2015 Goals

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!


Resolutions, Goals, Intentions, Plans.....they all mean the same thing and many people make resolutions at the start of the year, only to break them and fall off the wagon within a month.

I used to be part of this group, but I have decided to make my goals more attainable and work on progressing them forward throughout the year. For example, weight gain doesn't happen in a month, so you can't expect to reverse the holiday affects completely by the end of January. But if you stick with it, you will see progress that should keep motivating you to go further.

I'm not going to layout all my goals for 2015 in the blog, but I will mention a few that I hope to work towards in 2015.

1) I hope to continue to live my healthy lifestyle. I really kicked it in gear and figured out what worked for me starting at the end of June. I made attainable goals and kept working towards smaller goals to get to that main one. Anytime you complete a goal, I feel a reward is due and I gave myself small rewards along the way. The holidays were tough for me, but I'm excited to get back at it!

2) In conjunction with the healthy lifestyle, I hope to continue my running and working out. I really got into a groove and made amazing progress on running a faster 5k. Then a miserable cough (and a possible asthma diagnosis) took me out of commission for a few months. I didn't let it completely stop me, and I now know what I can do to keep working at my goal.

3) I want to continue to eat and cook healthy. I hope to cook more at home and received some great cookbooks for Christmas. My guy likes to cook too, so I hope we can blend our flavors together and come up with some really great dishes that we will then share with all of you.

And I won't stop the recreations of my area restaurant favorite meals. The duck confit flatbread from Bernie's will be accomplished this year....thanks to finding duck breasts at Woodman's (I really didn't want to buy an entire duck and fear having to clean it!) But don't worry this won't deter me from coming to the restaurants downtown - not even a little bit.

4) I hope to grow my blog. I have a few things already in place to make this happen, but I hope that I can grow my readership and one of the best ways to do this is word of mouth. I'm out of business cards and I hope to get some new ones made so I can pass them out around the city and get them in the hands of more people. But I also would love the help of my existing community of readers to help me get new folks on board by sharing my blog and Facebook page with your friends.

5) Renovations - My condo is great and I am very happy with it as my first home. But with all things that are almost 30 years old, some work is needed. I am hoping to renovate a bathroom and get the basement back into shape after the Great Basement Flood of 2014. I also am going to rip out some plants and do a little landscaping so I can enjoy my outdoor space more this summer. Other areas to renovate include the kitchen, deck and shower, but I won't put too much on my plate for one year!

Oh if only! Maybe in my next house!

6) Try more new things. My family already tells me that I am someone that always is on the move and trying new places to eat, checking out new stores, trying a new drink, making new recipes, going to shows, networking and meeting new people. I love that I do this and I hope to continue it. I hope to try at least one "new to me" place, thing or idea a month.

6) And overall, I hope to be a more positive person. I think that moods are contagious and no one wants negativity to spread. I know that not everyday will be sunshine and rainbows, but after completing the 100 Happy Days movement on social media, I can definitely notice a difference in myself and how I view the world. My friend gave me a jar for Christmas last year to put your happy thoughts in. I read them back and it made me really happy to reminisce. I will continue to fill that jar this year!

Those are my goals for 2015 and I hope you come along for the ride! It's going to be a great year! 

Happy 2015!

2014 Resolutions

Resolutions - a firm decision to do or not to do something.

I have never held my resolutions firm and I have even tried to candy-coat it by calling them goals or aspirations but when it comes down to it, I am not good at keeping resolutions.

But coming off a recent breakup (I'll keep that drama off the blog), I feel like a refreshed and renewed person. Sure it stings to realize I'm back in the single boat again and I'm the 3rd or 5th wheel for most anything that I do with my friends, but I'm ok with that (for now). I don't plan to be single forever, but after this breakup, I really feel like a different person.

I want to try to pull from this refreshed and renewed feeling and carry that through everything I do to help me be a more positive and driven person. Heck, I closed on my home in the same week as the breakup. So maybe it's the new home and really realizing that I am "growing up" and not so much the breakup, but whatever it is, I like this feeling.

Ok - onto the resolutions. I'm not going to set a certain number based on the year or stick to ten, but by the time I finish writing this post, that is how many I will have.

1 - Fiscally responsible. I have set numerous things in place to help this happen but I also have to realize that I just don't need some things and I'll live without the new dress or shoes. I bought a home, I have to be responsible. Have you seen the 52 week money challenge floating around the interwebs? I have my jar and my dollar in it for week one :)

2 - Healthy lifestyle. I think my body is helping me on this one too, because lately when I have eaten junk, I felt like it afterwords. And I like healthy, fresh food. Now I just have to up my fitness and I'll be in good shape for some great things happening this summer. With the help of Blogilates, BodyRock and running, I think I can do some great things this year. 10k by summer :)

3 - Disconnect - My job roll makes me very connected to my phone and the internet a lot. And TV, well it's always on in the background. I didn't get cable for my condo yet as I don't think I will need it. But I do know that I have to cut back on how much I am on my phone. I have been cutting back more when I am around my friends because I think it is rude, but at night I am glued to my phone or laptop. This might be something I have to ease into, but I'll do my best. :)

4 - Local. I really want to be as much a part of the local business field as I can be. Although my blog is not a profitable source of income for me, it is MY local business and my way to get local information to my readers. So I hope that I can really dive into the local venues of food, art, music, etc., and really show what Waukesha has to offer that supports the community. I think being fiscally responsible will help me find out more of the free/cheap things to do in the city too!

5 - Friendships. I have a great group of friends and if it wasn't for them, my move would never have happened or my dad's back would be injured again. I can't thank them enough for their support through all my craziness (that happens from time to time) and the fun we get to have together has supplied me many great memories. I hope to only continue those in 2014 and build them stronger. 

 6 - Travel. I'm heading to Las Vegas in June for a bachelorette party but I really hope that I can make it somewhere else this year. I have signed myself up for quite a few travel deal sites in hopes of being able to explore a city that might not be on my main list but is definitely worth the expereience. Like Salt Lake City - never would have thought to go there, but I am soooooo glad I did.