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You Asked For It – The 2012 Review & Beyond

Posted by on Monday, Dec 31, 2012, @, 9, am in Sarahs Rants | 0 comments

And here it is the 2010 – 2012 End of the Year Review …

Well sort of … not really!  Let me explain:

It was January 17th, 2012.  The day prior I had just gone through my former best friends room; packing away her stuff and putting it into boxes so my mother-in-law (Debbie – I think I shall call her Mommy #2) could clean the room out and make way for Dusty and Tina’s arrival the beginning of February.  While going through Brooke’s stuff, I found it.  The official 2009 un-editied copy of my End of the Year Review.  It was and still is by far the most controversial review/blog entry I have ever written.  I have been asked before if what I wrote was the truth?  I will say this – yes.

That was the last End of the Year Review I ever wrote.  No review was ever written for 2010 nor 2011.  The honest reason why?  I didn’t want to remember the years.  Ironic huh?  The girl who blogs her entire life on a website for the purpose of being able to look back and reflect on it years later for once didn’t want to remember.  I can’t say 2010 and 2011 were even that bad of a year.  I got married in 2010 and moved one too many times in 2011.  In all out honesty they weren’t bad years at all compared to prior years.  They weren’t even that dramatic.  When you take Jared and murder, drugs, sex, lies and a baby and compare it to 2010 and 2011 both of those years were the image of perfection.  They weren’t filled with all this drama, they weren’t filled with lies being made up to create some wacko story line for Affair of the Mind, and they weren’t even that controversial.  So why didn’t I want to sit down and write the reviews?  What was so horrible in those two years I don’t want to remember?

I don’t really think it comes down to what is so horrible about the years.  I think my life changed drasticly in 2010.  I lost a best friend, a child, gained a husband, and was faced with issues I had only been faced with in some fictional, made up story line Jared and I created for seven years.  For once in my life, my life was NOT centered on Affair of the Mind.  I had real drama to deal with.  Not that half of what Jared and I went through wasn’t real, but for the couple years prior to 2009 – it wasn’t.  There was no car accident, David didn’t die, I wasn’t a paranoid schizo, and no one ever attempted to murder Jared.  I made it up.  But now here I was in 2010.  I was faced with actual death, actual problems and actual circumstances that were not being created in my head to be inserted into some story I was writing.  These were actual problems!  Actual people!  Actual choices I had to make!

That’s what made 2010 and 2011 different.  It wasn’t about Jared anymore.  Granted I still to this day have my “Jared & Sarah” drama, but for once it WASN’T all about him which is something I don’t think either one of us knew how to fully comprehend.

2012 was supposed to change EVERYTHING!  May 2012 was supposed to be the completion of Affair of the Mind.  Not just Part 1 but all 3 parts.  The truth was to be revealed.  What REALLY REALLY REALLY happened the night of March 23rd, 2003 that made two people create a story of murder and drugs to tell people to make them believe it really happened?  2012 was supposed to reveal EVERYTHING.  Truth was finally supposed to be separate from fiction but 2012 has come and gone and Part 1 is still five chapters away from completion.  Best friends don’t talk anymore, lovers found out the truth of their love was all in their head, and babies didn’t cry.

There is no 2010, 2011 OR 2012 End of the Year Review.  Some stories are better left for the pages of a novel and one day when friends can sit down and be civil, and two x lovers can have coffee within the walls of Target and when babies cries do fill a room – then will the truth be revealed.  But for now – the world is not ready to read the story of Ann Mathews and Justin Lenox.  One day I’ll finish it but that day is not today.

So for now you all will just have to keep on guessing because some secrets really are better left unsaid.

With that I hope you all have a WONDERFUL New Year.

I have many plans I wish to accomplish in 2013.  I’m not saying I’m going to because let’s face it my 2012 goals totally fell short this year but I’ll make the list anyway.   Who knows – maybe 2013 will be THE YEAR.   : )   You never know.

Goals for 2013:

  • Loose weight – like 10 pounds!  I WILL DO IT DAMN IT!
  • Save $$ – I want a good $2500 in savings by this time next year
  • Learn to play the guitar (it’s a work in progress)
  • Get back into writing and blogging (maybe I’ll start a new FICTIONAL story)
  • Write in my FB once a day so I can go back to being the ‘girl who documents every inch of her life online’
  • Go visit Corys family and even my real mother
  • Watch the ball drop from New York City IN PERSON next year (hell yeah)
  • Go out more and be more sociable
  • Be more organized (Windows 8 is helping with that)
  • Be a better wife to Cory and more understanding

I’m sure there is more but that is all for now.

Alright going to the movies with the Fam at noon.  So if I don’t talk to u before tomorrow – HAPPY NEW YEAR and may 2013 be awesome!

SigLove

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5 Down – 7 More To Go

Posted by on Monday, Jun 4, 2012, @, 7, pm in Sarahs Rants | 0 comments

Before I begin the May recap, I want to state this: I think I’m going to take a month break from blogging. I know!! Shocking!! But I want to try something. I want to write for me – unedited – for one month without the world being able to read it and I want to see how much more real I am. I’ll probably still post my Free Write Fridays and whatnot, but I just wanna try and be me (unedited) and for some reason I feel I can’t do that publicly at the moment.

But for now here is my May recap. Enjoy!

Here’s my monthly recap for May 2012!

Let’s take a moment to go over my 2012 Goal List & see what I did or did not accomplish

My 12 in 2012 goal list :

  • Complete the 365 (366 technically cause 2012 is a leap year) Project by posting once a day on my blog Okay I DID miss a day or two but for the most part I have been keeping up with posting (or trying too) at least once a day!
  • Finish Affair of the Mind Part 1 ! Am I ever going to finish it? I have 7 more months to go … right? : ) It’ll happen!
  • Read 12 books in 2012 I read 2 books this month! Go me!! I read Rogue’s Hallow and also The Fault In Our Stars (haven’t done a book review on it though) for the #twookclub.
  • Go vacation in a state I haven’t ever vacationed in before Still a work in progress … looking very doubtful this will happen this year.
  • Lose at least 5lbs (10 is actually what I would prefer to lose but I am trying to keep this reasonable) by summer Well … I’m not doing a real good job on this goal! I really lack in energy! I  don’t know what’s wrong.  I think I need to make that doctor appointment.
  • Finally launch my web design business site & get the business fully up and running  No new clients but the site is up and running.
  • Create 12 of my own unique food recipes I made my Cinco De Mayo Chicken Enchiladas!  Yummy!
  • Enroll in some sort of continuing education by 2013, wither it be graduate school or another B.S. program I officially went down to MCC and talk to an advising counseling.  I have 2 yrs at MCC to get an associates in Web Design.  I don’t know though if I wanna do it yet … 4 more years of college??  Really??  Eh, maybe I’ll just go get some nursing certificate or something.  ::shrugs::
  • Build up our savings account to at least have $1500 in it by year end We actually HAVE a savings account with $175 (as of Tuesday when I get paid for the extra job I worked during Memorial Weekend).  We paid off our deposit on the new place, have money set aside for electric and Cory and I both purchased one thing we wanted with our extra money (I got a Magic Bullet and he got a Keurig machine).
  • Interact more with the blogging community I try but fail at times …

 

May 2012 In Review

I started the month off trying to be more OUT there and open in this blog but I feel I failed by months end!

We had our house warming party & got some awesome gifts!!

Cory started his new job for the shuttle company! At first I wasn’t happy but I’m okay with it now. : )

I worked at Cory’s work for some extra $$ during the Memorial Day Holiday.

I started my “Who To Vote For Series” with the Az House & Senate Candidates (on the Republican ticket mind you!).

Beyond that the month was filled with work, work and a party!! But all in all good times!

January 2012 Review can be read here!
February 2012 Review can be read here!
March 2012 Review can be read here!
April 2012 Review Can Be Read here!

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4 Down – 8 More To Go

Posted by on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, @, 8, am in Sarahs Rants | 0 comments

Here’s my monthly recap for April 2012!

Let’s take a moment to go over my 2012 Goal List & see what I did or did not accomplish

My 12 in 2012 goal list :

  • Complete the 365 (366 technically cause 2012 is a leap year) Project by posting once a day on my blog Okay I may have missed a day or two but for the most part I have been keeping up with posting (or trying too) at least once a day!
  • Finish Affair of the Mind Part 1 ! Am I ever going to finish it? I have 8 more months to go … right? : ) It’ll happen!
  • Read 12 books in 2012 I read 2 books this month!  Go me!!  I read SocialPunk and Divergent which were both awesome books!
  • Go vacation in a state I haven’t ever vacationed in before Still a work in progress … looking very doubtful this will happen this year.
  • Lose at least 5lbs (10 is actually what I would prefer to lose but I am trying to keep this reasonable) by summer Well … I’m not doing a real good job on this goal! But I did start an exercise routine during the week.  AM workouts Monday, Wednesday and Friday and night walks Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Finally launch my web design business site & get the business fully up and running The site isn’t FULLY up and running (still have the story section to do) but the web design part is!!
  • Create 12 of my own unique food recipes I made my special Bacon Wrapped Meat Loaf!!   Yumm! It’s the first time making it and my first attempt at actually having meat loaf come out looking like a loaf!  Ahh!  Anyway 4 down and 8 more recipes to go!
  • Enroll in some sort of continuing education by 2013, wither it be graduate school or another B.S. program I finished my FASFA and applied for MCC’s Webdesign Program!
  • Build up our savings account to at least have $1500 in it by year end We had $450 left over at the end of the month!  Granted it’s roll over for this months expenses but still … !!  We’re getting there!
  • Interact more with the blogging community I try to comment on blogs more!  I am slowly getting there!  : )

I finally have more red marks then not!  Yeahhh!  Looks like April was a productive month!

April 2012 In Review

Overall April was one BUSY month!!  It was fun though and looking back I must say I am very greatful for the people in my life who help out during hard times, to friends who are always there, to family who loves you no matter what, and to Shawna and Gary for being awesome people and letting us buy their boat!  I <3 you all!

January 2012 Review can be read here!
February 2012 Review can be read here!
March 2012 Review can be read here!

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SocialPunk – My Honest Review

Posted by on Monday, Apr 23, 2012, @, 7, pm in Sarahs Rants | 0 comments

I skipped last month’s Twook Club book because I didn’t have time to read the book while I was moving.  So I said I’d eventually catch up on my 12 books in 2012 by reading an extra book one month.  Well I didn’t realize April would be that month, but I am extremely glad it was.  Here is my 3rd book so far that I have read in 2012′s book review.  I have to say it is my FAVORITE so far and it’s going to take a lot for any other book this year to compare to it.

WARNING: This review contains spoilers!

SocialPunk Book Review

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3 Down – 9 More To Go

Posted by on Tuesday, Apr 3, 2012, @, 5, pm in Sarahs Rants | 0 comments

I know I’m a bit late posting this! By 3 days – give me a break – I was moving! Lol! But here’s my monthly recap for March 2012!

Let’s take a moment to go over my 2012 Goal List & see what I did or did not accomplish

My 12 in 2012 goal list :

  • Complete the 365 (366 technically cause 2012 is a leap year) Project by posting once a day on my blog Okay I may have missed a day or two due to the move but for the most part I have been keeping up with posting (or trying too) at least once a day!
  • Finish Affair of the Mind Part 1 !  Am I ever going to finish it?  I have 9 more months to go … right?  : )  It’ll happen!
  • Read 12 books in 2012  Due to the move and the fact I didn’t care for the March Twook club book of the month – I skipped this one!  I figure I’ll make it up this summer when nothing is on TV.
  • Go vacation in a state I haven’t ever vacationed in before Still a work in progress.
  • Lose at least 5lbs (10 is actually what I would prefer to lose but I am trying to keep this reasonable) by summer Well … I’m not doing a real good job on this goal!  I tell myself I’m going to get up at 5am Monday through Friday and exercise and I always find an excuse now too!  ::Grrr::  I think I’ll dedicate April to trying to accomplish this goal!  Yeap Yeap!
  • Finally launch my web design business site & get the business fully up and running The site isn’t FULLY up and running but I did snag a new client and got my price listing and Terms of Design down!  : )  I’m on my way!
  • Create 12 of my own unique food recipes I made my special Green St. Patty’s Day Cake! Yumm! 3 down and 9 more recipes to go!
  • Enroll in some sort of continuing education by 2013, wither it be graduate school or another B.S. program   Didn’t make much progress with this goal this month
  • Build up our savings account to at least have $1500 in it by year end We had over $1000!!  BUT we had to spend $468 of it on deposits for the new place and $500 on car repairs for Cory’s truck!  It’s always something huh?  ::shrugs::  Oh well the point is – we DID save the $$!!  But life happens!
  • Interact more with the blogging community  I commented on blogs this month!  Yeah go me!  Hehe!

Looks like I have accomplished the same goals as last month. I guess for March I need to make it a point to go through this list and do the ones that are not crossed off in red.

March 2012 In Review

January 2012 Review can be read here!
February 2012 Review can be read here!

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2 Down – 10 More To Go

Posted by on Wednesday, Feb 29, 2012, @, 10, pm in Sarahs Rants | 0 comments

Well February was a BUSY BUSY BUSY month!  A lot happened!  So here is a quick re-cap of all that happened in the month of February!

Wait before we get to the recap, let’s take a moment to go over my 2012 Goal List & see what I did or did not accomplish

My 12 in 2012 goal list :

  • Complete the 365 (366 technically cause 2012 is a leap year) Project by posting once a day on my blog Okay I may have missed a day or two when Dusty was here but I think I accomplished it for the most part!
  • Finish Affair of the Mind Part 1 I am not finished! But I did finish Chapters 1 – 5 Rewrite!  : )  That’s a plus right?  I said I wanted it finished before March 1st!  I finished it with 1 day to spare!  hehe!
  • Read 12 books in 2012I finished “Sarah’s Key” (a book review is coming on it) for the #twookclub this month! Awesome, amazing, interesting, loved it!!  I <3 all books with a WWII theme to them!
  • Go vacation in a state I haven’t ever vacationed in before Still a work in progress.
  • Lose at least 5lbs (10 is actually what I would prefer to lose but I am trying to keep this reasonable) by summer Well I haven’t lost the weight but I did start exercising!  I went on a 1.7 mile walk this past weekend!  I am slowly gaining my motivation!
  • Finally launch my web design business site & get the business fully up and running Haven’t started this one yet! : (
  • Create 12 of my own unique food recipes I made my specialEggplant Parmesan!  Yumm!  2 down and 10 more recipes to go!
  • Enroll in some sort of continuing education by 2013, wither it be graduate school or another B.S. program I didn’t enroll but I did find out MCC offers an Associates in Internet and Web Development!  So I will be hopefully starting those classes during the fall!  Just need to fill out the FASFA which is on my list of things to do in the upcoming month.
  • Do a video blog at least once every 2 weeks Totally failed! : ( I don’t know if this is a goal I’m gonna be able to keep!
  • Build up our savings account to at least have $1500 in it by year end  Well okay we spent a LITTLE over out $800!!  I know bad!  So we’re at $300 but hey it’s better then $50 from last month!
  • Make a scrapbook (never made one before so why not try, right?) Haven’t started this yet.
  • Interact more with the blogging community  I have added many new blogs to my Google Reader this month but still am failing to comment more often.  I know I’m bad!  I have participated in some give aways though!

Looks like I have accomplished the same goals as last month.  I guess for March I need to make it a point to go through this list and do the ones that are not crossed off in red.

February 2012 In Review

  • We started the month at Debbie’s helping her prepare for Dusty and Tina’s trip!  Preparing involved: cleaning the house!  I don’t think I have ever seen the garage that clean before.
  • Angie & Laura sponsored my blog for the month!  Thanks guys!  What lovely sponsors they were too!
  • Well I had a $1 on the Patriots but they ended up losing the Super Bowl!  : (  Giants won again!  Oh well!
  • Dusty and Tina’s trip consumed the first part on the month!  I took a couple days off work while they were here, and I’m very glad I did.  I had so much fun!  They are amazing people and have an awesome little family!  Jr cracks me up!  Anyway if you want a recap of their trip, you can read it here!  The pictures from their trip can be viewed here and also here
  • We purchased a new fish tank with our Tax Return money and gave Debbie our old one!
  • Don’t worry we didn’t forget our pigs!  They got a new outdoor hut!
  • Arizona turned 100 Years old!
  • Cory & I spent Valentine’s Day at the London Bridge Resort in their hot tub!  : )  We celebrated a week early during the time Dusty was here cause I had the days off!  But he still remembered me on Valentine’s Day (when I was sick) and got me chocolate and a card!  I <3 my hubby!
  • Yes I actually took a day off work cause I was sick!  It always happens ever February – like clock work!
  • Spent 2.5 hours waiting for an Rx at Walmart!
  • I died my hair red and cut it!  Ekk!    I <3 it!
  • Took my car to get it’s oil changed on President’s Day and ended up with a $475 bill!  I ended up needing two new tires (we got four cause it was cheaper) and an alignment.
  • The Presidential Preference election was this month!  I voted for Ron Paul!  : )
  • Sheriff Paul Babeu who’s running for CD4 in Mohave County came out and told everyone he was gay.  Gould said some harsh words in regards to it and I said some harsh words back to him!
  • I blogged about my FIRST TIME EVER … blogging!  
  • Took me a month but I finally got around to writing The Marriage Plot book review!
  • Our BIG BLACK Molly fish Sebastian died!  : (   R.I.P 
  • A strange little bird came to visit us!
  • Free pancake day at Ihop on the 28th!!  Yum!  Gotta love those days!

January 2012 Review can be read here!

 

 

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1 Down – 11 More To Go

Posted by on Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012, @, 6, pm in Sarahs Rants | 0 comments

Well today is the last day of January 2012! 1 month down & 11 more to go! Woo!

Well I have decided to follow other bloggers patterns and do a recap of my month along with the goals I set out to accomplish at the beginning of the month.

Let’s start with my goal list. I made a 12 in 2012 goal list for the year! I feel with 1 month down I have probably accomplished half of the list (which is better than in years past).

My 12 in 2012 goal list :

  • Complete the 365 (366 technically cause 2012 is a leap year) Project by posting once a day on my blog So far I have accomplished this! I haven’t really added a personal photo to EVERY single blog but at least I have written once a day in this thing.
  • Finish Affair of the Mind Part 1 I am not finished! Still about 5 chapters to go! But I am going back and proof reading/dotting all my i’s and crossing all my t’s so I can republish it on my site. Which I am debating on getting a special domain for it. What do you all thing? It’s probably something I should have done that a long time ago.
  • Read 12 books in 2012I finished “The Marriage Plot” (a book review is coming this weekend on it) for the #twookclub this month! Good book!
  • Go vacation in a state I haven’t ever vacationed in beforeStill a work in progress.
  • Lose at least 5lbs (10 is actually what I would prefer to lose but I am trying to keep this reasonable) by summer I haven’t even started this one! : ( I have no motivation!
  • Finally launch my web design business site & get the business fully up and running Haven’t started this one either! : (
  • Create 12 of my own unique food recipes I made my special Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts! Yummy! 1 recipe down! 11 more to go!
  • Enroll in some sort of continuing education by 2013, wither it be graduate school or another B.S. program I didn’t enroll but I have my eyes set on a ASU’s Bachelors of Applied Science in Internet and Web Development
  • Do a video blog at least once every 2 weeks Totally failed! : ( Maybe next month!
  • Build up our savings account to at least have $1500 in it by year end $50 in it right now!! : ) $800 once our tax returns come in!
  • Make a scrapbook (never made one before so why not try, right?) Haven’t started this yet.
  • Interact more with the blogging community & attend a blogging conference at some point in 2012 I have added many new blogs to my Google Reader this month & although I haven’t commented on as many as I have wanted, I did attempt to comment on some blogs! I need to get better at that. I have over 100 Twitter followers now! Yeah! As for the blogging conference. That’s not going to happen till 2013. I can’t afford it this year. : ( Oh well, it’s a goal for 2013!

January 2012: In Review

I figure if I do a “month by month” review that my “end of the year” review won’t be as hard to accomplish! So here is a short review of my month!

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