New Years resolutions are a funny thing. Everyone makes them and pretty much everyone breaks them. I’ll have to dig up the post I made last year. Pretty sure it had something to do with art, TWS and travel. I did all of that an then some! 2011 was a pretty freaking awesome year for me.

I went to Europe for 2 weeks, I started the best relationship I could imagine, I began volunteering for the Central Roadracing Association and continued all my work with The Wildcat Sanctuary. I lost 15 pounds when I started a gluten-free, sugar-free lifestyle (although I got off track a bit recently and gained 5 of it back, oops!). I have the greatest job at EatonGolden and love my EG family.

So, when making a new years resolution, can I just say…more of the same? No? I should try harder? okay…well, in addition to “more of the same”, let’s go with:

1. Get back on the Gluten-free, Sugar-free kick

It worked for me…it’s working for my aunt (she’s lost 55 pounds since February…she’s a new woman!) But between going on my trip and finding myself happier than I’ve ever been, I kind of gave up on caring so much about what I ate. It was difficult eating based on Maria’s guidelines, especially when it came to eating out…and desserts… I definitely think the benefits of the lifestyle outweigh the momentary joy of eating certain tasty foods…

2. Pay off my credit cards

I started the new year by paying off one of my three credit cards. Let me tell you, there is no better feeling. Earlier this year, Chris created a spreadsheet that has helped me stay on track and manage my money better. I saw where my money was going and focused on minimizing my expenses. I’m on track to be done making payments by early spring of this year. This is really really exciting…anyone who has had to see a sizable chunk of their income go to pay off things they don’t even use anymore can relate. At one point, three years ago, I was using credit cards to buy everything. Being a full time student and a part time employee at a beading and jewelry supply distributor, I barely had enough money to get by. But I continued to live outside of my means and I’m still paying for it…literally. I’m glad I’m finally at the point where my finances and my future are top priorities, and I have the support I need to reach this goal.

3. Read more

It has been rather difficult to give myself dedicated reading time between work and all of my crazy personal projects. This is something I think is pretty tragic. I love reading and I have so many things to read. Bookstores are such a hazard, I can rarely walk out of one without buying at least one book… again…I have SO MANY THINGS TO READ! Not to mention the iPad everyone in the EG office got last year, suddenly I have a vehicle for hundreds of books that weighs less than a new hardcover. 2011 was a year I really got back into reading. Aided by audiobooks, I finished Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series, I also read American Gods by Neil Gaiman and Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. Chris and I recently started reading George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series with The Game of Thrones which has been impossible to put down. But we are thinking about reading each book after watching the respective season of the HBO show since that’s how we started. Truth be told, I don’t think it’s going to happen that way. I’m way too engrossed in this book to want to have to wait for a TV show…

4. Finish what I start

Here’s a fun fact about me, I have way too many hobbies. I can’t let myself focus on any one thing because EVERYTHING is so much fun. I’ve also found that sometimes life gives you an opportunity to pull on random skills that might not get used all the time, but are unique and take whatever I’m working on to the next level (example: Bookbinding, I don’t do this all the time, but this skill has come in handy so often!) Anyway…back to the point…All these hobbies lead to many project that start but don’t always get finished. I have paintings, cross-stitch designs, sketches, sewing projects, books, jewelry, things that I started years ago but got distracted from. Now these things clutter up my studio and make me feel guilty every time I’m down there (which leads to me not wanting to be down there very often…)

5. Take daily actions to create positive change

I started reading a book tonight called Add More ~ing To Your Life by Gabrielle Bernstein and this concept really jumped out at me. Yes, this is one of those touchy-feely self help books for Generation Y, I will admit that they are a guilty pleasure of mine, shush. She’s done something really interested by creating a supportive community of empowered women on her website called herfuture.com. This site allows women to network and seek out mentors, or become mentors themselves. I’m excited to explore what her book offers and see what it does for me. It sounds a little like a more trendy “the artist’s way”. So far, all of the “groovy”s and the “~ing” branding is getting rather irritating but I’m sticking with it for a few chapters to see if there is anything to all of the hype around it. I think the part of this process I am most looking forward to is the guided meditations that I was also suckered into…although I’m kicking myself for buying it through her website…now I’m pretty sure they’re sending me a cd (who uses cds any more?) I just found it on iTunes for the same price and with the added bonus of instant gratification. Keeping a journal again and taking time to reflect on things that are blocking me from personal growth and moving past them will be a fun journey and I’m looking forward to the process.

6. Spend more time with Sawyer

I love my dog, he’s definitely one of the smartest animals I’ve known. He learns tricks and hand signals remarkably fast (in part due to his intense food motivation) and he loves spending time with me. Unfortunately it is easy for me to get swept up in my own goings on and I haven’t been as dedicated to taking him for walks or training/socializing. While I had the week off from work, I was able to take him for daily walks and we had a great time. I even managed to teach him “roll over” which I thought was pretty exciting. Although now he’s kind of like Zoolander in that he can only roll right…but I find that adorable in it’s own quirky way. This Saturday, he and I start a 6 week long “Agility for Fun” class through the Canine Coach. This is going to be a blast because Sawyer is built to run and he has so much fun tearing through our living room like it’s an obstacle coarse

Last year was an awesome year, lots of great momentum to keep this going. I find myself incredibly excited for what life has to offer!