0 To 2015, and beyond

My little blog turned four years old yesterday. I wasn't a very good blogger in 2014, so of course I didn't write up a year in review post, or wish The Happy Girl Blog happy blogiversary. Instead, I lived outside the computer, had friends over for mass amounts of delicious food, drinks and hours of entertainment via Cards Against Humanity. You find out the true depravity of people with that game, and it's wonderful.

2015 is going to be the year of dreaming big and chasing after them. My 2015 vision board was made back in October while in Newport Beach, (thanks to the fortuitous timing of my visit and the friend I saw who arranged for a career coach to lead the board creation), and I am already running full speed ahead toward those goals.

I plan to publish the first of four planned books early this year. If I can get to the other three and put out a fantastic product I'm proud of, you better believe I will get all four out there. 

I want to learn as much as possible about being an indie author (read: self-published), and each day it seems like something new is presented to me. I do not have monetary goals other than to make back the investment I've put into this process. Sure, finding success and seeing great sales is the cherry on top, but really, it's more about getting the story out of my head and into the hands of readers, connecting with them, and being happy with my work.

I do not plan to be a better blogger. My new author friend Heidi Joy Trethaway has a resolution to say NO more often, to make room for YES. Because being creative takes time and energy. If you spend your time and energy on everything else that is asked of you, you have less time to create and make the most of your time. Or something like that. I will have to learn to say no more often to make sure the quality of what I put out is better. That means saying no to social events, things that take time away from writing, and finding a way to string up my monkey mind so it's not bouncing every which way when I sit down to write. Sorry sweet little blog, that means fewer entries, and I am okay with that. You can stay up to date with me via my new website, AdrianRHale.com, on my author Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter. I have a blog feature on the website that will hopefully get more content as I get closer to publishing this monster, and will make this blog less book focused.

 So what are your 2015 goals and resolutions? Are you dreaming big, like me? 

Detail: To 2015, and beyond

0 Let's get real about resolutions

Over the holidays, I, like ever other female not quite satisfied with my body, started looking for ways to make the new year work in my favor. I happened to send a very harmless looking pin to Casey, and we enthusiastically agreed to follow it. It was a list of things we would give up each month. Not crazy, but definitely ambitious. Each month seemed more than easy to accomplish. Until we had to actually give something up. 

Give up for January? Sweets. Kill me. 

I didn't come close to making it 5 days, let alone a whole month. Telling me not to do something, in fact, gives me this compulsive need to have those sweets. Vicious cycle, party of one.

Realizing this was not really the best way to approach a healthier lifestyle, I told Casey I would come up with a different list for each month. I wanted to add healthy things to my current lifestyle, not take away things I love. Dessert makes me happy. Why make myself grumpy by not allowing it?

So here is my list of ways to add a little healthy to my life each month. And I still get to have my dessert.

January- Drink your water! Halve your weight and drink that number in ounces, every day. Drink a large glass of water before every meal and snack.
February- Add Chia seeds or ground flaxseed to your food once a week. Smoothies, oatmeal, baking, it's such a simple addition and is great for you.
March- Start participating in meatless Monday. Also, eat a salad as your meal at least once a week. 
April- Fill up the right way by eating a serving of veggies before every meal
May- Find healthy substitutions for your favorite condiments. Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, avocado instead of mayo, etc. Be creative!
June- Replace processed sugars (cane sugar, splenda, HFC, corn syrup etc.) with natural. Use agave, honey, and stevia instead.
July- Fill up on fruit! Reach for a banana, watermelon, apples, berries, etc. before every meal
August- Replace your carbs with healthy options! rice with quinoa, pasta with spaghetti squash, be creative!
September- Try a new vegetable or fruit each week. What's jicama? Try it and see!
October- Replace chips and salty treats with a healthy, baked, or veggie alternative. 
November- Try healthy baking substitutions! Black beans in brownies, natural sugar alternatives, apple sauce or Greek yogurt for oils
December- Limit your holiday goodies intake to only one treat per day. Moderation in the face of temptation!

Detail: Let's get real about resolutions

0 Reflections and Resolutions

Highlights

{{Greatest lesson}} Home is where your honey is. It doesn't matter that I am 1,700 miles away from my dear friends and family, the place I grew up, and everything that was comfortable; I still feel like I am coming home when I come back to Austin and my Billy. 

{{Hardest thing}} I think it's pretty obviously the move to Austin. Up and leaving my birthplace, walking away from a prosperous business I have spent the last 7 years building, and embracing the unknown was huge for me.

{{Favorite Memory}} Driving down the street to my very own house for the first time. It was surreal. Frankly, I still don't feel like it's real, but it is. We worked so hard for this, and never thought we would have a house like this, or really any house. I was so excited running inside the house for the first time, and knowing it was mine. *cue Gollum voice "my preccccciooouss"* Also, getting a new personal best half marathon time of 1:58! That was incredible.

{{What I learned}}  Don't be afraid to go after what you really want, even if it means leaving so much you have already worked for, and where you were complacent. Sometimes a change of scenery, job, relationship, can mean you open yourself up to even better opportunities and experiences. 

Looking forward to in 2014

{{Want to learn}} to eat clean and actually like it. HAH! That will be interesting.

{{Want to improve}} My average mile time for both running and cycling.

{{Goal}} Build my business to a level that supports my shopping habit. It doesn't have to be the same flourishing, crazy-busy business I had back home, but something that provides for me and my family. And the clothes, home furnishings and books I am constantly lusting after.

If you are having a hard time figuring out what you would like to focus on this year, this may help.

Detail: Reflections and Resolutions

0 Looking forward in 2013

Hello out there in blog land! We are well into 2013 now, and I figured it was about time for me to publicly commit myself to some goals I've been thinking about. 

I am much more goal oriented than I am resolution minded. When one sets a resolution for the new year, they have a mind to change, stop, start, or otherwise adjust their current lives in a way that will be in keeping with this new resolution. You see, I am just too lazy and set in my ways for resolutions.

Goals, on the other hand, are an achievable objective that one sets for a future date. 

2010 was my year of the 5k, in which I set a goal to run a 5k race within 6 months. I was able to train for and complete this goal within my time limit, then set 3 more goals to keep myself motivated. 

2011 was the year of the sprint triathlon, in which, again, I chose a race 6 months into the year to train for and run. I did find out I hate swimming, and probably won't do any more triathlons because of this.

2012 was the year of the half marathon, and I was able to complete 2 within the first half of the year, and then a 3rd in the fall. 

I am sure you see the progression from becoming a runner, to a triathlete, to a half marathoner, and one would likely assume I would use 2013 to train for a full marathon. One would be wrong in assuming such things. 

I have no desire to run a full marathon, ever. 

I have a hard enough time sticking to training plans for shorter races, and find I just don't enjoy long distance running. 10 mile run? A necessary evil when training for a half marathon, but not something I find enjoyable or easy, by any means.

So what does 2013 hold? Well, there will be running, but because I have been dealing with a painful hip flexor problem that just keeps getting worse, I do not have any *new* running goals for this year. I say *new* because I still would like to run several races this year. Some goals in mind are a 5k fun run, a 10k turkey trot, the annual wharf to wharf 6 mile race, and to run the Santa Cruz half marathon in April to hopefully come close to or beat my current PR of 2:04 {SC was my very first half marathon last year}. 

As for new goals for 2013, I want to embrace new forms of exercise, as running and I aren't getting along too well. 

1. I want to do more yoga this year. 

I think the main reason I am having hip flexor issues is because I have a weak core and extremely tight muscles. Yoga helps both of those issues by building strength while stretching the muscles. I already pay $40 a month for my 24 hour fitness membership which gives me access to yoga classes every day of the week, there is no reason I can't make it at least once a week. 

2. I want to build strength through resistance training. 

I have no clear cut goal to get to, just that I need to be stronger to prevent injury and feel better about myself. I am up for gym classes, workout DVDs, and fitness programs.

3. I want to start and finish a whole fitness program.

I haven't decided if I want something for the gym like the Jamie Eason LiveFit Trainer, 

a video series like P90X,

 Insanity,

 or RushFit,

 or just getting through the recommended 30 days of a Jillian Michaels workout DVD. All I know is I want to finish something I start, and see the power and changes that can come from this. Ideally, I could accomplish all of the programs above in a year, but I won't get ahead of myself. 

So there you have it, 3 new goals for 2013. Yoga. Resistance training. Finish a workout program. Bam! 

What are your goals for this year? Anything new and exciting? Let me know in the comments! 

Detail: Looking forward in 2013