i don't make new year's resolutions. well, sometimes i do, but i never mean it.
i have no resolve.
so this year, i got smart. i made a to do list. i *like* to do lists. something about crossing things off ... it feels productive. and not at all crazy-ambitious, like a resolution.
"lose 50 pounds." really? um, no. that sounds hard. "eat better and go to the gym and strive for a healthy one-pound loss per week." hey ... THAT i can do!
and i didn't make it on new year's. i made it for today. my birthday. the day my (cough) 37th year begins. it is my to do list for being 37.
what's on my to do list?
* the aforementioned eat better and go to the gym and strive for a healthy one-pound loss per week.
* take at least three classes a week at the gym. first up? vortex water power, water boot camp and spinning. goal class: kickboxing.
* draw up an official business plan for little bird memories photography, get marketing off the ground, get the web site built, and start getting my name and product out there.
* be proactive and get the house ready for market in baby steps, instead of waiting until the weekend before the open house to, say, retile the entryway.
* remain calm throughout the build process, enjoy it, roll with what may come, because it will be awesome and will likely never happen again.
* once we move, spend good, thoughtful time putting things away and getting organized and then LIVE an organized life.
* get the email inbox to zero, respond to emails in a timely manner, delete when i've read them.
* be a better friend.
* learn to make bread and then stop buying bread. on that note: cook more. i love to cook, my family loves my cooking, and i need to do it more often.
* make time to read. and then work through that stack of, oh, eight books that have sat on my nightstand for a year, unopened.
* start being scrappy again. (more about this later this week. i have an idea.)
i think that's it. that's all i really want to add to my life and accomplish this year.
because, really ... i'm 37. that's too dang old to have a list with anything more on it. i'll just get bored and wander away to some early bird special at ihop ...
so, happy birthday. to myself. and to my mom ... thanks for having me and starting me on this journey called life. it's a pretty good one.



Happy Birthday Michele =)
Posted by: Debbie | 10 January 2011 at 09:54 AM
That is quite a long list! But, knowing you, they will be conquered. :)
Happy birthday!
Posted by: Ann | 10 January 2011 at 10:58 AM
Happy birthday! You Have quite a list girl!
Posted by: Amy | 10 January 2011 at 11:31 AM
Happy Birthday! I really love how you broke your goals down into really manageable portions! So much less overwhelming that way!!
Posted by: Kristin | 10 January 2011 at 11:54 AM
happy happy birthday!!! good luck getting your photography business really off and running...that's one of my goals this year too...such a huge task!
Posted by: kelly noel | 10 January 2011 at 03:17 PM
fabulous list!
Posted by: amy tangerine | 10 January 2011 at 04:09 PM
happy birthday!!! i love your new banner - and wishing you the best in checking every item off of that list!
Posted by: lisa truesdell | 10 January 2011 at 04:22 PM
Happy Birthday! Good luck tackling that list!
Posted by: MandyK | 10 January 2011 at 05:35 PM
great list - and happy birthday!
Posted by: Katrina | 10 January 2011 at 07:21 PM
Happy Birthday! Looks like a great list. You can do it!
Posted by: Leslie | 10 January 2011 at 08:13 PM
Happy Birthday (plus a couple days)! I love the idea of a list!!! I know you will enjoy crossing things off. :)
Posted by: Jenn | 13 January 2011 at 10:47 AM
Happy late Birthday to you! You have quite a year ahead of you. I'm EXCITED for you! May all your dreams and wishes for your 37th year come true.
Posted by: Jen@thecottagenest | 15 January 2011 at 04:49 AM