Another new year

its a little bit late for a Happy New Year post, but I'm just trying to get updated with blogging and am astounded that its already Feb 2012. I hope to blog more now because i finally found a way to work on the blog without having to log-out of my google account. I had been looking for awhile for a way to switch it over from my old hotmail-blogger account to my gmail/google account without having to change the url. Whew, that was a feat. I'd been really annoyed for a long time that I'd have to log-out of gmail in order to log-in to my blogger account and that I couldn't associate the two together. I still wasn't able to "merge" accounts, but I can administer the blog now from both accounts so I'm happy for now.

its a bit surreal that everything is merging with google (i.e. blogger, and now picnik, an online picture editor where I originally made my blog header), which I feel is encompassing our lives, and not just online (although I did switch to the chrome browser yesterday and its so fast compared firefox). Guy started working for google full-time in January and he couldn't be happier. I'm not sure exactly what all he does; he's pretty tight-lipped about all the confidential projects that keeps him busy. What I do know is that he works as a software engineer in a group that deals with the backend for "google docs".

At home, our landlords decided to try and sell the condo we're living in, so we found a new apartment that we can move into in July. If they sell it sooner I guess we'd consider moving sooner (our lease ends August 2). We'd both really be happier buying something nicer and bigger, but Boulder property prices are insane.

February is also a good time to check-in with new year's resolutions. i didn't really make these, because I don't believe in them. They're always too drastically and unrealistic, which can lead to failure. Instead, I made two January-resolutions, both which I accomplished. (Giving myself a pat on the back). I gave up lattes and sodas for the month because of both health and monetary reasons. The soda wasn't as hard as the lattes (but at a work potluck, I poured a glass of root beer and then had to give it to a co-worker when I realized it wasn't Feb yet). In December, I felt out-of-control with all the Starbucks and other coffee-shop holiday drinks that I needed to go through withdrawal. I think I'm addicted more to the sugar than the caffeine. Even though I've had a couple in the last 12 days, I'm trying to only have one once/week and just really savor each one as a treat.

Plus, we're trying to make larger lifestyle changes; ones that we've wanted to make for awhile, and ones which are realistic to be small-steps and habits-in-the-making. We started meal planning and its helped us make more efficient grocery trips with a focus on more cooking at home, with whole foods. We've been pretty successful at moving away from processed foods. Most of what we buy is perishable food ... so the hardest part has been making sure we eat doesn't end up rotten or in the trash. I found some great tips and a meal-planning document from this blog -- http://tradingpounds.com/ (one of Guy's really good friends is friends with this girl, and she has a great story!) Her "How to Lose" book has the meal planner and other good info.

And, I've finally become a morning-exerciser. It's been one of my lifelong goals to workout before getting ready for the day, but having the will-power to do it is a daily fight. I feel so proud on the days that I do go, and the more I go, the more I intend for it to be a habit. The gym is very close to our house to even going for 25-40 minutes early in the morning isn't that hard, can be quick, and is not the kill-me kind of workout that deters me from returning the next day.

More updates to come...

- the recovery of Guy's stolen car, and then selling the car

- Valentine's Day and our upcoming Estes Park trip