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I cannot believe it’s already 2019! 2018 was an AMAZING year with many ups and downs (see post here for my 2018 reflection on the highlights and some of my personal struggles). A new year is always an exciting time because it gives us an opportunity for a new beginning. With this new year, I have many new goals that I’m excited to share. One of my favorite things about blogging is being able to document life on the blog and look back to see what I’ve accomplished. Also, I feel like writing down my goals helps me hold myself more accountable. Most of these resolutions are new, but several are repeats from my 2018 post here.
My 2019 New Year Resolutions:
Create A Better Lifestyle and Become More Health Conscious: After moving to Alabama, I’ve struggled with healthy eating because it’s no secret that the South is known for its incredible-but-unhealthy food. Starting last week, I’ve been slowly working on eating healthier and working out at least 3 times a week. Right before we left for our Christmas vacation, I participated in a free genetic study by the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Also, I did this so I can learn if I have any genetic predispositions. This is a great opportunity to learn more about my genetics and overall health. Jake thought the things they tested for were especially important for women. My results will come back in a few months. One of my other health-related goals is to join a workout class that I do at least once a week. I have always wanted to try a barre class. I think this would be the perfect weekend thing for me, since Jake will be working most weekends now. I am also making little changes to my lifestyle; for example, yesterday Jake and I walked to brunch instead of driving. We live close to so many fun restaurants, so it was nice to take a healthy stroll in the beautiful weather we had.
Establish Close Friends in Birmingham: I have been blessed to meet so many wonderful ladies in Birmingham already. My goal is to put myself out of my comfort zone to make closer friends here. Jake is so busy with work, so this is important to me. Being shy this is really hard for me, but I am going to really work on this. Along with this goal, I want to find some bloggers to work with and take pictures of each other. This is something I did in Oklahoma City and it was a lot of fun.
Investing in Skincare: I turn 28 in February, so I am quickly realizing that I need to invest in good skin care products to prevent and treat wrinkles. I just bought all kinds of new products and hope to find a new routine. I also plan to do a weekly skin mask to pamper myself. I did one last week and it definitely freaked Jake out!
Wake Up Earlier: This is a repeated goal from last year that I have not succeeded with. I am a night owl, so waking up early is hard for me. Now that Jake has such early mornings again, I am trying to sync my sleep schedule closer to his. I would love to be able to work on my blog more in the morning before work when he’s already at work. I would also like to start by reading a devotional, which helps set the tone for the day.
Organize My Home/Purge My Wardrobe: Last year, I said I wanted to come up with a weekly cleaning schedule…yeah, that didn’t happen. Oops! I have finally come up with one that I would like to implement. If it ends up being successful, I plan to share it on here. I also would like to clean my wardrobe out a bit and work on focusing on buying basics when I do buy new clothes. I plan to list some pieces on PoshMark and also donate some.
Travel: We were blessed to travel a ton in 2018. Although I don’t think we will get to travel as much for a while due to Jake’s schedule, we do really want to travel abroad when Jake has his next vacation week and take more road trips when he has a full weekend off (not any time soon).
Finish Decorating Our Home: You may have seen this recent post where I shared our Christmas decor. I still haven’t decorated our bedroom, so I am hoping to get that done soon.
Be More Intentional With Posting/Share More Lifestyle on my Blog: When I share personal posts instead of outfit posts with no purpose, they do 100% better. I want to be more intentional and share more about what’s going on in my life, like my favorite recipes, home changes, and more life updates.
Learn Lightroom/Photography: I am starting to learn Lightroom, but I have a lot to learn. I also really want to learn how to shoot photos in manual.
Explore Birmingham More: As much as we love to travel, I want to experience more of Birmingham. Jake doesn’t have much time to travel anymore, and when he’s off it’s just a day or half a day. I want to focus on exploring more of our city. Birmingham really is a great city and there is so much to do, see, and eat. I do plan to incorporate more posts about exploring Birmingham in the near future once we get the chance to do so.
Better Trust in the Lord: When i get anxious, it’s mostly about things I have no control over.
Become a Mom: This is a really personal goal, but if you saw my 2018 resolutions, you may remember that I wanted to start talking about having a baby. Well…we talked and decided the early part of Jake’s intern year was not the right time for us. Now that we’re close to 30, Jake is really having baby fever. It’s so cute, y’all! I have one more big trip that I’d like to cross of my list, and then I think this is the year I am ready to become a mother. The medical year ends in June and he will be a second year resident then, so we would like to get pregnant toward the middle of the year. This is the year we hope to get pregnant if that is in God’s plan.
Wow, I have a lot of goals and faith that 2019 will be a wonderful year. What are your goals this year?
So many great goals and I’m so excited for you guys!! Yay for a baby in the future! I know you will be incredible parents. Love you both!!
Katherine | http://www.oneswainkycouple.com
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Thank you so much. It won’t be anytime soon, but we hope it happens later this year though. ❤️❤️❤️ I love y’all too.
OMGGGG my hubby and I are going to start trying for a baby this year too! And just like you, there’s one more big trip we want to cross off the list first 🙂
Definitely try a barre class – they’re such a good workout!
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Ahhh I’m so excited to hear this. Where are y’all going on your trip? We’ve done lots of mini ones, but not a big one since our honeymoon, so I told jake it was holding me back & he said we could do a big one.
I’m glad to hear barre is good. I’ve wanted to try it.
Great post, Courtney! Would love for you (or you and Jake) to come see us in Atlanta if you are ever looking for something to do outside of Birmingham! If you need us for something, we’re only 2.5 hrs away!!
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Thank you so much, Martha! We would love to come visit sometime. I appreciate that.
It is really hard to eat healthy with all of the deliciousness in Birmingham!!! I have a lot of the same goals as you for the year. I have been in Birmingham for 8 years, and still need to work on having a group of friends. I am trying to eat better and want to start a devotional too. I ordered 100 Days to Brave from Target the other day, it should be here tomorrow. So exciting that you’re talking about having a baby!!!! Zoe is the best thing that has ever happened to me and brings so much light to my life. I hope 2019 is your best year yet!
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Hi Nadine, It really is so hard. So many yummy options! I am glad to hear we have a lot of the same goals. We should meet up sometime for lunch and coffee. I need to try 100 Days to Brave. I got one for Christmas that is short and sweet. I like it. I was a little nervous to share, but i’m excited. We want to do one last big trip and then maybe try. I love kids, so I know it’s time soon. Thank you, I hope yours is too.
We should definitely meet for lunch sometime!
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I would love that! 🙂
Love these goals, Courtney! And so exciting that you are hoping to try for a baby this year!! Can’t wait to follow along! Best of luck & happy new year!
Taylor | http://www.livingtaylored.com
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Thank you so much, Taylor! I was a little nervous to share, but I decided to go for it. <3 Happy New Year! I am so excited for your baby to come :)
I hope you reach all of these goals babe!!! They sound like great ones!! Xo, Nikki
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Thank you so much, Nikki! I hope you’re having an amazing year.
Hi Courtney, I suppose being in the south you have been trying all the different options to eat. But a healthy diet is important . That will be nice to get the results of the genetic study , and Jake obviously approves of it! It is good to walk to lunch/dinner whenever possible. You can have an alcoholic beverage and not feel like you have to worry about driving , also its good to walk it off on the way home! I understand completely about making new close friends. I have a shy disposition myself so do have to get out of my comfort zone. I know you will succeed! Lol poor Jake on getting freaked out! Waking up can be hard , especially if your a night owl ! Its a matter of gradually going to bed earlier and earlier in small sections until you are used to that time and then reducing it again. I am awake at 5am to get up dressed , presentable, coffee, blog time (hehe) and then start getting the kid s up.I need to be in bed early. It is hard but i never snooze the alarm! Cleaning schedules are hard to keep up with , it is staying focused i guess, cleaning wardrobe is a great thing to do when you have not worn an item in so long. It will be good to travel as a couple for as long as you can, circumstances change and then it will be harder (you got to read between the lines here !) Oops, I got to run , I’m finishing part 1 of 2 here!! Take care Dear, Terri xo.
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Hey Terri! It really is hard to eat healthy here, since everything is fried lol. I am trying to cook at home more though. I feel better when I eat healthier, so it motivates me. I am excited to learn more about my genetics, it was a cool opportunity. That is so true about walking to lunch or dinner. We did enjoy a mimosa and didn’t have to worry about Ubering home. Thank you, Terri. I hope I can make some good friends here. It’s hard to make friends as an adult. I am trying to keep my sleep schedule more consistent like not ruining it on the weekend. It’s slowly getting easier. Wow you’re up early. Jake has to be up early too. I need to start blogging in the morning. I am cleaning my wardrobe a lot today. Hahahha yes, once we have kids, we won’t be able to travel for a while. Thanks for stopping by. XOXO
You have to balance eating healthy with the food of the area! It is hard to make adult friends, I do my best with it also, sometimes it works , some not. Everyone has their personalities and some have barriers that are hard to break down. You can travel with a kid but you have to tend to their needs during the trip first with sleep and eating times. Happy Monday, Terri xo.
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That is so true! I am trying hard. I am trying to make closer friends too. It takes time 🙂 That is true about personalities and barriers. Yes, very true!
Yes so true Courtney!
Hi Courtney, I am writing part 2 of 2 now in reply. I really love your outfit posts Courtney! But I will be interested in lifestyle and recipes also. Your bedroom will look fabulous if the rest of the house is anything to go by. The kitchen, dining and Living areas are so nicely decorated , and from earlier post the entry way! It will be exciting learning new photography tricks, then you can share them with Jake! It will be good to explore Birmingham , it might not be where you eventually settle down so will be nice to have seen it all! We all need to place our fears and trust in the hands of God and take away anxiety , you are not alone Courtney. Working towards becoming a Mom and parent is a great personal goal that you have shared with us. From your photos Love radiates from you , it is easy to see how loving you are and will make a terrific Mom someday!! The simple goals are to maybe move house , that our family remain healthy , and make more time for the Lord our God. Take care Dear, hugs, Terri xo.
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Aww Terri, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a through comment 🙂 I am glad you like my outfit posts, I always love your dresses. I think adding some more lifestyle and recipes will be fun. I cannot wait to get our room decorated. I am having trouble finding curtains I like. Hopefully. Someone suggested Ikea, so I am going to try that. Yes, we really want to explore Birmingham more. It’s probably not our permanemt home although we do love it. We would like to be closer to family when Jakes done with his residency. Yes, I am trying to get better about giving my fears and anxiety to God. Awww you’re so sweet to say all of these kind things. I hope to become a mom someday in the not too far future. Your goals sound amazing. Would you be moving in the same city? Making more time for the Lord is soooooo important. I am always trying to do that too. Have a nice day.
You are so welcome Courtney! I am happy to encourage you in all your goals. You will make a great Mom ! . We would stay in the same city, same schools for the kids . I have to work hard on making more time for God too. Happy Monday, Terri xo.
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Aw thank you again, Terri! That is great you won’t be moving cities. I am trying to work on making more time for God too. Happy Monday to you too.
Such great goals, you are going to have such a wonderful year! I just donated SO MUCH and listed a ton on poshmark, it felt good to clean out my closet!! I have a few more trips abroad to cross off my list so no baby talk for me until after the summer of 2020 🙂
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Aw thank you so much, Amanda. Jake is on call tonight, so I’m going through my clothes tonight. I have wayyy to much and too little storage that I’m overwhelmed. I’m going to list on Poshmark too. Ahh that’s exciting. We just booked a trip abroad soon. I’m beyond excited. Haha I would be fine waiting until summer of 2020 for a baby, but Jake is so ready. It’s sweet.
Oh wow! These are all such amazing goals. (And how exciting is your last one?! Yay!) I also need to do a huge wardrobe purge this year. That is one of my main goals as well.
I hope you have a wonderful 2019, Courtney.
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Aw thanks, friend! I was so nervous to share. AHh I need to do that too. Good luck 🙂