The New Year

Happy 2013 Everyone! I hope it has started well for you all!

We had a lovely evening in last night with James' family. Lots of champagne, lots of chatting, lots of fun. I did miss what had become a New Years tradition back at home, but life goes on.

Today has NOT been spent trying to start as many resolutions as possible, mainly due to the fact that I have only thought up one, and was instead spent chilling and being very relaxed. It may have been the first day so far in my 'holidaying' that I haven't made myself stressed about money. Yay! We caught up with the 'Big Fat Quiz of the Year'. We each had our own answer sheets and competed against each other. I even did a drawing of most of the contestants. I am very happy with how Richard Ayoade turned out, and yes Jonathan Ross is drawn as a pile of poo. We don't like him much, he wasn't as annoying in this years show as his has been in the past, but he's still not our favourite person. Jack Whitehall and James Cordan on the other hand, LOVED them!
After the Big Fat Quiz I did some more present wrapping for James' dad's sides Christmas that we are attending at the end of this week. I made my own ribbony things. Very proud of them. I'll take photos tomorrow.
James and I also went for a walk. And then we watched some cricket. Not the most eventful day, but lovely nonetheless.

So. My resolution. I'm going to try the 365 challenge again, this time with a theme: Colour. I know it sounds like a very broad theme, and it is, but it's also quite limiting. I'm excited, and have already started. let's hope I can make it further than last time. I made it 262 Days last time I did the challenge. Here's my first photo.

I'm going to do a bit more thinking about some other resolutions. I have plans for the year, I always have plans, my head is non-stop thinking of things it wants to do...so I'm going to try and sort some of my ideas out into attainable and measurable goals for the year. :) I'm feeling very good about 2013!

End of Year Resolution Round Up

2012 has been absolutely wonderful, and I wouldn't change it one bit. I have been happy, I have been healthy and I feel that moving to Australia to be with James was definitely a much better choice than studying an extra year in the UK.

Even though my year has been wonderful I can't say I did a whole lot on my Resolution list. I think making lists like this is an art form, you really need to understand what is achievable. Many of these goals I still have, but they are now just general life goals, achieving them in a specific year seems silly. :) So, how did I go?

1. Learn more about Photography
Yeah, I didn't really actively do anything towards this. But does anyone else look through their photos from a year or so ago and feel like they have improved their skills? I do. So I am thinking that maybe encouraging myself to take more photos will help me learn in a more enjoyable way. Maybe another 365 Project? It definitely encouraged me to photograph and blog more!

2. Lose at least 5kg
In February, I said James and I were not actively working towards this goal. I don't know why I thought trying to eat healthy and exercise was not working towards this goal, because it has most certainly helped. We don't drink any soft drinks when we're in Sydney; we've tried to add more vegetables to our meals; we've cut out unnecessary fatty foods; we bought even bigger water bottles and drink at least 2 bottles a day; we went running for about a month; we walk almost everywhere; and since August I've had a job which is a 50min walk away from us, and I've been walking it, everyday. Even though most of these things are small, and we still have the odd day of tea, cookies and ice-cream, it has all added up and I've lost 8kg. I also feel a lot more awake, and like I have a lot more energy, which makes me feel like it's been a positive change to our lives. Next year we'll be living on the 6th floor, so will have even more stairs to climb, I still have my job to walk to, and James has a gym membership, so I think 2013 will be just as healthy! This is the one resolution I am super happy about!

3. Cook something new and healthy every week for a year
Ha! We did try quite a few recipes off of my Pin bored (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13), most of which were delicious, some needing tweaks, but thats the joy of cooking! If you think the fig pizza (3) sounds nice, I would recommend some changes. We found it WAY too sweet, so tried another one with a creme fraiche base, with brie, blobs of fig jam, and prosciutto on top. It was yum! The Stuffed Peppers (5) has become a favourite of ours, and the crescent rolls (6) are just too easy to make! The Sweet Potato pancake (8) is also a must try just for how much it blows your mind!
Ok, so now I feel like we did quite a good job on this one! 13/52 isn't THAT bad!

4. Bake something once a week for a year
Yeah, much more of a fail here. With only a microwave oven baking was not going to happen this year. Maybe I'll save this one for when I'm a mum, and I can bake with the kids once a week, sounds more fun already!

5. Create Moustache Notebooks
Nope. Did nothing, don't feel bad about it either.

6. Create Art Portfolio
Eventually! This will go on my "Things to do when I'm bored" list, so I can slowly work on it!

7. Learn about Aboriginal Art
I had a book just for this, which I used to doodling. It is still something I'd love to do, not just the Art either, the whole history. I'll do it in time. :)

8. Use my 365 Book somehow
Eeek! I started using it, and HATED what I was doing in it, so now it's got 10 pages filled out and the rest left blank. I'll figure something out!

9. Try to Achieve at least 1 of my 101 Dreams
SCORE!
Dream 40 - Walk More. I think 50mins every morning and afternoon counts as walking more! :D
Dream 42 - Be Happy. I am totally a much happier person, and I'm loving it!
Dream 43 - Live with James in a Cool Apartment. Now, when we first moved into our tiny studio, I wasn't the most thrilled about it. I felt it was small, and could be better, but I have grown to love it and it has become our cool little apartment. Plus, we're now moving up in the world...to a 1 bedroom apartment! Oh the excitement! We can't wait!
Dream 52 - Have an awesome Disney collection. James and I both decided a few years ago that when we have children they shall be raised on Disney movies, and not just the new ones, all the classic ones we loved! Last Christmas we began our collection and it's been slowly growing. We have yet to get the Jungle Book (one of James' favourites) and the Little Mermaid as they is currently 'in the vault', but we are patiently waiting. We have got Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas, my two faves! So I'm happy! :D
4 Dreams is not bad for a years work!

And there you have it, my Resolution Round Up. I don't think I did the most terrible job, but it could have been better. I'm going to try and make better Resolutions for 2013, and I am most definitely going to enjoy 2013! :)
How did you all do with your resolutions?

Resolution Progress - February

1. Learn more about Photography

I got a book! I have a book and a pen for my self-learning of photography. I would so love to do a course too, but I'll see how much I can learn on my own. Now I need to make time for it. I think I can use Thursdays since they will be my 'Me' days. :)

2. Lose at least 5kg

I've not been actively working towards this goal, but we have been trying to eat healthier and do some exercise. We have been doing much better with our eating (although we do have the odd 'bad' day like today) and we have to do a lot of walking to do most things outside of our place, so it's going well. I think I'm down about 1.5kg since the beginning of the year, so we're definitely doing something right. :)

3. Cook something new and healthy once a week
I am ready (ish) to start! I am planning on starting next week! Yays! BUT we don't have all sorts of trays and stuff...so I may need to do some money spending on that...hehe. The above is what I am currently planning on attempting next week. :D

4. Bake once a week for a year
Also, ready (ish) to start next week. We have NO baking things, so I will almost most definitely need to buy some stuff for this goal. Agains, the image above is what I am currently planning on making next week. Yum!

5. Create Moustache notebooks
6. Create an Art Portfolio
Neither have any progress yet...but there is time. :)

7. Learn about Aboriginal Art
I have a book! I am super excited to have books for this and the photography goal because I have really wanted to start but had nowhere to put in my research and things. Again, I think Thursday may be a good day for progressing on this. :D

8. Use my 365 book somehow
Yeah...not done that yet, BUT it is staring at me every day, so I really want to start soon.

9. Try and achieve at least one of my 101 Dreams
I hadn't thought this one through, because I did accomplish it pretty fast. I would like to achieve another one some time this year...maybe liking my wardrobe? Haha...I don't think that one will ever happen. :P But a cruise to New Zealand doesn't seem too difficult to achieve at the moment. :)

I think I've got alright progress. Me being me I'd love to be closer to accomplishing ALL my goals, but then what would I do with the rest of the year? So it's good. :) This is definitely the longest I have worked at my resolutions! :P

Resolution Progress - January

1. Learn more about Photography
There has not been much progress on this goal. I have been looking for the perfect notebook, because that's the kind of thing I do. I found a notebook I like, but it was a bit expensive...however, after looking at money I have I think I can afford a little extravagant spending. :P I am excited to start soon.

2. Lose at least 5kgs
James and I have an app on our phones to help us a bit with this. So we're kind of watching our calories, by eating food and then finding out how many calories are in it. It gives us a goal calorie intake for losing a certain amount of weight, and we have been keeping to it alright. We've also been trying to do a bit more exercise, but we're expecting more progress when we move to Sydney.

3. Cook something new and healthy every week for a year.
When I made this goal I knew I wouldn't be able to start right away, but I have a Pin board of recipes I want to try, AND I've bought the Recipes folder from Kikki.k. So progress is being made and I should be able to start a week or two after we properly move to Sydney.

4. Bake something once a week for a year.
Just like my third goal, the exact same progress has been made, Pin board and folder. I am not totally sure how well this one will turn out since we have a microwave oven in our studio...so I need to see if it bakes the same as an oven. :)

5. Create moustache notebooks
No progress. But I need some to work on later in the year. :)

6. Create an Art portfolio
Ditto.

7. Learn more about Aboriginal art
Again, been looking for the perfect notebook, but again have found one I may buy. I've been really wanting to start this one, especially when I am bored and want something to do. I can see this being a really good time filler. I've also seen some books that I'd like to read on the topic. :)

8. Use my 365 book somehow
Nothing yet, but I have been making some mental plans on how to. I had started trying to take a photo a day again, and it was going well, then I went back to work and was either somewhere where I couldn't take photos or sleeping. :P So I have given up on that for now. I am thinking of maybe making it an artistic journal, with photos, drawings and random quotes. Kikki.k are giving daily prompts on how to use it, so I may use some of their ideas too.

9. Try and achieve at least one of my 101 Dreams
I have been looking through my list so far, to see what is achievable...and I have sort of completed one. Dream 43 is to live in a cool apartment with James. Now what we have isn't as cool as I had in mind, but it's still cool, and it's ours to call home for a year...so it counts. :) That one was a bit too easy to do though, so I may try and achieve another dream. :)

So there is my January progress. I want to do a monthly 'progress report' so that I can actually see how I am doing. Writing it on here also helps to stop me from lying to myself about how I am doing. I'm quite happy with my progress in the first month, I have done some work towards achieving some of the goals but still have room to work on them during the rest of the year. :)

How are your resolutions going?