2014 Goal Review

2014 was such a whirlwind! I can't believe how quickly it went! I hope you all had a great year. Here's how my goals shook out. Not too shabby. :) 

1) Finally make it to Seattle.

2) Do 6 things I never thought I would do. (sincerely enjoy Guardians of the Galaxy, brushing up on Spanish, Stay in a hostel,  make a paleo dessert, Watched baseball on TV on purpose, How happy to see a Phoenix sunset, Finding a Rosemary Clooney record at goodwill!, ) 

3) Learn how to can and preserve.

4) Read 20 books, 5 Classics. (5 and 2) (The Lieutenant, homes in cities, how to be Canadian, Anne of Green Gables, Murder on the Orient Express, )

5) Wear more color. 

6) Do a 365 day self portrait challenge.

7) Paint more tiny canvases.

8) Learn to make shortbread (in a real shortbread pan).

9) Send more mail and give more gifts just because. -again

10) Use my beautiful new planner... for everything.

11) Refinish thrifted furniture in the bedroom.

12) Visit a new country or another Canadian province.

13) Cook at home more.

14) Host 12 gatherings of some type, several of which are bigger themed/holiday gatherings. (KC bday, my bday, Halloween, )

15) Try new cuisines. (Russian, Korean, )

16) See the Pacific ocean.

17) Watch 12 classic or cult classic films. (Duck Soup, Day at the Races, Roman Holiday, Bridget Jones' Diary, Ghost Busters, Arsenic and Old Lace, It's A Wonderful Life, Amelie, Clueless,  Mystic Pizza, Notting Hill, With Six You Get Eggroll, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, )

18) Go to a new art museum. (Saint Louis, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Walker Sculpture Garden, Olympic Sculpture Park)       

19) See a play or musical.

20) Spend more time outside.

Other accomplishments;

Saw some great concerts ....  checked Jack White off KC's bucket list! -7!

Made a cleaning schedule, began using it/tweaking it.

Cooked, and had fun! - I was burned out after 2012.... 

Did some really fun DIYs in our apartment! (Like this one!)

Did more travel than any year previously! 6 trips! :)

Got Duchess more adjusted.

Learned some fun new games.
'Met' some great new blogger friends!

Redesigned my blog on my own.... and I love it! - still in progress, but a big improvement!

Did lots of successful thrifting.

Celebrated 3 awesome years of marriage, and 8 years together!

Got some great ideas for 2015!

How was your 2014? What did you do? What are you proud of?

What do you want to accomplish in 2015?

Thanks to all of the readers, followers, and friends who have supported this blog this year. I really appreciate it, it keeps me going! :) 

Happy New Year!

Alexandra

Wearing More Color // Unexpected Orange Coat

I guess I'm wearing more color already, huh? (2014 goals, here.)

After Christmas, we took our annual girls shopping trip (all of my cousins are girls, and I don't have brothers so that typically makes for a day filled with open-to close shopping for myself and my 10 female relatives on my dad's side of the family! A crazy, but fun tradition! Even though we were missing a few of our girls this year. :( ) Anyway, I spent most of that day searching department stores for a non-black coat, to no avail. Is coat shopping this hard for anyone else??!

 The next day Kyle and I went to TJMaxx, Kohl's and Target where I finally found a winner!

I got this fun orange (unexpected!) coat at Target, it was marked $39.99 but ended up ringing up on sale for closer to $25! Hooray! I like the faux fur hood, toggles & big buttons on the pockets! 

This coat is not super warm, but it is warm enough to get from the car indoors and back again. I mainly bought it so I would have a non-black winter coat to wear with my brand new chocolate brown UGGs that Kyle got me for Christmas this year!

Speaking of UGGs, it really doesn't matter to me if they are stylish or not. Some people LOVE them, some people HATE them... I just plain NEED to be warm. These keep my feet extremely warm and dry.... and that my friends makes me a very very happy girl in the winter! :) So, kindly keep your anti-UGG commentary to yourselves please. :) 

Anyhow, I was very surprised to find such a flattering, cheap(!) and bright orange(probably my least worn color) coat! What do you think?

Do you wear colored or basic coats? 

Where do you have the best luck coat shopping?

Thank you for reading!

Alexandra

Here's to a 'Soul Happy' 2014!

The simplest most overarching explanation of my goals, hopes and dreams for 2014!

via.

To see a list of my more specific goals click here.

But I think this sums it up better than I could! 

Here's to a 'soul happy' 2014!

Alexandra

20 Goals for 2014!

The past few years have been great. I have had so many wonderful days and incredible opportunities. But somewhere along the way I feel like I let myself get so overwhelmed by all of my responsibilities; all of the classes, the money, expectations etc. that I lost some of my zest for life. Everything I did felt like an obligation, something to check off a list, even the most fun task felt like something to hurry through. Through the years there were days when I noticed I felt lighter, like life wasn't so serious anymore. I want more moments like that. So this year I am going to focus on the fun things, the things that I love to do, with less specific guidelines and expectations. I hope that this will let me slow down and have time to enjoy myself!

I want to put myself in new situations, stumble upon great things and do it all while laughing.

Here are my goals for 2014:

1) Finally make it to Seattle.

2) Do 6 things I never thought I would do.

3) Learn how to can and preserve.

4) Read 20 books, 5 Classics.

5) Wear more color.

6) Do a 365 day self portrait challenge.

7) Paint more tiny canvases.

8) Learn to make shortbread (in a real shortbread pan).

9) Send more mail and give more gifts just because. -again

10) Use my beautiful new planner... for everything.

11) Refinish thrifted furniture in the bedroom.

12) Visit a new country or another Canadian province.

13) Cook at home more.

14) Host 12 gatherings of some type, several of which are bigger themed/holiday gatherings.

15) Try new cuisines.

16) See the Pacific ocean.

17) Watch 12 classic or cult classic films.

18) Go to a new art museum.

19) See a play or musical.

20) Spend more time outside.

My mantra for the year: 

Breathe In. Breathe Out. Get In.*

What are your goals for 2014? let me know in the comments! 

Happy New Year!

Alexandra  

*superstar style