Resolutions 2024

My family has kept resolutions since the 1980s. Each year, we mark them down, work on them, and then discuss whether we've kept them or not. I do a check-in on how I'm doing every two months. My math sucks, and last year's new scoring was wonky, so here's the deal for this year. 

Each two-month check-in receives a score between 0 (meaning nothing was worked on) - 2 (meaning both months were worked on) for a completion total at the end of the year of 

Here are the things I resolve to complete:

• Get our will done - I know, I know. This should have been done years ago. My reasoning was superstitious, and now I know I'm an idiot. My brother got his done last year. It's our turn now. Seriously!

• Create my author website - This is my year of getting a book finished and ready for publication. No more excuses. No more perfection. To get that off the ground, the website needs to be completed.

• Record 7500 steps five times a week and drink more water - I have to get into shape for a wedding. My body shames me. It's up to me.

• Stay in touch with my nieces and nephews - I enjoy these "kids." I want to have a better relationship with them whether they want it or not. They did give me their addresses though, so maybe I'm not so far off in left field.

• Once a month, I will work on an old resolution I never completed. - Because I have things that need to be completed and maybe this will help me?

• To face fears - I have many. This year I'm knocking them down.

• Visit Maya and Jay in Boston - enjoy fabulous dinners and amazing evenings plus day trips to the North Shore…these resolutions are on a Google Doc for the entire family to use. Most of us had someone add this last resolution to our list. Most of us are keeping it. Look out Maya, Jay, and Boston!

Resolution 2023 check

I came. I conquered. I lapsed. I failed. Same old, same old. Let's check in.

• Paint my home space - My ceilings haven't been painted since we first moved in. My living room and my hallway need an overhaul. My bedroom could use it too, but that isn't as important as the first two. -  COMPLETED 

• Entice Tom to build my shelves to display my playing card collection - I collect playing cards. I need somewhere to display them, and Tom drew out plans for what I found on Etsy. He claims he can knock it out, "don't waste your money." Once I get the paint done, this comes next. - He got it hung several days before the end of the year -  COMPLETED  

• Travel - Can't let those Wyndham points go to waste. - COMPLETED  

• Lower my cholesterol - I did lower it. Then it went back up. But technically...COMPLETED  

• Exercise/Healthy eating habits - I don't think I can say this was a yearly completed goal.

Total - 4 completions out of 5! I think that's one of the best years yet!

Anyone else do this well? Drop me a comment and let me know!

Resolution 2023 - ten month check

 It's check-in time. One point a month for each resolution I've worked on. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I'll have 12 for completion. A score of 2 means I worked on it each month. 

• Paint my home space - My ceilings haven't been painted since we first moved in. My living room and my hallway need an overhaul. My bedroom could use it too, but that isn't as important as the first two. -  COMPLETED Score - 2 

• Entice Tom to build my shelves to display my playing card collection - I collect playing cards. I need somewhere to display them, and Tom drew out plans for what I found on Etsy. He claims he can knock it out, "don't waste your money." Once I get the paint done, this comes next. -  Some are stained, but none are hung, but that wasn't the resolution, was it? COMPLETED  Score - 2 

• Travel - Can't let those Wyndham points go to waste. - Yes! Traveled! Orlando and Vermont - Score - 2 

• Lower my cholesterol - I retake it in May or June - I did lower it. It still needs to be lowered further, and I will retake it again in November, but technically, completed. Score - 2

• Exercise/Healthy eating habits - This goes with the above, but I do need to shed some weight for my own mental health, not to mention the flip side of the coin. - A bit here, a bit there - got back to the gym - Score - 2

• Catch up on my blog - Writing has kept me from this. My readers are complaining. I need to catch up! - YES! I see the finish line! - Score 2

Total - 12 of 12 - YES! A great two months of working hard.

Resolutions 2023 - eight month check

It's check-in time. One point a month for each resolution I've worked on. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I'll have 12 for completion. A score of 2 means I worked on it each month. 

• Paint my home space - My ceilings haven't been painted since we first moved in. My living room and my hallway need an overhaul. My bedroom could use it too, but that isn't as important as the first two. -  COMPLETED Score - 2

• Entice Tom to build my shelves to display my playing card collection - I collect playing cards. I need somewhere to display them, and Tom drew out plans for what I found on Etsy. He claims he can knock it out, "don't waste your money." Once I get the paint done, this comes next. -  I'm not sure how much enticing I did, but he has built them! They still need to be stained and hung, but technically, this job is complete! - COMPLETED Score - 2 

• Travel - Can't let those Wyndham points go to waste. - Too much happened this summer for me to get away. But my kids did.  - Score - 0 

• Lower my cholesterol - I retake it in May or June - Yes! I did it! But I'm keeping this resolution open since the bad is still high. I plan to retake it again by the end of the year. Still, technically, it is completed. Score - 2

• Exercise/Healthy eating habits - This goes with the above, but I do need to shed some weight for my own mental health, not to mention the flip side of the coin. - A bit here, a bit there - Exercised this summer in the pool - Score - 1

• Catch up on my blog - Writing has kept me from this. My readers are complaining. I need to catch up! - I am going to come home big here at the end! - Score 1

Total - 8 out of 12 - But two (and a half) completed!

Resolutions 2023 - six month check

It's check-in time. One point a month for each resolution I've worked on. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I'll have 12 for completion. 

• Paint my home space - My ceilings haven't been painted since we moved in. My living room and my hallway need an overhaul. My bedroom could use it too, but that isn't as important as the first two. -  COMPLETED Score 2

• Entice Tom to build my shelves to display my playing card collection - I collect playing cards. I need somewhere to display them, and Tom drew plans for what I found on Etsy. He claims he can knock it out, "Don't waste your money." Once I get the paint done, this comes next. -  I mentioned it. Does that count? - Score - 0 

• Travel - Can't let those Wyndham points go to waste. - I went to a writer's conference in May and traveled to several states in June - Score - 2 

• Lower my cholesterol - I retake it in May or June. - Okay, so I missed my 6-month check-in, and although I did hike the Smoky Mnts, I also drank that entire week, so I put off the check. - Score 1

• Exercise/Healthy eating habits - This goes with the above, but I do need to shed some weight for my own mental health, not to mention the flip side of the coin. - A bit here, a bit there - Score - 1

• Catch up on my blog - Writing has kept me from this. My readers are complaining. I need to catch up! - Ugh. No. - Score - 0

Total - Total 6 out of 12 w/one completed - I stayed the same. I didn't go backward. I'll take it.

Resolutions 2023 - four month check

It's check-in time. I've changed my scoring to 0-2 for each month. Hopefully, by the end of the year, I'll have a total of 12 for completion. A score of 2 means I worked on it each month. 

Personal Goals:

• Paint my home space - My ceilings haven't been painted since we first moved in. My living room and my hallway need an overhaul. My bedroom could use it too, but that isn't as important as the first two. - COMPLETED - Bam! Done! Finished. Score: 2

• Entice Tom to build my shelves to display my playing card collection - I collect playing cards. I need somewhere to display them, and Tom drew out plans for what I found on Etsy. He claims he can knock it out, "don't waste your money." Once I get the paint done, this comes next. - He isn't easy to convince. - Score - 0

• Travel - Can't let those Wyndham points go to waste. - I didn't travel, but it's coming! Score - 0

• Lower my cholesterol - I retake it in May or June. - I am doing well. Score 2

• Exercise/Healthy eating habits - This goes with the above, but I do need to shed some weight for my own mental health, not to mention the flip side of the coin. - Doing well with the exercise. Still eating better. - Score - 2

• Catch up on my blog - Writing has kept me from this. My readers are complaining. I need to catch up! - Sort of - Score 1

Total - Total 7 out of 12 - But I've completed a task!

Painting house interior 2023

 Tech guy approached the topic of our To-Do List this week. None of which included the item I've talked about for several months and put as one of my resolutions- painting my living area.

After the house purchase, we initially painted the living area white with a wallpaper border. We wallpapered in the alcove (dining room) beyond it. I loved it. I'd nurse my kiddos, look about, and think how clean, crisp, and chic it looked. I didn't, and still don't, have a lot of faith in my decorating skills. And this was way before we could search online for ideas. But somehow, I'd done it.

Old wallpapered dining room

In 2004, and I know this via pictures because it was BTB (before the blog), I had a "decorator" friend help me redo the area while tech guy was out of town. We started by choosing fabric for a decorative window treatment made by my MIL and FIL. From there, we took colors from the material and painted. Why I allowed yellow and red, my least two favorite colors, is beyond me. But I did.

Yellow area with red accent wall

Window treatment fabric

I had tons of painting help from my gal pals. The red went on two walls as an accent (used as a backdrop in all Halloween photos) and in the foyer, where we sponge-painted gold blobs. We also used the same gold to paint my picture frames. We didn't touch the ceiling. 

Halloween photos against the red wall

It's been that way for almost twenty years. I needed a change. And I wanted the ceilings painted because we missed too many spots in our first go-around.

Tech guy argued, citing obstacles that I shot down. Eventually, he saw my side and had me pick a painting date over a weekend. Oleg's family signed up to help. I went to the paint store to choose colors.

With the help of numerous decorating sites, my first thought was gray. My family made faces, so I agreed to give the accent walls something cheerful. It didn't go well.

I suffered. I went to multiple paint stores, and then I remembered how my friend had made me take colors from the material for my window treatment. Madison and I set off one evening after dinner to look at fabrics. We both found one we agreed upon, and I purchased the last yard. 

Taking a periwinkle color from one of the flowers as my accent wall, tech guy and I headed to Lowe's. The two ladies in the paint department steered me away from gray. I got annoyed. Dammit, I wanted gray!

So, they pulled up colors on the computer and showed me how the colors that make gray are not in periwinkle. Gulp. They chose my colors, and because I'm unsure of myself, I went with the experts, forgetting how I did that last time. Remember yellow and red? 

But I did insist on bringing home samples to slather onto the walls.

Then, using the non-accent sample, we painted the hallway. I LOVED it! I purchased both colors. Then, I painted the foyer myself. It took me all day, but that night I danced because I LOVED it!

Painting weekend began at nine. I assigned tasks from the ceiling to edging to around the picture hangers (which I wanted right back up afterward), etc. 

Before

After

There were six painters, and at one point, Oleg appeared and jumped in. We worked with a lunch and dinner break until eleven that night, but we got it all done, including returning furniture and pictures to their spots.

Before with gold frames

After with new frames

The last area, turned into our dining room years ago, was painted a few days later. It took two full days. I had help at the end from my friend SueG.

Before

After

Then, I reupholstered the window treatment and my dining chairs. I bought new rugs and picture frames. Oleg's family purchased pillows, flowers, a blanket, and a colorful vase for my china cabinet. 

Everyone LOVES it. My living area is lighter and brighter. It's cheerful and happy. Ten out of ten. I returned to Lowe's and let the paint ladies know they had done a superb job. They were so right. They were thrilled.

Check off a resolution!

Resolution 2023 - two month check-in

How have two months gone by already? No matter, it's check-in time. Remember, I'm changing my scoring between 0-2, adding to each month for a total of 12 for each resolution. 

Personal Goals:

• Paint my home space - My ceilings haven't been painted since we first moved in. My living room and my hallway need an overhaul. My bedroom could use it too, but that isn't as important as the first two. - There has not been any painting, but I have visited two paint stores, gotten millions of paint samples, discussed painting questions with said experts, searched the database for fabric samples, and scheduled the paint day. So, BAM! Working on it. Score: 2

• Entice Tom to build my shelves to display my playing card collection - I collect playing cards. I need somewhere to display them, and Tom drew out plans for what I found on Etsy. He claims he can knock it out, "don't waste your money." Once I get the paint done, this comes next. - The only thing I've enticed Tom to do is get rid of the almost 30-year-old couch in the Steelers room and allow me to paint the living room. I have to be gentle with him. I have, however, gone through the cards and counted them. Score - 1

• Travel - Can't let those Wyndham points go to waste. - I didn't travel, but I've made some arrangements, which counts. Score - 1

• Lower my cholesterol - I retake it in May or June. - I don't get tested until later in the year, but I did count calories in January and lost five pounds. I have started back to the gym. I am eating oatmeal. Bam! Score 2

• Exercise/Healthy eating habits - This goes with the above, but I do need to shed some weight for my own mental health, not to mention the flip side of the coin. I lost five pounds, and I started back to the gym. Score - 2

• Catch up on my blog - Writing has kept me from this. My readers are complaining. I need to catch up! - Oops! - Score - 0

Total - 8 out of 12 - Look at me go!