Today marks a bunch of “first days” for me. It was the first day on Weight Watchers (I did fantastically today, and it didn’t feel like I had to put in a lot of effort, so I think I can handle this!), the first day of a new Project 365 and the first day of (at least) 30 of taking a multivitamin for my 101 things list. I’ve been taking a multivitamin somewhat sporadically for over a year now, but I want to be sure to take it every single day. It won’t be long until it’s second nature!

Did anyone make any remarkable resolutions for 2009? I never make any real resolutions. I did promise myself to write in a diary (obviously private) and to take better care of myself, but I shouldn’t hold myself to it like it’s a chore. It’s something I should be doing anyway, so where’s the harm in expecting it of myself?

I re-opened my diet site today, but it is for registered users only. If you feel you’d like to read it, feel free to comment and let me know, and if I’m comfortable with it, I’ll make you an account. Don’t take it personally if I don’t, though, because this is a very personal journey for me and I have to know I can trust the people I let in.

As for what I’ve been doing with my time, I’ve spent quite a bit of it in Second Life lately trying to revive my store. I guess not so much revive as it was never very alive to begin with, but more… breathe life into it, I guess. I’ve found some things that I enjoy doing and I’m using those to my advantage. We’ll see how far it gets in the end!

I also followed Gala’s advice and went through her list of things to do before 2009. Personally, I think it was the best list I’ve read to help prepare for a new year. I followed a lot of the advice, including paring down my friends lists on multiple sites to keep only the people that I’m closest too. Who needs the extra baggage? If you aren’t already familiar with her site, GET FAMILIAR. Seriously. She writes in a way that just makes you feel good, and has some awesome advice and a great sense of humour. Definitely one of my online role-models.

I’m going to end this with a question. What do you know of Weight Watchers? Any tips for success or links to recipes? Every bit of information I can get while on this path will be helpful, so speak up!

What are your plans for tonight? Did you get all dressed up and go out on the town? Did you have a quiet night in? Matt and I are staying in this year, eating some Dorito Chicken and hopefully playing a board game or two. It’s a nice night with the apartment to ourselves!

What was your best gift this Christmas?

Mine was an easy decision. Now, I received a lot of wonderful things. Some fantastic gifts from Matt and his family, as well as the gifts from my grandparents and the two really cool gifts from our gift exchange (one of which I picked out!) and appreciate everyone’s thought in everything. However, my best gift was by far the scrapbook I found in the mail from my mom. I posted about it over at my 101 things list, but trust me, a gift like this deserves more mention than that. I’d show it to the world if I could! And soon I will - once I get the right lighting to photograph it in. In the meantime, I’ll share the post I’ve already made about it.

I got a package in the mail from UPS yesterday. My mom told me I wasn’t allowed to open it until we were on the webcams so she could see my reaction. I opened it, and inside was the most perfect wedding scrapbook ever. Every picture had a place, every page had intricate details, and it was so obvious the kind of work and passion she put into it. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever received a more perfect Christmas gift.

She laughed at me because I just kept flipping through it. Back and forth, noticing something new each time I came across a page. It wasn’t until I got to the end of it that I couldn’t hold back the tears, though.

Thank you, mom. It’s perfect. ♥

To those of you that celebrate, I want to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas! I’ve made the rounds with all of my family on the phone and on the webcam and have made SO many batches of cookies that I can’t even count them! A very merry Christmas, indeed!

Is everyone ready? I’m almost ready for Christmas. We’ve got all our gifts wrapped except one, but it just so happens that I’m in the middle of MAKING that gift, so I just hope I finish it quick enough.

Tomorrow I’m making four of the six batches of cookies that I’m planning for. The last kind can’t be made until Christmas, because they don’t freeze well and they have to be warm when you put the powdered sugar on them. Other than that, we’re ready!

As for where I’ve been the past week or so… I have one word. BUSY. Seriously busy. Between volunteer events and Christmas planning, I haven’t had a minute to myself. Not to mention we had Matt’s work Christmas party on Friday, and I was sick all day on Saturday.

Outside of Christmas stuff, I’ve been spending quite a bit of time (compared to usual) in Second Life. I was able to knock one item off of my 101 things list without even realizing it!

Hopefully once the holidays die down I’ll be able to relax a bit and get back into writing more often. As much as I love it, it just feels like a chore when I have nothing interesting to talk about!