A New Year's Day

After the shortest work day since I've been back, the family got out and continued our New Year's Day tradition: Babe's Chicken for good food and black eyed peas. Because we were so close in Carrollton, we stopped by Vitruvian Park in Addison to see the lights, and it turned out to be the last night of them! We went nearly two weeks ago now, and I was so happy to have my camera with me this time.

Speaking of the last two weeks, I have not blogged. That will all change tomorrow, though, when I catch up on my day off. I've been working a lot of hours since I've been back, and I'm excited to have some time to get myself organized!! I think I have my goals for this year laid out, but I'm making these with the knowledge that life changes.

1. Read 12 new books, in varying categories.
2. Take a picture every day and upload it to Flickr.
3. Blog as much as possible.
4. Knit/crochet/etc. with a purpose.
5. Apply the things I learn.
6. Take better care of myself.

I'll expand on these at some point, but for now I need to apply #6 and go to bed!

- rl

New Year's Eve + 2014 Goal Wrap-Up

Mom explaining Monopoly Deal to those who had never played.

My first time playing Ticket to Ride! This is the board mainly cleared off, but it was pretty full! (365/365!!!)

Emily being...Emily.

Settlers of Catan. a game I've been wanting to play FOREVER. It did not disappoint.

Overall, New Year's Eve 2014 was a good one! We had a peaceful night with some friend just eating pizza and snacks, then playing the games pictured above. I really enjoyed the two new games I played, and I'll definitely be doing a little more research into the strategy behind Catan before I play again.

Now onto how my goals for the year did!

1: one self portrait (per week)
Success! 

week forty-nine | week fifty | week fifty-one | week fifty-two

2: compose photos (every day)
As far as I know. This is the epitome of this challenge for me: never taking pictures when I should, then not knowing if I really did complete the challenge or not!

338 | 339 | 340 | 342 | 343 | 344 | 345 | 346 | 347 | 349 | 350 | 351 | 352 | 353 | 354 | 356 | 357 | 358 | 359 | 361 | 362 | 363 | 364 | 365 - which is at the top of this post!

3: read the Bible (every day)
Nope. 

4: journal (daily)
Nope.

5: blog (daily)
Nope! This post is being written twenty-four days into January. Crazy, I know. Anyhow...

6: walk
Still no walking specifically for exercise, but that's fine by me.

7: bike
Nope.

8: 52 projects
Nope! I don't know how many projects I actually finished in 2014, but I blogged 26 of them. I know I finished more than that, but that number is pretty perfect to me because that's half of my goal!

9: 52 books
Once again, I forgot to do a wrap-up at the end of the month, but, thanks to goodreads, I know I figured it out and I read AT LEAST 50 books this year. I may have lost a few in there somehow, but it was at least 50!

10: experiment with photography
Nope. I've been too busy this month!

11: make six new meals for the family
Nope! Now that I'm home I want every meal to be made by my mom. I do have one dish I want to make for them before I leave, so hopefully I'll get to that.

12: learn to play the keyboard
Nope.

13: at least one photo book
Nope.

14: travel

FINALLY GOT TO FLY AGAIN. It had been way too long. I absolutely love flying, and love that every time I want to go home I'll just have to fly. (;

Overall, the year wasn't too bad. I definitely won't be setting such specific goals for 2015, however!

- rl

Previous 2014 Goals Posts:
Original List
January Update
February Update
March Update
April Update
May Update
June Update
July Update
August Update
September Update
October Update

November Update

An Evening of...

my baby,

a silly little sister,

& looking at lights in a neighborhood's town square-ish thing we didn't know existed.

364/365

That honey mustard at Texas Roadhouse wasn't too shabby either!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Nothing New

363/365

"Rachel bought yarn? Tell me something I don't know!"

There are reasons! There are projects to be made! When I will get around to knitting these projects, however, is another story...

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

Self Portrait (52/52)

362/365

The last self portrait for the year! I can hardly believe it. I'm not totally pleased with the shots I got because I know I could have done much better had I put in even a little more effort. I really enjoyed this challenge, however, so I will be continuing it. This week's self portrait is me, finishing up my first fair isle project for a Christmas present for Diana, my best friend.

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)