Thanks to publishing my 2012 goals on my blog last year, they were on my mind a lot this year. And how did they go? Let’s review. I wanted to:
- Sell 100 things in my Etsy store.
This actually kind of happened, thanks to the craft fair in December! I didn’t really think I’d get anywhere near 100 items, but I at least got closer to it than I expected. I’ll update with an exact tally soon (my paperwork is in the same room where Lena is napping!) because I want to know the final number myself.
Update: I sold 58 items total… most of them fingerless gloves. I am excited to see that number but I still fell short of my goal. I’ve revised the number from 100 items to 50 items for 2013 and would like to surpass it this time!
- Study Italian for 30 min each day.
- Do Bible study each day with Elliott.
- Read a book a week for a total of 52 books this year.
OK, I’ll be honest: I was very worried about whether or not I could accomplish this goal. For awhile there in July after Julia died I kind of stopped reading at all and so it seemed like there was no way I could finish it. However, a couple of quiet months at the end of the year allowed me to catch up, and as of Dec 31st I read 54 books this year! I am working on a post about my 5 favorites that I read in 2012. I’m going to fine-tune this goal for 2013, as I am definitely a big fan of setting book-reading goals now. Be my friend on GoodReads to keep up with your own reading and set a book goal for yourself!
- Eat and grocery shop locally.
- Take some cooking classes and learn several Sicilian dishes.
- Travel around Italy and Europe.
- Rome and the Balkans in January
- Agrigento, Sicily, in February
- France for a ski trip in March
- Malta in April
- Northern Italy, San Marino, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Lietchenstein on an epic road trip in May
- Virginia in June
- Crete in July
- Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and then later the Dolomite Mountains in August
- Noto, Sicily, and back to Virginia in September
- Mt Etna in October
- Cinque Terre in November
- … and IKEA in December (because that place is a country all of its own)
- Be a more compassionate wife to Elliott.
Well, this deserves an individual post, but one big thing I have learned is to actually listen to my husband. He often throws out suggestions like, “I wish you would try different styles in Lena’s hair,” or “I read this article about Greek islanders who live to be 100 and how they eat vegetarian food four times a week, fish twice a week, and meat once a week; could we do that?” A lot of times I’ll hear these suggestions and say, “Hmm, that’s a good idea. Maybe I’ll do that.” And then what happens? I forget he ever said it. One thing I tried to do this year was listen to what he said and then do it. It’s revolutionary. And it makes for one very appreciative husband, too.
- Teach and love Lena.
Teach and love Lena… that happened automatically because she needed to be taught and because she is so loveable! But I had a lot of fun this year watching her learn to walk, cooking with her every day, and now teaching her the alphabet.
- Get better at this blogging thing!
Talk about subjective, right? But I have been encouraged by improvements in my blogging, both in my own knowledge of the online world and blog design as well as seeing a growing community of friends in the blogosphere. Next year holds some exciting improvements for this blog, the biggest of which I hope to be revealing this month!
Those were great goals and it looks like many of them were realized. I look forward to your post on your five favorite books. I just got a nice Amazon gift card for Christmas, so I’ve been compiling a reading wish list.
That sounds like an awesome Christmas gift! I’ve got both favorite books AND books on a list still to read that I’ll be sharing soon.
I’ve been reading your blog since Julia died and I’ve been so touched by your Christian witness and how real you are. I look forward to your posts (always scan my email for them first). Thanks so much!
What great goals – it looks like you did an excellent job of fulfilling them during 2012!
Such a great set of goals for the New Year! Here’s to a year of reading, crafting, and blogging, and of course, most importantly spending time with our families. :)