It’s the end of Day 1. I established my New Year resolutions earlier today. So what have I been able to do?

I went to the gym after work. I took it easy and did 3 sets of 8 on 5 different chest and shoulder machines. The 25-minute walk from the gym to the subway station was a nice cool-down.

I went grocery shopping and bought a lot of vegetables. They didn’t have the brand of meatless sausage I like, Gimme Lean, so I got Morningstar instead. I hope it’s just as good.

I made dinner. I whipped up some Parmesan crusted chicken. It’s one of my favorite meals, and it’s so delicious and easy. Instead of regular mayonnaise, I used Baconnaise and the chicken came out tasting like it was wrapped in bacon! Yum. I made a side of Brussels sprouts—steamed with garlic cloves until almost done, then sautéed with a bit of butter, mashed garlic and a dash of black pepper. I love Brussel sprouts.

I made my “vegetarian” lunch for tomorrow, though there’s eggs in it (so I’ll be an octo-lavo vegetarian, okay?). My improvised recipe from something I had found online for a much more complicated lobster dish:

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, plus a little more for later
• 2 -3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1.5 - 2 inches of ginger, minced
• oyster mushrooms, sliced
• Italian squash, chunked
• 1 - 2 dry hot chili peppers
• 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce

Beat the eggs and cook an omelet in the olive oil. Flip once. Remove and set aside. Sauté the garlic and ginger in the same pan until slightly brown and fragrant. Throw in the squash, drizzle a bit of olive oil on them, and continue sautéing. When squash is almost cooked through, throw in the mushrooms and quickly toss everything together. Add chili peppers and let cook for 2 - 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Slice the omelet into thin strips and add to to pan. Add oyster sauce, cook for another 1 minute, and remove from heat.

The smell was so good and the texture of the squash and oyster mushrooms was perfect! I wanted to eat it all up despite just having dinner.  Instead, I let it cool down then packed it up and put it away in the fridge. I shall be enjoying it for lunch tomorrow with some brown rice and diced cilantro. Mmm!

Afterward, I cleaned up after myself immediately (another resolution).  I washed all the knives I used, my cutting board, pots, pans, mixing bowls, and utensils.  I even wiped down the stove top!

I also had a glass of wine with my dinner earlier, took my vitamin, and set aside time after my shower to fully exfoliate and moisturize my body. I made sure to apply my night facial serum, which actually works really well (it’s a shame that I’ve been too lazy to use it).  Plus, I drank a lot of water today and returned a 2-week old email from a friend.

So far, so good, and now, I’m going to go to bed at 1:15 AM, 45 minutes earlier than my usual bedtime.  Hey, it’s a start!

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I’ll be 27 this year. Wow. I think I’m finally starting to feel old.

Actually, scratch that. I’ve always felt old, but I think it’s settling in what being an adult really means.

It’s responsibility, planning, dedication and follow-through. That all sounds pretty “old,” doesn’t it? But I need to stop living like a teenage boy in a messy dorm room.

I know I’ve made many of these goals before (many, many times before), but this year, I truly feel different. I have my first gray hair, an under eye wrinkle, and age spots. I’m always going to grow older; living like a kid won’t change that.  It will only make what is to come harder if I am not prepared, and as of right now, I’m a woefully unprepared.

So in no particular order, here are my goals for 2009.

Go to the gym frequently.

“Frequently” is the key word. It’s very important. I do go to the gym. I go regularly, in fact. But over the course of 2008, regularly changed from every weekday to every other Saturday.

I need to go frequently. I don’t have to workout vigorously every time I go. The walk there and back is really good for me.

I just need to go.

Category: HEALTH

Eat healthier/eat out less/cook/buy groceries.

I eat out way too often, and when I do, it’s usually junk. Not as bad as fast food, but still not very healthy and expensive. Also, I need to stop eating the lunches provided by work. Today was KFC. The only time I ever really eat fast food is at work, otherwise, I would go an entire year without ever eating at Carl’s Jr., KFC, Popeye’s, McDonalds, etc.

Category: HEALTH, FINANCES

Put aside money each paycheck into a savings account.

This is so important, and so neglected.

Category: FINANCES

Go to bed earlier/get up earlier.

Definitely a must so I can get to the gym.

Category: HEALTH

Take care of my skin/hair/nails.

I need to moisturize, wear sunscreen, exfoliate, and look into night and eye creams. It’s stuff I never really cared about (and don’t really care about now), but I know it will keep me from cursing my laziness at 35.

With my hair, I need to stop coloring and bleaching it and invest in quality conditioners and treatments.

Category: HEALTH

Drink more water.

This goes hand in hand with eating healthier, going to the gym, and taking care of my skin and hair.

Category: HEALTH

Take my vitamins and supplements/drink more wine.

Same reason as above.

Category: HEALTH

Clean more often.

I have a bad habit of letting things pile up (dishes, clothes, papers, makeup) before I finally give in and start cleaning and organizing. I want to develop the habit of taking a few seconds to automatically clean up and putting things away instead of spending hours tackling a huge mess.

Category: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Be more social.

I now and then will get into a mood where I’m rather antisocial. Sometimes they last an evening; sometimes they last months. The sure fire fix for it is for me to go out and hang with some of my friends, but that’s hard to get going when I don’t want to go out in the first place.

I need to be better at returning emails and messages, be a bit more open and social. I’m content where I am right now, but in the long run, it’s no way to live.

Category: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Spend at least one hour each week on my web projects.

I have numerous projects, including this blog, that have gone neglected. I get bursts of creative energy and excitement, and I’ll work on something for nights straight, and then get bored and won’t touch it for months. If they were worth starting, then they’re worth finishing.

Category: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Explore Los Angeles.

I’ve been here 8 years now and haven’t strayed far from Hollywood. Although I love my neighborhood, it’s about time I ventured out a bit more and see what else this large city has to offer. Time to put my new digital camera to good use!

Category: PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT