2012 is the year of Taylor

I am pretty sure 2011 was The Year of Taylor but I feel like I didn't make the best of it so I am bringing it back for another go around.

What is The Year of Taylor? Well it's pretty much just focusing on me and becoming the best Taylor I can be. Sounds hippy dippy and slightly lame but it's what I shall be doing. I spend a lot of time doing things for others, which I love, and not enough spending time on me. I am doing more of that this year. Doesn't mean I don't love my friends but I need to have a little bit more me time. I need to learn to cook more. I know how to cook, just chose not to do it. I need to cook more. I also need to clean more. I have a terrible habit is just letting my clothes go wherever, which means a closet explosion across the apartment. Just 2 of the things I will be working on in The Year of Taylor. My friends WB and SB have offer to have a cooking lesson of easy meals I can make for myself next time I am in San Antonio. I am for sure going to take them up on this offer.

Anyone have any great recipes that take under 20 mins to make? I, like senior citizens, prefer to eat during the early bird special time of 6 pm!

A resolution

I have made a few resolutions for the year. One of them is to cook once a week. I know how to cook but lots of time am too busy to do it. I am going to make my best effort to cook something every week. Maybe if I get real crazy I will cook twice but we will see. This Sunday seemed like a great day to start the resolution. I read this recipe for a tomato soup on Iowa Girl Eats the other day and thought it was a great first cooking choice. It was super easy and very tasty as well. I will for sure make this again and it made plenty so looks like I have dinner taken care of for a few days. I didn't use canellini beans because HEB didn't have any. Seriously, none. I looked 3 different times. I will use them next time and maybe use more broth as well and perhaps add some additional veggies to it like zucchini or something. Two thumbs up!

Pardon the crappy camera phone photo. Much better pictures on Iowa Girl Eats!

It's a Brad Brad World and I want to be a part of it

I was starting to doubt my Bravo love after the not greatness of Chef Roble

but then Brad went and got his own show. You know him as Rachel Zoe's former assistant. When we last saw Brad he was leaving Rachel to start out on his own. Something happened between them and now they are no longer speaking. That kind of made me sad but then I got over it. I like Brad and find this show to be pretty awesome. He is funny and I also like his boyfriend. I think it will shape up to be a new favorite show. Thanks for this new classic Andy Cohen!

9 Year Old Taylor

I couldn't help but think that 9 year old Taylor would have been very sad with one of my Christmas requests this year. I asked for Claritin. Santa provided with a 6 month supply in my stocking. That stuff isn't cheap so it seemed like a solid request but 9 year old me would have been asking where the Barbie or American Girl doll was. Sorry to let you down 9 year old me. When you get old your requests aren't that fun anymore and more on the practical side. That and cedar fever is terrible this year!

Ugh

I had a whole other post to put up today but home girl teen mom got herself knocked up again. Geez. Kids these days.

67

That is the number of books I read last year. I was trying to get to 70 but holidays got in the way and I couldn't wrap up the books I had been working on.

One of my fave books I read

last year was The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin.

See Amazon for a detailed description.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin was also a life changing book that I will most likely re-read this year. The LA Candy Series by Lauren Conrad was my guilty pleasure series. Not going to change your life or anything but will provide you with some solid light entertainment. I also really liked Is Everyone Hanging out Without Meand Bossypants, like the rest of the world.

I am taking recommendations for books to read in 2012, so comment away with them. Anyone know of a good book on Margaret Thatcher? I saw a preview for The Iron Lady movie about her and now want to learn more about her.

Happy New Year

Happy 2012 my readers. It was a pretty good 2011 and here's to hoping 2012 is even better. Resolutions coming up soon but until then I shall be lounging on the couch. So glad we get Monday off!

Hope your New Year's Eve was as good as this guy's