Well Hi There 2014!

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Happy Thursday friends! Did you all have a good New Years Eve and Day? Ours was pretty ideal. We spent NYE babysitting for some of our best friends so they could enjoy a night out at the symphony.  One of our good friends joined us and the three of us watched Lord of the Rings while the baby slept peacefully in the other room.  I’ve got this parenting thing down, easy! Just kidding.  But I can definitely handle 6 hours at a time with one cute kiddo. So that’s a good thing to know! 😀

On New Years Day Scott and I slept in a bit, and went to one of our favorite brunch spots – Breadwinners – to grab some coffee and food.  Afterwards we went to Ikea and picked up several things to finish up the room we are working on right now…I can’t wait to show you all!!!! So, so, so good! Sadly I had a ton of photos of the progress that are all sitting on my DSLR, which I can’t put on to my computer because my iMac has the white death screen right now. 🙁 I am hoping to get it fixed- at least enough to pull my photos up, but in the meantime I am taking lots of iPhone pics. 😀 Say a little prayer for my computer! I am planning on getting a laptop anyways, so it should work out okay…yay for new things?!

Maybe it’s just the spirit of new years or maybe it’s a longing in my heart for a bit of a change in some areas, but I am super excited about 2014.  I used to be a stickler for new years resolutions, then realized I never did any of them for longer then a month and quit. I already shared 30 of my goals for this year in my “30 before 30” post, but I love lists, so just for the fun of it, here are a few things I am excited about conquering in 2014!

1) I want to eat more vegetables and less meats and sweets.  I have felt increasingly convicted about consumption of meat over the past several years, and recently about using products that have been tested on animals. I don’t see myself going hardcore vegetarian just yet, but I tend to prefer vegetarian options over meat in general, so it wouldn’t be impossible. I also got this super fun Christmas gift from Scott called a spiralizer…it makes vegetables into freaking pasta. If you follow me on instagram you obviously know I am pretty obsessed!!!

spiralized

I have a huge sweet tooth, and went on a sugar fast for lent last year. It was the best. It was hard to start, but once I was a week in, I felt fantastic. I broke the sugar fast by eating a slice of pie and was immediately sick to my stomach and fell asleep in the car on the way home. Obviously not good for me, so ready to tone that down, but not give it up completely because…

2) I want to master the art of baking. Specifically French baking.  There is nothing more beautiful in the world then French tarts and macarons.  I’ve already succeeded in making croisants (turned into cronuts), but Scott got me this awesome cookbook, Bouchon Bakery, for Christmas and it really has me inspired.  We tried to make macaroons without having all the proper piping bags and baking trays….not so much of a success. They actually tasted awesome, but looked crazy.

macaron fail

3) I want to continue learning watercolor and calligraphy. I picked up both of these arts a few months ago and am really smitten. It’s so fun to take a break from painting walls to paint some paper. 🙂 Here’s a few snapshots of what I’m currently working on/playing with! 🙂

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who isn’t hustlin’ these days, right? 🙂

4) Read more and watch less TV! Scott and I didn’t even have cable tv for the first two years of our marriage, and when we did get it we didn’t watch it a ton. But lately we’ve fallen into a bad habbit of watching it every day, and my reading has dropped dramatically which is super sad. I have a goal of reading 2-3 books a month, which might seem extensive, but I love reading and am a super, super fast reader. One of my many gifts. 😛 I am currently reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I have heard such great things about this series and it makes me so, so happy that there is a giant series of books awaiting me! After that…the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. For reals. 🙂 Sprinkled in with some classic literature like Pride & Prejudice, etc of course!

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We have some other general goals as well like getting in shape, paying off debt, volunteering, but those are things we are always working on. I’m so excited for 2014!

What about you guys? Any big goals this year? You can do it! 2014 is YOUR year…regardless of where you are at. I also wanted to share a Bible verse that has been on my heart the last few days as I have been reflecting on the new year and new beginnings!

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”- Revelations 21:5

YAY for newness! 🙂

 

Photo of Tania Griffis, owner of Run to Radiance
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Tania Griffis is an accomplished writer, blogger, and interior designer with a Journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma. She started her popular blog, Run to Radiance, in 2011, demonstrating her design expertise through the personal remodeling of six houses to millions of readers across the globe.

Tania also owns The Creative Wheelhouse, a respected ghostwriting agency for bloggers, further showcasing her talent for creating engaging and informative content.

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6 Comments

  1. I LOVE the Outlander series. The next book is coming out June 10th … and no I didn’t have to look that up. 🙂 I hope to read more this year too so I’d love any recommendations you have. Happy New Year Tania!

    1. I am so excited to read it Chione! I actually picked it based on your recommendation. I know you won’t lead me wrong! How many books is she planning on doing? I love long series!! 🙂 Happy New Year to you too girl!

  2. Tania! This is one of my fave New Year’s posts so far. I have a big crush on macarons too! 🙂 I also have watercolors / acrylics and paper but have YET to do anything with them, now I’m inspired to break them out and YAY reading!! books books books

    1. Thanks Brandy! 🙂 I just hopped over to your blog and I love your concrete painted floors!!! Looks so, so good. As you probably know I’m a fan of concrete as well! 🙂 We should make a painting pact to actually paint…watercolors not walls/floors. Goodness knows we do plenty of that. And yes YAY reading!!!! <3Books!!

  3. ahhh.. keep going with the ‘every day i’m hustlin’ – it has a lot of potential (and i love love that saying) the french baking is a lofty goal- post about your first dish?? oh, and happy new year to you!!

    1. Thank you Jennifer! I love the saying too…good reminder for every day. Definitely going to do macarons first- now that I have all the proper tools. 😀 Happy New Year! 🙂

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