Reflections on 2014 and Resolutions for 2015

Happy New Year!


I had a fabulous 2014 for a few reasons.

I also met and dated E, which you will have a short update on in a post coming soon. 

2014 is the year I turned 30 and I am loving this decade so far. I truly do strive to become the woman I am meant to be on a daily basis. In November, I finally felt comfortable in my skin. I become more chic with each passing day. 

Here on the blog, I had a full year of sharing my simple pleasures on Sundays. I plan to continue this series into 2015.

My Resolutions for 2014 were:

1. To lose weight. 
Success! Like 2013, I ended 2014 with a four pound weight loss. That means only four more to go until I hit my goal weight and weighing a total of twelve pounds less that I intended two years ago, at the beginning of January 2013.

I’d actually like to lose those last four, but not by year end, by bikini season instead. I probably did lose all that weight during late September but then regained some during the last two months of the year. One of my resolutions this year regards an eating habit and it very well might take care of those pesky last few pounds for good.

2. To move back to Philly. 

I tried, but failed. I also think that this was meant to be.

I still very much desire to escape my hometown, but stay tuned for where I may end up next. 

3. To enjoy my 30th birthday in Paris. 

I had such a great time! I will always cherish such wonderful memories as sitting on a bench in the beautiful Louvre “courtyard” savoring a delicious pain au chocolat and cappuccino breakfast. 

I would like to return to this enchanting city many times, but at least once more with a significant other for a romantic trip.

My Resolutions for 2015 are:

1. To branch out in cooking. 

You already know about this commitment as I introduced my intention here. I resolve to increase the number of dishes I depend on, to make at least 50 new recipes from late 2014 through 2015. I have followed six recipes so far. These include: beef and broccoli, brookies, coffee cake, cranberry scones, cut-out sugar cookies, and turkey. I plan on publishing a post on each one, even if the first attempt is a disaster and I do not want to try again. Posts for the last three dishes are coming soon, already in the works, in fact. You may also follow my progress on my Pinterest account as I have boards entitled Recipes to Try and Recipes Tried.

3. To live more fearlessly.
For one, I have not driven a vehicle since August. I do not need to completely get over my fear of driving, but I do find this to be irrational. I am an independent woman and sometimes depending upon others for a ride does not align with my values. For starters, I can certainly borrow a vehicle from my family and face my fear once. Secondly, I need to stop worrying so much in general, even about messing up while attempting something new/being a beginner. Since I do love trying new things, I want to be much more open to adventure. Another thing is letting people in. As an INFJ, I’m rather private and don’t truly express myself and if I do, they must be close to me plus like-minded. Sometimes, this way of being is so natural that I do not even realize I am holding back what I am thinking and feeling for fear of judgment. I have already started working on this the past couple of weeks. Diane von Furstenburg’s mother, who survived a concentration camp, taught the famous fashion designer to be fearless. I want to channel DVF and every morning, intend to be more fearless throughout the day.

4. To work on my blog everyday.
I do not mean that I will publish every day, but at least work on it daily. I intend to be at my computer, writing. Even if my day is full of exciting events, I can, at the very least, snap a selfie of my outfit because, knowing me, I will have dressed up for the occasion. Gretchen Rubin, author of the books The Happiness Project and Happier at Home and the soon-to-be-released Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives, notes that it is actually easier to do something every day than it is to do it every few days. I find this to be true. I do not type every day now and in publishing what I want to write, I am actually three months behind, plus nearly that far behind in replying to comments. (Yes, I am usually this hard on myself.) If this daily task results in more frequent posting, great. If it only makes posts better: more eloquent or enhanced with beautifully-styled edited pictures or even collages, that’s wonderful as well. I love this outlet and I need to express myself creatively. It is also my desire to capture my 2015.

Resolutions are what you deal with daily and do not really finish; you just improve upon them. Conversely, goals can be accomplished, checked off a to do list, so you can move onto working towards the next dream. This is another thing I learned from Gretchen Rubin that stuck with me. Read what she has to say about the difference here. And so, I would like to present my goals for this year…

My Goals for 2015 are:

1. To score a new job and move out of my hometown.

I am formulating a plan but must time it right. If it pans out, I predict I will be incredibly happy.

2. To have a physical exam.

My family tend not to take care of themselves and as a result, combined with heredity, are each diagnosed with multiple ailments. I want to be healthy and lead a long life. My blood pressure has been measured as high whenever I have visited the urgent care center or doctor for awhile now. Hypertension is rampant in my family, especially among the women on my mother’s side. I need to visit the doctor for this reason alone. I was in the habit of a physical every year or two based upon what my doctor recommended, but now I can’t remember when my last general exam was… I would like to set a deadline. Let’s say… I should go to my appointment by my birthday on April 15, 2015.

I think that 2015 will be amazing. Even though I became comfortable in my own skin in November, I foresee myself truly blossoming in a new chapter of my life. People often say that the upcoming year will be their year, but I truly feel it will for me.

It will be a time of transition for me. …which I am so ready for (as you can imagine since I seriously wanted to move to Philadelphia for so long). Still, I need to adjust to major change. I also think the new year will be about love too, which is different for the chronically single gal I used to be! I need to be patient at the moment, but hope the delay isn’t too long. I am relishing my current status anyway. I realize this is a lot of mystery at the moment. Sounds like you should definitely stay tuned to italiagal! Have a fabulous 2015!

Check out my similar posts over the past several years:
Reflections on 2013 and Resolutions for 2014
Reflections on 2012 and Resolutions for 2013
Reflections on 2011 and Resolutions for 2012
New Year’s Resolutions [for 2011]

At this time marking the end of one year and the start of another, I also wanted to express my sincere gratitude for reading. Grazie.