Reviewing My 2013 Resolutions

In 2013 I made some lofty New Year's Resolutions.  Maybe a bit too lofty?  You can check out the link  here and see exactly what my reasonings were behind choosing these specific goals.  Since it is June, the halfway point, I wanted to review my goals and evaluate if I had/had not completed any of them. So, here is the list.

1.) Re-Start Couch to 5k: I have been doing this program again!  However, I have been doing it only about 2x per week, which isn't how the program was intended.  I am doing it with a mix of yoga, hiking, and walking though so I feel like my exercising goal is happening, just in a different way.

Cooling down after a jog on the beach. 

2.) Recycle: Check! Cody and I are now recycling glass, cardboard, and aluminum (basically Cody's soda cans and our group effort collection of adult beverages).  Our next goal will be to take on plastic and paper :)

Our new bins! 

3.) Plant a Garden: Check! Well, sort of.  It snowed until the beginning of May this year so my garden got started a little bit later than intended and is much smaller than my original plan.  But, it did get started! Pictures to come at a later date :)

4.) Give Back To The Community: FAIL! I haven't done much giving back to my community.  During Family Night's at my school I was on standby for childcare, which really is part of my job, so I don't think it counts but at least it is something (kind of).

5.) Plan My Wedding: Umm…I think we decided on July 2014 as opposed to June 2014. Does that count? I did find a couple dresses that I liked and looked at a couple venues too.  But, not much progress has occurred. Then again, I am not much of a wedding person.

6.) Spend More Quality Time With Cody: Check! Ever since Cody switched jobs we have spent a lot of real quality (out having fun/one-on-one) time together! Since we both work in the school district and work the same schedule/hours this has naturally improved without a ton of effort on our part. Basically, we have tons of time to goof off and do things like this….

Umm….need a little help? 

7.) Write Letters to My Family: I have sent TWO rounds of postcards.  Not a huge amount of progress but at least I have made the effort.  I probably would have sent more but my mail gets returned to me all them time and it is a huge hassle.  The Alaska mail system totally blows.

So, there you have it! A wrap-up of my goals for 2013.  Not a huge amount of triumph but I have at least made some progress. I think I have decided that instead of doing yearly goals I am going to switch to doing monthly goals for myself.  I got the idea from the blog Peace Love & Oats (check it out!).  Doing monthly goals is just WAY more realistic.  I am more of a short-term planner and year-long goals never seem to pan out for me. Check in on July 1st for my first set of monthly goals!

Questions: 
Do you make yearly goals? 
If so, do you stick with them? 
If not, do you make monthly goals?

2013 Resolutions

In 2013 my goals are…

1.) Re-start the Couch to 5k running program and complete my first 5k!

• Back in Illinois I had started the Couch to 5K program (follow the link to check it out).  Then, we moved to Alaska and I totally ignored the progress I had made.  This year my goal is to start running again and hopefully make it to a 5k.  

2.) Recycle! 

• Again, in Illinois we had a beautiful drive-in recycling center.  Here, the recycling place is open at odd days and at odd hours.  I have been VERY lazy about recycling so I need to regain my love of giving back to the planet. 

3.) Plant a garden! 

• When spring rolls around you will find me planting veggies, herbs, etc.  So happy to finally have an apartment where we can garden :) 

4.)  Give back to the community! 

• Find a local volunteer program and volunteer at least once per month.  Currently, I am looking into Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

5.) Plan my wedding! 

• Date is tentatively set for June 2014.  We haven't gotten much farther than that yet but we are trying (kind of, ha ha.) 

6.)  Spend more quality time with Cody! 

• Coordinating time together with our crazy work schedules is tough.  Heres to hoping we can find more time for one another this year. 

7.) Write letters to my family! 

• Calls are great, but who doesn't love getting awesome mail?? Plus, I miss all of my wonderful family back home. 

There you have it folks! These are my plans for 2013.  In 2012, I graduated college, got engaged, adopted a puppy, and moved to Alaska. Let's face it, I was SPOILED in 2012.  I hope I can keep the wonderful-ness going in the upcoming year.  What are your resolutions for 2013??

As a parting gift for reading my blog today, here are some lovely pictures.  Last weekend Cody, myself, and our neighbors hiked out to the beach in North Douglas.  There was fantastic sea lion and whale watching as well as fantastic scenery.  Enjoy the pictures! 

Cody at the beach in North Douglas. 

Winter waves. 

Views on the beach. 

Me & Specks, posing before trekking over the rocks. 

Beautiful rock formation. 

Spending the day chasing birds and running in the ocean. 

Driving back home.