New Year Resolutions

1) Stop losing/misplacing things! Not only is it annoying (and costly when I have to pay others to find it for me), but when I have to purchase new stuff to replace lost things, I'm not being very good about minimizing consumption and practicing the 3Rs

2) Spend more time learning about my family history. Ever since my Grandma passed away this summer, I've deeply regretted not spending more time with her when I had the chance. She always had the greatest stories to tell me about our family, what my now middle-aged uncles were like when they were rambunctious teens, what my cousins and me were like when we were toddlers. Now, that she's gone, the task of unraveling our family history might be tougher, but I'm on a mission to learn about my family and my ancestors. It doesn't have to be glorious, it doesn't even have to be unique, it just has to be our family history.

3) Don't buy more clothes! I tried to do this last year, but i still bought 17 items (that I can think of) may it be dresses, pants, or shirts. It always starts pretty well...until I find myself at a really good sale or in outlet-land Florida, where perpetually on sale malls call like sirens and tempt the "money saver" in me. In order to not cut myself completely from shopping (because I have a sinking feeling that I'll fail) I've given my self exceptions that I don't consider part of the crazy consumerism culture that I'm protesting.
EXCEPTIONS!
- if its made by a person with a face--haha, yes of course everything is made by a person with a face, but specifically a person who isn't just a interchangable part of the mass-production consumerism machine. I hope that the steep prices will keep me from buying it!
- if it is second hand (so garage sales, thrift stores, Eli Exchange, and mom's closet are still OK!).
- if it is made with in good social/sustainable consciousness. My friend Didem from Turkey who keeps a blog about sustainability has met all sorts of cool green entrepreneurs, including sustainable fashion designers who reuse materials for their products.

4) Stretch three times a week; play Pingpong often! :)

5) Eat lots of cake and ice cream, but be sure to not get cavities!