Resolution/Goal Check-in: January

Confession:  I am not one to make a resolution, let alone a bunch of them, come January 1st.  However, I always set some goals to work on throughout the coming year. I find it helps me keep focus and perspective on life and challenges me to be, and do, better.

This year, my goals include:
1. Make a brand-new recipe each month
2. Read 1 book a month (I often don't make time to just read.  This, I feel, will help me make time for it.)
3. Finish 2012 scrapbook and keep up with 2013 scrapbook
4. Go to 3 places I have never been: 1 restaurant, 1 city, 1 museum or attraction
5. Blog once per week
6. Limit facebook time, posting once or twice a week.
7. Take a course in the education field (professional development)
8. Paint a special piece for the house (I haven't paint since university)

So, how have I been doing meeting these goals?

1. Recipe:  I made a bok choy salad for lunch one day.  I have never prepared anything with bok choy and I was curious.  I found out you can eat it raw, so I thought - Perfect!  I found this recipe: http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/salads/spicy-crunchy-bok-choy-salad/  Now, I didn't have rice vinegar, so I used regular vinegar.  (It would have been better with the rice vinegar.) I omitted the almonds as I am allergic and I didn't have a jalapeno pepper... so that got left out.  Overall, it was okay. I am sure, if the recipe is followed exactly with no omissions, it would be full of flavour and perfect to accompany a steak dinner or a tofu dish. For me, I think I will search for other  yummy bok choy recipes in the future.

2. Read: I have my Kobo to thank for meeting, AND going beyond, this goal.  (FYI: I LOVE my Kobo Glo I received for Christmas.)  I read The Foretelling by Alice Hoffman; The Custom of the Army by Diana Gabaldon, a non-fiction, riveting work (not really that exciting) about the care of chihuahuas, and I am halfway through The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach.  I also borrowed an e-book called The Element by Sir Ken Robinson.  (I am almost finished that one.)

3. Scrapbook:  I have uploaded new papers and embellishments into Storybook Creator - I had a backlog of files to load in from last year.  I also purchased credits for a 12x12 book and an 8x8 book.  I plan to use the 12x12 for the first six months of my 365 from last year.  I have finished to May 2012  for that book.  So almost there!  For 2013, I have simply been organizing my photos (all digital into folders) and really haven't contemplated the book yet.  That will have to change if I am to keep up with this goal.  That being said, I have taken on keeping a SMASHbook for the year.  AND I have been adding to it throughout the month.  Does that count for my scrapbook goal?

4. Places:  There hasn't been any progress yet on this front.

5. Blog: I have been doing at least once a week, faithfully, and lovin' it!  I don't really know how many people I am reaching, but for me, it is not about that.  It is an exercise in creativity, expanding my writing skills and voice, tracking my year and events/items I feel are important, and getting experience using the program.

6. Facebook: I WAS doing well on this until last week.  Last week, we adopted a new four-legged friend and well, that meant more posts; then old habits crept back in this week.  February is a new month, and I will try again to limit time on fb and keeping my posts to a minimum.

7. Course: This is a work in progress and it isn't necessary to complete this month. :)

8. Painting:  I am searching for the topic of my piece.  I have played around with a few ideas... abstract vs. a more Impressionist inspired piece.  I am debating to do a large piece vs a triptic (An art piece that consists of three canvases that hang together.)  More developments will be shared in the coming months.

I am please with my progress thus far in 2013.

I have also completed and begun several other projects.  I already showed you some of the crocheted pieces (and working on my son's cowl now.)  I also blogged about the SMASHbook (and more to be posted in the short term.)  As well, I have made an upcycled dog sweater from a sleeve of a wool sweater (post to follow) and a personal address book for a close, dear friend.  I have been documenting the process of creating this book as I have gone along as I will be blogging about it shortly.

I am LOVING, LOVING being crafty, creative and keeping this blog.  I am feeling centred and calm. (Maybe great weekly dates have been a contributing factor, too.)

January was a good month!

Home-Made!

I came across some creations that the kids have made recently after off-loading two months worth of pictures.


Firstly, we went to a night of art in downtown Halifax.  We spent our time looking around the exhibits at AGNS and partook in the group art project of what you think the brain would "look" like.  There were over 100 pieces to be "created" and each piece, when finished, fit onto a large canvas, like a puzzle.  It was incredible to see the "brain" transform as more and more pieces were added on.  The one on the left is Abby's contribution.  She went for one that showed personality.  Mac, on the other hand, went for the techno look as he said the brain is like a machine.  After their finished pieces were placed, they could talk to a neurosurgeon who was on hand to talk about the brain.  Mac asked him some challenging questions.

 Secondly, for Christmas, the homeschool group kids decided that their annual gift swap would be a homemade one this year.  So the kids racked their brains to figure out what they might do.  Abby came up with making beaded bracelets and an owl tree ornament that she could sew out of felt.

First ornament

 Once Mac came up with his idea, he was eager to hit Grampy's shop.  He worked on the lathe to create some exquisite ornaments.  The one he made for the homeschool group was a big hit, and had a request to make another.  Then, of course, I needed one, too.

The one made for a friend.