Closing Out the Month

Okay, it’s cliché, but I can’t believe January is almost over. Let’s check in on my goals for the month. Grab  your pillow and get comfortable, because there’s a very good chance you will fall asleep.

Goal 1: Yarn

I have not bought any yarn this month. I bought accoutrements, but no yarn. Okay, that’s not 100% true. I bought yarn for Yarnkettle from knit picks so my order would get free shipping. The yarn stayed in the box, hidden with my knitting books, and then went directly to Yarnkettle where she paid me for the yarn. Wow, when I read that back, that seems extreme–I mean, it sounds like I hid the box lest I gaze upon the yarny goodness and run out to buy more, more, more! Really I was simply trying to get it out of the way. No, really.

I finished Skew, but sadly that yarn was never put in my stash so stash busting for the month is at 0. I am almost done with a full skein of both colors for the Husband’s scarf so maybe by the end of the evening I’ll be onto another skein. Sadly, that doesn’t remove stash items from Ravelry because there’s a couple more skeins of that yarn left.

I do think I need a secondary project since the scarf requires so much focus and I’m going to need some breaks. I’m thinking either a felted purse, a cowl, or a shawlette. Oh, maybe all 3! Apparently, I’m starting to revert back to an ADHD knitter. What are your favorite patterns for those items?

Goal 2: Exercise Consistently

I started off very good this month, hitting the gym 5-6 days a week which is what I want. Then I got sick and exercised like 3 times in 2 weeks. However, I’m very happy with my exercise overall for 2012. Sometimes illness gets in the way and you just need to stop and rest. It doesn’t make you a bad person nor does it make you lazy, worthless, or *insert the word you use in your head here (you know the word you use when you miss a goal)* I did not feel guilty for missing most of the two weeks and you shouldn’t either if it happens to you. We  simply pick ourselves back up and start again. No harm no foul. February will be better. Heck, today will be better and that’s the most important day.

Wow, I must be tired because that was all sugary and cheerleader-y. Rah rah!

Goal 3: Post at least once a week

I met this one, hopefully to my lovely readers’ delight. I even got multiple entries in a week. Woo-hoo! I think of the 3 goals, this is the hardest. I’m a rather dull person and slow knitter, so there’s not too much to write about. In an effort to start building content, ask me something you want to know. It can be knitting-related or life-related. I don’t promise to answer every question, but I’ll answer some. Hopefully. Either leave a comment or ask at Formspring.

So that’s it for January! Not a bad month. Send me your questions and any patterns you recommend. If you don’t, then I may have to buy yarn just so I have something to write about and then it’ll be all angsty with the “why did I buy yarn!” and I’ll have to write bad poetry or something and you will regret it.

Goal Check: Week 1

I’ve decided to add a third goal to my 2012 list. For those who have no memory or just skim what I write (because really, I do go on, don’t I?), my goals for 2012 are more consistent exercise (because I was less than stellar) and basically stash bust this year (get through the yarn I own and don’t buy yarn unless I have a project in mind).

After reading that paragraph, one might think my third goal should be to use less parenthesis, but it’s actually to try to post at least once a week in my blog. I tend to be very inconsistent. I’ll have tons to say, but then go quiet for months. That’s no way to treat my blog. It’s like I’m only interested in it when I have no one else to write on. There’s a word for that, but I can’t remember it and am too tired to look it up.

While I’m on goals, let’s run a highlight on how I’m doing with my 2012 goals. This probably won’t be a weekly post. Although it would help fulfill my newest addition, I suspect it would generally be more boring than not.

Goal 1: Less Yarn!!!!

I’ve been knitting away on my Skew socks and the Husband’s scarf. I have finished cataloging every usable yarn in my stash. That is, everything not in my bag of “What the Heck is This and Why do I have Only 3 Yards of it” yarn that I’m afraid to throw out, but don’t know if it’s worth keeping. When I started cataloging, I had 70 items. I’m now at 67. I’m getting there, right? I do have a lot of yarn, but to be fair about 14 items were gifts and at least 20 are project leftovers. That’s over half!!! Why yes, I am rationalizing.

Goal 2: More Consistent Exercise

6 of 7 days with workouts. I struggled with a few because I’ve been feeling like crap, but, unlike last year, I made myself go. Yay!! I also started a profile at active.com to track my workouts. I just need to do something so I can give myself accountability when I my back hurts or I’m tired or I have too much work to do whine whine whine.

Goal 3: Blog at least once a week

Score!

Goal kiss!

Happy 2012

I’m so tired. I did weights and ran today, and it’s just hitting me hard. While I did push and run a 5k in 30:06 with about 30 seconds of walking to fix my iPod, I’m most likely tired because I’ve been very inconsistent with exercise lately. Actually, through most of 2011. I let too many things get in the way–work, baby, illness, laziness–and I just kept putting it off. I have too much cholesterol and cancer in my family to do that, so I’ve decided that I will work to be more consistent with exercise this year.

With that decree out there, I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions. I do admit to making goals at the start of the new year, so I guess while I say I’m not a fan of resolutions, I do do them. At least I try to make them realistic. Last year I decided I wasn’t going to buy any yarn in 2011, unless I had a specific project in mind and no yarn in the stash. I met that goal with flying colors. I also planned to get my photography in a show. Sadly, I did not have time to build a strong portfolio, and I realized that I don’t think my work is that good. You can’t pimp yourself if you think you’re sub-par. On a positive note, I did get my work in a show at the Y. That’s something.

So if I’m setting goals and consistent exercise is one, I will continue my yarn limitations. I’m at 51yarn items on Ravelry (down from 53!!!) , but I still have more to add in. And the Husband bought Cookie A’s 2012 sock club so I’m getting 6 skeins throughout the year. I need to spend 2012 stash busting, cataloging the last of my yarn yarn, and knitting knitting knitting! Even if it drives me crazy, which it will. The Husband’s scarf will slow me down, but it will be so pretty when it’s done.

2012 is going to be a crazy year. Now through June, work will be insane. We’ll be rolling out new designs, a new content management system, and new apps. Plus I’ll be taking a class and doing homework for a grade. Do we all remember how crazy I went in my sweater class last year and there was no grade? Yeah, I’m doomed. At least I only have 2 goals to contend with and my class on exercise science may help with my fitness goals.

Okay, my chai is kicking in. Time to do some dishes. What are your resolutions this year?