Thank you 2011, Hello 2012!

7. Get more tattoos!
8. Eat vegetarian at least five times a week, two of those days being vegan.
9. Blog at least twice a week (that's a lot for me lately).
10. Take another Spanish course.

So I may not achieve all of my new goals, but that's okay because sometimes different goals come up part way through the year. This is why I like meditating on the good things that I accomplished during the year so that even if I didn't check everything off of last year's list, I can still be proud of myself. I mean, I didn't even start the year off thinking that I would run a half marathon, but look at me!

I have to admit something really serious though **serious blogger confession here** I have had a super tough time blogging the last few months (in case you weren't paying attention) and a lot of it has had to do with me being slightly depressed about it. I had a hard time with getting wrapped up in the hype of blogging, trying to keep up with the Jones' to an extent I guess. Not that I was constantly trying to be like others, but just super worried about other people posting something similar to what I just posted, or another blogger posting more than I was, or even others having better photography on their blogs (I am down to just iPhone pics and the quality just does not compare to a fancy-shmancy camera). On top of that, my house being like a construction zone due to a complete kitchen renovation which lasted for MONTHS, I mean MONTHS, did not help the creative juices, it actually made me want to crawl under my covers for hours on end...and some days that's what I did.

I felt like I had a lot of weight on my shoulders, and to make things worse, we were shelling out quite a bit of dough, and still didn't have a functional kitchen until just a couple of weeks ago. Let me tell you, it's ah-mazing what a new set of counter tops can do for a girl's outlook! I think that the running and training I did really kept me focused and helped me from crumpling on the floor every time I walked into the kitchen. Not being able to cook was really hard too. After about a month of eating out every night we got a stove; with no counter tops, sink or dishwasher it was still tough. Even though we could technically cook, it was like camping every night for months after that. I can't believe that we didn't kill each other in the process! Every night that we cook now, it's like Christmas when we do dishes...I mean a sink and a dishwasher, what a gift!

I think our waistlines are still recovering from months of eating out (even with all of the running) but it was all worth it to have a functional kitchen, debt-free! I'll have to do another post on the kitchen and how we got into the predicament that we did, and I'll post pictures, but for now just know that it was a life changing experience. If Jim and I can make it through 2011, we can make it through anything!



So what are your New Years resolutions? Do you make resolutions or is your method more similar to mine and continuing goals that you've had before? What made you feel good about 2011? Please share! I want some positive 2012 vibes!

Labels: 2012, Blogging, Goals, Jim Bob, Kitchen, New Years Resolutions, renovation