12 for ’12

Hello, hello 2012.  Year after year I hear that there is more success in goals written down and shared with others (accountability), so that’s what I’ve decided to do here.  Twelve goals for 2012–in no particular order. Feel free to check up on me mid-year and ask me how I’m doing.  :) 

 

1. Study an artist or period in Art History I don’t know much about.

In 2006 I graduated from BYU with a master’s degree in Art History.  For two years Art History had been a huge part of my life.  Then I graduated.  Moved to Colorado. Started a business.  My family grew.  Life got really busy. Too busy for Art History. 

This year I’d like to re-introduce a little Art History into my life. I’m thinking Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, Rachel Whiteread, or 20th Century Architecture.

 

2. Make a perfect cupcake.

Ever since I became involved in the wedding industry I’ve been obsessed with cupcakes. There is just so much to love about them.  Believe me when I say I am SO FAR FROM THIS, but I would very much like to make a perfect cupcake.  Any good bakers–feel free to send me your tips!

 

3. Begin working on a photo project.

This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time but I’ve struggled to come up with a theme I feel connected to or super interested in.  Anyone want to brainstorm on this one with me? 

 

4. Organize my family photos into albums.

Other than James’ first year of life, our family photos are unorganized in a couple of shoe boxes and on my computer/external hard drives. Not cool.

 

5. Study the New Testament and learn more about Christ’s life.

If you know of any great supplemental reading, please let me know. 

 

6. Run even during the winter and busy months.

During the fall and spring I am reasonably proud of my efforts to stay in shape.  Unfortunately I’m not so good about running during the summer (WAY too busy) and winter (brrrr…WAY too cold).  In 2012 I’d like to stay healthy all year long.  Maybe I need to find a gym with an indoor track or learn to appreciate treadmills. 

 

7. Be a better teacher to James and Colin.

If I just sit down and come up with a plan/schedule I think this would be a lot easier for me.  

 

8. Make more art (not just photography).

A few weekends ago I decided it was time to clean out one of our closets.  Among plenty of other things I found a bunch of my old sketchbooks.  I had almost forgotten that I even knew how to draw.  This year I’d like to draw and paint more.

 

9. Begin work on a book about my grandma’s childhood.

My grandma, who grew up in Texas during the Great Depression, has one of the most interesting lives I’ve ever known about.  I want to spend a week interviewing her and write a book about it.

 

10. Learn to knit.

Another one of those things I’ve been wanting to do for a really long time…

 

11. Pick a destination I’d like to visit and learn everything about it–language, culture, etc. Plan to go, even if it’s five years away.

I’m not talking about a touristy, resort and spa type of destination. I’m talking about a random place that not many people know about. A place full of culture and tradition that I could spend a year learning about and then enjoying.

 

12. Look outward. Leave time in my schedule for others.

This year I’d love to become a better friend/sister/wife/mother/daughter and be more on the lookout for ways to help others.

 

A few other things I’d like to do this year:

Make a bucket list, read a good novel or two, enjoy a fun family vacation, be better at meal-planning and grocery-shopping, come up with a better system for keeping the house clean, write in James’ and Colin’s journals more often, record more family videos. And of course, try to always remember my life motto: life is a journey, not a destination (as exemplified so well by these two):

 

What are your resolutions/goals for 2012?