Tag: goals

2025 Goals

Posted on by jsunrain

Every year I make 100 or so goals. Not to check everything off, but to have a fun list of things to do, to try!  Many things get carried over. Some things I drop from the list because they no longer interest me. Some goals achieved in 2024: visit LA, see a live band (saw Luna and X),  made zine (made a few and tabled at Milwaukee Zine Fest which was not a goal I had thought to have), do more art, and get nails done, 

Milwaukee Zine Fest

I was determined on January 1st 2025 to get one goal done! I made Spam fries. I love Spam but somehow the idea of them as fries doesn’t work for me, but I initially liked the idea! My friend and I also took an archery lesson. We really enjoyed it and want to do it more. Not on the goal list is my Goodreads goal of reading 25 books. I usually only ever read 1-5 books any given year, but this year I am more motivated for no reason. I am almost done with the audio book version of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I am also reading Waterlog by Roger Deakin. I recommend both books. I am more of a non fiction reader. Anyway, here are my 105 goals, more may always be added.

1.      Cook a recipe from my community cookbooks

2.      Learn to juggle

3.      Make paper mache antlers

4.      Use my tagine

5.      Do more meetups

6.      Get down to  200-210 pounds

7.      Start learning a language

8.      Walk more

9.      Make a sculpture

10. Take a pottery class

11. Take more artsy photos or photos of the world in general

12. Wear earrings more consistently

13. Learn chess

14. Create a milk and honey cheesecake

15. Make a cookbook zine

16. Make a fictional map

17. Make peach cobbler

18. Use instant pot more

19. Finish crochet blanket

20. Have a makeup lesson

21. Do monkey bars

22. Make some videos

23. Do more art

24. Practice ukulele

25. Try an accordion

26. Refamiliarize myself with the night sky

27. Go to zoo by myself, preferably when it is spring or fall

28. Go somewhere new

29. Do a 30 day challenge

30. Try stand up paddleboarding

31. Use apple peeler, make apple crisp, cake, or pie

32. Take a class in something new

33. Make dal Makhani

34. Make dal tardka

35. Cook from my regular cookbooks more

36. Make croissants

37. Make paella

38. Bake whole fish and/or make fish curry

39. Make spam fries

40. Make Lahmacun

41. Make Khachapuri

42. Make Okonomiyaki

43. Make Blueberry octopus pie

44. Make Fruit roll up

45. Knit a brioche project

46. Knit socks

47. Get a book about trees

48. Make Lumberjack cake

49. Journal every day, or be better about it

50. Zine fest

51. Write on my blog once a month

52. Do a weekend workshop if have money

53. Do a collaborative creative project

54. Go to a concert

55. Do like a term/research paper for the fun of it

56. Get published somewhere other than my blog

57. Create a lot more zines

58. Go camping

59. Take a Domestika class

60. Learn a new game

61. Have a two night staycation at a local hotel

62. Do a 5k

63. Play frisbee golf

64. Make a champagne cake

65. Post something on TikTok

66. Learn Rollerskating

67. Eat at a nice restaurant alone

68. Learn how to make a candle

69. Take a day trip

70. Make a style board

71. Have a tech free day

72. Make sourdough bread

73. Yoga

74. Go charter fishing

75. Chicago pen show or similar

76. Make ice cream

77. Read a book

78. Visit a lavender field

79. Take a walk in the rain

80. Try canoeing or kayaking

81. Finish knit WIPs

82. Take an Urban Ecology class

83. Visit Cleveland

84. Go to a winters farmers market

85. Ride a hot air balloon

86. Stay in a cabin

87. Figure out the best way to sell online

88. Learn professional photography

89. Take local cooking classes

90. Go to 7 mile fair

91. Write a letter to someone well known

92. Do rock climbing indoor

93. Take a knife skills class

94. Make omurice

95. Take an art class

96. Take a video editing class

97. Get a new iPad and learn Procreate

98. Learn archery

99. Make a collage

100.  Take a small train trip

101. Ride in a helicopter 

102. Create lighting moods at home

103. Go to Liontooth’s bookstore

104. Take a class or two at the Bindery

105. Indoor skydiving

We are not in the photo, I took it as we entered! At Chicago Archery.

My video on my 2025 goals!

Indulgent Resolutions

Posted on by jsunrain

This exchange had me wondering, why are our resolutions all about self improvement? Why aren’t we more like Ina? I don’t think there is anything wrong exercising and eating right, but we are humans, it is good to live a little. Of course I long ago stopped making resolutions and made goals. Arguably the same thing but I wasn’t going to attach a must do agenda to feel guilty about later. This year it morphed into a bucket list which really doesn’t suggest guilt if something is not accomplished. It will go on next years list if I want it to.

I did put some indulgent things on my bucket list like making peach cobbler. I love eating it but I have never made it. Drawing faces on eggs has been on my goal lists for years. Until this morning I still hadn’t done it. What does it accomplish? Making me happy and connecting with my inner child. Doesn’t need to accomplish anything more than that.

Here are some ideas for you:

  • Have a manicure
  • Archery class
  • Trip somewhere you always wanted to go
  • Sleep in on the weekend
  • Better yet, spend the whole weekend in your PJs watching (or reading or listening to) your favorite guilty pleasures and eating junk food
  • Take yourself out to dinner somewhere nice
  • Have a dinner date with a friend
  • Take a class for something you always wanted to learn
  • Buy a nice piece of clothing
  • Eat that decadent dessert

This is is just a starter list. What would you add?

Bucket List 2022

Posted on by jsunrain

Resolutions and goals are so boring! I have a bucket list! What should I add?

  1. Cook a recipe every month from a community cookbook
  2. Weigh only once a month
  3. Put effort into blog and YouTube channel
  4. Learn to juggle
  5. Make paper mache antlers
  6. Enter a cooking contest if any are happening
  7. Use my Tagine
  8. Practice piano once or twice a week
  9. Publish a poem and/or article somewhere that isn’t my blog
  10. Get involved in something in the community
  11. Eat healthy and exercise more
  12. Start learning Spanish
  13. Four mile walk once a week
  14. Make home made cream of tomato soup
  15. Make a sculpture
  16. Take a pottery class, maybe make a bowl
  17. Maybe take some writing classes
  18. Take more photos of the world
  19. Wear earrings more frequently
  20. Learn chess
  21. Bake a cake from scratch
  22. Create a milk and honey cheesecake
  23. Go to a cooking class
  24. Make a cookbook zine
  25. Make a fictional map
  26. Draw funny faces on eggs in the fridge
  27. Sleep in a yurt
  28. Create my own stationery
  29. Make pasta from scratch
  30. Make peach cobbler

I never liked the word “resolutions”, but I have done a goals list off and on for years. Sometimes even making a practice of 100 goals inspired by others who do the same. I don’t really do 100 anymore, just what comes to mind as well as look at past lists and see if there is anything I want to keep. But I don’t like calling them goals. It is more a loose list of maybe would be fun and/or beneficial to do. My friend John was like “a bucket list”. I think that is perfect!

Have a great new year everyone!