Happy New Year!!

I am so happy to announce that the new year is finally here! I'm so happy to be rid of 2013 and all it's negativeness and strife. Now, I know that this year will have some strife, but i'm hoping that being proactive about things will keep the stress down! As a family we rang in the new year healthy with a good full meal and plenty of sleep! :-) No hangovers for Luke or I this new year! Starting the year off feeling good is always a great way to do it!

Now, That being said...let's talk about New Year resolutions. Yeah, those can be a b***h. Why? Because no one EVER completes them! I'm not going to let that happen this year. No way am I going to fail, because I want to improve myself so bad! So with that being said I have been doing a lot of thinking about how to do this. Sure, I have huge goals, but I've decided to take it month by month for the most part. So without further nonsense here are my resolutions:

• Be happy in the now. I don't want to say "I'll be happy when..." As if my happiness is contingent on achieving something. I will be happy NOW and be ECSTATIC when I reach a goal. 
• Mind my own business. We all do it, I am definitely guilty of it. I do not need to gossip. I do not need to talk about others misfortunes. I ESPECIALLY do not need to involve myself with other people's drama. What a waste of time, breath and energy! 
• Use my words carefully. Once something is said it can not be unsaid. I'm usually pretty okay with this, but I've had many of times where I had foot in mouth syndrome. I will use my words to create gratitude, happiness, love and encouragement. Trying my hardest to not be a negative Nancy.
• Live life with appreciation. Often times I forget what I have because i'm wanting more. You know what? What I have is pretty darn awesome. Sure it's not perfect, but isn't the term "perfect" relative? I have a loving family, clothing, a roof over my head, awesome food to eat, a job, an education, a beautiful little girl and a man that loves me. Yup, I'll take it. :-)
• Stop comparing myself to others. So this kind of links off of the previous one. A lot of times i'm comparing what I have to what others have and this makes me jealous and envious. I will stop try my hardest to stop wanting things just because someone else has it. If I want something it will be because I want it. I will stop hating myself because I'm not as awesome as the person i'm comparing myself to. 
• Let go of the past. This is a HUGE one. Lots of misfortunes in the past that I've been carrying around and letting it affect how I feel and live my life. Letting go of the negative past experiences and how they make me feel is not an easy task. This will be a huge work in progress, but I will work at it every day.
• Along with the last one I want to Do myself a favor and FORGIVE. It's hard to forgive when someone has done wrong to you. It's really hard not to feel upset and scared. This is also easier said than done, but will be a work in progress that I will probably battle everyday. But I trust that it will get a little bit easier each day.
• Love myself! Yup...insecurities and low self-esteem will be the death of a person. I'm working on replacing those hate thoughts with LOVE thoughts!
• Give more and receive more. Gifts, love and encouragement. Enough said. 
• I want to lose 45 lbs by the first week of July. Luke's brother's wedding is July 19th and i'm standing up as a bridesmaid so I'd like to be at my goal weight. Which mean hard work and eating healthy!
• I want to read/listen to at least one book a month. 
• I want to spend more quality time with Alexa and Luke. 
• I want to be more spiritual - Attending mass more as well as praying more. Starting a prayer/gratitude journal. 
• I really want to expand my beach body coaching into helping people with lifestyle. I'd like to work towards being a lifestyle coach.
• I also really want to expand on my Thirty-One Gifts business and launch that into a professional organizing business. 
• On top of those two side business I'd like to get a raise at my current job and strive to get better and better. 
• I want to write blog posts AT LEAST two times a week. I need to direct more traffic to the blog as well. Looks like i'll be scheduling lots of things to keep up with my life!
• I also want to start possibly getting into the world of YouTube. There are so many inspirational people on YouTube and it's a great way to reach people and help them with their lives. 
• Get engaged and/or married! Wishful thinking here, but 4 years together and raising my daughter together... I really really really want that more than anything else.

Phew! That seems like an awful lot, but truly... I work really well off of goals! Watch me mark them off one at a time. I will be successful this year, and I will help and inspire others as well. 

Okay, folks... I have to head out not and change into workout clothes. Started the Tone It Up Love Your Body Challenge. So excited to see my results in 6 weeks! Gonna kick some butt! I'm so excited for this new year! 

xoxo 

Nikki

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