In 2013, I resolve... | #101in1001

Each year my resolutions look kind of the same: exercise, simplify, learn better time management. So when I make my list of goals I try to be more specific, as specific goals seem to work better for me and I achieve more of them. It's as if the specificity holds me a bit more accountable. I've had some fun ways of displaying my goals around my office in the past. Check out my 2008 and 2009 goals. (Other years have been lost around the internet.)

This year I am resolving to bring back my 101 in 1001 list I started back in 2010. If my calculations are correct, it's been 743 days since the start of this challenge, approximately 500 days since I've abandoned the list, and I've got 258 days left to work on it. Of course, my life has significantly (an unexpectedly) changed since I started the challenge, so I went ahead and added a few more relative goals to the second half of the list (thus finally finishing the creation of the list).

Below are the goals I added, but you can see the list in it's entirety here.

1. Run another half-marathon
2. Earn a PR in the Smithfield Sprint triathlon
3. Earn a new PR in the 5k distance (so far my best time was 36 mins in 2007)
4. Run in a trail race
5. Have my work featured on at least 3 different blogs
6. Submit images and apply for WPJA
7. Work on lowering carb and sugar intake
8. Make the switch from coffee to tea in the morning
9. Swap our chemical cleaners for home made cleaners
10. Simplify our medicine cabinet by purging a lot of medicines and replacing them with herbs and essential oils
11. Learn how to heal our bodies naturally (and save money in the process!)
12. Travel to Florida to visit my grandmother
13. Travel to Colorado to visit my sister
14. Go on an anniversary trip with Tommy
15. Spend more time finding inspiration through online photo sites
16. Write something every day for a month
17. Create a social media marketing plan and follow it
18. Hire an intern
19. Transfer business status from Sole-Proprietor to an S-Corp
20. Repaint my kitchen walls
21. Incorporate the use of an ipad into my business workflow
22. Enhance Sincerely, Liz client experiences by adding gifts and surprises into my workflow
23. Redesign Sincerely, Liz website and combine all of my online sites into one
24. Rebrand Lynchburg Snapshot Studio
25. Create a marketing plan for Lynchburg Snapshot Studio
26. Develop and begin a preschool curriculum for Sunday (even if that means toddler school for now)
27. Make running a regular part of my weekly routine
28. Make 5 Pinterest recipes
29. Complete 3 Pinterest DIY projects
30. Create a "Sunday's First Year" book/album
31. Go to the Farmer's Market once a month in the spring/summer. Buy and consume more fresh foods.
32. Go geocaching with my nieces
33. Shoot a photo session in an ice skating rink
34. Simplify our magazine subscription list
35. Make a photo album of our wedding pictures
36. Swap out my beauty care products for natural, less expensive versions
37. Go to a dinner theater with Tommy
38. Have new head shots taken annually
39. Start an annual head shot mini session day in late winter
40. Go on a camping trip with Tommy while in Colorado
41. Sell my landscape and art prints online
42. Print and frame images for a collage of "life" in our hallway
43. Take a weekend and "unplug" from all things digital
44. Do a "day in the life" blog post
45. Send a bouquet of flowers to someone "just because"
46. Get a bold haircut
47. Create the habit of making a weekly meal plan
48. Find 3 healthy dessert recipes and make them often enough to no longer need to look at the recipe
49. Host a party in our home
50. Change most (if not all) the lightbulbs in our house to energy efficient bulbs
51. Print at least two landscape canvas prints and hang them in our home
52. Purchase some plants for our home and keep them alive
53. Simplify my wardrobe by making smart accessory purchases and blog about the experience
54. Move the Sincerely, Liz office into the basement from the current office space

I'm looking forward to documenting this journey here on the blog this year. A lot of these goals are already in-progress and it's exciting to think of all the great plans we have on the calendar for this year, both with the business and at home. I love living with intention. Life is so much better that way. <3

on my latest priorities...

Priorities: What is most important and meaningful in your life today — activities, values, beliefs, lifestyle, principles, standards, hobbies, integrity, etc. — that you are not willing to compromise or sacrifice in pursuit of something else, a goal.

Goals: A future-based, anticipated expectation, possibility, end result, or experience that you are working towards creating, achieving, or bringing to fruition, which has not yet been realized in the present.

I'm working on trying to align my priorities and goals this year. I've recently recognized that what I am spending my days doing is not going to help me reach my personal goals. I've got to get some re-prioritizing going on.

A few of my personal goals:

1. I want to truly long for time with Jesus. I want to thirst for the Word and the wisdom and clarity it brings.
2. I want to long for a long run. Learn to love running and dare I say become addicted to it. (And truly enjoy myself as I run the 2012 VA Beach Rock-n-Roll 1/2 Marathon in September.) (Note: I understand the word addiction does not align well with #1. ;))
3. I want my house to be clean and decorated in a simple but refreshing manner at most times. (In turn allowing our guests to feel comfort and peace when they are in our little home.)

What I'm spending my time on lately:

1. Hanging out with friends. Lunch dates, coffee dates, visitors in the home.
2. Processing images, updating websites, and writing blog posts.
3. Resting. Napping, catching up on sleep.
4. Brainstorming new ideas of activities to participate in and projects to complete.

Not that any of these things are bad... they are mostly good for my soul. But I hope to begin gently steering my time towards the direction of completing my goals...

I'm off to jog with my little running buddy and our awesome jogging stroller.

checks on the list | 101 in 1001

This morning while browsing Facebook I was super inspired by all the people sharing mobile uploads of snapshops from the Ragnar Relay. I thought "That looks like SO much fun!" So much so, I decided to add it to my 101 in 1001 list. You forgot about that, didn't you? I'll admit... I sort of did, too. But reviewing and adding to the list helped me to realize that I have been making way on it without even knowing it! That said, I thought it was about time for a little 101 in 1001 list update. Since I have completed a number of the business-related goals, I thought I'd list them out for a business themed update. :) I've completed a couple of the other person goals as well, so I'll update them soon!

#7. Change portfolio site to no longer be flash based. I did this a few months ago and blogged about it over on my business blog.

#19. Improve my business website search optimization. I have accomplished this slowly over the past few months (although it is always a work in progress) by adding tags to my blog posts and updating the SEO terms on my new non-flash-based website. I will continue to strive for better SEO as I continue blogging and updating my portfolio.

#25. Participate in the creation of a style-shoot for a blog or magazine. I did this back in January with the Hill City Bride style shoot. Blogged here.

#44. Make the switch from PC to Mac. I did this earlier this year when my PC kept showing me a blue screen and shutting itself off. After 3 trips to the PC repair place, I decided to go ahead and invest in a MacBookPro. SO glad I did.... it has changed the entire way I do business!

#45. Make my office as mobile as possible so that I can travel often without it interrupting my work. Killing two birds with one stone, I purchased the MacBookPro earlier this year to replace my desktop PC. So I made the operating system switch and became mobile at the same time! I love it!

#49. Tap into commercial photography (to be published). I have been on a journey this year of playing with some commercial projects. I have been published in the regional women's magazine, Bella, and the national women's magazine, Oprah. So very cool!

It really feels good to cross those things off the list. I love having goals and completing them!