Goals for 2015

Hi everybody!  It hasn't been a week yet and I'm back!  Hopefully I'll be able to keep this up in 2015!  I mentioned last Friday that I've been thinking a lot about 2015.  2014 was a great year, but I did feel pretty overwhelmed for a good portion of it.  I'm hoping that with some changes and goal setting, 2015 will be one of our best years yet.  I could have gone on and on, but I narrowed my goals for 2015 down (yes, this actually is a narrowed down list) to the list below.  It's pretty long, but I think it's very doable.  Everything on it will genuinely make me happier and make my life easier.  

Personal Health & Mental Well Being:

1) Drink more water...I'm usually ok about this (could be better), but over the holidays I barely drank any.  I also drank way too much soda in it's place, so out with the soda too!

2) Cook more - eat out less...again, was really good about this, but the last quarter of the year I was too busy and as result never felt like cooking.

3) Eat regular meals...this has always been a challenge for me.

4) Try one new healthy recipe bi-weekly...I seem to just make the same stuff all the time.  It would be nice to add in a little more variety.

5) Read 4 books in 2015...I love reading, but I never do it.

6) Be grateful everyday for everything I've been blessed with and try not to complain too much.

7) Try to be more positive and less negative.

8) Play piano several times per week...I was playing almost everyday, but again, I got too busy.

9) Go to 3 concerts in 2015.

10) MORE PHOTOS...Compared to years prior, I barely took any pictures in 2014.  I want to not only take more pictures in 2015, but I want to take better pictures.  I also want to start making it a priority to print and do something with them.

11) Take one creative online class per month...I think this will be a really important one to keep me inspired.

12) Start scheduling my time better.

Career:

13) Stop overextending myself...I took on WAY too much at the end of 2014 and it made it impossible for me to keep up (the way I would like to) with my personal life.  In 2015, I need to find a better balance, which may mean letting something go.

14) Take one online class per month that is related to my profession.

15) Organize my work life and keep it organized...no surprise here that I work better if I'm nice and organized.

16) Start using my office again...I've gotten sloppy and work from my couch far too often.  It's not good for my focus or my body.

Home Life:

17) Create a chore chart...I've never done this before and I think it would be really helpful for us.

18) Organize EVERYTHING...We've lived in our house for a while now and all the organizing I did at the beginning is coming undone.  Time to get back on track.

19) Get rid of things we don't use/need...too much clutter!

Finally on to the most important ones...

Relationships:

20) Set aside one day a month to do something fun with my husband, just the two of us.

21) Try to get together with friends for a night out once a month.

22) Spend more time with my sister (and just family in general).

23) Plan more get togethers with my friends throughout the year.

24) Go someplace new with my husband (doesn't have to be fancy or expensive) 2 times in 2015.

And 25) Evaluate this list monthly to see how I'm doing.

Well there is my list.  Are you busy thinking up goals for 2015?

Out with the old year, in with the new..

Hi everybody!  I hope you all had a lovely Christmas!  With the little bit of down time I've had this week, I've been reflecting on the year that has past and thinking about the year to come.  This past year has brought some stuff that I didn't expect, but it still was a great year.  I thought that during the holidays this year we would be either celebrating with our new baby or celebrating being pregnant.  Unfortunately, that isn't the case.  I didn't think that my career would go in the direction it did, but it has been really rewarding and I'm excited to see where it goes.  

I always get excited for a new year.  There isn't really anything that changes from December 31st to January 1st, but it always feels like a fresh start.  I hope that this will be a year of exciting things for my little family, but I also want to work on myself over the next 12 months.  I think it's always important to be improving yourself whenever you can.  

Well I need to get back to some quality family time, but I hope to be back on here soon to talk plans for 2015.  It's nice to get it in writing! I hope you all have a fantastic day! 

Anyone still there?

Based on my stats, apparently you still are!  I never meant to give up blogging, but then my life got in the way.  What has been going on in the last 8 months?  Well here are the Cliff's Notes...I turned 31.  Found out that I have some fertility issues...officially been trying for a cute little one of our own for 13 months now.  Kind of started a company with my sister.  Fell into a job opportunity...then fell again which currently leaves me with 3 jobs (4 if I were actually dedicating myself properly to my sister and my venture as well).  So, after all that and wanting to still have some personal time, blogging slowly became a distant object in my rear view mirror.  BUT, I'm not giving up just yet.  I love this blog and all the opportunities and personal growth it has given me, but this little blog of mine definitely needs a new direction.  As I figure out exactly what direction that is, I hope you all will bear with me.

{Scrumptious} Oat Bars

Happy Friday everybody!  It's not often that I post a recipe, but this one is just too good not to share.  One of my favorite snacks as a kid were those inexpensive Honey Oat granola bars you could buy at the grocery store, so when I first tried the Oat Bar at Starbucks several years ago during my first trip to visit Jason in Vancouver, I was hooked. 

They are obviously much more delicious then their inexpensive grocery store version, but there is one major problem...I can't get them here!  They are only sold at the Starbucks in B.C. Canada, so when I had a major craving for one the other day I started doing some googling.  Apparently, they originated from a bakery on Vancouver Island, hence the reason they are only sold in B.C.

I found that the recipes varied greatly, so I just took bits and pieces from a bunch of them to try to create the one that sounded the most accurate to me.  What I ended up with is not only just as delicious as the Starbucks version, it might actually be better.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as me! 

Oat Bars

Ingredients:

- 3 cups organic quick oats

- 1/2 tsp salt     

- 4 tbsp butter

- 1/4 cup maple syrup 

- 1/4 cup liquid honey

- 1/3 cup organic light brown sugar

- 1/2 tsp vanilla

Cooking Instructions:

In a large non-stick pot melt the butter over medium heat.  Next add the brown sugar, syrup, honey, and vanilla.  Allow mixture to get slightly bubbly, and then add the salt and oatmeal.  Many of the recipes I found added cinnamon.  I love cinnamon and tried it both ways but personally didn't like the addition to this particular recipe.  If you would like to add cinnamon, you could add up to 1 tsp at this point.  Keep over heat for another minute or two stirring constantly (do not let burn).  Then remove from heat and pour mixture into an 8x8 pan sprayed with cooking spray.  Press down firmly, allow to cool completely, and then cut and enjoy.  

{Fashion Obsessed} Ban.do's New Lifestyle Line

Image Credits: Ban.do

Have you checked out Ban.do's new lifestyle line yet?  If you haven't, you must.  There is so much cuteness and fun, I can barely take it.  I want it all!  

Happy Tuesday!

{Freebie} Balloon Girl Desktop Background

Happy Friday everybody!  It's been a while since I did a background freebie for you, so I thought I would cap off the week with this fun one.  The watercolor illustration was done by my lovely and talented sister Katie.  Be on the lookout for more collaborations between the two of us in the coming months.  We have some pretty fun stuff in the works.  

Have a lovely weekend!

{Floral Fix} Decorate With Flowers

Photo Credits: Decorate With Flowers and Janis Nicolay

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I've had a long love affair with flowers.  Rarely does a week go by that I'm not loading my house up with flowers, so when I got the opportunity to help here and there with Holly and Leslie's new book Decorate With Flowers, I was ecstatic.  In fact the very first project Holly gave me was book research.  As you can imagine, I was in heaven.  Then last fall, I got the opportunity to go assist with some of the shoots for the book.  It was such a great experience, one I hope I get to relive often, and it only deepened my love of flowers.  

On this cold dreary day, I'm dreaming of flowers and spring (Oh my gosh, spring get here!), so I thought I'd share some flowers with you all to brighten your Friday.  If you want to see the beautiful photos that resulted from the arranging above, you can pre-order Decorate With Flowers here. 

Have a lovely weekend everybody!   

{Lovely Pins} Dreaming of Spring

Photo credits (clockwise from top left): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Is anybody else yearning for spring like me?  It's been such a cold winter here in Minnesota and the snow just won't stop, so with that in mind here are some spring colors to brighten your day.  Have a lovely weekend!

{My Life} A Look Back At 2013

I don't know about you all, but I love the start of a new year.  I don't necessarily think there is anything special or different about January 1st, but it serves as a nice little imaginary reset button.  A day (or a week or so in my case) to reflect on the year that just passed and contemplate what's in store for the one to come.  

2013 wasn't a year for the record books by any means, but as I look back on everything that happened in 2013, I'm happy to say it was a pretty good year.  Here's a quick little look back at my year, with pictures of course!  

We kicked off 2013 with a big bash at our house.

We had an awesome weekend watching college hockey (UND to be more specific) in Omaha with friends in February.

Then spent a week in LA.

In the beginning of March, I was hired by Holly Becker to be her Assistant and Project Coordinator.  One of the highlights of my year for sure!  

Also in March, my sister and I took a little day trip to Stillwater to do some shopping (one of the many fun sister days throughout the year).  

April 1st, 2013...I turned 30!  

Mid April it start to get really nice out, so Jason and I tackled a little daybed DIY project for the deck. And then, it snowed again!

In May, I decided this was going to be the year I became a better gardner.  I would start with containers on the deck. 

In June, I went to keep Jason company in Vegas where I drove a go-cart for the week, met some new friends, and had lots of wine flights.  When I came home, all my plants had died which leads me to...

Container garden 2.0.  I was not born with that green thumb people speak of.  

In July, I was asked to lead a workshop at my local West Elm.  I didn't have a great turn out (which I chalk up to it being the middle of summer and not giving people much notice), but it was a great experience that I learned a lot from!  

Jason and I also celebrated our 5th Anniversary.  After all kinds of fun meals and nights out in Vegas, we opted for a quiet night in.    

In August, Doggert and I had a little staycation and checked out city life.  It was fun, but it was nice to get back home.

We also headed to the North Shore for a weekend to celebrate our friends marriage.  Such a beautiful place!

And shortly after we got back, I began to conquer my dental fears and had some pretty major work done that had been looming over me for quite some time.  After more dentist appointments then I can count, I will finally be done with the whole ordeal at the end of this week. 

  

In September, I went to Vancouver to help with some photo shoots for my lovely boss's new book.  It was such an amazing experience!  One that I hope I get to re-live often! 

We also made a little trip to Grand Forks to see one of our best friends get married and to meet our new niece.  

All the sudden it was fall...my favorite time of year!

In October, I went to NYC to cover an event for decor8 and as result got to do a post which you can read here!  

I also got to meet these two sweet boys (John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino from HGTV's Kitchen Cousins) while I was there.

I came home all inspired to DIY and that led to me sprucing up some of our lighting. 

And that continued into holiday DIYing.  

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Both were lovely!

I of course left out all kinds of everyday moments that stick out...trips to the lake, sister dates, time spent with family and friends, lovely house guests, you name it, but I think this post would be a bit too long (I mean it already is), if I included everything.  

Happy 2014 everybody!  I wish you all the best!