2015 Goal review and on to 2016!

What a crazy whirlwind of a year! My goal list was extra challenging this year simply because I was so busy traveling. Who knew? I can't wait to open my "Jar of Awesome" to see all the crazy fun I had...but alas, I will wait until tomorrow for that.

For the last week or so I've been thinking about my goals for the next year. I've compiled a list which ended up being partially the same as last year. Some repeats, but some new.

2016 Goals

1. Draw or paint 5 days a week
Hello! This is my profession! You'd think this would be a breeze, but it's totally not.

2. Get back down and maintain weight (*undisclosed amount here*)
Because of all my traveling, my weight suffered. It's been worse, but I still don't like it. I have no problem exercising consistently, but that's not how I lose weight. I need to eat clean and stick with it through the weekends. A splurge meal is fine, but not an entire weekend!

3. Ride three new places with Travis
Travis and I love to ride new places! Should be pretty easy. ;)

4. Send 100 smail mails
Love sending cards and letters! Wanna be penpals?

5. Read 10 books
I've lowered my amount to 10. Just sayin, I used to read 1-2 books a year so I'm still pretty happy with this number.

6. Reintroduce small zipper pouch and slightly larger zipper pouch
Oh yea!! Dun dun dunnnn. I'm pretty excited about this!

7. Blog 1-3 times a week
Oh my little blog. You've been neglected. Sometimes I feel like I have nothing to blog about. Sometimes I feel like I just have too much! This year I'd like to get back to a moderate amount of posts. I love doing it, so why not!?

8. Finish saving emergency fund and on to paying off mortgage
Travis and I have been working on this for a couple years now. We have paid off our student loans, cars and other misc loans. We've finally started the next step of saving 3-6 months pay for emergencies. So far so good! It's a great feeling!

9. Do three new craft fairs
I've already got two lined up! Woooo!

10. Be more deliberate at building new friendships and maintaining old ones
Since I work at home and sometimes can be a huge hermit, this can be a challenge. I get really cozy in my house and don't leave for days. Sometimes I feel like I've got too much to do to make time for friends. This needs to stop! People are more important than doing laundry!

2015 Goals Review

1. Complete lots of paintings for Grove City ArtWorks Show
Did it! I had 11 new paintings for the show. Woo!

2. Send snail mail once a week
I ended up sending 102 letters/cards! Such fun!

3. Continue exercise program
Definitely did it. I biked a ton, walked a ton and continued doing BodyPump all year. When I lose weight this year, I'll be excited to see the muscles that have been hidden. LOL!

4. Pay off Nancy (my mother-in-law)
After we paid off the car and student loans, we had one final loan. It was a big one that we borrowed from Travis' mom. We had refinanced it a few times to get extra money for this and that, and paying on it for most of our marriage! It's now GONE!

5. Maintain weight of *undisclosed number* 
Was not able to do it. I was only within this number for a couple of weeks at the beginning of January. After traveling to Korea I was up a little but not much. I stayed on track just enough for my weight not to reach an all time high, but not where I wanted to be either. I know I'm getting older and it's WAY harder to lose than ever before. So I have adjusted my goal weight. I can do this.

6. Read 15 books
I read 11. One I read 90% and got so bored I just couldn't finish. One was HUGE so it was worth two books. ;)  So anyway, I'm still happy with the number considering how busy I was.

7. Ride three new places with Travis
Off the top of my head I think we rode four new places at least. Trails in Chattanooga, Bike New York, all around Philadelphia and the Ghost Town trail not too far from home.

8. Schedule next solo show
Didn't do it. I'm not sure where I'd like to do one. Gotta think about this.

9. Plan monthly sketch group
What a flop! I meant to, and really wanted to! I couldn't bring myself to do it in the winter months. Once it was warmer I got too busy and was barely home. Excuses, excuses. Being an introvert does NOT help.

Fun times! I love fresh starts. What do you have planned for next year?

2015 Goals

2014 Goals in Review

I love this time of year! Reviewing the last year and looking forward to the next! Last year was different. I feel like I set my goals sort of low and I'm glad I did. Moving back to Pennsylvania and Dustin's wedding took up so much time. Those were two goals I didn't know I would be going to accomplish! :D



Here are my goals from last year and how it went!

1. Read 30 books.
Well, I ended up reading 22 books. That's still a crazy number for me. I would of met my goal If I didn't move back to Butler. Now that I have friends and family back, reading time is way more limited. I'm not going to complain at all!



2. Paint 12 new paintings.
I did 10. Not bad. Again, possibly could of accomplished this if I didn't spend the summer and fall doing other things. ;)



3. Start plans to illustrate book with Kevin.
Sure! Started some preliminary sketches and made a game plan for next year.



4. Do more urban sketching without being shy.
HAH!! I guess I did this.  I did a ton more sketching outside and even started the sketching group in Butler. I still feel shy, especially when by myself. I'm working on it!



5. Develop new product for my Etsy shop.
Tote bags. Check!



6. Ride bikes with Travis in three new places.
Yes, definitely did this. Rode a trail in Annapolis, Maryland then in Punxsutawney and from Emlenton to Oil City in PA. There might be more that I'm not remembering right now.



Yay! I'm pretty happy with the results. . .
What I'm even MORE excited about is my "Jar of Awesome" that I did this last year.
More on this tomorrow!

four simple goals before 2014

As encouraged by A Beautiful Mess blog, I've made up a simple list of goals to be done before 2014. It's such a great idea! I'm going to be spending all of December back in Butler with Dustin, so I picked accordingly.



1. This is a drawing portrait group! I need to practice people AND practice drawing in public. The Art Center in Butler has a group that meets weekly!
2. Well, I'll be back in my home town and I miss everyone badly! Being an introvert, sometimes I don't make hanging out a priority (even though I WANT to). I'm going to make an extra effort to get together with old friends.
3. Since I'll be in Butler, I can't take my entire art studio with me. Watercolors are so portable, I thought this would be a great opportunity to really dive in.
4. Today I attended my first Yoga class ever. It was really great! With my back problems, I think it's really important that I start some sort of stretching routine like this.

I'll keep ya posted on how it goes!
Do you have any goals for the season?

2012 Goals

I love goals!!!

Goals are so much better than resolutions.

They are just that...a goal.

Do your best. Challenge yourself. Improve. Have fun!

I have to write them down...it keeps me going.

This list is not complete.

I can add to it at any time, or make adjustments.

Seeing this list makes me so excited for the coming year.

Bring it on!

Wonderful Things of 2011

The last few years I've got in the habit of reviewing the year, and writing goals for the next. I t has been very rewarding. Instead of typing it all out...I thought I'd just share my actual list of "Wonderful Things of 2011." It's messy and probably has a billion spelling errors, but that's who I am.
I'm the transparent type ya know?

I'm still forming my goal list for 2012. These things a lot of pondering.

Looking at this list, I feel SO very blessed.

Blessed in ways I can't believe are actually true, and blessed beyond what I deserve.

It's the Lord's work in me. None of it from myself. 

So very thankful.