28 Before 28!

I always like writing down goals and planning my life.  It gives me a certain sense of direction.  I don't ALWAYS follow through with my goals but I think it still makes a difference writing it down on paper (or in this case, blogging about it).  So, as I turn 28 by the end of this year, I thought of writing down 28 must-do's!

Health & Fitness:
1.  Try rock climbing
2.  Be able to have more defined and less flabby arms
3.  Get to 130 lbs.
4.  Finish a sub 00:30 5km
5.  Finish a sub 01:00 10km
6.  Finish a sub 02:00 21km
7.  Do yoga on a regular basis - even just at home
8.  Learn to do away with soda.  Coke Zero, particularly
9.  Remove fast food from my diet (particularly McDonald's, KFC, Jollibee)
10.  Get a massage at least once a month

For Enlightenment and Knowledge:
11.  Finish reading Mere Christianity by CS Lewis
12.  Finish reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
13.  Finish reading Why We Run by Robin Harvie
14.  Finish reading You On A Diet by Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz
15.  Finish reading The Secret by Rhona Byrne
16.  Finish checking students' papers on time

For Fun:
17.  Try at least 5 restaurants (none in mind so far, any suggestions?)
18.  Go on an overnight trip - just us 3, or just H and I
19.  Bring Liam to Manila Ocean Park ;)
20.  Teach Liam to refer to me as MAMA and H as PAPA

For Beauty and Wellness:
21.  Get a super short bob (I've always wanted one, but I told myself I only will when I'm thin enough to get away with baring my face)
22.  Get manicure, pedicure and foot spa
23.  Get the habit of: cleanse, tone and moisturize
24.  Learn to put on eyeliner and eyeshadow.  Basically learn to put on own make-up!

For My Prayer Life:
25.  Get back the habit of praying the rosary daily
26.  Devote prayer time every single night - even just a few minutes a night will do
27.  Read the Bible on a regular basis

For Others:
28.  Save enough to be able to donate to a big amount to our annual Christmas party here at home with the help and their family members.

I Must!

More than RESOLUTIONS, I feel that GOALS have a better ring to it.  I think it gives better motivation :-D So, here are my 2012 GOALS :-)

1) READ, READ, READ!!!
- I've always loved reading.  I mean, hello, I grew up collecting Sweet Valley Twins series (Kids, Teens, High, University), Fear Street, Babysitter's Club and Love Stories.  It's just college got in the way, then work... With teaching, there's always something work-related to read so no time for leisure reading.  I've managed to sneak in a book or two, but this year, I plan to be able to read AT LEAST SIX books.  Currently these are the books I have in mind, all already on my bookshelf:

• The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
• The Teacher Man by Frank McCourt
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
• The Secret by Ronda Byrne
• The Winner Stands Alone by Paulo Coelho

...and if I get bored with any of those titles, there are about 15 more I could read (also on my bookshelf already).  Can anyone say obsessed-with-book-shopping?

2) HEALTHY LIVING

- I don't really consider myself a huge junk food eater although I do have a penchant for eating chips! Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream, Lays Barbecue, and a couple of other local brands.  I just love munching on those crunchy chips, grrr.  I noticed, though, that my husband does not like chips so much - which I found surprising and only realized recently, haha.  Anyway, I plan to TAKE OUT CHIPS COMPLETELY FROM MY DIET and then LESSEN MY INTAKE OF SODA and GET USED TO JUST HAVING WATER.

3) 42KM!

- This was actually my 2011 plan but I had the best reason to postpone this - BABY :-) So now, there's no holding back, I intend to go back to training by mid-June (2 months or so after giving birth) in order to hopefully finish that marathon by November/December.  I miss my running shoes :-(

4) FEED THE SOUL

- I want to MAINTAIN A HEALTHY PRAYER LIFE.  I mean I do pray and go to mass regularly but I feel that at some point, I've lost the closeness I used to have, so, there.  How to "feed the soul"? Pray the rosary once a week (at least, but hopefully everyday) and make sure to ALWAYS be present for Sunday mass.

5) NO NEW STUFF

- I really do not need anything NEW anymore.  I posted about that birthday watch and I STILL do have guilt feelings over its exorbitant price.  Anyway, looking at my shoe rack and closet, I do not need any more bags and shoes.  As for shoes, I have a trusty pair of:

• Slippers: My favorite plain chocolate brown Havaianas (has been with me for over 2 years)
• Fitflops: I have 2 pairs and I'm very happy and content (one black, one white - also see previous post on this)
• Flats: I just recently bought 2 pairs of SM Parisian flats which are very comfy :-) (also posted on this)
• Comfy shoes: My corduroy Sanuks 

As for bags, I already have my chocolate brown (yes I love the color) Le Pliage plus a bilberry one.  So, I'm good! 

...and lastly,

6) JUST DO IT

- I have this "plan" that is career-related and talking to this friend last night made me more secure about that plan.  I just am praying to God for the will-power to actually push through with the plan and DO it.  I will actually find out by January or February if this goal has been put into action.  

**

There you go,  I don't want to have too many goals so that's just SIX that I hope to be able to accomplish.  Wish me luck! :-D