With 50 days left in 2014 I took a real look at this year. I love reflection and planning. This year was pretty awesome. Probably the best since we got married. And it absolutely flew by! Whether it was moving, the pregnancy, my masters… all of the above, I can’t tell. I tried to find the post about my New Years Resolutions, but all I found was a good riddance to 2013. To be fair, 2013 kind of was a giant mess. We needed that mess. It all worked out. But the entire year was us flying by the seat of our pants, and boy do I not miss that.

I think I was wary of New Years Resolutions last January, since my 2013 resolutions pretty much all failed. I still wrote some down in my journal, but they were so weak. Like a baby bird I’m scared to throw into the air for fear its wings won’t catch it up in flight. And you know what? Again. I didn’t really meet them. Much of that had to do with, you know, getting pregnant and all.

+ Finish my Masters Degree – not happening this year, Thanks Baby Holdy! But I am over halfway done! Technically I just have to finish by the end of August 2015. When I didn’t finish this summer my new personal deadline is just before baby gets here. *Fingers Crossed*

+ Write a Book – not even close, Thanks Baby Holdy! I went so far as to brainstorm and map out ONE of my ideas for a book, and just a big list of ideas for another. Aaaaaaand that’s it. Bonnie has motivated me to get back into it – maybe a conference or a writing group will make it a realistic resolution for next year.

+ Eliminate all Debt/Save up/Buy a new car/Prepare to buy a house – this one wasn’t a COMPLETE failure this year. We made huge strides and I see so much improvement and maturity in our finances this year. Still, we’re not in a position to buy a car, much less a house. We should have our debt completely paid off by January 1st, though! Yahtzee! (that is, until my masters degree student loans kick in after I graduate… ugh)

+ Increase Church Attendance/Spirituality – this is always on my resolutions in one form or another. Temple attendance this year was AWFUL. I don’t even want to tell you how many times I went because I’m pretty sure you’d want to tar and feather me. But I have been the most active and ward-involved since high school thanks to this cool ward and my calling in Primary!

+Be NICE – yeahhhhh I’m bad at this. I judge and gossip and presume and just generally need to be a nicer, more loving person. I just do.

+Expand my blog – I did ok with this. Got a new site. Did some new things like guest posts and giveaways and facebook pages. Still, there’s plenty of room to grow!

+Lose Weight/Exercise/Do a Cleanse – HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA pregnancy

So here I am, staring down the last 50 days of 2014 and feeling pretty good about it anyway. I am just so FREAKING excited for 2015. Almost as excited as I am terrified. Almost. 2014 didn’t quite meet all of my expectations because my targets all completely changed. I may not know what’s coming in 2015, but I know my target: be a good mom, wife and Mormon. I have 50 days to figure out what THOSE resolutions will be.

One thing I definitely know is that I’ll be doing my usual – planning away. I saw this planner on Pinterest and followed the link over to their site and Kickstarter. I’m intrigued. I have been through planner after planner after planner and can’t seem to find my own personal sweet spot, so maybe this one is it?

Currently I use a custom life planner from Erin Condren designs (above). I found it after EXTENSIVE research (and obvs a pinboard creation). It was cool to decide which planner pages I want, what titles and sections and pages I wanted, size, even a picture on the back! This is the best planner I’ve ever had and, although pricey, worth the money. As a Type A plan-every-second person I’d pay almost anything to get a planner that works for me.

Still, even that doesn’t cut it sometimes. Have any of you guys ever created your own planners or planning pages? I have zero artistic design bones in my body, but if I could find someone who would design them for me and find some way to print and bind it… I can’t even think about it without salivating. This makes me want to go read Seven Habits all over again. In fact, that’s a Christmas Break resolution I intend to keep this year.

Other links and pins that have me thinking about these last 50 days and the new year ahead

• Making a sick Christmas package for my brother and including some of this cute origami
• Getting together an “articles club” – found and suggested by my friend Danica
• Attending my favorite fall/winter event – the Lighting of the Riverwoods! I’ll see you there Nov. 21st!
• Guardians of the Galaxy comes out on December 9 and you best believe I’ll be at Walmart with cash in hand for that Blu-ray.
• As it appears I’m having more “ruff” (LOL) days than easy ones, I’m spending tons of time looking at puppies and babies. Awwwwww! (I watch probably 3 of these a day, actually)

2014, you’ve been so good to me! I intend to use your last 50 days with excitement and gratitude. Bring on those holidays and the last of my childless years!