2012 New Year's Resolutions

These are not in any particular order and most are similar or the same as last year's, but there are a couple changes/revisions:

My 2012 Resolutions

1. Continue writing freelance articles and blogs for extra money – Update blogs & articles once a week. 
2. Exercise 4 times a week with a core/upper body workout twice a week
3. Continue outside hobbies including reading, recipes, crosswords, etc., and make time for them - even if it is only an hour a week.
4. Get and keep scrapbooking caught up - this is tough with so many cute pics!
5. Continue time for family and friends - schedule it on my planner if needed!
6. Continue taking better care of my skin, including washing and moisturizing my face at night.
7. Save up money to get the fence repainted and pool cover replaced.
8.  Finish paying off credit cards.
9.  Be a flexitarian - eat fish at least once a week and do Meatless Monday meal once a week!
10.  Get body fat below 30% - it’s 37.5% as of 1/1/12
11.  Read at least 10 books and keep record of them
12.  Continue Cairo's socialization once a week
13.  Continue donating time/money to charities - donate time or money at least once a month
14.  Continue trips and outings with Case - go some place on our Trip List at least quarterly!
15.  Read to Vivian at least 3 times a week
16.  Decrease my daily to-do list
17.  Be present in my activities and what I am doing right now - Be balanced in all endeavors.
18.  Do a 10k - at least one!
19.  Take Vivian to swimming lessons and possibly gymnastics
20.  Try to be the best mom I can be - Yes, this is the REAL number one on my list!
21.  Continue walking Cairo regularly which sometimes coincides with regular exercise. J
22.  Be more patient and forgiving, especially with my husband.
23.  Work on my spiritual needs and goals, continue to pray and study at least once a week!
24.  Plant a small garden in the spring for fresh veggies.
25.  Start using my Rosetta Stone to learn some Spanish, and continue to learn some more Sign Language  words. 
26.  Get my pile of old magazines caught up and cleared out before Case starts a bonfire with them. 

My 2011 Goals were:

1. Continue not biting my nails - DONE
2. Get a part-time online teaching position - Well, I am taking a page from Oprah and although I may not have a "teacher" status I am still hopefully using my skills to inform and educate with online articles and blogs - plus the freelance thing is more flexible for V. and gives me a creative outlet. So I am good with that. ;)  - DONE - sort of
3. Exercise 3-4 times a week - I did 3.5!
4. Continue outside hobbies including reading, recipes, crosswords, etc., - I did okay overall I think - DONE
5. Get and keep scrapbooking caught up - Mostly DONE. I made HUGE strides.  It is CAUGHT UP through part of 2011 which are mostly pictures of V!  I had a bunch of old pictures so I am getting VERY close.
6. Continue time for family and friends - schedule it on my planner if needed! - Hopefully DONE, but a work in progress!
7. Continue taking better care of my skin. - YES, just about every night!
8. Finish paying off credit cards - OVER half DONE!
9. Eat healthier - eat fish at least once a week and decrease meat. - I did fish once every three weeks – not good.
10. Get body fat below 30% - Nope - still working on it. :(
11. Read at least 10 books and keep record of them - I did 13!!!!
12. Continue Cairo's socialization once a week - I did 92% - Not bad!
13. Continue donating time/money to charities - donate time or money at least once a month! DONE – I donated at least once a month to charities such as the ASPCA, CCFA, Best Friends Animal Shelter, Kiva, and YAPS.   Total donated was over $1000 this year and we spent time doing a several walks including a 5k and a 10k. J
14. Continue outtings with Case - go some place on our Trip List at least quarterly - I did 3 out of 4 quarters.  Next year will be better. 
15. Read to Vivian at least 3 times a week – We averaged 2.5 times a week. I can do better. 
16. Decrease my daily to-do list. I bought a smaller planner last year so that helps - Still in progress, but overall BETTER!
17. Don't be a slave to the above list. Use it as a guide. Be present in the task and day - Be balanced in all endeavors. - IN PROGRESS. :)
18. Complete a 1/2 marathon - No, but we did a 10k in October. I've decided I'm okay with a 10k for now. 
19. Take Vivian to sign language and possibly swimming lessons - Half DONE - Sign language classes were in November.  Swimming will be next summer.
20. Try to be the best mom I can be - ALWAYS IN PROGRESS ;)
21. Continue walking the pugs regularly and keep Tokyo in shape.  DONE - Tokyo was down to a svelte 27 pounds before he passed away.  His peak was 36 pounds - so he was lighter and leaner. I miss my big boy.
22. Be more patient, especially with my husband - continued from 2010 - Hopefully better, but ask my husband. ;)
23. Buy Rosetta Stone to work on Spanish.  - DONE
24. Plant a small garden in the spring - DONE - okay it wasn't really a garden, but I bought some tomato plants and grew my own tomatoes.  My first ever attempt to grow my food, so I figure it counts.  

Okay.  There it is.  My goals looking forward and back.  One thing I will say about 2011 is that it was a very difficult year in some ways.  There was much loss and many people (and a sweet pug) will be missed.  It is a reminder to value every day because we don't know what tomorrow or next year will bring us.