My Resolution List

We can't start off the new year of posts without first dedicating some time to my personal resolutions, right?!  So here they are... my goals and hopes for 2015!

Goals

• Worry less- I have one of those minds that worries when I can't think of something to worry about because I MUST be forgetting something.  I need to stop this.  Now.    
• Limit my "people pleasing" habits- I say "yes"... a lot.  I am a social person and always try to be friendly and affable.  But sometimes I find that it's easy to take advantage of my good nature.  While I don't want to be rude or mean, I do want to work on asserting myself.
• Stop Filling the Silence-  I spend my days with a one and a three year old which means my conversations are generally centered around appropriate behavior, reinforcing appropriate behavior, disciplining over inappropriate behavior, reminding my kids what is appropriate behavior, and why it's not appropriate to hit your baby brother.  When I am not with my kids, I expect my conversations with friends to essentially be one very long run on sentence with contributions made by all parties present discussing any other possible topic other than appropriate behavior.  However, sometimes I am in the company of people who prefer more compartmentalized conversations- ones that have periods of (awkward) silences.  These interactions are painful for me.  I often try to fill the space with anything to spark up a conversation and I honestly don't know how to act in silence.  But this year, I want to master the art of silence (somewhere my husband just sighed, "Finally").
• Host/Entertain more- We've been in our home for two years.  For the last 18 months of those two years, I haven't been up for hosting big get togethers outside of casual playdates- mostly because it's hard to organize something with little kids underfoot.  My husband reminded me that hosting something doesn't mean it needs to be a big, formal event.  Wine, cheese, maybe some apps- everyone's happy.  
• Shop more- Maybe it's because I've been in some form of maternity gear for the last four years or maybe it's because my "business casual" can be defined as yoga pants and sweatshirts, but for whatever reason, my wardrobe needs a major overhaul.  We don't go out much or have tons of social activities that aren't casual, family friendly events, but I've noticed that when we do have a fun event on the calendar, I am rummaging through clothing I purchased half a decade ago!  Recently I went to Lord & Taylor (during an AMAZING sale), and put together an outfit that made me feel more put together than I've felt in months YEARS!  I'm not sure if "retail therapy" is really good for you (mostly because over spending gives me hives).  But after taking the time to go shopping, alone, and only for MYSELF, I felt an independence I hadn't felt since I had kids.  I need to make a note to do that more (somewhere my husband just asked, "wait, what...?".
• Exercise 3x a week- I really have no excuses and I know that my attitude is so much better when I can burn off the crazy that is motherhood.
• Update demo reel (ideally with updated/professional content)

Hopes

1. Quirky progress- This.  Please this.  I am not so sure why I think about Quirky as often as I do.  I think it has something to do with achieving both my deep desire for personal fulfillment outside of parenthood and putting into motion/finding success in an idea that many people glossed over.  

The "odd" years have always been good to me.  I married my husband in 2009.  I had my first son in 2011 and my youngest son was born in 2013.  The even years allow me to "marinate" in my blessings and to be grateful for all that I have.   I hope that 2015 can be a combination of both!

Cheers!