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This is the time of year when most people ask you what your plans are for the upcoming year. As I mentioned in my last post, I like to set goals rather than resolutions. I’m pretty content on how 2012 went so lately when I’ve been asked what my New Years goals were for 2013, I contemplated giving a response. I’m not sure why, I just feel like living life in 2013 and keep my momentum going.
I put on my Facebook page the other day, “2012 treated me pretty well but 2013 will be my year to shine. Happy New Year everyone!” One of my friends mother responded with a sweet comment, “Happy New Year Jewel, I know you’ll shine even brighter than you are right now.” So I’m going to keep shining and set a few small goals for 2013 and keep it moving. My personal goals are to do more yoga, get organized, network more and take a photography class.Those seem pretty easy and obtainable.
However, I do have a few exciting things planned here on the blog for the New Year. You can expect a new design launch sometime later this month or in February. I’ve been blogging since 2010 and haven’t changed my look since. I’ve had a few readers give me feedback on how to make this site more user friendly, so I hope you will stay tuned for the reveal.
Also, my new motto which I tested out at the end of 2012, is blog when I can and about what to want to. I stopped blogging regulary because I felt as if I was having thousands of readers visit my blog but no one was commenting or engaging with my posts. So I want to produce more exciting new series that hopefully you will enjoy.
Many of you may not know that I work a full-time where I do social media and communications. My job also requires me to blog and manage social media full-time. I thought there would be a way to manage my social life, family time, friend time, a full-time job and blog everyday. Well there aren’t enough hours in a day. Sometimes I come home at 10 p.m. and I am ready to crash. I could write a crappy blog post just to put one up online but I’m not. So In 2013, I plan to manage my time better and produce quality blog posts vs. quantity. I really don’t see how bloggers who blog everyday do it!
I also want to continue to collaborate with bloggers and digital publications to guest blog. In addition, I would also like to attend one blogger conference this year.
So that’s all for me! I hope that you will continue to stay tuned and remain a loyal reader in 2013.
Happy New Year!
What are your goals for 2013?
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Monday’s set the tone for the rest of the week, so make today amazing. My goal today is complete everything on my to-do list. What are your goals for the week?
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With the new year officially underway, everyone is making resolutions for the rest of the year. I usually make resolutions or but this year I am going to do things a little differently because I usually end up only completing two or none of the things on my list. For example, last year I said I was going to do Hot Yoga, well I purchased a Groupon in December 2011 and just started using it last week.
This year I set 12 realistic goals that I would like to complete by the end of 2012. If I don’t complete them so what!
1. Get Back in Shape- Lately I have been living a lie and eating whatever I have wanted and expected not to gain weight. I haven’t stepped foot into a gym or lifted a weight since October and I am seeing the pounds pack on. So I joined Weight Watchers last week in hopes to get to my goal weight.
2. Use My Passport- My passport expires in 2013 and I have only used it once. I plan this year to add a few more stamps to my book. I would love to go to the Caribbean or travel back to Europe.
3. Run a 5k- I ran my first race in 2010 and haven’t ran since I broke my foot. I would love to compete in another 5k this year.
4. Collaborate- I want to collaborate with other bloggers on several projects and also try to get published in a major publication.
5. Start Dating Again- I recently got out of a long term relationship and in 2012 I would like to start dating again.
6. Faith- I am a Christian and I finally found a church in Atlanta that I like. This year I would like to become more involved at church and join a small group.
7. Spend Less, Save More- If I keep on track I should meet my savings goal by April. However, I tend to still have a tendency to still spend. This year I would love to focus managing my budget better.
8. Unplug- I am always plugged in and can’t go an hour without looking at my blog, Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest accounts. I know it’s bad! So this year I am going to unplug one weekend a month. I will power off my cellphone and spend that time meditating and focusing on myself.
9. Pamper Myself- Each quarter I would like to treat myself to a new spa treatment. Every girl needs to pamper themselves every once in a while.
10. Foodie Bucket List- Once a month I am going to cross off something from my foodie bucket list, rather it be trying a new restaurant or baking a new dish or finally doing that cooking class.
11. Focus on the Present- I often spend time worried so much about the future, I forget to live in the moment. This year I want to work on worrying less and trying to soak up the present.
12. Volunteer- I used be really involved within the local community and I have recently scaled back on volunteering. So in 2012 I would like to start volunteering again.
Do you have any goals for the New Year? I would love to hear about them!
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I can’t believe 2011 is just a few days away. Everyone is always making New Years Resolutions, I make goals because I never can complete Resolutions. So for 2011 I have written out several goals that I would like to try to achieve. I will keep you updated each month on how I’m doing with those goals.
Lately I’ve been thinking in my head, saying What’s next? I have trouble sitting still and feel like lately I’ve kinda taken a pause on living life to the fullest. So in 2011, I’m going to seize the day ,”Carpe Diem”, jump to my fullest potential or whatever you want to call it.
1.Create an Exercise Schedule.
I want to set a schedule to workout 5 days a week for 30 minutes to an hour. I used to be really athletic and really fit. Lately, I’ve been a slacker. I recently gained a significant amount of weight that I have been fighting to get off. So whether it be working out for 30 minutes on my lunch break or hitting the gym early in the A.M. I am going to try to fit it in my schedule in 2011. I also want to try new workouts like Spinning and Hot Yoga. I’m already a step ahead on the Hot Yoga. I signed up for a Groupon Deal last week for one month of Unlimited Hot Yoga classes that I will start in January.
2. Save,Save,Save.
Lately I’ve had several unexpected bills come out of no where and they have pretty much trumped have of my savings. So in 2011, I have set a savings goal for myself. Every pay period I will put a certain amount away.
3. Cherish Old Friendships and be cautious of new ones.
In 2010, I learned a very important lesson that my dad told me for years about friendship. “You can only have enough friends that you can put on one hand” In 2010, I think I used the word friend way to losely. You have your business friends, you have your best friends, and you have your associates. My best girl friends have always been there. They will be the girls in my wedding, the girls at my kids graduation, the girls on the phone at 4am if I need them. We are always there for each other and we never turn our backs on each. I feel as if you always have to test your friendships to see how strong they are. I tested a few of them this year to see if they would fall apart and they did. In 2011, I plan to cherise the friendships I have and hold onto them tight.
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4. Take a cooking class.
I have been wanting to be a Chef Assistant at Cooks Warehouse for a while. I’m going to sign up for their knife skills class in the spring, which is what you need to have to before you can apply to be an assistant. The class costs $60. I love cooking and this would be a great opportunity for me to shadow a local chef.
5. Keep Calm,Travel On.
I have a week of vacation to use before April 2011. I want to go somewhere but I’m not sure where yet I will go. Maybe I can convince the Mr. to go somewhere in the spring since he loves to travel too.
6. Take a Leap of Faith.
All my life I have been scared to take that leap of faith. Whether it be in relationships, career or just life. What am I scared of? I guess that once I take a leap I will fall. Well yesterday, someone asked me “What are your scared of?” I could not answer them and there was just silence. Well in 2011, I would like to take that leap of faith and just do it.
7. Write, Write, Write
After attending Lavish! a few weekends ago, I’ve been on a writing and blogging high. I’ve been happier and motivated to keep on writing. I recently brought a new journal so that I that I can start writing again in 2011.
What are your new years goals? I would love to hear them.
Lately I have been thinking what’s next in my life, I have a new job, and a lot of new things are buzzing in my life. I know I can’t plan out my life day by day, hour by hour but I wish I could but i can’t because it’s all in Gods hands. But I can make life goals for myself that I would like to accomplish and achieve. So I decided to create a Bucket List….there is one rule….this isn’t something that i need to do before i die…I would like to accomplish this by my 26th birthday. I will be 25 this fall so that give’s me a 1 year and a half to complete this list. So here is my bucket:
1. Write More
I have always loved to write since I was a little girl. This is the reasoning behind the start of my blog. I wanted to share my love of life and daily experiences with the world. I just need to make more time to do it on a daily basis. Working a 9 to 5 job makes it hard to really focus on some of the other passions I have in life like writing. I write for living but it’s more technical not free style.
2. Travel More
I love to explore and say that I have been new places. My passport expires in 2011 so I am determined to take a trip out of the country. I have only been out of the country once and that was my trip to Spain in high school. I would love to go back to Europe and also travel to South America. Bon Voyage!
3. Save Money
I have always been the girl known to find the cheapest fashionable finds and best places to eat on a budget. But it’s still spending money rather than saving. I want to save more over the next year.
4. Focus on Me
Often I spend my time caring to much about my friends and family and focusing less on myself and what’s important to me. So I really need to focus on me and continue to grow into my own. Lately I have been feeling to comfortable with life and losing focus. So i need to get back on track.
“Don’t get too comfortable with who you are at any given time – you may miss the opportunity to become who you want to be.”
Jon Bon Jovi
5. Take more photos.
I went through a phase where I was constantly taking photos. I have a digital camera and I professional film camera. I would love to get back into the habit of taking more photography and honing in on my craft.
6. Cook More…
I love to cook and eventually I want to open my own catering company. So I would love to starting creating new recipes and creating a niche style.
The rest of my list is To be Continued as the rest of the time goes on….
Do you have a bucket list? What’s on your list?
By PDGACO GaballaLoans