Happy New Year!

Friday, December 31, 2010

(Meatballs I made for tomato soup)

At the end of 2009 I made a few new year’s resolutions for 2010. My resolutions tend to be goals, rather than changes in my life. Here’s how I did…

1) Watch at least 10 Best Picture Oscar winning films – Done – Patton, Hurt Locker, Mutiny of the Bounty, Mrs. Miniver (really good!), Tom Jones, A Man For All Seasons, Going My Way, The Lost Weekend, Marty and All Quiet on the Western Front

2) Complete all of my reading challenges – Done – 2010 100 Challenge, Color Challenge, Audiobook Challenge, 101010 Challenge, Random Book Challenge

3) Travel to a new state – Done, I went to Wisconsin, Maryland and Oregon all for the first time this year.

(Me at Poe's grave in Baltimore, MD)

4) Start my first garden – Done, but it was a very small garden and only the tomatoes were really a success.

5) Learn how to knit – Done, I’m still learning, but I can do it now.

6) Learn how to cook at least one good recipe to go with each meat – Done, I learned how to cook a ton of recipes this year! I should add that before this year I could make scrambled eggs and… well that’s about it. Some favorites include…
Chicken - Chicken with Pan Sauce and Havarti Stuffed Chicken
Beef – Tomato and Meatball Soup (I made the beef meatballs from scratch!)
Lamb – Lamb with lemon mint marinade
Seafood – I made recipes with tilapia, salmon, halibut, scallops, shrimp, crab legs and mahi mahi.
Pork – Pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto

7) Give blood for the first time (learn my blood type) – Done, B+

(Cilantro marker in my garden)

I am pretty proud of the things I accomplished, so here’s next year’s list.

2011 New Year’s Resolutions (goals)

1) Learn how to use my sewing machine. I will be happy if I can complete simple things, like hemming pants and curtains.

2) Complete all of my reading challenges. This includes ignoring the number of books I read in 2011 and focusing on completing some massive ones instead.

3) Again… travel to a new state, learn how to cook new things and watch Oscar Best Picture Winners.

4) Put at least $100 into savings each month.

5) Work out once a week. Yes, I know this seems like nothing, but I hate working out and will be proud of myself if I do it at least once a week.

There are a million other things I want to do in 2011, be a more patient person, work on putting others first, be a better wife, friend, daughter, sister, blogger, etc. The above list is just a few tangible goals that I can try to work towards.

Happy New Year! Bring it on 2011.

Photos by moi and a friend.

14 comments:

Ana S. said...

Good luck with your new goals, and Happy New Year! I should learn some new recipes myself, because I'm bored of all the ones I know.

Kristi said...

I love your goals. I've been trying to broaden my cooking repertoire but I've never thought of making a formal goal of it. I'll have to do that this year. Good luck with the sewing machine! I learned how to use mine last year, and it was not as difficult as I thought it would be. I made my kids some pillowcases, and it was pretty fun. I'm still not very good at it, but at least I know how set up and work my machine.

Care said...

wow - what a successful year! I often set fun goals like these for myself, too. I will put Mrs. Miniver on my to-watch list - I LOVE this goal to see all the best pics. so many things to comment on! and I haven't even read your 2011 goals this is just me thinking about all the cool things you did in 2010! I used to have that travel to a new state goal but it's fallen off now that I only have a few left (Hawaii and Mississippi - no wait! I went to VT this year so, good. Good for me. Best to you in 2011. and even tho you say Cilantro didn't do terrific this year in your garden, continue with the herbs - sage and oregano are easy, so is parsley and rosemary - I adore my herb garden and hope to add thyme to mine last year. Cilantro and basil never do well for me outside for some reason... We'll talk abt that more in the spring, yes? :)

Kathy said...

It's great that you've actually looked back at your 2010 goals to see how you've done. Seems like most people just write about their new goals and ignore their old ones . . . maybe because most people weren't as successful at meeting their old goals as you were!! Great job!

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Jessica said...

I have a picture of that grave!

I know what you mean about working out, I hate hate hate it but I really must do some this year.

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Happy New Year Avis!

Darlyn (Your Move, Dickens) said...

Good luck with your 2011 goals. Your third goal got me thinking, because I haven't been to a "new" place in years.

Happy New Year! :)

Jamie said...

I tend to do goals instead of big life changes as well! I was doing this 101 things in 1001 days challenge and that seemed to work really well for me. Instead of having broad resolutions I had different goals that would help me in those big picture things. Gotta do what works for you!

You really did a great job tackling those 2010 goals. I still need to watch The Hurt Locker..I've heard good things! And I totally want to start a garden. Maybe that should be on my list next year.

Good luck with your 2011 goals! I had travel to a new state but I didn't complete that. I did travel but just to different cities in states I'd already been lol.

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Nymeth - Maybe I'll get to the bored stage this year. In 2010 every recipe was completely new to me, so it was fun!

Kristi - It's encouraging to hear you learned how to do it and it's manageable. Sometimes things like that are so intimidating to me.

Care - You're so close to seeing all 50 states! I hope you get a chance to get to the last few. I still have about 20 left. Thank you so much for your tips about the herbs. I was so discouraged when they all died. I'll have to try the ones you suggested and see if they live (or maybe it's just me). We'll definitely talk again in spring. I need all the help I can get with gardening.

Kathy - Thanks! The list maker in me loves seeing how I did in completing things.

Jessica - Seeing Poe's grave was the main reason I went to Baltimore. Luckily I have a good friend who puts up with my literary leanings and went with me.

Darlyn - I love traveling to new countries, but I can't manage it every year. The USA has such diverse locations, I feel like I should be able to manage one new state a year.

Jamie - 101 things in 1001 days, that's a great idea! I may have to try that.

Teacher/Learner said...

Congratulations on your accomplishments & best of luck in fulfilling your new goals :)

Carl V. Anderson said...

Congrats on all the goals accomplished in 2010 and I sincerely hope that you accomplish those you've set for 2011.

Jenners said...

I love your approach to resolutions ... they are nice mix of self-improvement and fun and expanding your horizons ... plus they are realistic, which makes them attainable. Well done!

Melissa (Avid Reader) said...

Thanks guys!