New Year's Resolutions

I've taken on quite a few new hobbies and I really want to make my resolutions this year to become more proficient with these skills! I also have several personal goals as well that I hope I can follow through with!

1. Study up and learn more about my new digital SLR camera. I'm really anxious to master all the different features it has to offer!

2. On that note, I also want to make time to learn how to use PhotoShop so I can edit all the pictures I take! We have the program, and I've checked out two books from the library... now I just need to find time to sit down and go through it!

3. Learn to sew. Over the summer, my friend Lydia and I decided we needed to domesticate ourselves and learn to sew since so many of our girlfriends were making the cutest little baby dresses for all our pregnant friends. Joe got me a brand new sewing machine for Christmas and I'm so excited to start some sewing projects! I have a table all set-up and bought some supplies... now I just need to buy some fabric and decide what I want to make first!

4. Have more patience. This goes for basically everything. It's no secret that I have a short fuse and my patience level sometimes gets the best of me (although I must admit, when it comes to teaching/tutoring, I have an amazing amount of patience with students). I need to remember to stop, take a breath, and remember it's not the end of the world if traffic is taking forever, if the dogs are being brats, when Joe makes a mess in the house (lol, sorry Joe), or when something little goes wrong. I just need to keep in mind it's not the end of the world!

5. Stay more organized/tidy. A lot of you may know, I have a bit of OCD... but only when it comes to certain things. It doesn't apply to everything, but I wish it did because then I wouldn't have the need for this resolution. It's no secret I love to shop. The only downfall is that this creates a problem trying to keep all my clothes organized and put away neatly. I have two entire closets (poor Joe only has 1) and a dresser (and I also stole the bottom drawer in Joe's!) and I still can't manage to keep all my clothes put away. They just seem to pile up waiting to be hung up or worn after I've quickly discarded it and decided to try on another 5 outfits. I was forced to organize my closet after seeing my husband organized his closet better than my own (color coded and everything!).

6. Eat healthier and stay in shape. This sounds simple and I'm sure it's an easy task for most people. I however just broke my 24 year streak of not drinking water. Yes, you read that correctly. For my entire life, I have loathed the idea of drinking water. I recently have been forcing myself to consume some (very little at a time) and I'm forcing myself to keep drinking water until I reach the point of no return! I also have started eating some vegetables and cutting down on fatty snacks. Hopefully I can keep it up! I also want to start using the elliptical I begged Joe to buy for me because I pleaded that it's so much easier to work out at home instead of going all the way to the gym... and I've used all about a dozen times. Or all the "cute" workout clothes and spiffy new tennis shoes I had to have. I think they need more use than being worn to walk the dogs.

7. Continue saving money. Joe and I have been doing a good job of putting money into savings and not spending it just because we have it. I also save all the cash money I make from tutoring. It was nearly burning a hole in my pocket, but I saved up until I had enough money to buy my SLR camera and all of the accessories to go with it. It was totally worth the hard work and long wait! I started saving up again, but so far we haven't come up with anything to save up for. Guess I'll just keep saving. :)

8. Stop being so judgemental. Again, another thing a lot of people say, but rarely actually do. I need to refrain from automatically "sizing" people up, judging by what they wear or say... but what they actually do. I think everyone judges people. It's how we formulate opinions about others, and leads to how we make choices about what to do from that point on (i.e.- based on whether you like them or not will determine if you decide to spend time with them again in the future). I want to give more people I encounter a better chance and let their actions speak for themselves more because one's actions are so powerful.

9. Stop reading into things. I'm sure this could be tied in with a few other ones I already mentioned, but I really do need to do this. I tend to read into things too much and take it personally, even if it wasn't what I thought it was about/meant. I tend to take it personally when old friends don't stay in touch, when I get left out of something, etc. I need to learn I'm a big girl now and things like that shouldn't matter as much as I make it out to be.

10. I wanted to make 10, but I'm drawing blanks on other big things/areas I want to improve on. If I think of something... I'll come back to it. If not, then my 10th one will be to hopefully keep my resolutions and not slack off! :P