A New Year...with 12 big goals!

Resolutions to me are forgotten by January 31.  Goals are something that you really want to accomplish.  This year I'm making my list of 12 goals for 2012. Hopefully each month I'll be able to cross something off my list.

1.  Try my hand at wood working.

Source: Ana White Homemaker

Once I stumbled across Ana White's site, I fell in love with the idea of building my own furniture.  I basically grew up in my grandfather's workshop. I can still hear him kicking me out to get my shoes on before I start working.  (Such a great rule by the way!)  Hubby and I have been looking for some end tables for the guest bedroom and a console table for near the entry door and I've already scoped out which plans I might tackle.  Hopefully, I'll be able to kick hubby out of his garage long enough for me to complete something.

2.  Lean how to free-motion quilt.

Source: The Free Motion Quilting Project

I began quilting this year and have fully completed two baby quilts and currently have two more in progress and one more waiting to get cut out.  I enjoy piecing everything together but I've only been using the stitch-in-the-ditch method. I really want to venture out and try something else.  My mindset of everything has to be even and lined up really must get pushed to the side on this one.  It might be hard but I did run across a website called The Free-Motion Quilting Project that has totally inspired me.

3.  Design a new layout for our Master closet.

It's the new year and all the adds are showing and everyone is talking about organization.  Don't get me wrong, I love our walk-in closet, but I just think we could fancy it up without spending too much money.  I proposed this idea to my husband and being the engineer he is, he want's me to draw it out and compare the current configuration to whatever configuration I design in terms of added linear footage of hanging area and how much space will be available for storage of shoes and our laundry baskets.

4.  Make my Laundry Room a happier place.

I tried to plan this out the summer of 2011, but time ran out, as time usually does.  This year I am setting my sights on making it a happier place.

5.  Take more time for just myself.
We have a jetted bath tub in our master bath.  We've lived in our house for 2.5 years and I've only used it 3 times, literally. For Christmas I got a  bath caddy thing that I can prop my book on and read while soaking (and a slot for a glass of wine, which I will also be using...).  I'm really looking forward to this.

6.  Use home-made cleaners and cleaning products.

Dish detergent and probably laundry detergent are excluded for now, but pretty much everything else we'll try some sort of DIY version.  I saw this great idea for DIY reusable swiffer pads on Pinterest and I hope I can incorporate them into our cleaning routine. Also, I really want our future children to live in an environment without harsh chemicals. Hopefully we enjoy these new products when we run out of what we have now.

7.  Make things in my kitchen gadget drawer easier to find.

I never got dividers from my gadget drawer and I'm kinda glad I didn't, even though I've been suffering for the last 2 years.  My collection of Kitchen gadgets has grown immensely over the last 2 years and I saw a great idea on Pinterest to solve my problem: Homemade Drawer Dividers!  The idea showed balsa wood dividers made to fit exactly how you want.  I just can't wait to get started!

8.  Learn how to grill.
Grilling is definitely my husband's job, but this year I hope to take over and become an expert...especially on steaks.  Hubby always gripes about doing it so I figure, why not just do it myself.  Are there classes on grilling?

9.  Make our Home more Energy Friendly!

I'd like to get some energy saving gadgets to help cut our yearly costs.  I might also get some caulking going, we'll see.  I will be doing some research and learning what to do and what not to do.

10. Incorporate Ergonomics into my work and home life.

I don't sit right at work.  I slouch and stick my legs out and my keyboard height is definitely wrong, but so is my monitor height.  Hopefully this year I can fix that.  I'd like to make myself healthier. Maybe this is your goal also?

11. Work Hard and Play Harder!
This year my work life is going to be CRAZY! Typically I'm on one or two projects at a time.  This year I'm already on 4!  That means I'll need to reward myself!  I'm thinking Vegas AND Disney World.  Let's see how hard I get to play this year!

12. Take Lessons from FLYlady.net

I love the idea of getting into a routine for cleaning and getting things put away.  If you haven't heard of her check it out.  A friend of mine used her method and really recommended it!


So there it is: 12 goals for 2012!  What are some of the goals you have for this year?