011...a year of fun!

Happy New Year's folks!  Wherever you are in the world, when it strikes midnight, welcome in 2011.  May it be the best year yet for us all!  I wish you all a happy, healthy & prosperous New Year!

So yesterday I had my last training session for 2010 w/my awesome trainer.  I love my spank sessions.  Especially since I was a bit bad over the holiday w/not being able to get to the gym.  Does picking up plates of food count as working out?  Yea...I didn't think so either!  But luckily I have my trainer to spank me into shape.  OMG!  I love him!  He is no joke.  He doesn't let me get away w/the whining & complaining.  He laughs it off & makes me work.  I love him!  I see how much betterI am since having him.  I feel my body is getting stronger.  I see muscles & definitions that I have never had.  I feel better & more energetic w/each visit.  I'm looking forward to being even stronger in 2011!!

I hope everyone had a great holiday & that everyone enjoys their New Year's Eve.  I myself am doing my usual tradition of dinner & a movie w/my BFF Raul.  I think we agreed to go see 'Gulliver's Travels'.  It looks silly, but good.

I'm looking forward to 2011.  I want May to get here already so I can start my 40 weeks of adventures.  My 40 things to do to celebrate turning 40.  I'm already thinking of planning the 40 weeks.  I have to get friends involved so I'm going to have to schedule things around their schedules.  Oh & I want to make the Christmas caroling adventure a big event.  I'm seriously thinking of getting my friends involved into that one.  I would love a group to get together to actually go around & sing Christmas carols. 

So I'm still taking suggestions.  While the list has grown a little past the 40, I want more options.  So get cracking people!  This interactive blog I promised needs your help!  It can only work if you post...so umm...well, get posting! 

Here is the list today...
1 - full body massage
2 - take a hike
3 - frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity in NYC
4 - Gravity Hill in Bedford, Pa
5 - learn to speak Spanish
6 - read 'War & Peace'
7 - get a tattoo
8 - take Salsa lessons
9 - take a cooking class
10 - get set up on a blind date
11 - hostess a tea party
12 - ride a Harley
13 - buy 40 different pairs of socks
14 - get a make over
15 - get 40 people to join me for a picnic in a park
16 - go whale watching
17 - eat a papaya...I've never had one
18 - cook a Thanksgiving dinner
19 - sing karaoke w/some friends
20 - visit the gravesite of Billie Burke, Glenda from 'The Wizard of Oz' in Vallhalla, NY
21 - learn sign language
22 - paint my bedroom
23 - clean out the living room closet
24 - go to Niagara Falls
25 - Spend the day in Philadelphia
26 - go on a "spiritual Retreat"
27 - rodeo riding
28 - bungy jumping
29 - walk across the Brooklyn bridge
30 - go to the Statue of Liberty
31 - start a book club
32 - go skinny dipping
33 - go on a photo taking tour of Queens
34 - ask out a certain guy at the gym
35 - get a group of people to walk in the Breast Cancer walk at Jones Beach
36 - write the next great American novel
37 - go to a movie every day for one week
38 - learn to knit
39 - go to a Zumba class
40 - go to a hot yoga session
41 - try the belly dancing class at the gym
42 - visit a state/city that you've always wanted to visit
43 - try pole-dancing
44 - chop down your own Christmas tree
45 - donate to a charity you never thought you would give money to
46 - volunteer at a soup kitchen
47 - volunteer at an animal shelter
48 - go Christmas Caroling
49 - karaoke night w/friends
50 - horse drawn carriage ride in Central Park
51 - ice skating at Rockefeller Center
52 - make holiday cards & gifts for 2011


hugs!

Monday, December 27, 2010

The 2010 Blizzard....

I used to love the snow.  When I was a kid we'd get out early after the snow stopped & get on our sleds.  We have a hill around the way...well, actually we have a few hills around the way.  Cowboy hill as it is called, is the one closest & is the best hill to sled down.  I remember being on that hill for hours at a time.  Riding down, struggling to bring the sled back up, then riding down again & so on & so on.  All day long.  My fingers could have been numb & ready to fall off, but that wouldn't stop us from sledding all day long.

Nowadays, I hate the snow.  I find myself disliking the cold immensely.  I even consider moving to the equator just to avoid the chill that is now keeping me from going outside to play w/a cute 2 year old...in hopes of making a snowman w/her.  (Sorry Mikayla).  And sadly, I have a SNOW DAY from work.  I should be outside playing in that wonderful white snow...instead of sitting here thinking of the next sentence for this blog entry.

Oh yes...my blog.  My dear sweet blog.

I hope everyone had a delightful holiday...no matter what you celebrate.  So...
Happy Chanukah
Merry Christmas
Happy Kwanza

I hope you all spent the holiday w/the ones you love & have fond memories for a lifetime! 

Moving on...

Time to get back on track & talk about this blog...

I've got a list of over 40 things to do.  Great suggestions so far...but I really want more choices.  If I had to pick my 20 today, I'm not sure which ones I'd pick.  So basically, I want more suggestions.  I need some more ideas on what to do to celebrate turning 40.

I'm still really excited about this adventure.  In fact, I'm in a rush to get to May 2011 just to start these weekly missions.  I've even got my friends gearing up for going out w/me on some of these missions.  I mean, I am going to need photographic proof & someone's going to have to take the pictures!  So of course my friends are going to have to help out.

Here is the list so far...feel free to make me add to it.  Remember...I will be picking 20 things that I have to do & you my dear followers, will pick the other 20.  I am looking forward to more suggestions just to see what I should be doing to celebrate my birthday. 

The list...

1 - full body massage
2 - take a hike
3 - frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity in NYC
4 - Gravity Hill in Bedford, Pa! You come, I'll drive!
5 - learn to speak Spanish
6 - read 'War & Peace'
7 - get a tattoo
8 - take Salsa lessons
9 - take a cooking class
10 - get set up on a blind date
11 - hostess a tea party
12 - ride a Harley
13 - buy 40 different pairs of socks
14 - get a make over
15 - get 40 people to join me for a picnic in a park
16 - go whale watching
17 - eat a papaya...I've never had one
18 - cook a Thanksgiving dinner
19 - sing karaoke w/some friends
20 - visit the gravesite of Billie Burke, Glenda from 'The Wizard of Oz' in Vallhalla, NY
21 - learn sign language
22 - paint my bedroom
23 - clean out the living room closet
24 - go to Niagara Falls
25 - Spend the day in Philadelphia
26 - go on a "spiritual Retreat"
27 - rodeo riding
28 - bungy jumping
29 - walk across the Brooklyn bridge
30 - go to the Statue of Liberty
31 - start a book club
32 - go skinny dipping
33 - go on a photo taking tour of Queens
34 - ask out a certain guy at the gym
35 - get a group of people to walk in the Breast Cancer walk at Jones Beach
36 - write the next great American novel
37 - go to a movie every day for one week
38 - learn to knit
39 - go to a Zumba class
40 - go to a hot yoga session
41 - try the belly dancing class at the gym
42 - visit a state/city that you've always wanted to visit
43 - try pole-dancing
44 - chop down your own Christmas tree
45 - donate to a charity you never thought you would give money to
46 - volunteer at a soup kitchen
47 - volunteer at an animal shelter
48 - go Christmas Caroling

Thursday, December 16, 2010

My thoughts tonight ~ 12/16/10

Last week I ended up going out to dinner with my friend Trisha, her three adorable kids, & her mom, whom I adore.  They are like family to me.  During the dinner Trisha asked about this blog & I was all too happy to explain it.  She was quick to start dropping some suggestions & her kids were also dropping suggestions.  Sadly, I didn't have pen to write these suggestions down.  In fact, I'm only remembering two things... 1- walk across the Brooklyn Bridge & 2 - go to the Statue of Liberty.  Both will be added to the list.

Fast forward to yesterday & my lunch w/Hippie Dave.  Ahh...Hippie Dave.  HD is a friend at work.  He is my food buddy...no one else will go to White Castle & at times, he is my own private shrink.  HD, my buddy who laughs at & continues to encourage my crazy shenanigans.  As we eat lunch in Wendy's I tell HD about my blog mission.  I let him know I am very serious about this & that I would love his input.  He is grinning before I even finish my invitation offer which can only mean he has an idea or two already.  Yup...he does.  I'm afraid to ask, but he offers up the first suggestion...'Go skinny dipping in a lake'.  OMG!  I am laughing, but admit that I will add it to the list.  I may or may not pick it as my 20 things to do...but it's out there for consideration.

So here is the list as of tonight.  I've added a few things that hit me as I started working on this blog entry.  I want more suggestions.  I want more challenges.

1 - full body massage
2 - take a hike
3 - frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity in NYC
4 - Gravity Hill in Bedford, Pa! You come, I'll drive!
5 - learn to speak Spanish
6 - read 'War & Peace'
7 - get a tattoo
8 - take Salsa lessons
9 - take a cooking class
10 - get set up on a blind date
11 - hostess a tea party
12 - ride a Harley
13 - buy 40 different pairs of socks
14 - get a make over
15 - get 40 people to join me for a picnic in a park
16 - go whale watching
17 - eat a papaya...I've never had one
18 - cook a Thanksgiving dinner
19 - sing karaoke w/some friends
20 - visit the gravesite of Billie Burke, Glenda from 'The Wizard of Oz' in Vallhalla, NY
21 - learn sign language
22 - paint my bedroom
23 - clean out the living room closet
24 - go to Niagara Falls
25 - Spend the day in Philadelphia
26 - go on a "spiritual Retreat"
27 - rodeo riding
28 - bungy jumping
29 - walk across the Brooklyn bridge
30 - go to the Statue of Liberty
31 - start a book club
32 - go skinny dipping
33 - go on a photo taking tour of Queens
34 - ask out a certain guy at the gym
35 - get a group of people to walk in the Breast Cancer walk at Jones Beach
36 - write the next great American novel
37 - go to a movie every day for one week
38 - learn to knit
39 - go to a Zumba class
40 - go to a hot yoga session
41 - try the belly dancing class at the gy

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Welcome to December

Happy Sunday!

Hard to believe it's December already.  It seems like 2010 is quickly coming to an end.  I can't believe that May 2011 will slowly be here & that I will be turning 40.  I'm not nervous about turning another year older or that I'm hitting some dreaded milestone marker in my life.  In fact, I'm finally learning to embrace my birthdays & celebrate another year.

So get interactive with this blog & start making suggestions on things I should be doing to celebrate turning 40. 

Here is what is on the list so far...

1 - full body massage
2 - take a hike
3 - frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity in NYC
4 - Gravity Hill in Bedford, Pa! You come, I'll drive!
5 - learn to speak Spanish
6 - read 'War & Peace'
7 - get a tattoo
8 - take Salsa lessons
9 - take a cooking class
10 - get set up on a blind date
11 - hostess a tea party
12 - ride a Harley
13 - buy 40 different pairs of socks
14 - get a make over
15 - get 40 people to join me for a picnic in a park
16 - go whale watching
17 - eat a papaya...I've never had one
18 - cook a Thanksgiving dinner
19 - sing karaoke w/some friends
20 - visit the gravesite of Billie Burke, Glenda from 'The Wizard of Oz' in Vallhalla, NY
21 - learn sign language
22 - paint my bedroom
23 - clean out the living room closet



So while I need another 17 things to make my 40, I'd like more options.  Get creative.  Think outside the box.  Find something for fun for me to do. 

Monday, November 29, 2010

My thoughts tonight...11/29/10

I hit the gym this morning & met up w/my awesome trainer.  I was spanked pretty hard!  I love my trainer!  Yes ladies, he is rather easy on the eyes, but that is not why I love my trainer.  I love him because he doesn't let me get away w/anything.  He isn't brutual, but he is tough.  He pushes me to want to give it my all.  I've seen other trainers at the gym who are way too easily pushed over by their clients.  My trainer doesn't care if I don't like sit ups.  I still have to do them.  And I've learned early on that complaining only means I have to do more of them!  The only thing I can challenge is the weight on things.  If I don't look like I'm handling it, he'll ask.  If it's too much, we agree to lower it...but the activity still has to be done.  And you know what...that is just fine w/me!  I love it!  I love Paul because I see the changes in my body.  I see the muscles coming to life.  I see the fat melting off of my body.  I see how my posture has improved.  My self-esteem has increased.  My energy level is higher than ever.  And overall, I just feel better. 
So I cheated over the Thanksgiving holiday which is why I ended up at the gym early today.  I had to rock a great workout to try to undo some of my overindulgent behavior.  And yes, I did tell Paul how bad I was.  He let it be known that I shouldn't be hard on myself, but rather I should just hit the gym a little more...which I will this week.

While resting after my workout, I actually started thinking about this blog.  I started thinking of more ideas to add to the list.  Here are a few things I thought up...

- buy 40 different pairs of socks
- get a make over
- get 40 people to join me for a picnic in a park
- go whale watching
- eat a papaya...I've never had one
- cook a Thanksgiving dinner
- sing karaoke w/some friends
- visit the gravesite of Billie Burke, Glenda from 'The Wizard of Oz' in Vallhalla, NY
- learn sign language
- paint my bedroom
- clean out the living room closet


I will add them to the list.



Hope everyone is well!

Happy Blogging!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Happy Turkey Day!!

Happy Thanksgiving to one & all!

I will be away from the computer for a day or two...so I wanted to get this in early.

Best wishes to all celebrating one of my favorite holidays...Thanksgiving!

This year I am thankful for my family, my friends, my job, my camera, my crazy spirit & more!  And I am looking forward to a lot more in 2011.

Gobble gobble!!!

Enjoy your holiday! 

Saturday, November 20, 2010

My thoughts tonight...

I've been thinking of selling some stuff on ebay to help pay for some of these 40 weeks.  I would love to do some traveling as part of this mission, so I'm going to need some extra loot. 

Speaking of my 40 weeks...I've come up w/a few ideas of my own for suggestions.  I'm going to add them to my list for consideration...
- learn to speak Spanish
- read 'War & Peace'
- get a tattoo
- take Salsa lessons
- take a cooking class
- get set up on a blind date
- hostess a tea party

I can't explain why I'm even hooked on this mission.  I normally don't make a big deal about my birthday.  I've had the habit of taking the day off from work & spending the day in the American Museum of Natural History in NYC.  (I love that museum.)  But for some reason I am looking forward to celebrating my birthday next year.  I'm looking forward to 40 weeks of doing something fun.

By the way, I printed out a calendar for next year.  I've decided that I am going to start these 40 weeks on May 1, 2011.  They will end the last week of January 2012.  Damn...that seems so far away!  I'll start planning out the weeks as the list gets narrowed down.  And I'm sure I'll have to plan the money issue for each week...thus my possible ebay venture.

For now...I want more suggestions.  Hey...I did say this was an interactive blog...so start interacting!  Yes, I can be a bit demanding.  It's all good!

later

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Q&A entry...

Well...here it is...the Q&A entry.
Feel free to ask me anything.  All questions will be answered in the order they are posted & if there is something too personal for my liking, I will politely say so.  All questions should help you to suggest something for my 40 things to do.

Thanks!!!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

What about Thanksgiving???

I went for a walk to get something to eat & I see some people actually putting up Christmas lights!  OMG!  It's not even Thanksgiving yet!  Great...now I have to start worrying about my holiday shopping earlier than expected.

So what's new peeps?  What's going on in the blogging world?  I'm still a little under the weather.  So much so that I actually canceled my training session tomorrow night.  I figured I'd cancel if I was still feeling yucky this weekend & well, I am still a little stuffed up.  Oh joy!  I hate being sick!  At least I have my appetite back tonight.  I was hungry earlier which forced me to walk down to the supermarket...which is how I spotted the people putting up the Christmas decorations...which prompted this blog.

And here I am...blogging...

I've been giving some thought to my purpose for this blog.  The whole 40 things idea...which I am still really excited about doing.  I was wondering why there aren't more suggestions.  Is it because you don't know anything to suggest?  Or is it because you don't know me?  So then I was thinking about doing a Q&A blog.  I figured you could all ask me something that might help you decide on a suggestion for me.  I'm still wondering on that...I'll post a new entry for it if I actually think it would work.

So what's new?  What has everyone been up to lately?  How is this blog site treating you?  I'm still learning my way around this blog site.  I keep finding the same blogs which is okay, but I would like more options.  Guess I have to learn more, huh?

Well...happy bogging!

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Nothing beats a photo taking walk on a sunny fall day....

Happy Sunday my blog followers!!!  Welcome to another Sunny post...

I've been a little under the weather lately.  I haven't been this sick in about a year or more, so I was due for a cold.  You know the kind...one nostril stuffed at a time, scratchy throat, achey, tired.  Yup...I was due.  So I haven't been to the gym during this sickly time.  I figured I'd save my cold cooties for just myself.  I'm nice like that.  This morning I woke up feeling great, so I thought I'd get to the gym.  I really planned on going...well, that is until I stepped outside my front door.  Once that sun hit my face, I knew I was changing my plans.  I went back inside, layered on some warmth, grabbed my camera, waved good bye to the kitty & out for a photo talking walk.

Allow me to explain...

Last September I started this lifestyle change.  I hate using the word diet...instead I call it a lifestyle change...hey, work w/me here.  As part of my lifestyle change, I would walk.  To make myself walk more I started taking my lovely camera w/me.  I would stop & take a photo & before I knew it, I was walking about five miles.  Little by little my walks would take me on longer distances to find better photo taking opportunities.  Helpful tip: if you're looking to make a lifestyle change, grab a camera & try it.  You'll see I'm right!  :)

Here is a sampling of todays photo taking walk...

I loved the funky patterns on the leaves, plus the colors scream FALL...my favorite season.


And as I came around a corner, I spotted these two red balloons stuck in a tree...


And then one of me walking through some leaves...

During my walk I had time to think about this blog journey.  It got me excited.  Just realizing I am asking people to tell me 40 things to do is a bit scary, but exciting.  I'm wishing it was May already so I can start doing these things! 

Hey...I'm a dork...deal w/it!

So we are now at 12 followers & 4 ideas.  Woohoo!!  I hope to hit my goal soon.  I would even love to get more than 40 ideas...just to get some debates going on which 40 I do.

Happy blogging peeps!!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

7 days, 7 followers & now 3 ideas....

Seven days ago I started this mission to find people to suggest 40 things for me to do over 40 weeks to celebrate my 40th birthday.  I created this interactive blog to see if people would actually help me reach my goal & I'm actually getting feedback!  OMG!  This is great!

So as of tonight I have seven followers...woohoo!  And I have three ideas!  I want to wait till I get more before I say yes to them...but oh what the heck...yes to all three!!  On the list - a full body massage, hiking, & frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity in NYC.  Simple enough...yet fun. 

In my free time I've been checking out this blog site.  I've been reading through some blogs.  I love how the net brings us thisclose even though we are in different parts of the world.  So I keep landing on blogs about photography, cooking, crafts & scrapbooking.  Oddly enough, these are a few of my favorite things!

Speaking of photography...the other morning on my way out the door to work, there was this cute little snail that had made his way onto the frame of my hallway doorway.  He was so cute.  I couldn't resist taking a moment to shoot a photo of him.  And as always I had my beloved Canon Power Shot SD 770IS at hand.  I was rather amused that the snail was the perfect muse.  He was really a good sport. 

Check him out...

Yea...he was thrilled to see me w/my camera just snapping away at him.  Oh well.


So it's fall...my favorite time of year.  I love the colors around here.  This photo was taken locally during one of my many walks.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

I'm spending the day inside, under the covers & sleeping.  I'm sick!  I've got a cold.  I need my mommy!!!  I want some fresh homemade chicken soup from mom to help me get better.  Never mind the $26 spent on a box of Mucinex, I'd rather have the soup.  Only mom's chicken soup makes me feel better instantly.

So it's Halloween...my favorite holiday.  I was debating on whether or not to give out candy, but I can't share my cold cooties.  That wouldn't be cool.  I've warned my friends not come by w/their kids. 

I'm going to finish uploading pictures to Shutterfly, then crawl into bed.  I'm beat.  I hate being sick.

I'm still excited about this 40 things to celebrate my birthday.  I have been thinking of my own 40 things to do.  I might even add one to the list for the fun of it!

Happy Blogging!

Friday, October 29, 2010

Oy!

I don't like being sick.  Especially at 1am when I should be sleeping so I can get up early tomorrow to hit the gym & rock a great workout.

Okay...so where are the ideas for my 40 things??  I sorta expected a ton of ideas.  Hmm...maybe I need to branch out more.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

40 New Things Challenge...

Good evening & welcome to my first internet blog!  Sit back & enjoy!

So let me start by explaining why you are reading this & why you should follow this blog.  It all started when my friend & little sister by association, Janis, got me to this site.  See, she was blogging about finding freebies for her birthday & asked us to join her journey.  It was fun.  Then once I started reading around the blogs on this site, I figured it was time to give back. 

But what do I blog about?
Losing weight?  I already did that on my Facebook notes.
Finding Mr. Right?  Yea...I have a better shot at finding a Yeti.
Work?  Umm...that could probably get me fired!
Life?  I'm still looking for the instruction manual on that!

So then I figured I'd blog about turning 40.  But there needs to be a hook, a gimmick, a reason for you to keep reading these entries.  And let's face it, I need a hook, a gimmick, a reason for wanting to make these entries!  Then it dawned on me.  That 'a ha' moment.  You know the one...you get that idea & realize you are now on a mission.  So now I'm on a mission & I invite you all to come along w/me.  This is going to be an interactive blog.  Yup, you read that right...an interactive blog.  Oh & I'm not talking about you leaving a comment & I reply.  Nope.  That won't cut it.  For you see, this blog mission is only going to work if enough people actually interact w/me.

So here goes...
On May 19, 2011 I will celebrate turning 40 years of life.  I've got this crazy idea to celebrate for 40 weeks doing 40 new things.  See here's where this becomes the interactive blog...I'm asking people to post suggestions for things to do for 40 weeks.

Here are the guidelines...Challenge me to run out of my comfort zone.  While I have a great self-esteem, I admit to being a true Taurus who often gets too cozy in a set routine.  Keep in mind the cost of these challenges.  If I have to travel too far, it probably won't make the list.  And dare me to get a little crazy...just not jail time crazy!

Think about it...
40 weeks to celebrate my life
40 new things to try
40 challenges to get me out of my comfort zone
40 shenanigans w/photographic proof!!!

Okay, if you're still reading you are now wondering how I'm going to pick the 40 new things to do.  Damn good question.  I will pick 20 things from your list of suggestions, so shock me, dare me, challenge me, impress the heck out of me!  The other 20 will be chosen by you...because this is going to be an interactive blog!

And now you might be wondering why I am doing this blog now being my birthday isn't for a few more months.  Once again, good question.  Time & money.  I am going to need time to work out each new event & there might be costs involved that I need to plan for.  Plus I'm allowing time for you all to come up w/some awesome ideas. 

So go for it.  Get creative.  Dare me.  Challenge me.  Amaze me.  Get me out there having fun for 40 weeks!

I plan to post a blog weekly for the 40 weeks & yes, photos will be shared!  I am sure I'm going to need some photographic proof for some of these challenges. 

Thanks for reading. 
And feel free to share this w/your friends.  Come on...you know someone who is going to love this! 

hugs,
Sunny