In 2009, I set 9 goals.
In 2010, I set 10 goals (here is how I did!).
This year for 2011, I am setting 11 goals!
(I’m scared.)
It’s ok though, I am a Snow Warrior, after all.
I approach New Year’s Goals the same way I look at shoveling a huge mountain of snow:
Tackle a little bit at a time and eventually you look back and the entire driveway is complete! If you get tired during the process, head inside for hot cocoa & warm cookies to recharge.
It’s a life motto, really.
Plus, if I don’t set some fun goals for the New Year, how will I ever make it through the long, cold winter?
I’m convinced that New Years Goals help beat the winter blahs. Goals help us look forward to things and get excited and dreamy eyed, just like in the summer when the warm breeze is at our backs and the hot sun on our face.
On January 1st, anything is possible.
I’m excited.
Eleven in 2011
2011 THEME: Trust myself.
It is said that if you do everything with love you cannot go wrong. I have been trying to trust myself more and more for the past couple of years, but in 2011, I want to make it the theme of my year. I want to cut down on negativity (internally and externally) and only take on tasks that I truly want to do. I also want to work on giving my heart to my loved ones and always showing and telling friends and family how much they are appreciated.
Hell, I will start a day early…I love you guys!
1) Blogging: Quality over Quantity
There was once a time in my blogging journey when I was more concerned with blogging ‘x times per day’ than producing something that represented my best effort. Throughout 2010, I have realized that it is really about quality over quantity.
My blogging goal for 2011 is to never hit publish on something that is rushed or is not my best effort. I think there is too much pressure on bloggers to post as frequently as humanly possible, but I think it is important to step back and breathe.
2) Take care of my health and continue my journey with a Vegan diet.
Committing to a vegan diet is not always easy and this is why I decided to put it on my 2011 list.
I’m sure many of you think that veganism is a walk in the park for me, but there are many days that I really struggle with my commitment. My journey with veganism is always a work in progress and I have never had an end goal of being a ‘perfect vegan’.
I will slip up.
I will occasionally have foods that aren’t vegan.
I was called a ‘hypocrite’ by a few people when I said that I would try some non-vegan foods while traveling in Paris, but not everyone has to agree with my choices for it to be right for me. We need to stop worrying about what others think of us and do what speaks to us on a personal level.
As long as I keep feeling the positive effects of the food I eat, I’m willing to put in the extra effort to continue along this fun journey.
3) Write a vegan cookbook proposal + sign with publisher + start cookbook testing
and writing process
This one is scary to say out loud.
I want to write a vegan cookbook more than anything! Healthy recipe testing, cooking, and baking makes me feel very fulfilled and excited. Nothing would make me more happy than applying my creativity into a cookbook that I could share with all of you. I have a passion for my cookbooks and they bring me great joy. I would love to be a part of that.
With that being said, I don’t want to write any cookbook; it has to be the right opportunity based on my vision or I am simply going to wait. I will not settle for an offer that my heart is not into just to have a book published. I believe that what is meant to happen will happen, even if it is not as soon as we want!
4) Save 10% of monthly gross income into high interest savings account.
At the end of each month, I will assess how much gross income I have and then I will transfer 10% of this income into my high interest savings account.
At the end of the year I shall buy myself some Coconut Bliss.
That shit stuff is like gold!
5) Run my first 5k race in under 23 minutes (which would be <7:24 min/mile or 4:46 min/km pace)
This is going to take a lot of training, but there is a former track and field speed demon inside of me just waiting to tackle the short distance races again! I used to run sprint distances in school and I thrived on them. For some reason the thought of breathless agony appeals to me.
It’s complicated.
6) Raise money for charity.
In 2011, I am going to pick a new charity and spread the love around.
7) Do Body Pump class a minimum of one time per week.
Another fitness goal of mine is to build muscle. Running is great for my heart and sanity, but it doesn’t do much for building muscle I’m afraid. I have had awesome results with Body Pump in the past and I am excited to take the classes again!
8.) Take a photography course.
My photography skills are self-taught, but I would really love to take a photography course (or two) in 2011 to delve deeper into my newest passion. I learn best visually and hands-on as opposed to reading something off the internet.
It’s really a miracle that I can even operate my DSLR camera. I’m not very tech savvy, naturally. Eric is patient.
9) IRELAND or bust!
(Pic source: David Liddon)
Eric and I have wanted to go to Ireland since we met over 10 years ago. My mother in law grew up in Ireland and we have lots of family that we can stay with to cut back on costs. It would basically be a week of chugging beer, eating chips, and pretending I live in a castle. I’m down with that.
10) Meditate for 3 minutes per day.
My approach to things that scare the crap out of me? Shoot low and I might surprise myself. As easy as 3 minutes per day sounds, this is actually one of the goals I am not sure I will accomplish given my prior track record with meditation!
My goal is to meditate for 3 minutes each day in 2011 in an effort to reduce mental ‘noise’. Mental Noise is what I like to call ‘a brain that never stops talking to itself’.
I suffer from Mental Noise, as do many other women. I have this constant chatter in my head and I’m pretty sure it’s not the kind that can be aided by medication.
11) Wild Card
My final goal for 2011 shall remain a secret until the end of the year! I have to have a few secrets up my sleeve!
Do you have any fun goals for 2011? What are you looking forward to?
Ireland is by far my favorite country that I’ve visited. I’m hoping to go back there with my husband.
Have a wonderful new year! I look forward to see what 2011 brings for you and OSG :-)
I can totally see you writing a cookbook! Your creativity astounds me & I know you’ll create something fantastic. ;)
Your goals sound awesome!
Thanks for sharing!
I think I’d like to focus on being kinder to the environment in 2011 by switching to green energy and cutting down on disposable packaging :)
Good luck with all your goals, Angela; I really hope you manage to achieve all of them, or at least have fun trying! I always find it difficult to come up with a list of goals but yours are truly great. I would definitely buy that cookbook! And I know you say your vegan journey is ongoing and you do slip up sometimes, but I thought I’d let you know just in case that Guinness isn’t vegetarian. Of course, you might choose to drink it anyway, which is perfectly fine, and I would never call you a hypocrite! :) You have to do what feels right to *you*, but I also believe you should be equipped with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision :)
http://robrohan.com/2006/08/18/guinness-is-not-vegan/
AH! I love this post. I really appreciate your openness- it’s a brave, bold move to put your goals out on the table like this. Makes for some high stakes, but I have no doubt you’ll do a fabulous job of knockin’ ’em out :)
If anyone can write and absolutely amazing vegan cookbook – it is you.
Let me know when your cook book comes out, I will be sure to get myself a copy! Look forward to reading your blog in 2011. Fantastic photos. Betty x
love you my dear. <3
Selfishly, I am most excited about your cookbook goal. Go for it!
I will buy your cookbook!
And for the past few years I’ve been totally inspired by your year-end goals. What a beautiful woman you are – inside and out.
Angela what a wonderful list of goals! I will certainly buy that cookbook :)
Happy new year!
Haha so say, by 2030, you’re going to have to make 30 goals! Good luck with that! :P
Your goals are great! I’m SO excited about the cookbook! Honestly I think it would be a huge success! Can I pre-order it now? :)
I’m scared. help!
I’m with you on the releasing negative thought train in 2011 – and looking forward to it! Side question– what model of Garmin do you use? I am going between a 205 and a 305… both are good deals on amazon!
I love you. This was beautiful.
I want to try new things with my food .Like for fun I want to go Vegan for a week or so. Vegetarian for a week or so. Clean- eat for 1 month straight ( I think I almost already do! lol)
I also like the quality over quantity. I usually just post once a day. And its what is on my mind! and whats happenin!
Good luck on all those crazy and awesome goals of yours! I know you can do it!
Very inspiring post, thank you! I’ll have to spend the next few days properly thinking of what I want to achieve, but it’ll definitely involve getting a new job (that I’ll hopefully like), eating consistantly better (instead of in short bursts when I get inspired every now and then), and *positively* recovering from a heartbreak (an Irish hah ;) ). By that I mean working on the lack of confidence the whole thing brought me, and acknowledging that if, for instance, I left that relationship feeling embarrassed about the quality my writing, then writing more will make me feel better about it.
To put it shortly, being happy about defines me as a person.
And good luck with all your goals, I’m looking forward to reading about how you’ll work to achieve them! As for the cookbook project, I’ll definitely buy it!!
Whenever I read your blog, I always think, “Man, her recipes would be awesome for a cookbook.” As a vegan, I feel like it’s easy to be repetitive in the kitchen, but you make such creative and inspiring dishes.
Also, I don’t think you’re a hypocrite at all for the occasional slip up. Sometimes, like in Paris, there are NO or very little options for vegans in some cities, and that shouldn’t keep anyone from traveling.
I agree – I don’t think it’s hypocritical at all. You can’t deprive yourself of something, so if you give in to the craving it’s so much better than depriving and constantly thinking about it. Some people are just too strict in their eating, and we’re all human. You need to enjoy yourself too. Also, if you’re in a situation where you really can’t go animal product free, what are you supposed to do – starve? I don’t think so! When I eat something I don’t deem healthy, but I want it, I enjoy myself. It doesn’t happen all the time.
Love this list and your theme! Good luck and have a very happy 2011! It’s gonna be a good one!
ps. If you do write a cookbook, I’m going to buy it!
I LOVE your goals!
Out of all the food blogs I read (and that’s a lot of blogs), yours is the one I want most to have a cookbook, so I’m begging you to do that goal :P
The 5k one? Love it, I want to jump on board! Equally with the vegan one, and the camera knowledge is already on my goal list too :) but I gotta say – how can your posts get any better? They always do seem so quality!
happy new year, angela!
thank you so much for sharing your 11 goals for 2011. i love the variety! you have so many areas of interest, and that is what makes for a full and happy life. can’t wait to read about your progress as the year FLIES by (don’t they always!).
me? i have yet to write mine down, but i, too, have plans for travel, photography, family, fitness…i love the freshness and hope that new year’s eve brings!
Great goals — I like that they are specific but give you lots of room for exploration.
This year I’ve decided that I will make no resolutions and no goals, per se. Instead, I have a list of things I look forward to trying (firsts) or continuing (repeats). I’m highly structured so this is a big step, to re-frame how I approach some things I’d like to do in my life. We’ll see how it goes ;)
Oh, side note: I appreciate your desire for quality vs. quantity in your blogging. While you were participating in PFB I saw your blogging style sharpen in a way that, as a reader, I really enjoyed. Beautiful photos complimenting a recipe that I would surely want to try. I’m far more interested in reading a great blog post every couple of days than a daily food diary thrown up quickly (not that there isn’t a place for that in food blog world…just stating my preference!) My point is I look forward to your 2011 posts because the evolution of this blog has been astounding.
Thanks so much for your positivity :) I like your approach to firsts and repeats….very interesting! I think it is really fun to think of things we’ve never done before. Hmm, now I’m thinking myself…