The New Year is upon us! Elsie and I thought it would be fun to share our new year's resolutions.
Emma: I decided to have two resolutions this year: one work related and one personal.
For my work related goal I've decided to cook my way through this book. Ideally I'd love to take a professional culinary course or even go to culinary school. And maybe I'll get the chance one day. But for now that just won't fit my busy schedule. But I always want to push myself to become better and better at cooking because it is my passion. So, I'm cooking my way through this book and hoping to pick up some new skills and terminology as I go.
My more personal goal is simple: work to remember birthdays. It's sad, but I only remember a few people's birthdays, mainly my husband and sister. Terrible, I know! I'm not on Facebook either, so I don't have an easy system for reminders. So I am going to get all my loved ones birthdays written down on a calendar (and I'll save a digital version as well), so I can remember to send text, mail cards and buy presents for their special day. It's simple, and it seems silly that I'm not in the habit of this yet. But, there's no time like now. Elsie: New Years brings out the idealist in me. I love making goals and I can honestly say having big goals is one of my personal keys to productivity, success and happiness. With that said, it's also easy for me to over-do my goal making. Sometimes I make too many goals to the point where it is hard to remember and focus on each one.
Other times goals need to evolve. Last year I committed to a 365 project. I wanted to document 365 photos of my home and our daily life here. I guess the universe had other plans, through, because a month or so later our publisher confirmed that our next book (the one we spent last Spring and Summer creating) would be a home decor book. I had to change gears on my 365, because for the next six months my home was full of book projects that I didn't want to "spoil". I still had a really fun year sharing photos via Instagram, so that's just one example of how sometimes our goals need to evolve, change or be put on hold.
Ha! Sorry I didn't mean to be so long-winded. I'll get to my resolution now.
My goal for the year is to focus on home decor. As I mentioned above we spent a good part of last year creating a decor book (due out this coming August!). Because of that, most of our "decor energy" was going into secret projects for the book, and we were very limited on how much decor we could share here on the blog. This year I want to enjoy the fact that we can share ALL OF IT with you! Plus, I have three spaces to work on: our home of course, the new ABM workspace and a new music studio for my husband, as he will soon be moving! Decor is one of my biggest passions right now, and I'm looking forward to sharing more here on ABM.
What about you? Do you have a New Year's resolution? We'd love to hear. xo. Emma + Elsie
Jenn,
I was just in New York for christmas… Le Pain Quotidien has an amazing smoked salmon salad with the most delicious beets I’ve ever tasted! They had almost none of the soil taste.
You should start there! 🙂
All the best!
Good luck! I don’t really have any except to just carry on the healthy eating and less yelling 🙂
I keep all the important birthdays for family and friends in my google calendar. Three days (or a week for international friends) before a birthday I have a task to mail birthday card or gift so I don’t forget. I haven’t missed a birthday since starting that system.
Emma, I’ve also struggled to remember birthdays. Last year I made sure to put all birthdays in my calendar. At the end of each month, I would review next month’s calendar and mail out birthday cards all at once to be sure I did not forget them in the general day-to-day chaos. This worked out really well for me – it helped me recognize loved ones on their special day and most received their cards early, which made them feel like they were celebrating their birthdays the entire month!
Great resolutions!
I just did mine..
http://tinytransformations.blogspot.in/2014/01/goals-for-2014.html
Mine this year is to wash off my makeup EVERY night. No more falling asleep with makeup on; even after a hard night of partying LOL
-Gita
www.mimiandchichi.com
great goals! i am so excited for your decor book!!
xxoo,
nikki
www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
Malina, I’m currently in Grad school for Art Education! (And working 2 jobs). Grad school is so time consuming, it seems nearly impossible to make a new year’s resolution! I am keeping it simple and going to focus on learning how to be more organized. Congrats on working towards your Masters and good luck with your thesis! The job will come after all of your hard work, I’m sure. At least, I keep telling myself that, because I need to look for a job at the end of the year too! 😉
I forgot to mention that I’m super excited about you coming out with a decor book!! Can’t wait!
Thanks for sharing your resolutions! They are inspiring, as I would love to commit to remembering birthdays more or making my house look even better, decor-wise. I know this year will be busy for me being in grad school, working 2 jobs, all while being a newlywed and some traveling commitments. Plus I’m working on my Etsy shop that I neglected last year due to our wedding and other events. I usually like my resolutions to be about learning something, as I think they’re more attainable that way (at least for me). Given the jam packed year ahead, I think I should focus on organizing more to make my life as simple as possible. Be it organize my closets, write everything in my calendar and most importantly, plan ahead. I should do even the smallest things in advance, so when a big event comes up, I’m not scrambling all over the place (I was SO unorganized this holiday). That being said, my New Year’s resolution is to learn how to be more organized! Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and for helping me think through my own resolution!
To accomplish my 365 and keep blogging (http://thatgirlblogs2014.blogspot.com. To migrate away from Facebook. Biggest goal is no drama(!!) in 2014.
I didn´t make resolutions last year and I won´t make this year. But I have a special goal which I will/have to reach. Graduating from university with a Master of Arts that is. And after that, finding my first real job.
I know, already now, that this is going to be a tough phase for me, writing the thesis and so on. And then the interviews, etc. But I´ll try to stay of good cheer and be employed by the end of 2014 with my first grown-up job.
It’s fun to be rembember that quality is often better than quantity 🙂 Have a great 2014, mine will be really busy, looking foward to it !!
xx Kel
Love home decor! I’m trying to do more DIY projects to add to my future apartment too! And though I have 10 resolution/goals total for 2014, I’d say my main goal is to better embrace my creative urges by painting or making or writing every day.
You’ve re-inspired me to cook through Martha Stewarts cook book! It’s been awhile since I’ve opened it up. I also can’t wait to add more homey touches to my rental!
I am focusing on my new blog and having a connection with different and many people. I’ve become just a hermit and really want to focus on growing personally and professionally.
Also- a tip for birthdays: a family friend would sit down and create a binder of birthday cards for the year. Every month she reviews it and sends out the cards. She has pockets and folders with the dates and names and which card is for who.
You are cute 🙂 Both. Lovely photos ! Great post ℓα ℒιcσrηe – ℒa vie est ℓa petite ℓicorne.
Maybe one of your resolutions can be to not post the same stupid pictures over and over again. Maybe another resolution can be to not link to the same posts over and over as a lazy way to make some money. Maybe a third resolution can be to volunteer at a soup kitchen and give some of your time to those less fortunate than you… oh wait that’s bad for your twee little “brand”? Sorry. Have a magical New Year!
I just want to say thank you for putting out such amazing content and following your dreams–it is the number one reason ABM is such an amazing and inspiring blog and company. The ABM app has truly changed my life haha 🙂 Bravo on a fruitful year and I look forward to reading your blog in 2014. You girls are truly an inspiration. THANK YOU!
I’m thrilled that you guys are making a decor book! You’re work is so inspiring, and now that I have my own place to decorate, I can’t wait to use your ideas as home inspiration! I love the new goals. I try to make simple ones that I can stick to and stay true to who I really am and what I love.
xoxo
Taylor
www.welcomehometaylor.com