Hi-Ya!! Take that New Years goals!

So.
I'm making progress on my New Years goals, Go me!!
I've been going to Zumba and Jazzercize classes atleast once a week---and yes, I realize exercising once a week sounds fairly pathetic. However, I'm coming from a place where exercise (sadly) had NO place in my life, so it's taken conscious effort to take these first baby steps. I've really liked the classes I've gone to so far which definitely helps to keep me going. Here's to staying motivated & maybe even moving towards getting in shape!? Maybe!?!?

Not done yet....I ALSO made it to the post office to pick up my passport application!!
Score 2 resolution points for moi!

Two negatives in the passport process...

1) The picture. Alicia warned me ahead of time that you're not allowed to smile, but an awkward smirk is apparently kosher. So, I attempted my best demure toothless grin while trying to get my Tyra Banks on and 'smile with my eyes'...right. Well a top model I am not, and I only managed to squish up my already prominent bags under my eyes. Sheesh. Not to mention the amazing fluorescent lighting in Walgreens that did wonders for my complexion! So glad I get to live with this gem for the next 10 years!

2) The application asks you to fill out your travel plans/dates/countries your visiting.
*Wha-wha-wha*
No actual travel plans for this gal. Just a nagging list of resolutions and alotta wishful thinking...hopefully you can't get denied for being a wanna-be world traveler!!

New Years goals revisited...2013 style

(How long will using the word 'style' continue to make me want

to dance like a chubby Korean pop star??)...I hope for a long time....

So...

As expected, I re-read over my 'resolutions' from 

last year and I can only honestly say that I accomplished 

one of them. One. Of Five. Sheesh.

Are new years resolutions genuinely designed to

help motivate or you just humiliate you??

Short term motivation, long term humiliation.

Here's a link to the aforementioned post:

http://themantasticfam.blogspot.com/2012/01/2012.html

So I'll try to pretend those other resolutions didn't happen

and just focus on the one that I succeeded on...

Learning to sew!

Now, I'm by no means making my own clothes,

but I accomplished the basics of working & troubleshooting

my sewing machine and I can make simple things like bibs and 

burp cloths. I can also use my machine to make fun crafts.

That's all I was hoping to be able to do at this point, so I'm pleased.

A few pictures of my sewing endeavors:

How convenient that I snapped a picture of the one time

I laid hands on this book....not so much a 'self-help' book reader.

My first diaper cloth made at my sewing 

'lesson' with Rachael!!

My first solo sewing project....bibs!

Success! 

Made with love for baby Rowan

Paper streamers! Another fun and easy sewing

craft that Rachael showed me

So fun! And re-usable!

Part of the reason I wanted to have a blog was to be able to look

back and see what I've accomplshed...errr...or not yet accomplished.

And even with my irregular posting schedule I suppose it's 

serving it's purpose. 

I've always loved going back and reading diaries and journals

that I've written in over the years, but I'm also one of those

people who writes consistently in a diary for about a week before

falling off the bandwagon. So my diaries are like a yearly

peek into a week of my life. Still interesting to read, though.

So, since I'm glutton for punishment and a

sucker for traditions I'm going to make a few more resolutions

for this year...but only 3 that I can think of at this moment:

1) Get my passport...this WILL happen!!!

2) Exercise...haha, so cliche. But in my defense

I DID have my first Zumba class on Thursday!!
...don't laugh!!!
Kelly and her friend Emi went with me, and I liked it!!
I'm going to try and make it a weekly thing...

3)  Open a Roth IRA.
Another goal that I made (and accomlished thankyouverymuch)
in 2012 was to increase my contribution
 to my retirement plan through work.  It's been satisfying to see that
account grow and I know I'll feel better if I can also get a Roth started.

I mean, I've only got like another
30+ years of working left....meh :(

So that's my short list for now, if I can think of more
I'll try to come back and add them!
Wish me luck!

2012

I just sat her for about 5 minutes with

my head in my hands trying to figure out

what the heck I had to say about 2011...

I guess the answer is clear...

Nothing.

So long.

Good Riddance.

C'est La Vie.

Peace Out.

I'm sure it was a fine year for plenty of folks

out there. And although throwing a pity

party sometimes feels nice...

I realize whole-heartedly that things

could always be worse...I didn't get cancer or

the bubonic plague yet, so I've got

that going for me... ;)

And yes, I'm definitely cheesy enough

to make some new years resolutions too...

I feel like they're really just goals though.

I keep thinking of more things to

add to my list, but I'm really trying

to make sure the list is comprised

of tangible goals that won't overwhelm me...

Me being overwhelmed= Me shutting down.

Ok, so in no particular order...

1) Get my passport. If I don't leave the country

at some point this year..I might lose it.

2) Learn to sew. I'm not saying I'll be making 

my own clothes by the end of the year, but 

I'm hoping to master atleast simple tasks..

pillows, curtains etc...

3) Start attending church more regularly.

Not much to elaborate there...it just

really needs to happen.

4) Plan more family gatherings.

I'm always complaining about how our 

family never gets together anymore, so I'm 

taking over as family matriarch (yikes...

does that make me like 80 years old??)

5) Be healthier, exercise more & hopefully...lose weight.

I know, I know...cliche, right?

But I really do want to accomplish this. 

I can't throw the towel in on myself yet...

I'm not promising to go vegan or lose 30 pounds,

but I am going to try to make a more

consistent effort.

5 resolutions.

I like it.

But, I'm just so impatient...

 I can't help but to jump ahead & start 

wondering where I'll be this time next year.

So much can change in 365 days. 

What will my life look like?

What will my family look like?

How will my friends' lives have changed?

How will my marriage have changed?

How will my job have changed?

I guess that's part of why I have this blog.

To look back and compare where I am and

where I've been. 

And hopefully learn something from it

in the process.

So, Happy New Year.

I'm praying for big things in 2012.