Laughing Latte

Well Happy New Year! I started out mine with beautiful snow, a cold that decided to kick my butt into bed for three days, homemade chicken broth from my mother, and lots of love and care from my husband, who is luckily a steel trap when it comes to diseases! I wanted to start this year out with a bang. Come home, clean up our apartment, get back to cooking dinners instead of just desserts and start blogging regularly like before the holidays. But my immune system decided to do things differently. And here I am three days into the new year and blogging in bed for the first time.

I’m not a resolution type of person. (Thank goodness because I would have nothing to show for these prime first three days of the year.) They seem to be made to be broken. I like to take it a week at a time, sometimes even just a day, instead of 365 days at once. So today, my goal is to take my first shower of the year. I know… Gross. My husband agrees. But I haven’t exactly been capable of too much lately. And my goal tomorrow is to go back to work. And my goals for the weekend: Clean our hurricane of an apartment. Probably put away the Christmas decorations. Unpack our suitcases. One Pilates class on our new equipment arriving on Friday! And plan out two meals for next week! Now that’s how you make goals that you can reach; One baby step at a time!

Here’s how you can make your New Year’s resolutions a little more reachable:

1. Be specific. I feel like I have read this advice so many times, but it really is true. “I want to change the world.” “I want to be healthier.” “I want to get in shape.” Ask yourself how? How do you want to achieve that goal. And more importantly, how can you start? Last year, I wanted to learn to cook and be more comfortable in the kitchen. I wanted to feel free to experiment with recipes. That’s a little vague and intimidating to start with. Making one new recipe a week isn’t intimidating though! It’s specific and approachable! Plus it was fun. And by the end of the year, I did end up achieving my underlying goal!
2. Break them down into baby steps. Example 1: You want to start working out? Four hours at the gym sound intimidating? Find one class that you are interested in taking. Try it out. Commit once a week. After a month, find another class to add on! (Or you can just call me I love teaching Pilates! hehe) Example 2: You want to start cooking healthier? Sit down on Sunday and find a new healthy recipe to make that week. Only commit to one. Hopefully you will start to add on later, or you will find keeper recipes to repeat in addition to your new recipe of the week!
3. Hold yourself accountable. Usually resolutions are goals you intend to achieve all year, so this is of course going off that assumption. It’s easy to take a week off from working out, or cooking or any other habit that we would like to continue doing. If you take a week off, admit it, enjoy it guilt free, and get back to it next week! Hold yourself accountable. Last year I blogged about my progress in the kitchen. If you don’t blog, keep a journal. How do you feel after you are done working out, or cooking a meal, or eating healthy or whatever your resolution is? It’s that good feeling that will drive you to do it again. So remind yourself of why you like it.

Do you like to make New Year’s Resolutions? What kind of resolutions do you make? How do you keep them?

Luvv, Leigh B

PS. I went bargain shopping the day after Christmas! Mall was empty because of the fresh slush on the roads! Got this Madewell skirt for $20! It can be worn year round! Such a steal! And my new sweater seemed to go with it perfectly! Couldn’t wait to show you guys, just didn’t want to do it in the snow. It’s been a tad bit chilly outside!

Oh and I promise to be back to regular scheduling starting Monday