Since it's the first weekday in July, and I haven't done a post like this in awhile, I thought I'd let you know how I'm doing with my 112 goals for 2012. This will be a lengthy post, so I wouldn't blame you if you skipped over it. I'm mostly writing to keep myself accountable, and to remind myself {once again} that even if I fail miserably at some of these things, I'm still improving my life. And, the year isn't over yet, there's time for me to turn things around!
Here's a cheat sheet for you:
Normal text - haven't started
Italics - making progress
Bold - completed
1. Pack or eat a healthy breakfast on days I have to work {don’t stop for fast food or skip it} {I was doing really well on this for awhile...and still am for the most part...but I've had a few slip-ups, especially lately}
2. Pack or eat a healthy lunch on days I have to work {don’t stop for fast food or skip it} {Same story as above...when Gather was getting ready to open, we didn't grocery shop for about 6 weeks. We lived off what we had in our cupboards or stored away, but there were days when we really depended on eating out}
3. Plan dinners the night before so we can stop for necessary ingredients or take things out of the freezer to thaw {See above}
4. Move closer to Elmwood {I'm not sure when, or if, this will happen in 2012. Believe me, if it was up to me, it would have already happened.}
5. Donate at least 20 boxes of things to the thrift store before moving
6. Sort and organize all holiday decorations so they are easily accessible
7. Donate holiday decorations that won’t be used prior to the next holiday
8. Start a family {I doubt this will be happening...although, one never knows what surprises are in store for us! As much as we want to be parents, there is too much up in the air in our life right now.}
9. Complete 2011 Project Life Album
10. Start & complete 2012 Project Life Album {I'm so behind...turns out, participating in the monthly blog hops were keeping me on track! Some new page protectors that will hold Instagram photos should be for sale soon, and I hope I'll be able to catch up this summer. I have continued to take photos, mainly with my Instagram.}
11. Complete at least one additional Project Life Album from a previous year
12.
13.
14. Grow my business {I'm calling this one completed for now...Gather opened in June, my Etsy business is growing, and I see a lot of room for growth through the rest of 2012 and beyond!}
15.
16. Engage in at least one activity per month to promote my business
17.
18. Take pictures during important events/gatherings {There haven't been a lot of gatherings lately, and I've found that my pictures are less of the "here's the whole group" type, and more of the "here's a cute detail to remind me of this day" type.}
19. Plan 1 date night per month with Mike {We only missed one month, May, which is pretty good for us}
20. Complete 1 project per month from inspiration found on Pinterest {Lots of recipes}
21. Start an idea binder to keep inspiration from magazines, etc. {I'm calling this in progress because I started a notes section on my iPad for things like this}
22.
23. Plan and work on 1 craft project per month with nieces and nephews {Still sucking as an Auntie.}
24. Take at least 1 vacation out of state {Not sure that this is going to happen in 2012, but there's a possibility for the fall. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.}
25. Take at least 1 vacation in state {No plans for this at the moment}
26. Visit 1 place I’ve never been before
27. Pay off at least 1 credit card {Sooo close!}
28. Use at least 1 coupon with every grocery purchase {We were doing really well for awhile, and then we've only stopped at the grocery store for eggs for a long time...we love our eggs...and didn't get to use coupons. Couponing for us, which I haven't talked about much on here but will at some point, is a huge commitment, and we're still figuring out how to balance our time throughout the week.}
29. Try one new recipe per month {I've been so-so at this. It hasn't happened in awhile, just because my sweet husband has been cooking for us while I work on things for Gather or Etsy...but, I have quite a few new recipes I plan to try for the 4th}
30. Learn to sew
31. Donate items from couponing to an organization in need
32. Take a photography class
33. Make our new house feel like our home
34. Purchase/borrow bikes and go riding on the trail this summer {I don't see this happening...I expected a much more leisurely summer when I wrote this. This summer has been anything but leisurely!}
35. Plan an outing/visit with friends at least once a month {We're horrible at this, but we're trying.}
36. Take pictures for my blog posts {Thank goodness for Instagram}
37. Create a video to post on my blog {Project Life Blog Hop, woohoo!}
38.
39. Create a stash of cards for multiple occasions to have on hand
40. Frame pictures for our home and display them {I wanted to wait til we were moved to do this, so it hasn't happened. I do have some ideas for making canvases that I want to try...and don't have to wait to try}
41. Create a gallery wall in our new house of important/sentimental pictures {see above}
42. Work on creating Christmas decorations throughout the year {Ha!}
43. Relax and enjoy December and Christmas preparations {I pray for this every time I think about Christmas. I so need a relaxing, enjoyable Christmas}
44. Finish all holiday shopping by December 1
45. Wrap and label Christmas gifts so they are under the tree by the end of the first week in December
46. Use my iPhone calendar to help keep me organized {sorta}
47. Build a stockpile and only shop for perishable items as needed - otherwise, use the stockpile {This comes and goes, it seems}
48.
49. Freeze or can fresh produce to use throughout the following year
50. Take a family picture to display in our home, including both puppies
51. Attend 1 Christmas event in the community {tree lighting, Santa visit, etc.}
52. Visit the local library
53. Become a member of Mike’s church
54. Take all my nieces and nephews to the zoo for the day {I don't see this happening, unfortunately}
55.
56. Make homemade rolls for a holiday dinner {Garlic knots to go with my corned beef & cabbage on St. Patrick's day...amazing, and not too hard. I'll never buy rolls again}
57. Drink at least 3 big glasses of water daily
58. Find at least 1 new blog per month to follow {This is happening. I'd love to list them for you, but it would take me all day to list all the new blogs I've been following. Perhaps in a later post.}
59. Comment on at least 1 blog post per week {Surprisingly, I'm still doing pretty well at this}
60. Host 1 holiday celebration at my house {I don't see this happening, either}
61. Have a family dinner for no special reason at least every other month {This will probably be marked a fail by the next update...if we could count dinners outside our house, we might be okay}
62. Identify a space in our new home for books and make use of it
63. Visit a large flea market/antique show {Oh gravy, this has been so much fun. We went to Walnut Antique Walk and JunkStock in June, and Junk Jubilee in April. I can think of at least 2 more we plan to attend this year, yay!}
64. File important paperwork so it’s easily accessible
65. Organize my spice cupboard so it’s not overly full and difficult to find what I’m looking for
66. Utilize my closet
67. Make a plan to complete chores/housekeeping responsibilities on a routine basis
68. Purchase a new vacuum cleaner and use it!
69. Begin filling my home with meaningful decorations that make us happy
70.
71. Attempt to make contact with the people who received organs from my mom {I'll write a post about this later this month...it's hard. Harder than I thought.}
72. Send Christmas cards
73. Carve a pumpkin
74. Attend a training/seminar to learn a new skill for work
75. Take a picnic {bought a picnic blanket the other day...that's something, right?}
76. Learn how to use Photoshop
77. Take flowers to the graves of loved ones who have passed away
78. Use my time wisely to eliminate stress
79. Check Etsy and local stores first for gift giving options {So far, so good}
80. Plan ahead for gift giving to allow time for shipping or searching for the right gift
81. Complete the Week in the Life project and get photographs into an album or Project Life layout {I bolded part of it. I took photos for the project, I'm just that far behind on PL that they're not in my album yet}
82. Get my house into a state where I would be comfortable with people dropping in
83. Keep my new house in a state where I’m comfortable with people dropping in
84. Change my mindset that people can drop in on a house that is not perfectly spotless
85. Strive to be more patient with people
86.
87. Become more active in an attempt to be healthier {and lose weight in the process}
88. Purchase a pair of dress shoes that are cute and do not hurt my feet
89. Send at least 1 “thinking of you” card to someone for no particular reason
90. Make and display an advent calendar
91. Organize my pantry {Did it last weekend...looks great!}
92. Don’t give up on taking photographs daily if I happen to miss one day {I missed a couple days and came up with a solution that works for me...weekly photo layouts in PL}
93. Don’t complain about anything for a week
94. Watch a movie I’ve always wanted to see but have never made time to watch
95. Make a custom recipe book {or find my favorite online recipes and pin them onto my Food board on Pinterest}
96. Eat 3 things I’ve never tried before
97. Learn to knit or crochet
98. Make Cold Cookies for Grandma {and Mike & me}
99. Make my own cleaning product rather than buying something {laundry detergent & fabric softener, so far...laundry detergent is for sale at Gather, if you're interested}
100. Go to the county fair
101.
102. Don’t swear for a week
103. Identify 25 things that make me happy and find a way to incorporate those things into Project Life
104. Journal in Project Life as I take pictures - complete journaling for the previous month at the start of a month}
105. Visit at least 1 photo booth
106. Take vitamins daily {I honestly forgot this was on my list...whoops}
107. Organize the photos on my computer
108. Clean out refrigerator weekly {Not happening weekly. Bimonthly, maybe...}
109. Send thank you notes in a timely manner {I'm hit or miss. I don't like that.}
110. Donate expired coupons for military use
111. Create/purchase a family calendar to be used by both Mike & me
112. Say no to things when I don’t have time or am feeling overwhelmed {I'm calling this in progress. When I started Gather, I readjusted my priorities, and made sure I was taking time to make my dream come true. Sometimes, that means saying no to things, even when it's something I want to do. I'm working to feel okay with that, because I'm often disappointed, and even more often, worrying that I'm disappointing someone else. I have to move past that.}
Looking at all that, here's what I see. Not very many things completed. Lots in progress. A lot more that I failed at than I thought I would at the beginning of the year. Lots of things not started that I thought would be. I'm readjusting how I look at this list, every time I think about it. My life looks so much different now than it did when I wrote the list 6 months ago, and I'm okay with that. I didn't know life would take me in this direction, and it has, so I'm embracing some of the changes and dealing with others as best as I can.
Having a list like this, and forcing myself to look at it periodically, is just what I needed. It's giving me some focus and motivation to get some things accomplished. It's helping me see what's really important. That's all for today! Hope you're having a great start to the week!
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