Rewind: Year in Review 2012

My oh my, another year has passed. Big changes happened in 2012, most of them completely unexpected but exciting nonetheless. Some of the BIG life events that took place...

nikkiMdesign partnered with the Buffalo Design Collaborative

My baby started Kindergarten

We sold our home in the city and bought a farm in the country

My husband changed jobs

My father suffered a heart attack

I became a grandma

I have been putting off reviewing last years goals. Why? Because I know that I did not reach most of them, but I'm okay with it now. I tried my best and that is all I can do.  :) 

So...let's REWIND!

2012 Goals:

1 Work with my partner to establish Nest Interiors as the go to showroom.

Accomplished with slight changes.

I established nikkiMdesign as a full-time interior design and commission artwork business. nikkiMdesign partnered with the Buffalo Design Collaborative bringing nikkimdesign into the commercial design market. I created an online presence with the launch of my new website and social networks, as well as working with White Orchard Home Furnishings to provide educational design seminars to consumers. I have networked with new associations and brought my artwork and crafts to local markets. I am quite satisfied with the results of this goal. 

2. Triple sales through my Etsy shop.

Not accomplished.

I only doubled my sales with Etsy, however, I sold prints through society6 nikkimdesign shop and doubled my work doing commission paintings. So although I didn't specifically reach the goal as it was written, I did expand my brand. :) 

3. Read 14 novels this year.

Almost accomplished. 

I read 10 novels.

4. Learn/create urban/street art. Large scale.

Not accomplished.

Unfortunaetly, I did not find the time to work toward this goal. I think it is a good one to move to this year though. 

5. End of year goal weight...115 lbs.

Not accomplished.

I really hate this goal. It is cliche and I just can't seem to care enough to pursue it seriously. I need to rethink this one. Part of me would like to shave off about 10 lbs. and the other part of me thinks I look just fine! Meh.

6. Finish refinishing the hallway staircase.

Accomplished! And then we sold our house! :-P

Hmmm. I guess I didn't do as bad as I thought.

I would love to know...

Do you set goals or resolutions? How was your year? 

♥♥♥

GOALS FOR 2012

Listed below are my goals for 2012. I have the year to reach my goals before reevaluating them. Ready. Set. Go.

1. Work with my partner, to establish Nest Interiors as the go to showroom for the best products and interior design services in Buffalo, NY

How?
-That's our secret. :)

2. Triple sales through my Etsy shop.

How?
-Responding quickly to requests and customer needs
- Put this years sales back into marketing/advertising.
-Reach out to popular blogs for interview/mentions.
-Create new products. Setting aside time each week to explore ideas.
-Bring items to local stores/markets for sale.

3. Read 14 novels this year.

How?
-Join a book club for interesting recommendations, wonderful conversation, and friendships with like-minded people.

4. Learn and create street/urban paintings. Large Scale

How?
-YouTube tutorials
-Setting up studio in basement to allow for throwing, splashing, dripping of paint on canvas.
-Not being afraid of making a mistake. Experimenting.

5. End of year goal weight...115 lbs.

How?
-Continue speed walking in mornings.
-Portion control.
-Being aware of calorie intake.
-More sex ;-)
-Drinking more water

6. Finish refinishing the hallway staircase.

How?
-Take a few days off during the year and dedicate those days to only working on the stairs.

Each year I write my goals on our kitchen wall so that I have them in view as a reminder of where I want to be by the end of the year. It works well.

If you have any goals or ideas for me on how I can better meet my goals this year, please leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you! :)

Happy New Year!

2011 in review

I am not one to celebrate the New Year, after all, it is just another day. I do however use this time of year for reflection and refocusing, to look back, make some changes, and move forward.

2011 Year in review: Goals set, were they met?

1. Establish an Identity as an Artist
Accomplished.
I spent a large part of my time this year dedicated to creating my identity as an artist. nikkiMdesign now has a logo, an online store, a blog, and has reached and sold to customers outside of the community.

2. Be more aware of my mood and my environment
Accomplished.
In 2010 I was diagnosed with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and social anxiety disorder and began treatment immediately. Within six months my overall health improved; I became more mentally stable and the anxiety symptoms lessened. I assumed that sometime during 2011 I would be able to come off of my meds and be "healed". When the doctor explained to me how the treatments worked and that it would be premature for me to stop taking the medicine because I would most likely suffer a set back, I was a little disappointed but understood. Instead, 2011 became an opportunity for me to work with my doctor to learn about myself, what some of my anxiety triggers are, and how to feel the fear and do it anyway. I can't expect the medicine to do all the work, I have to help me. Some days I do well, some days I do not, but mostly, I'm learning and moving forward.

3. Take Commissions
Accomplished.
This goal ties into the one above. For years I didn't think I was a good enough artist to put myself out there and offer services to create art for somebody else. The idea of that scared the pants off of me. I worried that I might fail, or worse yet, succeed. What if they hated what I did? What if...what if...what...blah, blah, blah. This year, I just did it, and to my surprise not only did people pay me to do it but they liked what I did.

4. Design a professional Interior Design project
Accomplished.
After I graduated in May, I started working as an interior designer with Brooke at Nest Interiors and I have been designing kitchens, living rooms, commercial projects, etc.

5. Complete a Professional Rendering
Accomplished.
Completed renderings and have had repeat business.

6, Illustrate children's book
Not yet accomplished.
My wonderful husband took my idea for a children's book and wrote it. It is a lovely story and he did a fabulous job, however I have not yet had the extra time to illustrate the pages. I think that this is a project that may have to wait for another 6-12 months before I can even consider putting it onto my goals list.

7. Finish staining the staircase and restoring the tiled bathroom floor
Not yet accomplished.
These are two very big jobs that are not finished, however there has been a lot of progress on both over the last year, and I did finish the upstairs built-in cabinet and bench seat that were started at the same time. I don't know if I would categorize this as a not yet accomplished but rather almost accomplished. :-P

8. Lose 10 lbs.
Not yet accomplished.
Meh, I hate this goal for all sorts of reasons, but  the biggest reason is because it is one of those cliche resolutions. Anyway, I did not achieve this one, and to be honest, I gained about 5 lbs this year. I think part of the problem was that I was vague in defining this goal. Rather than saying that I should lose 10 pounds, I should have given myself a target weight to work toward. This goal will (unfortunately) make it onto my 2012 list.

All in all, I am pleased with my goal progress for 2011. I have thought about my list for 2012 and I it is almost complete. I will share what those goals are soon.

Happy new year to all!