2012 Resolutions

Given the amazing success of my 2011 resolutions, I'm ready to decide what to do with myself in 2012.  A quick glance ahead on the calendar shows me it's going to be a huge, busy year and we're only on day 4.  Buckle up folks, it's going to get interesting.

So here they are, my 2012 New Years Resolutions:

Finish the Ramblin' Rose triathlon.
This is a very short sprint tri and the run is only 2 miles.  Finishing a triathlon has always been a dream and now it's time to make it happen

Read 12 books.
Surprised at the results of my 2011 reading resolution, I'm determined to read that one book per month


Take more pictures and take them off my phone
My 2011 pictures folder has far fewer pictures categorized in dated folders because 90% of the pictures I took were on my phone which does not talk to my linux computer.  All it takes is one extra step to get the pics off my phone and into my computer.  This year I'm going to make sure I do it.

Focus on having family dinners
With my husband's busy schedule family dinners often turn into the boys eating while watching cartoons, me eating standing up while cleaning the dishes and the husband eating at some point after work.  At the very least I can sit down at the table with the boys and have a real dinner.  Hopefully dad can be there with us more often too.

Knit more
I've recently learned the basics of knitting.  I really enjoy it.  I really want to do more with it.

Sew more
My sewing machine has been sadly quiet in recent weeks.  Time to fire my singer up.

Make more Christmas gifts and start on it earlier
My Christmas gift-giving was lack-luster to say the least. This year I really want to give more from the heart and give as few gift-cards as possible.  This means I cannot start them the week before Christmas.


So, there it is.  It's a relatively modest list, but still challenging.  I hope you'll all blog your resolutions!!

So how did I do? Resolutions 2011 return and report

 I had high hopes for 2011 and all-in-all it was a really good year.  Lots of lifestyle changes for me and the key to all of them was dropping cable.  I had no idea how much mindless TV would suck me in but now that I actively choose what I watch (rather than find something that is on) TV is just not something that interests me much.  Now, don't get me wrong.  I am still the biggest Top Chef fan out there.  I still love The Office and I accept that nightmares are simply a part of life when The Walking Dead is on.  The difference is, I make a point to watch my shows.  It feels like a much healthier way to approach TV.  It's probably what normal people do, right?
So, time to face the music.  How did I do on my specific 2011 goals?  Here we go.

Complete two 5ks and one 10k.
I give myself a B+.  I did finish two 5ks, (blogs here  and here).  I did not to a 10k though and here's why.  I've come to accept that I dislike running!  Really.  It's just not fun for me.  Running as a form of exercise was a chore, something I had to do and having completed the entire C25K program I *still* didn't like it.  Guess what I do like though?  SPINNING.  I'm spinning 4x a week now.  That is usually somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 hours 45 minutes.  I love it, it's fun, I look forward to it and it's a great way to burn calories.

Finish 3 quilts
A+!  I finished 3 quilted prayer shawls and Andy's comforter (which I have yet to blog about).  Grr. I also did a small baby quilt. 

Sew from a pattern
A+  Yep!  I did it.  I made Andy some pants.  They were super cute and very easy to make.

Read 12 books
C-.  I read only 9 new books this year.  I've been stuck halfway through book #10 and while I've lost interest I was not ready to admit defeat.  I'm surprised by this one as I would usually describe myself as an avid reader.  I guess more accurately I am well-read.  I read news and articles from all over the world, I'm well versed on current events, but, apparently, I am not as big a reader as I though.  Werid.

Acquire and rehab (if necessary) a china hutch for the dining room.
F.  I found several, went and looked at many, but the husband is not on board.   

Make a headboard for our bed
See above.

Improve general decoration of the house
C-.  The Bathroom redo is a great starting point but I have so much farther to go.

Reach my goal weight
D.  I did not reach my goal weight.  I am not close to my goal weight.  But I'm not considering this a failure.  I am still working for it and have been exercising 5-6 times a week since June.


So there you have it.  A really successful year.  More importantly, we're happy, we're healthy and we're all together.  Everything else is just icing on the cake.

Menu Plan Monday

Happy New Year to you all! 
Are you curious about how I did on my 2011 resolutions?  Tune in tomorrow.
Curious what I'm hoping to do in 2012?  Tune in Wednesday!
Want to know what we're eating this week?
You came to the right place because.......
It's MENU PLAN MONDAY!

M: chicken cutlets, alfredo sauce, noodles, roasted broccoli, spinach
T: Ham, roasted broccoli, mashed potatoes, green beans
W: Dinner at Chick-fil-a
T: chicken tacos, spanish rice, salad
F: Spaghetti bake, green beans
S: Mongolian Beef, stir fry veggies
S: burgers and fries (sweet potato for me!)

If you're on MyFitnessPal hit me up!  I need more fitness friends!  I'm Julianna_gets_fit