Guide to Setting & Achieving Your Goals in 2021

When it comes to achieving my goals, more often than not I end up quitting on them early before I get to where I want to go. For example, if you read my post on the 10-day moving countdown, you’ll notice I really had to focus on reminding myself of the “why” behind my decision and self-motivation to make this dream of moving to New York a reality. Not going to lie, I definitely considered (and even once brought up to my manager) the option of transferring to the Chicago office. SO happy now that I didn’t do that, but that’s where this post comes in: there are several factors that go into setting and achieving major goals, like moving to a new city, and today I am going to share a couple of key elements that are essential to this process.

2020 Reflection + Goals for 2021

I was reading over my goals for 2020, and although they were written pre-pandemic, they still were really applicable to the year overall... not going to lie, I typically forget about my New Year's goals after a few months each year. However, despite not intentionally focusing on my goals, they really did shape my year. Today I am going to unpack my 2020 goals and share what my goals are for this year!

More Goals for 2020....

Now that a new semester is officially here and I'm getting back into a routine, I want to share a few more "concrete" goals that I have in mind for 2020. I shared my overall goal for the year at the beginning of the month, but there are a lot more things I've added to my list in the last couple of weeks that I want to share to hold myself accountable for!

At the beginning of 2019, I looked back on the goals I had set and analyzed how well I met them! I forgot about that post but rediscovered it the other day and want to do the same thing to kick off this new year!

From 2019:

1. Stop overthinking every little thing -- I did not do this... at all. Maybe it's just a personality trait ingrained in me that I can't change? I am the biggest overthinker. If I text someone without using like five exclamation points, I will think about it for hours if I sounded mean (or something ridiculous like that). Maybe I just have too much time on my hands?!

2. Blog at least twice a week -- I didn't do this at all. More details in the 2019 recap I wrote the other week, which you can find here.

3. Be kinder. -- I think I did a good job of this! I am so lucky to have so many amazing, fabulous friends, and my precious little family, and I'd like to think I did a good job of just being nicer to all of them in 2019. 

4. Be okay on my own -- I did this! In 2018 I was really dependent on other people to make me happy. In 2019 I definitely think I had a good grasp on myself and tried harder to be my own person. Going to get into this a little more below!

and I know no one cares, but I can do my laundry now... kind of :)

For 2020:

The first couple of weeks this year have given me a good feeling for what's to come... I'm feeling inspired, refreshed, and motivated! Here are a few things I'm hoping to work on throughout the year... I've split it up into general goals, and then a few specific ones at the end! I think having specific, more measurable goals for myself will be interesting.

General Goals:

Eat more vegetables // This sounds so dumb, but I actually love eating vegetables and I just don't prioritize it! I want to eat a vegetable at least once a day, lol. 2019 was a year of lots of exercise, so 2020 can be the year of lots of vegetables!!

Read more books // I read a lot over winter break, so expect a blog post on that coming soon! In doing that though, it made me realize that I want to try to read more consistently throughout the year... not just on vacations or over breaks. I'm going to try to at least keep a book in my possession at all times so I won't have an excuse not to read. 

Do + Post what I want // I put a lot of pressure on myself to post certain things that I think will be well-liked by whoever sees it, and this year I just want to give up on trying so hard and just post whatever I want. At the end of the day, no one cares what you post as much as you do, so you might as well just post things you like! For example, you may have noticed while I was on Long Island that I posted a lot of interior photos on my Instagram! I love interior design and I know those photos don't get as many likes, but I love them, so that's what matters!

Be Myself // Going off of that, I just want to be myself more this year and stop feeling like I have to do things for other people or be a certain way when people are around me or watching me. I mentioned above, I feel like a did a better job of being on my own in 2019, but I didn't necessarily do a good job of just being myself when I am with other people. I don't know if this will make any sense to anyone, but I'm kind of like a chameleon personality in the sense that wherever I am, I'll adapt to that situation. I am a very go with the flow person, and while I think that's a good thing, this year I want to make sure I am doing things because I want to and not because I feel like I have to for other people. I don't think I ever do this intentionally, and I wouldn't really consider it a people-pleasing thing (because I don't think I'm a people pleaser at all), but more just that I don't really make executive decisions for myself and I want to!

Specific Goals:

The Daily Stoic // This is a little connected to the previous goal! Basically, I want to hold myself accountable every day to be a better version of myself. I saw someone on Instagram post about this book, The Daily Stoic (can't remember who) so I bought it and I've been reading it every day! There is a passage every day that just inspires you and sets your mindset for the day and gives you something to think about. My goal for this year is to read it every day and stick with it! So far I am loving it. As someone with an overthinking issue, I find meditation really uncomfortable, so this is a great alternate form that feels much more guided and productive!

Investing // I started investing in 2019 and I am obsessed with my investment portfolio (I use Ellevest!). It's an amazing (and easy) way to get a head-start on your finances as a young adult. In fact, it's really one of the smartest things you can do for yourself and your future. I don't often talk about finances and real-life, important things on here, but wealth management and financial independence are two things I am strongly passionate about, and this year I am hoping to not only triple my current investments but share with you all in blog posts my tips and how I got started! Would you be interested in this?!

Listen to more podcasts! // I was better about listening to podcasts on my way to my internships the last few summers, but at school, I get so caught up in my music that I rarely switch over to podcasts. Podcasts are a great source of inspiration for me, so I want to try and listen to at least one episode a week... my favorite podcast is Gals on the Go! What's yours?

What are your goals for 2020?
xoxo

2019 Reflection + Goals For 2020

i used the exact same image when i wrote my goals for 2017!

On paper, 2019 was a really great year. I traveled, spent time with my family, saw some of my favorite bands in concert, and even had the biggest weight lifted off my shoulders when I received multiple job offers for after graduation! Yesterday I shared my highlights throughout the year, and it was nice to take a step back and realize how many great adventures I had throughout this past year. However, to me, 2019 was a bit of a disappointment, and it all had to do with my mindset.

Goals For 2019

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!! I hope you all had a fun and exciting New Year's Eve! I wanted to kick off the year by sharing a few goals for 2019. I never really make formal new year's resolutions, but there are a few things I hope to do this year and I always love hearing about what you all are hoping to accomplish too!

5 Goals for this Year

I don't like to call my goals for the year "New Year's Resolutions" because that term makes me think of a list of things I'll probably fall behind on come February, and things that aren't really that well-thought out enough to last more than a few weeks. So, instead I am defining the list of things I want to work on this year as goals that I hope to develop into habits by the end of 2018! As I talked about in yesterday's post, my overall outlook on this year is to be more present in each moment and to take life day by day, as they come. Here are five things I hope to do along the way:

Outlook on 2018

Hello, happy Sunday, and happy (belated!) New Year! I don't usually post on Sundays, but it's been a while and I wanted to update you all on what's been going on around here. I took last week off of blogging simply because I wasn't having the best start to the new year and I wanted to get my bearings before jumping back in after the holidays. A shattered iPhone, a cancelled trip to New York (supposed to have been this weekend but they got that huge blizzard), and other various personal circumstances left me feeling drained, uninspired, and really, really unmotivated to get online and share about my life. Now I am back and I want to share my goals to turn this year around!

My Health + Fitness Goals for the Semester

Lehigh students have it pretty lucky when it comes to the freshman 15; the food here isn't great, and you can't get anywhere without a staircase or a giant hill in between you and your destination. That said, health and fitness still aren't a free-for-all, and there is always room for improvement! 

Here are a few goals I have in mind that I want to stick to this semester:

1. Work out 4-5 times per week // My schedule this semester is so, so nice in the sense that all of my classes for the first six weeks are in the morning (done by noon) and on Tuesdays and Thursday's especially, I only have one class from 10:45-12. So, I have a few extra blocks of time perfect for sneaking in a workout, and I am going to aim to go to the gym each day of the week, unless I just have a ton of work. Last semester I went sporadically, but I would love to get into more of a routine with working out. I was so much better about this in high school, and I definitely noticed a difference.

2. Only have dessert once a day // I think I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world. Like, I could eat an entire cake or batch of cookies if you just put it in front of me. I would even be lying if I said I've never eaten a whole thing of Oreo's in one sitting, or an entire pint of ice cream by myself. It happens ;) . I have noticed though, the less I eat sugar, the less I crave it, and although I could probably curb my habit the quickest by cutting it out cold-turkey, I don't think that's realistic for me. That said, I think it's fair to reward myself with a scoop of ice cream or a cookie after dinner if I want it. There's no sense in cutting it out completely, in my mind. Everything in moderation!

3. Cut out coffee // I haven't had coffee since before winter break, probably not since exam week, and I honestly haven't been missing it. I noticed a major change in my teeth when I got home for winter break because I wasn't a huge coffee person before college, and my 2-3 cups-a-day habit first semester was really starting to make my teeth look yellow. Plus, I'm not really affected by caffeine, like at all, so I don't have a major need to drink the stuff. Instead, I've been super into tea lately, and I have so, so much tea in my dorm room. Now that I have moved into my new dorm, too, I don't have a Keurig anymore, but I do have a microwave. Heating up some water in a mug is so easy and quick, and tea is amazing for health.

Hopefully I can stick to some of these goals this semester! Let me know if you have set any for yourself; I would love some extra inspiration and motivation!

xoxo

Arms Open for 2017

In many ways, 2016 was one of the best years for me (read my highlights from the year here!). Although my first semester at Lehigh wasn't ideal, 2016 also included an incredible second semester of high school, a few of the greatest trips I've been on (not quite as outstanding as my multiple European adventures in 2015, but I still can't complain), and some really amazing blogging growth that I have all of you to thank for! It's hard to believe that my winter break is already half over, because I feel like I've been so busy since being at home that I haven't even had time to just relax and do nothing, which was something I craved so much when I was at school, studying all the time, and kind of totally dreading my existence at Lehigh. That said, I haven't exactly set out goals or resolutions for 2017 quite yet, but I have started to think about where I want this year to take me, and I thought it might be helpful for me to organize my thoughts by sharing with you all where I am at with that.

Before I started my first semester at Lehigh I asked my brother, who is just one year older than me, "is college fun? like, do you love it," and he told me that college isn't necessary fun all the time, but it's more so interesting, because you figure out so much about yourself. He tried explaining to me what that meant, but it's a little hard to comprehend if you've never found yourself in a situation like that. This was definitely a recurring thought in my mind throughout my semester, and something that, now, I couldn't agree with more. In 2016, I learned that I need to do what makes me happy, and I need to figure out what happiness means for me, because what I had thought was what I wanted is not necessarily what I want, nor what I should contain and limit myself to.

Let me explain what I mean: since my first visit to Lehigh in February of my sophomore year of high school (so crazy to think about!), I pretty much knew I was going. I knew I'd apply early decision, and if I got in, I was going. When senior year rolled around, Lehigh was the only school I was considering, and the only school I applied to, with the exception of one safety and one random app that I submitted half-complete because I was bored. The point is, I limited myself so strictly to what I thought I wanted, because I thought what Lehigh offered and what Lehigh "is" that I would be so happy there that there simply was nowhere else that would be a better fit. Then, in 2016, I got to Lehigh and I hated it. I wrote about my experience in this post. I cried everyday. I called my mom every night. I begged my parents to let me drop out, or to let me transfer, or even just to fly me home for weekends. I left school as much as I could, and I rarely went to parties. I felt completely lost, because I had the opportunity to pick any school in the country, and I picked Lehigh, I thought that was my dream, and then I was so, so wrong about it. But here's the thing: do you know how many people hated first semester? A lot. Two of my friends of all of my friends like their colleges right now. It gets so much better, but that doesn't make it easier.

Driving home from Chicago yesterday after dropping my brother back at his apartment at school, I was talking to my mom about what to wear to rush since I will be going through rush right when I get back to school in two weeks, and I started to cry in the car. I've always wanted to join a sorority since I was little. My mom was a Phi Mu at Purdue and her sorority sisters are some of her best friends in the world. When I chose a college, I knew I wanted greek life, and that I wanted to live in a house with my sorority sisters. And now? I couldn't care less. I don't want to go back. I want to be so open minded, to go back to Lehigh and go through rush with an open heart and open mind and clear eyes and a great outlook, but it's so hard. I keep asking myself, why? Is that going to make me happy? If I was wrong about Lehigh, am I wrong about this too?

2016 taught me that change is hard. 2016 taught me that I want to be happy, but I just don't exactly know what that means. So, I guess my goal is in 2017: find what makes me happy. In 2017, I want to find what really clicks for me. If I figure that out, and I make that work at Lehigh, then that would be amazing. I think deep down that's what I want... I want to stay. I wish it'll be like everyone says; first semester is the worst, but you go through rush, you trust the process, and you end up where you should be and you're so much happier. I sincerely hope that's what happens. But, if not, that's okay. I may have made a mistake in choosing a school, and it's really not the end of the world. In 2017, I want to find what makes me happy, and I want to work to achieve that. 

I want 2017 to be the year where I figure out what makes me genuinely happy, and that's what I reach for, that's what I strive to achieve, and I can stop making myself angry and upset over so many little things. I want to stop knocking myself down, closing off my mind, and limiting to myself to what I feel I'm capable of or what I think I'm able to do, and let myself do whatever I want in order to achieve happiness.

That's where I'm at. I'm working on myself. I'm working on and focusing on my happiness, because that is the ultimate goal for me. I want to look back on my life, on this year, and say it was a great one because I tried to make myself happy and enjoy each moment as it passes. I'm not sure what it'll take, or even if this is something I'll ever really be able to check off as "accomplished," but I'm excited to see how it all pans out.

I'd love to hear where you're at in setting any goals you might have for 2017. Thanks for letting me rant ;) 

love you. each of you! happy new year!

xoxo

June

It's hard to believe we are already hitting the halfway point of 2016. I knew this would be a big year, but I didn't expect it to fly by quite so fast! 

This month I want to cross a few more things off of my 101 in 1001 list, and I'm going to try to hit these goals in particular: 

- Go 48 hours without my phone/computer/etc
- Spend a day hanging out with my brother
- Read 10 new books (I want to aim for two this month)

Two books I'm wanting to read:
Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave // Just a week before her wedding, Georgia finds out her fiance was hiding a secret. One that would change everything. She flees to her childhood home, the family vineyard, where she discovers that her fiance wasn’t the only one with secrets.

Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly // Until the summer before college, Angie Morrow didn't really date. Her mother didin't like her to go out much. But no one, not even Angie's mother, can resist the charm of strikingly handsome Jack Duluth. His good looks grab Angies's attention from the moment in June when Jack throws Angie a smile at McKight's drugstore. It's the beginning of an unforgettable summer for Angie, full of wonder, warmth, tears, challenge, and love.

Any other recommendations? It's crazy to me that summer has officially begun!
xoxo

My Lenten Promises

I am writing this post in part because I know it'll hold me accountable for my Lenten promises this year, and in part to keep track of the progress I make throughout this Lenten season. Given that today is Ash Wednesday, aka the start of the Lenten season, I figured now would be the perfect time to share the promises I'm making this year as a way to help myself kick start into this time for reflection, renewal, and prayer. Sometimes it's so easy for me to forget that I blog for myself, too, and it's nice to use this platform as a communion between sharing my life with other people, and sharing my life for my own growth as well.

This year, I want my Lenten promises to focus more on adding to my faith life, rather than just giving up things for the heck of giving something up for Lent. The whole point of giving something up for Lent is to remove the things that distract you from God in order to renew your relationship with Him and allow it to grow especially during this time that Jesus spent suffering. I usually give up chocolate every year because I am a self-proclaimed chocoholic, but this year I am doing things a little differently with my Lenten promises. Not only am I giving something up, but I am giving up three things, and I am adding three things to my life to "replace" them, in a sense.

For Lent this year I am giving up snacking, all junk food, and swearing. I have noticed lately that I don't just eat when I'm hungry and stop eating when I'm content, but I eat out of boredom, and I eat when I just don't feel like not eating, which is a really bad habit. I am hoping that by eating three healthy, balanced meals every day I will be focused more on other things rather than food and I will be able to channel this focus into devotion to God versus gluttony. In addition, I am giving up swearing not because I swear a lot, but because swearing is something that I often do just out of carelessness. I am giving up swearing as my way of practicing being mindful of the words I say in order to create a more faithful outward expression of myself. In other words, it isn't so much about the swear words as it is the lesson I want to teach myself to really be aware of what I say.

And, of course, for the three things I am adding... I am adding weekly service, daily meditation, and daily scripture to my life. I used to do service often on Saturday mornings at a food pantry, and for the last few months I haven't gone. I have no reason not to go, and because so much of Lent is really about giving not just giving up, I figured service is the best way that I can give back. I am going to try to go serve at this food pantry every Saturday morning throughout Lent. In addition, I find myself often thinking that because I pray every night before bed that I am getting in a good dose of prayer everyday, but I think especially during Lent I am completely capable of stepping this up. I downloaded an app on my phone with a daily scripture passage and lesson from it (if you're interested, it's called Daily Bible Devotion in the App Store) and so far I really like it. I want to read scripture every day, which only takes a minute, and then meditate for at least 10 minutes, no distractions, for some part of my day either praying, clearing my mind, or just plain relaxing in order to thank God for my blessings and pray for those who need it.

Looking for a quote for this post I also stumbled upon the cutest Etsy shop for bible verse prints. Above I gathered a few of my favorite verses:

1 // 2

3 // 4

5 // 6

But some of the prints are even cuter (love this one and this one) with just as wonderful verses on them as well. I really recommend checking out this shop, I think I'll have to order at least one to put in my room as a reminder of my promises during Lent.

I am really excited about this Lenten season and I am really going to work to keep all of my Lenten Promises. Happy Ash Wednesday! Are you making any special Lenten promises this year (if you're a fellow Catholic reader)?

xoxo

February // New Years Resolutions Update

Yesterday I crossed off my first goal on my 101 in 1001 list: I cut off eight inches of my hair for Children with Hair Loss at my school's annual assembly (pictures and more on that to come!). Not only was it an amazing feeling to do something good for someone else, but the change I felt was a wonderful way to kick off the month. 

I set New Years Resolutions this year not really sure what to expect in terms of the outcome. A part of me felt like I was getting a little too excited by setting resolutions and beginning a 101 goals in 1001 day list, but another part of me felt, and still feels, up to the challenges, excited about them, and inspired to make the most of this year, each month, and every day. So, in spite of that, I've decided to get in the habit of holding myself accountable for my New Years resolutions by committing to recapping, or updating, my progress on them here at the beginning of each month! I also realized that 1001 days is a lot of days, so I am going to try to pick one or two of my 101 (well, I haven't actually come up with 101 yet...) things to do each month, too. 

Resolution Recap

Focus More // I have to admit that ironically, at the beginning of January, I was not focused on focusing more at all. The whole concept seemed like something that I said I would do but didn't really care if I did it or not. However, towards the end of the month, I turned off my data on my phone because I went over (#guilty) and that really reminded me about this goal to focus more and be present. I have to say, the difference it made have really benefitted me. It's unfortunate how technology is at our fingertips and there are so many advantages to that, yet it becomes incredibly easy just to take advantage of apps, pictures, messages, and more that quickly can consume our lives. I noticed when I had my main distraction, my phone, involved in less of my daily actions, my minder felt clearer and more focused on my other goals, and whatever else I was doing.

Being Healthier // I touched on this a little bit earlier in the week when I shared some of my fitness confessions from the month, but overall I am pretty proud of what I accomplished in terms of my health and fitness last month. I aimed to snack less, control portion sizes, exercise more, and make healthier choices in general. I did this mostly in bursts throughout the first half of the month where I would find myself being super healthy for a few days, and then unhealthy for a few days, and repeating that cycle. By the end of the month I think I really discovered a good fitness regimen that I actually enjoy, and a healthy eating plan that leaves me feeling satisfied, even without a whole pint of ice cream after dinner ;)

In February, my goals are to hit my Fitbit steps everyday, whether that means getting in at least a short workout every single day, or spending a little more time with my dog and taking him for longer walks. I also want to continue to make healthier choices and feel proud of myself at the end of the day knowing I consumed healthy foods, and a good amount of them!

As for focusing, I've been pretty good lately about aiming for eight hours of sleep per night, and I think if I keep up my focus, then accomplishing everything in the most efficient amount of time will help me to get in bed by 10/10:30 for a solid eight hours of beauty sleep.

This month, as a part of my 101 in 1001 goal, I am going to try to post every single day on the blog... Wish me luck!

What were your New Years resolutions, and how are you sticking to them? Do you have any tips? If you've given up or completely left your resolutions behind, a new month is the perfect time to start! You don't need a new year or a new month or week to kick off a challenge for yourself, but the beginning of this month wouldn't be a bad place to start!

xoxo

Goals for 2016

Waking up yesterday morning on the first of the year surrounded by friends, there was no place I'd rather be. The people who helped shaped my 2015 made it an incredible year and I love that I got to start off this new year fresh with the people I love. However, I know heading to college and graduating high school this year will make 2016 not only a memorable one, but one full of change and new people and new experiences too. Because of that, I want to set goals for myself to make this year the fullest it can be and to make the most out of my last semester of high school and my first semester of college.

Be Healthier // I know this is kind of a broad and general and not original new year's resolution at all, but being healthier is something I really want to work on this year, especially by the time I leave for school in the fall (not interested in the freshman 15, thanks). My main specific goal, however, for the year is to train myself to stop eating when I'm full and to not eat when I'm not hungry. I think this more particular and focused goal will motivate me to stay on track to be a little healthier this year. I also want to try and cut back a little on how much sugar I consume because I swear I'm addicted to chocolate and it's getting out of hand.

Focus More // I am so bad about distractions. Whether it be my phone, clothes, or a conversation with someone else, I literally can be distracted by anything and I want to try to pay more attention to living in the moment and being aware of my surroundings. Hopefully this will help with studying and school too!

That's all I have come up with for now, but I'm thinking about making a 101 in 1001 list and if so, that'll obviously include a few more goals for myself too! Have any of you made resolutions for this year / a 101 in 1001 list? What do you think?

xoxo

"I Want That Room"

Okay, how many times have we all gone on Pinterest and next thing we know we find ourselves drooling over our dream bedroom and pinning excessive gallery wall and bedding pictures to our interior design boards? Idk about you but happens to me like four times a day #noshame.

Consider your life made a little easier today and your dreams a wee bit more achievable... I've scoured Pinterest and every online store I could to make these gorgeous rooms totally shop-able and attainable!

headboard // turkish blanket // pink lamp // gold lamp

natural pillow // solid pink pillow // printed pillow // tray

giraffe print // bedding // nightstand (2 drawer option here) // alarm clock

bedframe // lamp // fan pillow // toile pillow

xoxo

Lessons from #LiveSmartNYC

By now you're probably beyond sick of hearing me talk, tweet, and blog about the #LiveSmartNYC conference, buuuut I'm not quite done. Today I'm sharing the lessons I learned from a few of the amazing speakers we heard from over the course of the conference weekend. From CEO's to dietitians to bloggers and everyone in between, it's safe to say that some of the coolest people I've ever met were at that conference, and they shared amazing stories with us.

I brought my laptop to the conference (best decision ever, even if I didn't like carrying it around at the time...) and somehow wound up with over 20 pages of notes. So, bear with me, this could get lengthy.

1 | Potential, Passion, Purpose

The first day of the conference opened up with a meditation by Maggie DiPasquale. This really set the tone for the rest of the conference... you can accomplish anything if you set yourself up in the right direction. Realize your potential... Ask yourself, "what am I good at?". Define your passion; "what do I love to do?". And finally, once you've realize what you're good at and you've become aware of what you love, figure out how you can combine those, define your purpose by answering "what does the world need me to do?" and then go out and do that. Make a list. Set goals. Realize your skills, your potential, your passions that lie at the core of who you are, and achieve your purpose.

2 | Attitude + Actions

Having the right attitude about achieving your goals is key to reaching them. Elaine Pouliot illustrated this perfectly by saying, "I could’ve gotten up and said I’m only a receptionist. Instead I told my friends I’m in the communications department at IBM and I dressed like I was the president".  Basically, everyone has to start somewhere. Don't compare your beginning to someone else's middle, and don't think that everyone takes the same highway on their road trip. Everyone wants to be their best self, but not everyone's best self is the same, and not everyone is going to put in the work to achieve their best self. Have a positive attitude; take risks; dress for what you want, not what you have, both literally and figuratively. And when it comes to acting out your best self, present yourself with a good attitude and act how you want people to remember you. You never know what person has a connection with someone else that could open a door for you. Statistics show that women want to keep everything to themselves; they don’t want to share. But, it's important to treat other how you want to be treated. Don't hold in all of your knowledge; be helpful and ask for help in return. What you give away, you get back ten-fold, and you can always ask others to collaborate with you on similar ideas.

3 | Appreciation

Stephanie Ruhle was one of my favorite speakers last year at the conference and didn't fail to win me over again this year during her keynote. Something that I love about Stephanie Ruhle is that she's so real but also the seemingly ideal person, and a lot of what she talked about had to do with appreciating all of her opportunities she's been given. Think about it this way... everyday we wake up in America (sorry if you're an international reader!), a country where every single day we can wake up and start over and make the most of our lives. We have the opportunity every single day to tackle our goals and achieve what we set out to achieve, and it's important to appreciate that and take advantage of that. Why waste the gift of freedom when others would kill to have it? And, appreciate the people around you too. Find the value you in every person you know and meet and aim to make more than a contact out of them. For example, it doesn't matter how many people's phone numbers you have if you can't send them a text or give them a call. Aim to make some sort of a relationship with every person you meet. Make the most out of people, make the most out of everything life presents to you. Everyday, find something, and say: What am I going to get to do with this? and work with what you've got to achieve that.

4 | Do It For You

If there's one thing everyone has in common, it's that we are all taking our own path to find happiness. No one (at least that I know) goes out of there way to be unhappy or to make themselves a life that they don't want. So, when it boils down to it, everything you do should be for you. Work hard, figure out what you want, and do everything for you. Make yourself the person you want to be. Be your best self for you. How you deal with challenges will make you successful. Find out what you love and find a creative way to make it a part of your life; be able to figure out who you are. For example, make a list of 5-10 that you love about yourself and if you didn’t have any issues (time, money, etc.), what would you be doing? Find a way to do that. Be happy right now with what you’re doing; don’t say “oh in 20 years, I’ll be happy when this happens”; be happy and fulfilled with right now, and if you can’t do that, make your life so you can be. It’s okay to change your mind. What’s important is that you figure out what you want to do and make sure you get there. You can choose who you spend your time with, and spend your time wisely. Break up with any expectations that others have of you… you are the creator of your world.

Overall, the Smart Girls Group conference this year was an incredible learning opportunity filled with amazing girls who all really wanted to be there to hear from even more fabulous speakers! I'm so grateful I had the opportunity to attend and I hope you all learned a little something from this post!

xoxo

Goals For 2015

Looking back on 2014, like I did the other day, opened my eyes to what I realize at the end of each year. I remember the memories I've made and the milestones I've reached. I remember my accomplishments and my downfalls. This year, my goal is to look back on 2015 and remember it as the year that I really turned myself around and figured things out. As I grow up and realize a little more who I am each year, I want to become the person that I want to be. I firmly believe that as individuals, we have the power to become whoever we want, and if anything is going to stand in our way it should most definitely not be ourselves.

This year I've set a few goals for myself and I am really going to try to stick to them. One of my goals is persistence and drive. Yeah, that's kind of a key one to have if you ever want to accomplish anything.

1: Body Image | This isn't something I really ever talk about on my blog because it's not something that I necessarily like to talk about. I am not 100% confident in my own body, but who is?! Like many people, there are things I like and things I don't like about my body. Obviously, I love my hair. Other than that, there isn't much else that I really like to flaunt. In fact, this year, I really want to work on this. I want to become more comfortable in my own skin and I think that's a realistic expectation!

2: Phone Usage | I am addicted to my phone. It's terrible, and I don't like it. I am always on it. I have portable chargers and everything and it would still die probably twice a day if I didn't continuously plug it in. This year I want to focus on disconnecting just a little bit. I've made a resolution to charge my phone in my kitchen every school night before bed rather than charging it next to my bed and playing on it until it's far later than what's good for me and my eyes burn.

3: Bad Habits | We all have a few bad habits that we just can't seem to crack unless we really put our minds to it. Me? I have a million. Something you might not know about me is that I am a swearer. It's kind of bad. I want to really stop swearing so much, it's not ladylike and it's not cute. It's a horrible thing to make a habit of and I really want to try to stop! Amongst that, I also want to work on little things that have a big impact. I want to bump up my kindness and awareness, and knock down my judgment.

What are your goals for the year?

xoxo

Hello, 2014

Hello new year and new beginnings! I decided to kick off the year by setting a few goals for myself... I don't like to make things too specific because let's be honest, then I would never get anything accomplished. I do, however, find it encouraging to set a few general parameters for myself to try and attain to throughout the year.

I would love to grow TBP and write more on here to expand and improve on my writing skills, in addition to reading more, whatever that might include, to expand my knowledge. I think those two sort of go hand in hand with each other because the more I know, the more I can talk about. I would love nothing more than for 2014 to be carefree without a ton of anxiety and stress (that was 2013's job, thank you very much.) and I feel like I could really prevent that by worrying less and taking more risks and just doing what I love. Finally, who's goal isn't to get a little healthier this year? Maybe I can finally motivate myself to eat healthy and exercise more in this new year ;)

What are your goals?

xoxo