Happy New Years!

I keep forgetting that today is the last day of 2015. It just doesn't seem possible that an entire year has gone by already. When I sat down to write this post I tried to think of all the important things that happened in this past year, but nothing stuck out to me. Certainly things happened in my life; I grew older, wiser, and more experienced than I was last year at this time, but I didn't find a dream job, buy a house, get married, or experience any of those big life changes some people my age are experiencing. Guess what though, I made it through another year in one piece and that's pretty great too!

I turned 25 this year which still doesn't sound right coming out of my mouth. I never thought I'd be where I am now at 25 but I don't think it's a bad thing. In fact I'd say this past year has kept me pretty happy overall and that in and of itself is a major step forward. Sure I have my days, or my weeks, but nothing like previous years. I have read 70 books this year, the most I've ever read in a years time. I started a Booktube channel on Youtube. I have reunited with friends I haven't seen in a while. I spent more time outside. I survived the big laptop crash of 2015. I even joined a book club. I have become more confident in myself and my ideas and more comfortable in my own skin. So maybe it's not important that my year wasn't punctuated with big life changes but that I was able to appreciate the every day occurrences.

Last year I spent NYE with one of my best friends and my family. We watched New Years Rockin' Eve on TV and drank sparkling wine. This year my friend is in Texas at the Cotton Bowl and I'm ringing in the New Year with my dad because he is the only one who managed to stay awake this long. We are both reading and only occasionally looking up to check the time. I wouldn't choose to ring in 2016 any other way.

So cheers to the end of 2015 and I wish you all a hopeful beginning to 2016!

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” - Neil Gaiman

-S

2015!

It's a new year! After a very low key New Years Eve spent watching The Vampire Diaries with one of my closest friends and way too much food, I welcomed 2015 with Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve and a glass of sparkling wine. My new year began in a completely different way as 2014 began and it just felt right.

The promise of a new year always excites me. For certain reasons I'm not a big fan of resolutions, but I do love setting goals. Maybe most people see those being the same thing but I don't. Although I love setting goals all year round and don't find it necessary to wait until the start of a year to change parts of my life, I do find it prime time for assessments. So much can happen and change in a years time. 2014 wasn't a jam packed year for me, but looking back did reveal more than I expected. I look forward to seeing what 2015 holds.

I'm sure if I looked back at my goals for 2014, this list would have some overlaps. This is what I like about goals instead of resolutions. Goals do not have to be reached in a certain amount of time. They can be larger, less specific ideas you wish to fulfill. Goals focus more on achievements rather than being negative about the life you're currently living. Goals can be anything you want them to be, endless possibilities.

• Nail down a career direction and specific steps to help get me there
• Make more friends and talk to people more often
• Be nicer
• Make more money (make it happen!)
• Be active every day
• Stop worrying about so much of my life and let it happen
• Enjoy nature, explore, marvel in it
• Push myself to create
• Make more to-do lists (and stick to them)
• Blog at least once a week
• Photograph more, maybe partner with someone to find a way to develop skills
• Find a mentor (possibly a life coach?)
• Write in my journal more often
• Don't watch or read anything I'm not feeling invested or interested in
• Focus on one thing at a time, don't interrupt the task at hand to start something new (at least when it comes to personal time. For example reading part of a page and then stopping to start a TV show and then stopping after 10 minutes to watch a Youtube video. This has seriously gotten to be my worst habit.)

Hopefully this list of goals will help guide me through next year in a positive and healthy way. When I'm feeling out of sorts I can always come back here to get myself back on track. Happy 2015!!

Are you a resolution and/or goal maker? What was on your list this year?

-S

2014

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you guys had a wonderful New Years Eve! I had a fun time hanging out with friends, watching the cherry ball drop downtown TC, consuming one too many glasses of alcohol, and welcoming the new year with an open heart and a head full of hope.

It was freezing (in the negative digits with the wind chill) downtown so my thoughts were far from cute dresses and heels for the night. Instead I managed to rock a pair of jeans, booties, and some essential winter accessories. I'd much rather be warm than cute (although I think I managed to do both).

So true!

I didn't officially make my own list of resolutions this year, but that doesn't mean I don't plan on making my life a little better in certain areas. I found this list on Polish My Crown of 25 New Year's Resolutions Every Person Should Actually Make for 2014. Since they all seemed pretty appropriate, I thought I'd just adopt that list for myself this year.

I also liked this graphic I found on Pinterest.

Here's to 2014 being a year of a positive state of mind and personal growth!

What are your New Years resolutions? What did you do for New Years Eve?

-S