Best of 2009 Blog Challenge: Resolution You Wish You’d Stuck With

Ever since I started making new year’s resolutions I’ve set to lose weight/get buff and every one of those years I did not and often put on weight instead.

My resolution for 2009 was not to get fit, but instead to write more letters and send them via snail mail to all my friends and family around the world. I don’t think I wrote/sent any more than any other year. I did however lose 25 pounds. (The whole diet and exercise thing works. I know right?!)

So it seems safe to say that whatever I want for the new year I should just not make it my resolution or better yet make a resolution for something I don’t want to happen. That makes sense right?

Best of 2009 Blog Challenge: Best Ad

Lately, I’ve  been into listening to classic poets read their work. Dylan Thomas is one in particular. He authored Jim’s favorite poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night. On Christmas Eve,  Jim, his mom Susy, older sister Meg, and I listened to Thomas tell his story A Child’s Christmas In Wales, which was a tradition in their family. (Speaking of Dylan Thomas, Jim and I recently watched the film The Edge of Love with Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller.  It tells the story of Thomas’ life through the eyes of the two women he loved. Matthew Rhys did an excellent job playing Thomas too!) As an aside, one of the first characteristics I fell in love with when I met Jim was the way he read. Being a poetry major and the son of a mother with a doctorate in literature he had a distinct way. His response is, “You’ve got to read the punctuation too.” (God I love him.)

So my favorite ad this year is the one below. It’s part of Levi’s Go Forth campaign. This particular ad has great images that remind me of Into the Wild, Woodstock, simplicity, exploration, sex and just being a wild and free spirit. The best part is that it is set to Walt Whitman reading his poem Pioneer! O Pioneers!

Best of 2009 Blog Challenge: Best Stationary

So I’m a little bit obsessed with geometric architecture and Islamic art. Growing up in the Middle East probably had something to do with it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m also impressed with the whimsical creations of Gaudi, but my preferred architecture is the kind where math meets art. The symmetry of mosques, the creative ways they made windows and tile work both beautiful yet functional inspires me.

During my trip to Saudi with Jim over last year’s holidays I took many photos of geometric art expressed in architecture. When I got back to Colorado I promptly got the tools and materials to make prints, researched more Islamic art online, found some incredible paper at Two Hands Paperie in Boulder (even though their prices stink) and then got to work. My prints were transformed into stationary. I had some of my stationary listed on my etsy shop, but had to take them off due to my using them too often. (Jim and I used these cards all year to send our thanks or congratulations.)

So as self centered as it may be, my favorite stationary of the year is my own. The process was a fun way for me to be creative, stretch my mind, relieve stress, feel connected to the place of my birth, and ultimately produce a unique and usable product.

Best of 2009 Blog Challenge: Best Social Web Moment

A little over a month ago my dear friend Tashi told me that he had discovered a woman’s blog online and that I had to check it out because the amount of similarities between she and I was outrageous. I did and found some: we both adore cupcakes, practice both yoga and meditation, love Project Runway, are quirky, and find travel to be imperative.

Then a few weeks ago Tashi told me to check out a podcast episode that reminded him of me. (She and a close friend of hers have a podcast together. They also own a yoga studio in Japan together.) So I did. The way she related to the topic was very much like I would. I told Tashi that it was indeed funny how similar we seemed to be. He pointed out that he had been listening to all of their podcasts and that he had found that she spoke in a very similar way to me. I told him it was too bad I had just found out about her now that I’m not living in Boulder (that’s where she lives). I encouraged him to meet up with her (but not to upgrade to the newer version of me just because I’m not there).  He had already befriended her on Twitter and Facebook. I started to follow her on Twitter and read on her blog that she was starting a Blog Challenge and decided to participate. (I’m all for self-reflection.)

That same week Tashi tweeted “@SamAhern… And it just keeps getting weirder. @GwenBell quoted Flight of the Conchords on the ZIS episode I just heard!! You 2: Same mold.” Tashi then told me that Gwen had tweeted him asking for us to be introduced. He told her that it wasn’t possible as I wasn’t in Colorado.

I then befriended her on Facebook. I included a message with my friend request, closing with an open invitation to crash in our guest room if she found herself needing a break by the beach. After accepting my friend request (a week ago) she rapidly sent me a few messages noting the similarities and asking if she and her hubby could indeed take me up on the offer to come stay with us in Costa Rica for one of the two weeks they were hoping to come down (three weeks from then). I ran it past Jim, who agreed. I gave them the green light and the tickets were bought.

I’ve only known about this woman for just over a month. I’ve never met her. We clearly have interests that overlap in places (although I am not half as techy as her and I’m not sure I am fearless enough to karaoke). Tashi pointed out that our similarities could either make it be like two long lost friends finally meeting or if could be a major flop. I’m trying to manifest the former. And if it is a flop. So be it. I still love her blog, the way she thinks, how courageous she is, how she attracts success, and how down to earth she is. And at the very least we can talk Boulder, tea, yoga, Tim Gunn, how to do what you love, and traveling a bit. (I do also hope to sort out what it is she actually does too.)

To read Gwen’s take on these events check out her blog post about it.

Best of 2009 Blog Challenge: Best Project

I had some of my photography printed by my good friend Paul and  Lafayette’s art market pARTiculars liked my work so much they chose it to join their collection. I also opened my own etsy shop.

I picked my meditation practice back up.

Jim and I sold our house, simplified our belongings, packed up our dogs, and moved to Costa Rica.

I participated (and won) NaNoWriMo by writing 50,000 words in the month of November. I now have the beginnings of a collection of short stories based on my life.

I’ve started my exploration of vegan, gluten free, and refined sugar free baking.

I began a regular habit of exercising, often walking four miles a day on our wonderful beach here in Bejuco.

I started SamAhern.com and even when I take a break (like in the month of November) I just keep coming back. I love this medium for keeping track of and sharing what I’m up to. I am so grateful for the response it has had.

Notice how I don’t really choose one thing to be THE BEST? Yeah, I’m just not willing to do it. I’m already forgetting or omitting many things due to my not wanting to blog so much that I don’t have a life. There is no such thing as “the best” anyway. (Even though I have a habit of being overly dramatic and proclaiming that something is indeed “the best” at times.) My fact is that my life is overflowing full of good stuff (which I might add is awesome to be reminded of when the earlier part of this year was a whole pile of suck).

Also, I haven’t been doing the prompts for this challenge in order or on the days suggested. I may keep this thing going into 2010. (Woah. Is that allowed?! Hahaha.) As I often say: “I do what I want!” So be it.

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