My Secret Revealed

While dropping half my onion chunks and sauerkraut strands off my

J-Dawg the other day, I admitted to my friend Joel my secret ambition to become a successful (read: widely read and generously sponsored) blogger. He wisely gave me a few tips.

Joel's Guide to Becoming

a Successful Blogger

1) Be a cute (or bangin?) indie chick.

2) Be married (preferably to an equally indie husband).

3) Have a perfect life (preferably living in an apartment in a trendy major city)

4*) Own a dog.

See the following examples:

A Cup of Jo

pretty/married/writer for Glamour/NYC/no dog but pregnant

Rockstar Diaries

cute and SUPER indie/married/stylist freelancer/DC/dog named Kingsley

Bleubird Vintage

bangin and also SUPER indie/married with 2 kids + pregnant/designer and vintage collector for her own vintage-inspired store

Color Me Katie

cute and artsy-hipster/lives with boyfriend (close enough)/freelance photographer and street artist/Brooklyn/cat named Moo (also close enough)

Did I/Joel miss anything?

I suppose it's a reasonable how-to list.

I'll get started I guess.

Any suggestions for what dog to get?

*Bonus

2009: A Year in Review/ 2010: Resolutions

TOP 10 THINGS THAT DEFINED MY LIFE THIS YEAR.

1) seijinshiki.

it's basically just your 20th birthday. [feb 20.]

but it's a big deal because it means you're officially an Adult.

so in Japan, I can vote, drink and smoke.

perfect.

2) new roommates!

i moved into a new place with amazing roommates! [sept.]

kaitlin is so fun and craftsy.

sara is the best baker i know. seriously. and she is so sweet.

brynn is so easy to talk to and is super insightful.

and none of them care that i perpetually leave our place is disarray. what a perfect setup.

3) this boy.

i've pretty much seen him every day since we started seeing each other [march.]

(well, except for when i'm out of the country.)

and i like it.

4) cooking

and cooking forreals!

5) my family moved to Japan.

I got to go out there twice this year.

total of about 5 weeks.

it's wonderful.

6) reunited!

pica's practically my sister and we rekindled our real-life friendship after several years on hiatus.

she's great.

7) an elephant phase.

seriously.

they're adorable.

always smiling.

8) the Writing Center

i work there!

as a writing tutor!

and i love it!

check out our podcast:

9) blogging.

and here I am.

10) gamelan

yep, still doing it!

we had a great concert [dec.]

(photo forthcoming)

10.5) lady gaga.

what an artist.

My 10 New Year's Resolutions:

1) learn how to use photoshop

2) start scrapbooking

3) take more pictures

4) blog regularly

5) write in journal regularly (for what I won't say on my blog)

6) read more literature outside of school

7) read scriptures and ensign more

8) attend temple regularly/more often

9) learn japanese

10) finish school!

the future is always so exciting. thanks for being last year's future, 2009.