It's 2014! Keep Up the Good Job, Yo.

It's 2014 y'all. My main goal of 2013 was to do "better". Better in life, health, reading, knitting and manicures. With the exception of fitness, which was an epic fail, I did do better. Let's get the health thing out of the way. I didn't do it. I not only fell off the wagon, I stayed on the ground while subsequent wagons rolled across my backside. As far as reading, in a recent post I listed seven books that I've started and dropped. Sorry, I have to finish them, I have to! That was in October and it probably was a big stretch to think I'd finish them all by the end of the year. I only finishing one, which is still an accomplishment (let's think positively). I knit pretty consistently last year, several pairs of socks, some scarves. I was really on top of things with my manicures, getting through at least 50 of my untried polishes.

For 2014 my goals I've assigned the motto: "Keep up the good job and continue improving". I still think I have a problem with overcommitting, as seen by the sheer number of book challenges I joined. They all look so shiny and fun, I get to join in with a group of other readers who have similar goals while culling recommendations for my to-read list. But I joined too many, didn't focus on one, didn't finish one. First and foremost I'll be finish the six unread book in that stack, then perhaps I'll chose a challenge to focus on. Overall I just want to read more because reading is fun and relaxing. Audiobooks as well as actual physical books (those are never going away) and books on my iPad.

2013 Reading

Hmm, don't quote me on some of these titles, many are audiobooks that I really don't know if I may have finished at the end of 2012. The confusion will make it look like I read more and that works for me. ;)

Wool - Hugh Howey (Dystopian fiction, ironically not a book about yarn.)
Knit One, Kill Two - Maggie Sefton (Cozy mystery, so cozy as to be a bore. Meh.)
World War Z - Max Brooks (Infected persons make a world wide epidemic, the movie only vaguely resembles the book, both are good though.)
Self-Inflicted Wounds - Aisha Tyler (Personal memoir, very funny and surprisinly inspiring.)
Is Everyone Hanging Without Me - Mindy Kaling (Another hilarious personal memoir. Mindy Kaling is my best friend and she doesn't even know it! She is really unaffected by celebrity and I love that.)
I Want My MTV! - Craig Marks (An account of the start and history of the most important cable channel of my life, when they played videos even.)
What the Dog Saw - Malcom Gladwell (Social Science-y compilation of a variety of stories. Interesting read.)
Wild - Cheryl Strayed (Chick goes on a solo hiking trip to find herself. She'd hate that I called her a "chick". I don't care. An OK book, but I found the writer to be irritating.)
Seed to Harvest - Octavia Butler (Sceince Fiction compilation by my favorite author. This deserves its own post in honor of her writing.)

Uh, I thought I read more than that, lol.

Improving my health needs to be an immediate, urgent matter to be addressed like yesterday. I'm on too many medications for my age and it's ridiculous. Also, I kind of committed to do a half-marathon with a friend and at my physical state I would probably pass out on the course. Basically, I need to get to the gym where I pay a membership fee every month. Three to four times a week is reasonable, go to sleep in my gym clothes, get up at 5 am (because after a hard day work I can't even begin to fool myself that I'll workout in the evening. Not.gonna.happen.), hit the treadmill. Along with my physical health, continue to improve in my mental and spritual health. Thinking more positively, cultivating a calmer personality and focusing on my spiritual side first and foremost.

Knitting and crafting. Just more, more consistently. I want to have something on my needles at all times and as far as goals I will finish a sweater for myself this year, since my work sweater very shamefully has a hole at the sleeve. A work sweater will be my first order of the day. I'd also like to finish a very nice lace shawl for myself this year. Other than that using more stash and buying little, if any, new yarn. Also, I really like how quickly it took me to complete the one crocheted hat I hooked and it's a favorite of mine and of my daughter. So one or two crocheted projects and at least one cross stitch are doable for this year.

2013 Knitting

Stuff I made:

My nails! This year is more of the same. The goal is to do one or two manicures a week, more nail art, more stamping, using more of my X number of polishes, buying only truly unique colors and indie brands. Overall enjoying the process of making my nails pretty.


2013 Manicure Madness!


Sparkling digits:

Ooh, wouldn't it be nice if I blogged more two people who lurk and read my blog? Maybe once a month, I'm not promising anything.

That's it, 2014 looks bright as a diamond and full of possibilities!