Wednesday, January 1, 2014

My Goals for the New Year and the Month of January

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. 

I have never been one for making resolutions because I don't like breaking them.  However, I figured that if I wrote down my goals, I will be better at accomplishing them.  I have lots of goals for the new year.  Some have to do with reading and blogging while others are more personal. 

<<< If you are wondering about my illustration over here, I decided to include it because new beginnings make me think of conquering the world (as I see it).



   


Here are my goals for the year:

  • Work on my personal happiness plan.
  • Catch up on reading my NetGalley books.
  • Catch up on reading books sent to me directly from the author/publisher.
  • Finish three paintings (This is huge for me.  I am a very slow painter because I paint the same thing over and over until I get it right.  I am working on a painting right now that I've painted 12 times already and I'm still not sure I like it.)
  • Finish my book (Yes, I wrote a book.  I've actually written five books, but I've never tried to publish any of them.  This year it might actually happen!)
  • Redesign my blog - Big changes are coming for my little blog!  For one thing, I am going to start reviewing adult books, which also means that my blog needs a little facelift.
  • Do more service. This one may be the last on my list, but it is certainly not the least important.  I struggle with many things, and I've come to the conclusion that I spend too much time looking inward and not enough time looking outward.  I am going to find opportunities to make the world a better place.



Reading Goals for January:


Some of these are for tours, some are for review, and some are just for fun.


Picture Books:

Whatever my kids pick out at the library + whatever I get in the mail + this little gem:


Sticks N' Stones N' Dinosaur Bones by Ted Enik and G.F. Newland



Chapter Books/Middle Grade Books:





 
Fire Born by Toby Forward
When Audrey Met Alice by Rebecca Behrens
Neversink by Barry Wolverton



Young Adult Books:

Summer Rain by Cherlisa Starks Richardson
Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard
The Treasure of Isian by Serena Clarke
The Alliance of Isian by Serena Clarke


Adult Books:



Dear Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright 



What about you?  Are some of these books on your list too?  What other books are you reading this month?

 

6 comments:

  1. This month I am reading Scarlet by Marissa Meyer. I am not quite sure what else I'll be reading next. I'm leaning towards starting a new Historical Romance or finishing one that I started a few months ago. I know I'll be reading a few children's books for my son too but those are never really planned. I just grab whatever I want and books that I think he might like.

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    1. That's usually what I do with picture books too. Sometimes I seek out specific books, but it's usually whatever is closest.

      I am going to be reading Scarlet soon too. Probably not this month since I have all these other books to read, but hopefully I'll read it and the sequel, Lady Thief, next month. Happy reading!

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  2. I love your art! I'm surprised I stumbled on to it so late. I can't believe you take so long to paint. I'd probably be the same way though. If it's not right I would have to start over again.
    Did you read The Happiness Project? That's all I thought about when you wrote down your personal happiness plan. I think it's very important to reflect on your life and make sure you are living your life to the fullest. Love that you want to volunteer. I really want to too but there never seems to be any volunteering programs near my area.
    I took a look at Sticks N' Stones N' Dinosaur Bones and it looks adorable. I would love to read your review on it. Great MG books and I've got Meet Me At the Cupcake Cafe and Dear Mr. Knightley on my TBR list.
    I really want to read some children's classics like Matilda and Peter Pan. I've got some macambre type books on there. Mostly reading MG reads. I'm starting next Poison by Bridget Zinn. I want to read a lot of magic/fantasy books this year. Good luck to you and your goals! Make sure you have them written down near you so you can take a look at it and remember them from time to time.

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    1. I haven't read The Happiness Project, but all my friends have and they told me enough about it that I felt like I could make my own version of it. My daughter got Matilda and James and the Giant Peach for Christmas so we'll be reading those together. I've heard good things about Poison, so I'm excited to see your review. Happy New Year!

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  3. Fantastic goals, a few of which I definitely share (especially the catching up part. .. ahem)...and what's this? You wrote books and have not tried to publish them? *gasp* Gotta follow that my friend. ^-^ Here's to a happy 2014.

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    1. Ha ha, yes, I wrote some books. I've never written one that I felt was fit for publication, though. So I keep writing and reading in hopes that my skill will improve enough to create something worth publishing!

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