Sorry for the blog silence for the past few days. I’m at a work event with Aaron for the week, at a beautiful lodge in middle-of-nowhere Oklahoma, with 150 teens, and pretty sporadic/sketchy internet access. I’m SO grateful to be here and involved in the awesome activities going on with the students who are here, and because of that blogging and social media have taken a backseat. So, please forgive me if there isn’t much else posted until next week (including Wardrobe Wednesday). I’m really trying to be consistent with my posts this year, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little guilty for NOT being this week. But, I’m also trying to maintain a healthy balance of prioritizing life over work/blogging….so, hopefully you’ll all understand and support me in that decision. ;)

That being said, I have wanted to fill this out and post it ever since seeing it on Lauryn’s blog. I, too, think it’s a cool way to list some of the year-long goals for 2013. And even though I want to primarily stick to my monthly goals (which I know I already posted for January), these are some things I want to focus on regularly throughout the year.

What I resolve to do more of in 2013:
Drink water. Read. Relax (literally). Sounds silly, but I have a bad habit of tensing up which has been leading to back and neck issues that I’d rather not have for the rest of my life. Watch Oscar-winning & nominated movies. Study a few books of the Bible, in depth. Spend quality time with Aaron. Be more intentional at keeping up with family & out-of-state friends. Keep my clothes put away & more organized. Get faithful with working out 3 – 4 times a week, again. Artistic/creative/crafty projects. Singing. Meal-planning & cooking. Maintaining tidiness around the apartment. Showing others the love & hope found in Christ.

What I resolve to do less of:
Worry. Get frustrated when plans change. Work late & on Sundays. Over-analyze myself, others, God or situations. Watch TV.

What I resolve not to say to my spouse:
Anything that’s an immediate accusation or assumption of his motives, instead of clarifying and giving him the benefit of the doubt.

What I resolve to eat less of:
Salt & Pepper potato chips.

What I resolve to learn how to cook:
More crockpot recipes.

What I resolve to eat more of:
Fresh foods, healthy smoothies, vitamins.

What non-required reading I resolve to attend to:
Finish Wuthering Heights, Little Men, one more fictional book & at least one devotional/Christian growth book.

What I resolve to convince my spouse to read:
Something we can read/discuss together.

Restaurant I want to try:
Proper Pie. (And so many others that I can’t currently remember…)

Restaurant I want to return to:
Julep’s, Burger Bach, The Boathouse, to name just a few.

I resolve to finally try:
Baking bread. Sewing. Juicing?

I resolve to spend less money on:
Shoes, jewelry. (And Aaron rejoices….)

I resolve to get Zen about:
Things out of my control. My cats snagging/clawing/knocking things over…sometimes it just happens. They are cats, after all.

What I resolve to accomplish professionally:
Faster turn around time. More timely album design. Outsourcing needed areas. A wedding or shoot published in print. Shoot 20 – 25 weddings. Take my camera with me and shoot for inspiration more regularly. Create a welcome packet.

So there you have it! My monthly goals will be steps to tie into these over-arching goals for the year as a whole. I find that I DO enjoy having a vision for the year, overall, while having the application of monthly to-do’s and aspirations to actually help in MEETING them. And I know I will appreciate having this list to refer back to over the year, and as next year approaches.

Thanks for bearing with my sparse posts this week, and I’ll look forward to regaining my regular schedule come Monday! :) What are some overall 2013 things YOU are resolving to do, or are already working on?