Happy New Year 2018!

Happy 2018! I've been wanting to blog again after taking about a six month break, and the start of the new year seems like the best time to get back into it. To be honest, I was very ready to say goodbye to 2017 and ring in the New Year. This past year has been rich with valuable learning experiences and lessons, and I am so grateful to be able to grow and discover my values and passions. In today's post, I wanted to share my top three New Years Resolutions for 2018. Hopefully they will serve as inspiration or motivation for you guys as well!

My Top Three 2018 New Years Resolutions:

1.) Always act with honesty and integrity.

2.) Live with an attitude of gratitude.

3.) Make self care and self compassion a priority.

These are very simple resolutions, and my reasoning for that is because you cannot serve others from an empty cup. My theme for this year is "back to basics." I have learned that if you do not take time to take care of yourself, know yourself/ your values, and be thankful for what you have already, you cannot give yourself to others and achieve higher goals. As long as I live these three resolutions every day, I know I am on the right track. 

I feel that a lot of people make resolutions that are unrealistic, and while it is good to be bold and take risks and go for your biggest dreams, you have to start small and build a strong foundation within yourself. You cannot expect to be CEO if you do not take care of yourself. How can you expect to effectively run a business from a hospital bed? Nothing is impossible and life happens, but I know from personal experience that if you do not focus on your own health and well being first, then the outcome of everything else in your life will not be the quality you want. 

Anyways, there's my little bit for the start of the new year! I hope you enjoyed reading. Remember: resolutions are different than goals. A resolution is an intention you set or a course of action you decide on, while a goal is a specific result or end-point that you want to reach. I have a WHOLE BUNCH of goals I want to accomplish this year and I am thrilled to begin checking off that list! Feel free to share your resolutions and/or goals in the comments so we can hold each other accountable! Hope you all have a fabulous New Year and look forward to some fresh posts coming soon!

XO, Lauren

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2015 Reflection + Goals for 2016

I've realized that time seems to pass by faster as you get older. Here we are on the last day of 2015! I have learned so much about myself, about others, and about life in general. I've also had a boat load of new and fun experiences. I am so excited to see what 2016 has in store for me!

So, I started out this year finishing up my senior year of high school. It's crazy to think that I was still in high school at the beginning of the year haha. I honestly feel like I've been in college for awhile now! Anyways, during this time, I learned it is best not to procrastinate... as always. I kinda sorta waited until last minute for college applications, which created an unnecessary amount of stress. Lesson learned. On a brighter note, hard work pays off! I graduated in the top 20 of my class, and came into my first semester of college with 32 credit hours that I earned from taking AP classes in high school. 

Before we get to my first semester of college, I wanted to reflect a little bit on my summer. I had many experiences, and not all of them were expected. I learned patience, empathy and forgiveness. I also learned that you have to be creative in tough situations. There's always a brighter way to look at things, and it's amazing how you can turn something not so fun into something that will make great memories. Also, I went on a cruise to Honduras, Belize, and Mexico! During those seven days, I experienced peaceful sunrises in the open ocean, new perspectives from visiting these different countries, and unfortunately mild seasickness... I still had an amazing time though, and I even made some new friends with the other teens on the ship!

Now onto my first few months of college! I decided that I was going to try to be more outgoing and make sure to talk to people haha. I'm naturally introverted so it doesn't always come easily. Anyways, I pushed myself to sit by new people, and I successfully made friends both in and out of the classroom! I've definitely grown since the beginning of the semester, and now I'm really not nervous at all! I learned good time management FINALLY! And I declared my major as Costume Design, after taking this costume construction/design class for fun. I joined a sorority, Sigma Kappa, and I also took advantage of all the free events with free food and t-shirts, because girl... college sucks your wallet dry. My advice: always look and see what resources are offered to you, and use them. 

More recently, over winter break, I've learned that as much as new adventures are important and fantastic, it is also important that you slow down and spend time with your family. I got to spend time with all of my grandparents this winter, and I'm so thankful for every single conversation and minute that I shared with them. It was also great to spend more time with my parents and little sister, because during the fall semester, I wasn't home as often as I was in high school. Having people in your life that support you and love you unconditionally is a blessing. Take time to thank them and spend as much time as you can with them. Life is short, and the people you spend it with makes all the difference.

Okay, now for my 2016 goals!!!

-Go to VidCon and Playlist Live

-Reach 10,000 subscribers on my channel

-GET MORE SLEEP (I'm starting to look like a zombie..)

-Exercise more, and eat healthier

-Add more items to my Etsy Shop!

-Upload a video + blog post at least once a week

Well, that's it for now! I hope you have had a fabulous 2015, and I hope that you have an even more fabulous New Years and 2016!! 

XO, Lauren

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New Years Resolutions 2015

Did you know that most people give up on their New Years resolutions by February 18th? I can't say I'm not guilty of getting a little lazy myself... So I came up with some tips on writing your resolutions and making them stick throughout the year! It has helped me with my past resolutions and there are also some things I learned just this year!

1.) Make your goals specific. You're way more likely to follow through if you have a direction and a plan. Start with a broad goal ("I want to save money"), then break it down and make it more specific ("I'm going to save half of the money each time I get paid").

2.) Set "MAD" goals. This kind of adds on to tip #1. By this, I mean goals that are Measurable, Attainable, and Deadline Driven. This will make them so much more likely to stick because you can track your progress and you are setting goals that you know you can accomplish. (Ex. I am going to walk at least ten minutes every day, and work up to running for ten minutes every day by July.)

3.) Make fun resolutions! Don't make all of your resolutions serious, you definitely won't stick with them if you feel like it's all work and no play! (Ex. I am going to dedicate one day each month to go to the spa, go out to eat, or go shopping.)  

4.) Don't just think about what you want to change, think about good things that you do that you want to continue! It'll help you stay more positive and motivated. (Ex. I am going to continue to do cardio exercises at least once a week.)

5.) Display your resolutions! Put them where you can see them every day AND multiple places to remind and motivate you so that you don't forget! (Ex. mirror, cork board, fridge, planner, phone, etc.)

6.) Tell others about your goals. If your friends and family know, you won't want to disappoint!

That's it! I hope these tips help! Here are some of my own resolutions :)

-I am going to get at least 7 hours of sleep at night/ go to bed by 10 PM. (Not always possible, but I can try haha)

-I'm going to do yoga for 10 minutes right when I wake up, and 10 minutes before bed to relieve stress.

-I am going to blog and put up a video at least once every week.

Alright, have a fabulous day and write those New Years resolutions! There's always things we can do to improve! Stay Positive!

XO, Lauren

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New Years Resolutions

Happy New Years! 2013 has definitely been an amazing year! I have experienced so much and I definitely feel that I have changed, but in a good way :)  I am ready to start new and begin 2014! Anyways, writing resolutions are always a must for me. It helps me stay motivated and gives me an outlet to express my positivity. Last year, surprisingly, I actually accomplished and followed through with all of my resolutions, so now I am looking forward to continuing those I have down and also adding new ones! In this post I will be revealing some of my resolutions, and also providing tips to create your own! Oh and lets just throw an outfit of the day in there too! :)

  

Okay, down to business... here are some of my new years resolutions for 2014:

1.) No procrastination allowed, especially on school work!

2.) Stop useless spending (buying chips, candy, clothes you will never wear, etc.)

3.) Don't get so stressed, be more relaxed (not lazy though)

4.) Keep everything clean and organized (room, backpack, phone, etc.)

*Now, here's some tips for making your own and sticking with them!

1.) Think of attainable goals. Things that are not too over the top. I'm not discouraging you to dream big, but to decrease the risk of disappointment if you don't accomplish your goal, think about things that are more likely to happen than winning the lottery. Just be realistic.

2.) Think of things that you are already doing "right" and work to continue those.

3.) Think about the problems you had last year and possible solutions for those problems. (Ex. If it takes you forever to do your homework, maybe you should put away your phone or turn off the TV while you work.)

4.) After you think of all your resolutions, write them down in some place visible so that you can see them every day. This will remind you of your goals and help motivate you to go out and accomplish them!

5.) It's okay to change your goals/ resolutions after you've come up with them. Life happens and you just have to go with it.

I hope you found this post useful! Happy New Years again! I know you all can accomplish your resolutions! Let's make 2014 the best year yet! Now go spread your fabulous positivity with the world and have a productive day!

XO, Lauren