Personal Goals 2015

I like the word "goal". You can cross it off. It has objective. Resolution always feel like you are trying to change something about yourself. And there are just some things you can't change. Or it's too hard, and then you end depressed. But a goal is something you work toward. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. So many fall off the resolution wagon as soon as there's a bump or mis-step, "I've already messed up so I'll give up". To me, goals don't feel that way. But maybe it's just word play? Whatever works for you....

So here's my goal list for 2015:

1. YEAR OF LUNCH- Lunch is a hard meal for me to figure out. I'm ashamed to say that we eat way too many PB&J sandwiches and Mac n' Cheese for lunch because I just can't figure it out. I know how to make big dinners, but small meals are a struggle. And also, I need to get Oz eating some different foods, because come fall he's going to be going to school until 2 and having lunch there. He will need some variety! So this year, I'm learning about lunch and expanding all of our tastes.

2. KNIT FOR MYSELF- Sounds simple doesn't it? But it's actually very hard because it always feels selfish. But this year I would like to make a few things for me. If I accomplish 2 things (that are not cowls or scarves) I will be very proud indeed.

3. RECONNECT WITH GREENVILLE- This one is HUGE for me. Once I left Greenville, I never saw myself coming back. Growing up, I couldn't wait to leave. Don't most people feel this way about where they grew up? And I made it to London, and I love London....I honestly thought I would never leave. To this day, I don't think there's a more beautiful site then seeing London at night. I was always grateful and thankful to be there...

O wait, I'm supposed to be talking about Greenville. Back on track... We moved to the States to be closer to family, and so the kids would grow up having a proper Halloween (that's right). But to be honest, I never got around to reconnecting with Greenville. I was always a bit embarrassed to say that's where I live, and lots of teen angsty scowling--from a 32 year old woman.

But the thing is, Greenville has changed so much since I left it. Downtown is COMPLETELY different and ever evolving. There's a lot to do here, a lot of great food to be eaten, a lot of independent businesses that are thriving. I need to enjoy it and embrace it. So that's what we're going to do!

4. CROSS STITCH--- I had a go at this during the summer and made half a lady bug. Now that Tilda is a bit older I think I may be able to actually sit down and do some. And with craft nights happening once a month, there's no reason not to give it a good try! Hopefully I won't suck and I can make ALL THE THINGS.

5. PAY OFF CREDIT CARDS- This could actually happen. In December I went ahead and transferred my balance to a one year, no interest, credit card, and after the one year it's a low interest rate. So that will help, for sure. Griff has his card he's paying down. I think we can do this! And he starts paying student loans this year, so the more debt that's out, the easier those payments will be to manage. OOF. Always paying something....

And of course, there's the always, LEARN TO SEW (why am I so afraid of that machine!?!), and CAMP MORE (actually possible now that Matilda is older and loves to be outside)...

Now our goals for our home, that's a separate list entirely, and one I will share shortly...

2013 Resolutions

Well, when I think about it, my list of resolutions come down to this. I need to find what makes me happy again. I need to do things that make me happy. What seems like common sense can get completely ignored and forgotten.

So the list is as follows:

1. Make time to read.

2. Camping

3. Cycle more

4. Watch *new* movies (not released new, just new to me)

5. Start working towards my Library Assistant certificate

6. New Tattoo

7. Start playing the Uke again.

Most of these should cost us little to no money. I want to try sells some of my knits, and all knits money will go to my tattoo fund. The biggest is the certificate. I was originally going to go for my Masters, but I think the certificate will help me decide if libraries is really where I want to be. So far from my time volunteering at the library....I think yes. Baby steps.

2012 Book List

Hands down, this was my worst year of reading that I can recall. It was nearly impossible for me to hold my focus on anything enough to finish. I think I have 4 or 5 books I'm halfway through at the moment. The year before I completed 50 read books/graphic novels. So this year I set a goal of 55. I came in with 24 of 55 read,  11 of which were graphic novels. Not good, people. So this year, reading is going to become a top priority for me again. It's something that is so tied to who I am and how I identify myself...I feel so disappointed in myself (which I think is probably something only a book worm could identify with).

My GIANT HUGE EXCEPTION to all of this though, is that I haven't included children's books. I read to Oz a lot. He gets 3-5 books at bedtime every night and we like to rotate out loads, and we buy him books all. the. time. The kid loves books and we are really encouraging a love of reading. So what I've lacked in myself, I feel I've more than made up for as a parent. I really should start reviewing our favorite children's books, because there are so many fantastic ones out there. Oz's favorite of all time is Dinosaur Roar, which while he doesn't speak very clearly, he can "read" the entire book to YOU. Amazing.

So here's what I read in 2012:
1. Fresh Milk: The Secret Life of Breast

2. A Year Without 'Made In China': One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy by Sara Bongiorni

3. Batman: Haunted Knight by Jeph Loeb

4. I am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali

5. Walking Dead #9 Here We Remain

6. Walking Dead #10 What We Became

7. Harley Quinn: Preludes and Knock-Knock Jokes by Karl Kesel

8. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

9. This Books is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson

10. The Addams Family: An Evilution by Charles Addams

11. French Milk by Lucy Knisley

12. The Birth House by Ami McKay (possibly my favorite of the year)

13. Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner

14. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mandy Kaling

15. Then Again by Diane Keaton

16. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

17. Batman: Knightfall Vol. 1. Broken Bat by Doug Moench

18. The Visable Man by Chuck Klosterman

19. Walking Dead #11 Fear the Hunters

20. Night by Elie Wiesel

21. Batman: Knightfall Vol. 2 Who Rules the Night by Doug Moench

22. Walking Dead #12 Life Among Them

23. Death Makes a Holiday: A Cultural Holiday of Halloween by David Skal

24. Walking Dead #13 Too Far Gone

We also got some great use out of the library this year, so that's always a plus. Reading this list and sharing it, I want to comment on so many of them. So I will try and make an effort to comment on them on goodreads and share here.

And while I should be saving this for the Resolutions blog, I will go ahead and share the big challenge Griff and I have set for ourselves this year.

This year we aren't going to be buying books. If we've discovered anything this year it's that we have been hoarding books and it's slightly ridiculous. We could probably go 2+ years and read something "new" to us and still have some leftover. Seriously. It's ridiculous. So we need to read what we have and save some money (although everything we buy is used anyways). Of course, the exception is Oz's books. Oz gets books. And while I think trading in for store credit should be fair game, Griff disagrees. So we'll see. AND Salem's Lot. If I find a new one, that goes towards the collection.

So here's hoping 2013 is THE YEAR OF THE BOOK.

2012 in review

2012 sucked for a lot of reasons. But first, let me share how I did with last year's resolutions:

1. I did not learn to sew. mother.fucker. I keep saying "I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it" and I never fucking do it. What the hell, Ashley? I really want to make some skirts, aprons, blankets, and pillows.

2. I did do a fair bit of knitting for me. Not loads, but more than I've done before. I also refused to be afraid of knitting. So many projects I've turned down thinking "No, I don't know how", but not this year. I am really proud of how far my knitting has come. And I've also made the switch to nice yarn. I'm sure I'll always keep some blends and acrylics in my stash because they are *great* for kidswear, but for me, personally, I'm going to try and add more good stuff.

3. I did not scrapbook the road trip. Not even a little bit close. UG.

4. Be healthy. Not even a little bit. In fact, my health, both physical and mental, are probably at the lowest they've been in a long, long time. My stress eating has been off the charts.

5. I don't know if we got Oz outside more. During the summer he played outside loads and went swimming a lot. I think the winter has been hard for me to get outside and find things for us to do. I really hate not having a yard for him to play in.

6. Virtually no camping. But the one travel/camping trip we *did* have, it felt like the road trip again and we just felt like "US" again. It was lovely. We definitely need more of it.

7. I did something huge out of my comfort zone. With the help of many others we raised over $800 for St. Baldrick's and I shaved my head. If that's not out of the comfort zone I don't know what is. 

8. Listen to more music. Hm...Yes and no. I have downloaded a few new artists, and some old favorites. I have thoroughly enjoyed Amanda Palmer's new album. 

9. Slambook the magazines.... Well, I've made a small dent in the magazines. But there's a hell of a lot. I need to find a system to organize my clippings.

10. I gave up red meat for about 6 months. But I missed pork....sausage biscuits, biscuits & gravy, pepperoni pizza, BBQ. It's pretty clear now that I can't eat beef anymore, not unless I'm happy to be quite ill for the rest of the day. But BBQ is one of the few things I like about where I live, so why would I deny something that makes me happy? 

11. We have seriously de-cluttered. 2 moves in 3 months will do that. We have gotten rid of a load of books, DVDs, knicknacks, clothes... Don't get me wrong, we're not living the minimalist life, and probably never will. It's not our style. But we don't feel the need to hoard like we once did. 

12. Thoughful Buying...yes and no. It comes in stages and phases. I've been on a HUGE tshirt buying binge this year. Do I need them? Nope. Do I love them? Yep. And sadly, when I'm stressed I tend to binge buy. It's really not a good combo. But we're definitely not buying as much crap as we used to just to buy it. 

....So that was 2012. It was also the worst year I've had for reading ever. That's for another post tho. Tomorrow will be posting for a New Year. Come on, 2013.