This time last year, I couldn’t dream of actually accomplishing any goals. Literally! No sleep=no dreams! With a newborn (and a “Surprise” preemie at that!) my only goal was making it through the day. So I guess maybe I’m a little proud of myself (and my husband) for the goals we did manage to meet in the 1st year after baby being born (while having a little fun along the way). Some of these may not seem like a big deal but let me toot our horns a little:

• Bought our first house (1st for me anyway)
• Started re-building our emergency fund (Can we say “house down payment”? LOL!)
• Landscaped the neglected yard (my mom & hubby did this mostly) & had dead tree limbs trimmed around property
• Restored pool from pea-green to crystal clear (this was all hubby & his dad…and not an easy task!)

• Had safety fence installed around pool
• Put-up gazebo (With hubby of course!)

• Completed several projects around the house (but I won’t bore you with details)
• Visited Galveston, TX & New Orleans, LA
• Took the kids to Disney World during Halloween-time

• Visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• Started MommyThoughts.com
• Started The Cemetery Project & met each monthly goal

• Went to a play (The Addams Family Musical!)
• Read a few books
• Started preparing for the zombie-apocalypse. (You think I kid…)

I’m sure there’s more, but I don’t want to spend too much time reflecting on 2011 because I’m ready to move on to the new year! But I think we did well, all things considered. I might be over-doing it with my 2012 goals. Isn’t it better to be ambitious than not? You guys won’t hold me accountable, will you? LOL! Some are financial goals, some are personal & some are just for fun. Here goes nothing (in no particular order):

• Pay off student loan
• Finish funding 6 month emergency fund
• Blog more
• Spend more time outdoors
• Plant a small garden
• Visit another country (or two!)
• Take the kids to Animal Kingdom
• Spend some one-on-one time with my stepson
• Visit a museum (either w/ the kids or w/out for “me” time!)
• Visit my godson (who lives out-of-state)
• Forgive a friend, and finally move on
• Replace our dilapidated old fence around backyard
• Get the kids in swim lessons
• Walk 3 times a week & hopefully lose the last 15lbs of baby weight
• Resume Roth IRA contributions
• Open Spousal IRA
• Invest in commodities
• Resume 529 Plan for Iain
• Open 529 Plan for Maia
• Finalize our estate plans
• Finish the painting I’ve been working on for…FOREVER!
• Start a new painting (hopefully a large-scale one)
• Complete The Cemetery Project (I’ll be sad when it ends!)
• Read more books
• Finish prepping…see “zombie-apocalypse” above!
• Get a new ‘do & donate hair if it’s long enough

OK, I think that is enough for one year! I have about a week until the new year so i’m going to spend it with my family NOT accomplishing anything. Here’s to another productive & fun year!

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

Tags: accomplishments, experiences, New Year, Personal Finance, Resolutions, To-Do's
Filed under: Goals