The End of 2012

• Put the finishing touches on Memaw’s apple afghan Nope. Sorry, Memaw.
• Viking hat for Lex Yes, and it still fits him this year. It’s a big hit whenever we go out.
• Awesome birthday cake for Anthony Yes! Creeper cake achieved.
• Science Craft Swap Yup, done on time
• Hem ALL the pants! Nope, didn’t happen. I think I hemmed one other pair. This goal was mostly for the hubs’ benefit. Maybe next year, sweetie.
• Convert dress into skirt Didn’t happen either, but I still want to do this once I lose all my weight. 
• Lex’s room This one is my biggest disappointment, and therefore my number one priority for the new year. I got hung up on one thing, but I think I’ll be able to finish it up soon. 
• Build at least one thing from ana-white.com This also makes me sad. I tried to make this happen but hit a few bumps. Now that I have the proper tools, I’m confident I’ll get it done in a snap.
• Make something festive for each holiday Meh, sort of. I did a much better job this year of decorating for each holiday. I actually got my Halloween decorations up, and I made a cute garland for Valentine’s Day. There’s still room for improvement.
• Make curtains for the living room I did this one! I made some curtains out of drop cloth for one of the windows in the living room. It took a lot longer than planned. Now I just have two more windows to go…
• Finish the spooky dollhouse No, not quite. I did make a lot of progress, though. Next year!
• Make a quilt Nope. I’m feeling much more comfortable with the idea now, though.
• A year of handmade gifts I did pretty well with this one. I tried to include at least one handmade gift for each of my family members and succeeded for the most part.
• One Pinterest project a month I completely forgot about this one. I did a few Pinterest projects this year, though, and this goal was designed to motivate me to actually DO stuff, not just pin it.
• Make more cute things with felt & embroidery I’d say achieved on this one. I did quite a few embroidery projects this year and some things with felt. I’m sure there’ll be much more to come.
• Improve photography skills I didn’t get as far along with this one as I’d like. I did learn a few things and have played more with Photoshop, but I do want to learn how to use my DSLR properly.
• Stockpile handmade gifts Unfortunately, no. This goal is definitely going to roll over into 2013, though, and I plan to use my Creepy Cute Crochet book to help achieve it. 
• Become a better cook Yes, I do believe I am a better cook now than I was last year. I’ve paid more attention to how I cook and found some really great recipes. 
• Make more miniature things Yes! I learned how to make mini books, and I experimented more with clay and making miniatures.
• Make steampunk costumes for me, Vincent and Lex Nope. This one is at the top of the list for 2013. I want to be done before Halloween next year at the latest. 

So, I’m seeing a lot more red up there than any other color. Regardless, I’m still pleased with what I did manage to accomplish this year. Crafting did take a back seat for most of the year because I was focusing on losing weight and trying to keep on top of housework at the same time. That brings me to my New Year’s Resolutions for last year and this year.

Last year I made it my resolution to lose weight. My goal was 139 lbs. My plan was to use the Dukan Diet to reach that goal. If you’ve been following me this year, then you know that I did lose weight this year. I got down to within 2 pounds of my goal weight, to 141, so I’m going to call that a win. Confession: this past month and a half I gave myself a free pass for the holidays and gained back 3 or 4 pounds. Still, I lost a lot of weight. I’m still planning on slimming down a bit more this coming year until I get to my ideal weight of 125 lbs. That’s the absolute smallest that I want to be, and I know now that it is possible to get there. It’s just going to take more hard work and perseverance, but I can do it! I’m also happy to report that I’ve inspired my dear husband to jump on the weight loss train with me. He’s committed to starting the Weight Watchers program, too. I’m so proud of him for taking this first step toward improving his health and quality of life. I know that when he starts exercising and eating better, he’s going to feel much better overall. Not to mention that it’ll be easier for me to stay on track since he’ll be there with me.

My New Year’s Resolution for 2013 is to become more organized. I know, I know, it’s very cliché, but it really, truly needs to happen. This year I discovered Fly Lady, and her awesome program for keeping your life clean and organized without becoming overwhelmed. I followed the routines for a while but then I quit. When I was doing the routines, I was amazed that my house stayed mostly clean all the time. I never had to worry about doing the laundry or dishes because I did a little every day, and it never became a problem. I also didn’t have to worry about people dropping by unexpectedly because my house was not a wreck. I’ve started back on the Baby Steps and can already see a difference. For me, the challenge is going to be to remain consistent with the program. I’m great at making plans and getting really excited about a new program, but I’m not always great about following through. I mean, I still can’t believe that I managed to stay on a diet for the better part of a year and actually see results. I know now that I actually can do things when I am determined, and this year I am determined to literally get my house in order and, most importantly, keep it that way.

This organization resolution also includes getting my finances organized. As a young adult, I made a lot of stupid mistakes financially. I’m a very intelligent person, but when it comes to money, I can be really stupid. For years I have been avoiding and ignoring the problems, but that, of course, has not made them go away. This year, however, is the year we (my husband and I) are determined to turn it around and starting rebuilding. I’m sure it’s not going to be easy, but it’s something that needs to be done. We have actually been pretty good about managing our money this past year (as in being able to pay all the bills mostly on time), but we still need to address the consequences of our financial mistakes in the past. I’m looking forward to actually sorting it all out and sharing what I learn with you all. This issue has been a sore spot for me for a while, and I want to get it taken care of once and for all.

Now I’m going to revise my goal list for 2013. There are so many things I want to do! Do you make goals or resolutions? If so, please share!