I love new years. There’s something about a fresh start, a new year, a blank planner, that make me giddy with excitement.
However, I’ve never been a huge fan of resolutions. I think just the term “resolution” sets you up for failure. But you knowwww I love goals. And lists. And I’m a pretty big fan of aspirations. So, thinking back on my 2014 (which was pretty cool), here’s a few ways I am planning on making 2015 amazing.

 

Put Down The Phone

I’m so guilty of this it hurts. I make excuses (I work in social media, social media doesn’t sleep, I run my own business, it helps me decompress, I’ve got nothing better to do) but the reality is no one should have their phone in their hand as much as I do – and chances are, as much as you do, too.

Sorry! It’s painful, I know. I love a perfectly staged Instagram photo just like the rest of ‘em, but I notice that when I’m glued to my iPhone screen looking at other peoples’ highlight reels (BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT THEY ARE), I feel a lot less awesome about my own life. That is ridiculous. My life is fabulous. I have good days and bad, but truthfully no real complaints. I should use that time to spend more time having a quality conversation with my husband, or playing with my dog. Too often when we go to bed at night I realize we never really talked that day. No excuse!

Drink More Water

I used to be so great at getting an obscene amount of water in every day, and ever since we began the process of moving in September (!!!), so many of my fabulous healthy habits have had a consistent downward spiral. I only started my #Whole30 on January 5 (more to come on that), but I’ve already drank a lot of water to combat any hunger (which there hasn’t really been much of!) and boredom. The other night I watched The Bachelor for what I think was the first time ever without wine, and I chugged at least 3 24 oz. water tumblers. I had to go to the bathroom about 17 times but it felt good!

Do a Style Audit

I started this last year and then it kind of fell by the wayside in September (you guys, I seriously handle change so well). BUT while I was in the process…it was awesome. I don’t know about you, but I was sick and tired of going to my bursting-at-the-seams closet and complaining that I had “nothing to wear!” Dumb. So, I went through my closet and PURGED. Majorly. I got rid of an insane amount of stuff, and I still had plenty to choose from – and it was way easier to weed through when I needed to get dressed. Like I said, I’m slipping up a bit more than I would have liked to (shopping is so great), but I need to get it together. If you’re interested, start here. It’s life-changing!

You don’t have to stop with your style/closet, though! When we moved, our cupboard space was kind of downsized (or at least in a totally different layout), so I recently went through and cleaned out some of our cupboards and got rid of a few things…because no one needs 3 ice cream scoopers.

Do Something for the First Time

I saw a quote on Pinterest the other day similar to this image, and I fell in love with it.

It’s an interesting question, right? It’s also fun to look back on the year and figure out what you did for the first time in 2014. Here’s my list: Went to Jamaica, ate a fresh mango that tasted like candy, celebrated my first wedding anniversary, went to Disneyland, bought a camper, tried and fell in love with Moscow Mule’s, quit my job, sold my house, did a corporate photography shoot, photographed a real, live engagement…and the list goes on! So far in 2015, my firsts are…starting a #Whole30 (and hoping to finish, obviously) and roasting an entire chicken. Boo ya.

Capture Memories

LIFE GOES SO FAST GUYS. I blinked yesterday and suddenly I’ve been married for a year and a half. My little tiny puppy is turning 3. I’ve got nieces who will be 12 this year and I met them when they were 3. BANANAS. There are so many cool things that happen in my life every year, and I want to remember them. I want my future kids to be able to see them, and their kids, too.

Right now it’s just me, Jeff and Rue, but that’s exactly why I want to remember it! I’m assuming that it won’t be just the 2 + 1 of us for too terribly long, and we have so much fun! I’m constantly getting completely overwhelmed with how happy I am with this little life and the dude and animal I get to share it with—and all our other people, too.

I joke every year when we get “family photos” done, but it’s something that is so important to me. And I know it will only grow in importance when we start having kids. If something were to happen tomorrow that were to change everything, I will always have these photos. And I’m so glad for that!

So something you can do to make 2015 awesome? Find an amazing photographer that you think you’ll totally jive with (IMPORTANT!!! If it’s not me, that’s cool! You gotta jiiiiiive, sista.), save up the money you need (skip the Starbucks, the movies, eating out for a while—youcandoittttt), plan an amazing photo session so you’ll always remember this season of your lives, and print those images for your coffee table albums and your gallery walls and your desk at work. I guarantee you will not regret it.

What else are you doing in 2015 to make it amazing?

My family photos by my friend, Brianna Classen Photography.