So I already told you that I failed at my 2015 goals and that I am not a fan of New Year's. For me, New Year's does not mean new start/clean slate any more than the other 364 days of the year. I don't think anyone should limit themselves to starting over and self-improvement to January 1st. While the start of a new calendar year is the easiest way to mark a change in time, I feel that change must come from within and that an internal motivation will be much more effective than a half-hearted attempt to change at the new year.

That being said, in 2016, I am not going to change. I am going to continue what I began in 2015: evolving and working towards a better version of myself. A better daughter, sister, friend, and fiancé as well as someone who is working towards a healthier, and hopefully more organized life. 

In 2016, I am going to continue to simplify- my closet, my craft supplies, etc. Last year I donated two heaping laundry baskets of clothes and I am already accumulating a new donation pile. Living in an apartment away from home for school has helped me learn to appreciate and enjoy living with less. 

Ultimately, I hope to continue to finish what I have started wether that be a book, a project, my leftovers, candles, beauty products, you name it. I'm not sure when exactly, in 2014 maybe but it struck me how much excess was in my life- even the most mundane of objects. Part of this had to do with being at school and having duplicates of things at home (beauty/hygiene stuff mainly.) I wondered what to do and then the obvious struck me- use what I have before I get more.  So that's what I have been doing with just about everything from beauty products to school supplies to craft stuff. I am not perfect, I have bought more of stuff I already had but I have seen dramatic consolidation. I could have tossed things immediately but by slowly working through things I have been able to see my progress, simplify, and save a nice chunk of change. This has also helped me to become a more mindful shopper when I do make purchases. I am simply finishing what I've started.

Do you like resolutions? How are they going?


At the start of 2015, I blogged about my New Year's Ambitions.. It's safe to say that I failed at most of what I hoped to accomplish. What can I say? Life happens. 2015 happened to be one of the most difficult years that my family has been through. A year ago, we learned my aunt's cancer had returned after being cancer free for six years. We watched her go to eternal rest at the end of September on my mom's birthday. When I reflect on 2015, I will most certainly remember it of a year of highs and lows. So much occurred that was cause for great happiness and celebration yet so much suffering transpired too. Here's to hoping for a happy and healthy 2016.

When I shared my 2015 knit list, I failed to realize something- knitting is something I truly enjoy doing and a major creative outlet for me. By giving myself restrictions on what I could make, I was essentially limiting my creativity. The knit list became a burden and I wasn't enjoying the process of making things...so I ditched the list and made what I wanted, when I wanted.

Non-knitting ambitions:

  • Reading more books (25-50): Well I read 28 and of those 28, 25 were read during the summer while I was studying for my GREs and working 40 hours a week. I guess I am more of a summer reader. 
  • Blogging at least twice a month: This started out strong but then kind of fizzled out. I don't get the point of blogging just to get a post out there. If others want to repost an exact/near identical replica of a recipe or craft project then by all means have at it but it's not really worth my time or yours reading to see my essentially reiterate someone else's work. I have considered maybe just sharing links to recipes I have tried and enjoyed but not modified or projects others have done that inspired me. I find it a little comical when you try a recipe from Pinterest and that blogger links the recipe source to a different blog which links it to a different blog, and so forth. If I was getting some truly original things done, then I guess I would have blogged more.
  • Deciding on audiology or speech pathology: I choose audiology
  • Compiling a list a grad schools: I choose three schools to apply to.
  • Applying to grad schools: Done :)

How'd you do in 2015?



I posted way back in January about my 2015 knitting ambitions. I am falling behind. Miserably. It's been a crazy semester between classes, student organization board involvement and volunteering. I am still hoping that I can meet my goal and do some serious knitting this summer when I can take a FOUR month break from my studies. Whoop-whoop! Anyways, I did manage to get one of the 15 knitting ambitions crossed off my list. I made a pair of socks (and used up some yarn in the process.) Sidenote: there are few things in life that give me greater satisfaction then using something up all the way... pens, chapstick, lotion, yarn, you name it. 

Ah these socks. I am not a huge fan of the color but I already had this yarn on hand. I tell myself that when I use up my stashed yarn then I can buy myself some fun colors or patterning sock yarn but until then I will use what I've got.



I started these in January and made it to the heel of the first one when I realized it was going to be way too small for my foot. I decided I could A) finish making them and give them to someone with small feet or try to sell them or B) unravel and try with a larger needle. I ended up going with B. I switched to a larger needle and they fit! With school I can't devote a lot of time to knitting but I managed to get a few rows in here or there. 

Overall, this was a really easy, straight forward project. I was able to follow it completely without having to reference YouTube. I think they turned out pretty well for them only being the second pair of socks that I have knit! And it was a free pattern which is always a plus!

Now on to my next project and hoping that I can finish it a little faster!



Sock Details:
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Sock Yarn in Basalt Heather (I used just over 1 skein)
Needle Size: US 2 DPNs


(Sadly I broke my Blog twice a month New Year's Ambition in April. :( I had this post all set up but between final projects, studying, final exams, packing up my apartment, cleaning my apartment, and moving home, time got the best of me. Here's to hoping that I can stick to the 2x a month for the rest of the year!)


I am not a huge resolution maker. I don't see January 1st as any more of an opportunity to start fresh than any other day of the year. I do like seeing what I can accomplish during a year's time though. Specifically I like to set a goal for myself such as last year's Year of Thrifting (recap coming soon?)

At the end of 2014, I was thinking about places where I want to expand in 2015. For the blog, knitting is what I am choosing to focus on. Obviously I want to get more done in 2015 than just knit but this will be my main focus for the blog.

The word that I want to focus on this year would be ambition as referenced in the title of this post. Ambition can be defined as a particular goal or aim; something that a person hopes to do or achieve. Let's take a look at my ambitions for the year.

15 Knitting Ambitions for 2015*:
1. Knit a hat.
2. Knit a scarf or cowl.
3. Knit a pair of gloves or mittens.
4. Knit a sweater.
5. Knit a pair of socks.
6. Knit a bag of some sort.
7. Knit a washcloth.
8. Knit a pillow.
9. Knit a toy.
10.Knit something that is a decoration.
11. Knit something for Carter.
12. Knit matching ski caps for Carter and I.
13. Knit something with plarn (plastic yarn.)
14. Knit something with t-shirt yarn.
15. Knit something with recycled sweater yarn.

Other knitting ambitions this year:
Finishing WIPs (works in progress.)
Posting finalized pictures on Ravelry.
Sharing more projects here and on Kollabora.
Going through and deleting projects from my queue on Ravelry.

Non-knitting ambitions:
Reading more books (25-50)
Blogging at least twice a month.
Deciding if I want to go audiology or speech pathology.
Compling my list of graduate schools.
Applying to graduate schools.

*To clarify, for my knitting ambitions, I am okay with "double dipping" and crossing more than one item off the list for a single project. I.E. knitting a pillow with recycled yarn.

Let's see where 2015 takes me and you! We are already halfway through month #1!!!
I began thinking about this back in November. I was thinking of things I enjoy doing and ways to save money. I decided that thrifting was obviously my favorite way to save and shop! I thrift the vast majority of my clothing so this year I am going to try to take it a notch up. This will help me save even more money as a shop and I am also helping the environment by loving someone else's old items. I am going to try and go a whole year of just thrifting! If I need it, I'll thrift it. 

I already have two exceptions though:
1. Underwear. I already have way too much but if I get a free underwear coupon from Victoria's Secret, I will use it.
2. Running shoes, you need to replace your shoes as they break down to avoid injury so I won't be thrifting someone else's.

Places I will be thrifting during 2014:
Salvation Army
Goodwill
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Local Shops
Garage Sales
Antique shops
Consignment stores
Auctions
If I need something else, I will try eBay and Craigslist.


To make things a bit more interesting, I gave myself an extensive list of things to try to find throughout the year. I will plan to check back in at the end of every month to show off what treasures I found second hand and how much I spent on each item. 

Here is a copy of my list.
You can save or print this to take thrifting with you.
Here is a copy of a blank template if you want to make your own thrifting list.

By the way, I found the template I used here.

Good luck, go out there, save money, and have fun!

Happy 2014!