New Year’s Resolutions

Better Organization

I was reading an article about organization the other day and in it the author described the way that a living space becomes disorganized so perfectly. He said people are in a rush and instead of going through each piece of mail they just stack the pile on the kitchen counter. Then holiday decor gets placed downstairs, but not in the storage room tubs where it belongs. And before long, a lot of the house feels cluttered and the task of organizing it all seems overwhelming. This definitely happens to me; does this happen to any of you too? One of my goals in 2017 is to beat the “clutter cycle” and stay organized.

My organization goals don’t just correspond to home life; I’d like to be better organized when it comes to work as well. I’ve found that an old fashioned paper planner works best for me in terms of organization. Last year, my husband gifted me this leather one from Hermès and it’s worked perfectly to track my daily to do’s and appointments. I like planning out blog posts, photo shoots, and events on a big desk calendar like this one so I can see my month at a glance.

Home Decor Projects

If you’ve followed me for long, you know I have a love-hate relationship with home decor right now. We purchased a home to grow into right after we got engaged and we’ve been tackling one area at a time as our time and budget allows. One problem in particular has been my pickiness; it takes me ages to decide on something, and I frequently find that I don’t like the item when I see it in the space or in person if I ordered online. As you can imagine, this has created some significant delays. Take, for example, my closet. After waiting 6 months for backordered curtain hardware and 3 months for backordered curtains, I found that the curtains were 5 inches too short and the hardware didn’t look as nice as it did online. So it was back to the drawing board, and after another 3-month wait I finally have the new curtains and am waiting on the next set of backordered curtain hardware. Rinse and repeat.

My goal for 2017 is to finish decorating my closet space and to begin tackling my home office. I find that organizing both of these spaces contributes directly to the overall organization of our home since much of my work revolves around clothes, accessories, computer time, photography, and filing paperwork. I can’t wait to share each step of the decor process with you!

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Read More

I have a stack of unread books about two feet high next to my bed. I’m well aware that my nightly late-hour Instagram scroll is not beneficial to my already-sporadic sleep habits, so my plan is to transition to reading before bed. I know a lot of you are interested in books too… Would you be interested in seeing a blog post sharing my latest reads and book reviews? I’d love to share! And if you have any must-read titles for me to read, please share them down below in the comments.

Invest in Key Pieces

There’s nothing I love more than a nice shopping day with a friend or my mom; grabbing lunch together then chatting as we pick up a few things. As my tastes change and develop, I’ve found that investing in high quality pieces is more important to me. I really appreciate having a few luxe items I can mix and match with all my outfits.

My favorite 2016 investment pieces? The adorable Chloé bag J gave me last spring; it was my most-worn bag this year because the style looks amazing with literally any outfit and the pretty neutral color is so versatile. The sleek Prada tote I got last summer was also a favorite because I found it to be the perfect everyday bag; once again, the color seems to go with everything and its different pouches and compartments make it perfect for organization. Last but not least, I had been saving up for these Stuart Weitzman boots for months… When they finally went on sale this winter, I snapped them up. They are one of the only boots that fit my calves, the suede material is absolutely beautiful, and they are so sleek and flattering. The price point is so steep, I would just bookmark that page and keep checking to see if they go on sale again. But… If you’re feeling spendy, they are a boot I really think you’ll find yourself wearing again and again.

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Be Healthy

Because of what I do, I can be extra hard on myself and my body; it’s difficult to analyze photos all day, every day! Instead of a size or weight, my goal this year is to simply be healthy. To get up and get moving before or after I spend my day on the computer. To think about what I put into my body and nourish it with nutritious food and natural body products. It’s not about a number; it’s about feeling better and having more energy. My goal for 2017 is to get into an exercise routine and to use exercise as a stress release.

Skincare Routine

You know the situation; it’s late at night, you’re tired, and your skincare routine seems like the easiest thing to skip. Too many nights of this and my skin ends up extra dry and irritated. Along with nourishing my body, I plan to nourish my skin in 2017. I’ll be sure to share my skincare favorites with you as the seasons change and new products come out.

Say ‘No’ More Often

This one sounds odd, doesn’t it? But I find it to be one of the most important resolutions I have this year. You know when you’ve taken on extra work projects, one relative asks you to help them move, a friend asks you to travel across country for an event, you say yes to them all, and suddenly you are so overwhelmed your life feels like it’s in total chaos? I feel like we women are especially guilty of wanting to please everyone and do everything. Our American society has come to value being busy and living in chaos; in fact, we are expected to be connected and reachable at all times. I used to think if I got everything done perfectly I would be happy, but I wasn’t. Instead, I felt exhausted, stressed, and out of shape.

You know when I feel most fulfilled? When I’m taking a walk through the woods with my husband and our pups. When I take time to draw myself a hot bubble bath before bed. Or when I sit down and catch up with my mom on the phone. There will always be times I have to be busy and get things done, but this year I’m making a conscious effort not to make “crazy” or “chaos” my normal. I’ll have to say ‘no’ to things, but when I say ‘yes’ I’ll be doing them without resentment and with a clear head.

Grow, Develop, Improve

One of the best pieces of advice my father has given me is to “never stop learning”. I’m a naturally curious person and I always want to learn, improve, and better myself. This year, I’d like to learn more about business and photography. I’d like to pick back up on my French lessons. And I’d like to improve personally as a wife, daughter, and friend. I hope to stretch and challenge myself with regard to my content right here on TheCashmereGypsy.com. And above all, at the end of 2017 I hope I can look back over the past year and feel proud of what I’ve accomplished.

What are your goals and resolutions for 2017?