Ringing in the New Year

Nearly every blogger on the world wide interwebs is taking a look back at their year of 2012 and making plans for 2013. As for me, I'm still getting over a birthday cake high, from my birthday on the 30th and am only starting to realize that this is the LAST DAY OF THE YEAR. I've also noticed that there seem to be a ridiculous amount of "new year's babies" (and those born on the days adjacent to new years) compared to birthdays in other times of the year.

In the yarn crafting respect, my year didn't really start until late July when I rediscovered the joys of crochet after a long hiatus. Knitting followed soon after that, and almost instantly I was pulled into the exciting new world of spinning.

Since then:

• I started a blanket for the Ravellenic Games (that I haven't yet finished). 
• I knit myself a pair of fair isle socks.
• I knit myself a "lace" cowl. Lace in quotes because its has lace techniques but made from a kind of bulky yarn.
• I made my little brother a pair of fingerless mittens.
• I started a sweater for the boyfriend (I have approx. three rows left of torso before I start sleeves).
• I knit a pair of TARDIS socks for the boyfriend.
• I crocheted Archer, a stuffed dog, for a mystery CAL.
• I knit a lace shawl for the Jen Lucas Mystery KAL.
• I knit a pair of socks for my best friend Frosty.
• I started an entralac scarf for my mother's belated Christmas gift.

I feel productive. Until this year, I had done a fair bit of knitting and crochet but never seemed to actually finish anything. I now have finished works that I can look back at and say, "I made that with my own two hands."

Looking forward to 2013, I have been trying to make concrete goals for myself, so I can actually achieve them. This is what I've come up with:

•  > 3.5 GPA during my last year in college. I have managed this every term up until now, except for the term where I took linear algebra and discrete math II at the same time.
• Knit/Crochet the following 13 items:
• 2 Hat
• 2 Sweater/Garment
• 1 Shawl/Coat/Jacket
• 1 Pair Gloves/Mittens
• 2 Scarf/Cowl
• 1 Pair Leggings/Legwarmers
• 1 Pair Shorts (Option, not sure if this is something I really want yet)
• 2 Pair Socks
• 1 Bag/Purse

• Update blog at least twice a week. I have been pretty lax up until now. I plan to change that.
• Cook at least thrice a week. I enjoy cooking, but like exercise I have a hard time convincing myself to get started and frequently reach for something quick and convenient. Also, college is expensive and so are groceries. I'll have to up my budgeting skills!

I'm eager to hear about your reflections and plans! If you've already posted on your blog, feel free to leave a link to it! I am an absolute sucker for "the best of 2012" posts. Also, if you know a really good pattern to fulfill one of the aforementioned goal items, please share that as well!