Hey all,
Happy New Year! Sorry for the belated post, I had a beautiful post written while I was away for the holiday, but forgot about the auto-refresh function on my iPad... Bye-bye blog post!
Every year around this time, people resolve to do certain things over the next 365 days. I am one of these people, but rather than 365 days I tend to make it to around 36.5. This year, I want to do better. So to keep me going, I thought I would share my resolutions in an attempt to stick with it. Here we go!
- Love More - Relationship-wise, 2013 was not great for me. I wasted most of the year waiting for something that was not going to happen. Looking back, I think I'm glad it never did... I'm not convinced yet. But in 2014, I'm putting it all behind me. A fresh start, and a new outlook on life and love in the new year will do me some good.
- Eat Less, Exercise More - Well, I have officially joined the gym. I start on January 15th, and it's time to stick with it. And this time, I'm doing it totally for me. There are only a handful of occasions that I don't like how my body looks, however I often find myself unable to keep up with my friends (who walk freakishly fast) or find the clothes I really want in the right size. This year I would like to lose at least 60 pounds, by eating right and going to the gym every day if possible.
- Spend Less - I admit, I'm not great with money. I often buy things I don't need, when I don't really have the money. Don't get me wrong, a shopping spree every once in a while is wonderful, but when you're a student and only working part-time, things can get tight between paychecks. This year, I have made a separate savings account, where I will save enough for my trip to the UK, and then continue to pay off my student debt. By putting the money aside instead of directly into my chequing account, I'll be less likely to spend it on silly things.
- Blog More - Yowza! When I started this blog back in April, I never thought I would enjoy it so much. I have had such a great time thinking of ideas for posts, and sharing my little thoughts and ponderings with the world. I made the decision in September to invest a little chunk of change on this space, for advertising and design, and I honestly think it's the best decision I could have made. That being said, I kind of let the whole thing get away from me as it grew. This year I definitely hope to stay committed to this little project and keep it going. I have been so blessed this year by all of you followers who have joined the family, and I look forward to seeing where 2014 will take us!
So that's it! Those are my main New Years' resolutions. You may think it's silly of me to share these things publicly, but I just think of it as a way to stay accountable! Please feel free to leave a comment below, telling us what your resolutions are for 2014!
Until next time,
Liv <3
Hey all,
I'm just recovering from the flu, so let's get back in action!
Today I wanted to talk about another holiday favourite of mine. Today, it's the Christmas tradition! If you've ever been in to Hallmark at Christmas time, you have probably noticed their wide array of themed tree ornaments. From Star Trek, to Barbie, to Harry Potter, they've got it all. Every year since I was born, each member of my family receives a Hallmark ornament of something special to them, and we put our entire collections on the tree. I've had 21 Christmases, so I have 21 ornaments. My parents each have about the same, and my brother has 16 ornaments as well. You can just imagine the jumble our tree must look like. But somehow, my mom manages to class it up!
If you look closely, you can find my mom's Starbucks cup, my *NSYNC disc that sings "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" when pressed, or my parents' felt "lovebirds" at the top. What a mix!
What's your favourite holiday tradition? Share with us in the comments of this post!
Until next time,
Liv :)
PS. 33 until the big day!
Hey everyone!
To all of my Canadian readers, Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is a time where friends and family gather together to share a meal, and reflect on what they are thankful for. So today I wanted to write about what I have been most thankful for in the past year.
I am thankful for friendship. For the ones I still have, and the ones I don't. Even if they might not have stuck around for this whole year, each person I met taught me a lesson. I will always be thankful for that.
I am thankful for everything I have. A roof over my head, a good job, an education, and food to eat. I know that not everybody has these privileges, and I'm thankful every day that I can afford them.
I am thankful for the internet. As strange as it sounds, during the times that I felt so down this year, I could read blogs and watch vlogs, and know that I wasn't alone. There are so many people out there who felt the same why I did, and knowing this and sharing their experiences helped me get through those tough times. This is also where I found my inspiration to start this blog!
I'm thankful for all of the opportunities I've been given. In the past year, I've graduated university, gotten the chance to go to Orlando with friends, been accepted to four different Masters' programs, and gotten an au pair job in London. Though the last two opportunities didn't lead to anything extraordinary, just having the chances that some people are not as fortunate to receive is something I am always so grateful for.
So, as my mom starts to defrost the turkey and I get to see all of my friends that are home for the weekend, I wanted to take a moment to share with you all of the blessings in my life that I am really and truly grateful for.
Even if it's not Thanksgiving where you are, what have you been most thankful for in this past year? Share it in the comments below!
Until next time,
Liv <3
