new years, new cheers

it's a new year. 

a fresh start.

i have always been big on them. not on resolutions, really...

just the whole idea of a "fresh start"

you can do anything you want to, last year is wiped clean.

last year i let a lot of time pass me by.

i was busy, but i wasn't really doing much.

i lived my life just fine, and i am grateful for that time... 

but somewhere along the way i became lazy...

i became too tired to do things that used to make me happy.

crafting, blogging, reading, and writing took a back seat.

i have no regrets of course...

i had a wonderful year.

one in which i fell in love with the most amazing man.

one in which i tested my personal strength more than i ever thought i would.

but i want MORE this year.

and i think that's okay.

i am actually pretty certain it is.

i remember 2009, and how hard i pushed myself to make all my dreams come true.

at the end of the year, i felt SO proud.

i remember 2010 and how i felt looking back, and how it motivated me to keep pushing.

2011 was a good year, but i want more for 2012.

i want to set NEW goals to push myself further...

cook, read, write, love, share.

those are the things i want MOST this year.

of course, there are little goals attached to each category, but i want to take it slow.

i don't want to let myself down this year.

in a way, i feel like i did last year.

January's Goals

-Art Journal again. My lovely friend Viv introduced me to art journaling, and I miss how inspired it made me feel. i look forward to writing my thoughts down in a creative way again...

-Read my fancy cookbooks. Each year my mom buys me at LEAST 4 fancy new cookbooks... and i leaf through them, but i never take the time to READ what other chefs have to say. i want to.

-Drink Less. Truth be told, i love my wine. it's so delicious. but i realized sometime last year, that it made me a little lazier. and the couch became my friend. along with criminal minds and popcorn. i want to get OFF the couch, and start living my life again.

i have more for the following months, SO many more...

but i want to take it slow, i don't want to bite off more than i can chew

this blog has really blessed my life. 

i know i stayed away a lot last year, 

but the comments and emails i have received from readers 

have given me something i couldn't have asked for...

THANK YOU to everyone out there who bothers to read this.

i love you, and i look forward to sharing 2012 with all of you <3

love love love-

shawni marie