2018 Resolutions

1. Travel somewhere new abroad (Scotland)
2. Read 20 books
3. Run a half marathon
4. Get a motorcycle license
5. Complete Italian levels 3-4
6. Take dance lessons
7. Learn to do handstands
8. Do a strict pull-up
9. Reach < 20% body fat
10. Scuba diving certification
11. Visit three national parks (Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Sequoia)
12. Meditate daily for one month

2018 Books

1. Reset by Ellen Pao
2. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
3. Embrace the Suck by Stephen Madden
4. Mindset by Carol Dweck
5. All the Light we Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
7. We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
8. The Word is Murder by Anthony Horrowitz

In Progress:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
Running with the Mind of Meditation by Sakyong Mipham
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
On Managing Yourself by Harvard Business Review

Melting Moments

Cookies

• 1 cup butter at room temperature
• ⅓ cup confectioner's sugar
• ⅛ tsp salt
• ¾ cup corn starch
• 1 cup flour

Icing

• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 1 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2 tbsp half-and-half

Directions

In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter until light, then gradually add the confectioners' sugar and salt. Beat this mixture thoroughly, about 3 minutes; gradually add the cornstarch and flour and blend well. Form the dough into walnut-sized balls and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350° F.

Transfer the balls to an ungreased cookie sheet and let stand for 20 minutes or until soft, then make a thumbprint on top of each to flatten the cookies. Bake for 15-16 minutes, or until the cookies are golden on the bottom. Remove to a rack to cool.

While the cookies cool, make the icing: In a small bowl, combine the butter, confectioners' sugar, almond extract, and half-and-half until creamy. (This may be tinted with food coloring.) Ice the cookies when they are completely cooled. Store in tins, in layers separated by plastic wrap.

US Travel Wishlist

1. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve (March-May)
2. Muir Woods
3. Grand Canyon
4. Crater Lake National Park
5. Mount Shasta
6. Seattle; Mount Rainier; Olympic National Park
7. Alaska
8. Yosmite National Park; John Muir Trail (California)
9. Sequoia National Park (California)
10. Glacier National Park (Montana)

2017 Books

1. A Year by the Sea by Joan Anderson
2. The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
3. The New Rules of Weightlifting for Women by Lou Schuler
4. Thinner Leaner Stronger by Michael Matthews
5. Multipliers by Liz Wiseman
6. Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
8. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
9. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
10. Shut Up and Run by Robin Arzon
11. Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
12. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
13. The Last Carbonara by Anthony Jennings
14. Running Like a Girl by Alexandra Heminsley
15. The Tao of Bill Murray by Gavin Edwards

2017 Resolutions

1. Learn to dance
2. Read 15 books
3. Learn how to do handstands
4. Make a budget / track spending 
5. Pick ONE sport (3x/week)
6. Travel to a new country (Italy, hopefully)
7. Photo-a-day blog
8. Learn Italian
9. Figure out what's next
10. Finish my tattoo

First Tattoo

People keep asking me, "what does it mean?" I don't like answering that question because I hate being on the spot and it also feels personal and secret. But in any case, here's the gist of it. I like the symbolism of the moon, and I think it's a pretty design. On a more personal level I have been trying to internalize its message of rebirth -- a reminder that you can start over.