Final notes on 2010

I'm about a week behind on the end of year wrap-up.  However, I was able to enjoy the busy holiday season with family, so it's worth it.  I finished another 18 magazines over the last month or so through the end of December.  Most importantly, I completed a periodical purge and cleared out about a hundred magazines that I hadn't gotten to in 2010.  Since I dropped them off at a local Half Price Books, I'm hoping that someone else will get to enjoy them. 

1. Health (December 2010) - Good read for the gym.  I pulled out two gift idea items (Dylan's Candies in an ornament and Garnet Hill pillowcases) that are now sold out and this netbook for the files.
2. InStyle (November 2010) - I read this one in the car during a holiday road trip.  Several good ideas for purchase - this black trench coat (with a ribbon as a belt), these wedge booties, the Zeno hot spot tool, this dress, Honora jewelry, and this lotion (for protection during our outdoor winter hikes). I also saved a handy checklist of the sites highlighted in the 2010 "Best of the Web" article. 
3. Better Homes and Gardens (December 2010) - Great inspiration for the season!  Pulled this necklace, this mini loaf pan, and these heirloom seeds for the files. 
4. Entertainment Weekly (Dec. 3, 2010) - We are somehow getting this title for free for a year, so I read this one.  Interesting, by not likely to make it into my regular rotation. 
5. First for Women (Nov. 29, 2010) - I don't usually read this title, but the cover story on Vitamin D deficiency pulled me in.  I also saved an article about winter-proofing your car.  One tip was using water-repellent wax on your headlights to prevent grime from building up and decreasing visibility.  I also pulled out a Christmas gift idea for my brother.  Success!
6. Women's Day (December 2010) - More seasonal inspiration!  I saved a half dozen recipes to try this year - spinach & herb quiche, pb&j french toast sticks, chocolate fudge, jelly doughnut holes, red wine short ribs in the slow cooker.  I also saved a great article that inspired me to record just one or two sentences each day: micro-journaling seems like a great way to re-introduce a manageable amount of creativity to my life in 2011!
7. Fitness (Nov./Dec. 2010) - Great motivation at the gym!  I saved an ad for the Gaiam Zone Trainer and an article mentioning Origins Night Health bedtime balm. 
8. Hemispheres (November 2010) - I picked this up on a flight back from San Diego in November.  It had a couple of cool adventure travel articles, and I saved one ad that explained the different shapes of pearls. 
9. Glamour (January 2011) - Took another look at this title from my sister's list, and it wasn't bad for the car ride home from Christmas.  Good section on partner compatibility (and a quiz to see if you could answer the questions immigration officers ask when one spouse is applying for citizenship - surprisingly challenging!). 
10. BBC Knowledge (December 2010) - Just started subscribing to this one, and I loved my first edition.  Fascinating article on epigenomics!
11. Time Out Chicago (Nov. 18, 2010) - Good issue, as usual.  I saved a mention of Renegade Handmade, an article for my dad, and this awesome product - a local foods wheel!
12. Health (November 2010) - Another gym read... I saved a recipe for single serving stuffing muffins, an article about how munching on fennel seeds sweetens your breath naturally, and a few yoga poses to help tame holiday stress (wide saddle side stretch, seated forward bend, and star pose).  I also saved the info on the fitbit product that tracks your sleep patterns. 
13. Midwest Living (Nov./Dec. 2010) - Always love and makes me so happy!  I saved a recipe for a goat cheese, artichoke, and ham brunch strata. I hope to try this one in January. 
14. Seasons (Winter 2010) - This is a small magazine that I receive from our local arboretum; definitely makes me want to get outdoors and enjoy. 
15. Time Out Chicago (Dec. 9, 2010) - This one caught my attention with the title article "100 Best Things We Ate (And Drank) This Year."  Interesting, but nothing that I couldn't live without. 
16.  Whole Living (November 2010) - Always a favorite.  I pulled out mentions of Hotel Alt in Montreal and Quebec City, Origins Zero Oil cleanser,  a recipe for roasted cauliflower with paprika, and a series of stretches for optimal lymphatic functioning. 
17. InStyle (December 2010) - I didn't save much from this one, but I'm consoling myself with the knowledge that I must have toned my arms lifting all 438 pages!  I did save this solid perfume option and two links for boots that can withstand the winter (Hunter Wellingtons and Sorel Caribous). 



18. Real Simple (December 2010) - Great as always; I picked up some ideas for Christmas...a faux fur scarf from the Limited, a state-shaped cutting board,  a LBD from Loft, ruffled "touch" gloves from Nordstrom, and this book.  Finally, I saved an ad about using Excel for mini graphs called Sparklines to research this month. 

For 2011, I'm going to aim to post twice a month with my current reading and notes.