Onward in 2014

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Just like – well, everyone – I’ve been looking at the last year and thinking about whether or not I met my goals for 2013. Considering that many of them are pretty much the same things I said I wanted to do now that school is over… I guess that’s a ‘meh’ if I have to grade myself.

I said I wanted to work on my entryway to make it feel more welcoming and relaxing when I step through the door. I think the new paint job on the stairs and the new wall color definitely did that.

I said I wanted to get the kitchen together, and I at least made a lot of progress on that. I still have more yet to do before I’m 100% finished, but painted cabinets, a new countertop, and new sink mean I’m more than halfway to my goal.

I also said I wanted to “turn the corner” in terms of feeling like there’s more finished on this house than there is still yet to do. Sometimes I feel like that’s true; other times I can only see what’s yet to be done. So maybe I need to just work on changing my perspective.

And all of the other goals? They’re rolling over into 2014 unfinished. But, nothing like a new year to rededicate my focus and start working on those, along with setting a few new ones that can be worked in. Much like last year, my goals aren’t being separated between house and life. I’m combining the two:  my house, the projects I do in it, and my life should all be in balance, and I can’t justify my reasoning for why these are my goals if I don’t look a the whole picture.

More Dueling DIY

I mentioned it back on this post, but one of the reasons I was successful with the stair makeover was because I had plenty of motivation to rely on week after week with Dueling DIY. It was fun and my competitive nature pushed me along. So once the kitchen is back to normal, I’m going to do another Dueling DIY with my dining room. I’ve received a few emails from other bloggers wanting to possibly join me as my competition, so hopefully we can get things on their way and have another fun weekly posting to show you progress all over the blogosphere (for those that have emailed, I haven’t yet responded – if you want to be considered as the Dueling DIY co-host, please email me).

More Tools and Tutorials

I had a lot of fun learning to use some new tools this year. And that almost always means more tutorials too. So it stands to reason that without 30 hours of school per week taking up my attention, there are more opportunities for fun projects. Like making room in my garage for all of my new tools.

More Refreshed

I’ve been adjusting to post-school life, and one thing is clear:  I am sick of catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror and feeling like I no longer look happy and awake. I can thank two years of all classrooms and no sunlight for that one. I feel frumpy. And I’m unhappy about that. So I’ve already gone out and bought new hair products. And received my favorite moisturizer and eye cream this Christmas. And I’ve been loving the change of pace of paying myself just a smidge more attention in the beauty department. For me, taking a little time out to pamper myself every once in a while, even if it doesn’t really do anything other than make me feel a little prettier, just makes me feel more confident and positive. It may not make a difference immediately, but the cumulative results of feeling less stressed (and looking less stressed) will probably be worth it.

“COMPLETE”

This is a thought I’m happy to bring into 2014. I completed a two-year MBA program by the end of 2013 and I’m hungry to complete more this coming year. I’m even choosing it as my “word of the year” (which I’ve never tried before) because I want it in so many different ways:

• Kitchen completed, dining room completed, laundry room completed, and my first party in this house with all of the new changes would seem juuuuust right.
• Workin’ on my fitness (a la Fergie Ferg). Feeling more powerful and content like I did when I was taking better care of myself last year. The sense that I am enough to myself and to others – and allowing that to bring more positive change.
• I’d really like to fall in love again, and it’s been a long time. I’ve taken the time to figure out what I want, and I’m ready to welcome more wholeness in that regard (if that’s even the right way to phrase it). I still want to feel complete on my own, but sharing my life with another person, planning our future, and feeling complete by addition would be a happy new change as well.
• I also want to feel more complete in terms of my career. School gave me the skills and confidence to launch a business of my own; perhaps 2014 will be my year to take on more DIY challenges in a few new ways (some of which I’m keeping under wraps for now). Crossing my fingers on this one!

My Thanks

Lastly, I want to thank all of you who have been reading along this past year. Sticking with me through school and exhaustion and being incredibly supportive and patient (much more than I probably deserve). This year is going to be a real chance to refocus on why I began the blog in the first place (to document all of the house progress with a sprinkling of personal posts here and there), so I hope you’re willing to stop by every once in a while to see how things are going. I’ll even dangle new photos of the kitchen in front of you over the next few weeks as a bribe ;)

That seems like plenty for a single year, don’t you think? Even if I don’t accomplish all of them or if they take a while to come to fruition, I’m pretty damn content with where things are heading. I’m ready for more challenges and more adventures. So let’s do this.

What are your goals for 2014? Anyone out there doing the whole “word of the year” thing for the first time?