13 of 13 in Review

If you remember... a year ago I made my 13 of 13 goal list.

Since it's the end of the year, I thought it would be appropriate to sweep through the list and see how I did with all my goals! The photos will tell the progress :)
(click the link to see the full post on each goal!)

1. Learn to knit

2. Roast a turkey

  
3. Go berry picking 
 

4. Throw a pretty Pinterest inspired party for my girlfriends  
 

5. Plant and maintain a flower garden

6. Run another 5K race (or an 8K if I can!)
Didn't make it to the 8K... whole pregnancy thing got in the way... maybe another year!

7. Scrapbook a complete wedding album

8. Learn a new sport 

9. Complete a photo wall for the house

10. Read the book "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky 

  (couldn't ever get into it - maybe this will motivate me!)

 

11. Completely redecorate our bedroom (from paint to carpet to accessories)

I guess I didn't really complete this goal...   Although at the time, we didn't know we would be expecting a baby by the end of the year. Our efforts were somewhat re-directed to redecorate a baby room instead. Here's a sneak peak at the end results... more pictures to come once the crib is done! 

12. Leave Canada

Unfortunately I didn't make it out of Canada another time, like I was hoping - but this quick trip over the border still counts... right??

13. Compose 100 blog posts

Did this in May!! Need to be a bit more ambitious this year.... although we are having a baby... so maybe not, lol.

BONUS GOAL: Photograph all of the above goals :) - DONE! 

There you have it! 

All but one of the goals completed - I'm pretty proud of that! 

Stay tuned for my new 14 goals of 2014 :) 

{xoxo}

10. Read the book "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoevsky - Check!

I may have waited until the very last week of the year, but I did it! 

I finished the book Crime and Punishment! 

Phew! 

 Overall it was a good read. 

Because of the writing style, and the very Russian names, It was a challenge for me to read if I was at all tired, which was always for the past 8 months! 

I felt like I needed a good stretch of time to really be able to dig into the novel and get anywhere. I'm glad I put it on my list because I always wanted to read it, but it was definitely challenging to find the time. 

Fluffier, easy-to-read books are usually more my style, lol.

I will probably not be putting another classic novel on my 2014 goal list... 

... but this one was a success! 

{xoxo}

7. Scrapbook a Complete Wedding Album - Check!

Another goal done! 

This goal wasn't really challenging per se... at least from the perspective of an avid scrapbooker, but it WAS time consuming! 

This type A personality couldn't just finish ten pages and call it a day. Nope. Had to complete a page for everything. Getting ready. Ceremony. Family. Wedding party. Decorations. Speeches. Dance. Photo booth. 

The list goes on and on... 

But I did it! And I'm thrilled with the end results! 

That's one thick book of amazing memories :)

Just to jog your memories, here are a couple of my favourite pages from the album:

30 pages later and the scrapbook is on display!
Just a bit past our first year anniversary! 

Time to start the baby book now :) 

{xoxo}

2. Roast a Turkey - Check!

This was easily my most intimidating goal yet: roasting a turkey!

Doesn't sound all that bad to you kitchen gurus, but for this novice, stuffing and cooking the perfect turkey was extremely unnerving!

When I put it on my 13 of 13 goal list, it was still 10 months away, but the day approached very quickly!

Luckily I planned ahead (as I always do...). 

Planned ahead starting last Christmas, before this goal list was even written down! I followed my mother around like a hawk writing down every step of her turkey preparation ritual. Right down to the little details like "open the bag". I pulled out the list early this year to prepare myself, aaand, luckily me for, mom was still available by text/phone all weekend in case emergencies arose! 

Despite the nightmarish Thanksgiving that took place in my dream the night before (think completely ruined Thanksgiving dinner!), my actual turkey was amazing! And moist!
Good thing too, because I had four hungry family members headed over to enjoy it! 

This turkey definitely put everyone into a nice tryptophan coma :)

{xoxo}

4. Throw a Pretty Pinterest Inspired Party for My Girlfriends

The invitations went out at the beginning of September! 

And so began goal #4 from my 13 of 13 goal list: 

Throw a Pretty Pinterest Inspired Party for My Girlfriends :)

This party encompassed many of the things that I enjoy doing on a regular basis. 

Hosting events. Decorating. Baking. Crafting. 

And what better time to do it than during my favourite season! 

The idea was for the party to be "Pinterest inspired" through crafts and snacks. 

Every guest was invited to bring a snack, many of which were found and shared through Pinterest. 

Then each guest was also invited to decorate a wreath for the fall season. 

I filled my "Fall L-O-V-E" board (on Pinterest) up with inspiration for creative wreath decorating, and others find inspiration from Pinterest too :) 

Here are some snippets of the decorations, food, and crafting that took place:

Here are a few of the AMAZING wreaths that came out of the event! 

(some are still in progress and even more were finished at home)

Homemade party favors to take home :) 

Caramel apple dip. 

No guest went home empty handed!

(Except for one, who I forgot to give a favor to... I blame it on pregnancy brain!)

I had a great time planning and hosting this ladies event. 

Now to start planning a winter party!

Any ideas for a theme and/or craft?!?

{xoxo}

5. Plant and Maintain a Flower Garden - Check!

My husband says I've achieved this goal because I've planted the gardens, weeded them several times, and none of the flowers are dead!

Here's a couple pictures from the front of our house with the new rock-less gardens:
(see before pictures here)

And my fluttering guest while I was weeding :)

One of my flower baskets from the front:

The dogs hiding from the hot sun.

And a peak at the back circular garden - still blooming some new August flowers!
(again before pictures here)

I love the addition that the fountain added to the yard! 

Next year I'm planning to add a couple rows of annuals around the edge of the circular garden, but obviously we didn't get there this summer. 

I'm really happy with the progress though. 

Also, I'm double plus happy that the rocks are gone, and somewhat surprised that all the plants (new and old!) are still alive :) 

Happy gardening! 

{xoxo}