Resolutions 2012 - 6 Weeks Left To Go

So here are the 10 resolutions that my family and friends came up for me (in no particular order):

Photography Category:

• Start setting up a portfolio website and professional presence (Not started yet, but I plan on doing this over the summer)
• Make/Customize a photo bag for my camera (Done!)

Health Category:

• Take a yoga class - once a week (I went about 4 times and then school/work interrupted me. Planning on doing this again this summer)
• Eat a prepared meal - once a week - that I have not eaten before (counts if it is at a sit down restaurant) (Meh - About 50/50 about this)

Travel Category:

• Three trips - one needs to be someone I have never been and one needs to be out of state. It can be day trips, but needs to be over 60 miles one way. (Nope, not even close)

Reading Category:

• 25 Books (50 for the year) and 25% of books on the BBC list of Must Read Books (With a month to go - 26 books and at exactly 25% of the BBC list)

Misc. Category:

• Have a mani/pedi once a month (3 months out of 5 on this)
• Go to the make-up counter at a department store and get a make-over (Still need to do this, but found a friend to go with me)
• Get 2 haircuts from an actual hairstylist (Done!)
• Buy & wear two dress casual outfits that I wear outside of work (Purchased a dress which counts for partial credit)

I still have until the end of June to get back on schedule with these. Then come July 1st, the list for the second half of the year kicks in.

Resolution Follow Up - Week #9

Some of the resolutions were weekly so here is how I am doing so far after night weeks.

Health Category:

• Take a yoga class - once a week

I suck. I still haven't been to the gym. My cold is almost completely gone now, but it hung on to the end of last week. I did go on a walk/hike that was 2.8 miles on Sunday so I should get a half a point credit for that.

• Eat a prepared meal - once a week - that I have not eaten before (counts if it is at a sit down restaurant)

After the hike, we went to an Irish Pub in Magnolia. It had amazing Shepherd's Pie and decent Irish soda bread. I would totally go back.

Reading Category:

• 25 Books (50 for the year) and 25% of books on the BBC list of Must Read Books
• Running total: 18/25 Books (7/6 of the BBC books)

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card. It completely lived up to the hype. Once I get caught up on other books, I will definitely circle back to read more of the series. I approve of the casting for the movie coming out next year. However, I think it is insanely controversial to do.

On deck for next week: "Heat Rises" by Richard Castle (3rd Nikki Heat book from ABC's "Castle")

Photography Category:

• Make/Customize a photo bag for my camera
  

I have found my idea camera bag at Target of all places. I will post more details later, but it is not an actual camera bag. I need to go to the foam store to trick it out a bit. I did sew two patches on it to make it more mine. Once the foam is cut and set, I will take pictures of it. I am also debating on putting another patch on it or not. It is a black bag and a lot of my patches are blue and brown so it doesn't look all that great. Thankfully, Emerald City Comicon is coming up and I can pick up more badges there.

Thus concludes my ninth week's update on my Resolutions for 2012. See you again next week!

Resolution Follow Up - Week #8

Some of the resolutions were weekly so here is how I am doing so far after eight weeks.

Health Category:

I have a nasty cold. Started with a sore throat on Wednesday and I have been home from work from Thursday through Sunday. I didn't work out. I barely ate anything during those 4 days.

However, starting on Monday, I will be on my new 1:30p to 10p schedule. I just won't be able to work out until this cold is gone.

Reading Category:

• 25 Books (50 for the year) and 25% of books on the BBC list of Must Read Books
• Running total: 17/25 Books (7/6 of the BBC books)

My BBC book reading goal has been met and then some with 3.5 months to go!

"Winnie the Pooh" by A.A. Milne (Stephen Fry and Judy Dench are two of the voices). Great stories which I had only remember a bit. Totally adorable audiobook.

"Animal Farm" by George Orwell. Loved it. Completely understand why it is a classic.

"Charlie and Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl which was lovely and read by Eric Idle.

On deck for next week: "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.

Thus concludes my eighth week's update on my Resolutions for 2012. See you again next week!

Resolution Follow Up - Week #7

Some of the resolutions were weekly so here is how I am doing so far after seven weeks.

Health Category:

• Take a yoga class - once a week

Again, I didn't make it this week. I also only made it to the gym once. I suck. Once my new schedule kicks in (1:30p to 10p), it will be easier to do the gym after work and still get up early to work on school stuff.

• Eat a prepared meal - once a week - that I have not eaten before (counts if it is at a sit down restaurant)

Made a pork stir fry with onions, pea pods, broccoli and celery with some Lite Italian dressing for a bit of flavor. Hit the spot despite lack of rice and/or noodles.

I also went to a wood fired pizza place that was trying to be as close to a Hard Rock cafe as it possibly could without infringing on copyrights and trademarks. The cheeseburger wrap was delicious.

While it was discovered on a cheat day, the new Cherry M&Ms are delicious. They are like chocolate covered cherries without the gushy center.

Reading Category:

• 25 Books (50 for the year) and 25% of books on the BBC list of Must Read Books
• Running total: 14/25 Books (4/6 of the BBC books)

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"by Annie Barrows & Mary Ann Shaffer - AMAZING! A must read. I stayed up late to finish it. Cannot recommend it enough.

"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" by Seth Grahame-Smith. Had to pick up the book since a) the trailer looked AMAZING and 2) he wrote "Pride & Prejudice & Zombies." This book was GREAT and so looking forward to the movie!

On tap for next week: "Animal Farm" by George Orwell and "Winnie the Pooh" by A.A. Milne (Stephen Fry and Judy Dench are two of the voices). This will bring me to 6/6 of the BBC books 3 months early and leave me just 9 shy of my 25 books total goal. I just I will need to up the stakes for the next round of resolutions come this July.

Misc. Category:

• Have a mani/pedi once a month

I got this done just before the red dress party and got a nice temptress red color for both. I took the polish off the hands because it would look odd, but since my feet live in sneakers, I'm keeping them on my toes.

Proof:

Dress borrowed from Martha. Thanks, Martha!

You know these are my feet as they are roughly the same color as the white towel below.

Thus concludes my seventh week's update on my Resolutions for 2012. See you again next week!

Resolution Follow Up - Week #6

Some of the resolutions were weekly so here is how I am doing so far after six weeks.

Health Category:

• Take a yoga class - once a week

I didn't make it again. There are only 3 class times that work and all of them are mid-morning. I had a choice for sleep or yoga and sad to say sleep one 3 times in a row. I also only made it to the gym once this week due to school and work running long. However, work schedule will be changing soon so there is hope to get back on a normal schedule-ish.

• Eat a prepared meal - once a week - that I have not eaten before (counts if it is at a sit down restaurant)
  

I went with two friends to the Lake Forrest Grill and had a yummy pork chops and veggie meal.

Reading Category:

• 25 Books (50 for the year) and 25% of books on the BBC list of Must Read Books
• Running total: 12/25 Books (4/6 of the BBC books)
  

"To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. I had only seen the movie before which was in 7th & 8th grade and barely remembered it. I really liked the book and had completely forgotten the ending which was great. It was a longer book than the last two so I only read one this week.

On tap for next week:
"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"by Annie Barrows & Mary Ann Shaffer

Misc. Category:

• Buy & wear two dress casual outfits that I wear outside of work
  

Well, I actually got a real dress which should count as one of the outfits. It is a formal evening wear. Black sleeveless with grey bust and a black shrug because I do not do sleeveless. I got the whole thing for no reason other than it fit and was $20. Also, it lies about it's size. It says it is 4 sizes smaller than it actually is unless it is mean to be worn like a parachute.

Thus concludes my sixth week's update on my Resolutions for 2012. See you again next week!

Resolution Follow Up - Week #5

Some of the resolutions were weekly so here is how I am doing so far after five weeks.

Health Category:

• Take a yoga class - once a week

I didn't make it this week. First week back at school and I had to move my studio office back into my apartment. Something needed to get sacrificed. I did make it to the gym 3 times this week, so all is not lost. I will make better plans for next week.

• Eat a prepared meal - once a week - that I have not eaten before (counts if it is at a sit down restaurant)
  

Well, it wasn't an epic meal, but I did purchase pork loin and cooked it in the oven. I got down the Better Homes red and white cookbook and looked up how long I should cook it. It is a step in the right direction at least. Next time, I will add flavor!

Reading Category:

• 25 Books (50 for the year) and 25% of books on the BBC list of Must Read Books
• Running total: 9/25 Books (2/6 of the BBC books)
  

"Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire: Business Sense & Sensibility" by Mireille Guiliano was a random choice when I needed something to read, but turned out to be a really interesting read with a lot of good advice, tips and tricks. I highly recommend it.

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald was "meh" at best. Read the whole thing in one day. Wasn't impressed. It was a very pedestrian story with very fancy language. I enjoyed his prose, but the characters and plot were "meh."

On deck for next week: "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams and "Lunatics" by Dave Barry

Thus concludes my fourth week's update on my Resolutions for 2012. See you again next week!