New Year's Un-Resolutions: 2012 Edition

Last year I came up with six clear, reasonable goals that I wanted to accomplish in 2011.  (They were NOT resolutions.  Resolutions are those silly statements people make on New Year's Eve and then forget about the next day.)  Happily, I've completed five of them, and the one goal left by the wayside was only abandoned because of circumstances out of my control.  Pretty darn spiffy work, if I do say so myself.  So with last year's success, how could I not make a new set of goals for 2012?

1)  Teach Brinks tricks.  Now, don't go imagining anything crazy.  I'm just talking about basic commands...like "sit," and "stay," and, "roll over," and "play dead."  And maybe, if I'm feeling ambitious, I'll try to get him to dance in a circle on his back legs on cue.  (He sometimes does this spontaneously, and it's the cutest thing I've ever seen.)

[Trier image source]

2)  Go to Cologne and Trier, and take at least one overnight vacation with husband.  Last year I accomplished my goal of seeing Paris.  This year I'm making my travel goals a little more challenging.  Cologne and Trier have been sitting on my "to see" list for too long.  They need to be checked off.  But the real challenge will be finding the time to take a decent vacation with Kyle.  What with his constantly changing schedule, we can barely go out to dinner together, let alone take a trip.  However, I'm determined to make it happen.  We need a break from this tiny little Army post.

3)  Be a better pen pal.  (Sorry, Stasie!)  I crossed "find a pen pal" off my bucket list ages ago, but I am terrible at keeping up with letters.  It might have something to do with the post office being so far away...but that's not an excuse.  In 2012, I am making it my mission to answer all letters within a week of arrival.  With no exceptions.

4)  Be more active.  As a housewife, it's easy to become lethargic.  Being away from all things familiar, it's even easier.  But it's out of character for me to stay shut in my own apartment as much as I have been lately.  Maybe it's just the homesickness getting to me...or maybe it's the colder weather these days...  Whatever the reason it has to end.  Each week of 2012 I want work out at least twice, and have at least one outing with a friend.  No more hiding out.  It's not good for the soul.  (Or my skinny jeans.)

[buttercream image source]

5) Master Italian Buttercream.  The last (and only) time I attempted buttercream frosting, it kicked my butt.  I've been too afraid to try it since.  This year, no matter how many eggs I waste, I WILL make perfect Italian Buttercream.  Even if it kills me.

6)  Read another fifty books.  Last year I challenged myself to read fifty books (documented on Goodreads) and I exceded my goal (56!).  I want to do that again.  But this year, I want at least ten of those fifty books to be non-fiction.  You know, for substance.  So I'll take any recomendations you can throw my way.

Do you make resolutions?
If so, what are they?
And did you keep any of last year's?