Resolution and Reflection

The beginning of a new year gives everyone a great opportunity to reflect and make goals for the upcoming year. We all do it and we all succeed or fail to some degree. I have found that I have a habit of failing more than succeeding, but that may just me being hard on myself. Let's take a look at last year. Here were the goals I published on the blog:

1. Lose weight & exercise (but honestly, who doesn't make this one?)
2. Scrapbook (I haven't even begun this one yet)
3. Read more often (scriptures, books, everything)
4. Stick to a budget
5. Be a better person- all around improvement.

And here's how I did:

1. Nope, I probably gained weight over the year, in fact, I'm sure I did.
2. Nope, again. Not a single page.
3. Not really. I did read every one of my Food Network Magazines that I got each month, but that's about the extent of it.
4. Yeah, I did okay. We went through a time when our income was the lowest it's ever been and I still managed to put money into savings every month. Tithing sure is a blessing.
5. This one was a little vague, but it think I have improved in some ways. I think I have matured a little bit and I look back over the past year (it was kind of a tough one) and I think I have remained pretty positive throughout. I'm a worrier, so that's sort of saying something.

So as you can see, I didn't do as well as I had hoped, but, like I said, the start of a new year is a great opportunity to turn a new leaf and try again. Here's my list for this year.

1. Lose weight, even if it's just a few pounds so I can get into my jeans with little to no effort.
2. Read scriptures and have family and personal prayers every day.
3. Plan menus and stick to them. Kevin has already told me that he'll eat whatever I fix, so if I make a new recipe and he doesn't want to eat it... well, I'll just kindly remind him what he said to me.
4. Plan a temple night once a month.
5. Have some kind of Family Home Evening or family activity once a week. Just the three of us (well, four if you include Oakley).
6. Knit. I know how to knit, but I want to become really good at it. I want to make myself a sweater or something before the year is over.
7. Read a new book every month. Book, not magazine.

I have made a good head start this month. I found a knitting book with a few patterns the I like and have even finished my first project.

I knitted a sweater for Abi. It was fairly easy, but probably the largest and most complex project I have ever knitted. (I've only ever knitted scarves in the past.)




It turned out really cute, I thought, though it's a little big.


The size on the pattern said 1-2 years and I double-checked the gauge. It's spot-on. Oh, well. She can wear it next year as well. There is a variation on this pattern that I want to try, so I'll do it in a smaller size, but not bad for my first try, right?

I have also found a new pattern for my next crocheted toy. (I know I said I wanted to work on knitting, but I love crocheting toys for Abi)

It's Totoro! And isn't he just adorable?
Here's the pattern.

I also have read a book for the month of January. I read The Choice by Nicholas Sparks and if you want to read my review of the book, check out my post on our Schmidt family cooking/book club blog.