April Resolutions Check

It's the beginning of another month, which means time to assess my progress ... or lack thereof.  So here we go:

• Losing Weight - Down 2 lbs for March.  Considering I was only managing a workout about once a week, I'm going to count this a win.  I don't diet, but I think I'm doing pretty good with portion control.
• Budget - Meh.  I spent over $1500.00 on my car ... exhaust manifold, oil pans, ball joints, etc.  Ugh, it was painful, I promise you.  I did do my taxes, but these repairs ate up all of my refund plus most of what I'd managed to save since the beginning of the year.  So I'm kind of starting from scratch here again ... and going on another no-buy ... probably just as soon as I take advantage of this Fabulous Street Nfu-Oh sale LOL =)
• Schedule - Huge FAIL.  Lack of focus & lack of motivation & lord only knows what-all else.  I did so well with this in January, I'm not sure why Feb & March were both so hard but I'm going to try & get back to where I was.
• Reading - As of today, I stand at 15 books for the year (I'm about due for another book post).  I am well aware that would be an amazing feat for a lot of people, but if I continue at this pace I'll only be at  60 for the year, far short of my goal of 100.  Yet, I finished my last book in only 1 day because I found I just couldn't put it down.  So I think I'm on the right path here.
• Socializing - No comment.  Unless you count shopping, I didn't go "out" at all last month.
• Comments - Well, I managed to get caught up ... for like a day =(  I'm so sorry to everyone who takes the time to comment, this is on my to-do list but I've managed to get like 2-3 week behind again.  I try to keep up better with emails, but ... well.
• Throughout Me - Only 1 post all month.  Enough said I think.  I don't know what I need to do to get myself on track here.  I originally thought the hurdle would be getting it started in the first place, I thought that once I had an outlet it would be easy to keep up at least  post a week... but it's obviously not that simple.

Overall, I just don't know.  My intentions are pure, LOL, but my actions lag behind.  Yet, I haven't given up yet either.  These are still all things that I want to do, and continue to strive for.  Eventually, that's got to pay off ... right?  How are you doing with your resolutions?  Leave a comment & share the pain LOL =)

Usually on a Friday I spend the evening with family, at my grandparent's house, but I am home tonight because we will be getting together Sunday for Easter.  So I have every intention of spending the evening right here, catching up =)  On my to-do/post list:

• HAULS.  Yes, capital letters are required LOL.  Several Ulta trips plus an online haul =)
• Sally Hansen Opulent Cloud NOTD
• Easter Creme Swirl Water Marble NOTD with a tutorial also
• Orly Rage NOTD
• First "real" TOTD of the year, by real I mean they actually got to be shown off in sandals =)
• Catch up on some lovely awards & tags that I've received
• The book post I mentioned above

I really don't know that I'll get all that done tonight, but I think I will at least get all the nail stuff up, and the rest by the end of the weekend.  Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Accountability: March Check Up

So, in an effort to be more accountable to myself, I'm looking back at the start of each month to see how I'm doing with sticking to the resolutions that I made at the beginning of the year.  Hopefully this will keep me on task ... or get me back on if I get off track LOL.  So here we go:

• Losing Weight - I felt like I had a very lame February.  I didn't lose, I didn't gain, I didn't anything.  Well, of course that includes not doing any yoga for so many reasons ... excuses.  Well, it's a new month, I'm trying to get back on track.
• Budget - Even with a budget sheet right in front of me, I don't know how I manage to spend so much money LOL!  Why is crap so expensive?  And now I've got a repair to my car that's going to be over a thousand dollars, eating up what I had managed to save.  I'm hoping my refund will cover the rest ... of course that means actually sitting down & getting my taxes DONE, ugh =(
• Schedule - I don't know why February was so hectic.  The only "holiday" if you want to call it that was my mom's birthday, and while we did make a few out of the norm excursions, I  honestly don't know why else I've been so busy.
• Reading - FAIL.  I am about to finish my 10th book ... that's like half the pace I wanted to set.  Even last year, my slow year, I was at 13 at this time.  Not to mention that Tee has picked up the Kushiel series again (finally) so I want to finish reading it with her.  That adds 3 more 700 page door-stoppers to my already overflowing list LOL.  A good problem to have I suppose, too many good things to read.
• Socializing - I think I actually get a gold star here =)  Considering I just spent the whole weekend away from home ... not like I went that far LOL, just to Tee's, and spent Saturday & Sunday hanging out with her & Max.  Let me introduce Max:

He's the biggest sweetie =)  I did Tee's nails too, but like a total idiot I forgot to take any pics.  Probably had to do with the liquor LOL, also the abundance of good food & movies & Scrabble games.

• Comments - Dear Lord, I can't even say anything in my own defense, other than FAIL.  FAIL FAIL FAIL FAIL ... maybe this month I'll manage to get caught up.
• Throughout Me -Not quite a fail, but only 2 posts in February.  Every time I post I think I'll do better but then all of a sudden it's like, oops...

How are you doing with your resolutions?  Still on track or maybe fallen off the wagon?  Thanks for reading.

~Colette

Accountability: Resolutions Check-Up

So, in an effort to be more accountability to myself, I'm going to look back at the start of each month & see how I'm doing with sticking to the resolutions that I made at the beginning of the year.  Hopefully this will keep me on task ... or get me back on if I get off track LOL.  So today is the start of a new month, & here's how January went:

• Losing Weight - Meh.  I lost the 5 lbs I'd put on over the holidays, put it back on, then managed to take it off again LOL.  So down 5 on the year, by the skin of my teeth.  My consolation is that I beat my dad - he started using my stationery bike & doing some other exercises, and he is only down 1 lb for the month.
• Budget - Also meh.  I am getting better with being aware when & what I am spending, but I've only saved a couple of hundred so far in my checking & savings combined.  If I actually look at my total funds, which includes my HSA (Health Savings Account) I am actually down because since I am at the start of a new plan year, I am also at the start of my $2500/year deductible ... last time I went to the pharmacy it was $450 ... yeah.  The goal is to save enough by summer to look at buying a new car.
• Schedule - Well, I am fitting in everything I want, but just by the skin of my teeth & I really need to get into bed earlier because by the end of the week I am dead on my feet, then end up sleeping away most of my weekend.
• Reading - I have to give myself a FAIL here so far.  I've only read 5 books.  Last year by the end of January I was up to 7 so I'm falling behind when I wanted to be ahead.  Don't ask where I plan on cramming in more book time LOL, but I've got to find a way!
• Socializing - Ummm... actually I think I get a thumbs up here =)  Not like I've turned into a party animal or anything, but I did spend a few hours shoe-shopping at the mall with Tee yesterday, which is at least getting out & about.  Usually I run most of my errands by myself & as quickly as possible, so an actual leisurely afternoon browsing was a change.
• Comments - Definite FAIL so far.  But that's mainly because I still haven't managed to catch up!  Once I catch up I think I can keep up.
• Throughout Me -Well, only 3 posts in January, so less than 1 a week ... but considering I only posted 2x in December & 2x in November, I think I'm doing OK.  I have also managed to fit in time to write on almost a daily basis.  I just have a problem finishing things LOL, lots of little snippets floating around in my notebooks or on scraps of paper.

Overall, not doing too bad I guess.  How are you doing with your resolutions?  On track or maybe fallen off the wagon?  Leave a comment or drop an email & let me know =)  Thanks for reading.

~Colette

New Year's Resolutions

I have a lot of them this year, from the large to the small. I've already been trying to implement some of them, but what is it about the mental milestone of January 1st that makes it seem like such a good time to change?

• Losing Weight - This is a perennial resolution. I even usually make progress, but it has been really slow. I will get seriously going for a few months & then fall off. I don't gain back what I've lost, so much as just stall in my progress. Here's to making steady progress. I got a new yoga mat to replace the one I wore out for Christmas, and I have prevented the stationary bike from turning into a coat tree, so I'm still on the right path LOL
• Budget - Well, I'm not actually putting myself on a budget, so much as I'm trying to become more aware of how much I'm spending & how often & what on. I'd like to save some money & look at buying a new - or at least newer - car this spring. I made up a budget spreadsheet, so when I go out & blow money on nail polish it's right there in my face, not buried with the rest of the receipts & entered onto my ledger with no real thought.
• Schedule - Just generally getting my ass in gear. I can honestly sit & stare into space, daydream or just zone out for long periods of time that could be put to much better use. I wouldn't have so much unfinished crap if I'd just DO it instead of procrastinating.
• Reading - I was disappointed with my total number of books for 2009. I'll be posting my last books of 2009 sometime this weekend, I didn't quite make it to 80. Some of you are probably thinking, "WTF?!?!" but my average was less than 2 books a week & for me that's kind of disappointing. My total for 2008 was 130, I doubt I can get that many read now that blogging has become such a hobby, but for 2010 I would like to hit or break 100.
• Socializing - I'm kind of anti-social. Actually, pretty phobic about it, like those commercials for social anxiety disorder? I get extremely nervous around strangers. At the same time, I get lonely, I wish I had more friends, and - while I enjoy chatting with you all - I know I'm not going to make new friends hiding at home. Tee always wants me to go out with her. So I'll resolve to try & go out with her more this year than last ... I think last time we went out - OUT out, like make plans & dress nice out - about 3 times. Damn sad I know. & a goal it shouldn't be hard to beat.
• Comments - Especially over the holidays, I've had a few times where I've fallen WAY behind with comments. I'm going to try, seriously, to stay on top of them. I've made this resolution before, so we'll see what kind of a job I do.
• Throughout Me - I've got to post more on my 2nd blog. I've got to write more, draw more, do more to put on there. There was a time when I was writing faithfully every day. I'd like to get back to that point.

So, what kind of resolutions do you have? Serious ones or even ones you may have every intention of breaking LOL. (Maybe: No chocolate this year!?) Maybe not even anything so firm as a resolution, maybe just a thought or a hope you'd like to carry through the year. Hard to resolve to be always happy, easier to try every day to fully appreciate life.

Well, lots of rambling, and no pics at all this post! Not to worry. The nails, novels, and other simple little pleasures will return shortly =) I have quite a backlog to catchup with this weekend, at least 5 posts currently in draft, and all intentions of posting them up soon. Here's to another year. Thanks for reading.

~Colette