I shudder to call them “resolutions,” but that’s really what they are. haha. This is the first year I have ever come up with resolutions or goals for the new year. Generally I think of them as pointless, since most people break them within a few weeks or months. This time my husband and I share a few of the goals, so I feel that will keep me a bit more motivated. Let’s get to the list, shall we?

First up, you all know that my goal is to blog every day this year. I’m going to really really try. Along with that, I figure since I’ll be blogging every day and no one wants to just read text all the time, I might as well try to take a photo every day as well. So a photo and a blog post, every day this year.

Our next goal is to gain debt freedom. We’re loosely following Dave Ramsey’s methods, but not entirely. We aren’t able to use cash 100% of the time, mainly because there’s only one ATM for our bank in our town and it’s out of the way. But we’re going to start using cash for grocery trips, outings, fun stuff we do, etc. to try and keep spending to a minimum. We’ve worked out a budget system, we’ll continue meal planning, and we’re using his debt snowball method to attack our debt. Our goal is to be debt free aside from our mortgage in 18 months or less. We feel like it’s totally doable, and we’re really confident that we will succeed.

As a couple, we’ve made a commitment to getting healthy. Branden found DDP Yoga, and it really sparked him to want to get healthy. Diamond Dallas Page (DDP) is a former pro-wrestler, and Branden is a HUGE fan of wrestling, especially mid-90′s to early 00′s era wrestling. DDP created the program to heal his body after years of tearing it down in such a difficult industry. He saw such great results he decided to start selling his program to others. A man named Arthur (video) started the program unable to walk without assistance, due to repeated injury to his knees and back from being a paratrooper. In a year, he lost more than 100lb and was not only able to walk unassisted for the first time in years, but he’s also able to RUN. More than 5 years later, he’s still doing great. That was SUCH an inspiration to us. We’re purchasing the program and plan to start as soon as we get it.

Sort of drawing on the last goal, I’m looking to lose weight. I know that I am really over weight and it’s taking a toll on my body. In 2009 I fell and broke a vertebrae, which healed incorrectly and still causes me a ton of pain. The only options to fix it are either surgery or weight loss, and obviously weight loss is the better option of the two. My first goal is 75lb. Once I reach that mark I’ll figure out what my ultimate goal is, but 75lb is not too extreme for me. Ideally, I’d like to be at this goal by the end of July…

Which leads me to my next goal! I want to attend Blogher. It’s probably not the best timing for me to go, being the year we want to get out of debt, but dammit. It’s in Chicago and I won’t need to fly, so I want to try to go. I missed the deadline for early tickets (If anyone wants to sell me their early ticket, let me know!) so I need to save $400 for the ticket part, plus a bit more for my hotel room (shared with Jenn, Kylie, and Amanda!) and money for food and gas to drive there. I am so determined to make it happen. I’ve been wanting to go since the last time Blogher was in Chicago.  I WILL make it happen.

My last goal is another blog-related one. I want to connect more. Comment more. Make the experience more interactive not just for myself but for my readers too. It’s probably the easiest in principle but the most difficult in practice of all my goals. I’m a terrible comment giver.

What are your goals or resolutions for the new year?