Last year I wrote this post.  It was the first year I made a list of goals to be completed in the year and I have to say I was able to complete most of them (all but 2).  I was going to write a recap of how it went but I decided we will move onward and upward!  I have never been much of a resolution gal, I typically go with the flow as much as possible and never write things down.  I have an “I’ll get it all done eventually” attitude.  Once I had SJ and major mom brain sunk in (seriously I can barely remember what day of the week it is most of the time), I realized that things would have to change.  I found that it actually is nice to set goals for yourself and I also found it to be amazingly helpful to build schedules.  Something that young Laura would have never done.  This being said, I have set a few “goals” for myself for 2014.

1. Be happy. This must sound like a silly goal but I found that at the end of last year I was becoming slightly bitter and angry.  Most of this having to do with my commute if you were able to read my last few posts.  I also was so busy I barely had time to breath.  These past 3 weeks SJ’s daycare has been shut down so I have been working from home or taking time off and I have been feeling AMAZING.  I am trying to make some life changes based on these learnings and hopefully I will be able to have a more work/life balance.  SJ is growing up so fast and I don’t want to miss too much of it.

2. Continue Optimizing my Health I don’t want to be one of those people who says “2014 is going to be the year I work out and lose 10 lbs” and then only go to the gym for a month.  Last year I made the goal to work out more and that was one of the goal’s I reached with flying colors.  I use the stair climber we have in our house and I try to run on the weekends.  I would love to start doing more toning and maybe even sign up for an organized run of some sort (1/2 marathon, 5K, etc).  We also starting cooking at home almost every night and that helps make me feel much better.  We eat mostly organic but I would love to start working on eating even healthier.  Last year I lost over 30 lbs, I still have more to go but I would rather focus on being the healthiest best version of myself.

3. Me time Last year I bought a sewing machine. I am dying to learn how to sew and I vow to take a class and get on it.  I need a positive hobby that is fun and allows for me to do something for myself.  I also still need to learn how to use my camera (goal from last year that I didn’t meet).

4. Allow others to help me I have always been one of those people who feels like I need to do everything myself, without any help and perfectly.  Most of this has to do with my feeling of not wanting to inconvenience people more than it does with perfection. I have been doing everything by myself for a very long time but now I have more on my plate than every before and it is okay to share the load.  This will also help with goal 1.  Letting go = happiness.  I was reading a piece of New Year’s advice from Giada De Laurentiis, and she said “don’t be afraid to give other’s tasks to get things done”.  She was referring to party planning.  We are currently planning a wedding shower for my brother-in-law and his fiance and I am trying to put this in to effect.  Normally when people offer to help or ask to do things I always “no no don’t worry I will do it” because I want it to be perfect but in reality I end up totally stressed out and not enjoying myself.  This year I am letting everyone help and it feels glorious.

5. Upgrade and Blog more  One of my goals last year was to start this blog and I am amazed I was able to keep it going all year.  This year I want to give myself more time to blog.  I have so many things I want to write about that are always swirling up in my head.  I also want to finally get this blog branded, designed, and out for readers to see.  Right now it is pretty much just me, myself, and I who is reading it. ha!

Stress less, live more, smile every day.  That is my motto for 2014.