Goals, Reflection, Intentions

Now that 2017 is over, it's time to reflect on a few things in my life. This year was fast and slow, easy and fun, and then hectic and full of change. I completed 3 college courses while working full-time and a second job, entered my 28th year of living, moved in with my boyfriend, and got a small promotion at work (finally!), just to name a few things.

All in all, 2017 was pretty ok. Well, more than ok by most standards. As I reflect back, I'm realizing that time is not slowing down; if anything it seems to pass right before my eyes. I've been so focused in the past few years with finding financial stability and stressing about the cost of living and living up to these crazy standards society sets for us, that I know I have missed moments of happiness, peace, and contentment.

While money is important, I stressed myself to my breaking point on more than one occasion, and it's all my own fault. In my previous job, I had the opportunity (often forced) to work overtime hours for a few months out of the year. Doesn't sound too bad, right? Wrong. It was never just an extra hour here and there. I would be at work until 7 or 8 pm with no break and hardly any time to see my friends or work on my relationship. I also started working a second part-time job on weekends. While I have enjoyed the extra paycheck and the financial stability it's brought me, a lot of the time, the planning, driving in traffic, and having 18 hour days, was not worth the emotional outcome.

Luckily, my new job/promotion put me in a different department and the "forced" overtime will never happen again. And my new and improved salary has given me piece of mind. I'm still keeping my second job but I'm telling myself I'm only allowed to work it twice a month.

All this has led me to contemplate what I want out of my life, in 2018 and beyond. I don't like the phrase "New Year's Resolutions." No one ever follows them and we all just set ourselves up for failure. Instead, my thought is to work on my overall approach to things: with intention. No more excuses, no more obscure justification. Just do what makes me happy and actually follow through. It's almost like my crafting Pinterest board: I put things on it already knowing I'll never do them. No more!

Part of this for me is this blog and hopefully a Youtube channel down the road. I like having a creative outlet. I've always been into fashion and beauty and instead of saying "someday, someday," I'm going to start and keep going. Learning as I go. I am not a professional photographer. I am not a professional makeup artist or hairstylist. And I'm constantly Googling how to manipulate things for this blog. But I'll learn by doing.

This may never get anywhere. But who knows? Maybe it will.

Just don't set limits for yourself. And on the opposite hand, do set your expectations too high.

Take some time to think about what makes you happy and realistic ways to achieve that.

Now for some fun stuff. My outfit! Nashville finally saw some winter weather this week. Yay snowdays! This hat is one of my favorites. I bought it last winter at Express and it's lasted and held up really well. I also like that the black and white matches pretty much everything I wear. In particular, it goes really well with my favorite coat. The body of it is a speckled pattern and the sleeves and lapel are faux leather. Edgy but functional and keeps me warm. The jacket and my black and white striped sweater are both from H&M. I love adding some color to my winter outfits with a scarf. I got this one from Nordstrom many years ago. My jeans are from Just Black (came in a StitchFix box) and my boots are from Target last year (not really functional for the actual snow 😉).

I've also been into dainty jewelry lately. My necklace is from the FabFitFun winter box and the brand is 8 Other Reasons. My X ring is from BaubleBar. I love everything I've ever ordered from there!

I've linked some similar products, along with some of my makeup, below!

To starting 2018 off right! ❄
 
💜 Sara