Resolutions

As today is the last day of 2011, I think it's a great time to look forward to what might be in 2012.  Even though I'm having a hard time keeping up with the blogs I love thanks to Greta's arrival, I did manage to read Liz's great New Year's post over at The Blue-Eyed Owl.  She posted 12 goals for the new year, many of which I identify with, so I decided to give it a try (I only came up with 6, but that's a good effort, right?).  Like Liz, I'd like to call them goals and not resolutions because that just makes me think of something someone tells themself their going to do and then gives up on a few weeks later.  I would really like these to be things I actively work on throughout the year.  Here we go:


1. Regain pre-babies weight.

 source

This is not really a crazy vanity-laden goal.  I'm a perfectly healthy weight for my height.  However, as of right now 95% of my pants don't fit me, and honestly, I love my pants.  I spent a lot of time picking out pants that I like and fit me just so.  And I don't have the freedom to go by a bunch of new pants, so the old ones are going to have to fit.  This means finding time in the day to get on the now dust-laden elliptical machine that is in our basement, even if it's just a little each day, and trying to eat better and drink more water.  I think I've OD'd on Christmas cookies, soda, and heavy holiday foods and will be ready to start anew.  I've even got a Pinterest board to help me, mostly of perfect abs and behinds that I'm not likely to have myself, but it just might keep me going.

2. Etsy shop goal- reach 200 sales in the second year of being open.

I opened my shop on January 13, 2011 (one year anniversary coming up!) and have reached 86 sales, which is actually a little crazy to me.  I set a first-year goal at 100 sales, if you remember back, but I honestly didn't think I was going to make it even as close as I am.  So I don't think that 200 sales is completely unreasonable, as long as I am able to find the time to continue to make and list new things.  I'd like to make some other changes to my shop, perhaps around my 1-year anniversary....

3. Become a better, more confident sewer.

Despite my recent shop listings of some nifty fabric items and my adventure with Gus's blanket, I have to admit- I am afraid of my sewing machine.  When I am using it I am in a constant state of terror thinking that it is going to do something that I don't want it to do and will therefore screw up the entire project.  While I have become more confident over the last few months because I have been using it more, I would like to continue to practice and gain mastery over the machine.


4. Learn to say no.

 source

Since having children we have become a magnet for hand-me-downs.  These can be a great thing when they are a Pottery Barn crib or babyGap clothes (true story) but when you are handed a sad, faded toy or spotted clothes, it kind of turns you off.  So we, as a team, decided that we are going to start saying no when someone offers us something.  Half the time we end up having to take whatever it is to the dump, and the other half of the time ends up with us running out of space in our toy-heavy house.  I'm hoping to translate this into everyday life as well, for whatever comes up that I just don't want to do.


5. Take better listing photos.

Not exactly going to draw people in with this one.

I am not going to be one of the lucky ones to get a fancy camera anytime soon, and I don't know if I really want one anyway, so I am going to have to learn to use my little digital to the best of its abilities.  I think my photos have gotten a lot better since I started, but I know they could be even better.  When we finally finish our bedroom and bathroom remodel (we're getting close, I swear) we're going to move some rooms around and I should be in a room with better light and won't have to move all my stuff to try and get a decent shot.  That and I might actually try and figure out some of the functions that the camera does have.

6. Accessorize myself.

Constant Baubling

This may seem silly, but after the whole cocktail party debacle (who's still bitter two weeks later?) I think I need to work on this a little bit just to make myself feel better and more together.  And really, this is a hard one for me.  I am home with my kids every day.  And while I do get dressed in real clothes, because when I don't is the one time when someone drops by, I am really, really bad with jewelry and the like, and I always have been.  I love jewelry.  I think it's very pretty.  On other people.  On me, not so much.  I think it makes me look too busy or showy or something.  So I am going to try to adorn myself a little bit more and give myself a little bling, if you will, starting with my new necklace.  Then when I am invited to a cocktail party in disguise, maybe I will blend in a little better.

**Edit! I just thought of one more.

7. Develop and maintain a cleaning schedule.

 Lettary Press

Ok, this one is more for the hubs, but it is my job to actually do it.  For some reason, he thinks the whole house should be cleaned regularly and evenly.  Go figure.  So, my plan is to try and come up with a plan to clean something each day and do that thing each week.  This may be the toughest one yet.  Did I mention that I hate to vacuum?

So there you have it.  What are your goals and resolutions for the coming year?