My goals for 2012

There were many days in 2011 that I felt overwhelmed. Most often it was the happy tired you get when things are going well and you have a lot to feel thankful for, but regularly I was just plain burned out. 

I promise I will not do that to myself in 2012. Several times in 2011, I told myself "I will never do that again". This mantra was often repeated after I'd worked 9 days in a row, a 50 hour work week, overbooked my social calendar to the point of flaking out on other friends, etc. And you know what? I did do it again. Several times. Not happening anymore.

In 2012, I want to settle down a little bit. Ease into my job. Ease into married life. Enjoy spending time with my friends, family and husband. Be a better wife to Ryan and a more thoughtful friend. I've narrowed this plan down to a few goals:

1) Bake more, cook more, and create a weekly meal plan.

Homemade enchiladas

I want to be that girl that brings delicious appetizers or desserts to parties. I want to grocery shop twice weekly and keep fresh food in my house at all times. I want to cook delicious, healthy meals for me and my husband. I want to try new recipes and expand my repertoire. I want to make every single recipe in The Pioneer Woman's cookbook.

In 2011, we ate a lot of microwaveable meals and things we could cook in a jiffy. Sometimes I'd forget to eat lunch until 2 pm and end up scarfing down a plain can of tuna and granola bar instead of the hearty meal I should have been eating with lots of protein and fiber. I don't want to do that to myself anymore. I want to plan ahead and always have something healthy and homemade on hand, even if I precook and freeze it myself.

2) Read more for pleasure.

Reading in Jamaica

You know what I learned about myself? I like trendy books. I enjoy reading the novels that earn Oprah's golden seal of approval. I like the YA novels everyone's buzzing about on twitter. I like diving into the "it" book that's about to come out in theatres. In 2011, I read a decent handful of popular books - Steig Larsson's The Girl trilogy (well, 2 out of 3 so far), Tina Fey's Bossypants, Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, Kathryn Stockett's The Help, Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants - and I want this to be a continuing trend. 

I've always loved books and magazines and enjoyed the many hours my parents would spend reading me books and bedtime stories. My parents instilled a great love of reading in me from the days my mom took us to the library and I filled my basket with Roald Dahl books week after week. I want to get back to that organic joy I grew up with when I opened a brand new book and dove into another world. I want to embrace spending time at the library and curling up with a piece of literature.

3) Remember birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and celebrate them.

Birthday cake I made for Adam last year

I love so many people so much, and sometimes I feel like I'm sort of terrible at expressing this. When I love you, I love you wholly and I'll probably tell you without a hint of embarrassment (maybe over and over if I've had a couple of adult beverages). I regularly sit and think about the friendships I've cultivated over the years and how thankful I am to have such relationships in my life. The thoughtfulness extended to me by so many of my friends deserves to be returned!

I want to be the friend/sister/daughter/wife/daughter-in-law/sister-in-law/cousin/whatever that remembers you on your birthday and sends you a card in the mail. As much as I love giving gifts, I'm promising myself it doesn't need to be extravagant. I just want to show you how much I love you. And in 2012, I promise to start showing you that on a regular basis.

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Here's to truly enjoying 2012. I'm going to sit in the proverbial porch swing this year and watch life go by instead of race through it like a bat out of hell. I can't wait to take you all with me on this slow-paced journey :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR, friends, I love you.

Wishing you many blessings and much love in 2012.