Life. Not Resolutions.

I'm a go-against the grain kind of girl. Always have been and probably always will be. Something about being a little different, a bit more unique than the next, is how I've always hoped to present myself to others. Come every January first, I've been reluctant to make any sort of resolution. Usually I become highly disappointed in myself if I fail to reach my set goals each year and rarely do the resolutions I make even last much longer than the beginning of February. I was doing my best to avoid a post about the whole ordeal but yesterday Apb helped me realized that 'goals, not resolutions, are in fact a healthy and important part to living and leading a more fulfilling and happy life' (well at least he said something along those lines). Who knew I married such a smarty pants. We immediately headed to the gym to sweat out our epiphany with what must have been I swear, hundreds of other gotta-work-out-in-2011-ers.

And over a very painful jaunt on the treadmill I realized I hope to make it my goal this year to be a happier, more content woman, wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, friend and coworker. I don't mean that in the sense that I want to be friendlier to those in my life because I am generally an overly kind and warm person, but I want to feel happier from within in all that I do and I want to put others around me first more often. I want to give more, call home more, mail more hand-written letters, give more hugs and share more smiles. I want to brighten more days and spread more inspiration.

I don't want to lose 10 pounds because the number staring back at me on the scale means nothing in comparison to how I feel when I walk up the flight of stairs to our apartment, when I wake up in the morning ready to face the day with a clear complexion and when I put on a pair of jeans and heels to head out to a fancy dinner. I want to feel healthy and beautiful on the inside so that any reflection of myself on the outside matches that of within. I want to eat less pasta and more green stuff, I want to close my laptop earlier at night and head to bed earlier more. I want to become a frequent face at the gym that I signed up to last night. I want my skin to feel softer, to look healthier, to be better.

I want to become fearless. Being fearless feels so good. I want to tackle this new business venture with every ounce of my prettiness-obsessed being and make it the best it can be. I want my blog to be my blog, with no fear of the expectations from anyone on what, when and how I should post. I want to meet new friends in Chicago, invite girlfriends to my house for some apps and dessert, take that road trip to wherever, buy that dreamy duvet cover from Anthro even though I pinkie promised Apb I wouldn't (pretty please Andrew?) I want to do more, live more. And not just this year but for the rest of my life because I want to be most of all three things, fabulous, happy and living my life for every single ounce of it's existence. Happy 2011 blogettes. This girl is off to her first yoga class! xo