Goals for 2015

New year resolutions.  I resisted this tradition for years.  "Why should I make goals for a whole year that I won't even remember in a couple of months?"  I was obviously missing the point.  I don't think you have to make goals at the beginning of each year to be driven or successful, but I do think it helps to write down some things you'd like to do or make happen for the coming months.  I like getting a clear picture of what I want to make time for, what risks I'd like to take, and what I want to change in the new year.  It helps me see who I am and who I want to be a little more clearly.  :)  The same thing can be accomplished by making monthly goals for yourself.  I like to do a little of both.

The topic of resolutions came up in a group of friends this week, and I realized I hadn't had a hard sit down/list making session on this particular subject yet.  My goals aren't super lofty this year, just little things to help me manage my time/over-commitment issue a little better, and doing more things for the sole purpose of leisure.  Here's a peek:

**Take at least one full day off a week.  Honestly, this is easier said than done, but I'm going to try to schedule my work time so that I have a day to let my mind rest.  I've spent the last however many months with basically no days off, and I have only myself to blame.  So now, I'll have myself to thank when I make this right.  :)

**Hobby.  You'll probably notice a theme throughout this list.  I want to make time for a hobby.  A hobby I do multiple times a week because I've made the time for leisure.  I could put "getting back to knitting, guitar playing, etc." but I want to leave it open-ended so I can change my mind throughout the year when I feel an interest in something different.

**Family Vacation.  Johnny and I haven't taken the girls on a real vacation since Poesy was 1 and too small to remember.  We want to take them somewhere super fun this year, now that they BOTH can enjoy it!

**Move into a place we love.  Johnny and I are planning on moving out of this lovely rental we've been calling home for the last 2+ years.  Initially, we thought we'd buy it when the time was right, but the thing about rentals is that you get to test drive before you buy.  There are a few things that don't work well for our family here, so as sad as it will be to say goodbye to our first Springfield home, our intention is to move.

**Daughter dates!  Hope and I love to grab a burger just the two of us when we can, but I want to be more intentional about spending time with both girls one-on-one.  This (again) goes along with being less bogged down by work and making more time for important things.  That's kind of my theme for 2015.

**Make at least 5 animals a month.  It's nothing new for a maker to start preparing in advance for a busy season, but my intention is to make at least 5 animals (or more) a month this year.  It keeps my craft sharp, and relieves stress when the holiday season approaches.  Who knows?  Maybe I could even do a Renegade this year.  I miss it!

I could ramble forever about what I've learned over the past year and what I intend to change this year, but all it comes down to is being more available for people I love (friends & family) and taking more time for myself.  You have to let that brain recharge every once-in-a-while.  That's important!

Oh, and just for fun, here are Hope's resolutions:
1.  "Lose all my teeth."
2.  "Try crab."
3.  "Try playing 'Chubby Bunny'."
4.  "See Paityn and Jaelie."  --those are her best friends that live in CO.
5.  "Go to the beach."

I hope you are all having an amazing start to the new year.  Even if it hasn't been exactly what you were hoping for, there's always time to turn it around!  Happy Thursday!  xo.

Goal Getting

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to learn to play slide guitar-- specifically, the lap steel.  Our best friend from way back when used to play lap steel in our old band, and it seriously made every song way more beautiful.  I'm happy to report that I'm trucking along nicely and it's a great feeling to be pursuing something purely as a hobby.  I like making time for hobby stuff-- I should do it more often!

Bunny Sweater: c/o Emerging Thoughts;  Velvet Leggings: H&M;  Good/Bad/Rad Barrettes: Ban.do via Emerging Thoughts;  Necklace: Datter

It's weird starting fresh at something and being kinda bad at it (I like being GOOD at things!), but it also keeps you humble.  I like humble.  It's a good quality.

Goals For The New Year

There's a lot of talk about goals with the new year coming, and like a lot of you, I've been thinking about my goals for 2014 and what I would like to accomplish this year.  This year I only have a few and I'm going to try really hard to stick with them.  I really overwhelmed myself with the goal-making last year, so I'm keeping it simple.

1.  Take 1 family portrait a month.  I believe I have 2 or 3 family pictures from all of 2013, so I'm putting this one first on my list.

2.  Learn to play slide guitar (particularly lap steel).  This is something I've wanted to do forever and I've actually already started, so I'm pretty pumped about this one.

3.  Focus on what I already do, and learn to do it better.  This is a big one for me.  I want to be good at the things I do... really, really good.  And I want to get better every year.

I'm definitely excited for the new year and I hope you are, too.  Do you have any extra special goals you'll be focusing on?  There are definitely lots more things I could put on my "list" but I think this is a really good start.  :)

New Year, New Resolutions

New year's resolutions are kind of the same every year, don't you think?  Most people are totally pumped at the beginning of the year and after a few months the passion is pretty much gone.  Despite this round-and-round, I make myself a good list at the beginning of every new year, not because I always accomplish everything, but because it's good to challenge yourself.  I have some big goals for 2013 and some small ones, but overall I want to make 2013 a year full of things I'm proud of.  I have a pretty long list, but here are my quick 10. 

1.  Write a children's book.  This has been on my mind for years, but I'm hoping to make it a reality this year!
2.  Jot down my day in a journal.  At the end of the year I want a journal full of how I spent my days and little happy things that happened.
3.  Answer emails EVERYDAY.  I've gotten to the point where I'm usually weeks behind on emails all of the time, and it's creating a lot added stress.  I intend to keep up better by answering some emails everyday.
4.  Cut back on the sugar.  This one's for the whole family.  We are sugar fiends, and while I don't want to cut it completely, a little more moderation would be much healthier for us.
5.  Start a daily or weekly project.  I'm totally scared of commitment when it comes to these projects, but I'd really like to have a daily or weekly project under my belt by the end of the year.
6.  More dates.  Johnny and I used to have weekly dates, but once we moved there have been almost no just-the-two-of-us dates.  We love going out with friends, but I want to make date night a priority again.
7.  Total studio organization.  It's time to get truly organized.  I still have half of my sewing stuff packed up in boxes, and it's time to really get things in order.  Who wants to come over and help? ;)
8.  Streamline blog content.  I want 2013 to be my best blogging year yet!
9.  New tshirt design and new Skunkboy products.  I'm all about this kind of stuff.  I'm ready to introduce some new and exciting things!
10.  Take at least 2 vacations.  I don't mean 1-day mini vacations.  Those are fun, but I'm ready to go see different parts of the country and different friends we've been missing!

Okay, so this is my short list, or "quick 10".  I have quite a lot of goals and mini-goals for the new year, but these are the ones that I just quickly jotted down.  If you aren't the type to make a new year's goal list, I challenge you to just write down the first 10 goals that come to you.  You may be surprised what your new year looks like!

Believe That Everything is Possible.

Whether you make "new years resolutions" or not, at some point this year you may find yourself making and completing goals.  I love new year goals... not the difficult/impossible kind, but the kind that make me excited and motivated for the coming months!

Recently, my friend Shana started this little project where she was hand-embroidering some pieces to send out to friends... and then her list started growing... and kept growing... I think she may STILL be working on more pieces to send out.  I received mine on my birthday (along with one of her AMAZING watches, which I am in total love with), and even though I'd seen them on Instagram, it was extra special in person.  "Believe that everything is possible in 2012."  Yes.  Yes!  In our house that will be our theme for this whole year. 

 

Everything IS possible in 2012!  If any time this year I am feeling less than positive, I will repeat this to myself.  It's such a good reminder to look forward and be excited about all life has in store for (all of) us.  

I also wanted to send out a HEARTFELT thank you for all of the birthday wishes!!!  I had an amazing birthday and I'm so grateful to every, single person who sent me a message or comment.  I <3 you!!

xoxo Katie

2012

Well, it's officially 2012.  My brain doesn't actually want to believe it, but that's what my phone says.  We decided to keep it low key this New Year's Eve because I was just getting over an illness and really didn't have the energy to go out.  Hope and I got dressed up, I made fondue, and we drank our drinks out of fancy champagne glasses.  It was a really lovely night and we got so rowdy at midnight that we almost woke the littlest member of our family!

 

I do have a few personal goals for 2012.

**Get healthy.  I know, I know... what a cliche new year's resolution, right?  I don't care about being cliche, though-- I really want to get back into shape. I started back at the gym last week and I'm enjoying it immensely.  That first week back is tough (I was SO SORE), but now I'm pushing through that and I'm starting to feel great again.   

**House.  I want a house.  I don't have to own it.  I would just love to love the house I'm living in.

**Be kind.  I feel like I'm a pretty kind person as it is, but I want to take that to a new level.  I want to be MORE kind, MORE caring, and MORE available personally to the people in my life. 

**Be brave.  2011 was a pretty good year for me.  I pushed myself more than I ever have and took many chances that I would normally hide from.  I really want that for this year as well.  

**Spend more time with my friends.  This is just a fun little goal that I think we could all use a little more of, don't you think?

Tell me, do you have any great goals for 2012?

xoxo Katie

P.S.  The winner for the double giveaway is Manda Jane!  You will be contacted shortly.  :)