New Year's Resolutions are expected to be broken...

SO, in the spirit of New Year's...I've decided that if I actually type out my resolutions on my blog, I might actually commit to them for longer than a month as usual. Why is it that no one EVER sticks to their resolutions?? Are they just too unrealistic? Anyhow, here's mine for 2010, long list, I know.

1. Stop procrastinating (notice it's the 11th and I'm just now getting around to my resolutions).

2. Be more organized.

3. Be healthier. I'm not putting a number on this one...no "lose 10 lbs", no "drop 1 dress size". I just want to be healthier overall. I'd like to eat a cleaner diet, focusing on more organic foods. I'd also like to commit to AT LEAST 3x/wk at the gym. So far, week one, I'm good on that. Also under the "be healthier" category would be to drink less. I don't really drink a lot now...maybe once a week and usually not to excess. But even less would be fabulous.

4. Be happier. I, as a woman, have a tendency to over-worry and over-stress, and of course I take it out on my significant other as most women do. SO I'm going to work on that. I'm going to try to do more things specifically FOR MYSELF. I really need to set aside time each week to do that. Whether it be getting a pedicure, a massage, or just grabbing a coffee and sitting in silence for a while...I need to destress!

5. GET OUT OF DEBT!!!! This is a big one, and fortunately enough it's the most REALISTIC for me at this time! Woo hoo!!! My biggest debt was the consolidation loan I took out 4 years ago to pay off college and all my credit cards. That was $40,000 and the payments have been $608.15/month since then...which is a HUGE monthly payment that I would really like to be paying towards just about ANYTHING else but Capital ONE. Currently I am only 3 payments away from being DONE...AND that's my only significant debt! I have a little under $1,000 left to pay off photography school. Money has always been my biggest stress, so once my #5 resolution is complete, my #4 will be helped too!!!

6. Triple my photography business and slowly transition out of event planning...taking on only event design contracts! Since I've begun with photography, I've been SOOOO passionate about it! I just have so much fun, it never gets old, and it's rarely stressful. While I love the final product of my wedding planning, it's often an entire year of STRESS that I put on my shoulders for each of my clients. It's not helping me be a happier person, and that's what I need to focus on at this time.

7. Be a better MOM. While I do think I'm a good mom (yes, I am patting myself on the back right now!), there's ALWAYS room for improvement. I'd like to learn from my semi-distant relationship with my parents growing up and ensure that my son always feels like he has his mommy to rely on and doesn't take too much on his own shoulders. I'd love to have a really significant chunk of his college saved up, because I know how damaged that left my financial start-up when I went off to school because I paid for everything myself. I think it is a parent's duty to provide for their child and help them get a proper start. I also want to invest more time into TEACHING him things. I think too often we get caught up in playing, or me just finding something to entertain him while I get work done...and before I know it the day has passed and I didn't really teach him anything new! On the days that I DO teach him, I feel so fulfilled!!

8. Be a better (common-law) wife. Going back to #4--I think if I'm happier myself, and de-stressed that this will fall into place. Anyone else who has been in a long-term relationship knows that it often turns routine/lacks spontanaity and fun! I want to be spontaneous and fun again, which is really hard to do when your a mom and a small business owner, and of course dealing with all other worldly problems. I want to be less moody and touchy and more like old Kara. I'm going to TRY TRY TRY to be more domestic. It's really not my bag...but cooking more dinners, cleaning more, etc. I'm going to work on it. Haha.

9. FINISH WHAT I START. Huge problem for me. Take, for example, this blog. When was the last posting before this one?? I tend to get really excited about something at the start, and it loses it's luster. I'm gonna work on that too!

10. Plan a vacation! Well, actually 3 vacations. One for Joe and I (a honeymoon would be nice!), one family vacation, and one JUST ME vacation. I know, that's weird. But I think traveling alone is something every woman should do. Not a long vacation, just a few days...somewhere nice, secluded, and warm. Somewhere I can just lay on the beach and unwind for a couple of days.

So I think that wraps it up! I'll TRY to keep everyone updated on this! :)