As you can probably tell, I fell off the blogging bandwagon for a while. I promise to keep in touch better in 2012! Yes, Bubby recovered from his illness and has since graduated to many other minor health fiascoes that have come and hopefully have gone without further drama. But that's all a part of raising a child!
I have many goals for the new year, and I hope to see all of them come to fruition. However, it's easy to get derailed, so I'm going to tell you what they are in hopes that you will hold me accountable by simply knowing my ambitions.
Number 1: I want to work out regularly and get in shape. I don't want to weigh a certain weight or fit into a certain pant size. I just want to feel healthy and not have a saggy belly. Also, I don't want to be winded after getting back into the instructor car with my student, having only put the five cones away that we use for maneuverability practice! That is embarrassing!
Number 2: I want to purchase our first home this year. Having the ability to grow most of our own food on our own land, having space for Bubby to run free, and finally being able to settle down in a place we can call home for decades to come are only some of the reasons we want to own a home. After being denied because the bank wouldn't accept our sources of income since we were only self-employed for six months instead of the two years they require, I want to ensure that when we try again, we have a good down payment and a lower debt-to-income ratio so that we can afford a decent home to....
Number 3: ...build a cat rescue center! That's right - we want to set aside some space in our new home to house cats that have nowhere to go. This involves buying cat litter boxes, scratching posts, food dishes, cleaning supplies, food, etc. which is all going to be quite costly. It has been a dream of DH and I for a while now to be able to not only take in cats but to be a community resource to pet owners looking for low-cost spay/neuter services, information on pest control, and so much more. Since I love taking photos of cats, I will have no problem stocking the cat shelter website full of photos and info on each kitty. To accomplish this goal, we are going to need funds, and one of the ways we plan to raise funding is to....
Number 4: ...start a successful campaign on IndieGoGo! IndieGoGo is an international funding platform that anyone can use to help raise funds for a broad range of projects. I am going to use it to help fund the shelter I've always wanted to set up. On a related note, there's a business the hubby and I are going to start that would be a great help to pet owners:
Number 5: A pet waste cleanup and removal service. I know, not the most glamorous thing, but there are elderly and disabled people who are not as able to get around and clean up after their pets who would love to keep their loving cats or dogs for the companionship. We would love to offer an affordable cleanup service for them, as well as people who just don't have the time to clean up after their pets or who don't want the hassle. In addition, I would set up a photo shoot for the pet owners and their pets and give them free or discounted photo packages, especially during good weather or around the holidays.
Number 6: Potty train Bubby. He already has enough control to pee when I sit him on the potty, so I don't think it will take much more encouragement. I can't wait for him to be out of diapers, but at the same time I realize he is growing up so fast!
So, there you have it (for now). When I accomplish these goals, it will be BY FAR the most productive year of my life! Let's hope I don't burn out one month in. Just kidding - positive thoughts! I hope you all have a healthy, happy new year to share with the ones you love.
- J9
