11 goals for 2011:

How embarrassing, to finally announce my goals now that we're over the hump of January. As I always say, better late than never. I'm not one for making resolutions or vowing not to do this that or the other. Rather, I've listed some personal goals that I'm spinning into action.

1. Wear more color.

2. Eat, prepare, and purchase more whole foods. Learn to make fruit leather (we love this stuff!)

3. Start a vegetable garden. If anything actually grows, I will can and freeze that which we cannot eat or donate.

4. Spend more time in devotion + prayer. I want to get to know Jesus better.

5. Take better photos. I had the same goal last year, and I'm sure it will be high on my list next year and the year after that...This year I am excited about participating in the MCP Project 52. (I've often thought of jumping on board with the 365 photo-a-day project, but I'm afraid that in reality, I won't be able to stick with it. I can't seem to even blog once a day, let alone take pics!) The MCP project just involves one photo assignment per week, which is more realistic for me, and something I can actually accomplish! This week's theme is Shades of Gray. I resisted my initial instinct to take a b+w photo, and instead raided my rather monotone closet (see goal #1). I am trying to convince Jeff that he needs to do Project 52 with me. Don't you think it would be fun to post side by side photos!? We also made a list of professional goals for our business--and one of them is to attend a workshop. Really excited about this!

6. Read 6 books. I know, it's not a very ambitious number. But in the last year, I can remember reading maybe 3 grown-up books and 10,000 picture and/or board books. My brain is beginning to shrink; I think that getting through one book every other month may help remedy the situation. Am making a list. What's one of your favorite reads?

7. Potty train Graham. I read somewhere that cloth diapered kiddos are more receptive to, and on average, are potty trained 1 year earlier. Am crossing my fingers that all of our extra stinky laundry loads were not in vain. This afternoon he woke up from his nap repeating "no potty chair, no potty chair." Clearly, we're off to a great start! Advice!?

8. Keep a tidier house. I can't seem to commit a full day to cleaning--I just get too distracted, it's no fun at all, plus it's tough to keep up with all of Graham's simultaneous messes on the side. I am testing out a new system, where I clean 1-2 rooms each day (when I am not working). I've also started a new routine of setting a time every night after tucking G into bed and fully devoting 20 minutes to straightening up. So far, so good!

9. Craft something new every week.

10. Sew a dress.

11. Spend less. I've heard of a few people committing to not buying anything new all year! Of course food and household needs are an exception, but everything else is straight from thrift stores, salvage yards, and garage sales. This is a lofty one--could you imagine a whole year without a fresh pair of undies!? But I love the intentionality behind it. Less consumerism, less waste, more money in your pocket, and more appreciation for that which we do have. So I'm attempting to implement some mini versions of this goal: a) I will not buy anything new (besides food!) for one month. b) When the spring wardrobe urge strikes, I will buy vintage.

So I guess that was more like 20 goals, consolidated into 11 so I could stick with the year theme...

What is your biggest goal for 2011?