2010: The Recap

For the past few years I have done a recap of my year and the highlights of said year (2007, 2008, 2009).  This year I don't feel like putting as much work into a recap (much like last year). Mostly because reliving my past year will bring up some sad feelings in my heart and I'm not wanting to do that to myself.  SO! Instead I've decided to give you my favorite post from each month. I do like looking over the past and seeing what I've accomplished. So here you go...a recap of Alishka Babushka and her life.....

January

The best part of January (that month always seems to suck, ya know?) was the fact that I hit my 3-month mark in ACL recovery. Awesome-sauce.

February

impending doom is never a fun thing, but it does lead to some fun conversations with on-line friends. it also leads to fun blog posts.

March

March was kind of a crazy month and some interesting things happened. I had my birthday and that rocked...but I also got a little confused (though that's no surprise to some people).

April

April was a REALLY good month. However, the best part was easily the day when I got told my knee was good as new! woo hoo!

May

May was a roller coaster month. But there was a gem of a blog post that appeared. Makes me happy.

June

June was a fairly eventful month and I had a hard time choosing a post that was my favorite. I really liked the month of June.  However, I forgot that I read one of my favorite reads of 2010 in the month of June. I shared a review of this book with you in conjunction with my Day Zero goals. Go take a looksee!

July

July was a crappy month overall. I'm surprised I survived it to tell you the truth. The best post is probably the wordiest one of the month...i warn you though, it's not necessarily cohesive.

August

well...It seems my summer months were just kind of lame when it came to posting! I think I know why...but anyways. I guess the best post would be just one of mum-drum ones of the month...that's all i seemed to post! Oh well...Moving on.

September

September was a better month, although I did suffer from some nightmares....

October

October was an interesting month. I celebrated the one year anniversary of my new ACL, but I also struggled to find motivation for working out. I have since found said motivation...but it's interesting to me to see when I finally kicked it into gear. :o)

November

The beginning of the holiday rush. I happened to have a good November and was sunny, spunky, and stealthy. :o)

December

this is a hard one. Obviously, the biggest thing to happen to me happened at the very beginning of the month, but my favorite post so far has been the introductions...guess i'll just leave you with both of them. :o)

Well...there you go. A glimpse of 2010. I am already making plans for 2011. I have dreams and plans and so many other things. We'll see what all comes true...but come back tomorrow to find out my Word of the Year - aka my theme for 2011. :o) Happy New Year!

the last Thursday Things of 2010!

Well dear friends, it's the last Thursday Things of 2010. Hard to believe that the year ends in just one more day. Here are some final thoughts before my recap tomorrow.

• My vacation is almost over. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Virginia. It has been a nice break from reality.
• I will not miss my perpetually cold toes and nose. That has been that least fun part of my trip.
• Tomorrow is New Years Eve. I will spend most of the day on an airplane or in an airport.
• I brought the perfect amount of books with me. I love when I guesstimate correctly how much I'll read.
• I think flirting is fun. Makes me giggle.

Hope you all enjoy your final hours of 2010!!

a little something

I am sitting on my parent's couch in Virginia with freezing cold toes and nose. I am doing my best to make sure I keep said appendages, but right now I am not so sure right now.

Anyways, while I try to stay warm I wanted to share a little something with you.

I love music and always have, and right now there is a song that I am totally digging right now: Strip Me by Natasha Bedginfield.  Enjoy!!

Tender Mercy Tuesday

I find it hard to believe that it has been a week already since my last post. It is amazing to me how fast time is flying.

I want to share just one (of the many) tender mercy with you today.  I have been studying my scriptures more diligently as of late and while reading in Alma 38 I had several moments where i thought, this scripture is for me! The whole chapter is filled with gems and encouraging thoughts, but verse 5 hit it home for me when it says: 

"And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

This scripture just hit me in the right place that night while studying and I strongly felt my  Heavenly Father's love for me. It is amazing to me now that I am being more diligent in my studies of the scriptures and reading more with a purpose I am finding answers to my questions. So wonderful!

Anyways, there's my tender mercy for you today. I'd love to hear your thoughts or your own tender mercy from the past week if you're feeling like sharing!

A Christmas Gift to you - Introductions

My dearest Internet friends. I hope this Christmas morning finds you in places you love most with the people you love most.

I love giving presents.  This year, I was most excited for my gift that I gave my parents.  You see, life has not been very easy for them with still having two houses and the such - and I wanted to do something special for them.  So I gathered up my siblings, we all pitched in and purchased a gift certifiacte to the Bed and Breakfast Association of Virginia. I made my mom tear up (which was totally the goal) and they are excited to use their gift. The greatest thing about it was that when I purchased their gift certificate I entered the drawing for their monthly giveaway....and then I WON! So...My parents got double the amount they would have originally which made it even better. :o) Happy Day.

Now, I have a gift for each of you!!!  Today I am going to introduce you to a new group of characters on my blog and a meme that I would like to call Dating Battle Stories.  Each time I have a fun adventure with dating I will bring up this fun meme.  It won't be a regular weekly thing like my other two memes, but a meme regardless.  Also, each of these Dating Battle Stories will feature a different picture - thanks to my awesome roommate who likes to draw stick figures of me and fun situations with boys.

So...let us begin with the Introductions of the cast of characters from some dating battle stories that I have had as of late. The next couple of weeks will be me playing catch up on the fun times I have had in December and then you can look forward to the occasional Dating Battle Story in the months following as I date and flirt (because I'm really good at doing those things.)

Without further ado....

{artwork by Roommate A}

The Characters:

Sweetums - Named not becuase he looks anything like the muppet....but he does love the Muppets. I know Sweetums from High School. He loves music, pumpkin spice egg nog, and road trips. He's very nice and gives the best hugs. I've crushed on him in times past, but the timing has never quite worked for us.

The Australian - Named because he was born and then lived in (for a few years) Australia. He just got home from his mission in Japan, is Roommate A's boyfriend's friend and is the nicest person ever.

Mad Dog - I've known Mad Dog for years and when I first met him swing dancing that is how he introduced himself. He had a hand in creating Blue Tango (my favorite dancing venue) and has crushed on me for a long time.

Blindman - I haven't met Blindman as of yet. Roommate A is setting me up with this person. All I know about him is that he's "cool" and that he lives with Roommate A's boyfriend.


So there you go. The cast of characters for future Dating Battle Stories. I hope you're looking forward to them. I know I am! Now...I must go and run off that apple pie from last night.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Happy Christmas Eve!!!

I love, love, love Christmas Eve. I have posted about it several times in past years. It is just a happy day in our house.  This year I am more excited for what gift my siblings and I got my parents. I could care less as to what I got - I know I will love my gifts, but this year it doesn't seem to matter to me that much.

It has been odd being here in some ways. I have never been out to see my family without leaving a significant other on the other side of the country. I am a little jealous of Sister B and her boyfriend....but at the same time I am okay with it. It feels right and I'm okay being single this year. I know I say this almost every year in my journal - but I can't help but think that this could be the last year of the holidays being JUST our family.  I wouldn't be surprised if there is at least one significant other here next year...or something. I don't know. Someday things will change and it will be interesting when they do.

Enough of me waxing poetic...Happy Christmas Eve!!! enjoy all of your lovely traditions. :o)

Thursday things...in Virginia!!

Well my dear internet friends, I am in Virginia! I am here with my family freezing my toes off. It is really cold (and there's even a tad bit of snow on the ground!) but I am so happy! I love hanging out with my family.  Before I leave you today, let me list off a few things that have happened:

• Part of my flight here included me flying American Airlines. Did you know that AA gives you the whole can of whatever you get when it comes to drink time? This made me heart super happy. One whole can of Coke for me!

• Went and saw Tangled this afternoon. Adorable movie with fun dialog and a cute story.

• I pulled an all-nighter Tue-Wed. It was fun times. 

• I know I've promised an update and nyms on boys and that IS coming...maybe I'll make it my Christmas gift to you. I'll work on that.

• I'm having a wonderful holiday - I hope you do too!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Tender Mercy Tuesday: 3rd Edition

 And here we are with the 3rd edition of Tender Mercy Tuesday! I have started labeling my blog posts (in case you hadn't noticed) so you can click on the label below to see all of the awesomeness that is Tender Mercy Tuesday. Also, if I can figure it out maybe I'll create an extra tab with them all there or something. I don't know.

Anyways. Onward and Upward yes? YES!

Tender Mercies from this week:

1. I had a friend invite me over for dinner and during our conversations I came to some more realizations and conclusions that are helping me each day. It is amazing to me how the Lord inserts little events each day to help us overcome the big overall picture.

2. Speaking of friends, I seriously have the best friends ever. You know when you're dating someone you're not the best friend in the world? Sure you try to keep in contact with people and you'll answer their messages and stuff...but you don't really try to make them a priority. Well, since my breakup all of my friends have been so great to let me back into their lives. Sure, they're not dropping everything for me....but they are willing to make plans with me and do stuff! It makes my heart happy.

3. There was a lot of snow outside this morning when I left for work (and it is still snowing) but I made it to work safe and sound. Yay for nice cars that get me to places safely.


In other news I leave tomorrow morning to go see my family in VA. I hope to keep posting and sharing my adventures with you, but I am only taking George the netbook with me. :o) All that stands between me and getting on the plane is the rest of the work day today, one ballet class (maybe?! I really don't want to drive to the studio in this weather), delivering a Christmas gift to a friend, getting some new books, and watching A Muppet Christmas Carol with my roommate, her boyfriend, and a friend who is yet to have a 'nym. (I'm sorry about that, really, I am. I know how hard it is to keep track of people I keep mentioning on the down-low and not giving you details. The good news is that I am working on the post that explains all....with pictures! be excited!

BUSY!!!

{source}

I am so super busy right now! Basically here's what is between me and leaving for Virginia in 2 days:

• 18 hours of work
• 3 loads of laundry
• packing
• 2.75 mile run at the gym
• a trip to Walmart
• one ballet class
• a visit with Angie
• delivering Christmas presents to some friends
• a Muppet Christmas Carol with a friend (working on the 'nym. sorry)

 Crazy eh? I can't believe how busy I am right now. I had a fabulous weekend and should have a great 2 days and then I'll be with my family! YAY! So excuse me....I have a huge pile of to do items sitting here on my desk. :o)

Thursday Things

Welcome to the second addition of ..... {drum roll}

Today's things are brought to you from a sleep deprived Alishka Babushka. I've been trying to find my wings again in the single world and be the social butterfly I know I can be each and every day. (that sounded so cheesy.) I think I'm doing fairly well if I do say so myself. (I still miss SwingKid. someday I'll write about my experience, but I'm not ready yet to do that here.)

Anyways. let's get on with the things of today shall we?

• Sweaters are warm when it is cold outside. But by the late afternoon it's way too hot in my office to be wearing a sweater. sigh. 

• I get to DANCE and PERFORM again! YAY! Most of the directors from the studio I teach at are going to do a director's piece. I am so so so excited at this opportunity to dance again! I'll keep you posted on ticket buying and stuff, because let's be honest...you're gonna want to see me dance!

• Tomorrow is my day off. This makes me happy.

• I have more stories. I really need to just be brave enough to tell them....once I get a certain thing from my roommate then I will create another meme. Maybe. :o) 

There you go. Thursday Things. What are some of the things on your mind today?

Simplify

Today I am going to simplify.

I plan on turning my to-do list into a what I did today list. I need some completion in my life and not just a continuous "this needs to be done!!"

Anyways.  I mentioned a few things on the docket today earlier on twitter...Here they are plus a few more:

work. gym. clean house. be worry free. enjoy. smile. laugh. breathe. celebrate. create. sleep.

{source}

 how are you simplifying your life today?

Tender Mercy Tuesday

Welcome to the 2nd addition of Tender Mercy Tuesday.

1.  I have been so happy this past week and I know why and that's just been the best tender mercy ever.

2.  Reconnected with a high school friend and it was SO MUCH FUN. We have plans for the future. Basically we're going to take over the world one muppet at a time. :o)

3.  The weather has been so pretty as of late! I wouldn't mind a little bit of snow (mostly because I want to play in it) but I have enjoyed the sunshine!

What are your Tender Mercies today?

Forgotten

I had a post idea for today, but now I can't remember what I REALLY TRULY wanted to say.

I have lots of stories. Well. Maybe only two stories. They are about boys. (yes, boys, plural) Said boys need 'nyms. I am not feeling up to coming up with creative 'nyms. I might just use random, weird names. When I do, I will tell the stories.

I have semi-plans for New Year's Eve. What I really have is a girlfriend picking me up from the airport and a boy (from the stories) that wants to hang out and do stuff. We need a game plan. Suggestions for free stuff for New Year's Eve?

I have found music that sort of describes my feelings on how things are now that SwingKid and I are no longer dating. However, one of the songs could be classified as an angry girl song. I am not angry, but the lyrics work. But i wonder if people would really understand if I shared it here.

I am happy.

Utah is having a warm spell. I'm hoping this means VA will have a warm spell when I get there in 9 DAYS.

the end.

It's finally Friday! do do do do...

Growing up I listened to KBULL 93.3 FM. (Yes, I was raised a country girl. deal with it) And at 5pm EVERY Friday they would always play this mish mash thing of a song that included this bit about "It's finally Friday!"

I loved that song.

OH MY GOSH! I just FOUND IT! Please listen and enjoy!!! :o)



Anyways. It's Friday. Even though I'm at work today...It's only 8 hours and then I'm getting a bang trim (with my new style it's REALLY hard to cut them myself.) and then I'll teach ballet and after that it will be off to SLC with Sister B, her boyfriend, and a new friend of mine. It's going to be a blast. I'm rather excited about it all.

And now, for some Friday-Fill in funness!

1. I wish that I had a magic wand for certain aspects of my life.

2. I sort of wish there was snow on the ground...that's what I'm thinking.

3. Please bring fun times!

4. Belgian Dark Hot Chocolate is so amazing.

5. One of my fondest hopes is to get married. Someday.

6. You have been such a help to me, a fabulous friend, and HUGE support and I just wanted to say thank you.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the lights on temple square and good company, tomorrow my plans include teaching, the gym, lunch with HiccupMel and some gift making and Sunday, I want to perform to my best ability in church and at the fireside!

What the What?!

another new meme? why yes. Another meme. This one stemmed from posting the past couple of weeks and me having "thing" posts. So...I've created a cute little banner and today I introduce to you:

a simple meme really. Every Thursday I will post "thursday things" essentially just a few THINGS that I have been thinking about/doing that don't necessarily warrant their own blog post. It should be a fun little meme. Participate if you'd like. Steal my banner, I don't care! Just leave a comment so I can come visit you and your things! :o)

So...onward and upward.

• I have been feeling fairly happy this week. I've still felt like posting - which is amazing to me in some ways and not surprising in others. Writing and expressing my feelings has always helped.

• related the above one - I've started writing more diligently in my personal journal and it has been very....healing.

• I get free lunch today. I'm very excited for this.

• I leave for VA in 13 days. WOOT!

• I have started to notice how the running has been helping my body - I'm a trimmer, more slimmed down version of Alishka. I'm excited about this.

• Also related to the thing above - I am planning on continuing the couch to 5k after i finish next week - but doing it to get faster. At the same time I am also going to implement a strength training workout 2-3x a week. Not sure exactly what that is going to involve yet, but I know it will make feel even BETTER!

what are some of your "things?"

tender mercies

So. I have decided to institute a brand new meme around here. I'm calling it Tender Mercy Tuesdays where in I tell you all about the tender mercies that I have been blessed with in the past week. (or maybe just some of them. but you get the point.) Wonder what I'm talking about when it comes to tender mercies? Read this amazing talk by Elder David A. Bednar - an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

This week's tender mercies:

1. the hymns in sacrament meeting that we sung were my favorite and the ones closest to my heart.
2. I found out last night about something a friend has been doing - without knowing why - and it touched me.
3. My awesome roommate who introduces me to awesome movies.
4. New friends.
5. I completed my workout last night. Felt awesome.

What are your tender mercies?

p.s. I'll still sometimes participate in Ten on Tuesday. Not today, but sometimes. :o)

editor's note:
also. I'm bored of doing the links to past years. while it's nice to link to what happened and reminisce...I tend to forget to do it. Sorry. maybe i'll do it more, but I'm not going to guarantee on anything.

weekend: the good and the ugly

things that happened this weekend that i WANT to talk about:

• i bought new boots. really really cute boots. and they were on sale and then even more on sale when i got to the cash register. which was seriously the best thing ever.

• my sister spent the weekend with me. she's awesome. the end.

• i got a blue-ray player as my christmas bonus from work this year. i'm excited to get it plugged in.

• i bought a router for my apt to get wireless internet and i WAS having issues with it, but i am so smart that i figured it out and now i have wireless. yay yay yay.

things that happened this weekend that i DON'T want to talk about

• the ridiculousness of some people (who will not be named) from the studio i teach for. ugh. politics.

• SwingKid and I broke up. I'll probably be MIA for the next few days. I'm just trying to live each day as it comes...because for now that's all i can do.

(comments off. sorry.)

thoughts today

• my running program is treating me so well. I need something similar for weight lifting. After this program ends, (and I start it again at a faster speed to reduce my 5k time) i hope to add strength training to my workout so I can trim down some fat.

• I really want to dance again. another director and i are hoping to do a "directors" piece this year in the gala. we'll see how that goes down.

• tonight is my work Christmas party. It should be fun....although they are serving fish and I hate fish. so that sucks. but the party itself should be fun. :o)

• i'm going dancing tonight. hurrah! i haven't been to Blue Tango in several weeks and I am much looking forward to tonight's dance.

• I don't work tomorrow, but I don't feel like I have the day off. See...tomorrow my cute company girls are presenting "Clara's Nutcracker" along with a bunch of jazz Christmas pieces at 4 different elementary schools. It should be fun.

• Three weeks from yesterday I fly to VA. 20 days. CRAZY!!

• I bought SwingKid's present today. I think he'll like it. I sure hope he will.

• My parent's gift is going to ROCK! I got some amazing news about it yesterday but seeing as how they both read this we'll keep it a secret. If I remember, I'll tell you about it after Christmas.

• I decorated for Christmas and my house looks SO CUTE. I love Christmas decorations

• Have I mentioned how GOOD  I feel lately? I attribute it to my running program. It is doing amazing things for me and I am SO SO SO happy I decided to do this couch to 5k program. :o)

one year ago
two years ago