New Year's Resolutions 2015

This is my second year of publicly posting my resolutions, and then coming back to visit them monthly.  The hope is that by keeping track of them once a month, I will do better of actually keeping my resolutions!  All in all, I've done well keeping my resolutions.


2015 Resolutions:
1) Exercise More, Walk 500 Miles

Yes to the first part - I did exercise more.  By the end of the year, I was getting consistent exercise every single day.
No to the second part.  I did not walk 500 miles.  I added that goal in mid-year, and then was promptly sidelined by torn ligaments.
I feel stronger now, and I really want to continue to increase the amount of exercise that I am getting on a daily basis next year.  Will I try to walk 500 miles in a year?  Or even 1,000?  I'll have to think that one through very carefully.

2) Lose 10 Pounds
Total weight lost this year: 8
I fell short of this by 2 pounds, but I still consider this a success.  Any weight lost, is good.  Even better, I lost a pant size and a shirt size this year!  Pulling out all of the too big clothes and dropping them off at Goodwill was a great feeling!


3) Remodel the Hall Bathroom
THIS is the goal that is staying on the list and moving up to #1 for next year!

4) Finish Oldest Child's Quilt

This goal was on my 2014 resolutions, and reappeared in 2015.  I DID finish it, though!  He put it on his bed when he moved into his apartment this fall!


5) Clean and Organize the Family Room in the Basement
Done!


6) Cut Back on the Time I Spend on Social Media
I finally realized that I was wasting entirely too much time hanging out on Social Media, playing the part of a voyeur.  This was actually the thought behind resolution #12.


7) Read 75 Books This Year
This was great fun!  I don't know that I'll deliberately set out to read 75 books again next year, but I did enjoy sharing the books I read this past year.  One thing became clear to me while reading - I do have very eclectic tastes where books are concerned!

8) Get out of debt, pay college tuition without going deeper into debt.
Since daughter decided to transfer to the Community College, we will be saving money on tuition over the next year.  Eventually, she plans to transfer back to a four year school, but for now she's looking at finishing out the two year degree on the University Transfer plan.  So, her credits match the requirements for the first two years of classes at the University of Maryland schools.  As long as she has a 2.0 GPA, she is guaranteed admission to the UMD schools.

While we are not yet out of debt, we are closer to being out of debt than we have been since husband's accident wiped out our savings 3 years ago. I'm glad we had a savings account!  I can't begin to imagine where we would be now if we hadn't had it! Fortunately, we've been following Dave Ramsey for years.  Our emergency savings is now built back up and we are using the "snowball plan" to get the debt paid off. My goal was to have everything paid off by the end of 2015, but it didn't happen this year. Next year!


9) Spend More Time with my Family
I have to admit.  Every time I had kids home, I enjoyed every single minute I had with them.  We played games, watched TV, and talked.  I love spending time with these amazingly smart human beings!


10) 365 Grateful
You can see the images I have shared publicly on Flickr.


11) Replace the Car that was Totaled
 Just before Thanksgiving, we replaced the car.  It's another Honda Civic.  What can I say?  Honda engineering is pretty phenomenal.  As long as you maintain the car, the car treats you well!


12) I Will Maintain My Friendships
I have gotten together with everyone I intended to meet up with this year, and a couple of people who had fallen off of my radar.  I remembered in one case why I had let the friendship go.... very long story that I don't want to dwell upon.  What can I say?  It was a destructive friendship years ago.  Time and distance have not improved this person's destructive personality.  Nor their penchant for dragging other people down with them.


13) I Will Have More Adventures
From the flyover of World War 2 Aircraft in Washington DC to the Western Maryland Scenic Railway, I have ventured forth on some pretty exciting excursions through the Mid-Atlantic this year.  Unfortunately, a good portion of my year was marred by doctor's visits, torn ligaments, crutches, and Physical Therapy.  I don't know that I'll ever specifically make a resolution to "have more adventures".  I think I need to find a different way to phrase the desire to go out and explore!

Historic WW2 Flyover

The View from the Western Maryland Scenic Railway

14) I Will Craft More
I've had a blast being more crafty this year!  I've explored new mediums, and found a couple that I would like to try again!  This was a really fun resolution!

Little Stuff It Bags for the House of Ruth.

My very own ceramic plate.  I'll never make money as a painter.

Very cute little succulent garden!  Found the directions here.

The beginnings of the Glitter Dipped Mug project.

Considering the very lofty goals that I set for myself this year, I feel like I've done a lot and learned a lot!  How did you do with your resolutions?