January: Here are some ideas to get rid of the winter blues that come this time of year: listen to summery music (Zac Brown Band!) // bundle up and go outside for a brisk walk – you’ll be warm from the movement before you know it // eat lots of kale salads and buy some fresh green juice to sip during cocktail hour // take your bathing suit to the gym and go for a dip in the warm pool and hot tub.
February: But you know what the best thing for the winter blah’s is? (Other than a vacation to the tropics…) Hot yoga!! Go take one of the hot vinyasa classes at Hot Yoga Cville that you’ve been dying to try. You will be SO HOT and sweaty and this time of year that sounds amazing. If you’re knee deep in snow, make sure it involves some sledding. If you haven’t bought a sled yet – go get one right now!
March: So you’re planning to run the Cville 10 Miler? Take the pressure off. You are not going to run as fast as you did in 2010. Too much in your life has changed. Instead focus on the friends you have trained with and the high you’ll get at the end of the race (even if it takes you 2 hours+!)
MY OTHER RECIPES
April: It’s time to get back outside. If you’re not still wearing your Jawbone, get it back out and start up your warm-weather walking. Remember last fall how much those steps made a difference in how you felt at the end of the day? If the sun is out, there is no reason you and Mazen shouldn’t be outside playing together. Oh, and ride your bike this year!!
May: Just a reminder, bathing suit season is just around the corner. How do you feel in your skin? Confident and healthy or like your choices have been less than ideal? Remember, however, it ultimately doesn’t matter how you look if you feel awesome, so just be sure you are making a decent effort to feel great : )
June: The best food of the year is about to ripen – tomatoes, pesto, summer squash, fruitful salads, fresh berries, homemade popsicles, smoothies. Eat it up!! You will miss it DEARLY when January rolls back around.
July: While you are at the beach, REALLY unplug. This is your favorite vacation of the year and you don’t need your phone on the beach! Blog comments can wait. Emails are not that urgent. Take a paper book instead and get in a good novel.
August: There is a chance you could be pregnant by this time. If you are, do your best to put your feet up a bit. You might never get the chance again. Your blog friends will understand if you can’t get a post up everyday. If you’re incredibly nauseous this time, I am so sorry. Remember juice puts you back to sleep at night, and those stretches Jen taught you work wonders. And if you’re not ready to have another baby (or making one has proved a challenge the second time through) try to relax. There is no ideal timeline for spacing kids, and it will happen when the time is right.
September: Sweet little Mazen will be turning 3 this month. Are you doing everything you can to nurture him? Take some time to reflect on the past 3 years and plan some activities for his birthday month to make it extra special.
October: I know you don’t love odd numbers, but turning 33 is kind of fun because of the double digits! If you do a pumpkin beer tasting again, try to drink a little less this time : ) But maybe you will have to abstain anyways – refer to month #8.
November: This is a good time of year to go through your closet and donate any clothes you haven’t worn all summer or fall. While you’re at it, do a little autumn sorting and decluttering around the house to make room for the holiday decorations. Only surround yourself with the items you truly love! Everything else someone in another house will love more.
December: Just like you did in 2014, remember the more holiday shopping // Christmas card writing // party gift buying // meal planning you do in advance, the more you can sit back and relax and enjoy the season. Next year: have Mazen make homemade crafty gifts for his grandparents! And at those holiday parties: remember how amazing you felt after Meg + John’s party last year? That’s called being mindful and it was a good example of how focusing on how you FEEL is what’s most important.
I LOVE this idea! We come away with so much insight at the end of each year so it’s the perfect time to write some reminders for ourselves in the new year. Great post!
I love this Kath! Happy New Year!
Great plan for 2015! Especially September and December. My son will be 3 in November and I will be 33 in December (like you guys!)
The holidays are always SUCH A MESS. I did shop in September this year which made it easier but that’s such a good idea to do the cards and meal planning early too. Thanks! I love your blog!
This was a cool post, It was fun to read!
I love this post! I think I might make a note to myself.
Loved this post! And good luck with getting pregnant… 🙂
Great post!
Oh ye you guys are trying again!! Wish you all the luck in the world…and now you most definitely just have me thinking ahead to summer!
Not yet! But hopefully sometime this year…Unless we change our minds…which has happened 3 times already 🙂
Leave it in natures hands I guess! 🙂
Kath, I absolutely loved this post! This is such a great idea! Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom….so inspiring! And if you are pregnant, no age spacing is ideal. I have a just turned two year old (two days ago) and a 9 month old…pros and cons to every age gap!!! Thanks again for sharing 🙂
Ps-thanks again for the siggi’s coupon xo
Glad it arrived safely!
Speaking of closest haul for November, I’m moving out soon so that’s something I’ll be doing–giving away all the clothes I used to wear. Can’t wait to finally clean up and clean out!
This is one of my favorite posts you have written!
This is the best New Year post I’ve seen! Excited to see what the year holds for you.
Fantastic,cute, post, I think Ill write down a few notes to myself after reading this:)
I love the part about getting pregnant, as my son will turn 3 in July and I still don’t think I will be ready until late summer/early fall to start trying again. I love your advice about how there isn’t ideal spacing – I find this whole subject so stressful and need to remember that a few months here or there isn’t the end of the world!
I totally agree! I’m stressed for no reason.
Great post, Kath!
Such a wonderful way to write to yourself… happy 2015!!
This is such a cute idea, Kath!
I kind of despise New Year’s resolutions, so your take on them is refreshing! These are some great ones — and I especially like the little things like getting a sled (such fun!) 🙂
What a great idea!
This is such a great idea! I might have to try writing a list like this for myself! Happy New Year!
Such a great idea! I hope you take time to go back and read this every month. I love the part about reading paper books. I love my Kindle and Kindle app on the iPhone, but nothing beats actually unplugging.
Kath, this is a brilliant idea. I love your notes to self and plan on doing in my journal later today. You are honest, you are keeping it positive, and I can’t wait to see how things work out for you in 2015. I think my biggest note for me is, “enjoy Hawaii chapter. ENJOY IT” we’ll soon be finding out if we are staying here or going, so I need to embrace the island life to the fullest before and after the “future” plans are sorted!
I love this! Will be writing one for myself tonight!
I <3 this post!
Really envy you. You seem to “have it all together”.
ka
This is such a cute idea, and hopefully something you look back on at the beginning of each month! I love the january one – just get outside and walk! I NEED to do that because I have such a hard time with our winters here in Chicago and not being able to be outside much!
I love this post. Hope 2015 is all that you want it to be 🙂
What a fun, positive way to set intentions for the year! Happy New Year, Kath!
I really liked this post. It was honest look at how somebody else thinks about goals and resolutions. Happy New Year!
Love this post! Xo!
This is great, and I hope to see a wee one in your future!
I loved this post so much that I had to do my own version of it (http://myselfishexistence.wordpress.com/2015/01/03/dear-self-a-life-letter-for-2015/). Hope that’s OK!
PS your blog is already inspiring me to do what I instructed myself to do in January 🙂
Aw sweet, yours was cute! #moresledding
I love this idea too. I usually don’t go much past January with working on resolutions/things I want to change, et al.
What a clever idea for a post! I’m going to do this for myself…you always inspire me to live more mindfully.
I haven’t been here in so long since I started working ( at WS OMG! it’s like Disneyland for adults). But this is a post I needed to come back to. To be able to rethink what happened last year so I can make sure I enjoy this year even more.
hmmm, guess the comment I left yesterday is in comment limbo?
Anyway, this is such a fun post! Happy New Year!
You are one of the best writers Kath. Beautiful self-expression and lots of good points to bring up. I am always inspired by your blog and I really appreciate seeing what life looks like just a couple of years ahead! Keep going. You are doing amazen! 🙂
Thank you so much!
Aw, love this! What a good idea to remind yourself of these things throughout the year 🙂 I might need to do one for myself!
Thank you for this breeze of inspiration! The next chapter of 2015 will be full of great surprises I’m sure! Happy New Year to you!
I absolutely LOVE this year-at-a-glance idea for a post! I feel like I should write myself some friendly reminders too now, lol!
I love this!! It’s so great to give yourself little reminders throughout the year … especially the ones about another baby! And definitely the holidays … I was already thinking this month about what I can do this far in advance to make it easier on myself come winter. Getting lots done in advance is SO worth it!
Have a wonderful 2015!
Wow! When I was 33 i had not yet learned what real food was. You are way ahead of where I was! Great work. I’m sure the babies will come. Be patient and enjoy.
This was a great post and a great reminder of things to do throughout the year!
This is so awesome!! What a perfect way to look ahead into the year.
I loved this, Kath, thank you. I am trying to actually write my goals down where I will see them (shock!) so I remember what they are for longer than two days…the idea of a monthly “reminder” is genius. Wishing you a wonderful 2015!
Alissa
What a sweet post! Wishing you all the best in 2015
I love this post Kath! Happy 2015!
Love this post and Love this idea!! I think I’ll jot down a summary for each month to help keep motivated!! Thanks Kath! Oh… and here’s to New Year baby making, that’s a pretty awesome hope… Sending hugs from cold colorado! Jaime
Kath, I love this! I’m going to make a similar “calendar” for myself. I tend to only think about January when getting my head back together after the holidays, but I should make areas of focus for each month. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you Matt & lil Mazen!! xo
Melanie