One of my goals for 2025 was to make 25 new cookies recipes, and I really thought that, out of everything on the list, this would be goal I crushed. It would be a triumph and a super fun task, like the year I vowed to come up with a go-to from-scratch brownie recipe or the year I decided to master making pie crust.
I started out STRONG with browned butter chocolate chip, brownie cookies. and iced oatmeal ginger all in January. I made peanut butter cups in February and oatmeal chocolate chips-- not a new cookie, but a new-to-me recipe-- in March. April saw the return of an old family fave: big fat chewy chocolate chip cookies (this recipe is wonderful, and your cookies will come out bakery quality). I also noticed that I was getting really behind on cookies, so I made double chocolate chips in April, too. May saw a batch of blondies (not technically a cookie, but whatevs) and also Fruity Pebble "rice krispie" treats (ditto the not-cookie). Then I stopped eating sugar and also stopped baking much of anything. I managed my go-to chocolate chips in June because the kids were like WHERE HAVE ALL THE COOKIES GONE and then nothing until the first week of school when I made brownie bites (some plain, some with mini m&Ms and some with chocolate chips) for after school snack and then last week when I made peanut butter cookies for my TAs.
I have THIRTEEN RECIPES TO GO! And only a few months left! And I am still not eating sugar (often-- I have eaten it kind of a lot during the end of birthday season/our anniversary, and I am very much a don't--break-the-chain person, so it is hard for me to get back on the horse). ANYWAY. Is this even a goal I want to keep? IDK. Maybe I can bake for my TAs every Monday and speed through?
I have already given up on any writing related goals. I was doing really well in January and then I interviewed for a new job, got the job, got a retention offer, and just sort of used all of my extra brain power for stewing and NEVER RESUMED THE WORK. (see what I mean about the chain??). After that, the perimenopause made my life hellacious a little bit at a time, and when the pot finally boiled over in May, they year was almost half over.
I have read 6/25 books on my Kindle. I'm having a hard time managing Libby holds for e-books (I use it mostly for audio), so I will continue to work on this. I recently added my work library card to Libby, so now I have the potential for 35 total holds across 2 library systems-- I am hopeful things will improve. Can I read 19 Kindle books in 3 months? Sure. Do I want to buy those books? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Or at least, not all of them. (I have read Every Tom Dick, and Harry, Ward D, The Blue Castle, Three Days in June, Maggie; or a Man and a Woman Walk into a Bar, and The Paradise Problem.)
I have seen live performances, met a couple of bloggers, and curated a new music playlist. I love checking in with new music each month, trying new restaurants, and making sure to go out with Ben. We are on track with our donation of things from around the house goal, and I have replaced yoga with strength training. 2025 is chugging along nicely from a goals standpoint, I guess.
Except the writing, Kindle reading and cookie baking...
Minnie's like this is what it's come to? I have to get my warm cookies at COSTCO now??
Why not reframe the situation? Despite having perimenopause crash into your world and wreak havoc on your sleep, your moods, and life in general, you still managed to get through half of the cookie goal! More than most people would manage even without perimen.!
ReplyDeleteThough I'm sure your TAs and kids would appreciate cookies every Monday.
I love the idea of baking for your TAs! That's adorable. If you need inspiration, there are tons of cookie ideas here: https://lifeofadoctorswife.wordpress.com/2024/12/27/post-christmas-cookie-swap-baking-giveaway/ A bunch of them are Christmassy, but a bunch of them are NOT.
ReplyDeleteMy friend Julie put out a cake cookbook a few years ago (2021? 2022? Time means nothing). I bought it and had the goal to bake every cake in it. And...I still haven't. But in my very weak defense I didn't have a time frame for that, so I guess it's just an ongoing goal. I DID bake a cake from it for Jake's birthday last week though. I guess I'm about 1/3 of the way through.
ReplyDeleteHa, yes it's hard to get enthusiastic about cookie baking if you're no longer eating them. But I will say... the holidays are coming up. You could make lots of Christmas cookies and give them out as gifts. Btw I love how everyone is focused on the cookies rather than your writing, which I'm guessing is probably a more important goal for you. I don't know... sounds like it's just a hard season for you, not conducive to writing. But you can get back on that when the time is right!
ReplyDeleteWe're flipping lives; I am now baking WAY more than usual! Though I'm also consuming way too much sugar, so there is that.
ReplyDeleteI had only fun goals for this year and I've crossed most of them off. But...I have not been lifting heavy weights, my knee seems to be giving out on me (whhhyyyyy?), and I am eating at weird hours lately. I'm going to blame it all on perimenopause???
I have never made any really concrete goals. I think this could be a goal for me. LOL. I will have to start thinking about it so I can do it for 2026. Thanks for the inspiration. I will definitely follow a few of your cookie links. They sound yummy.,
ReplyDeletecould you bake things with low sugar or experiment with higher protein recipes (good for your athletes!). easy to track if you know all the ingredients! I love the recipes in Run Fast Eat Slow.
ReplyDeleteI also track my calories on MFP…I have a hard time baking cookies when I can’t eat them or have to stop at just 1. That’s sort of a bummer. I do like to bring cookies to social events (church). Everybody LOVES them. And I also like to mail my out-of-town family home-made treats for Christmas presents.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Minnesota I went on a baking kick and made it my goal to make the "healthiest" cookie recipe that I could. Maybe if you want to keep the cookie goal, pivot to protein cookies or breakfast cookies or low sugar cookies?
ReplyDeleteI think it’s always a good idea to revisit your goals and see if they still suit you. I know you want to write, is there a way to get back into that? Can I tell you that I started a goal in mid November last year, telling myself that January 1st me would be happier if she had already been doing it for 6 weeks instead of just starting. And I was! And I’m still doing it. So don’t let the date stop you from writing if you want to do that.
ReplyDeleteI'm just echoing what everyone else says here. Goals are meant to serve you and your priorities. If your priorities change, so should your goals! You shouldn't be locked into something you said in January if it's not relevant anymore in September!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you baked a ton of cookies and maybe you let yourself off the hook since you’re avoiding most sugar and that’s been a healthy move? I think adjusting goals mid year is fair. I love the Minnie photo caption with the cookie from Costco.
ReplyDeleteI haven't taken a look at my 2025 goals in quite a while and I know there are going to be a LOT that I won't complete. But that's okay! We're not meant to complete 100% of our goals anyway. Instead, you baked a LOT of cookies and were able to make some progress on your writing. Life sometimes gets in the way and sometimes our priorities change, which is why I always keep my goals flexible. <3
ReplyDeleteI also fell off the track with goals. I don't even want to look at them. heheh... I think it's better to treat them as intentions and let them fall if they don't fit anymore. baking cookies is a good challenge though. I think sharing with others may be the solution to eat them up
ReplyDeleteNew goal: meet up with me at least one more time this semester. ;)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though - give up what is not working for you. You set these 9 months ago. Things change. You adapted. I say good for you!