11 in '11

My friend posted this, and I loved it. So I thought I would go along and borrow this as well.

I love to set goals and I love to write them down, it is always fun to look back and see what has been accomplished. I am also a big list maker, so I love to cross things off, being able to see the accomplishment!

1. I want to cook at home more. We go out to eat quite a bit, but I want to cut that back to once a week. This of course depends on our schedules, but I think this is something I can give a go. I have wonderful tools, great pots and pans, wonderful appliances, access to great grocery stores. This is a must. One of the things that I love about the boy and I is that we both love to bring our lunches from home, and we do so every day. One thing that is going to help with this though is getting a freezer for home. While I love our fridge, our freezer is TINY and if I want to freeze soup, stock or sauce, it is impossible.

2. I want to try a new recipe at least once a week. I have a ton of cookbooks and this will help with number one. The boy and I are signed up for a cooking class later this month and I cannot wait.

3. A regular exercise routine. Now that my shoulder is stronger, this is something that just needs to happen. But, I need to make sure that I come first so that I have more time for this. I also need to schedule this. I have a Wii which I love, and I recently bought a pair of the Avia Avi-Motion shoes, which I wasn't too sure about, but just wearing them around the house, you cannot believe how much I can feel it! LOVE them!

4. A trip. The boy and I are so over due for a trip it is not even funny. This is a must. Maybe even two trips.

5. Read more. I have this great color Nook now, I need to put it to good use. I also own a million books that I still want to read. My friend set a goal of a book a month, I think that is very attainable. But there is so much I want to read. . . .

6. Schedule our home projects so that we can complete them on a more realistic schedule. Next up is my office, we bought the paint and the curtain rods this past weekend. My mirrors are painted, now it is just pulling to all into the room, getting it organized and done. This past week alone I think I spent over 70 hours in my office, so this is something I am REALLY looking forward to!
January - Jilly's Office
February - Guest Bathroom
March - Guest Bedroom
April - Master Bedroom
May - Media Room
June - Kitchen
July - Living Room
August - Dining Room
September - Basement Bathroom
October - Wine Bar in Basement
November - Storage Room in Basement
December - Done?

7. De-clutter, organize, donate, store and file. We still have about 20 boxes to go through, and I want to get rid of things and get organized. One thing that needs to be organized and tagged is the wine collection that is growing (not quite as fast as I can drink it, but it would be nice to have it all in a database so I knew exactly what I have where.I also own a trillion magazines, and I have a hard time parting with them and finding the time to read them. Now I can get the majority of them on my Nook. I am going to continue to do so and go through the ones I have and get rid of them. I have been making a good dent in them this weekend alone!

8. Get back to entertaining. We did quite a bit over the holidays. Family friends for a party, my family for Christmas eve and a going away send off for some friends we met through the wine club. I have a few more get togethers I would like to get on the books. We have a chili cook-off paired with Chilean wines in January for the wine club which should be fun as well.

9. Plant a vegetable and herb garden. Now that I have a great yard, I am looking forward to growing some wonderful veggies and herbs. I always grow herbs, but this year, I am going to do a TON of them and in the fall, make herb infused oil and vinegars to use as gifts for friends. Planning ahead for the holidays will really help as well. I have my mom and dad's pepper plant and rosemary that I am babysitting for them while they are gone for the winter in AZ. That fresh rosemary is seriously going to come in handy!

10. Participate in the arts at least once a month. Whether it is a trip to a museum, a play, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra or the MN Orchestra, a play, a musical, whatever it might be. We are fortunate enough to live in a great metropolitan area which has a wonderful arts program.

11. Be happy. I usually am, but sometimes I don't always appreciate what I have and look inside. This year I have set myself up with some tools to help accomplish this goal. I want to do this at home, work, the Junior League, with my family and my friends. I am going to try to track this here as the year goes by.I love having fresh flowers in the house, and I love arranging them. I have a whole shelf devoted to vases and flower containers. This is one I did for New Years Eve, I love the bright cheery colors. It just makes me smile!

Love this list. Love being able to look forward to an exciting and challenging year!