2008 Resolutions

I know 2008 is still well over a month away, but when it comes to resolutions having a game plan already in place before the first of January can certainly improve your chances of success. Here are the four I will be focusing on:

I resolve to take more pictures!
I wanted to take more pictures so that I can scrapbook them and post them on this blog. To take more pictures, I need to have my camera with me. Back in October, I purchased a larger purse. I liked the purse I had (I got a great deal at JC Penny’s), but it barely held all my essentials. One day when I was trying to zip it up, the little strip of leather zipper pull came off—that was the catalyst to head out and search for a new bag. My new dark brown purse is perfect: it wasn’t too expensive and has several separate departments, so I’m not digging through a bunch of junk to find what I’m looking for. When I purchased it, the delightful lady at the checkout gave it the once over and told me it was a winner—she would have stolen it from me if I had grabbed the black one.

I resolve to read the Bible in a year.
This is actually the first of my “before I turn 40” goals. I have done this once before back in 1999 and figured it was time to attempt it again. I will be using the same Bible I used last time: Becky Tirabassi’s “Change Your Life” Daily Bible, which is a New Living Translation. The reading for each day includes Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs.

I resolve to read 12 Newbery Medal winners this year.
This will broaden my knowledge at work and expand my literary horizons. I have already read one of the winners, Bridge to Terabithia this year—I will not include it in the twelve (that’s one a month) to read in 2008

I resolve to lose 20 pounds.
I know this is a popular one on everyone’s list. I actually feel optimistic this year. At this time last year the amount to lose would have been 30 pounds, but since I have started working at the bookstore I have lost 10 pounds—and that’s with all the break time Frappuccinos! My game plan is to exercise (targeting the abs) and cut portion size.
My goal weight is my post-pregnancy weight. No, that is not a misprint. Thanks to a case of gestational diabetes, my post delivery weight was 30 pounds less than my pre-pregnancy weight. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation and anxiety of first-time motherhood lead to some stress-induced emotional eating and I quickly gained the 30 back.