Wrapping up the year, Part II

I am finding it hard to follow my own plan of reviewing my 2013 resolutions before the years end because I have had my head so immersed in the book I am working on. Seriously, my fiancé just had to call and beg me to go buy toilet paper while he is at work (since he is at work and I have the week off).

But, I do appreciate both personal hygiene and that it is important to me to keep reviewing all that 2013 has brought. So on to four more of the resolutions I posted just about a year ago here.

Resolution Review:

3. Go to at least 2 of the 11 states I haven't visited. Check, and thank you Kansas and Wisconsin. Only 9 left...

4. Read 20 book. Check and a smirk. At the beginning of December, I was at a pathetic 13 for the year (though one was 1Q84, which is about a million pages long). When the semester ended and I got my weekends back, I ripped through 8 books in a month. Thank you The Mortal Instruments.

5. Lost 18 pounds in 2013, just like the 18 I lost in 2012 and 2011. Check. Actually, as of two weeks ago (I have strict rules about weighing oneself during the holidays), I had lost 19. I am doing it slowly through good ole fashioned diet and exercise, but for those of you who are math challenged like me, that is 55 pounds in three years. I still have a bit to go, but this is a major victory for me in terms of taking better care of my body.

6. Redefine what "being a writer" means to me to mean having my stuff read instead of the nebulous idea of "making it". I will give myself a check minus here. I still wave my hand dismissively when asked about my writing, and offer some lame preemptive "its just a hobby." BUT, even though I sold a meager number of books this year, I did have more than 300 downloads of Max and Menna, and I will call that getting my stuff read.

Another thing I am proud of

I became a homeowner this year. It took a decade of trying and saving, but I finally achieved a very big dream, and it feels great!

Wrapping up the year, part 1

Thanks to everyone who took advantage of my birthday giveaway yesterday and downloaded Max and Menna. If you missed it, good news-- the free promotion goes through today, so there is still time to snatch it up for that new Kindle.

I've spent a lot of time this month  talking about books and authors I love. For the rest of the year, I am going to talk a bit about me. on January 1, 2013, I posted on my 2013 resolutions and then promptly forgot about it, as is my custom with resolutions. However, while digging through some old posts yesterday, I revisited this one and was rather surprised to discover that I actually did an OK job on meeting my goals. Thus, I want to talk a little bit about successes and failures, and share some links for the things that helped me along the way.

Resolution Review:

1. Make great yeast bread. SUCCESS! Well, I made good yeast bread. Given my recently discovered milk allergy/intolerance/whatever-its-called, I went with Almond Milk bread. I used this recipe as a basis, but then went all health nut and used whole wheat flour. It went very well with my new favorite beef stew recipe
2. Actually crochet an adult sized blanket. SUCCESS! I underestimated myself... I made FIVE. These are my two favorites. I am now that much closer to becoming the crazy crochet lady. YES!

 Another Thing I Am Proud Of:

On of the things I am worst at is letting myself be proud of my accomplishments. It's something I want to be better at next year. And so, in addition to celebrating the goals I met, I also want to celebrate the other good stuff.

So another thing I am proud of from this year... I became a community college teacher. This was something I just wanted to try, but have found myself loving. I don't ever see myself becoming the inspiration for the next Dead Poet's Society or anything, but I have learned a lot and love working with my students.

Stay tuned for more of my self-indulgent blogging :)

Resolutions and Rewards

In my life, 2013 holds much promise: one of my best friends is getting married, I will get a new nephew, and I will begin teaching as an adjunct, something I have always, inexplicably wanted to do. I am thankful for 2012, which truly was a banner year, and have a few resolutions in mind to help make 2013 even brighter:

1. Make a delicious yeast bread (for context,  read about my battle with yeast breads here)
2. Actually finish crocheting an adult-sized blanket
3. Go to at least 2 of the 11 states I haven't yet visited
4. Read 20 books
5. Lose 18 more lbs, in line with the 18 I lost in both 2011 and 2012 
6. Redefine what "being a writer" means to me to mean having my stuff read instead of the nebulous idea of "making it"
7. Finish writing my third novel
8. Relax more
9. Learn to celebrate my accomplishments as readily as I do my failures

To meet my goal on number 6, check back soon for news of another Max and Menna giveaway

In line with number 9, I feel the need to remind myself in a very public way of the good things I did in 2012. The highlights (again, in ascending order) are things I gloss over too readily, but really should focus more on:

1. I crocheted blankets for five new babies
2. I got bread to rise 
3. I lost 18 lbs and made taking care of my body a priority in my life in a way it has never been before 
4. I went to five states I've never visited before
5. I republished my first novel after my publishers closed shop
6. I got over the hurt of some well-intended but very poorly worded criticism about my writing from someone I trusted. It shook me for weeks, but learning to let it go will serve me well.
7. I published my second novel
8. I finished my Master's degree
9. I wrote 50,000 words of my third book

All in all, 2012 has served me well. Saying good bye is bitter sweet, but I wish 2013 welcome, and wish everyone the best of luck and a banner year!