Looking Forward…and Behind
Are you totally confused as to where you are? Don’t be.This is still the same place as it was before. Just…different.
It’s hard to believe that 2011 has come and gone. What on EARTH?!
This past year was a whirlwind. We said goodbye to Alabama January 7 and trekked across the country to our new life here in Alaska. To say that it’s been an adventure would be an understatement. So much has happened in the last year. Between moving and settling in a what was basically a “foreign country” and finding my niche in the Graphic Design world, I wonder sometimes how I even had a chance to breath. Throw in dabbling in photography professionally and writing my first novel, homeschooling and keeping up this blog…needless to say, I’m tired. And looking forward to opportunities to relax a little in 2012.
I reflect on everything that has happened this year and find myself feeling one thing: BLESSED.
Beyond measure.
Blessed to have had the experiences I had last year. To have been able to travel and see the country. To be living somewhere completely out of my element and given the opportunity to share it with all of you. Blessed to have found a niche in the design world that is my own; to have been able to start my own business, contributing financially to our family and still be at home with my son. Blessed to have a healthy and happy family, wonderful friends, and the chance to start fresh and chase down another year.
New Years always gets my wheels turning…
What can I do this year to make myself better than last year?
I don’t like to call them “resolutions” because, honestly, how many of us ever keep those? I prefer to refer to my goals as New Years Commitments.
I took a few minutes today to look over my New Years “Resolutions” from last year…just to see how I did. I’d say I made two out of the four. I did move to WordPress and I did “set up shop,” though not in the way that I had originally planned. Still haven’t upgraded that camera yet. I keep intending to and I’m dying of…frustration, having outgrown my Canon Rebel, but I find myself putting my money into things for the business (like my iMac…ahem) and putting money back to plan for our big trip back to Alabama this summer. It’s something I’ll get to. Husband’s aiming to purchase my new baby in February. We shall see.
So what’s on the agenda for 2012?
I’m glad you asked. I’ve done a lot of thinking and have come up with a few things that I’d really like to see myself accomplish this year:
- Finish my novel.
I’m not going to spill the beans on what it’s about (basically because I have started two and can’t decide which to finish first). But I’d definitely like to have at least one of them finished by the end of the year. I’d prefer to have a final copy complete (all of the editing and revisions and have it all ready to send out to attempt getting published). I’m going to have to set aside some time daily to write. Which means I’ll probably need to change my sleeping and work habits (says the woman sitting up typing this post at 1:55 am). Which brings me to the next goal…
- Get myself on a SCHEDULE.
Being a WAHM is hard. Really hard. I find myself being a parent all day everyday, a wife when my husband gets off and then staying up until the wee hours of the morning to get actual work done. I’ve cut down on my workload and given myself a set number of clients per month to keep myself from getting overwhelmed. But I need a better routine. And a cleaning schedule (unless, of course, someone wants to send me a maid. Or at least just someone to do laundry).
- Continue to grow the business and add new features.
I’d really like to add dedicated Private Hosting for my potential clients as well as some Pre-Made Logos, some Print Media and possibly a theme or two. Those are lofty goals in the back of my mind, but I have 12 months to do it, right? Anything is possible.
- READ 52 Books in a year.
I’d to aim for a bigger goal, but come on. That’s one book a week. And I don’t even have time to fold clothes. How can I justify reading ALL the time? I got in a groove for a few weeks where I went through 6 books in about 2.5 weeks (The Help, Water for Elephants, The Best of Me, On Writing and a few others…) and I loved it. The husband bought me the new Stephen King Novel (11/22/83) and I’ve only gotten a few chapters into and am itching to dig deeper. Reading is a must this year.
- Pick up the Camera (and upgrade it, of course).
I tried my hand at Project 365 last year and it was a total bust. Trying to find something interesting and unique to photography every. single. day. is so ridiculously hard. So this year I’m dedicating myself to a little project I’m calling 52 Faces: One Year with Noah. My friend Amy started a project last year with her little girl, “B,” called 52 Dresses and it’s been so cute. She photographs her in a new dress every week. While I can’t photography Noah in a new dress every week, I can photograph him weekly. It will be fun to look back and see how much he’s grown.
I have a few other things I’m planning, but nothing I’m quite ready to reveal yet. You’ll just have to keep yourself subscribed to see what’s coming! And what would a New Years post be without a photo of the Little Man then and now?
Noah: January 2011
And last week (December 2011):
Looking good lady! The site and the goals! 🙂
Thanks girl! Hope you are having a great New Year so far!
OH MY GOSH YOUR KID IS CUTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE (but you already know that!) I was going to write something else first, but then I saw his picture and kinda forgot what I was going to say. 🙂
Oh, yes I remember. I’m starting my own business this year as well (GULP). My goal is to have made the paperwork official by Valentine’s Day. So, one of my resolutions was to get my butt organized. (To me, this will help me stay on schedule or wait… maybe to DEVELOP a schedule that I will actually stick with.)
I can’t do the 365 projects either. I just do not have the time and nothing is THAT interesting to me that I want to be forced to do it everyday for one year in order to complete it. BUT, I did include a link on my blog post to this 52 week project that I’m doing for organization. If organization is part of your troubles, you might want to check that out.
BTW–I loved everything about your son’s photos EXCEPT…. the Bama jersey!! You’ve never heard that saying? “My favorite team is Arkansas and whoever’s playing Alabama!” haha. 😉
Jackie @
http://www.madjackie.blogspot.com
Awww, thank you Jackie!! I think he’s pretty stinkin’ cute myself. 😉
Good luck with your new business! What will you be doing? Developing a schedule that works is the hard part. I have had several, but it’s finding something that works for our whole family that it tough. I will definitely check out your organization project. And if you’re looking for another Photography Project, you can check out my 52 Faces project I started. 🙂
And…I think I’ll just let it slide and pretend I didn’t read that comment about Arkansas….ahem.
Roll Tide. 😉
I said it on Twitter, but I’ll say it here, too … I love the new site design!
I think your goals are great. I can’t imagine being a WAHM. What you do is pretty incredible. I was going crazy just being home during our Christmas vacation time with my Noah (not that I don’t love him, but I am just NOT cut out for staying/working at home!).
Thank you, Misty! It’s hard (the work at home mom thing), but I make it work. I love what I do, I love being able to be home AND have a job that brings in some income. I’m just still trying to figure out the balance. 🙂
I love the new look and the awesomeness of your most current accomplishment! I’m so excited for you! And thats a great list! Best of luck! Happy New Year 🙂
Thanks, Miranda! I’m excited for everything that’s to come! 🙂 Hope you and your family have had a great start to this New Year!
New site is great! Congrats on all that has happened for you recently and best of luck with your goals for 2012. The 52 faces project sounds so fun. Looking forward to seeing those! These pics of Noah are great – especially the last. LOVE.
Thanks, love! He’s such a ham and growing more and more by the minute. Why didn’t anyone tell me these kids do that?!
Your space is beautiful. You accomplish so much. I thought I was busy!
Some of my goals this year:
1. Read the Bible through in a year.
2. Complete at least 3-4 in-depth Bible studies.
3. Read 10-12 books this year (much lower than your 52, but perhaps my Kindle will help)!
4. Spend more time with my family.
5. Get healthy and lose weight!
What a GREAT list of goals! Let me know when you choose what Bible Studies you’re going to do. I’d love to do something deep and relatable. Getting healthy is always on my list. I’d love to lose a few pounds, too. I hope you have a WONDERFUL New Years!!
I like how you’re approaching the year and I really believe that 2012 is going to be a huge year for you. Big hugs!
Thank you, Ashley! How have you been? I know that this year is going to be an AMAZING year for you, too! Let’s chat soon, please! 🙂
Your goal is to read 52 books… Mine is to read 6. Lol. I read crazy fast too, but just can’t find the time lately. I don’t know how you do it 🙂 You had a huge year last year! Look forward to seeing where 2012 takes you! Blessings, Courtney!
LOL I am going to have to carve out some SERIOUS time to sit and read. If I can find a good book, it’s not an issue. I can fly through a novel if I’m into it. 🙂
Lofty goals. But, I have a feeling that you will accomplish those and more.
Me? Today I’m actually setting time aside to sit down and process my plan for the new year.
Happy New Year!
Thank you, Diane. 🙂 I have a few more things up my sleeve and hope to sit down and REALLY lay out and in-depth plan for the New Year. So many goals and ideas. 🙂
Good for you for setting some awesome commitments. It will be so interesting to see how they grow and develop as the year progresses.
Also, I am amazed at what you are able to get done in a day. Just reading about it exhausts me.
I haven’t yet sat down and enumerated a list of goals for this year yet, but I do have a few:
-Read at least 35 books this year. I read 32 in 2011, so upping the number is an improvement. 🙂 Of these books, I want to keep up with the book club I started in my community, read 50% Canadian Literature, and at least restart if not completely “re”read the Lord of the Rings books, starting, of course, with the Hobbit.
-Run a 10k. If all goes well, I won’t be able to start running until at least May, but I hope to get back into the swing of things. I really do miss it. I managed to run a 5k last summer, so a 10k needs to be in my future in 2012.
-Attempt to read through the bible in a year. I’ve tried before and failed. Started again last night. 1/365 complete!
-Take more photos. We’ll see if my photography progresses to anything again when I’m on mat leave. Right now I have no time to be professional while working full time and being a full time Mom. If I do, we’ll need a new camera ourselves. Our pro one has completely kicked the dust and my backup is starting to show its age.
Happy New Year Courtney! And good luck with your goals!
Thanks, love! I’m excited to see what this year has in store. I am not sure how I accomplish anything either; but if you saw my laundry room you’d understand. There are a few things that I, unfortunately, have to let slide. Good thing Josh doesn’t mind digging his underwear out of a basket in the laundry room every morning.
35 books sounds like a great goal! I’ll be excited to see what comes of the photography business. You have such a fabulous talent! Eep! So excited to continue to read about Baby #2!