But I Want Shoes That Will Work My Abs**

Yesterday, Dave commented, "You know, your sister has been posting like crazy these days," so I explained to him that Erika was finishing up her 365 run and I wasn't posting during that time. Last night we watched the video that she put up, and I got a little teary eyed watching Becks grow up right in front of my eyes. Sure, I have photos of the Girls through the years, and they did age from photo to photo, but it was much more powerful to view that all in one sitting.

Christmas: Merry, Happy, Done from Jill Greenwood on Vimeo.

Christmas has come and gone (and I'm a little thankful for that to tell you the truth), and now the new year - 2011 - is upon us. Most people make resolutions, things that are supposed to make them better or smarter or healthier. Me? Not so much. Sure, I plan on using the treadmill more . . . but the heater looks so nice sitting there on it. And I really plan on cooking more for Dave and me . . . but sometimes it really is cheaper to run to Panera Bread. Resolutions? Whatever. But projects? I'm your girl for a good project or two or three.

Project 333 fits the bill quite nicely. It's been about three years now that I've noticed I wear the same five or six sweaters all school year long and rotate in the same couple of pants throughout the school year. Hell, I was giddy - seriously laughing out loud - when a friend gave me a pair of jeans she didn't like because they were the same, exact pair that I loved and adored. I've read Beverly's blog for years now and was inspired by her success (she's very inspirational . . . go check her out). And so, after finding pink tank after pink tank after pink tank with the same blue, ink-like stains fresh out of the wash, I decided that something had to give. Seriously, how many pink tanks does one girl need? Apparently, five.

The Cast-Offs

I pulled all of my clothing out of the closet and drawers and settled on 33 items to take me through the next three months. Here is that list:

• gray Old Navy work pants
• gray Daisy Fuentes Kohls work pants
• black Apartment 9 work pants
• black Daisy Fuentes work pants
• Mossimo jeans (the ones from my friend, Marijo)
• Old Navy jeans
• red Lane Bryant pullover sweater
• green Old Navy cable cardigan
• black Old Navy party cardi cardigan
• gray Old Navy swing cardigan
• ivory Old Navy swing cardigan
• ivory Old Navy thin pullover
• teal Old Navy cardigan
• black Macy's swing cardigan black Old Navy boat neck sweater I live in this thing on the weekends
• white Old Navy long sleeve t-shirt
• white JCPenny's long sleeve t-shirt
• black Apartment 9 Kohls wrap 3/4 shirt
• black Lane Bryant  3/4 t-shirt
• gray and black striped Old Navy t-shirt
• two white Lane Bryant camis
• hot pink Lane Bryant cami
• purple Lane Bryant cami
• black Elf Clarks
• black Mary Jane Keens
• red Ecco pumps
• UGG alikes (and they are so old that they are rank and smell of death)
• ivory Old Navy  winter coat
• teal pashmina 
• London pashmina
• Chamila bracelet*
• charm necklace*
• black belt

So . . . I shop at Old Navy a lot. And I like cardigans. I also like The Cardigans, but that's a post for another day. At this point, half of my excess clothing is in a clear box and the other half is on the Girls' bed waiting for another clear box so it has a happy home for the next three months as well, including two Burberry scarves, a pair of Fluevog sandals that I've only worn once, and about 30 Vera Bradley purses (might have a problem with that).

I love them . . . but they hurt like a son of a bitch

I am bending a few rules and only a few. Hand knit items are off the table. Period. Full stop. Anything that I happen to finish, like a sweater or socks or a sweater or a hat or a sweater, are fair game, and I'm not budging from that.  Besides, if I happen to actually finish something, then I've made a dent in my ever expanding yarn stash. Also, any jewelry that Dave has given me won't be put away. There aren't many pieces (a few necklaces, two bracelets, a ring or two), but I can't choose . . . so I won't.

So, project number one is underway . . . but I'm pretty sure that there are more to come. There always are.

-Jill

* My Chamilia bracelet and charm necklace have many, many charms and parts. Again, I'm okay with that. 
** Title courtesy of Dave, who after learning that his new Avia sneakers were really working his calves, made me smile with this gem