Week 5: Photo-A-Day

Here's the rest of my photo-a-days from January. I finished the whole month! Woohoo!

January 29

January 30

January 31

I love the last one of me and Buster Boy. He can be such a sweetie. :)

For February, I'm switching it up! I found through instagram (follow me if you want - mykane) there are a ton of people doing the same thing. So cool. I also found this little list, which I very much appreciate. I think it will help me stay on track and think of ideas of photos to take, especially during busy season when my creativity is hurting. Even through January, it was getting hard to think of new things to take pics of besides my dear Buster. Haha. So here's the list I'm following (thanks to @fatmumslim!).

I'll probably be combining into one post at the end of each month to make it easier. Will you join me? Even if you're a little late to the party, that's ok! 

Week 4: Photo-A-Day

January 22

January 23

January 24

January 25

January 26

January 27

January 28

Week Three: Photo-A-Day

Another week gone by... that means we are almost done with January... which means we are on the verge of tax season (ahhhh!). I'll probably be posting less often coming up due to the impending work schedule (well, less than I am already - what a slacker!). So don't forget about me! I still have to update you on my latest furniture project (here's a hint), our snow days, the BBoy, and some other fun projects coming up. For now, here's week three...

January 15

January 16

January 17

January 18

January 19

January 20

January 21

Week 2: Photo-A-Day

January 8

January 9

January 10

January 11

January 12

January 13

January 14

Week 1: Photo-A-Day

Maybe you might have seen (here) that one of my "resolutions," if you will, was to take a Photo-A-Day for all of 2012. Well, I am happy to report that we are right on track! Week one: Check! For now, I'm having fun doing this little experiment so hopefully I can keep it up. Here's all my photos from the first week.

January 1

January 2

January 3

January 4

January 5

January 6

January 7

2012 Goals

Now that 2012 is upon us, I've been thinking about some of the things I want to accomplish this year. A couple big things, followed by a few personal goals. In the past, I haven't been great at keeping my resolutions... but this year will be different! (Don't be fooled, I say that every year.) Either way, it always feels good to set up something to look forward to and strive for. So, here are mine!

Save Money and Travel // In 2011, we traveled a lot, which I loved. I guess I never realized how much I loved it until recently. It's thrilling for me to be able to go someplace new and experience new cultures and people and places, especially places with so much history. It baffles me how long other cities have been around (read: European cities), and makes me long to see more since we don't see that a lot in the US. 

I wish our travel itinerary could be the same for 2012, but unfortunately traveling requires money, and that is something we need to build back up in the Kane household. After moving across the country twice and traveling over to Europe all within a year, our pocketbooks are hurting. Hurting, I tell ya! 

So... my goal for 2012 is not to give up traveling, but to do both of course! Save money while still traveling. My definition of traveling will just have to change a bit. Living in Arizona opened my eyes to how much we really haven't seen of Washington. Since we were temporary residents of AZ, we made it a point to get out and see as much of AZ as we could in the short time we were there.

Now, I want to do that with Washington. I want to take day trips to see some of the places that I have heard of, but have never been to. Because when you live somewhere, you don't really get around to the touristy places you would if you were just visiting. There is so much to see and do in Washington and I can't wait to get started (and share with all of you along the way, of course). Here's some of my list of places to see in WA (any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated!):

Mount Rainier
Forks (yes, because of Twilight - I'm not ashamed!)
San Juan Islands
Staircase
Explore more of the Peninsula
Snoqualmie Falls
Alki Beach
Leavenworth

Especially since most of the places we can see are within driving distance and can be turned in to a little day trip, it makes it easier on the 'ol checkbook (besides the obvious gas money). Plus, we can bring Buster! You know he loves to get out there and explore. 

Now for the saving part. We are re-instating the spending diet as of January 1. Remember the spending diet? From all the way back here? This worked so well for us (especially during busy season when I was working so much) that I am actually excited to start it up again. We're each getting $100 cash for the month and that is our discretionary money to spend on whatever we want. Other than that, it's just bills, food, and gas, then the rest is to savings! Time to build that savings back up so we can one day buy a house, go back to Europe, and someday have lots and lots of babies.

Get Crafty // Lately, I've been getting my stride back in the craftsy department. It's so much fun! And now with my Pinterest addiction (follow me!) it's easier than ever to gain some inspiration. I have a lot of ideas, now it's just finding the time to execute them!

In the baking department, I also want to push myself more to try new recipes. This is sometimes hard for me because I like making the good old classics (they just taste so good!), but this year I'm going to push myself harder to think outside the box.

Be Thankful // I also want to slow down a bit and just be thankful for what is around me. I got a fancy new journal for Christmas (thanks, Jenn!) so I plan on using that to record my thankfulness (kind of like my own version of this).

Picture-a-Day (or maybe, a-Week) // This is a hefty one. I might be a little too ambitious to do a picture-a-day, but I think it sounds like fun! We'll see how long it lasts, but I definitely want to do at least a picture-a-week. Won't it be interesting to look back at the end of the year and have a record of something for each day?

Along with this one, I also want to get better at taking pictures. I'm sure most of my daily pics will be with my iPhone (and instagram-ed), but I have a big DSLR camera that my dad handed down to me and I have yet to figure out how to use it on another setting than Manual.

The Usual // And then there's the usual players. The Get Healthy, the Eat Right, the Stop Biting my Nails, and all that stuff. Yes, I want to do those things, but if I don't, that's OK too. 

Well, there they are. My goals for 2012. I'm really excited about the first two. I can't wait to get out there and start exploring! What about you guys? What are your goals/resolutions/wishes/dreams for 2012?

Washington