Wednesday, January 1, 2014

New Year's Resolutions 2014

I've done quite a bit of self-reflection over the past year and while I've always been introspective, more recently I've been making a conscious effort to really process my thoughts, rather than just "think" them. I'll turn 30 (eek!) in 2014 and can finally say that I'm at place in my life where I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for where my life has taken me and also the only one responsible for taking it where I want it to go next. After all,

“Nobody’s going to save you. No one’s going to cut you down, cut the thorns thick around you. No one’s going to storm the castle walls nor kiss awake your birth, climb down your hair, nor mount you onto the white steed. There is no one who will feed the yearning. Face it. You will have to do, do it yourself.”

― Gloria E. Anzaldúa

In the past when making my resolutions I've kept them fairly vague and without clear instructions on how to accomplish them, so this time I'm going to be specific and include how I plan to succeed.

Without further adieu, here are my 2014 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Live a more healthy lifestyle. I will be mindful of my carbohydrate, gluten and sugar intake while also following a regular fitness plan.

How: I will use the myfitnesspal app to track calorie intake as well as exercise, follow Amanda Russel's Fit, Strong & Sexy program and make the most of the workouts, recipes and tips I find on Pinterest.

2. Save more money. I am moving back to my hometown (Sarasota, FL) in June so saving money for the move is priority 1. I will also pay down student loans and clean up my credit.

How: I will use a savings account I cannot easily access.

3. De-clutter. I will stop my hoarding tendencies and drastically cut down on all I have accumulated thus far.

How: I will use the "40 Bags in 40 Days" system as well as donate 2 boxes a month to charity. Anything worth selling will be sold and the funds will go directly into my savings account.

In addition to those top 3, I also intend to:

Cook more (a.k.a. learn to cook).
Read more (books, not just Us Weeklys).
Take better care of my skin (exfoliate & moisturize, ladies!).
Travel! Though I've been to all of them before, I plan to visit NYC, Key West & Disney World in 2014.

What are your New Year's Resolutions this year??

Friday, January 1, 2010

You Say You Want A... Resolution!

2009 went by so fast! Nikki turned 1, I turned 25 and that's about all I remember. It's a new decade, I'm officially a quarter of a century old and it's time to get serious about accomplishing some goals!

So here they are, my New Year's Resolutions for 2010:

1. Get In Shape!

I have a feeling this is on everyone's list. It's always on mine anyways. What makes this year different from all the previous years however, is that this year I'm getting married. I have 10 months from today to look drop dead gorgeous for my hubby-to-be and goddamnit I'm gonna do it! I'm also extra motivated to lose weight so I can get healthier. My fibromyalgia isn't getting any better and I'm sure it's because of my crappy diet and lack of exercise. (Going to the doctor for a check up is also in order.) Thankfully, my Maid of Honor/BFFL Kimberly will be doing it all with me. Teamwork!

2. Play More!

My son Nikki will be 2 in March and I can already tell that playing with his toys and watching cartoons aren't cutting it anymore. He needs more stimulation and I want to facilitate that for him. More playgrounds, museums and outdoor activities are in our future. I also want to get better about documenting things. Scrapbooks aren't just for grandmas ya know!

3. Take More Fashion Risks!

I'm not talking about wearing Swarovski Crystal-encrusted shoulder pads or anything like that. The fashion risks I wanna take are on a much smaller scale. And it's not that I consider myself unfashionable. It's just that on a daily basis I pretty much wear jeans and a plain v-neck. Functional, cute even, but not really all that interesting. It's so easy for me to say what looks good on other people, but when it comes to dressing myself, I stick to basics. Having insecurities about how things will look on my body is the main culprit, but hopefully accomplishing Resolution #1 will help ease me into more daring clothes.

4. Curb The Crazy Spending!

I am, without a doubt, a shopaholic. If I have $5 in my pocket, I'll find a way to spend it. Recently coming to the realization that money does NOT grow on trees, I decided that I need to stop wasting money that could be saved for much more worthwhile things. Like paying off old debts. Or moving to England. This will, by far, be my hardest resolution.

And here are some random things I'd also like to accomplish this year...