2013:: Goals

2012 seems to have just flown by.
It has, right?

I managed to accomplish some tasks and goals, but did not apply myself as much as I should have. A lot less than I should have

I am a lofty goal-maker, but horrible when it comes to execution. I'm going to attempt to change that this year (stop laughing).

I bring you my goals for 2013

Clean out my hard drives (external, ipod, etc) get my netbook repaired.

Blog 3x a week
Whether it's on this blog, my photography page or my cooking page..my aim is to at least write 3x a week.  I've slacked off a lot in this area and I feel my writing skills are sliding.  Time to get back in the boat!
Steps:  Postdated entries

Say yes to social events and invite people out to social events
I found that last year I really didn't do enough social things.  I was tired most of the time and didn't do the things I wanted to do out of fear of going myself.  I need to be braver this year and more motivated!

Cut out pop from diet
This shouldn't be too hard (although I am a Dr.Pepper fiend).  It's mainly the carbonation that I desire.  I am still allowing myself to have club soda and sparkling water.
Steps:  Stock fridge with lemons, limes and sparkling water.  Maintain my tea collection with new teas every season from David's Tea as a treat and bonus.

Keep my space tidy
I really do aspire to clean a lot of it out, but at the moment, I'm giving myself a ten minute limit each day to tackle a certain area and use more organisational tools to get my butt in gear.  I feel if I limit it to 10 minutes a day too, I won't be dying to clean out my closet the moment I start a project.

Family cookbook
I had been working on this idea of a family cookbook for AGES now...and well, it hasn't been happening.  I have some great recipes and a couple of photoshoots, but I feel I'm going to have to take more initiative and cook the recipes myself and have people take their own photos and pose with the dish or with some kind of cooking apparel.
Steps:  Locate the recipes and photos I do have, Start a layout in the bookmaking tool, Start harrassing other family members for recipes

Put together a Christmas music book for our family Christmas
Every year at Christmas, we do a big singalong.  It's fun, it's festive..it's confusing!  Half of the songs we don't play because we don't have sheet music for it or no one really likes the songs.  It's pretty dated.  So this year, I'd like to reprint the song books and make them something a little more personal and relevant to our family.
Steps:  Track down songs with sheet music, Email family and ask what songs they like, Put together a nice layout

Wear more dresses
Pretty self explanatory.  I am a diehard jeans fan, yet I have a collection of very lovely dresses in my closet...which I never wear.  I do need to trim down a bit and try to mix and match them with other things I have (sweaters, etc)
Steps: Photograph dresses/skirts, look for tights to wear in winter.  Aim to wear one dress a week in winter months.  Once weather gets warmer, upgrade to 3x a week. (May also need some more cute shoes for this challenge! ;) )

Update digital address book
I am HELL at keeping addresses updated.  I will look in my address book and find everyone with 2 or 3 addresses.  Because my iphone has access to addresses, I plan on using my digital tools to upgrade my address book digitally as well as buy a new address book and update it properly offline (just in case)
Steps:  Start contacting people for contact information, Buy new address book, update all information as it comes in and delete the rest.

Make an extra $300 a month
Whether this is done through my Etsy store (selling prints), by booking more shoots, surveys,etc or other random jobs I can do.  I am aiming to make an additional $300 a month.
Steps: Start updating my Etsy page with more offerings, investigate mini shoots for January and February and the possibility of partnering with some lovely gals who have barnyard animals for some spring shoots.(Jenn, I'm looking at you)

Pay off MasterCard
I don't owe that much on Mastercard, but it's one of those irritating things that I just want to finish off with and then get rid of.
Steps:  It'll be tight, but half of each regular pay will go toward this until it's done.

Save $3000 in my TFSA
I know the amount you can save is $5500.  For me, with the other financial things I need to do this year, I just don't think it's possible.  I am aiming for a healthy $3000 (which may be a stretch, but I'm gonna try)
Steps: Primarily in the latter half of the year, it'll be more feasible.  I still start making small deposits every pay toward this.

Get out and photograph 2x a week - join creative projects/ start creative projects
This somewhat ties into the being more social aspect as well as just getting out and shooting.  I'd really like to do a project that inspires my creativity.  I've not found it yet, but I keep looking.
Steps:  Fairly simple...take a least 2 photos that inspire me or are beautiful twice week with any of my cameras!  Look for different angles.

Get more active -lose weight and tone up
Rather than tell you I want to lose weight (everyone says this in the new year)..I simply want to be more active.  I was a lethargic lump this past year. Far too tired to do anything or enjoy getting out to be active.  I found my DVDs that I thought I had lost, I was given a bellydancing scarf (it makes a huge difference when bellydancing) and recently bought snowshoes!
Steps:  Exercise 30-60 minutes a day..in ANYTHING and add weights 3x a week. Whether it's dancing around the living room, going out for a walk, trying new forms of moment to get my body moving.  I also need to incorporate a stretching routine.  So no doubt I'll be starting to add these motivators to my Pinterest account to see what works.

Build photography business
This is HUGE.  If I can build my business this year to a level where I am happy with, I will no doubt go after more shoots that appeal to my creative side.  This does include a TON of branding and marketing that needs to happen.  From FINALLY getting a logo to pulling all the bits and pieces together. 
Steps:  Sooo many..but they are coming.

Read more
I'm actually in talks with a Twitter friend who is interested in this as well!  Even if our bookclub idea doesn't pan out, I need to simply open a book at least half an hour a night before bed.
Steps:  Investigate books I'd like to read...read them.

Revamp living space
I've already been working on this. Repainting, Adding Shelving.  Now I need to sew curtains and continue to work on the space I'm building.  So far, it's coming together, but I'd aiming for something spectacular.
Steps:  Hunt down fabric for curtains, Work on the Duvet, Update my Jewelry/Accessory station, TV wall mount, new TV, Find a place for everything, Get rid of 40% of what I have.

Whew!  Bring on 2013!  Now where are those snowshoes...it's time for a walk.

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