New Year's Revolutions

"What is a revolution?"

Oh boy, I sense a highschool essay coming on.  HA!  A revolution according to some website I googled is 'a great change in a short amount of time.'  Ummm, helllooooo!!  In just two short weeks, I'm headed for Chicago in the pursuit of love and happiness and adventure and LIFE!! :)

I'm excited to get out of my comfort zone, take some risks and pursue my dreams.  I also plan to challenge myself, as a Johnstown Field Hockey Champion, to be content in the midst of a brutal windchill.  Okay, not so much excited about THAT part but I AM excited to wear cute hats & mittens & scarves.  Yippee!  DORK.

And don't for a second believe that I don't have a multitude of sap just waiting to be written down in the internets of time to describe the sadness I will feel to miss some of the most beautiful, hilarious and special people of my life.  Because that blogs a-comin'... and all I can say is:  Invest in the tissue now.  But as I pack, it's almost imperative that I look to the future with excitement and in anticipation.  It's a great way to push my feelings to the side and really feel them-- you know, when I want to!  Like never!  HA!  Just kidding... I've been saying good byes all month, I've decided I'm savin' it up for one big ol' tear fest, y'all.  And that day's gonna be a BLAST.

It'll be some place ridiculously awkward like in line at the supermarket.  Elijah Wood will be there... and then BAM!  Dry heaving & waterworks.  My shriveling lips saying "I'm s-s-sorry, I'm just ree-e--e-eally tired."  I d-dd-don't know wha-a-aat's gotten into me-e-e."  Because THAT'S never happened before.


But I truly believe with all my heart that Chicago will be a wonderful, exciting adventure for me.  And with that comes, my New Year's Revolutions:

1.  BE THE BEST GIRLFRIEND I CAN BE.
    
       The 'love is patient, love is kind' sort...   "It does not envy, it does not boast.  It's not conceited or rude.  Love is never selfish nor quick to take offense.  There is nothing love cannot face;  there is no limit to its faith,
its hope, and endurance.  In a word, there are three things that last forever:  faith, hope, and love;  but the greatest of them all is love." 

       I don't want to do anything to disappoint the Sweet Lovin' Man, to discourage him, to make him feel anything less than special.  So with that in mind, I may-- God willing-- even relinquish my rewatching of the Gilmore Girls DVDS for a good/ can't miss football game.  ;) 

2.  BE A GOOD FAMILY MEMBER.

        My family will officially be spread out over the country when I leave.  I want to make an effort to be a part of their lives near or far.  My gosh, I haven't seen The Popskis in over a year nor have even met his new wife!  I'm going to do my best to create a feeling of homestead regardless of a home or scattered family. Home is where the heart is.  Where is yours?  :)

3.  CREATE THE BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE EVER.

        These are in no particular order, of course. This obviously would be #1.  ;)  You can tell the quality of a baker by their chocolate chip cookie and MINE SUCK.  How is this possible??? Remedy begins NOOOOOOW.

4.  WORK OUT 5-6 TIMES A WEEK FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. 

        I'm so grateful to be dating the SLM because he's such an amazing accountability partner.  He's big into health & fitness and I know in no time, we'll both be in fighting shape and ready to take on the world.  And if not, he'll kick me out. That's good motivation.  Those snow drifts are COLD, people.  ;)

5.  START A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

       I've got big plans to take over the world.  They're secret plans.  Somebunny's going to need her energy- hence all the 'fighting shape' talk!  I'll keep you posted.  :)

6.  BLOG REGULARLY

      Surprise!  More blogs!  Whether or not anyone reads these, I really love blogging.   I think because it gives me a reason to bake.  It's a means to the end of my baking addictions.  :)  With more free time, I will be able to experiment more & fatten up the SLM's secretaries.  But the revolution:  At least one blog a week.

7.  BE A GOOD FRIEND.

      Again, I'm leaving a great group of people who have blessed my life.  I want to be a blessing to theirs!  Take the time to really listen and to keep in touch.  I want to be quick to show love and understanding.  Take the time to get to know my neighbors or the local Fox & Obel lady.  Be a good friend to my fellow neighbor, a good steward of this planet. 

8.  GET A NIXON CAMERA WITH MY MAJOR WINNINGS WON AT MY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS.

      What!  What!  I want that dang camera & I want it baaaaaaad.  And I want to buy it MYSELF.  This is very exciting. 

9.  TRAVEL

      So many places I'm embarassed to say I haven't been in or out of the country.  Remedying like Jason Mraz, yo.

10.  MEDITATE

      15 minutes a day.  It's soooo good for the soul.  All the worry, anxiety, self-esteem crap that goes through my mind on a daily basis needs to be flushed & mediation is great for that.  It IS that.  :)

11.  COOK MORE, EAT LESS PROCESSED

      More fruits & vegetables, less Lean Cuisines.  I want to think about what goes in my mouth & thank God for it's nutrients.  That sounds crazy, but I really want to be more respectful of food.  "Thank you, God, that these blueberries are an anti-oxidant POWERHOUSE of flavor."  (I like to make God chuckle).  "Blueberries, you are protecting my brain from oxidative stress and helping to sharpen my vision.  You rule!"  You gotta problem with me talking to fruit?

    I'm so use to putting down a pizza like a rockstar, not really focusing on the components or craftsmanship or respecting the time it took to get tomatoes to a plant, etc.  Food is art.  Food is a gift.  Food is fuel.  I think focusing positively on it rather than "it's bad," "I like eating crap" would be a life-changing thing.  Thoughts are habit.  And habits are choice.  I choose to have good habits.  :)

12.  LET MY BAKING WEAKNESSES BECOME MY STRENGTHS.

       I'm gonna get rad awesome at fondant work.  I'd also like to branch out & try more sugar-free and vegan items.  AND *meep*  gluten-free?  Why the helio not?  I'M COMIN' TO GETCHA, I'M COMIN' TO GETCHA-- SPITTEN OUT EGG REPLACEMENTS, HOMIES, I'M WHICH YA!  I can't promise I won't do that again.

13.  GET AN EDIBLE INK PRINTER. 

       So I can put logos on sugar cookies & do amazing wedding cake designs, etc.  Lots of amazing fantastic things to do with an edible ink printer.  I want to eat printer cartridges & take pictures just thinking about it!!!  Maybe I'll do that on my NIXON CAMERA.  Holla!

14.  GET BACK INTO COMEDY.

       Laughter does wonders for the soul.  There's no better feeling in the world than being on stage and feeling the adrenaline of being in a perfect improv scene, hearing the roar of laughter, feeling the comraderie from your teammates.  Having people come up to you saying, "I don't find girls funny.  You're funny."  Okay that last part is just attention-whoring but it's true.  HA!

15.  BE FEARLESS.

      My Aunt Mickey is incredible.  She and her husband work eight months a year saving up money.  The other four months they ski and travel & bungee jump off of Victoria Falls & travel across India by camel & climb Mount McKinley twice because hey, they didn't summit the first time.  LE-WHOO-OOOZE-ERS.  ;)  She's amazing.  And fearless.  She is constantly out of her comfort zone.  I think she just really appreciates being given arms & legs & a body and respects it enough to keep it in shape & USE IT!  She appreciates LIFE.  I am sure there are family members that get disgruntled because she doesn't come home to visit as often as they'd like, but personally?  I'm all, "YOU'RE ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, WOMAN!!! LIVE!!!"  Heaven forbid she's not huddled over a cheeseplate like the rest of us at Christmas crackin' open the Bourbon Balls & a bottle of wine? 

When I have kids I hope they live fearlessly.  I hope they are strong leaders & are well educated.  I hope they backpack through rainforests and feed children in Uganda.  That means I better be a damn good example of fearlessness.

I'm excited for these revolutions.  I ask and pray that you will all keep me accountable to them. 

Merry Chrismas & a RAD @$$ NEW YEAR!!!

Love & twinkly lights,
MandiCrocker