For the past several years, I’ve created a set of goals at the begining of the year that I’ve tried to complete during the year, with the latest being my 12 in 2012.  The past couple of years, I’ve also created a set of related summer goals that I try to complete in one season.  And I realized this year that I actually enjoy and have more success with the summer goals than with the yearly goals.  Keeping goals simple enough to get done in one season makes them less daunting.  It’s more fun to get one more little thing done and checked off my list.   Holly of Holly Would if She Could creates a bucket list that she tries to complete each season, and I really like her projects.  So, with all this in mind, I’ve decided to start doing four seasonal goal projects every year.  I think I’ll get more out of it that way, and I think it’ll create better content for you guys to read too, so it’s a win-win.

I’m off to a bit of a late start, but here’s my Fall 12:

1) Be able to do one dead-hang pull-up –  Like many women starting out in Crossfit (or any type of weightlifting) my upper-body is woefully lacking in strength.  I’m getting better, but I still haven’t gotten to the point where I can dead-hang pull-up.  So, I’ve been practicing banded pull-ups (where you tie a stretchy band onto the bar so that you’re not pulling up your entire weight).  I do this after each WOD I go to.    Being able to pull yourself up by your own strength is really thrilling, so I’m determined to be able to get there.

2) Hold a handstand for more than thirty seconds: I recently reached my goal of being able to do a handstand unassisted (albeit against a wall and with a bolster or pillow to keep from smacking my head into said wall, but still).  Now I want to get better, and eventually be able to do handstand push-ups.  So I’m practicing a couple times a week at home and at yoga.

3) Go walking or biking for at least 20 minutes every week:  I did this all summer and loved it.  While I’m good about getting in two to three Crossfit workouts every week, I’m not so good at making time for slow, sustained exercise that is vital for health and weight loss.  So I’m going to carve out at least 20 minutes every week to just walk or ride my bike.  This is so doable, it’s ridiculous.

4) Hike in the woods at least once:  Because I love it, but never do it.  It’s Fall, which is the perfect time to hike in Florida.  So I need to just do it.

5) Get my credit card debt sub $200:  I’m lucky in that my credit card debt is not insane.  But for the past year or so, I keep paying off a little bit, then putting a little bit back on.  I’m tired of this cycle, and I’m determined to completely pay it off so that I can focus more on my student loans.  So, I sealed my credit card in an envelope marked “for emergencies only”, and unless I have an emergency, I’m not going to use it until it’s paid off.

6) Set a grocery budget and stick to it: The quality of the food I eat is important to me, and since I can afford it, I’ve started to buy local, pasture raised meats almost exclusively.  I’m also getting a weekly local veggie delivery and am buying more organic veggies.  All of this is very good, and I don’t want to stop it, but I do need to watch more carefully how much I spend on food.  When I added up how much I spent on food in October, I was flabbergasted.  So I need to work to find a balance – I don’t want to compromise on quality, but I don’t want to go broke either.

7) Bring something awesome to Thanksgiving:  So this one is stolen from Holly.  Every year I go to Thanksgiving, I never bring anything.  This year, I’m determined to make something awesome (and of course, Paleo).

8) Try a dessert recipe from Practical Paleo:  I’ve been pretty much addicted to this cookbook, but I have yet to try any of the delicious looking recipes in it yet.  This. must. change.

9) Start a knitting project:  I’m still determined to get my knitting mojo back.  I have yarn, I have needles, I just need to make something.

10) Learn how to brew kombucha:  I’ve been loving kombucha lately (fermented foods are really good for you) and I’ve heard that it’s really easy to brew your own.  I really want to try this.

11) Blog at least twice a week:  I can do it, if I just make time for it.  It’s really not that hard.

12) Re-con something and post about it:  Because I do sewing re-con projects all the time, but I don’t document it.