Well now I want to be all like.. let's check in and see how 2015 went.
Ever since I was 20, each year has been better than the last. 2015 was no different. It was a great year. But as for the goals / facts I predicted at the beginning of the year...
I am going to complete a half marathon in under 2 hours.
Nope. But I'm not mad about it.
I am going to buy all of my Christmas presents using Swagbucks (aka no out of pocket expense) and will have all purchases done by the end of November.
I mentioned in July that I didn't care about the Swagbucks part of this goal anymore, but I did get all of my Christmas shopping done by the end of October. I actually stopped using Swagbucks exclusively, and made almost $500 this year from ebates. So I would say it evens out.
I am going to Europe.
I sure did, and it was awesome (Paris, Rome and Dublin). This was a bit of a cheater goal because it was already booked (I think?) but still. It was a lifelong dream, so it works.
I am going to cross so much off my 30 before 30 list.
Not really. I think I crossed a couple off, but again, I'm not really mad about it because letting go of goals that no longer fit your life is not a bad thing. Plus, I have one more year.
I am going to DC with some awesome girls.
Yep. Woohoo. It was awesome.
I am going to 'give' something each month. My time, money or donating to goodwill. Something every month.
I didn't really shout it from the rooftops, but I made sure that every month I did something big or small to help someone besides myself. I can be a very selfish person so this was a great goal.
I am going to be thankful this year. Every month, not just November.
I did a thankful post each month and it was so fabulous to remind myself constantly that I have so much to be thankful for! I think I might even continue to do it.
I am going to live more in the moment - stop planning and focusing on the future so much.
Like I said in July, I don't know why I wrote this one. I like planning and dreaming of the future. But really, I have been trying to focus on the here and now at least 50% of the time, and letting myself dream / plan for a million different futures the other 50% of the time. Considering it used to be like dreaming 90% of the time, I'm doing well.
I am going to read 150 books.
I did achieve this goal, but I won't be doing it again. I didn't like how I was constantly checking my progress and not reading certain books because their length would slow me down or whatever.
I am going to love every item in my closet and get rid of all the things I don't wear.
Yep. I did. It was really hard, but by the end of the year I finally got rid of all the things I was keeping for a sentimental reason or that I couldn't sell on eBay. I now 100% love everything in my closet, and while I wouldn't mind some more things (because I'm still a shopaholic at heart), I'm good for right now.
I am going to make sure every single thing in my house is either beautiful or useful.
Towards the end of the year, when I got rid of all the clothes in the spare room that I was
I am going to become a badass chef wannabe and person who sews things.
I really did not work on this until the end of the year, oops. I am definitely still a wannabe in the kitchen, but I am getting better. I also sewed a few things, nothing amazing, but hey. We're getting there.
I am going to spend time with real friends, not wasting time on the people who let me down in 2013. I'm not mad about it, I'm just over fake friendships.
I mentioned in July that I totally gave up on all the fake friends and I haven't looked back. It is such a good feeling.
I am going to take care of myself. I am going to be the healthiest and fittest person I can be not because I want to lose weight but because healthy is where it's at.
This will never be something I can cross off completely and not worry about. It's something I have to work towards every day. I have to make good decisions and put the chips down. I have to exercise and not worry about the scale.
I am going to love myself. I am going to be positive and nice, I am not going to say negative or mean things that I wouldn't dare say to a stranger, so why say them to myself?
This goes hand in hand with the above. Although, to be perfectly honest, for the first time ever, my mind is in a good spot and I don't constantly hate myself or think awful thoughts when I look in the mirror. And that is way more important than the scale.
and with that... 2015 is over, and so are all those goals. I think I will make less goals in 2016!
Hope everyone has a fabulous New Years, however you are celebrating!
Ummmmm- you rocked these goals! I got about half of mine done and felt like a super human! Cheers to 2016!
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm super impressed with all this awesome goal progress (and inspired by your closet purging, since I will be taking a swipe at mine this weekend!). Happy 2016!
ReplyDeleteYou did great with your goals! Congratulations, and hope that 2016 is even better for you :) I'm not a huge celebrator of the new year, so I'll probably just have a glass of wine, give Dan a kiss, and go to bed haha! Such a party animal.
ReplyDelete150 books!?! Wow! You were a reading maniac this year! I completely agree with the only keeping things in your house/closet that you love or that is useful. I have been doing that myself, in shifts, because "letting go" of some things is hard. Dag-gone sentimentality! Happy New Year to you!
ReplyDeleteWow! You did pretty damn awesome! I can't believe how many books you read! I love the goal of giving something each month too! I might have to steal that! Cheers to 2016!
ReplyDelete<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
Way to go with everything in 2015! I hope 2016 brings more of the same, if not even better!! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteSounds like you did awesome in 2015, and I know that 2016 will be an even better year for you! Have a happy new year :)
ReplyDeleteYou did really well this year! 150 books is incredible. I had similar goals with cleaning and out my closet and just general downsizing in our apartment. I love purging and getting rid of stuff, I'm addicted now. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteOk, seriously eBates is the best! I think that we made about $100 from all of our Christmas shopping that we did this year, and I can't wait to get our check in the mail. I still can't believe that you read 150 books, but I totally know what you mean about not picking books based on their length. I love the Outlander and Game of Thrones books, but I'll choose not to read them at certain times because it can take me so long to get through them. I'm so glad that you were able to stay over fake people! It's not worth your time or effort to deal with them!
ReplyDeleteI need to make a goal to make goals :)
ReplyDeleteYou should totally join me once a month in Thankful Thursday for that goal (if you make it in 2016) :)
Look at you rockin' your 2015 goals, still swooning over your Europe trip! So many other fun travels, and yay for meeting up while you were here <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
So awesome you got to go to Europe! What a blast!
ReplyDelete500 dollars from ebates!? I thought my 25 dollars was impressive! Haha!
ReplyDeleteAw seems you accomplished some of the big important stuff! I definitely love your goal of going toward healthy and loving yourself! So important! :) Happy new year!x
ReplyDeleteI think you did great with your goals and I feel like a lot of them are great lifetime goals. How the H did you read 150 books in 2015!? Unreal!
ReplyDeleteYou did awesome with your goals, Kristen!!! Happy New Year! Here's to the best 2016 :D
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you read 150 books +! I won't say how many I read haha. Nowhere near! I think you did great. It's a good thing if you can feel relatively good about yourself without getting down on useless stuff.
ReplyDeleteyou did sooo well on your goals this year!! way to go girl. xoox
ReplyDeleteUmmmmmm it looks like you really nailed these girl and now I am heading over to read your Rome and Paris recaps ;)
ReplyDeleteGoing to Europe is the best one ;) I'm biased.
ReplyDeleteYou killed it in the goals department, girlfriend!!! I also love the idea of giving something back every single month -- that's such a nice gesture and one that I think I should implement for 2016! I'm so glad to have found your blog during this year & am so looking forward to seeing how the next year goes for you! xo
ReplyDeleteWhoaaaa... $500 using ebates?! I ALWAYS forget about ebates. I need to get better at using it. I have an account but I don't think I've ever used it. Ugh! Why not?!
ReplyDeleteI actually got rid of everything I didn't love (clothing) yesterday! I did a major closet clean out and ended up getting rid of 45% of my stuff. Woohoo! Doesn't it feel so great?
You really did do an awesome job on a lot of your goals! You go girl.
Ha, I had the same Swaybacks goals, and I got five of our Christmas presents with Swaybacks, so that's better than nothing...but I think Ebates needs to be my way to go from now on!
ReplyDeleteHappy 2016!
You did a lot! Okay I take FOREVER to earn Swagbucks. At this point I couldn't even buy ONE Christmas present with them haha.
ReplyDeleteMindset is WAY more important than the scale!
ReplyDeleteSwagbucks frustrates me. I much prefer ebates but I will use both.
Well, you rocked your goals! I could understand why you wouldn't want to do the 150 books again - talk about pressure! As I've told you before, I'm taking a page out of your book and trying to be nicer to myself. That's my biggest goal for 2016!
ReplyDeleteYou were HIGHLY ambitious this year. I applaud that!
ReplyDeleteYou rocked your goals this year! And $500 from Ebates?! Teach me your ways!
ReplyDeleteGirl you rocked those goals. I am with you, ditching the fake friendships is such a good feeling!
ReplyDeleteLOVE this goal recap! I am not happy with my 2016 goals at this point and need all the motivation I can get. I love that you re-assess your goals along the way and let go of what doesn't work. The thankful posts are also a fantastic idea. :)
ReplyDeleteI think that this is awesome! Good progress for sure. I totally agree that you don't need to keep goals that you no longer have interest in!! & getting rid of fake friends is definitely on my 2016 to-do.... whew is it ever. Happy New Year! XO -Alexandra
ReplyDeleteSimply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Still can't believe you read 150 books! Amazing.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, learning to let go of goals that don't fit my life or serve my overall goal for what I want my life to look like was one of the best things that happened to me in 2015. It helped me to let go of so much stress and angst and frustration. So glad you made the same discovery as well :)
ReplyDeleteAlso glad my give back monthly goal inspired you and you were able to maintain it all year!
SUPER proud of you for all the progress you made with getting rid of things you don't love and the impact it's had on your spending habits and (not mentioned here but I'm still proud of you) credit cards.
Honestly, I'm just proud of you and happy for you about all of this and everything else that makes you special and amazing. Here's to another fantastic 12 months ahead! xo
What a successful year! I feel like pretty much every year gets a little bit better too. I think the best part is that you were able to realize and accept that all of your goals are works in progress and that as long as you're working on them, in some capacity, or just working to be better overall, that counts for something. I'm really happy to hear that you 100% love everything in your closet because I know that was a source of frustration for you (which sounds stupid now that I'm writing it out because #firstworldproblems much? but I totally get it). And of course the last few are the best. You are too beautiful, smart, funny, and amazing to ever feel anything different.
ReplyDeleteI totally stopped using Swagbucks too it was too much work. The reading goal is tough because you don't want to ruin the joy in reading. Hope 2016 is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI think you kicked ass at achieving those goals! :) I wish I could get rid of some clothes that I don't "love". And $500 on ebates?! Holy smokes!
ReplyDeleteI really love the "love yourself" and "be thankful for more" goals in particular. I mean, they were all good goals for the year, but those are things that are so simple and yet so difficult at the same time.
ReplyDeleteIt's awesome that you earned so much on ebates! I've never used that site, but, as you probably know, I love Swagbucks. A lot of people hate it and think it's too much work. And, while I agree that since 2016 started, it's a lot harder for me to earn than it was at the end of last year (they took away some of their highest SB video options, and that sucks!), I still think it's pretty easy. I use it whenever I'm on the computer (I'm using it right now!), and I can easily make at least $50 each month (but usually more).
Good job on your goals last year! It looks like you did a great job overall and, perhaps most importantly, you learned to let go of goals that didn't fit your life anymore. That can be really tough, so that alone is a major achievement!
Girl! You rocked these goals! Way to go!
ReplyDeleteWith so many goals you really did accomplish a lot! That picture of you guys with the Eiffel Tower is soooo good! I love your mentality of not stressing over goals that don't fit in with who you are / where you want to be-- so true that we're constantly changing.
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