I re-read my last year's new year post and realized, like most people, that I didn't achieve a lot of my goals. I'm not even sure why, it's not like they were difficult ones, like climbing Mt Everest or get into Yale. Most were simple everyday tasks I should be doing anyways and just never did. I worked on some of the goals, but never really completed any. Maybe they aren't really meant to be completed, but more on-going maintenance in my life. So I'm going to redo my goals from last year into this year.
1. RECOVER FROM KNEE SURGERY, 100% Well it's been officially 2 years since the trip to the ER and 1 year in August since my surgery. I got officially released from physical therapy back in May, but didn't do much on my own since. I went back to the surgeon around Sept as my knee still hurt and couldn't bend all the way back no matter how much I stretched it. He was kind enough to give me a cortisone shot as he said one of my stitches capsulated and was causing soft tissue irritation. The shot didn't really kick in until late Oct and I finally got the good news in November, no further surgeries. It still won't bend all the way, but no longer hurts to touch. I'm taking glucosamine pills and will have to do yoga to stretch the muscles more (so I won't have toe/leg cramps every night). So my goal will be to do just that, do yoga and take my joint pills. Boy do I feel like an old 41 yr old.
2. LOSE WEIGHT, again! Ok, I know this is every year for almost everyone. I signed up with WW and actually was doing good losing weight, bringing my lunch and fitting into my pants again. But then stress at work happened and then the holidays and now I haven't been good on my health plan for a good 3 months. Now with the holidays coming to an end, I'll be like 90% of people getting back on track with their diets and exercise. Which will help with goal number 1 too. Luckily I have some great co-workers who will help me stick to plan and have fun while doing so. And hopefully next Christmas I won't look like a crazed fat person who wandered into my family photos.
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| I know we all look crazy in this photo |
3. TRAVEL (somewhere not just for work) I can say I did this at least. In May my best friend, Lisa and I went to New York City for the first time. My only blog last year, besides the New Year's Goal was about our adventures in the city. We had a ton of fun and would love to go back again. Maybe in fall or Christmas time. I also did a bit more traveling for work as we had our bi-annual conference up in Seattle. I didn't have really any free time to explore the city besides a few hours with my friend Colleen. The conference went great, we missed all the rain, but Colleen nearly froze to death and had to buy a sweatshirt from the hotel gift shop to wear under her coat. We did get to wander Pikes Place and eat good food, but I wish I got to actually spend a day or weekend up there exploring more. I'm not sure this upcoming year will have more travel in it for me, as our group at work has cut down in size as well as my bank account. But I hope there is one trip in there for fun and I'll post all about it.
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| Seattle Conference - View to the left from our rooms |
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View to the right and where we spent the majority of our time in
Seattle (Building 66)
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4. TAKE MORE PHOTOS! Ok, so now it's been 3 years since I bought my DSLR and I still don't know how to completely work it. Nor do I have the lenses I want for it. I'm planning to follow tips I found Pinterest (a site I spend way too much time on) about improving your photography. http://improvephotography.com/1415/21-things-you-can-do-today-to-change-your-photography-forever/ First tip - learn every function your camera is capable of performing. I have run through the manual, taking test photos changing all the buttons and I still have no idea what half of them do. I miss the days of my old manual film Minolta. Yet I long for Nikon D-90 or D7000. I plan on purchasing a portrait lens for my dslr and would like to take more pet portraits (more than just Charlie and Lulu). I did take a few co-workers family photos for their Christmas cards. So at least I can say I did more this year and hope to do even more next year.
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| The Fisher Family |
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| The Schaefer Family |
5. BE MORE CREATIVE! This one I can say I have done more this year, but will need to work on more this year. Kind of goes along with all my other goals and the blog. If I'm more creative I'll blog more as I'll have more to talk about. I'll need to be more creative with my diet, that is for sure, as I'm the pickiest eater ever and mostly have cereal or frozen pizza for dinner. If I'm more creative with my food, I'll eat healthier and lose weight. I'll get more creative and take more day trips, since my pocketbook won't allow for any big trips this year. If I'm more creative with photography hopefully I will get more side work and start making some money doing what I love. And I'll finally get more creative and sell these bracelets I keep pinning and making from Pinterest. My friend, Caitlin tried to sell them with her scarves at work and I sold 2, but I'll need to set up a Etsy site and get other people to take these off my hands, literally! I enjoy making the bracelets and the options are pretty limitless. But my arm can only wear so much and as most of you have received them multiple times as gifts. So I'll start blogging and posting my handywork.
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| Multi-chain bracelet for sale |
Along with being more creative, don't know if you noticed the new banner but I decided to finally try to create a logo for myself. I played with some fonts and graphics to use and changed my "title" to Celeste's Creations, as it's easier to say than Celestial Creations (at least for me). I tried to make the graphic look like a camera while incorporating the 2 C in the title. Works for now!
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| Landscape version |
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| Portrait version |
Well those are the goals for 2013. I'm very grateful for the friends and family I have. There has been a lot of tragedy out there in the world lately and makes me appreciate all the love and laughter I get from my friends and family. I hope you all have a new year filled with good health, wealth, love and laughter! Happy New Year 2013!
