Reflections on 2012

Today is the last day of 2012.

It is amazing to look back on the year and remember everything I experienced, accomplished, and enjoyed. It truly was a year of blessings, new adventures and hard-work. 

Here is the break-down:

In January I started my final semester of law school and Al and I celebrated our first year of marriage. In February we PCS'd to Ft. Carson, Colorado and in March I spent Spring Break in Colorado getting settled in. At the beginning of April, I was fortunate enough to travel to Washington D.C. (a beloved city) and coach a moot court competition. Also in April, I took up boxing - something I've always wanted to do - and hope to continue the sport in 2013. On May 1st (less than 24-hours after my last exam), I packed my car and drove the 14-hour drive from Minnesota to Colorado. We were able to celebrate our birthdays together for the first time. Finally, in May, I graduated from law school!!! In June I started a new career in finance, unsure of whether I would enjoy ir or even be any good at it. And at the end of July, after studying most of my summer, I sat for the Colorado Bar Exam. When August rolled around, Al and I made the decision to buy a house (a BIG house!) and in September we moved in and immediately started renovations. In October, I had two wonderful surprises when my favorite people visited from Minnesota and I got the news that I passed the bar exam!! November was mostly centered around work and the house (but I voted) and building our great new friendships. When December rolled around, we were thrilled to visit Minnesota and see family and friends.

At the beginning of the year, I created a list of 12 goals that I wanted to accomplish this year. They were not the standard set of goals, but more like a set of guidelines on how I wanted to live in 2012. You can see the journey as I checked in on those goals throughout the year (click here). I looked back over those goals for one last time today and I am pleased with what I accomplished. Life is fluid and some goals have to be as well, but I got so many wonderful things out of the goals I set for the year that I consider it a success.

For 2013, I decided to simplify those goals a bit and to make them more manageable. I want to head into the new year with a clear focus so I can advance myself professionally and personally and make this year even better than those before. I will debut those goals tomorrow, so stay tuned!

One last reflective thought: In 2008, on New Years Eve, I reconnected with an old friend and invited him to accompany me to a NYE party. We played blackjack with a kiss as the high stakes. We drank and laughed and found that our friendship felt like a little more. That friend is now my husband and I am full of joy knowing that four years after that party, we are lucky enough to curl up in front of our fireplace and toast to the new year together. Now, as the calendar rolls over into 2013, I can hardly wait to see what the new year will hold!

Cheers and Aud Lang Syne.

12 in 2012: Month in Review

It is amazing that I only have one month left in 2012 to accomplish these goals. 
Here is my month-in-review for November:

1. Speak up.

(No longer applicable. See previous months.)

2. Spend less.

Again, my spending has been limited to thrift store buys here and there. With the holidays, our trip home to Minnesota, and continued projects on the house, we just don't have extra funds for any crazy spending.

3. Spread the Love.

I sent e-cards for Christmas. I made cookie packs for both sets of employers, and I have been going a little shopping crazy for the holidays! So much fun!

4. Snap it.

I need to do some serious back-tracking on uploading these photos. I have about 23 days left in the year and I am close to 100 photos short. Yikes!! Check out my album on Facebook. 

5. Spice it Up.

We have set up our meal plan for the rest of the year to be a handful of go-to meals and to finish off our freezer meals. We want to leave for Minnesota with an empty fridge and have room to bring back some pork and beef from the farm. Plus, no one wants to have food spoil while their on vacation!

6. Sweat.

I lost 12 lbs. while Al was at NTC, but I have no idea how or why. I don't feel like I changed a single thing about my lifestyle, other than less meals out with friends. I am happy with the weight loss, but I can't genuinely contribute it to "sweat" per se.

7. Stamp It.

I will get the tattoo after the holiday. It is simply not in the funds for me to get before then.

8. See the Sights.

A girlfriend and I attended a roller derby game here in the city. I have also spent quite a bit of time driving through new neighborhoods and finding new hole-in-the-walls stores to browse. So fun!

9. Style it.

I have a couple great things in mind for Fashion Friday in the upcoming year, but for now I am enjoying sharing outfits and fashion inspiration here and there.

10. Save space.

Many, many projects in the works, but nothing coming together post-wise. Stay tuned for a couple DIY's this week, though.

11. Slow down.  12. Sleep more.

Check and check. At least as much as anyone can.

12 in 2012: Month in Review (x2)

Everything has been so crazy 'round these parts that I completely neglected to do my monthly review for September. It occurred to me about 10/20 that I never did the review and decided I'd just review the last 2 months when I did my October review. So, here it is, my goals review for both September and October:

1. Speak up.

(No longer applicable. See previous months.)

2. Spend less.

Almost all of our "extra money" has gone into the house either for supplies or for decorations. As such, I haven't spent much money otherwise - just a few bucks here and there at thrift stores.

3. Spread the Love.

I did pretty good with this one, especially during October. I sent a few little treats to friends and family and cards here and there just to say hi. Obviously, with the holidays coming up it will probably get more active on this front.

4. Snap it.

I have been back-tracking with some photos here and there, to fill in some of the gaps. I am nowhere near the goal, but I still intend, by the end of the year, I will have 365 photos in my album on Facebook. 

5. Spice it Up.

With moving, settling into the house, and Al leaving for NTC, there hasn't been much food exploration. I did make pumpkin chocolate chip bars in October (delicious!!)

6. Sweat.

I always have good intentions, but intentions are not flattening my belly.

7. Stamp It.

I passed the bar! Time to start pricing the tattoo and deciding where to go!

8. See the Sights.

I visited a hot spring with my girlfriend last month. It is about 40 minutes away and is basically a mineral hot spring that feeds into a swimming pool. The weather was so nice we were able to layout and sunbathe in the middle of October!!

I still want to try some local pubs and restaurants, and check out a few other sites. Once Al returns from NTC maybe we can get out there and try a few new things!

9. Style it.

This is going fine. I am continuing my Fashion Friday series and enjoy incorporating my passion for fashion with this beloved blog. Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

I have started developing posts regarding my organization and decoration in the new house. Those should ramp up even more over the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

11. Slow down.  12. Sleep more.

Check and check. At least as much as anyone can.

12 in 2012: Month in Review

August flew by. Which is funny (as in interest, not "ha ha") because July might very well have been the longest month of my life! Even so, September is here and I am going to enjoy the long weekend by visiting the Colorado State Fair and spending time with friends. Before I run off to have all that fun, I wanted to check in on my monthly goals:

1. Speak up.

This is continuing along fine. I probably won't even check in on this any more this year!

2. Spend less.

We have no choice but to spend less. We just bought a house and my new job isn't cutting a check until November. I have purchased a few things here and there, mostly off clearance racks or at thrift stores, but mostly I have not purchased anything that we didn't need for the house!

3. Spread the Love.

I have, once again, been terrible at this during the month of August. I did run a few great giveaways for my bloggy-loves, but I have not been very good about sending little notes to my friends and family back home.
Resolution: change that, ASAP!

4. Snap it.

I have been back-tracking with some photos here and there, to fill in some of the gaps. I am nowhere near the goal, but I still intend, by the end of the year, I will have 365 photos in my album on Facebook. 

5. Spice it Up.

We have been making so many new recipes! This month, we made a great turkey and egg noodle casserole and we've been really into soups. Al made a great beef n' barley soup and split pea soup (my favorite!) I finally tweaked my zucchini muffin recipe enough and am getting it right every time. I found a vanilla glaze recipe to make them more dessert-like for special occasions. It was a big hit!

6. Sweat.

Not happening. No shame.

7. Stamp It.

Still waiting to get my bar results!

8. See the Sights.

We have not gotten out to see local sites much this month. With the house, the new job and so many other things, we just haven't had the time. Hopefully that will change a bit this fall!

9. Style it.

This is going fine. I am continuing my Fashion Friday series and enjoy incorporating my passion for fashion with this beloved blog. Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

Right now, my focus is on packing and moving, which always requires me to do a big purge of my closet and the rest of the house. I have done a great job of getting rid of things we don't need and either selling or donating them.

11. Slow down.  12. Sleep more.

Check and check. At least as much as anyone can.

12 in 2012: Month in Review

This month was relatively unproductive since I was focused on the bar exam for the larger portion of it. That said, I need to keep up on my reflections so I know what areas to work on for the month of August (which is already 5 days in...Oops!)

1. Speak up.

This was fine. In fact, I don't think this needs to be an ongoing goal at this point. Once I figured out how to balance and only commit myself to things I really want to be a part (and have time for) it has been easy to keep up on the goal.

2. Spend less.

I did great on my budget in July, so much so that I was able to spend a little money last week on a couple great work pieces from Kohls. I got: a colorblock shift dress, a floral shift dress, a khaki pencil skirt (replacing an older, worn version in my closet) and a pretty necklace. I also stopped at a few garage sales and found another 3 pieces of jewlery. The whole day cost $90!

3. Spread the Love.

Nope. Time to fix that...

4. Snap it.

Keeping up on my album on Facebook was difficult this month because, well, pictures of the same books for three weeks is not very enthralling. And I didn't really do much else.

5. Spice it Up.

Al and I have been doing a great job with creating a meal plan each month and trying new recipes throughout. Last month, we tried Spinach & Pepperjack Stuffed Chicken, among others.

6. Sweat.

I kept up with Al for over two straight weeks on a hard-core training workout. Then I took a week off for the bar exam and I just haven't gotten back into it. Al has been nursing a minor injury and reserving his energy for PT and work. It is difficult for me to organize and discipline myself through a workout without him to help! But really, those are all excuses - time to change that!!

7. Stamp It.

This will still happen, but since we have recently made some big purchases (ahem, a house!) we are putting off any unnecessary purchases until we've got our new budget settled.

8. See the Sights.

Once again, this was put off while I studied. Hopefully that can change again now that I am back to a regular schedule.

9. Style it.

I continued the Fashion Friday installment, but took a few weeks off for the bar. (This is getting redundant!) I plan to whip up some great new fashion posts in the month of August! Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

No more major org projects will be done until we get settled in to our new place in September. I have purchased a few cool pieces at auctions recently and both of them will need a facelift. I will try to share those projects this month, if possible.

11. Slow down. & 12. Sleep more.

This wasn't exactly a "slow down and sleep" month, but I should be back to a normal-ish schedule this month and will put this back on the list of priorities.

12 in 2012: Month in Review

The month of June was consumed with bar review, three field trainings, hot temps, and wildfires. Needless to say, productivity on my 12 was not high on the priority list. I still wanted to check with any progress that was made, just to stay consistent.

1. Speak up.

No worries here.

2. Spend less.

I have done well with this, although did buy a few summery items early in the month. Until I get a job, I will not be doing any more shopping that isn't absolutely necessary. 

3. Spread the Love.

I tried to send a few b-day and other cards to friends and family, but did not do much more than that. 

4. Snap it.

I am not doing well on this. I always forget to bring my camera with me, so I miss photo ops. Still, I'm trying to stay on top of my album on Facebook. 

5. Spice it Up.

We did great on this one! We made:
White Chicken Enchiladas
Beef Burgundy Stew
Baked Rueben Dip
Sweet Potato Fries
I have all of these pinned on my food board. 
We also made an array of other recipes that I did not find online. I may post some of those when/if I get a spare moment.

6. Sweat.

I don't want to talk about it... ha!

7. Stamp It.

Once I get a job, this is one of the first purchases on my list. Stay tuned...

8. See the Sights.

Al and I like to go on spur-of-the-moment drives, usually with ice cream in tow, and check out the surroundings. Granted we don't do much on those drives, but it does allow us to experience our neighborhood. We plan on going to the Renaissance Festival before it leaves, and are planning a Denver trip to the brewery soon! 

9. Style it.

I started a weekly fashion segment to help with professional style and document some outfits, now that I closed down my fashion blog. Check those out here. Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

I have not done a lot of organization this month, because I have been busy studying. Also, the house is pretty well put-together and does not need much updating. 

11. Slow down. & 12. Sleep more.

I have been trying to adjust my schedule to match Al's, so I am up and productive before 6AM, but my body is not used to to going to be before 10PM. I'm starting to get the hang of it, but it has been a rough go.

12 in 2012: Month in Review

This month was a busy one! Let's see what I got done from my 12 in 2012 list: 
See past 12 in 2012 posts, here.

1. Speak up.

Check. Doing fine on this one. 

2. Spend less.

Check out my fashion blog for the specifics of this goal and my fashion budget tracker.

3. Spread the Love.

I actually did a bit of this during May. There were a lot of birthdays and other events this month, so I tried to send out some great cards, gifts and other notes to remind people that I love them! 

4. Snap it.

OK. This month sucked for posting photos. I will try to get my album updated very soon!

5. Spice it Up.

We created a June menu plan that started this week and I can't wait to try some of the new recipes on it. June should be big in this category!

6. Sweat.

Plan sweat it out starts Monday. Stay tuned!

7. Stamp It.

This should happen sometime this summer, now that I've graduated!

8. See the Sights.

This month, we traveled to Denver and saw a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field.
I also did a little exploration of my neighborhood and the city to get a feel for where everything is (mostly Starbucks and Target!) 

9. Style it.

I will be closing down my fashion blog, but I am working on ways to incorporate some aspects of it into this blog. Specifically, I am looking to do a professional fashion feature! Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

I completed a lot of organization projects this month. 
1. Organized the desk, pantry, linen closet and my clothes closet
2. Organized the front entry-way storage closet

11. Slow down. & 12. Sleep more.

I did pretty good with this during the month. Although this week, now that I'm getting up super-early to commute, my schedule is out of whack again. 


You can always check out my 30 by 30 goals and my overall bucket list for my accomplishments there as well!

30 by 30

I turn 28 today! 

Can I just take a minute and scream into my pillow?!

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Ok. I'm better now.

Having made a huge transition in my life out of school and (hopefully) into the work force and finally moving in with Al in Colorado, things have been a little chaotic. In all the good ways, of course. 


Have you ever read the What Every Women Should Know Before 30 article? I'm pleased to say that I've already satisfied everything on that list. Of course, that's not all there is to life and with my birthday looming, I have been reflecting on my life recently. I sat down and re-evaluated my goals. 

I have always maintained a "bucket list" of sorts, but I wanted to revamp that list. I have a list of 12 goals I want to focus on this year, but they are not so much large goals as daily improvements I want to strive for throughout the year. I think, ultimately, it is good to have goals that address short-term or small life improvements; mid-term goals; and longer-term life goals. 

Here's my list:

30 by 30

Begin date: May 5, 2012

End date: May 5, 2014

1. Pass the Bar & Get a Job

2. Join Colorado Bar Association

3. Get Pregnant

4. Buy a new car

5. Pay off at least 1/3 of my school loans

6. Lose 15 pounds

7. Learn to salsa dance

8. Go camping (overnight)

9. Tour the Coors Brewery

10. Take snowboarding lessons

11. See a Rockies game at Coors Field

12. See MNSU (my alma mater) play Colorado College in D1 Hockey

13. Read 20 books from my list

14. Go on a honeymoon (finally!)

15. Put together a Shutterfly wedding album

16. Renew my First Aid/CPR certification

17. Get my conceal & carry/license to carry

18. Organize and label all our important family documents

19. Attend the 2013 Milblog Conference

20. Build bedroom bench

21. Eat at the "10 Best" restaurants in Co. Springs 

22. Get another tattoo

23. Take a cruise

24. Participate in the Denver Warrior Dash

25. Sew pillow cases for the living room pillows

26. Purchase a domain and redesign my blog

27. Ride a mechanical bull

28. Visit the Wizard of Oz museum in Kansas

29. Go to a winery and help make my own wine

30. Take a cooking class

Many of them focus on things we can do in Colorado and experiences I'd like to have during our time here. Others are just things I've been meaning to try or that are on the bigger list. I edited the Bucket List tab above to reflect these 30 by 30 goals and the larger bucket list. I might add to this as I go as new things pique my interest (I'm shooting for 100 on the big list) and as some priorities change others will drop away. I will update the list as I cross things off as well!


I can't wait to get started...in the meantime, I would love a piece of cheesecake. And maybe a glass of whiskey.

12 in 2012: Month in Review

I'm sitting here at school, studying for my last {ever} law school exam. Tonight, after the test, I need to finish packing up my car and put together a cooler of drinks and snacks for the road. I'm lucky enough to have a girlfriend join me for the trip, so early (really early) tomorrow morning we're hitting the road. Stay tuned for some fun posts this week as I travel and get settled in. In the meantime, let's recap my April goals:

1. Speak up.

Still doing well on this, no change.

2. Spend less.

I have done an okay job on this one. I have not spent over my max budget ($100), but I did quite a bit of shopping. You see, my graduation present from my grandparents was a new professional wardrobe. After two different weekends at Macy's scouring the clearance racks, I walked away with the following: ($340.00)
     1 Tahari skirt suit                   1 Michael Kors shift dress
 1 LeSuit skirt suit                  1 Anne Klein shift dress
1 pair dress slacks                   3 other shift dresses
1 Sunny Leigh pencil skirt          1 Vince Camuto sweater
1 Calvin Klein blouse                      2 Alfani blouses
1 cinched-waist rain coat

3. Spread the Love.

Once again, this month got away from me because I was so insanely busy with school and moving. But, both my little sisters had birthdays this month, so my sister and I created big "teenage" baskets for them.

4. Snap it.

I'm doing fine on this as well. I'm not at the number I should be, but I will have some bigger events to make up for it later! Check out my album on Facebook. 

5. Spice it Up.

Waiting for Colorado...

6. Sweat.

Not happening...right now.

7. Stamp It.

Waiting for Graduation...

8. See the Sights.

I am really excited to take time to explore Colorado with Al!

9. Style it.

Follow my fashion blog, to see that journey. Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

Oh, the plans I have to organize all the closets and spaces in our apartment. I have stuffed my car to the brim with baskets and bins so my closet and other areas can be organized spectacularly. I have been pinning lots of ideas and pulling articles and other things that inspire me.

11. Slow down. & 12. Sleep more.

Yeah...nothing slow over here. Maybe I'll take a week or two off before my Bar class starts...

12 in 2012: Month in Review

I cannot believe it's already April! I move to Colorado in less than a month - so exciting! That means 29 days stand between me and my husband. Well, 29 days, 1.5 papers, 1 take-home exam and 2 final exams as well as 1000 miles stand between us. 

In the meantime, let's look back over my 12 in 2012 goals for the month of March:


1. Speak up.

I spent the better part of the month writing my long paper, which meant I had to cancel social engagements quite regularly. The biggest challenge is not feeling guilty for making the decision, now that I'm better able to make it in the first place.

2. Spend less.

I did some shopping this month, focusing on professional basics and versatile items for work and everyday wear. Check out my fashion blog for the specifics of this goal and my fashion budget tracker.

3. Spread the Love.

OK...I had big plans for this one during March, but I was so swamped with school that it just never came to be. I did send a friend a card for her birthday and did something special for my Grandma, but I have a lot of ideas percolating for this goal.

4. Snap it.

I traveled a bit this month, so I should be able to catch up my picture deficit currently in my album on Facebook. 

5. Spice it Up.

No new recipes this month - I've been doing so much eating-on-the-go!

6. Sweat.

This is so not happening. At least not until I move. I just can't fit the gym into my life (and right now, sleep and other basics are just more important.)

7. Stamp It.

Still on hold until May or June.

8. See the Sights.

I actually traveled to D.C. this month, so I got to explore a lot there. As for exploring my home surroundings, I am still lacking there. I could remind you that I've been busy, but I think you get the point.

9. Style it.

I did a fun challenge where I only wore skirts and dresses for a whole week. Follow my fashion blog, to see that journey. Find my fashion inspiration here.

10. Save space.

I will be doing  huge purge this coming month as I prepare for the move. That includes an inventory of my closet and going through my storage locker so I keep only the things we need or will use. I can't wait to get my things narrowed down so I can go on an organization spree when I get to Colorado.

11. Slow down.  and 12. Sleep more.

This month was exactly the opposite of slow and relaxing. I don't see that changing much through April, but hopefully I can at least focus on the sleep part.

12 in 2012: Month in Review

Another month has come and gone and it is time to check in on my 12 in 2012 goals.

1. Speak up.

I am doing fine on this. I am sticking to the commitments I've made without over-extending myself. I am making sure to take time for myself, Al and my friends and still focus on school and work.

2. Spend less.

Check out my fashion blog for the specifics of this goal and my fashion budget tracker.

3. Spread the Love.

I did not get to focus on this as much as I wanted to during February, but I have a couple ideas up my sleeve for March. 

4. Snap it.
I have kept up on my daily photo album on Facebook. I also took some pics of my trip to Colorado this month, which I hope to post soon!

5. Spice it Up.

I made crab-stuffed mushrooms, zucchini feta bites and raspberry white chocolate whoopie pies for a party this month. All of them were seriously delicious!!

6. Sweat.

Yeah...about that...

7. Stamp It.

On hold until graduation

8. See the Sights.

I am planning a trip to the Judy Garland museum in March and want to get over to the Minnesota Zoo once the weather warms up a bit!

In Colorado this month, we walked downtown, drove through the Colorado College campus and visited the Pioneers Museum (although, to be honest it was closed...) We also drove up through the mountain to explore some of the smaller towns like Green Mountain Falls. 

9. Style it.

Check out my fashion blog to see how I've been doing on this one.

10. Save space.

Of course, we moved into our new place in Colorado, and I did a LOT of organization there. I haven't done much in Minnesota this month, but I have a few ideas...

11. Slow down. 12. Sleep more.

After coming off Spring Break, I am feeling relaxed and refreshed...just in time for school to really ramp up!

12 in 2012: Month in Review

It is the end of January, so I want to check in and see how I am doing on my 12 in 2012 goals.

{To see the full descriptions of each goal, visit the original post.}

1. Speak up.

This isn't as measurable as I want it to be. I have done a better job of focusing on myself when I need to and not over-committing to things - but I don't have examples. I need to figure out a way to track this better...

2. Spend less.

I have spent less than $30 and it was all on the thrift store. I am buying things that I can wear for professional dress and one of my wishlist items. So far, I am on track.

3. Spread the Love.

I think February (fitting enough) is going to be my month to "spread the love." I have some cute ideas and hope to give a smile to all my friends and family!

4. Snap it.

This one is going VERY well! So far, I have added 30 out of 31 photos this month. I hope to have more photos of actual events, people and places, but if that's not what I'm doing than it can't be documented, can it?

5. Spice it Up.

I have been packing lunches and spending less at the cafe and eating out. I have not yet set aside some new recipes to try, but I will. Maybe I will save that for when I get settled into Colorado with Al. 

6. Sweat.

Yeah right. I have not been doing well with this one. 
My BFF and I bought Groupons for a boxing gym down the road. We will make our appointment soon!

7. Stamp It.

Obviously, this can't happen until I graduate.

8. See the Sights.

I haven't had much time for this, but I did discover a new restaurant:
Mango Thai - Inexpensive Thai restaurant near campus

9. Style it.

Yes! This is going well. I have posted almost daily and I have been trying new things!

10. Save space.

My projects:
1. Christmas Card Book
2. Greeting Card Box
I have a couple more ideas up my sleeve for the months before I move.

11. Slow down.

I have been doing this more. Not feeling guilty when I sleep for an extra hour; making time for a drink or dinner with friends; putting the books away to make sure I stay healthy; and making time to blog.

12. Sleep more.

My sleep schedule is really screwed up, but I have been going to bed earlier at night, hoping I can get up in the mornings and be productive right away. It's a process for a night owl like myself.

12 in 2012: Part 3 {Implementation}

{It is awfully ironic when you are in the middle of a series on productivity and life gets in the way of completing the series. While I could make excuses and tell you all the reasons why I didn't get this up until today, I'd rather skip all that nonsense and jump right in!}

The final step in my 12 in 2012 plan is to implement a plan to execute my goals. I have a few ideas on how I can incorporate these new goals into my daily life:

I will set aside at least 20 minutes for myself each day - to do whatever needs to get done from the list.

I will set aside an additional 20 minutes each day for blogging.

I will layout my clothes the night before and plan out a lunch and breakfast before I go to bed.

I will review my goals each Sunday and make mini-lists of accomplishments for the week. Some of these things will be regular daily tasks and others will be goal-oriented tasks.

I will not get down on myself when life gets in the way. After all, part of my 12 in 2012 plan is to not worry so much about how and when, but that I am focusing on bettering myself through these outlined goals.

I will be flexible and change my plan as I need to.

I will seek help from family, friends and bloggers to encourage, push and inspire me to keep going!

Finally, I will reward myself for accomplishing my goals with a treat. It can be anything ranging from a delicious dessert to a new pair of shoes!

I have already started tracking my goals and moving towards accomplishing some of them. Thank you for going on this journey with me - I look forward to checking in.

12 in 2012: Part 2 {The Plan}

Yesterday, I launched my 12 in 2012 plan and discussed the types of goals I planned on making for the new year. I also outlined my 2012 calendar and all the major events going on in the my life.

Today, I am going to unveil the goals themselves. 12 of them. Tomorrow, I will discuss my plan for implementing these goals and getting the ball rolling!

1. Speak up.

I will be more deliberate with my words. I will say "no" when I need to and ask for help when I need it. I want my words to count for more, so I want to be more selective about what I say and to whom.

2. Spend less.

I will not be doing any shopping during my remaining time in Minnesota. Check out my fashion blog for the specifics of this goal and my fashion budget tracker.

3. Spread the Love.

I want to send little love notes to my friends and family for an entire month. Each week, I will send out a special note, card, photo, etc... to my closest people so I can put a smile on their faces.

4. Snap it.

I will take more photos of people, things, events that happen in my life. I will take a years-worth of photos to document all the great things 2012 will hold. It doesn't have to be one picture everyday, but by the end of the year, I will have 365 photos in my album on Facebook. Now that I have my new gorillapod, this should be a breeze!

5. Spice it Up.

I will try at least 10 new recipes this year. I want to work on making meals full of flavor to appeal to Al's palette. I also want to try making delicious, portable lunches that I can bring with to school and save money on eating out.

6. Sweat.

I will do something each day to make me sweat. It doesn't have to be work-out specific - sometimes just parking an extra block away or walking up and down the stairs a few extra times. I will log these daily tasks in my "Sweat Journal."

7. Stamp It.

I want to commemorate my time in law school with a tattoo. The tattoo will read: "Gerechtigkeit fur alles" = "Justice for All". I still haven't decided where I want the tattoo to go - either my foot, my shoulder, or my wrist - but it will small. The point is to signify my hard work and celebrate the end.

8. See the Sights.

I want to explore my lovely home state more. I don't want to spend oodles of money to do so, but even just visiting the places from my childhood or places I've never seen before. I will be moving away and want to soak up as much of the local culture as possible.

Then, when I get to Colorado, I want to get my feet on the ground right away and start seeing all the scenery and local fun. I will use the blog to talk about my quests as I set out to explore my local surroundings and my new home in Colorado.

9. Style it.

Since I am on a spending freeze, I will be more creative with what I wear based on what I already own. I don't want to pigeon-hole myself into a category, so I will draw inspiration from many sources and step out of my comfort zone as much as possible. I also want to find new, fun ways to style-up my business-attire. Follow my fashion blog, to see that journey. Find my fashion inspiration here.

I also have something else up my sleeve that I have talked about for an awfully long time. I still have to decide if it is worth the time and money and if it is, I will unveil it at that time. For a sneak peek, check this out.

10. Save space.

I will complete an organization overhaul. I have pinned a lot of great organization ideas that I can implement in my space in Minnesota so it will be easier to move and my new space in Colorado. Until we buy a home, we will be in an apartment again, so I love utilizing extreme organization in small spaces.

11. Slow down.

I will focus on myself and doing things that make me happy and healthy. This means taking time to do a mani/pedi or sitting down to watch a movie I enjoy. This means time with family and friends and putting the books away whenever I can.

12. Sleep more.

Let's face it, I need to sleep more. It will help me be healthier and more productive. I would love to get 7 or more hours of sleep per night, but that is going to be too specific when midterms, finals and the bar ramp up.

12 in 2012: Part 1 {Setting Realistic Goals}

I don't like making resolutions. So many people make grandiose, superficial and virtually unattainable resolutions that they are of course going to keep.

I can even admit that I have done this in the past myself.

In fact, I usually feel worse about the fact that I failed at the goal than the fact that goal was pointless or unrealistic in the first place.

This year, I am instead going to make 12 mini-goals that can be accomplished throughout the year. Ideally, I will pick one each month that I can achieve and check them off as I go. It would be counter-productive, however, to not allow for flexibility. Especially if I have a particularly productive month or a month where things are too crazy to get the extras done. I also want to make sure that I am setting goals that can be achieved regardless of where I live and what my life entails. Let's face it, 2012 is going to be a busy year.

Before I unveil the specific goals, I want to outline (mostly for my own sake) my calendar and major events coming up in 2012:

January:

1 Year Anniversary!

1-Week J-Term

Final Semester of Law School Begins

February:

Al moves to Ft. Carson

March:

2-year Blog-a-versary

Spring Break - Visit Colorado

April:

Trip to D.C. for National Moot Court

May:

My Birthday & Al's Birthday

End of {my last} semester - GRADUATION!

Move to Colorado Springs/Ft. Carson

June:

Start Bar Prep Course

July:

Take Bar Exam

October:

Bar Results Returned

Get a Job DEADLINE

There may or may not be house-buying, baby-making, and a deployment in the plan, but we can't really nail down when/how those things will happen. Like I said, 2012 is going to be a big year. I can hardly wait!

Stay tuned tomorrow for part 2...