New Year, New Goals

Well, I may be a little late in the posting of our New Year's resolutions. Things have just been crazy around here, with Michael and I being sick for over a week and the preparations for our last semester of school. Seriously though, being sick during the last week of Christmas break was a serious bummer. All we did when we were not working or at church was lie in bed, watch movies, and blow our noses while being drugged up on cold medicine. We went through an entire box of tissues!!!

But, we did get to spend some quality time with each other, which was wonderful. Snuggling is pretty much one of our favorite activities ;)

During the break, we've been thinking about goals for the year of 2011, planning and hoping for the wonderful things to come in the new year! We have lots of ideas and, in an attempt to be more responsible in regards to them, I will be sharing them here on the blog. They always say that you NEED to write your goals down, or else they're not likely to be accomplished. So, you are all my witnesses and will help me make sure to get things done. Here we go!

• Graduate from USU

This is for both me and Michael. He'll complete his Masters in Management Information Systems, and I'll complete my Double Bachelor's in Vocal Performance and Music Therapy in May. Oh, and we must have a huge blowout of a party to celebrate!

• Find and start my Music Therapy Internship

Still searching for a location on this one, but I will make a final decision by the end of the semester, that is for sure. Just have to choose what is more likely, geriatrics, which I love, or finding a location that works with Trichotillomania (kinda hard). I'd be so incredibly passionate about the latter, so let's hope I can find something in that area.

• Find and start a new REAL job

This goal is more for Michael than for myself. He just has to locate one in the area of my internship, which is only for 6 months, then we might stay in that area or move around. Up in the air as of now, but it will become a reality this year. Can't wait for a nice, "larger" income again!

• Run a 5k

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a great runner, my endurance kinda stinks and I just don't LOVE it. My goal is to make a goal of training for a 5k and actually run it. This may seem like nothing to those of you who run marathons and triathlons, but it's pretty big for me. Maybe I will enjoy the 5k so much that I'll run 2 or even attempt a 10k?!? See, I struggle with keeping myself motivated, so I really think I would benefit from a personal trainer, which I hope to acquire once we're graduated and settled. But for now, just attending the gym 4 times a week and increasing my endurance in order to reach my 5k goal is good enough for me!

• Read the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY

It's too easy to not read the scriptures everyday. Life gets busy and then Michael and I find ourselves just crashing at night and exhausted in the mornings that we don't make time for the scriptures. This year is going to change that. We have to make habits now, so when life gets even more hectic in the coming years, we have no trouble doing what is important. Plus, our days are just SO much better when we read the scriptures and talk with our Heavenly Father.

• Use my new sewing machine to create some amazing things

I have lots of mending to do, but I really want to take all my old t-shirts from high school and such, and make them into a quilt. I've already talked to Michael's mother about this and she thinks that it's a great idea. I'm so glad she knows how to sew and quilt, and is willing to help me. It'll be nice to have all my t-shirts in one, functional, and cozy location!

• Practice my piping skills

I now have a 53-piece cake decorating set and I really want to perfect my piping and decorating skills. I feel like I need to have this skill in order to create amazing desserts for my friends and family. I want my childrens' birthday cakes and cupcakes to be cute and fun and this is a goal to help me get there. Plus, I love to cook and bake. I always want and need to be increasing my skills. It just makes me happy!

• Start paying off student loans

Not much to say, other than as soon as we are graduated, the payments are beginning and we have a goal to have them payed off within 3 years after graduation. We will still live very frugally and focus on eliminating our only debt.

• Date nights once-a-week

With work and school being crazy last semester, we slacked in this area. It's so important for us to spend time together, outside of the home. We're too comfortable lounging around and just watching movies. We want to make the effort to still "date" each other as we've been counseled. This gives us the excuse to get all "gussied" up and continue building our relationship. Plus, we get to come up with unique, fun, and cheap ideas for dates. We love it.

• Attend the temple once-a-month

We used to go to our ward temple night once a month when we lived in Layton, and ever since moving back to Logan, we've been unable to due to work and school schedule conflicts, etc. That means that we need to make the effort to attend just the two of us. We are so much happier and closer to each other when we serve the Lord and others in the temple. No matter where we end up living, we will attend the temple once-a-month together this year!

• Drink more water

Basic and simple. Something we both need to do. Our skin and bodies will thank us.

• Go to bed by 10 p.m. on weeknights

We need to get more sleep. We are both much nicer and kinder to one another when we get enough rest. Usually we got to bed around 11 or so, and there is no good reason for being up so late. Michael and I are making an effort to get ready for bed at 9:30 p.m. so we can be in bed by 10 p.m. and asleep soon after. Trust me, it makes a HUGE difference in our days.

• Continue to be silly and laugh everyday

That's not too hard for us to do. We just LOVE each other so much and both have such silly dispositions that we make each other laugh ALL the time. We play with each other everyday and I'm sure we'll keep doing that for the rest of our lives.

These are most of our goals for this year of 2011. Wish us luck that we can accomplish them and stay sane in the process!