Today I avoided the shopping madness.  Eric, however, went shopping for a new suit and found a screaming deal on a gorgeous charcoal houndstooth.  The girls and I stayed inside and tackled the endless pile of house chores that have been long neglected - laundry, cleaning the hamster's (Cali's) cage, thank you notes, assembling various pieces to Christmas presents (you know the drill).
After another night of the girls' bedtime bickering, Eric and I have decided to give them their own rooms.  They actually don't bicker too often, but it seems that by the end of the day, as bedtime approaches, tears surface easily. With this comes a mountain of chores, but it provides an opportunity to paint the rooms.  The girls were so excited to hear that they were getting their own rooms and that they would get to vote on color and decor.  I will be prepping the rooms first - organizing toys, making Good Will donations, sketching plans to place all the furniture, carpet shampooing, etc.  I will try to get before and after pictures.  Just don't expect "after" pictures too quickly.
Somewhere in the mix, I have to get back to work.  My website is still sitting at its "under construction" status.  I can create collateral and sales packages for others all day long, but eventually I need marketing materials for my own business.  As always, I have lots of plans for the new year.  Hopefully I can complete them.
I'd like to encourage everyone to make New Year's Resolutions for 2009. I know, I know. We often set goals we just can't manage to complete when things get hectic, but just by setting them, they will be there - floating in your head - reminding you of some of the things that are important to you.  And you never know, you might just surprise yourself. Sometimes even failure can be a good thing.  So what if somewhere in mid-spring you abandoned the 3 times weekly work-out?  Just think of all the months (or weeks) you got the exercise that you might not have if you hadn't set a goal. What is life without ambition and even the occasional failure? Happy New Year!  Don't forget those resolutions!