Oh, I know. I’m so unique with my end of year review list thingy. Here is last year’s list.
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I ran miles and miles and miles. I started a business. I got paid as a freelance writer. I sent my baby to Kindergarten.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I actually feel pretty good about my resolutions from last year. I mean, I didn’t get all of them accomplished, but I still feel like I put a rather sizeable dent in my list.
Last year’s goals (2011):
Personal:
1. Continue to work on being more calm, less rushed, less prone to yelling
**I am still working on this. I think I will always be working on this. I try to remember the quote from Ann Voskamp, “Life is not an emergency,” particularly when I’m practically a damn ringmaster with a whip, freaking out about how NOT QUICKLY the children are moving when it’s time to go somewhere.
2. Lose two pants sizes DONE! (Actually it was 3 pants sizes, but whose counting?!)
3. Drink at least 64 ounces of water everyday
**I–I just am unable to remember to drink water, or any liquids, except when I’m suddenly dying of thirst. I’m keeping this on my list for next year.
4. Bake bread from scratch
**Nope. Not really feeling this one for 2012 either.
5. Run two 5K’s DONE! (I think I ran 4 5K races and 1 10K race.)
6. Have an email/social media/computer free day per week
**I did such a good job on this for the first few months of 2011, but then I just didn’t. I do try and and reduce my computer time on the weekends, but I just can’t have completely email/social media/computer free days.
7. Read a whole bunch-a books (again) Mostly done. Will try to read 40 books this year!
8. Help teach my children to be kinder and more thoughtful by doing random acts of kindness.
**What kind of a loser sets this as a goal and doesn’t do any of it?! This kind right here. I’ll admit that this one feels uncomfortable to me, which is probably why I SHOULD do this.
9. Get a passport and travel somewhere out of the country with Tate for our 10th wedding anniversary. DONE-ish! We went to Hilton Head, SC for our anniversary. I was…disappointed when we initially set up the vacation there. I wanted tropical, all-inclusive resort in a foreign paradise. Tate wanted safe, familiar US soil. Hilton Head was such a lovely place, though. I just fell in love with it that I hope we can go back there every summer.
10. Keep in touch better with my extended family members
**I suck at this.
11. Initiate more with friends, be the one to call, the one to invite out for dinner…
**I suck at this, too.
12. Catch up on Mad Men DONE! Also got caught up on Friday Night Lights. This year’s plan includes Breaking Bad.
13. Organize our basement and attic
**Ha! Ha ha ha ha, ha. No.
14. Have a garage sale and/or donate to a worthy organization (any suggestions?) (DONE!)
15. Buy all new make-up with the help of a friend to tell me what to buy DONE!
16. Be a better blog commenter (comment on at least 10 blog posts per week)
**I’m keeping this one for next year. My blog commenting got even worse this year.
17. Take more risks even if it means that I might look stupid or embarrass myself I guess starting a business counts as taking a risk? It feels like a risk. It feels like I look stupid quite often.
Photography:
1. Take photos of at least 3 families Kinda done! I took photos of one family and one newborn, plus a wedding. Photography is a lot of work and I’m pretty sure that it’s not something I want to pursue as a profession.
2. Get more photos printed DONE! They are in a box, though, not displayed. *shrugs shoulders*
3. Make a photo book of my favorite shots
**Nope. Didn’t get this done. Maybe this year. Probably not, though
4. Get better with photographing and editing shots taken in artificial light. I’m calling this one DONE, even though I still have a lot to learn. Lightroom has been a big help with fixing white balance, as well as the Clickin’ Moms class I took.
5. Learn to use my external flash Another one that I’m calling DONE, but still have SO, SO MUCH to learn.
6. Shoot a wedding DONE! NEVER AGAIN.
7. Instead of Project 365, complete a Project 52, choosing the best photos from each week in 2011.
**I need a photography project for this year because I’m going weeks without even picking up my camera. I don’t want to lose everything I’ve learned, but I also don’t need yet another thing to make me feel overwhelmed.
Spiritual:
1. Write one post about my faith that explains how much it means to me DONE!
2. Read books about other faiths
**I need suggestions.
3. Remember to pray before every meal
**I’m usually so hungry and ready to get dinner over with, cleaned up, and the kids to bed that I forget to pray. (See above regarding my goal to stop rushing.)
4. Lead a prayer outloud DONE. It was semi-awful the three times I did it. I don’t feel confident in HOW you are supposed to pray outloud. I usually just talk to God like he’s my dad sitting next to me on the couch, except silently and in incomplete thoughts, and I don’t know how to do that outloud with other people listening.
5. Lead a study in my women’s group at church DONE! (Actually I co-lead a study, but I’m counting it!)
This year’s goals (2012):
Personal:
1. Calm, patient, less yelling. Yadda yadda yadda. Same ol’, same ol’.
2. Drink more water!
3. Work with my kids to figure out how to serve others, maybe through donations, projects, volunteering, and/or random acts of kindness.
4. Call family and friends. On the phone. Just to say hi.
5. Organize the basement and attic.
6. Be a better blog commenter.
7. Run a half-marathon.
8. Run a 5K in under 30 minutes.
9. Laugh more.
10. Catch up on Harry Potter movies
11. Read 40 books this year!
12. Find a TV show that Tate and I can watch together.
Business:
1. Set up my business as an LLC.
2. Grow my business, increase pageviews to the website and get more Facebook fans.
3. Sell advertising for my business and create campaigns with local companies that are mutually beneficial.
Spiritual:
1. Figure out how God wants to use me and then do it.
2. Read books about other faiths
3. Read the Bible
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My neighbor had the cutest baby boy ever. Besides Carson, of course. I think this link will work to see the newborn pictures I took of him.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A clean house. Organized papers.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
October 8-13, our trip to Disney! Everything about the trip was just so MAGICAL.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing weight, sticking with running for longer than a month, and starting my business.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I feel like I lost my funny this year. I read every post I wrote here in 2011 and I had nothing funny to say at all. I feel so bogged down with work and life and school and everything else, that I notice that I don’t find things as funny as I used to. I want my funny back.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our vacations.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Everyone I know who did something kind for others.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Too many people. Jerry Sandusky and everyone who covered up for him definitely stands out.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, our new car, vacations, and Kroger. I should never complain about my life.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
God, Running, Friday Night Lights, Hilton Head, Disney World
16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts. My kids were obsessed with this song and we listened to it over and over and over. Also, You are My Sunshine. I sang that to Ella many nights this year before bed.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier and sadder, thinner, richer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spending quality time alone with Tate.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being so serious.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We spent Christmas here at home with my parents. Christmas day was relaxing and lazy. The weekend before Christmas we enjoyed a visit with Tate’s family. Our holiday season was wonderful as always. Except for all the new stuff that I have no idea where it will go and the lack of Christmas spirit I felt this year. Other than that, it was GREAT. Just great.
21. Did you fall in love with 2011?
I did re-fall in love with Tate after our anniversary trip and trip to Disney.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Mad Men and Friday Night Lights.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I really don’t like to use that word, hate. But no, there is not.
24. What was the best book you read?
I feel like I didn’t really read that many good books this year. If I had to pick the best, it would be Cutting for Stone
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Mumford and Sons
26. What did you want and get?
Thinner thighs and hips so that I could wear skinny jeans with tall boots.
27. What did you want and not get?
I can’t think of anything, I’m a very lucky girl.
28. What was your favorite film of 2011?
I really enjoyed Inception and The Social Network.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 36 and my in laws came into town to watch the kids so that Tate and I could go to Nashville for the weekend. It was perfect.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More laughing and having a better handle on juggling working with parenting and wife-ing.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?
Trying hard not to look frumpy. Always avoiding the frump.
32. What kept you sane?
Saturday and Sunday.
33. What political issue stirred you the most?
That Rick Perry video sure was disturbing.
34. Who did you miss?
Family and friends who live far away
35. Who was the best new person you met?
36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Trust your instincts. Pray. You can do anything you put your mind to. Kindness always wins.
37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
See? I can’t think of a single song lyric when put on the spot like this.
********
Happy New Year, everybody! Hope 2012 will be a great year for all of us!
Happy New Year to you!
Love your list but I have to say — you weave humor throughout your writing. Even on this list.
Marinka´s last [type] ..Judge Judy
Thanks, Marinka. That means a lot coming from one of the funniest people I know.
Wow, you had a great year! Congrats on the weight loss and the races, I did a bit of that myself in 2011. Hilton Head is such a beautiful place. Glad you enjoyed it. We vacation sometimes in Tybee Island GA, and on a clear day can see Hilton Head from across the river.
Carolina John´s last [type] ..Christmas 2011 in pictures
We went to Tybee Island the summer before last! The only problem was the jellyfish! Not sure why it was worse there than HH?
Still here! I mostly lurk cause of the 4 year old constantly on my lap!
I reckon you you’ve done really well with your goals, so well done!!!
The thing I’m most proud of myself for doing this year is giving up smoking. November 10th I smoked my last pack. Go me!
Here’s to 2012 being a good one! x
Marylin´s last [type] ..I Used to Love…
That’s a great accomplishment, Marylin! Congratulations!!
I hope it all comes to be for you.
Heather´s last [type] ..Playing along and updates
We have so many of the same goals and thoughts for 2011/2012, but I have to pipe in and share two things that helped me this year with some of the things you listed:
The Google Next button CHANGED how I read blogs. It’s so so so much better than reading in a reader or using bookmarks or whatever. I feel so much more caught up on blogs and can comment easily. I swear by it. Here’s a post (not my own) that explains it better: http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2011/03/if-you-read-blogs-you-should-read-this.html
I also want to do a 52 weeks of photos project and have been happy to learn that there’s a whole group that does it with just camera phone photos. Even some of the book-maker sites (Blurb, for example) will make books of these photos that you upload from your phone (I think). Anyway, that takes the pressure off of me to capture this beautiful, well-composed shot weekly. I’m going to try it.
Looking forward to seeing you at Blissdom in February!
laura @ hollywood housewife´s last [type] ..2011 year in review
I have the Google next button! My problem is that when I have time to read blogs, I’m reading from my phone and well, I’m lazy and hate commenting from my phone. I TERRIBLY miss the google share function because at least I felt like I was doing something to show I was there.
Can’t wait to see you at Blissdom, too!! Woo hoo!
Congrats on a successful 2011, you kicked butt! Happy New Year. Oh and may I suggest Dexter as a show for you and the hubby to watch? My husband and I became fans of it last year and is the only show we watch together.
Denise´s last [type] ..A Pinky Swear With Friends? Catalyst For New Year’s Change… 2012 Mind Body Challenge
We have watched the first 2 or 3 seasons, but we don’t have Showtime anymore. It’s definitely on my “must watch” list, I just have to find a cheap way to catch up. I hear the John Lithgow season was amazing, in a totally scary and screwed up way.
Wow, what a great wrap-up! I may need to answer those questions myself. Such a great way to look back on the year that was. Happy New Year!
(and yay for the running goals! you can do it!!)
Elaine´s last [type] ..Cookies are Always a good idea
You should! I stole this from Jennie at She Likes Purple and Linda from All & Sundry…and probably 100 other people.
You could have started a whole series on RAoK and then kinda, you know, quit because you feel like you’re tooting your own horn. Sigh.
I’m not jealous at all that you dropped 2 pants sizes. Not a bit.
(Okay, maybe a little, and I think I found them, so if you ever want them back, just let me know.)
My secret for drinking tons of water? Drink a huge glass first thing when you wake up. It’s a good start, you get some out of the way first thing, and I believe it helps you to want more water after.
Can’t wait to give you a squeeze (promise it will only me a little one) in February.
Well, I’m trying to drink a whole glass before and after every meal. I don’t know why this is such a hard thing to do!
Can’t wait to squeeze you back!!! I’m seriously excited for this year’s Blissdom.
Love the list. Regarding #10, I totally disagree. You are SO funny. I love your humour. It takes a lot to get me to laugh out loud but you always manage. Thanks for that.
Congratulations on all of your HUGE accomplishments in 2011. I’m sure you will be wonderful in 2011.
Thank you, I’m glad I make someone laugh!
Oh, LORD am I forever trying to avoid the frump. This year I had to admit that the cute little granny-looking dresses and Chanel-ish jackets are now a little too … authentic … looking.
I think you did great on your resolutions! If you want to read a book to learn about Judaism, “To Be a Jew” (http://www.amazon.com/Be-Jew-Jewish-Observance-Contemporary/dp/0465086322/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1) is a great book, but a heavy read in some places. You can also feel free to just have a conversation with (probably) your only Orthodox Jewish reader, or watch the movie Ushpizin (in Hebrew with subtitles). I’d love to get your perspective on Judaism, since Christianity sprung from it.
Thank you so much for the suggestion, I’ve added it to my wish list. After I read it, I may just take you up on your offer to have a conversation.
I really love all the list..Thank you for sharing this to us..
Celeste´s last [type] ..How Does Fractionation Seduction Work?
Just catching up on your blog. First, congratulations on accomplishing so much in a year! And three pants sizes is SO worth counting. That is so inspiring.
And 40 books is an awesome goal! How/when do you do that? I have a huge stack of books to read. I have GOT to make time for that. If you can ready 40, I can read 4. (I like to aim low).
I also like your stay away from the computer on the weekends rule. I usually can only blog in the evenings and on weekends, but I think I might need to adopt your rule. (Or at least try). And if that means blogging less, that’s okay. I mean no one on their death bed wished they had spent more time blogging, right?
Hmmmm, as usual, your words have given me lots to think about. You are a terrific writer and I admire you very much. Thank you for your kind words.
Wishing you a fun and happy 2012! Glad to know ya –
Hedda
Oh I loved Cutting for Stone! Good job and the things you accomplished and good luck on what you are going to accomplish in 2012.
M&Co.´s last [type] ..Rules to Live By
I really enjoyed “God Is Not One: The 8 Rival Religions That Run The World and Why Their Differences Matter.” It helped me to understand more about each of the religions it discusses and it was written in a way that wasn’t too dry. Happy Reading!
Many congrats on your first year of being paid as a freelance writer! I just quit my full-time job to strike out on my own in that arena as well. Building a blog as a business is a bit scary, so I’m always glad to see success stories. Keep up with the great writing!
Maybe Lady Liz´s last [type] ..Bad Reasons to Have a Baby
[...] I made that resolution this year-well, I made the same resolution the year before, too, if I’m being totally honest-to call and initiate more with my friends. There’s a million and one things I could do to be the kind of friend I want to be. Thoughtful gifts and cards, phone calls, lunch dates…I just have to DO those things. [...]
[...] last year’s list, and here the year before [...]