New Year's Resolution. Putting pen to paper.

New Year's Resolution #1: A handwritten note to my friends on their birthday.

I'm not very good about remembering birthdays. Sorry. (I wasn't even sure if mine was October 3 or October 4 until I was 12. True story.)

Thanks to Facebook, I know when all my "friends" celebrate their birth. Now I really have no excuse.

Since all of my besties reside far enough away that celebrating with them would require a flight, cards usually have to suffice. That's all changing.

Instead of sending a card or writing on someone's wall - it is my New Year's resolution to send a handwritten note to my dearest friends on their birthday.

Who doesn't like receiving a handwritten note? And why should it just be reserved for times of acknowledging gifts, gracious hospitality or offering words of comfort during grief?
A birthday is the perfect opportunity to tell someone you care for what they mean to you.

First things first...stationery deserving of such an important note.

These are all from The Printery:

Bone White Empire Card with Plain Edges and Powder Blue & Noonmark Green Monogram



Bone White Empire Card with Seafoam Green Borders and Seafoam Green Monogram




Tobacco Empire Card with Red Borders and Cream Acorn & Monogram




Ecru Card with Plain Edge and Primrose, Artemis Green and Copper Monogram



Bone White Corinne Card with Lavender Borders and Lavender Monogram

They also have charming birth announcements. Just saying.

Have you made a New Year's resolution or resolutions? Do tell.


Mr. News Readin' seems to be keeping his. Tuesday will be the real test.

More at 11.

Developing Story: New Year's Resolutions

Mr. News Readin' is a big fan of the New Year's resolution.

He asked me two weeks ago what I was thinking mine would be this year. I responded ever so sweetly, "Seriously? I'm trying to find a free shipping code for Orvis. Go investigate resolutions elsewhere..." Sometimes timing is not his strong suit.

Anywhoodle, he brought it up again last night. The conversation went like this:

Mr. NR: "Sooo...what's your resolution this year?"

Me: "Not sure. Maybe improve my conversational Spanish*."
"And yours?"
*Attending September wedding in Jerez. Donde esta la biblioteca? Not gonna cut it.

Mr. NR: "I'm trying to remember what last year's was....oh, right! Run a marathon.**"
** He jogs occasionally. For approximately 2 miles. Maybe.

Me: (insert hearty laughing)

Mr. NR: "Damn. That one really got away from me. "

Me: "Have you run 26.2 miles collectively - as in all year long?" (insert more hearty laughing accompanied by tears)

Mr. NR: "Maybe. Probably. Hmph."

And, scene.

Not sure why I was laughing...I'm teetering on a 13 lb weight gain during 5 years of marriage. (It's not as easy as it looks, this whole maintaining girlish figure thing, thankyouverymuch.)

He has a 32 inch waist, can still fit into clothes from high school and would most definitely look better in my Old Navy lounge pants. Ugh.

After much contemplation, he climbed into bed and announced his resolution for 2009:

"I think I'm just going to refrain from drinking dark liquor on Tuesdays."

Ahhh...that's more like it.


Now back to your regularly scheduled program.