May Goals

Can you believe it is May already? I for one am suffering from whip lash from this year going by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was starting the semester and now here I am, 22 days from graduating!
Can you believe it? 
Oh, and I designed these to mail out to my friends and family. For them to send me nice cards. And money. ;) 

This month, with my graduation fast approaching, I thought I would try and write down some goals. And write them here, so I am accountable. And so I don't lose whatever I wrote it down on. I feel like that happens to me a great deal.

May Goals

Blog more often, and with better content. With school winding down and graduation coming, I'd like to do a post on my actual portfolio that I am putting together for school. I wrote this post about what to include in your portfolio, but maybe I should show off my skills a bit. And get advice from you about what to put in it as well. I am always up for suggestions.
Drink more water. I've fallen off the soda wagon. I'm no where near my previous soda consumption, but the fact that I still drink it bothers me. And I need more water.
Be more active! Google tells me I only did 19 miles in April, which is 9 more than March, but still, I want to improve. Run from Zombies on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Walk a mile on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Every day do strength workout as well. This is going to be interesting, I hope to get our bench set up soon so I can do that as well. But there is plenty I can do without it. Like push ups. And planks. Try and go swimming as well.
Lose 10 lbs. by tracking calories in MyFitnessPal (with the right kind of calories) and working out and drinking water. 
Get Dakota's invites done and convince him to let me take pictures of him. - Dakota is graduating as well. The invites should be easy. But convincing him to let me take pictures? Probably the hardest goal I have this month.  And June. Don't even get me started on June yet. (Hint: There involves a vacation with my in laws to the happiest place on earth, and a magical day with my Abigail!) But I have to get through May first.

6 goals is do-able, right? I'm kinda sorta nervous.

I'm so excited for May. I will officially have my AS degree in less than a month?

Link Up with The Monthly Goals Link Up and stay accountable!

2012 in Review, and Looking Forward

Happy New Year, Loves! For me, 2012 was a great year. But I am hoping, that with a few tweaks, that 2013 will be even better.

Here are some highlights of 2012:

I visited Nana for my 21st birthday and got some great pictures while she wasn't paying attention. I visited Stillwater, New York and got some great pictures of my brother and Julia. I explained the difference between flat black and rich black. I wrote a letter to our future children. I gave you my opinion on what to include in a good design portfolio. I shared how I cheat at Project Life. My brother announced his engagement on his leave. I started Freebie Friday off with a storyboard template. I opened my Etsy Shop. I finally put up my gallery wall and showed you how I did it. Overall, in 2012, I got up to 56 followers on my blog. I added sponsors. I decided what the focus of my blog was going to be, and I reevaluate it all the time. I am proud of where I have been, and am very excited about where I am going.

Looking Ahead to 2013

This year, instead of resolutions, I am going to have goals. Because to me, and let me know if you disagree, resolutions are meant to be broken. Once you break them, you give up. For goals, if you fall of the wagon, you get back on and keep trying. At least, that's how I psych myself into changing things. Nothing is perfect in this world, and I know that I am no where close. But I keep trying. So what are my goals for 2013?

BLOG

1. Post more often. 2. Post more meaningful content. 3. Guest post on other blogs.  4. Contribute to other blogs.

SHOP

1. Offer Design services. 2. Create more diverse printables.  3. Create clip art to sell.

PERSONAL

1.Make a quilt.
2.Be a better girlfriend to Dakota.
3.Be a better best friend to Abigail.
4.Eat cleaner. (Eat foods as close to their natural state as possible)
5.Lose weight.
6.Continue not drinking soda.
7.Manage time more effectively.
8.Graduate college.

There are probably more that I can't think of right now, but 2012 was a great year. I hope 2013 will be even better!

Happy New Year, Loves!

2012 in Pictures

So here we are, at the end of 2012. Did you think we would make it? Did you believe in the Mayan Apocalypse? Not me. I had my doubts. And we are still here! :)

Since this is my first year blogging, I decided to start a tradition for New Year's. I will do a review in pictures.  Some of them are from my DSLR, some are from my phone. Next year, I will try and get more from my DSLR.

Join in on the fun with Ashley!

Me!
I am most proud of finding my voice not only here on the blog but in real life. And also for having the courage to open my store and work for myself.

I Love You
Dakota, you are my everything. Thank you for being my better half for the past 4 years.



Still Laughing…
Loki has a fascination with bags. No matter if it is plastic or paper, or even if it is a box, he has to get in it.
This particular time happened to come at a time where he was already crazy. He ended up tearing the bag apart.



Winter Wonderland
We don't get snow here (stupid California!) but this picture is still pretty winter-y. Is it bad I already miss Christmas?



Birthday
For my 21st birthday, Dakota brought this home for me. In case you are wondering, my birthday is the 21st of February, so I usually get combined gifts with Valentine's Day. This was one of my favorite presents ever.



Friends
Abigail is the best friend I could ever ask for. And plus, Dakota said I had to put her picture up here once in a while if I am going to show his picture. :)

I Was Inspired… 
Watching Nana do her artwork. Crazy woman. Sitting on the floor and what not.



Spring Fever
In 2012, April showers brought some pretty flowers.

Travel or Vacation
I'm glad that I got to go back up to the mountains with Dakota this year. I love the photography opportunities. As well as spending time with my love, away from technology and just spending time with him.



Summer Days
I love when our tree grows back every year. It is the sign that warm weather is coming.



A Day In My Life
Computer screens, O&Ms, oh my.



All Smiles
Two of my favorite people. Smiling and laughing, as usual.

Autumn Harvest
You can tell it is fall when our tree is trimmed. It looks so pitiful.



Family or Home
When I am home, Loki is usually with me. He is incredibly strange. Cats aren't usually so dependent.

Celebrate!
Went to a beautiful wedding with Abigail. Sat next to one of my favorite coworkers. There was much fun to be had.

Let’s Do It Again…
Can we go to the mountains again?



I Miss You
It is almost unexplainable how much I miss these two. It's been over ten years since I've seen either. I miss you guys so much.



Beautiful
I love this thing. I need to figure out how to use it.

Dress Up
I was so happy to see Julia graduate. She left for New York shortly thereafter. But she is back with us now!



Holidays
One of my favorite decorations from Christmas.



My Favorite
Isn't he the cutest kitten ever? I miss when he would let me just take pictures of him. And just lay there. Now he knows when I pull the camera out and he stops being crazy. Silly cat.

Don’t Ever Change
Loki, you are weird. And crazy. But you certainly make our life interesting.

Just Because…So There!
How could I not share this guy?

Hopes and Dreams
Next year, I want to take more photos like this. I want to go out with the intention of taking amazing pictures. I want to take pictures that I will hang on my wall. I am thinking of doing a 365, or even a Project 52. I may do Project 52, just so that I know I will finish. :)

But my goal is to further my craft. Photography, design, and blogging.

I hope you all have a GREAT New Year's Eve! I will try and be back tomorrow with some of my resolutions and goals for next year.