Shanna's New Year's {Home & Blog} Resolutions

Seriously? It's 2012? My head is spinning.  I honestly kind of lost control of time back in July. But the new year is here, and I am a big list-maker, so of course I will make resolutions!  

image courtesy of Polwig

Here's a peek into what I'm resolving for home and blog stuff in 2012 ...

* Finish those unfinished projects!  I have a slew of them, not the least of which is to reupholster and redo my $15 Craigslist chair- the green pleather is torturing me.  This one:

* Take the plunge and (finally) order and hang bamboo blinds in the living room, dining room and kitchen.  Those windows really do need it. 

* Really work on the kids' rooms.  I need to take a break from the more public spaces downstairs and hang curtains, artwork and just get the kids' rooms feeling more finished and cozy for them.  

* Accessorize.The.Den.Bookshelves.  Enough said.  OK and buy some lamps for the console table. 

 * Continue working on the living room/office.  I think I may buy some tall IKEA Billy bookshelves along with some trim and make them into built-ins?  I'm thinking of putting an entire row of them along that back wall (in this old picture):

* Dive in and do board and batten in the dining room ... or maybe just keep it simpler and do boxes of molding around my space (which would mean I don't have to tear out the existing baseboards).  Thoughts?

Board & Batten:  image courtesy of Centsational Girl

Molding Squares: image courtesy of Bower Power/The Nate Berkus Show

* For the blog, improve our photos.  I don't think I am ready to invest in a fancy camera, but I can at least get to know what my little point and shoot can do.  I need to spend a little more time working on taking good photos.  After all, photos are what make blogs pretty.  

* I also want to keep our house tour tabs current.  I get woefully behind with this task.  I know the first thing I do when I find a new blog is click on that tab.  I've gotta do it weekly.  

* I want to take a home improvement class in tiling at Lowe's or Home Depot.  I really want to start thinking about redoing the upstairs baths.

* Oh, I would be remiss if I did not mention one of my personal resolutions for 2012: run a half marathon in under 2 hours.  I've mentioned that I have always wanted to do it and never have.  This is the year!  My first race is the National Half in Washington DC on March 17.  Hopefully the luck o' the Irish will be with me that day as I make my PR!

And that does it!  What about you? Do you make new years resolutions?  If you do, what are some of yours?

See you swoon,