Welcome!

Remember how I told you I was working on a little something with Bre [who is beyond super rad talented] from Moxee + Our Paper Shop?  This is it.  A new look.  I know again, right?  And so soon!  Yes + yes.  This past year brought all kinds of change and I was kind of all over the place and not feeling quite like myself, including online.  This feels like me.  Don’t you agree?  I feel at home.  Very much at home and I hope you will too, each and every time you visit.  And a major thanks to Bre for designing my online home [I can’t wait to show you what else she is making for me].  So please have a look around.  There is a lots of lovely on each and every page.

Now….It’s a new year, yes?  It’s a new look, yes!

BUT it is also a FRESH START.

I could use a fresh start.  Maybe you could to?

2011 was not my most favorite year.  It was a hard as they come kind of year for me.  Sure it was filled with some happy moments and shiny days.   One of my shiniest days yet, actually, the day Rocco, my rest, arrived.  Other than that shine its all been a bit foggy.  But I’m looking on to brighter days.  Shiny ones in fact.

Do you make resolutions?  Do you keep them?  I always make them [here are last years]. I don’t always keep them.  Or better said I don’t always reach them.  I’ve read a few posts [not as many as I’d like] on resolutions, goals and the like.  I like what Melissa said about adding rather than giving things up and I like what Holly said about focusing on what you did accomplish this past year.  And I do know that if you do try to give something up and remove it than you ought to replace it with something better, something good or likely that old habit will creep back in.

/ A few of things I’m focusing on this year /

BE

BRAVE /  I’m not natural at this.  Not in the slightest.  Sometimes it keeps me from living.  But I recognize it and have learned to just do it [whatever it may be] afraid.  I have to be brave with my life so others [namely my children] can be brave with theirs [I saw this a few years ago + it stayed with me].  Being brave will probably make my list each and every year.  And I’m ok with that.  It only means I’m doing something about it.

KIND / I want to be kinder to those closest to me and that even means myself.  I’ve found that when we are hard on ourselves we are hard on others.  I have high expectations on myself [most of the time, too high] and I can tend to project that on others, even on some 6 and 8 year olds I know.  Not so great.

CONFIDENCE / This is a perpetual one for me too.  I am the queen of second guessing.  I’m as indecisive as they come.  But I am starting to see a pattern that, more times than not, my first choice [or instinct] is usually the right one.  And sometimes, you just have to make a decision and even if it is the wrong one then just own it.  At least you made a decision.  You can learn from it and do better next time.  And not deciding on something is actually a decision.  It is a decision to not make a decision.

DO

DECLUTTER / Less is more, really.  Continue to de-clutter.  Buy what I love [better usually is better].

BEDTIME / This is a serious problem for me.  I like staying up late.  I get a lot done.  I talk to all of you.  But if I don’t get some sleep I’m going to end up on Oprah [oh, wait she’s done ..ok…Dr. Phil, maybe] for “letting myself go.”  I’m neglecting some basics, these days.  I’d like to go to sleep by 11:30.  Power down the inter webs by 11 and do some old fashioned leisurely reading before lights out.  And before all of that I’d like to really stick with a routine of relaxation [washing my face and so on].

GROW / For me this means spending some time reading my Bible, journaling and just talking to God.  It also means helping others and that can be in various capacities.  This grounds me and lately my feet haven’t even been touching the ground.

RANDOM

/ a few of my RANDOMS

+ wallpaper in my house

+ get the kids passports

+ learn photoshop

+ add new “go to” recipes

+ learn to braid hair

I have some others, that are just for me [+ of course some boring health ones like adding more water, probiotics, greens + leg lifts].  Some serious and some for fun.  You’d get bored with all of them.  I just thought the above were the ones worth sharing.  And overall I hope to take it all on with balance in mind. An extreme one way or the other is usually not a good thing.  At least not for me.

So tell me.  What are you adding or removing this year?  What would you like to do?  Who would you like to be?  If you’ve done a post on this I’d love have you link to it in the comments section. Or if you’ve seen a great post on this subject, link to that too.

I wish you a very fresh start and a year full of Lovely living!

XO

maddywirtz / tumblr