First off, let me say that I never ever make new years resolutions. Ever. I usually think they're silly. And I still do, but my life has become so list oriented, that I decided to take part this year. In a way, this is less resolutions and more me sitting and making a list of things that I want to accomplish. It just so happens that the list-making is coming at the beginning of the year.

You buying it? Yea, me neither.

There are two parts of me that are getting a list. First is me, Emily, the mom, girlfriend (gees, I hate that word), friend and sometimes nut.

Then there's emmarie; the web design studio owning creative [mostly-] professional. She's kind of a nut too.

Two parts. Two lists of goals for the year.

Goals for Emily
1. Get my ass back in shape. Mountain and design life has made me pudgy in most places. I have joined a gym and am set and ready to go. I still have 3 5ks to train for.
2. Plan for the long-term future. David and I have resolved to start 401k and life insurance plans in the next 6 months. Morbid, I know, but with Bug around, sometimes things are put into grueling perspective.
3. Record my wine. This is a weird one and totally just for me. Two years ago I decided to make a record - on wine cards that I designed - of as many wines that we'd tried that I could, and we did it pretty diligently for about a year. The stack of wine cards we accumulated was pretty impressive, and not only were they a reminder of some great, or some not-so-great, wines that we tried, but they were a record of some of our favorite evenings together and with friends. Of great meals, outings and even conversations. I want to begin this again.

Goals for emmarie
1. Design my heart out. I try to do this always, but I really want to challenge myself in the coming months.
2. Tackle marketing and promos like never before. I already have several things lined up, like an upcoming print ad, and have promo packets on my roadmap.
3. Start planning for a brick and mortar studio, and maybe employees. I kid you not when I say I need an assistant/secretary, and perhaps a partner designer. My load is filling to the point where I've lightly considered closing to new clients. But what I really want is help managing current client updates, administration and errands. I have a long-term goal (perhaps 2-3 years) of taking emmarie Web Design out of my home office and into an external office, and hiring some help. I want to start seriously planning for this.

So there are some big goals that I wish to accomplish, and I won't lie by saying that I don't wish to have them accomplished by the end of the year.

Gees, I totally made resolutions.

Did you? What sort of things do you wish to accomplish this year?