First, A Look Back

Before plunging straight into the new year ahead, I want to take a look back at the successes of the past year and maybe create a platform to build upon going into 2016.

I've gotten my Etsy shop, the Blueberry Loft, stocked and selling. It did quite a bit better than I had imagined it would--who knew? So my plan is to create more inventory and hopefully continue this endeavor as the year goes on.

I finally reached and surpassed my fifty pound weight loss goal and have lost sixty pounds total. I made it through the holidays without any gains and am looking forward to fitting into a size two later this year!

I successfully ran my first 10k and loved it! It was a gorgeous fall morning, the weather was cool and overcast with a slight drizzle--perfect for a good run. I was very happy with my time which was much better than I'd anticipated: 1:05:15, and this year plan to PR that in each of the two 10k's I want to run. I've been doing a lot of speed work since racing season ended and hope to get my pace up a good bit this year. Next year I'll be moving into a new age bracket and being on the young end of it, I plan to contend for a win!

I rowed in several water races and managed a first place win in the Slocum River Regatta Challenge with the team Lorelei--wins are always gratifying and encouraging to keep on at what you're doing! Rowing is so much fun and great exercise, winning a good race is like icing on the cake!

I've also finally started drawing again, a long lost passion that, for the life of me, I can't imagine why I ever gave it up! My favorite of the year was a portrait of our grandpuppy, Monticore:

This was given as a Christmas gift to Ashlee and Kyle. I'm working my way through several drawing books and had signed up for a drawing class at our local Voc-Tech but it was sadly cancelled due to personal reasons for the teacher. I'm hoping they'll reoffer the class for spring, but in the meantime, I'll just keep practicing!

So, that's the best of the best of 2015. I'm definitely looking forward to what 2016 holds in store for us. It's going to be a good, good year!

2016 Happy New Year!

A new year, a new blog. I've kind of gotten away from blogging this past year in an effort to cut back on how much time I was spending on the computer. Social media, mindless matching games, and other online endeavors sucked up my day and I never managed to get anything outside of barely skimming through the household chores accomplished. So I had to go a little cold turkey--dropped my blog and Facebook, packed the laptop away after a quick morning perusal of email, calorie counting, and a zip through Pinterest--and amazingly I found time for the things I actually wanted to do every day!

So why am I starting back? I still waste a good half hour playing a PC game every morning that I can easily drop and use that time more productively. I've signed up for a couple online challenges this year that I'd like to actually be able to link up blog posts and share my work again. And I've found blogging can be a helpful accountability tool as well. So, I'm back to sharing and blogging--for now. If I find myself spending too much time at it, it may just go back to the chopping block. I did learn to set some priorities in 2015 and I plan to stick with it.

And so to begin this new blog as we embark on another new year, I thought I'd share my list of goals and my One Word for 2016:

Goals 2016

• Draw at least five days a week
• Expand offerings on Etsy
• Work towards commissions (get my work out there!)
• Calendar drawings
• Run the New Bedford Half Marathon
• PR my 10k time
• Reach race pace of 9:35/mi
• Read 25 books

Road Races for 2016

• March-New Bedford Half Marathon
• April-South Coast CARE 5k
• June-Fairhaven Father's Day 10k
• July-Mattapoisett 5 mile; Fisherman's Tribute Fund 5k
• Sept-Acushnet 4.1 mile; Fort Phoenix 5k
• October-Spooky Spooner 10k

 

My One Word for 2016 is Commit.

 

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,

and He will establish your plans.

Proverbs 16:3

 

commit:  

1. to give in trust or charge; consign.

2. to consign for preservation

3. to pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.)

4. to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance; pledge: to commit oneself to a promise; to be committed to a course of action.

5. to entrust, especially for safekeeping; commend

6. to do; perform; perpetrate

 

I come up with lots of ideas and plans, grand schemes and wild dreams--but I seem to have trouble with following through any of them to completion. This year I intend to commit to the work, and to commit that work to God--in all I do: art, health, family, relationships. Trust in Him to lead me and help see me through. And committing it all here is my first step of accountability as well.

 

I have lots on board this year, I hope you'll stick around and see how it all unfolds with me! For now, have I wish you a happy, healthy and productive new year! Thanks so much for stopping by!