What I'm Looking Forward to in 2014!

Hello, readers! Well, Christmas is done and New Year's Eve (NYE) is right around the corner. I'm already getting my NYE plans together. It will involve friends, champagne, music and food. Lots and lots of food! I hope you all are getting your plans together, too.

With NYE comes the infamous NYE resolutions. Yes, promises we make to ourselves at the end of every year to somehow be better people, to be perfect. Though we may, initially, make our NYE resolutions with the strongest determination and passions, they are soon forgotten (usually within the first few days to the first couple of months of the New Year).


 I remember, as a child, I would make the same resolution to myself every year. I would stand by the harbor water and stare up at the fireworks, before promising myself I would lose 20-30 pounds by next year. Of course, every year I was still the same old chubby girl. Eventually, I realized that making a resolution, even on New Year's Eve, doesn't somehow make it special. A New Year's (NY) resolution isn't going to just magically come true. It takes work just like any other promise or goal. So, with all this in mind, this year I have decided to not make any NY resolutions. Instead, I have decided to make NY Anticipations: a list of things I want to do, hope to do and things I'm just looking forward to in this new year, but no promises. Less pressure, more natural development for me to turn into whoever I'm meant to be. The list just provides some guidance. So, with out further adieu, here is my 2014 New Year's Anticipations List. :)

2014 NY Anticipations List:

1) Self Love Jar
    Okay, so, I got this idea from Jess, writer of the blog The Militant Baker. Her blog was a true inspiration to me this year. Her idea of the self love jar was something I had never though of, but plan to use in 2014. I'll write down every compliment I receive for the year, then, at the end of the year I'll, literally, be able to remember the compliments, but not the insults. For more information on Jess, her blog and her self love jar click here!

2) The Return of Great Shows
     If there is one thing you need to know about me, it is that I LOVE television. When a show catches my attention, really catches it, I'm hooked with no distractions. What shows am I looking forward to? Well, to name a few: Shameless, Bates Motel, Hemlock, Vikings and True Blood. Hmmmm, can you taste the drama? The seduction? The alluring darkness? The pure entertainment! I can and it's making me drool.

3) Fashion
    Alright, so to some people this may sound lame, but for a girl with a new found sense of confidence ( and a little extra cash in her pocket) the new styles of 2014 are something to look forward to. I'm not too scared to try on that short black dress anymore. Actually, I want to try it all on. The skirts (frilly, long, short, maybe even mini. gasp!), the polka dots, the stripes, the edgy jeans and the loud colors! Bring it on!

4) Book Publication
     So, I don't think I've written about this before, but I have recently finished writing my first novel. The copyright has been approved, the edits are complete and the query letters are sent. Now I'm just waiting to hear back from the publishing houses and agents. I hope it's good news. Cross your fingers for me! :)

5) Aunt's Book Publication
    Unlike me, my Aunt's book, "Red Hunger" is guaranteed to be coming out in the next few weeks. I'm super excited for her and can't wait to see her book on shelves. Seeing her succeed is an inspiration and motivation for me.
6) Travels
     So, if you know me you know I love traveling and have a few marks in my passport. I've traveled to India, China, England and France. They were amazing trips, but I was infected with the travel bug since I was little and I just can't stop. My next destination? If all goes well (financially, I mean), I hope to go to Ireland this summer. Yes, nothing, but hills of green is what I'm looking forward to. Africa and Italy have, also, been teasing me, lately though...
7) New Ventures
     I have a lot of big ideas for this blog, my book and my business career this year. I plan on, this year, taking so many small steps to even bigger goals. New ideas, new designs, the resurrection of old dreams? I totally got this. :)

8) Alone Time
    If you read my last post, you'll know about the darker side of my life. This is the side I am trying to separate myself from. However, in order to separate myself, I need to learn to be alone which is harder said than done. It's easy to be alone when you're annoyed or angry with the world, but what about when you're sad? What about when the loneliness really sets in? Then, you look for comfort,whether it be from friends, family, alcohol, drugs, games, etc. I always found my comfort in a friend who was willing to listen. I'l have to get use to not having that. But I believe this alone time will be good for me. It will give me time to listen to myself so that I can better know myself.
9) Love
    Love comes in many different forms: friends, family, pets, self, that special someone. I would be happy to find love in any of these categories. I have noticed that some love I once had in my life is waning. But, I'm not going to hold onto it. I'm not going to strangle it into submission. I'm going to let it go and see what new love enters my life. I bet it will be way better than the last. :)

10) Serendipity
      Definition: finding something while not actually looking for it. I guess you can think of it as a happy accident, but aren't those the best ones? The ones that happen in romantic comedies? The accidental/ unlikely hero? Yeah, serendipity is something I am definitely waiting for this new year. Let the unexpected come to me when my eyes aren't even open to see it.

Your Turn:  What are your NY resolutions? What are your NY anticipations? What do you think of my list? Is there anything I should add or delete? I wanna know! Let me hear your thoughts.
Comment here or hit me up on my fb page.

P.S. I know 8 and 9 somewhat contradict each other, but, hey, I'm only human. It'll work out somehow. And, by the way, the image is of me and my best friends a few years ago on NYE. Who can guess what pose we're doing?