New Year. New Look.

Happy 2012 World!

There's something about hitting the new year that always makes me yearn to review, revise and refresh my life. Seems silly that it takes January 1 to jumpstart me into action but it's a cleanse that I look forward to each winter.

To start things off, I'm redesigning this little beaut. I want it to be classy, smart and creative - all with a little spice of personality. Hopefully you'll like the end result - and to be totally honest, I'm hoping it becomes part of my daily routine and eventually part of the 1517 Events website. Making it awesome will be a bonus.

2011 was a HUGE year for me. Travels and adventures; Long Hours and Promotions; Laughter and Love. Needless to say, hindsight is always 20/20 - and while I enjoyed 2011 with all the challenges and rollercoasters it brought, I'm exhausted and felt like I was in a constant scramble.. especially the last 6 months.

So. 2012.... how am I going to handle you? how am I going to do more than survive? how am I going to be the best me this year? Here's the quick and dirty on my first crack on goals for 2012:

1. Choices, Choices Choices. Make one "better" choice each day. Going for the english muffin? Grab a banana instead. Office snacks? Start with water and a piece of gum. Another episode of Family Guy? Take Star for a walk. Little things add up to big things.
2. Digging Out. Organize/Clean one big "item" at home each month. Office, Closets, Kitchen Pantry... it's like the lochness monster has made a home and before we know our families will be having a hoarder intervention. One item a month is a piece of cake.
3. Date Night. It's amazing how living with your partner changes the concept of romance and dating in a relationship. You wake up next to the person you love every day. You rock-paper-scissor for making coffee in the morning. You go through mood swings and food poisoning together. Believe me, I understand how easily the "romance" that was once well-thought out becomes "hey should we just order a pizza"... it's just that I miss it. And more so, this is the time in our lives where we actually have the time, energy and money (read: no kids) to be able to go out and enjoy a Saturday night on the town. Long-winded explanation, but the short story is we've decided to have one date night a month: dinner + activity. Matt has January so I better think of something creative for February!
4. Glitter and Glue. Well... probably more paint, saw, and shoot... but the point is I need to keep my creative juices flowing! I'm hoping that writing more and continuing my incredible obsession with Pintrest is going to enable my creativity, but it also requires me to slow the heck down long enough to feel the room to breathe (read: paint). One of the saddest moments for me in 2011 was when (in the midst of the scurry of fighting for a promotion) Matt turned to me and said "Babe, I know you've been busy.. but you don't paint anymore. I love watching you paint, and I know it relaxes you... so you should try to paint again." He called me on my game and shot me cold in the dark. I had let work take over my life and hadn't allowed ME time. 2012... this is our year.
5. Financial Freedom. It feels like a slow, annoying drum beat for me to keep saying I need to spend less and save more, but if the shoe fits! Honestly, I made huge strides in 2011 towards getting myself (and our family) in a better financial situation. 2012 is going to be all about kicking it up a notch: sticking to my budgets, paying extra towards my debt and fingers crossed getting rid of most of it! I'm already thinking of all the ways I can spend the extra $$ I'll have once I'm done with my debt.. which I'm not sure is a bad thing quite yet. :)

All seem pretty reasonable right? The point is to keep it simple. Little changes make a big difference and the BIG Goal: more balance.

Enjoy your Tuesday and Happy January!