2010 Goal Update

2010 Goals-- 9 month update
Last Update was 5 months ago.


1. Photography: Learn more. Do more. Take a class.

Update: I took a bit of a break after my beginner digital photography class at the New England School of Photography in Kenmore Square, but now I'm spending more time with my camera. I joined a Weekly Photo Challenge Facebook group started by my cousin Jamie (thank you for that), and so Mom and I are working on those challenges weekly. Its pushing me to use the skills I've learned and try to hone them even further. I also have some practice photo shoots coming up- an engagement shoot and a baby shoot! Lots to look forward to.

2. Start a garden: Big, small or in between. I just need to do this. Even a small herb garden will make me happy, and I think the satisfaction of having some food items go from this land to our table will incentivize me to do more.

Update: Mom and Dad gave me a potted herb garden for my birthday! I enjoy the herbs and tomatoes almost daily and am excited to expand that next year. Dad and I also planted English Primrose by the garage and hosta by the front porch! Those two will need to be taken out and replanted once Dan levels out the yard, but at least we've got the plants in our yard now and they'll be ready for us :)

3. Meet with a financial planner to plan for saving and paying down the 2 loans I currently have. I make enough to do this better than I am right now and I'm already making strides on my own but I do better with a plan and some accountability- and getting that from a professional should do the trick.

Update: I haven't made the appointment yet, but it WILL happen.

4. Knitting- I know the basics of knit and purl but there are scores of things I can still learn to make more intricate pieces. So this year I will take classes at the Creative Stitch, a local yarn store, and better my knitting.

Update: I am realizing that at this point I'm only about a month shy of my 1 year knitting anniversary! :) Time flies. I've taught 4 co-workers how to knit, and with our peer pressure we've inadvertantly convinced another to take up her knitting needles again! So I'm happy to have positively inflicted my friends with the knitting bug. I've been working on increasingly more difficult patterns throughout the course of this year- the biggest of which is the sweater I've started knitting for myself. I haven't gotten all that far and I have almost no idea how to do the piece of the pattern that lies ahead, but that's ok. I can do it! My next challenges are a blanket that I'll need to mattress stitch together and a scarf with cables. Have never attempted either but I'm looking forward to those challenges.

5. Learn more healthy recipes to add to my weekly meal plan list (and get better at meal planning all together-- focusing on eating local and organic as much as possible).

Update: I still eat relatively the same as always, although I have begun a Weight Loss Challenge with my friends and part of that (for me) is going to focus on eating at home, and creating less waste. This will require me to find new recipes and combinations for the whole foods that are so good for me.

6. Blog more. I am going to add this to my calendar and set reminders to make sure I keep up with this. This year I want to write more and this blog is a great outlet for that. So it will permanently be on my to-do list :)

Update: I totally lost steam this summer, but cool fall temps and a cold winter should have me by the computer more right? Plus, with mine and Mom's trip to Italy and Spain I'm having notions of us co-blogging about our experience. Cross your fingers we're not too overwhelmed to pull that off.

7. Research new green items for the house- toothpaste, deodorant and hairspray being top on the list right now. I have already switched over many products to items I feel comfortable with. But others are tougher. This year I will make more progress in that area.

Update: 2 out of 3 ain't bad right? Dan and I are now both using Tom's of Maine Deoderant (he had switched out before me ironically). The lavender is much better than the unscented, ladies. Take it from me! I actually LOVE the scent!! And we're using the Tom's peppermint toothpaste too. I will admit I hated the taste every day for the first week, and then I can honestly say it got better (and I am PICKY about toothpaste). Now I don't even notice it. The hairspray is TOUGH. I like my hair… other people like my hair… its very vein when it comes to my hair I'll admit, but I want it to look nice… and since I don't currently own a working straightener I curl it. A Lot. And too keep those curls in tact all day- I use hair spray. The bad kind. That's all I'll say about that. I WILL research better ones though. I know there were some recommended in Sophie Uliano's book Gorgeously Green. NO UPDATE :(

8. Write up all my notes from the various research I've done on Organics, farming, gardening, the Green Movement into something that's concise and meaningful. I have notes in my notebooks and on the computer... but I need a way to remind myself of all the things I've learned and to keep some sort of visual reminders handy when I'm tempted to buy stuff that I know is not good for me.

Update: Oooh wow, this fell off the list. I have started this. Just haven't finished. Silly. More to come very soon I promise. NO UPDATE :(

9. Master my Mac! I've already taken 3 classes at the Apple store and have already signed up for another. I have learned a lot but there are so many more cool things I can do with this tool.

Update: I went to a number of different 1:1 classes at the local Apple stores. They helped immensely. I need to go back and do some more. There are still some fun things I want to learn. NO UPDATE :(

10. Cut out soda. {so far so good! i have not had any soda yet this year}

Update: Still no soda being consumed here. Very happy about this one!

11. Form my 2010 3Day Team- start fundraising early. At this point I'm still finalizing a team name. Once I get that submitted I'll officially be recruiting for fellow walkers who will commit to this with me. Yes, the fundraising seems scary but we can totally do this! I have a lot of great ideas for this year and I'm excited to get the ball rolling.

Update: I raised over $3500 this year! So happy with that number. And I've signed up for Boston in 2011 with a team all ready beginning to form- Tini, Jenni, Ryan and I'm sure there are more that are interested! Our Cheering Station team already has a theme for their stations this year. Let the fun continue.

12. PT Exercises EVERYDAY! {still haven't been great about this thus far} My shoulder is feeling better but in building my strength and retraining my muscles I hope I can avoid the chronic pain I've been having there.

Update: I suck. @PT at least. My shoulder is out of whack. No stretching + oodles of knitting makes Jen a sore girl. I need to be better. No real hope on the horizon. For this I'm finding I have no discipline.

13. Improve photo editing skills. My Mac classes should help me with this. Be it iPhoto or PhotoShop- I'll take advantage of every opportunity to learn what I can about editing.

Update: no update here. I hope to achieve this in my mac classes this year…

14. Plan out gifts to give throughout the year- PLAN AHEAD. I've already started the list. Now to organize and figure a way to easily track ideas.

Update: Eh. This fell off the wagon, though I did start my Christmas list in August and have started making some of the gifts that I plan to give for this year. My focus for the holidays this year is on HANDMADE. Hoping I have time to do all of the beautiful things in my head.

15. Purchase coffee (out) no more than 2 times a week. Its not good for me. Its unnecessary. But I really enjoy it. Still, twice a week is plenty. And it will help me to eat out less and save more money. It all comes together :)

Update: Crap, I forgot I even made this goal. Dan is still not drinking coffee. I am. I buy it out. At least I use my reusable cup and feel good about that. But I get it 5 days a week. Hey, I'm just being honest. May need to readjust this for next year ;)

16. Make some of my own personal care products (organic, all natural and no artificial-anythings). I've got some recipes and once I price out some items I'll be ready to go. Homemade moisturizer here we come.

Update: No progress yet. I'm thinking this might be a good fall/winter indoor activity. I still have plenty of 2010 left.

currents...

listening: to an extremely boring conference call that is detailing the basics of wireless service and networks. surprisingly I have retained a lot of the information I've heard on this subject. hence the boredom. get to the specifics buddy.

eating: a small morsel of dark chocolate. my treat during this Cleanse week. mmm the sensation of it melting in my mouth.

drinking: water. water. and more water.

wearing: black capri pants. coral lands end tank with ruffles. turquoise cardigan. turquoise, brown, gold/yellow/orange necklace and earrings.bronze sandals.

feeling: ready for the weekend. I keep thinking today is Friday. its so not Friday. antsy. (that could be the conference call talking)

weather: so hot. 90+ every day this week. but hurricane earl is coming. should make for an interesting weekend.

wanting: a pink/navy/gray/denim/tan wardrobe for my upcoming european vacation. I'm having vivid visions of my mix and match wadrobe that makes me so happy. I think I'll do some shopping soon.

needing: some cheese. that looks weird to write it down. that's definitely the cleanse talking. nearly no dairy this week. the milk I can do without. the sugar I don't miss much. but bread and even more so cheese is just calling me. soon enough.

thinking: about my upcoming trip to italy and spain with mom. only about 45 days until we take off and there's so much to plan. so many gorgeous things to add to our itinerary! loving every minute of it, even if sifting through oodles of information is a little overwhelming.
enjoying: my life as a whole right now. home. work. love. friends. family. hobbies. taking it slow and easy. learning. creating. playing. growing.

wondering: if I'll learn any really good information over the course of the next 34 minutes. not likely.