Eight months down, four to go. The gorgeous weather we’ve had recently almost made up for all the rain we had earlier this season. These last few official weeks of summer have been rightfully spent down on the sand — soaking up the sun, swimming in the ocean, riding along the bike path, running on the boardwalk, listening to music, and wishing summer would stick around a little longer. When I wasn’t at the beach (or at work), I was sipping frozen drinks with a good book on the patio, horseback riding down at West Neck Creek Equestrian Center, or (as much as I hate to admit it) sitting on my couch indulging in episodes of Big Brother. I know summer technically lasts until the end of September, but work is about to get crazy, the rum bottles are all empty, and there are bathing suits and beach towels hanging from every doorknob in my house. I’m about to spend one more day pretending I’m on a never-ending vacation (because let’s face it — I kind of am), but then I have to do some laundry. (Maybe.) =)
Travel
Renew my passport – New passport in my possession, February 12.
Leave the country (temporarily, of course)
Spend a girls’ weekend in Nashville, TN – Spent the weekend in Nashville for Tina’s 30th birthday, January 18-20.
Visit Stephen in Pensacola (again), and take a little trip within a trip to New Orleans
Go shopping in Chicago
Visit Nicole in Texas
Visit Grace in New Hampshire
Visit Joelle in California
Gamble in the new Margaritaville Casino in Atlantic City – Gambled in the new Margaritaville Casino in AC, May 26.
Play poker in Las Vegas
Spend a day in NYC – Spent two days, and two nights in NYC, February 6-8. Spent the day in NYC, May 29. Spent the day in NYC again, July 24.
Take pictures of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse
Soak up some sunshine on a tropical beach
Spend time in one other northeast or southeast city (Charleston, Newport, Savannah, Miami, etc.)
Blogging
Finish merging my two blogs together into one
Decide on a name once and for all (suggestions welcome) – The Coastal Chicster it is, January 28.
Work with some my favorite local shops and businesses to feature them on my blog
Find ways to connect with other bloggers – In July, I linked up with a local vintage style blogger named Arielle to take some photos for her blog. I had the pleasure of doing two photo shoots with her in July.
Engage with readers more to grow traffic
Develop a media kit
Attend a blogging conference – Attended IFB Conference, February 6-7.
Upgrade to WordPress Pro – Did one better than that. This blog is now self-hosted! January 29.
For My Well-Being
Get contacts (or at least prescription sunglasses)
Have a better relationship with my cats
Eat less pizza – Definitely ate less pizza in January, as I’ve been experimenting with a gluten-free diet.
Work with a lifestyle coach – Completed a four-week “Sparkling Start” group workshop with Cara Alwill Leyba, January 30.
Consult with a nutritionist
Join Weight Watchers again, take it seriously, and get back down to my goal weight
Find new ways to exercise – Downloaded the RunKeeper app on my phone (not really a new way to exercise, but a new way to track and keep me motivated), June 29.
Find a charitable organization to dedicate some volunteer hours to each week and/or month – Joined the Employee Action Committee at work in March, and volunteered at the Spartyka Wounded Warrior 5K, March 30. Volunteered at Dive For A Cure, April 27.
Business Endeavors & Money
Sell fine art photography prints through the Lisa DeNoia Photography website – Uploaded three photos for sale on my website, June 20.
Design a line of stationery using my photos and/or graphic design skills
Write a few posts for my company’s blog at work – Wrote a post in January, but I don’t think they posted it yet.
Get a raise – Accepted a new position at work, January 31.
Open a Roth IRA
Up my monthly money market transfer to $275 in January and $300 in July – Upped transfer to $275, January 1. Upped transfer to $300, July 1.
The Usual
Go ice skating (extra points for Rockefeller Center)
Go horseback riding – Went horseback riding, July 14. From now until the end of the year, I’ll be partial leasing a horse named Ellie and riding two days a week! =)
Go surfing
Go snowboarding
Run in a race
Read at least 10 good books – Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos.com, Inc., The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiScalfani, A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams, Overseas by Beatriz Williams, Red Right Return by John H. Cunningham, Green to Go by John H. Cunningham, I’m Gonna Live My Life Like A Jimmy Buffett Song by Anthony Bjorklund, Jack and Di Rum Song by Anthony Bjorklund, Let Di Song of Change Blow Over My Head by Anthony Bjourklund, I Just Had To Go Back To Di Island by Anthony Bjorklund
See a few concerts – Saw the Virginia International Tattoo at Chrysler Hall, April 25. Jimmy Buffett @ Farm Bureau Live, July 13. The Wailers @ 31st street, August 6. John Mayer @ Farm Bureau Live, August 26. Rooster Foot on the beach, August 27. Fuel and Daughtry on the beach @ 5th Street Stage, August 30. Smashmouth and Barenaked Ladies (from afar on the beach), August 31. Third Eye Blind on the beach @ 5th Street Stage, September 1.
See a few plays – Saw American Idiot at Chrysler Hall, January 26. Saw the Met Opera’s production Rigoletto live in HD at the movie theater, February 16. Saw Jersey Boys at Chrysler Hall, March 8. Saw Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The Sandler Center, April 26.
Do yoga
Draw a picture – Sketched some tote bags for a little project I’m working on with my friend Sarah, June 3-6.
Write a poem
New Things to Do
Submit something I write to a publication or magazine
Host a champagne brunch for friends
Attend Fashion Week in NYC – I was in NYC when Fashion Week started, but thanks to a winter storm, didn’t make it anywhere close, February 8.
Go sailing
Cook more
Take a photography class
Visit a museum
Learn to sew
Enter one of my photographs into a competition
Take a dance class
Wish List
Own a pair of diamond earrings
Invest in new luggage
Acquire this camera lens
Get a bike rack for my car
Buy a timeshare or property in the Caribbean
And, as always, make a new resolution each month:
January: Recoup the savings account (did a little damage with Christmas and the NYE party…) – Kind of? Not really. Still working on that.
February: Pick out a web-based project management tool for my new job – I think I’ve settled on SmartSheet.
March: Go running! (as soon as DST starts…) – I went running the day that DST started…and that’s about it.
April: Finish cleaning out my closet and selling a whole bunch of crap on eBay – I’ve cleaned out most of the stuff I should get rid of, but I haven’t sold it all yet.
May: Finish editing Nashville photos and post (Tina made a special request for this to be done ASAP) – Edited and posted, May 2.
June: Come up with an idea for business #2 – Came up with a few ideas this month, but nothing major.
July: No shopping for clothes or shoes until my NJ trip – Accomplished. Although, I did do a bang-up job spending money up there this year. #oops
August: Weekend trip – I didn’t take weekend trip, but Kerri and her friends were in town for her bachelorette party all of Labor Day Weekend, and it felt like a weekend trip, for sure. =)
September: Get my laptop functioning properly again
