Something Nice

When your neighbor brings you home grown spinach and homemade jam early in the morning!

May Plant Update

May had flowers, that's for sure!! I never realized how much I liked some of these common yard flowers until moving to Asbury Park. I mean, I like all flowers, but azaleas and roses have jumped up to become favorites in the last two years. It's amazing to see them bloom in the spring. 

Those colors are surreal!

I worry every year that our potted plants won't return, but so far so good!

Rododendrons are native to NJ and on my list for the yard. 

Such a lovey yard I came across walking in the neighborhood. 

Last year we had tons and tons of these wild little white flowers in the front yard. This year we were happy to see them return, even in fewer number. 

Last year, I planted this iris and it never bloomed. I was ecstatic to see it thriving! I hope they go nuts and cover the front bed. 

My lemon balm came back with a vengeance. 

These were roadside in Allenhurst NJ. Anyone know what they are?

I want roses everywhere!!!

Beach roses, too!

Theses are the roses in front of the post office that I pass every day on my way to work. It's such a treat and they bloom all Summer. 

What are some of your favorite May flowers? Did you plant this year, or just enjoy what comes up?  Share your plant observations!

Off Season: The French Market

Since moving to New Jersey in 2015, I've enjoyed exploring the state and do so the most when tourists are not around. Living in a seasonal tourist hot spot is fun, but I love the Off Season! Over the last few years I've made a few posts on the blog about places that I've seen, noted, liked or loved. Now you can find them all by checking out the Off Season link.  

A friend told me I had to visit The French Market in Rumson, NJ, bc it was right up my alley. She was right! I visited the last weekend in April and have been back 3 times since then! 

Mostly The French Market is a little cafe with fresh bread, pastries, take out prepared food, coffee,  and a ton of sandwiches, wraps, quiches, etc.. but it also sells gift items, plants, and very pretty, if not practical, planting supplies.  

I love the interior which is all black and white and brown with lots of live plants. But I especially love the back room which is a modified, winterized greenhouse and so adorable. The food is simple, fresh and tasty!

The French Market
114 E River Rd, Rumson, NJ 07760
- Open until 7pm on weekdays
- Owned by 3 designers/friends.
- Opened it's doors in July 2015.
- Sadly only has a Facebook page (which I won't bother to force upon you) instead of a proper website. But it does have an Instagram. 
- First visit April 2017

Something New: Introducing Mad Cat Quilts Instagram

Recently, I decided that I needed more quilt photos in my life so now Mad Cat Quilts officially has it's own Instagram! I hope any one interested in this blog follows @madcatquilts!

I've long had a personal insta, and feel free to follow me there, but I wanted a place for all the quilty goodness! Instagram is one of my favorite ways to connect with people and learn so I'm hoping to meet a lot of great new people, learn some techniques, branch out and connect, and see lots of quilts, of course!

Here are some of my recent posts:

I hope to show lots and lots of quilts, but a good mix of cats and other pretty things that inspire me to quilt, too! Playing records, walking my neighborhood, seeing art, and exploring all manifest in my quilt making. 

So far, I'm loving @madcatquilts and I'm trying to branch out from my usual instagram MO by trying to post new things (like videos!). I'm hoping to add more features and use this tool as a companion for the blogs, so next time you're on the gram, stop by and say hi!

April In Review

April was a busy month. Do I say that every month?

OK, before I get into reviewing and remembering last month, I need to get something off my chest; I was terrible at blogging in April. I had a hard time keeping to my schedule and meeting my goals. Sure, sometimes life gets ahead of blogging, but one thing I enjoy and want to prioritize is this space. It's not always easy, but I continue to learn and grow from my attempts to be a better blogger. In May I plan to renew my commitment to this blog and learning from it. I just wanted to say that, put it out there, at the beginning of a new month. 

Anyone else exclaiming their enthusiasm for their... trade, craft, blog, journal, instagram, etc...? Shout it out in the comments. 

Now on to April:

We spent a lot of time at home in April. We spent time chilling in the back yard with bonfires and cats, walking on our local beaches, planting, weeding, cleaning, crafting and catching up on sleep. Afternoon naps with cats are the best! 

We traveled some this month, too. Seeing friends and family and familiar places. Brooklyn's still cool, Cape May is still cozy, in case you were wondering!  

A good portion of April was just about going outside, enjoying the weather, spotting the #watchercats, and taking endless photos of flowers. 

A lot of sewing got done this month and some exciting things are happening for Mad Cat Quilts. Be on the look out for new work, new columns, new instas to follow! April was a time to grow!

In the spirit of growth, here are some things I learned, or relearned in April:
- TV is bad for me and my productivity (but I love it!).
- Getting up early is hard, but oh so satisfying. 
- I love seeing flowers I planted last year coming back again! 

April was plenty rainy, so here's hoping May sees tons of buds blooming!

April Plant Update

April saw a lot of plant activity! We're still on our way through the month and I hope the old April adage holds true, bc we have a had our share of rainy days!

We moved a bunch of plants around inside to help them thrive. 

My front beds were starting to bloom at the beginning of the month. 

After clearing them out a little and giving them some love, they are doing even better. 

Trees are blooming all over town!

My herbs are slowly returning. 

I've gotta clear these guys out and add soil. 

Only about half my baby roses made it thru the Winter, but the ones that did are living it up!

I can't wait until the weather evens out. What have plants been doing where you live this month?

Something New: Writing Letters

I debated even making this post when I still have a letter that needs finished and sent.

Writing letters in an old thing that's new again for me recently! When I was a teenager, I loved writing and receiving letters and had penpals that I wrote to until my early 20s. But living in the city, the internet, a cell phone, etc... helped make letter writing fade from my routine. That was almost 20 years ago. 

About a year ago one of my BFFs moved across the county and started writing letters to folks back home. We've exchanged a few and I'm hooked again! Now I'm looking for other far off friends to write letters to. That's not a car test when most of my friends live at least one state away. 

Letter writing isn't as easy as I remember it from my childhood. It's hard to find the time to get a letter written, hard to wait for a response (especially if there's any mail shenanigans), hard to remember what you wrote about in the last letter. It's hard not to text, call or email the person instead. But so far, I'm finding it a fulfilling and lovely pastime. 

I've settled into liking to use a Sharpie Pen and grid paper for my letters. This is basically the same set up I use for my Bullet Journal as well. I love to sit at a cafe, bar, or my dest and write, uninterrupted. If I have a beer, cocktail or cup of coffee, all the better. A cat in my lap helps, too. 

I think letter writing is a great mindful, slow activity, and I need more of those in my life!

Any letter writers out there? Any favorites, tips, tricks, ideas? Feel like adding a pen pal to the mix?

WIP 4/9/17

We're off on an adventure today, and I hope to do some slow stitching in the car. 

Tom is staying home and guarding the quilts. 

March in Review

I can't believe March is all ready over. Wow. This year is flying by already and it's pretty nuts. I am shocked each week at how fast it goes by. 

March didn't really come in like a lion or leave like a lamb. March was pretty all over the place all month. We had sun, 70 degree days, torrential rains, mild days, grey and sun. We had our share of snow.

Beach days were few this month (only 5 compared to last month's 11 - which was also pretty bad). But we made the best of them and found some wonderful treasure. We are honing our sea glass collection and straining our eyes but becoming better hunters. 

#watchercats, on the other hand, were out in full force. I saw many porch cats, and watchers enjoying the warmer days and the rays of sunshine when they could. Tom even made an unexpected pot sitting watcher cat appearance. 

We drove around a lot this month and made some new discoveries. At home we made the most of new growth. We saw family and friends, traveled some for work, but mostly stayed close to home. We made plans, and started new projects. 

A lot of sewing happened this month, aided by the long awaited addition of a dining room table (more on that soon)!

By far the best activity in March was just hanging with our family cats!

So March was full (but not so warm), and went fast. What do you have in store, April?

Simple Swap: Green Tea

I've been trying to make little changes in my life and routines. Going to the gym, eating less bread, using less paper towels, setting cleaning and food shopping schedules, replacing OK solutions with better ones. I'm making some simple swaps. 

Lately, I've been drinking green tea. I dig it. I like the feeling of caffeine without the jitteriness of coffee. Don't get me wrong, I still love coffee and I wouldn't give it up! I like to have my 2 - 3 cups of coffee, then switch over to tea in the afternoon. I also have been having trouble with my knee lately, and green tea is a great anti inflammatory. What an easy simple swap. 

Anyone else out there working on making some little changes?

March Plant Update

The beginning of the month was warm and promising for bulbs and shoots, but as it went on we had snow and storms and cold temps. Hopefully most will survive and Marches plants will bloom to April flowers. 

Snow covered shoots. 

The beginnings of a bloom. 

One of the many succulents I bought last month grew a little flower that only lasted a few days. 

My neighbor's daffs get more light than mine...

But not as much as this dude.

Our kitchen tree is going nuts. 

The quality of this last photo is pretty poor and not a plant update, but a certainly a yard update. The Cooper's hawk that visited us last year has returned!

What were your March Plant Observations?

Something New: Spring Capsule Wardrobe Ideas

Despite having read a lot about and taken inspiration from Capsule Wardrobes, I have never actually made one. This Spring, I plan to actually try it. You may be thinking, but it is Spring! I know! Just two days after the vernal equinox I'm testing out some ideas, writing some goals and getting started. I hoping to have my Spring Capsule done and ready by the start of April. 

"What is a capsule wardrobe?" You might ask. Basically, a capsule wardrobe is a an assortment of clothing limited to a few key pieces (usually 33-37 items) that are the only ones you wear for a season. All your other clothes are either given away, discarded, or stored for another capsule. 

There are many reasons I want to try a capsule this year but a major reason is that, although I have cut way down on what I buy (and I almost exclusively buy second hand now), I still have far too much. This is true of several aspects of my life, but with my clothes it's out of control!! This seems especially unnecessary bc I mostly wear the same things over and over. For 2017, I'm focusing on reducing my things and the waste that comes along with having too much. 

I'm trying to make our house less cluttered and more usable. Reducing the ridiculous amount of clothing I have (and don't use) will help that. The space taken up with these could be better utilized and I am sure I can learn to live with less. I'm hopping that I can be more organized and only hold on to the items I really need. This will be a good way to continue to shop sustainably, either by buying second hand or buying clothing made in the USA, or by responsible makers.  

Here are some initial thoughts:
Style - I'd like to have one... Maybe this can help. 
Work clothes - Id like to dress a bit more thoughtfully at work. Why not dress more thoughtfully all the time?
Comfort -  Is paramount.
Things I love - Color, pattern, high wasted jeans, plain t shirts, sweaters, dresses and skirts with pockets, Vans...
Precious things - I want to wear clothes I love, not hide them bc I worry they will get ruined.
Practical things - I want the clothes I wear to be useful in all aspects of my life and not in only one or two situations. I want them to fit well, and make me feel good. 

I have tried some other wardrobe projects in the past, but I'm hoping this one works. I'll be checking in from time to time with more thoughts. I hope to keep a record of this experiments but also to open it up for discussion among my readers. For more info and inspiration on Capsule Wardrobes follow these links:
Unfancy
Be More With Less
The Blissful Mind
Rowdy Kittens
 

Anyone else new to capsule wardrobes? Already have one? What works for you?

Two Hours in Atlantic City

A few weeks ago we took some day trips around NJ. We headed down to Atlantic City, but not for gambling as you might suspect. We headed to see some Jersey Shore sights and visit the Atlantic City Aquarium. 

We only spent a few hours in town but we were struck by the shocking contrast of the gaudy, loud, false facades of the casinos and boardwalk, and the serene beaches and skies. The clash of nature and man is very apparent. The divide between opulence and extravagance and utter poverty is everywhere. 

Like much of the once great coastal attractions AC is falling into ruin. With casinos closing, damage from Super Storm Sandy, and depletion of natural resources, the old family friendly beach resort is crumbling. I will definitely be keeping an eye on what happens to Atlantic City in the future. 

Zoo at Home, Zoo Abroad: Atlantic City Aquarium

Last week was our 4th wedding anniversary and we decided to take several day trips around NJ instead of one bigger trip. We are still new to living here and there are so many places to explore. New Jersey has many unique areas and environments for a small state. 

The first day, we opted to wing it, and headed down the coast until we got to Atlantic City. I have been wanting to check out the Atlantic City Aquarium for a few months now. 

Atlantic City is a sprawling peninsula/island in South New Jersey. Obviously known for it's casinos and gambling, it also has lovely wide beaches, protected wetlands, and is a stopping point for tons of shore birds. The aquarium is on the north west point of the land mass. 

This aquarium is pretty small with two floors plus a bonus tiny third floor that is really more of an observation deck. The views are quite spectacular. 

The Atlantic City Aquarium has been open since 1999 and houses many creatures, both local to the area and exotic. An interesting aspect of this aquarium is that there are lots of touch tanks scattered throughout the exhibits. We were able to see rays feeding and rushing around their tank and touch them as they sped by! There were horseshoe crabs and small sharks to touch as well. 

There were quite a few workers there, minding the touch tanks, and available for questions. We talked with one for quite a while about a giant loggerhead sea turtle in one of the larger tanks. We learned that he was rescued and brought to the zoo about 15 years ago. He is blind and had beached himself, a sure sign he was close to death. Now 22 and living comfortably in the AC Aquarium he is hand fed squid and fish jello everyday and can live out his remaining 75 years in peace. 

Outside the aquarium, there was a small village, amphitheater, and shops, which were not open while we were there and must be a Summer attraction. There was also a diving bell which had been an Atlantic City oddity. Visitor could pay to get submerged off one of the boardwalk piers. 

This seems like a perfect place for smaller children and a good stopping point as you make your way thru NJ. There are docks, and other things to do in the immediate area, a seemingly small oasis from the rest of the City. AC is a bizarre mix of opulence and utter despair. Gold gilded casinos line some block while the next block seems completely burnt out or abandoned. Besides the aquarium I would like to visit the Absecon Lighthouse, which had closed by the time we got to it on this trip. While most of AC made me feel uneasy, the Atlantic City Aquarium was a peaceful place. I would definitely recommend this aquarium and will be coming back to visit in other seasons.

Something New: A Record Player

I can't even count the amount of years that I have wanted a record player. 
Like many people of my age, I had a record player growing up. I loved it, but I also loved cassettes and CDs. When my record player stopped working, I never got a new one. But somehow, as an adult I started yearning for a turntable. There's something so different about not skipping around on iTunes, about not having a playlist, about having to turn over the vinyl to get to side 2. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that a record player fit in with my idea of a slower lifestyle. 
So after years of deliberation, I just bought one! We had a small collection of records already so our first few weeks were spent listening to those. Now, going into our third month, we've started to pick up "new" records here and there. First, we raided my mother's old collection. Then we moved on to finding vinyl in thrift shops, and used record shops. 
It's been a lot of fun but it's also a struggle to maintain the idea of living with less. I think so far we've done a good job at not going crazy! 

Who else out there enjoys their record player? Any advice on cool record shops, online or otherwise? What is your favorite genre of music to listen to on vinyl?

January Plant Update

I've tried to keep a watchful eye around me so far this month. Here are some botanical observations. 

Seeing these made me rue not foraging them. 

Outside, a huge snow storm, inside the plants are thriving. 

Here's how an outside plant faired. 

Teaching at The New School this month, I've been observing some of their growing experiments. 

This is more a picture of critters than plants, but the other morning there are no less than 12 morning doves on our back porch. They were huddled in the rain, and waited for the squirrel (seen behind) to finish enjoying his breakfast before alighting to the feeders. 

Have your January plant observations been what you expected? 

2017 Goals

As the last year ends, I start to think about things I want to accomplish in the coming year. Things that I want to exert my energy and thoughts to. I find that making this list helps me keep them in my thoughts and have a guide to live by. My overarching goal is always to Live More Mindfully. Here is my list for 2017:

Work on Personal Endeavors as Much as My Job
In 2015 I wrote: "I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me". Ever since then, I have been working towards this goal, that has come to not only encompass Art but also other important aspects of my Life outside of a job. After we moved, in late 2015 and early 2016, I tried very hard to take a break from a job, I tried to work outside of the house less and in the house more. It had mixed results but it gave me a lot of insight into myself and how I work, and what work means to me, both my own and my job. This year, I plan on further committing to working a job less and working for myself more. One idea I have for this, inspired by my new beach town life style, is to make Summer the time that I work my job more and play harder, and Winter the time that I focus on my own endeavors. Seasonal living is totally new to me, but I see many possibilities there. 

Be a Better Quilter, Be a Better Blogger
I want to increase my quilting skill, learn more, push myself. I want to be a better and more consistent blogger. 

House, Cats, Plants, Family, Friends, Health
Another goal to level up in aspects of my life. This goal includes things like; eating better, drinking more water, exercising more, daily walks, daily stretching, cat contemplation and cat care, making our house more truly our home and being better at caring for it, heading towards a more minimal lifestyle and getting rid of things we do not need, organizing, using up and not buying new, reusing, recycling, keeping our plants healthy and happy so that our home is rich and lush, keeping up with my bujo, making sure to catch up with and stay in contact with family and friends, making sure to be mindful of the health and happiness of my immediate family, my larger family and my community, and there's more!  But this goal is overall, to strive for a more caring and mindful way of life. 

Less TV / More Books
I watched a lot of TV in 2016. Not actual TV bc we don't have that, but a seemingly endless stream of mindless consumption of media. Already, after major life changes in December 2016, I've started to watch way less. I've watched some, but moved over to more movies, and more mindful watching. But I could and should always read or listen to books more. 

Hand Poked Tattoos
In 2016, I started learning the art of Stick and Poke tattooing. I plan to continue this in a more purposeful manner in 2017. 

Travel When Possible, Explore When Not
We were unable to travel far in 2016, this coming year we are slightly less tethered so I would like to travel more. When we cannot travel, exploring near our home should be a priority.

Quilt More. 
No further explanation needed. 

That are your goals for 2017? Leave them in the comments, or leave a link to your posts!

For reference, here are my goals from the previous two years. 

2016:
Work on Creative Endeavors as Much as Work 
For 2015, I wrote "I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me". And this past year has taught me that this is a very difficult task. Nearly Impossible. I am excited to carry this goal over and continue to work towards it.  
Quilting
As a way to work towards goal number 1, I need to work more on my craft. Some things I want to work on in this area are to improve my skills, be involved in at least one market, and one show, have a finish every month, and generally make more! 
Blog/Shop/Sales
In 2015, I made great strives in my blogging. I want to keep that up with regular blog posts. Like, really regular! I learned last year that I need take 1 month off from blogging. My slowest time for posts is over the summer. I failed to update shop regularly in 2015. This is something I hope to do. Hopefully that will result in more sales, as I would like to gain practice at selling, packaging, and gathering customers and followers to widen my community. 
Draw More (some).  
To inspire this goal, I've started a secret project. Something that might help this would be to do a drawing a day for a year. 365 drawings might be a weighty goal, but I'm going to try!
Deadlines
I want to learn to set and complete more deadlines for myself.  
House and Home
I want to continue to get better at taking care of my family and our home.  
Exercise/Diet/Cooking
I want to get better at taking care of myself and my health. I'd like to exercise at least 4 times a week. I want to stretch every day. I want to continue to make and eat wonderful and healthy foods. 
Wardrobe/Use Up, Don't Buy
I plan to continue my wardrobe project which I worked on last year. And I want to strive to reduce, reuse, and recycle more in my everyday life. I'd love to be able to not buy anything (besides food, necessities, etc...) for at least 6 months out of the year 2016.  
Community
Now that I've moved, I need to get involved! Step one - get a job I love! I also want to make sure that I stay in touch with my old community, so friends will be a priority this year. 
Read More
'Nuff said. 

2015:
Work on Creative Endeavors as Much as Work - I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me.
Sewing/Blogging - More sewing and more blogging about it! I want to work on my online shop. I must do one market, or fair. 
Take Better Care of My Health and the Health of My Family/Take Better Care of the House - In all the hustle and bustle of work and life this is something I often forget to pay close attention to. I want to always be striving to make a better house for my family and plants and keep us in good health.
Stay in Touch with My Friends - I'm fairly antisocial by nature, but I love my friends and care to make them feel appreciated. 
Use Up, Don't Buy -  I need to reduce all things in my life and and make better use of the things I keep. 
Wardrobe Makeover - One thing I have far too many of are clothes. I must make my wardrobe more manageable and stop buying clothes!  
Travel when Possible - Always more exploring to be done.
Read More - I can only remember reading three books last year. Pitiful. 
Move Out of the City - It's time. 

2016 Goals Review

In the beginning of recent years, I like to make a list of goals for myself. These are goals/paths that I set for myself, things I want to be mindful about in the coming year. Here are my 2016 goals, some thoughts on them, and posts that are related to each: 

Work on Creative Endeavors as Much as Work
For 2015, I wrote "I have to make my art and sewing a priority in my life and not let working at my job be the only or most urgent thing that drives me". And this past year has taught me that this is a very difficult task. Nearly Impossible. I am excited to carry this goal over and continue to work towards it.  
This is a continuous goal for me and I'm still working on it. 2016 was a very challenging year for me in many respects, but in this one particularly. I do think I have made strives here, and I do think it has been a present thought and idea this year, maybe in a way that it hasn't before. One could say that this blog is a diary of this goal in many ways. 

Quilting
As a way to work towards goal number 1, I need to work more on my craft. Some things I want to work on in this area are to improve my skills, be involved in at least one market, and one show, have a finish every month, and generally make more! 
This goal is almost ever present as well. I certainly didn't complete the fine print of this goal. But there's always next year. This goal has some tangible posts. 
Basting Party
Shoofly Variation
Snowball
Baby Blue
Basket Weave
Orange Cat/Grey Cat
Original Mini
Drunkard's Path
Tree Of Life
Diagonal
Failed Star
Equilateral Triangles
Wrench Variation
Railroad Spike
Wrinkly Old WIPs
Economy Block Variation
Corner Block

Blog/Shop/Sales
In 2015, I made great strives in my blogging. I want to keep that up with regular blog posts. Like, really regular! I learned last year that I need take 1 month off from blogging. My slowest time for posts is over the summer. I failed to update shop regularly in 2015. This is something I hope to do. Hopefully that will result in more sales, as I would like to gain practice at selling, packaging, and gathering customers and followers to widen my community. 
While I did make good advices in my blogging, all else was a bit of a wash. 
Giveaway
Blog Goals
Quilts for Baby
Commissions

Draw More (some).  
To inspire this goal, I've started a secret project. Something that might help this would be to do a drawing a day for a year. 365 drawings might be a weighty goal, but I'm going to try!
I haven't revealed my secret project formally, but I will soon. I came nowhere close to doing a drawing a day. I will say that, while I did not draw as much as as I wanted, I did draw some. 

Deadlines
I want to learn to set and complete more deadlines for myself.  
This goal didn't make it too far, and there aren't really any post about it. But this one kinda counts:
Bullet Journaling 

House and Home
I want to continue to get better at taking care of my family and our home.  
Another never ending goal. Overall I feel great about my house, my home, and my continued commitment to taking care of my family. I'd like to have more post to show of this in the future.
Shelfie 001
Shelfie 002

Exercise/Diet/Cooking
I want to get better at taking care of myself and my health. I'd like to exercise at least 4 times a week. I want to stretch every day. I want to continue to make and eat wonderful and healthy foods. 
What a great year it was for me about finding out what works for me! And what doesn't, of course. 
Winter Citrus
Juicing at Home
Juicy Update
Smoothie Bowls
A Week of Bowls

Wardrobe/Use Up, Don't Buy
I plan to continue my wardrobe project which I worked on last year. And I want to strive to reduce, reuse, and recycle more in my everyday life. I'd love to be able to not buy anything (besides food, necessities, etc...) for at least 6 months out of the year 2016.  
I did well with not buying too much and being mindful when I did or didn't. I could have done better. There are many aspects of this goal that will be renewed for 2017. 

Community
Now that I've moved, I need to get involved! Step one - get a job I love! I also want to make sure that I stay in touch with my old community, so friends will be a priority this year. 
I started to make headway on this goal in 2016. I got a job, and I started exploring my new home. I love where I live. I would have liked to see more friends, but I didn't do a terrible job this year, I think.
A Night at the Fair
Student Pillows
The Roadside Diner
More Student Pillows
Circus Drive In
Summer Break
September Plant Update
October Plant Update
November Plant Update
December Plant Update

Read More
Nuff Said. 
I read a good amount in 2016. Below are the the books I've already blogged about. There are a few more that need posts.
Deeply Nourished
Ready Player One
Out Stealing Horses
The Magic Art of Tidying Up
Neither Here Nor There
Bangkok 8
Asbury Park Reborn
Saga
Simple Matters
Blood Oath
Ringworld

I will be carrying over, or amending many of these goals for 2017 and adding new goals as well. I very much hope to continue to be as mindful as I was in 2016 and to become even more so in the future.