January Things

It's the last day of January. 

And with any luck I will actually get this posted before the end of the last day of January.

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You should know that I don't make New Year's resolutions. Because a) They make me crazy for the first two weeks that I try them all, and b) They make me crazy for the next eleven and a half months that I wonder why I tried them all.

So instead, every January One, I just pat myself on the back for staying alive another year and say, "Let's try for one more", then call it good.

But today I was running. In a running skirt. And I realized that in spite of no resolutions I have done some things this January that I never thought I would. So I decided to share.

January Things I Thought I Would Never Do

#1 - Run in a running skirt.

Okay. I have looked at running skirts before. And I've even thought about trying one on. But when push comes to shove I have thought they just aren't me. Enter a visit to my brother a couple of weeks ago when his wife gave me one of her running skirts. Today I tried it. I have to admit that at first I didn't really feel like I should be going out for a run. I really felt like I should be going out for lunch. At the tennis club.

But guess what? Love, Love, LOVE!!

It was the perfect blend of cool and warm for today's weather. I felt feminine and pretty, and breezy and young. Bonus: No visible sweaty crotch marks when I finished. What more could a girl want?

Really. I just might be getting another one of these. In pink.

Just kidding. Not really in pink.

#2 - Run with my hair loose.

Rule number one of running with long hair: Tie it back. If you don't, it gets in your eyes, in your nose, and in your mouth. Not to mention winding up horribly tangled.

But while running in my running skirt today I felt so girly that I just couldn't help it! And I took out the ponytail.

Umm...let me just say...it was liberating. Not just because I broke my own rule, but because for some reason it just felt so good! I WILL be doing this again.

#3 - Buy skinny jeans.

Yes, it's true. You may pick your jaw up from the floor now.

I've talked about my "No Skinny Jeans" rule several times before. And I've been completely committed to this. But in November I bought this really, really cute pair of boots. And for nearly two months they screamed subliminal messages from my closet. "Skinny jeans! Skinny jeans! Must have skinny jeans!" So I relented, and got not just one, but TWO pair of skinny jeans.

And I love them! I really do. Because I got them in a little boutique in a little town. With Kid Four. And they are the first skinny jeans I have ever tried that fit over my calves.

My boots are very, very happy about this. So I am.

#4 - Buy jeans with bling on the bum.

Do we see a recurring break-my-own-rules theme here?

I blame this one on the skinny jeans. They only came with blingy bums. But only a little bling. So I'm calling it okay. Until I'm 50.

#5 - Run in 60+ degree weather. Three times.

I know. I had nothing to do with this beyond getting myself out the front door. And it's not that I thought I wouldn't ever run in 60+ degrees. I mean, I have. But 60 degrees and more is weird for January in the Midwest. And I still have nightmares about last January spent on the treadmill. So I never really thought this would happen in January. But it did!

And if this were a "January Things I Thought I Would Do And Didn't Do" list I could include running on the treadmill. I haven't. Even once. It's glorious. The end.

#6 - Enjoy Utah

And by enjoy, I mean, want to stay in.

Before you Utah people cry foul, you should know that I actually do enjoy Utah when I visit. But I am also usually very happy to leave.

But not this January visit. This visit was different. This visit I felt safety. And peace. And sanctuary.
I have amazing friends and family to attribute this to, and most importantly a God who is good.
So when I left, I cried.
I never thought I would feel that way leaving Utah. But I did.
And I'll keep it at that.

#7 - Only blog twice.

Seriously. I have got to do better with this. 'Nuff said.

#8 - Take my first yoga class. Ever.

I can't really include this as something I thought I would never do because I've been wanting to for awhile. But  a January evening in Boulder afforded the opportunity.

Mostly, my first yoga class ever was a lot like I expected my first yoga class ever to be. Relaxing and therapeutic. And a little embarrassing.

But what I didn't expect was...wait for it....wait for it... CRYING! Seriously. In yoga class! This happened in the first two minutes, about the same time the instructor said, "Appreciate yourself..."  And I spent the next hour fighting the tears. By the end I gave up. Completely.

I never expected yoga to be emotional, but apparently it can be. Next time I will take tissues. Or maybe a punching bag. Just in case a different emotion accidentally pops out.

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So there you have it. Eight January Things I Thought I Would Never Do. Impressive, I know. But most impressive is that I didn't have to make one resolution to do any of this. Could a January be any better? I think not!

And so now we move on to February, and hopefully to a whole 2012 full of unexpected things.
Things I thought I'd never do.
And maybe I few things I thought I would do. And won't.

The Christmas Letter

I know, it's been forever. Because Christmas happens. And so does other stuff.

Like a house full of company for 12 days. Followed by a few days away to evaluate my life.
And by a few, I mean 15.

After that, I came home to Christmas cards still taped to my front door and a stack of Christmas letters on the counter. I like the Christmas cards on the front door. They are cheery and remind me of what beautiful friends and family I have.

But the stack of Christmas letters reminds me that I skipped reading through some of them and need to catch up. And that this is the second year in a row that I have not managed to get my own Christmas letter written.

Please understand this was never my intention. I always intend to read the letters. All the letters. Every last word of every last letter.
And I always intend to write my own letter.
I even spend a fair amount of every September writing them in my head.

They usually take on three forms.

Number 1: The Completely Unrealistic Christmas Letter

This letter is full of all of the wonderful things our kids have accomplished this year.

Like perfect scores on the ACT and SAT.
And essays that won them a flight on Air Force One.
And winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

It's also full of all the amazing places we have traveled.
Like Prague.
And Easter Island.
And the moon.

It makes everyone want to be us.
And is completely made up.

Number 2: The Completely Unrealistic Opposite Christmas Letter

This letter is full of all the things we hope never happen in our lives.

Like our kids being sent to rehab.
Or being paroled.
Or holding the Walmart hostage.

It includes vacations to Wichita.
Or Topeka.
Or jail.

It makes nobody want to be us.
And is completely made up.

Number 3: The Short, Sweet and to the Point Letter

It's pretty simple and goes like this...

Our kids are better than your kids!
Merry Christmas!

It's my personal favorite. And completely true.

But since this is really a little rude and I was fresh out of writing inspiration, I decided to turn the letter over to Little Man.

And this is what he came up with.

(Please remember he is 15. And that should about cover the disclaimer.)

Here we go...
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This year for our Christmas card, we have decided to take a step back from ourselves and instead take a look at our spectacular dog named, Cosmo!

Cosmo, quite simply, is a boss. He eats twice a day (morning and night), along with whatever human munchies he can snag! He doesn’t really like to play fetch, but he makes up for that by being super cuddly. He’s basically the coolest and the cutest dog ever, especially when he has a nice haircut! And ohh man, you should see this little stud (muffin?) in a puppy sweater vest! We have had him for a little over 7 years, and the only times we’ve regretted having him is when he eats all our flip flops o_O. 

Anyway, Cosmo is a beast little dog. And the rest of the family is doing pretty good… I guess…

Merry Christmas!

-The Gille’s

(Conceptualized and composed by Landon Gille... in 3 minutes... or less)

PS. If you really want to know what's going on, check out my mom's blog: (Insert Blog Website Here)

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Okay. Did any of you find that as amusing as I did?

I am not kidding when I say that I laughed and laughed when I read it.
My favorite part? His great description of how the family is doing.
And the time he took to conceptualize and write this lovely letter? Thank you, Little Man, for stating the obvious.
And I'm pretty sure the shameless blog plug exists because he had just read about how to make money writing a blog.
(Please note: I don't make any money from writing this blog!)

If you are on my Christmas card list you will know that this letter never made it out. Even though I wanted it to. But you should also know that I will treasure it forever and it will always make me giggle just a little bit.

Not to mention...

Our dog is better than your dog!

Happy New Year!