Ambitions.

2010 is going to be HUGE, I just know it. I also know I've got big plans right at the moment (right before life happens and shifts my priorities), and I tend to take on way more than I should, and I tend to jump right in, and I know I stink at sticking to my resolutions. SO, this is my list of ambitions (or goals or resolutions, whatever.) for 2010, but several of them will hopefully last me for the next decade. Maybe I'll feel somewhat accountable if I post it and put it out there on the internet. (I have given up on 101 in 1000, so we'll see)

Knit / Craft-wise
**Knit from stash: My goal is to only buy yarn for specific projects, not just because of the pretty.

**Work on the crochet-skills: I've got a ton of patterns queued up for amigurumi and toys for Lorelai.

**10 Shawls in 2010: Having made two in 2009 and I do wear them (bandit style), gives me confidence that I can do this (maybe only 5 in 2010, but why not shoot for 10). I'm lurking on this knit-along, but with my current stash I would love to work up the following:
a. Swirl Shawl b. Milkweed Shawl c. Inconceivable d. Herbivore e. Frost Diamonds f. Citron g. Springtime Bandit h. Ishbel (take two - possible gift)i. Rorschach's Net j.Centrique

**Make us Christmas Stockings that match.

**Rav queue could use a bit more sorting through and tagging.

**More charity knitting (Schuyler Blanket Project, Sharing Our Gifts)

**Sweater a Month Challenge Since I spotted this I can’t stop thinking about it, so I guess that’s a good idea to join. I’m thinking that for myself I’ll be using the following strategies:
a. A mix of adult (me) and baby / toddler sweaters - will keep in interesting and will break things up as needed. I’ve got at least 6 babies that I want to knit for in the coming year and several toddlers as well.
b. I’ve got 1 sweater that was started in 2008, but has been hibernating since october. I am going to let that count as a half-sweater.
c. I’ve uncovered a sweater from a pile of WIPs that was started in 2005. It needs a button band fix, seams, ends woven in :) That will count as a quarter sweater.
d. As others have said - variety is key - bulky / super bulky will help, short sleeves will help. Vests? I want one (or two) and may count those as half-sweaters as well.

**Use my sock books and knit some socks! I need new ones!

**Design "something" or several "somethings" - share the design. Get listed on Rav as a designer.

House & Home & Life
**Stick to the menu planning.
**Try 1-2 recipes a week. Use the crock-pot (make it work)
**General organizing (I know what I need to do)
**Having no income already keeps my spending in check - so that will continue, but I am giving more thought to going back to work.
**Read more! (listening to audio books will count.)

Bloggy bits
**Post more frequently.
**Leave more comments (as Sara says, blogging is a two way street)
**Respond to comments (Blogger doesn't always lead me to a way to respond... gotta look into that!)

That should keep me busy, eh?

I resolve...

The resolutions post.

I always make resolutions. I don't often keep them. I've been reading a lot of blog posts of other people's resolutions (or not as the case may be.) And those are just 3, there are so many blog posts I read where everyone is so optimistic for 2009 - I think it's more so that any other year I remember, or maybe I just didn't pay attention then.

Last year I came up with a list - and even that has been changed. I'm working my way through my 101 things, but I wouldn't feel ready to take on the new year without a few resolutions to keep in mind (and some of these may end up on the list.)

*Totally copying Donna - Appreciate More. Acquire less. Aspire higher. Short and sweet and to the point.

*Stop buying the junk candy. I rant and rave about high fructose corn syrup, but I cave for a box of Mike&Ike's, Runts, Swedish Fish, Jelly Beans.... Maybe once in a while for a special occasion or a movie. But seriously, those dollars would add up.

*Exercise more - a perpetual resolution. The Wii Fit at least makes it fun.

*Knit something for my in-laws. I've cycled through my family: grandmothers, parents, brothers, future-sister-in-law, aunts, cousins, daughter and husband - and nothing for my mother / father / brother in law. I should be able to come up with three knit gifts for them.

*I won't be joining any real knit-alongs - I tried a few last year and they just didn't work out. My Mystic Light shawl is still on Clue#3, I withdrew from HatAttack. I'll knit what I want, when I want, at the pace I want.

*Knit 100 balls of yarn from the stash. I talked about this at SnB - what makes a ball? I'm figuring it's one hank / skein / ball of yarn. I don't have any sweater hanks, so I don't have to worry about the uber-balls of yarn. I'm also considering the idea of my own "Yarn Bank / Savings Account" - I'll save the yarn labels - each label is $1 I can spend... or something like that - still mulling that one over.

*Keep up to date with the KnitMeter. Count all yarn for a finished project (My first entry will be the sweater I finished knitting on 1/1/09! Yay - however, it's a model knit for Lorna's Laces and I can't show it off until after their show!). I'm very curious to see far I can "travel" in my knitting at the years end!

*Complete a few swaps. I didn't do too many last year - I miss swapping! I got a little burnt by a few swap-bot swaps (I honestly feel in a few of them people were looking to unload junk or didn't bother to find out what I liked.) I've already signed up for Cocoa Swap'n 2 - thanks to Jenn for pointing it out.

*Be more active in commenting on other people's blogs. I've got a ton of them in GoogleReader, but consistently comment at a handful. Comments are great!

All resolutions are subject to change at any point in time given this blogger's whim.