Obligatory New Year's Resolution Post 2016

It's that time again, where I take a look at how I did with my 2015 resolutions and make some goals for 2016. 

2015 Resolutions

1. Finish Four More Writing Classes Through UCLA Extension - I completed seven!

2. Send out my short stories (Fiction and Non-Fiction) to a minimum of fifteen publications/contests. - I failed this and only sent out five. Four of them within this month.

3. Finish the first half of my novel. - Although it's hard to tell if I've reached the exact half-way point, I'm either there or very close. 

4.  Blog a minimum of three times a week. Keep consistent with publishing blog content on a regular basis, rather than in large clumps, when I'm on class breaks. - I've really succeeded here, with posting every-other day for the entire year. The consistency has paid off with a upswing in readers. 

5. Start or join a writing group - Semi-successful. I did start an online group with a few fellow students over the summer, but it fizzled. 

6. Read a minimum of fifty books- 65 read!

7. Starting Jan 5th until June Cruise - no alcohol/sweets/ fried food ( only exception is Jeep Jamboree or other special occasion)- I did this and lost a ton of weight, but after the cruise I went back to my old habits. I guess technically I met this resolution, but I wish that I had continued it after the cruise. 

8. Log food and exercise in daily notebook.- I did this consistently until our cruise in late June. Tracking really is a key to success with healthy eating and weight loss.

9. Starting Jan 5th, attend regular exercise sessions with trainer. Make working out a priority in 2015. - Nailed this. With the exception of vacations, I worked out three days a week with my trainer for the entire year. 

10. Travel to a new state or country ( hopefully both and several)- No new states, but several new countries- France, Spain, Gibraltar, Netherlands and Belgium

11. Scan and organize 1/4 of family photographs. Print and frame family photographs to hang in both homes.- My big resolution fail, none of this was done. 

2016 RESOLUTIONS- Many of which will be similar or the same as last year, but I find publicly declaring and evaluating the list to be a huge motivator. 

1. Finish UCLA Extension Fiction Writing Program

2. Finish the 1st Draft and 1st complete revision of my novel.

3. Attend two or more writer's conferences

4. Start or join a writer's group

5. Submit my work to a minimum of fifteen publications/contests

6. Create/stick to, a regular writing schedule-find my optimum writing time

7. Read a minimum of 60 Books

8. Travel to a new state or country

9. Keep a food/exercise journal- exception is the family vacation

10. Starting January 4th- cut sugar, alcohol, fried food from diet- except on vacation or very special occasions ( Days ending in Y are not always special), but continue after vacations 

11. Scan and Organize 1/4 of family photos.

12. Organize and maintain paperwork/filing cabinet.

Obligatory New Years Resolution Post 2015

It's that time again...time to make some new resolutions and to see how I did with the ones that I made for 2014.

Let's check out what I attempted to accomplish in 2014.

WRITING - My goal was four writing classes through UCLA Extension, which would keep me on target for finishing my certificate in three years. I ended up taking five classes and the summer off for traveling. I wanted to blog a minimum of five days a week. I managed to only do half of this goal, averaging 2.5 posts a week. I've boosted my blog readership, but I did not spend quite as much time as I would have liked promoting my blog. Thank you readers for sticking around!

READING - I exceeded my fifty book goal by two books, but I did not read any classics. My goal was one classic a month. I've made this goal for many years and it ends here. Who am I kidding, I definitely prefer modern books for pleasure reading!

EXERCISE/HEALTH - This time last year, I was very motivated by an episode of Modern Family, where Phil Dunphy walks the equivalent of CA-Canada on his treadmill. We started off strong, but with all of our travels and dealing with my aunt's estate, that quickly ended. I had also wanted to sign up for Yoga or Pilates, which sort of happened with my doing two months of steady Cardio Barre classes last spring. I wanted to eat a minimum of five fruits/veggies and track my food, also something that didn't happen. My fitness and exercise goals were a mess in 2014 and will be a priority for the new year.

TRAVEL - I didn't make it to a new state, but I did see a new country, Sweden. I also saw Lake Tahoe for the first time. I have a Southwest Airlines Companion Pass valid until the end of 2015, so time/money willing, Dan and I will do some United States traveling in the new year.

ORGANIZATION - I've done well in this area, mainly out of necessity from handling my aunt's estate. I have our file cabinet from last year orderly and I have a system in place. I'm even ready to go when it comes to tax time. I didn't have a chance to scan in the family photographs, but I have organized them all by date and the photo scanner has been bought. Organizing them was a bigger effort than I had initially realized, so I'm pleased with the progress made on this goal.

MISC - I did learn slightly more in Swedish than just saying poop (which is still hilarious to my stepkids). I would like to learn more, but I learned enough via an iPad App, that I was able to pick out words on signs and understand bits and pieces of overheard conversations. I didn't start volunteering, but I did donate a lot more money to several organizations this year. I'm not sure that money is better than time, but it's something. I reconnected with several friends, again though, not as much as I had hoped.

2015 RESOLUTIONS

1. Finish four more writing classes through UCLA Extension.

2. Send out my short stories ( fiction and non-fiction) to a minimum of fifteen publications/contests.

3. Finish the first half of my novel.

4. Blog a minimum of three times a week. Keep consistent with publishing blog content on a regular basis, rather than in large clumps when I'm on class breaks. 

5. Start or join a writing group

6. Read a minimum of fifty books

7. Starting Jan 5th until June Cruise - no alcohol/sweets/ fried food ( only exception is Jeep Jamboree or other special occasion)

8. Log food and exercise in daily notebook.

9. Starting Jan 5th, attend regular exercise sessions with trainer. Make working out a priority in 2015. 

10. Travel to a new state or country ( hopefully both and several)

11. Scan and organize 1/4 of family photographs. Print and frame family photographs to hang in both homes.

I'm keeping it less broad this year, focusing on my two top goals, writing and health. Here is to a healthy and productive 2015!