Savor the Year

I started something new last night, I decided to capture the "good stuff." 

I originally got the idea from a pin on Pinterest.

This is where I got the idea...

 

 So last night, I grabbed my blue jar from Pier One and pulled a piece of paper from my Audrey Hepburn "to do" list pad and wrote down one really wonderful memory from yesterday.

Because... every day.. there is something good, right?

I challenge you to do this! Especially if you have kids. I think this would be a fantastic tradition for families. 

What you need:

1. Jar, shoebox, or other container
2. A pen
3. Post it note pad
4. Hot glue gun and items to decorate it with (optional)

What to do:

1. Each night select one good memory from the day
2. (option) Could be a ticket to an event or other memento from the day, versus writing something down.
3. Make sure to put the date on each entry
4. Fold and place in jar
5. Read on New Year's Eve 12/31/14 with your family

That easy!

I'm also participating in the 365 photos - one photo a day - and I will be posting them here and on Instagram. You can follow me at http://instagram.com/snicoleabdou

My word of the year is LIVE. By capturing my life in moments, I will savor what I set out to do!


 

What I've Learned So Far This Year

I went back through some of my posts of 2012, when I happened upon my December 31st post. It read:

"I am thrilled with the way 2012 has shaped up.

Honestly.

I am happy.

I am content.

I have everything I need.

I have cut out the unnecessary.

I have plans for a fantastic future.

Good place.

New Years Resolution?

Growth.

Authentic Living.

Allowing myself to seek absolute happiness."

Here I sit, on December 5th, 2013 and I am taking a moment to think back and remember just how far I have come. In 2012, I went from being unemployed for over 9 months, becoming separated from my husband,  to becoming homeless and having to live on my parent's couch. By mid 2012 I had found a great job, moved into my own place, and was reunited with the egyptian. By the time 2013 rolled around, I had been chewed up spit out and I found a way to climb the way to the top in both my professional and personal life. Only to turn 40, lose the love of my life in April, and cross a few more financial hurdles. 

But here I sit... money in my pocket, a wonderful job that allows me to do what I do best, fantastic friends that have my back, my family nearby, an adorable abode, tons of great civic obligations, and a wonderful guy to spend time with. 

I am incredibly grateful to God for forcing me to adjust my life. I had to be stripped of everything,  in order to make the necessary changes in order to grow. I have acquired patience, humility, and an underlying strength that I will never take for granted. My biggest fear was to lose my love, lose my home, and lose my job. 

I lost those things.

And I am better for it.

I have moved on... and piece by piece, I rebuilt my life on my terms. 

2012 was the year of survival. 2013 was the year of rebuilding. 2014? Doesn't matter. It's all apart of my journey and I am excited to start a new year with a new attitude, a new life, and increased faith.

Welcome 2011! I have been waiting for you..

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Oh beautiful day - Happy New Year! I have been waiting for 2011 to get here... just waiting.. wondering.. what she holds for me..

Odd numbered years are good ones for me. God willing, this will be one of those years.

Five years ago I left my hometown for Birmingham. I embarked on a BIG adventure and met some of the best friends a girl could make. My career got a little jump start, and I conquered many fears. I also met my egyptian online.

Ten years ago I accepted my first exchange student - Pennapa- from Thailand.
I even rented my first house. I became a patriot as my country pulled together after the horrible tragedy of 9/11.

15 years ago I was a senior at my university - having the best year of my college career. My grades were awesome - life was awaiting me - all preparing to graduate. Who knew in one year I would be a producer for a television station, and my career dreams would be coming true!

20 years ago I graduated from high school. That's right - I was embarking on one of the best phases of my life. Unlike some people, I loved high school - I loved my friends, I loved dating, I loved going out, I loved my classes - the future looked so bright. Believe it or not - I was one of the happiest people you would have ever met!

25 years ago I was about to go to high school. Finding my way through middle school, making new friends, navigating the waters of boyfriends. During this time I was planning my future, I literally already new I wanted to work in the media. Can you believe it?

30 years ago I was in 2nd grade. I got my very first journal from my great grandmother for Christmas (or my birthday - I can't remember.) I still have it.

35 years ago I was a toddler, living quite cozily with my parents... the whole world yet to be conquered!

May God Bless me with another 5 wonderful years - an odd number and my favorite number! Once the next few years end, I will be 42 years old. A LOT can happen.. in 35 years I will be 72 - God willing.

WOW..

Let's do this 2011.. take me into the next phase!

2011 song theme brought to me by my dear friend, Erica!

Taking Stock

This is the last retrospective post. Why? I am ready to move forward, and not dwell any more. The past just keeps you locked - locked into labels, categories, fears.. etc.

Who I was is not who I will be. Who I am today is all that matters. It's here. It's now.

2010 brought a lot of life lessons, sprinkled with a little hardship, and topped off with clarity.

I picked my little battles and I stood firm in my beliefs. I loved a little deeper and learned more and more about compromise. I watched as my beautiful niece has grown. I saw triumph for both my sister and my husband, finding jobs that will give them some peace of mind. I talked my father through retirement. I witnessed my mother expand her artistic wings. I watched a few really good friends find their future mate, a few tied the knot, and  three became pregnant - one gave birth, one is in the hospital now, and one will have her blessing this summer.

Life just blows in.. and then it blows out.. we lost one of my relatives this year.

I made several new friends, or deepened my relationships with others. I spent hours reading YOUR blog posts, getting to know some really good people from all over the world, each sharing a little insight into their lives and in turn helping guide me through mine.

I traveled. I sat at home. I watched at least a 100 movies. I found new musical artists I would like to follow. I ate really good food. I took ball room dance lessons and Zumba and Body Jam.

I got a new camera, a new laptop, new bathroom decor. Some new clothes/jewelry and my beloved omelet maker.

Work went up up up (the amount and the happiness there.) My blog grew to have over 186 google followers, 246 facebook fans, 50+ blog frog followers, 200+ networked blog followers and on average - 4,000 page views a month from around the world. My volunteerism changed - I discontinued my work with the church, and am currently looking to expand my wings with the children of incarcerated families.

Unfortunately I did not learn to knit or sew or quilt. It is still on my list of things to do. My mother offered to get me a sewing machine for my birthday, and I shyly backed away... but I think - if she is reading this (and I know she reads my blogs) - I take it back.. I need to learn and I need one.

2011 sort of scares me. I know change - BIG change is coming. The unexpected is frightening. Especially for someone like me - so introspective and a bit of a tortured soul.

May all of our blessings be beautiful, our lessons gentle, and our paths clear of major obstacles.

May God bless you all - Happy New Year!

Song for the Day:

Reluctance

Out through the fields and the woods

And over the walls I have wended;

I have climbed the hills of view

And looked at the world, and descended;

I have come by the highway home,

And lo, it is ended.

The leaves are all dead on the ground,

Save those that the oak is keeping

To ravel them one by one

And let them go scraping and creeping

Out over the crusted snow,

When others are sleeping.

And the dead leaves lie huddled and still,

No longer blown hither and thither;

The last lone aster is gone;

The flowers of the witch-hazel wither;

The heart is still aching to seek,

But the feet question 'Whither?'

Ah, when to the heart of man

Was it ever less than a treason

To go with the drift of things,

To yield with a grace to reason,

And bow and accept the end

Of a love or a season?

By: Robert Frost

Wishing you each a beautiful end to one hell of a year.

Official New Year's Resolutions

"Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past." ~Henry Ward Beecher


I suppose it is time I tackle that official New Year's Resolution list. Even if just for fun.

The thing about New Year's resolutions, where in the world did this idea come from?  Why do we torture ourselves with setting such high expectations?

Regardless.. I am a BIG fan of making lists, so clearly, I engage in this activity.

For fun, I thought I would google search "How to Make a New Year's Resolution."  The first thing that popped up was ehow.com

Allow me to present the instructions on how to make a proper New Year's Resolution (brought to you by ehow.com)

1.  Be realistic by setting achievable goals. Winning the lottery, for example, is out of your grasp.


2.Describe your resolutions in specific terms. Instead of "I don't want to be lazy," opt for "I want to exercise regularly" or "I will cut down on my television watching."


3.Break down large goals into smaller ones. For instance, commit to losing weight by resolving to join a gym and improve your eating habits.


4.Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change, and make this part of your resolution plan. So you want to quit smoking but you smoked to relax yourself? What other forms of relaxation are available to you?

5.Above all, aim for things that are truly important to you, not what you think you ought to do or what others expect of you.

Here are 4 more:

1. Be sure that you keep your list of New Year's resolutions short and realistic. By doing this, you will be far more likely to keep your New Year's Resolutions and not feel overwhelmed by them.



2.Be sure that you begin your list of New Year's resolutions with a small goal. For example, a New Year's resolution to make new friends is a small goal. As the year progresses, you can change, evaluate and increase your goals to fit your situation and the direction of your life.


3.Be sure that you are persistent. Persistence is important and will enable you to remain focused on your New Year's resolutions. In doing so, you are more likely to successfully keep your New Year's resolutions.


4. Be sure that you have patience with yourself. Remember that keeping your New Year's resolutions will take you some time. After all, even Rome took longer than one day to build!

Okay, I think we all have the tools now for a proper New Year's Resolution.

Soooo... here it goes:

Nicole's New Year's Resolutions for 2011

1. Most important one of the year - practice Trust. I will make a promise to myself to learn to be more trusting of the process, of advice, of the universe.

2. Get back into my exercise routine at the Y. Head back to my Body Jam and Zumba classes. *Perhaps talk to my personal trainer about weights 2 x a week (start that one in Feb.)

3. Find a few free lance writing projects.

4. Study arabic at least once a week.

5.  Pray daily.

6. Continue to write daily on my blog.

7. Reopen my personal journal (leather book here) and begin the more personal items for private writing.

8. Declutter - sell my dining room furniture, the twin bed, and the desk. Donate items in storage.

9. Stick to my Mediterranean diet plan the cardiologist gave me.

10. Find a new volunteer opportunity.

11. Show compassion. (Better yet, learn to be compassionate.)

12. Listen more.

13. Turn my sunroom into a ZEN room. Practice meditation.

14. Smile, breathe, go slowly.

15. Try to come off at least one of the BP meds by practicing healthier behaviors.

16. Make new friends.

17. Make that BIG move with grace and a positive attitude.

18. Learn to save money, and actually do it.

19. Find a new place of worship.

20. Finally - use the 8/8/8 rule - 8 hours of sleep, 8 hours for Nicole, 8 hours for work.

What about you? Share your top 3 New Year's Resolutions.

Songs that Inspire me for 2011

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~Berthold Auerbach

I spend probably 4 hours a day just listening to music. I might be getting ready for work, while driving, while blogging, while cleaning, while cooking... I listen. I am transformed by lyrics and sound.

As a former dancer and a current writer - the lyrics and the sound penetrates my soul and I am well.

The following songs contain the two elements I desire.. amazing lyrics that I can relate too - and a bit of rhythm that makes me happy.. or moved...

I hope you take a moment and listen to the lyrics. See if you can relate. If you have been following my dribble for the past year and a half, then you will get it. Most importantly you get me.

Some of these songs are about life, some are about hope, some are about obstacles and angst.. just enjoy!

Happy New Year friends... let this music transport you!




















Times to come.. ;-)

In the words of the Pointer Sisters...

"I'm so excited.. and I just can't hide it!"

I am not just talking about the New Year (which I am) - but I am also talking about my New Year's Eve plans!

Many thanks to a dear friend of mine, the egyptian and I will be joining her down on the Northwest Coast of Florida at the Water Color Inn & Resort for the weekend.

The Resort is located on Santa Rosa Beach, between Seaside and S. Fort Walton. Beautiful area!

Basically we are doing the New Year's Eve package - and it includes an amazing party on "The Green" with a band - the M-80s (it is an 80's band - woo hoo.) There will be dinner at the "Fish Out of Water", a four star restaurant, midnight champagne toast, raffle, fire works - and just an amazing time all around! Here is a look at the New Year's Eve menu!

Another item I am excited about - the use of the bikes, kayaks, canoes, and other fabulous things!

See all of the exclamation points???!!!

I was going to wait and share my New Year's Eve plans later - but I am just too darn excited.



I just bought the perfect dress for the party (New Year's Eve attire required) - so pics will be a-coming!

What are you plans to kick this year to the nether-regions?

Balance

A challenge our dear friend Leanne at From Chaos Comes Happiness (see her button at the bottom right hand side of my page) posed was for many of us to come up with a theme for the year. A personal word to follow/incorporate. I FINALLY chose my word...

BALANCE.

This is something I need to incorporate in my life. I swear - it seems I have excellent days then super crappy days, and I need to learn how to be a little more even keel.

I will find that with BALANCE.

I think if I find balance I will end up living more authentically and not allowing my high emotions to rule my life. I swear, the older I get - the more "emotional" I get.. something that was unheard of as a child. Lately I wear my heart on my sleeve, and even though it has made me kinder in certain arenas, the truth is - I need a little shell of armour. With that.. balance. I can still be me, yet create that sense of calm that is needed.

I saw a painting recently that read "Keep Calm and Carry On."

With balance... I can do just that.