Posted in Year Review, Yearly Goals

2025 Bucket List and Goals recap

Here are the goals I set for myself for 2025.

Fitness Goals

  1. Run 500 miles x Ran about 430 miles
  2. Run full marathon under 6 hours ~ Ran a full marathon at exactly 6 hours
  3. Run a half under 2:30 hours * Ran a half marathon at 2:18
  4. Run a 10k under 58 minutes x Came close, ran a 10k and 60/62 minutes
  5. Run a 5k under 29 minutes * Ran a 28 minute 5k
  6. 10 races x Ran only 7 races
  7. 5 hikes x Didnd’t go on a single hike

Personal Goals

  1. Read 52 books * Easy goal for me to achieve
  2. Learn to crochet X Not yet
  3. Learn to roller skate x Didn’t happen
  4. Learn to change a flat tire x Didn’t happen

Family Goals

  1. Go to the LA County Fair x Nope
  2. Vacation in Big Bear x Nope

Financial Goals

  1. Pay off dentist CC x Nope
  2. Pay off 2nd dentist CC x Nope
  3. Save $3,000 x Nope
  4. Pay off Walmart CC x Nope
  5. Pay off Chase CC x Nope

Business Goals

  1. 1,000 followers on YouTube x Sadly, this didn’t happen
  2. Grow my desserts and baking business x Didn’t have time for this
  3. Grow my soap and bath products business x Didn’t accomplish this either

Travel Goals

  1. Visit San Diego * Went for a couple days and had a great time
  2. Visit San Franciso x Nope
  3. Visit Las Vegas x Nope
  4. One national park x Nope

It seems like I didn’t accomplish a majority of my goals last year, mainly because I was busy working so much. I am hoping I can do better with my goals in 2026.

Posted in Year Review

2023 Year in Review

Every year I like to look back at the year and see all the things that happened, both good and bad. It makes me apprepiate all the happy times and gratefull that we made it through the tough times.

One of the biggest things that happened this year was that my daughter and I moved out and got our own place. We have been living there over a year now and are very happy. Before that, we were going back and forth between living at my mom’s house and living at my grandma’s house.

I also went to theme parks with my family, mainly Disneyland and DCA, sometimes Knott’s Berry Farm as well.

Overall 2023 was a good year, 2024 has been even better.

Posted in Year Review

Looking Back at 2022

I normally write about the previous year in January, but this year I procrastinated so much that it’s now July and I am finally sitting down to write everything that happened last year.

2022 felt a little bit more like pre covid times. Covid was (and still is in 2023) a thing, but it’s no longer as bad as it was in 2020 and 2021 because most people have been vaccinated. Races are now in person, theme parks have fully opened, and most people have started traveling again.

Last year, I spent a week in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon with my daughter, two sisters, and my sister’s boyfriend at the time. We went in January to celebrate my birthday and my daughter’s birthday. We had so much fun. it was the first time my sister’s boyfriend, my sister, and my daughter went on an airplane. Traveling with a toddler (my daughter was 3 years old at the time) was a bit tricky because I had to take her car seat, stroller, and she wasn’t potty trained. We got to visit many places including Vooddoo Donuts, the Space Needle, pike Market, and Powell’s City of Books. I really want to go back in 2024, but during spring time.

I spent most of 2022 being unemployed. I had quit my job in late 2021 in order to focus on Athena Rose, my handmade soap business, full time. Unfortunately, it didn’t take off as well as I expected. I ended up getting a summer job working at an after summer school program in Monterey Park. I worked there for about 6 weeks. It was then that I decided working with kids was not something I wanted to do with my life. I spent the next few months looking for a job. Got an interview and hired within 3 days of filling out an application. I have now been working at the theme park since November 2022, so about 8 months now. I work as a cashier in a few restaurants. I never thought I would want to work customer service again or in a restaurant, but I actually do enjoy my job. I do eventually want to get back to selling Athena Rose products and Selena’s Sweets baked goods.

In 2022, I got to spend a lot of time with my daughter, going to the park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios, and Disneyland. I also got to read a lot. I read a little over 200 books, which is way more than usual. Overall, 2022 was a good year for me.

Posted in Year Review

2022 Goals Recap

Last year was a rough year for me financially. I didn’t work for abour 8-9 months which means I didn’t really get to accomplish my financial goals or traveling goals. Maybe 2023 will be different. Here are the goals I had set for 2022 and how i did.

Financial

Pay off all my credit cards X I had paid off a few but then charged a few back because I wasn’t working and had bills and things to pay.

Save $5,000 X I saved $2,000 but used that for bills when I was unemployed.

Grocery budget $350 a month X Only 4 months I spent less than $350

Business

1,000 followers on Instagram (Athena Rose) X Not even close, I have a little over 200 followers

10,000 followers on Tiktok (Athena Rose) X I’ve been stuck at 700/750 followers for a while now

Make 4 figures every month X LOL NOPE

Fitness

Run 250 miles X Only ran 147 miles

Run a half marathon under 2.5 hours X nope

Run a 10k under 1 hour X nope

Run a 5k under 30 minutes X nope

Personal

Read 50 books * This was easy, read more than 200 books.

No Amazon shopping X didnt’ do this, but i did cut back a lot on shopping on amazon

Travel 

Seattle and Portland weeklong Birthday Trip * Yes, we went to Seattle and Portland. Had fun and plan to go back this year

Weekend in Las Vegas X Nope

Weekend in Arizona X Nope, but maybe this year

Week in Texas X Nope

Family 

Take Selena to the LA Zoo * We went a few times

Disneyland *We went in December

Posted in Year Review

Looking Back at 2021

2021 was pretty much a lot like 2020. The pandemic is still going on and many things are still closed. However, last year I was finally able to do some in person races, starting in San Diego, where I was able to do a 10k and spend the weekend there. Here are the things I did in 2021.

Quit my job

This was probably the biggest thing I did in 2021. I’ve quit other jobs before, but this was my first time quitting my job without having another job lined up. I quit to focus on Athena Rose. I am hoping this year i can bring in more sales. I plan to spend more time making video content for social media.

Turned 30 Years Old

I turned 30 years old last year and I had wanted to throw myself a big birthday party, but couldn’t thanks to the global pandemic. Instead, I just stayed at home with my family as usual.

Selena’s first time at Disneyland

I originally planned to wait to take my daughter to Disneyland because I figured she was too young to have any fun. I was so wrong. I am very glad we got to go before she turned 3 years old. We had so much fun, even with the long lines. She loved all the rides in Fantasyland and the Dole Whip. I might even make this an annual thing.

Started Selena’s Sweets

I have always loved baking and selling my baked goods is something that I’ve wanted to do for the longest time. Last year I officially started Selena’s Sweets and even had two pop ups. I’m hoping to do more events this year, including birthday parties.

Opened my Shopify shop

After seeing so many people have success with their Shopify shop, I decided to make the leap and open my own website as well. I’ve had my shop open for 1 year now and it’s been great having so much control over my website. I am very happy to have left Etsy, which just didn’t work very well for me.

Big Bear with family

My family and I go to Big Bear almost every year for the weekend during summer. It’s always so much fun. I love being in the outdoors with Selena, going on walks, and going to the lake. I really hope we get to go again this year.

Universal studios with family and Selena

I went multiple times to Universal Studios Hollywood last year. I got the annual pass and it has been so worth it so far. I first went for their Taste of Universal event and got to try some really tasty food. I have gone with Selena many times, by myself a few times, and once with my family. The best thing about having the pass is not having to worry about not being able to go on certain rides because we can always go back the next time. I plan on getting Selena an annual pass as well because she loves it. We usually go for like 3 or 4 hours.

Knott’s Berry Farm with Selena and family

Knott’s Berry Farm is another place we go to very often. I have been a season pass holder since 2014 or 2015. My favorite time of the year to visit is Knott’s Merry Farm, when everything is decorated for Christmas and they have delicious seasonal treats. I bought a season pass for 2 of my sisters so we got to go a few times. I think in October or November, I actually went to Knott’s Berry Farm 4 or 5 times! I didn’t even get bored, believe it or not. Of course I’ll be getting Selena a pass for this as well.

Ran 1 Marathon, 3 Half Marathons, 2 10k, and 4 5k races

After not running in person races for a year and a half , I was finally able to run races again last year. I ran a total of 10 in person races. I didn’t do such a good job in my longer races, the half marathons and marathon because of my lack of training. I was just not motivated to do much last year. I am hoping to train more this year and stay motivated.

I don’t want to jinx anything for 2022, it would be nice to travel but with the way everything is going, I won’t be planning things as much as i tried the past two years.