These are 3 words that I would like to eliminate from the English language all together.

Seriously, is there a need for any of them?
My answer is a resounding NO.
See what you think.

Breakfast

Totally over-rated, but apparently necessary. I wish that I liked breakfast. I try, but I don't think I will ever love it. The last thing that I want to to waste my time doing when I get up in the morning is eat. However, I have been trying as of late. I ate a whole yogurt last week -- monumental for me. I know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I've been told that numerous times. I made myself a calendar to keep track of eating breakfast and last night I bought some "muscle milk" at Costco. . . . which leads us to the word(s) below.

Body-fat Really why is it that we get our body-fat tested instead of getting our "body-muscle" tested. I think I would like knowing what my "body-muscle" was much more. The number could be high and nobody would care and it would just sound better. A couple of weeks ago I went to a spin class and after the class was over the instructor (who might be my new favorite) offered to test anyone's body fat who wanted it tested. I decided that I wanted mine tested. He did this thing where he put in your weight and then used some sort of little machine that goes right underneath your bicep and reads your body fat. Lets just say that I didn't love my spin instructor when he told me what my body fat was. . . . seriously, disgusted with the results. He told me that if I wanted to lower my body fat I had to start eating Breakfast -- see above.

Boyfriend

Okay, this last one doesn't have a whole lot of connection to the first two, but read it anyway. (and it starts with the letter B, which I think makes it a connection enough) Anyway, when all of my family was in Utah over the holidays we had a lengthy discussion (maybe it got a little bit heated) about this word. I hate it. I think that when you introduce someone as your "boyfriend" it makes you sound like you are in the 7th grade. I am not 12 years old. With that in mind I don't like the word "girlfriend" either. Weird. I know. However, this poses a problem because, as was pointed out to me it can be a little bit offensive if you call someone your friend whom you have been dating for a long time -- friend is like the kiss of death. I still don't like the word boyfriend, it seems possessive and immature to me, but I don't really have a solution for it.

So, for now I am going to stay away from all 3 of the words. . . maybe me eating more food in the morning will lead to me having more body-muscle and eventually even play a part in me finding a husband and I can stop worrying about words I don't like.
(See how I stayed away from all 3 of those words and still communicated what I wanted too -- it can be done)

Hates making meals for 1

Yep, you heard me. . . . I hate making meals for just me.

I know that all of you moms are probably thinking "Let me cook for just one. That would be so much easier."

Lest any of you have forgotten your single "cooking" days, let me remind you about the good, bad and ugly of it:

New Recipes

good: I can try any new recipe without worrying if someone else will like it or whether or not my children will feign throwing up based on the dish placed in front of them.

bad: Buying all of the ingredients that only come in bulk to make one meal in the smallest pan/dish I can find (usually an 8x8 if it is baked)

ugly: By the time I have eaten it 6 meals in a row I no longer like it no matter how great it may have turned out and I have to find a new recipe.
Also take note that I have all ingredients in bulk that are now going to waste.

Flatware

good: I only have to use one plate, cup, bowl and set of silverware to eat, which means I run the dishwasher minimally.

bad: I still have to use the same number of dishes to prepare a meal and then the top and bottom racks of my dishwasher are unbalanced.

ugly: Me sitting at my kitchen table, looking at the three empty placemats surrounding me. Seriously, I think it screams "this girl is alone eating dinner" to my neighbors. I have recently been closing my blinds more often so as to not look like an idiot with my one plate, cup, bowl and set of silverware.

Grocery Store

good: I don't have to take any screaming children with me to the grocery store, and buy anything I want.

bad: I go to the grocery store way to often, because I can.

ugly: Costco -- enough said. Nobody who is single needs a Costco membership for anything other than gas and cleaning supplies.

Rice Cooker and Crockpot

good: putting food in at the beginning of the day and not worrying about it until the end of the day.

bad: 2 cups of rice for one person

ugly: the damage done to the garbage disposal when I get rid of the extra.


Fridge/Freezer

good: It stays clean, and I can put food wherever I want without worrying about little hands pulling things out.

bad: Things stay in my fridge/freezer for a long time.

ugly: I throw away more than I eat.

Generally Speaking

good: yes, making meals is good for you.

bad: my attitude about it is bad

ugly: how I will look if I don't figure out a solution to this cooking for one problem.

just read this. . . .

I have a really smart dad. Talented. Good with words. Thoughtful. Spiritual.

He wrote this.

Read it.

It will only take you a few minutes and it just might be what you needed to read today. It isn't as long as his books -- promise.

ps -- the daughter he talks about in the article is not me it is my cute sister Heather.

2009 held some good times for me, some better times, and some things that were the best yet

good: I upgraded the road bike
better: I completed what I felt like was the most difficult century ride I have ever done.
best: Having friends to ride with who put up with me.


good: I plated tulip bulbs
better: They came up and didn't die in the surprise spring snowstorm(s)
best: Flowers from my own "yard" picked for my table.



good: I finally got a new Bosch Mixer
better: I found a bread recipe that I loved
best: the "cookie paddles" that go with the Bosch. (buy them if you don't have them)

good: I started going to a family ward
better: Church started at 9:00 (love that)
best: I get to sit by the cutest family every Sunday and finally have a reason to take children's books to church.

good: The roommate I had moved out
better: I live alone again -- Every mess in the house is mine
best: The house is NEVER messy

good: I had a new little niece born
better: I spent time with ALL of my family at some point during the year
best: We are together forever




good: I read lots of books
better: I organized my "classroom library" in the basement
best: I have a gift card to Barnes and Noble to get me through the new year.


good: I decided to clean the craft closet
better: I remembered how much I love sewing
best: I actually started and finished a quilt

good: I decided to start practicing my violin again
better: I started taking Suzuki Certification classes
best: They are almost over (I am sick of going every Saturday morning at 6 am)

good: I ran a marathon
better: Yes, it could have been better
best: This year is going to be faster (like 29 minutes faster)


good: All the friends I was able to spend time with
better: They came to Utah (or some of them never left)
best: It was like we had never been apart after all those years.



good: I went on some trips (New York was my favorite)
better: I had great friends to travel with
best: The shopping on the trips


good: I started a new job
better: I am learning new things
best: I can go back to the classroom and friends that I desperately miss if I want to.


good: looking back over the past year
better: 2009's adventures
best: Everything that awaits in 2010


Welcome 2010!!