Mini Goals for the New Year

I'm not really a resolution kinda girl. I just never seem to follow through with long-term goals. Either I forget, get bored, or lose motivation somewhere along the way. It's funny because I've still loved reading all about everyone else's New Year's resolutions over this past week. 

I decided to choose a few 'mini' goals for myself this year instead. Mini goals sound a bit more attainable, right? Well, here goes.

Mini Goal #1

Work on my photog skillz. I took so many pictures in the summer. When I started back to work in September it was like I had zero picture-taking time. It doesn't help that it gets dark here at like, 4:30 p.m. Maybe that's an excuse though, so I'm going to try to break out my camera (and tripod) more often during the week and on weekends.

I also seem to get impatient when taking pictures for the ol' blog and settle when they look, you know, good enough. I know I can do better, so my new goal is to try.  

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens

I've also been saving up for a new camera lens. It's reallllllly expensive. I've saved up $500 so far which is only about 1/3 of the cost. :S I'm hoping I'll be able to get it before my birthday in May. That's the goal, anyway!

Mini-Goal #2

Learn to knit. Oh how I want to be all crafty-like and knit up some scarves and blankets and other ultra-cute things. Does that make me lame? You won't think I'm lame when I'm busting out goodies like in this book I got for Christmas:

Hats with pom poms? Knee-length socks? Oh how I want thee. Uhhhh, except I don't know how to knit yet. So hopefully, maybe, fingers crossed..... I will learn. 

Mini-Goal #3

Learn how to bake homemade bread. I can make cornbread. And banana bread. But I want to be able to make a loaf of this:

Freshly Baked Bread - Image: Simply Delicious

Or this:

Honey Oat Bread - Image: Pass the Sushi

If you didn't figure it out yet, I'm a bread-loving, carb-loving maniac. I could live on bread. I've been doing some online shopping for breadmakers and have read some really good reviews about this bad boy:

Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker

Any thoughts, advice, opinions on breadmakers? Totally worth it? Waste of money? Help! I really want to eat fresh breeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeead. ;)

Mini Goal #4

Be more consistent on the 'ol bloggy-blog. Sometimes I feel so bogged down with work that I find it hard to make time for good quality projects, posts, and photos. But maybe that's me just being lazy again.

So my goal is to post at least 2-3 times per week. I can do that, right? Even if it's just pictures of my puppies?!?!?!

But they're so cuuuuuuuute. Even when they give me the stink-eye (Roary) or hog all of the cushions (Lexie).

Mini-Goal #5:

Tackle the totally un-fun projects around the house/yard that I've been procrastinating on for years. Things like:

• Paint the inside of the linen closet that is still the grossest beige that ever lived
• Paint the railing that is still also the grossest beige that ever lived
• Organize the linen closet
• Donate random trinkets to charity instead of hoarding them in boxes in the basement
• Get rid of furniture, items we don't need, use, or like
• Etc. etc. etc.

Ahhhh! Beige!!!

I always want to do the fun projects or the cute projects. There will be NO MORE procrastination. (Okay, maybe a little bit). I will try my very bestest to get some things done that have been on my list forever and five thousand days.

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So, that's my list. I tried to keep it simple this year, in hopes that I can actually see one, two, or maybe all of these goals to the finish line. Note to self: You can do it, you can do it, you can do it. 

So, do you have any big, medium, or mini goals for the New Year? Tell me, tell me, tell me!