My 2019 Goals

I have decided to make "goals" instead of "resolutions," as it sounds more attainable/doable that way.

My goals for the coming year are:

• Start and keep a regular exercise routine that works for me
• Redecorate bedroom
• Take last class (!!!!) for my college certificate, and (finally!!) graduate from college
• Spend less on my credit card (at least half as much)
• Donate unwanted clothes, shoes, books, movies, etc. that are in good condition
• Speak up more for myself
• Learn to cook (and eat) better
• Learn Spanish
• Learn Italian
• Pick up the violin again, and play regularly
• Save up for, and buy, a good DSLR camera
• Save up for, and buy, a good laptop
• Learn Sign Language
• Take self-defense classes
• Attend at least one concert of one of my favorite musical artists
• Go on a trip/vacation by myself
• Go on a trip/vacation with friends
• Learn how to sew
• Work on writing a book
• Bake and decorate something once a week/every other week
• Figure out a skincare routine that works for me, and keep it up on a regular basis
• Visit the city as a tourist
• Pick up painting
• Learn how to create, edit, and post videos to my own YouTube channel
• Get my driver's license
• Get in a loving relationship

What are your goals/resolutions for 2019? I hope you have a wonderful new year!!

Things That Made Me Happy in December

Here is what made me happy this month:

• Wrapping presents (I LOVE wrapping presents!!!)
• Celebrating Christmas with family
• A friend coming by to give me cupcakes from a local bakery, for my birthday
• Getting a treat from Starbucks, for my birthday
• Putting together and decorating a gingerbread house kit
• Listening to Christmas music
• Putting up Christmas lights, decorations, tree and ornaments
• Opening presents
• Seeing cars go by with trees on the roof
• Seeing Ralph Breaks the Internet in theaters
• A girl saying hi to me while I was working
• Getting a new water bottle from staff day at work (yes, this made me happy; I love water bottles!)
• Getting the gimbal I won from a YouTube family channel I watch
• Going to ukulele nights
• Being sung happy birthday to, at ukulele night one night
• A little boy (probably around 2 years old) saying hi to me as I was shelving a cart of books at work
• Going out to dinner with a friend, at a restaurant I have never been to
• Getting a new oven/stove, which let me bake properly again
• Baking cookies for the holidays
• Watching New Year's Eve/Day celebrations on TV, while eating finger foods
• Receiving Pop Sockets from a YouTube family's merch line, for supporting them

Obviously with the holidays this month, more would be going on than usual. To be honest, I loved having more to do. I am wanting to do more these days, as I now have the ability to do things for myself.

What made you happy this month?

What I Got for Christmas 2018

I don't know why, but I love sharing what I got for Christmas on here. And I love seeing/hearing about what other people got as well.

I am not trying to brag about what I got, I just wanted to share for those who are interested. And I wanted to remember what I got this year.

So, here is what I got for Christmas this year:

• Macarons: Chic & Delicious French Treats by Annie Rigg
• Glass Privacy Cell Phone Screen Protector
• Downton Abbey Season 3 on DVD
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Bendable Bowtruckle Figurine
• 2-Pack Silicone Macaron Baking Mats
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Illustrated Edition Book
• Baking All Year Round Cookbook by Rosanna Pansino
• Wilton Cake Decorating Tool Set
• The Greatest Showman DVD
• Joking Hazard Deck Enhancement #1
• Bonanza Season 2 on DVD
• Once Upon a Time Season 1 on DVD
• The Introvert Activity Book: Draw It, Make It, Write It (Because You'd Never Say It Out Loud) by Maureen Marzi Wilson
• Si by Andrea Bocelli CD
• Wilton Decorating Bag Holder
• Nerdy Nummies Cookbook by Rosanna Pansino
• Wilton Alphabet/Number Cut-Outs Set
• Wilton Color Swirt Decorating Set

I am very thankful for everything that I got this year, and am really looking forward to reading/listening to/watching/using everything that I got.

Top Three 2019 Goals

I am writing this post as part of the Boho Berry Challenge December: Year-End Review.

1. Take last class for certificate, and graduate from college
   It took me so long to get to this point, and I do not want to give up now that I have come this far. If all goes well, I will graduate in May, which I am both excited and really nervous about.
   After graduation, I plan on looking for a job at a bakery, and hopefully improve my baking and decorating skills as well.
2. Get my driver's license
   I have been wanting to get my license for ages, but have been afraid of driving. I want to be able to get comfortable enough to drive without worrying about what could happen.
   I have taken driver's education in high school (twice, as I failed the first time), so I do have some experience driving, but I want to be more confident in my driving abilities, and to have the freedom of driving myself places if I wanted to.
3. Get my bedroom cleaned up, and redecorate the room
   My room looks like a tornado came through it, and I really need to work on cleaning it up, and keeping it clean. I also want/need to get new furniture and other things for the room.
   I have a lot of stuff to go through, so it is intimidating to start this goal/project, but I want to get it done, and to get it done as soon as possible.

These are the goals that I have been wanting to work on for quite some time now, and with how things are going right now, I do believe they will happen in 2019.

Education

I am writing this post as part of the Boho Berry Challenge December: Year-End Review.

 

I am going to school for my baking and pastry certificate, and am one class (and semester) away from graduating!!! I can't believe I am so close to being done!!

 

It has taken me so long to get to this point, as I had taken some time off of school, after going through a very tough time.

 

When I had gone back to school, I was taking one class at a time, to get used to being at school again. After a while, I wanted to take 2 classes a semester, but things didn't work out, so I had to keep taking once class each semester.

 

Doing this made it feel like it was taking forever to finish, and the end wasn't in sight.

 

But now, I am at the point where I can see the end result, and it is both very exciting, and kind of scary at the same it.

 

It is something that is going to be ending, that is coming to a close soon, and there is a part of me that is not ready for it to end.

 

I really enjoyed college, and loved my classes and teachers. But, of course, everything must come to an end at some point.

 

I will (hopefully) be graduating in May 2019, and I will finally be able to call myself a professional baker (official baker?). Yay!!!

 

I have loved to bake for as long as I can remember, and was super excited to be able to start this journey. Now, I am excited to finish this part of the journey, and to start the process of looking for a baking job in the industry soon.

 

I have been so fortunate to be able to go to school, first in elementary, then junior high, high school, and now college. I can't wait to see how the next chapter in this journey unfolds!!

Stop Doing

I am writing this post as part of the Boho Berry Challenge December: Year-End Review.

Things I want to stop doing:

1. Stop spending so much on my credit card, on things I truly do not need. I am one of those people who spends a lot, without thinking too much about exactly what I am buying, and I want to change that.
2. Stop spending so much time online/on the computer.
3. Stop second-guessing myself, and the things I want to do.
4. Stop caring what others think of me.
5. Stop checking social media so much.
6. Stop wishing to do something (whateverr it is I want to do), and actually do it; actually take action.

I am really wanting to do a overhaul on the things I want to start, and stop, doing in my life. Even though I do tend to procrastinate, I am demermined to work on that, so I can have the best life I possibly can.

Start Doing

I am writing this post as part of the Boho Berry Challenge December: Year-End Review.

The things I would like to start doing are:

• Save most of the money from each paycheck
• Figure out an exercise routine that works for me, and exercise on a regular basis
• Cook more often
• Keep in contact with friends and family at least once a week
• Paint at least once a week
• Play the violin on a regular basis
• Read at least 10 pages of a book a day
• Practice my cake decorating skills
• Get to bed between 11 pm and midnight
• Wake up by 9:30 a.m. and get out of bed by 10 a.m. every day (7:30 a.m. on Fridays)
• Figure out a mental health routine that works for me, and practice it regularly
• Speak up more often/be more confident in myself
• Put things away when I am done with them, instead of throwing them on the floor, or other random spots
• Keep my room clean
• Do the dishes before they get out of hand (we don't have a dish washer at this time, so I hate having to hand-wash them)
• Learn Spanish
• Learn Sign Language
• Learn how to sew
• Knit or crochet at least one item a month
• Learn self-defense
• Take photography classes/lessons
• Learn how to film, edit and post videos to YouTube

I am always wanting to do things, but never really start, or go thru with, them. Hopefully, I can find the motivation/inspiration to start and keep up with the things I want to do.

Theme/Word for 2019

I am writing this post as part of the Boho Berry Challenge, December Year-End Review.

It has taken me awhile to decide on what word/phrase/theme, but I recently have decided on the word:

 

MINDFUL

 

I am one of those people that spends more than they save, and I really want to work on that. Ever since I got a credit card and checking account, I have been going just a little to crazy with my spending habits.

 

I am hoping that in 2019, I can be more mindful of what I spend my money on, and how much I spend. I want to be mindful of how I spend, or save, my money, because probably half of the things I bought, I didn't really need to get.

 

Having a job has made me more independent and responsible for the most part, but when it comes to money, I am not the most responsible with it, and I do not like being irresponsible.

 

I have to remind myself how much money I get, and what I want want to do with it. I want to save at least half of each paycheck (or more), so I can something to fall back on if I am in an emergency, or if there is something big that I want to get, sometime in the future.

 

I guess responsible could also be my word/theme for 2019 as well, as I guess it coincides with this, with the way I am explaining it!

My 2019 Bucket List

I have decided to share what is on my bucket list for this coming year.

Here is what I would like to do in 2019:

• Be a tourist in my own city
• Take last class for my college certificate
• Graduate from college
• Plan trip to New York, to celebrate my college graduation (and possibly take the trip!)
• Host a game night
• Knit or crochet sweater for dad
• Knit or crochet a blanket
• Get bedroom cleaned up
• Get new furniture for bedroom
• Redecorate bedroom
• Donate/get rid of unwanted items (clothes, accessories, bookes, movies, CDs, etc.)
• Save up for, and purchase, a laptop
• Save up for, and purchase, a good DSLR camera
• Learn photography
• Paticipate in an Escape Room challenge
• Take up painting
• Relearn how to play the violin, and play/practice regularly
• Take self defense classes
• Learn how to cook better
• Be more confident in myself/who I am
• Get my driver's license
• Learn how to film, edit and upload videos to my own YouTube channel
• Read 2 books a month
• Try running/jogging for one month, to see if I like it
• Learn how to sew
• Learn sign language
• Relearn Spanish, and keep learning
• Buy a new pair of roller blades, and go roller blading again
• Bake and decorate something once a week
• Visit the museums in the city again
• Go on a road trip with friends
• Get in a loving, caring relationship
• Buy new shoes
• Buy new sandals
• Participate in a Joni and Friends Retreat as an STM
• Start and keep up a skin care routine
• Contact friends at least once a week
• Learn how to do my makeup
• Volunteer at an animal shelter
• Learn how to French braid
• Learn how to do a milk maid braid
• Go on at least one photo shoot
• Try at least 3 new to me restaurants
• Go horseback riding
• Do at least one thing a month, out of my comfort zone
• Learn how to juggle
• Attend at least one concert or play
• Make a vision board
• Learn how to play the ukulele
• Go bowling
• Pack and send in as many OCC Christmas box presents as I can
• Get a tattoo in memory of my mom
• Get my nose pierced
• Get another piercing in each ear
• Go ice skating
• Go to a carnival/festival
• Go indoor skydiving
• See a Blue Man Group concert in person
• Write an honest letter to my dad
• Write an honest letter to my brothers
• Write an honest letter to my sister
• Write an honest letter to my friends
• Bake bread
• Learn how to do a fishtail braid
• Learn how to curl myo hair
• Go paintballing
• Try a sensory deprivation tank
• Go to a pro basketball game
• Go to a pro baseball game
• Pay it forward in some way
• Make macarons
• Learn how to work with modeling chocolate
• Learn how to work with fondant
• Work on writing a book
• Knit or crochet at least one item a month

Yes, this is a lot, but I do not expect to accomplish every single thing on this list this year. I would love to try and do as many things on here as possible, though.

What would you like to do/accomplish this year?

To Be Able to Judge Someone...

 

You must have seen the whole picture.

 

I saw this on Pinterest, and I just had to do a post about it.

 

Why do people feel like they are entitled to judge others, especially if/when they don't have all the facts? If they haven't seen the "whole picture"?

You have no idea what someone is going through, so you have no right to judge someone, based only one what you see in front of you.

I am doing pretty good about not judging others these days, because I know that I have no idea what situation someone could be in. It has gotten easier these days, as I have gone through some hard times, and I know everyone goes through hard times and not everything is visible to others.

If you haven't seen the whole picture, then don't judge someone on only a part of the picture. It doesn't hurt, and doesn't cost you anything, to show people a little kindness.

We need more kindness in the world. If we raise people up instead of knocking them down, there wouldn't be so much hate going around.

We are who we are for a reason, and people should remember that no one has to be like them, think like them, live like them.

So please, think before you speak. Someone may be going through something you know nothing about, which does not require harsh words or actions.




 

 



My Winter 2018/2019 Bucket List

Here is my bucket list for this winter:

• Go sledding
• Go ice skating
• Drink hot chocolate
• Have a snowball fight
• Decorate for winter/Christmas
• Go to a winter festival
• Do winter photoshoots
• Watch Christmas movies
• Build snowmen
• Shop for winter clothes
• Try snowboarding
• Go on a weekend getaway somewhere
• Develop an indoor workout routine
• Bake cookies
• Make DIY Valentines
• Host a game night
• Plan a spring/summer vacation
• Make salt dough ornaments
• Make snow ice cream
• Get picturet taken with Santa
• Make peppermint bark
• Make frozen bubbles
• Put together puzzles
• Give gifts to kids/families in need
• DIY snow globes
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• You've Been Jingled
• DIY ornaments/decorations
• Send Christmas cards
• Buy new pajamas
• Pay it forward
• Binge watch a tv show
• Host a game night
• Go to a museum
• Try a new to me restaurant
• Make peppermint bark

There will no doubt be more things I want to add to my winter bucket list, but this is a good list at this point. What do you want to do this winter?