Benjamin's Blog

Fig and mint chicken + quinoa (Taken with instagram)

Roasted eggplant and feta sandwich + roasted garlic (Taken with instagram)

Grilled cheese + Italian wedding soup (Taken with instagram)

Ground turkey chipotle tacos. (Taken with instagram)

agirlthrives:

year of plenty. (Taken with instagram)

Beginning of the year? Time to look at last year’s resolutions and set some new ones. Get excited, Tumblrverse. First, the year past, which was a roller coaster ride and the best year of my life thus far.

2011 Resolutions:

1. Write more. Done pretty well! Even started a new novel, something I haven’t done in almost a decade. More to come.

2. Enroll for my master’s degree in the fall. Split decision. I applied to Wesleyan’s Graduate Liberal Studie Program, got in, but life happened and I never officially enrolled. This is probably being shelved until 2013 now. I am okay with that.

3. Read at least one article from the Hartford Courant, New York Times and BBC each day. I started strong with this, but then really dropped off on this one. However, I am now thoroughly hooked on NPR, which keeps me updated on the news.

4. Limit myself to fast food twice a month and other take out once (or none) a week. Failed hard, but the fiancée and I have plans for this year.

5. Cook at least two good meals for myself each week. See #4.

So, about 2.5 out of 5 last year (Out of 4 if you count #4 and #5 as one big dietary resolution). That said, I did a lot of other big stuff that helps balance things out: got a new job, moved, got a kitten, got engaged. Good year, Ben.

Time to set some goals for 2012.

1. Create and stick to a budget. This one is critical with a wedding coming up. I did okay with this in the fall of last year, but gave up on it around the holiday season. This year, we’re cracking down and saving big time for a nice wedding and honeymoon.

2. Finish my novel. Ew, how cliché. Still, I need to do it.

3. Read 1-2 books per month. My reading schedule has really slowed down, lately, and I need to push myself to get reading in earnest again. I’m into the second book of The Hunger Games right now, I figure I should be able to finish the trilogy by the end of the month if not sooner, but I know longer books could take the whole month.

4. Cook good meals for ourselves. This is part budget, part health. The fiancée and I both want to eat better and save some money by cooking good meals. We’ve already got an awesome menu lineup for this week. Hopefully we can keep it going for the next 51!

I think that’s all for this year. It’s going to be a busy one. Let’s see how things go! Have a great 2012, all!

Face-plant tired. (Taken with instagram)

Veggie sausage + kale! My fiancée is an amazing cook! (Taken with instagram)

Love and coffee. (Taken with instagram)

Amos likes his house. (Taken with instagram)