This year I will...

I don't really make New Years Resolutions, but I do like to think about changes I'd like to make in my life. Things I want to stop doing and things I'd like to do more often. I try to do this every month and keep re-evaluating all year long, since it's a fresh year I wanted to share my current goals.

This year (month) I will...

...work on my cooking skills. I can bake with the best of them, but Dave usually does the cooking. 

I have a few dishes I'm proud of, but I'm working on mastering a few more things in the kitchen.

...make reading a priority. I love to read, but lately it's taken a backseat to pretty much everything
else I've had going on. This month should be a bit slower though, and I intend to enjoy lots of books!

...print (and hang) more pictures. As a photographer, you'd think I'd have this down, buuuut I don't.
I love getting pictures printed and finding the perfect frames for them, so I can't wait to make an order soon.

Obviously my goals are simple, but I believe in taking babysteps in life. You'll never change your ways in one big leap! So, what are you working on in this new month?

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Current Goals...

Happy New Year!!!

So, for those of you who were with me last year (anyone?), you might remember that I don't do New Years resolutions, but I do try to constantly have goals (big and small) that I'm working on throughout the year. I am happy to report that I kicked butt at last years goals, those I posted and those I didn't, and I thought it would be fun to post another look into what I'm working on now...

Can you tell I had way too much fun taking pictures on our road trip?

*Get organized! Part of this has to do with the fact that everything I own is stashed in my in-laws garage and/or in the bedroom we're staying in (yikes), but there's nothing I can do about all of that until we get settled in a new place. The kind of organization I'm really talking about though is on a bigger scale, I need to get on a schedule and have time in place for each of my jobs. Between this blog, my shop, Storenvy duties, and my new photography business I desperately need this structure.

*To work on my personal style a bit more and be more creative with my outfits. This is something this site and doing outfit posts has really helped me with (thank you Pinterest!) and I'm excited to continue the process of getting better in this area.

*Not letting the little things stress me. This one is something I've always struggled with, but just like not being so shy and things of that nature, I know that with a little practice and focus I can change my ways with this one too.

*Get to 1,000 followers! My goal right now has been to make this site better than ever and I plan to continue that in the New Year. I feel like I've been dangling at almost 700 GFC followers for awhile now and I want to get over that hump. I know I can't do this without you all, so I humbly ask that if you like what you see/read, would you pretty please share? I am not one that minds if you pin pictures, recipes, etc so feel free to share any way you'd like.

What are you working on?

To a wonderful year...

This year is already off to a wonderful start.

Blessings are pouring in and I can't help but take a moment to feel grateful. Dave and I are beyond excited for our move to Austin that is coming up FAST! Anyone want to come help pack? Pretty please.

But seriously, one of my favorite things since opening my own shop has been receiving pictures of you all and your littles wearing my products. It makes me all warm and fuzzy on the inside, so keep them coming!

Photo by Isbill Photography

How precious is this little girl in my headband?! I have recently gotten to know Rusty of Isbill Photography and he purchased a few of my headbands to let his clients wear in pictures. I was so honored that he wanted to use some of my headbands and love how this picture of this little angel turned out. If you're in Knoxville and need some photos taken, check him out!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful first week of the year!

This year I'm thankful for...

What are you thankful for?

New Year, New Me?

Since tonight is New Years Eve I thought I'd talk about resolutions and why I don't care for them...now don't get me wrong I make goals for myself all the time and I think it's important to do so, but resolutions are a whole different thing. For one thing, the resolutions people make for themselves tend to be way too big, they end up feeling daunting and overwhelming and then people find excuses of why not to do it. Like when people say they are going to workout 6 times a week this year...if you don't workout at all right now it usually works better (at least for me) to start with a goal to workout say twice a week and then when I have managed that goal for a few weeks move it up, until eventually you are working out 6 times a week! That's the difference, goals can be assessed and reevaluated, unlike resolutions. If you say you're going to read 10 books this year and then you hit your mark 6 months in do you stop reading? I hope not! But for me a resolution seems like an end point so I'd rather make a goal to read 10 books by the end of the year, then if I make my mark I can reevaluate my goal and make it 20...

...I guess my point is that people put way too much emphasis on the resolutions and expect themselves to change into this person they're not and then they get upset when they don't. Change happens over time! If you slowly make goals for yourself throughout the year you will see little changes along the way within yourself that will inspire you to keep moving forward until you see the big changes :)

So what are my current goals? Well for one, and probably whoever is reading this will appreciate this one, I am making a goal for myself to blog at least once every week...if I do it more than once, great! If I only do it once a week, great (at least for now). Another goal of mine is to keep up with my yoga/workout practice. I started a steady routine mid November and I have been working out an average of 3 times a week, but I have already been seeing a difference in my body, my stress levels, my strength, and flexibility. I plan on continuing and eventually making a goal to do more than what I have been. I am also working on cooking and reading more...no specific goals for those though, just a conscious effort to do them more often. And since I made hummus and read a few chapters of my new book yesterday I'd say I'm doing well! :P

How do you all feel about resolutions? And if you make them what are yours for 2011? If not, what are some goals you are working on?

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
~C. S. Lewis