Looking back at 2011 goals....

Way back in January, I made some pretty lofty goals for the year. I have since then kind of ignored them, thinking about them only once in a blue moon. I think that I was over ambitious. But with that being said, this is how I stand on them...


PERSONAL GOALS:

• Lose 20 lbs. --- Right now I am at 218lbs :( and I would love to be below 200. I was at 199 on the day of our wedding (2005) and I would LOVE to be there again.  Well this is obviously not going to happen as I am now 23 weeks pregnant. It wouldn't be healthy for me to lose that weight. I WILL tackle this again after April 2012, after I have the baby.
• I will work on drinking more water. I drink way too much soda and need to focus on getting healthier. I am trying on this one. Some days are better than others.
• Read 26+ books this year.--- One of the passions that I used to have was reading. I LOVE to read. Unfortunately with having 2 young kids and dealing with issues in life, this hobby has been put on the back burner. This year I want to reignite that passion by reading at least 2 books a month. I would love to do 1 a week, but I want to be realistic as well. I think I reached this goal! GO ME! I read a bunch of books and have tried to find time at least once a week to set aside for reading.
• To try out at least 1 new recipe a month.--- I have gotten into the habit of making the same things over and over, and while there is not a problem with that, I am growing tired of making and eating the same things. I also received 5 new cookbooks for Christmas so time to put them to good use. I did try some new recipes but not one a month, and since I find myself falling back in the habit I need to refocus on this.

FAMILY GOALS:

• To better my relationships with Bill and with my children
• I would like to implement a date night at least 1x a month with Bill. This could be dinner out, movie out, movie in after the kids go to bed, getting chinese takeout and eating after the kids are in bed, etc. Right now we are averaging going out for our anniversary and  maybe 1 other time a year and that is NOT good. FAIL
• I want to be more patient with my kids. I tend to lose my patience quickly with Rebecca and need to work on becoming more patient with her. I may do this by making and planning activities to do with just her. FAIL
• To read for at least 10 minutes a day to Jacob and for at least 30 minutes with Rebecca. We are doing well reading to Rebecca; however we have been really slack about reading to Jacob. I will do this by beginning to read to Jacob before he goes to bed every night. FAIL
• Make a schedule and stick to it to limit tv watching for the kids. Right now they watch way TOO much tv and it is beginning to show in their behavior. BIG FAT FAIL

FINANCIAL GOALS:

• Make a budget and stick to it.
• Continue to gain Mypoints, Rewards points through bank, Pinecone research money, and swagbucks to use toward gift cards to be used to buy gifts I got away from this..Need to refocus on this
• Save and KEEP $1000 in the emergency fund---we have had to dip into this a couple times this year and I would love to see it STAY at $1000. SUCCESS
• Continue to coupon and write letters for coupons (at least 5 a week) FAIL
• Have 2 no (low) spend months---January and June FAIL
• Work on paying down the Discover Card bill FAIL
• Figure out a way to bring in more money by working from home---ideas I am throwing around are tutoring, copying family home movies to dvd, making and selling simple cakes, being a part of the farmers markets to sell homebaked goods.... I did tutor over the summer, something that I am looking into doing more this year. But need to be more proactive

BLOG GOALS:

• To write on the blog 4-5x a week.-- Somewhat of a success...did this most of the time.
• Gain more readers--- I would like to have at least 80 readers by December 31, 2011
• to do this, I want to join at least 1 blog hop a week SUCCESS...I am up to 159 AWESOME READERS!!!!!!

I am thinking about pairing down next years goals and focusing more on the family goals and financial goals, rather than personal ones. Look forward to an upcoming post (after Christmas) on what these goals are. Are you planning goals for 2012?? What are they?