Goals for 2015

Hey everyone!

So I'm typically not one to make New Year's Resolutions - to me, if you want to change your life, you don't need a certain day of the year to make it happen. However, even I can admit the old adage of "new year, new me!" is something that really excites me nowadays! My life is wonderful in so many ways, but there will always be room for improvements. Check out a few of my goals for the new year (and no, "getting in great shape" isn't one of them!):

1. Trust God wholeheartedly

 Y'all, I make a ton of mistakes when I don't ask God for help. I can't see the future or where I'll be in ten years, so why would it make sense to think I could make good decisions for my life without seeking God's wisdom? It's not possible! Though it's hard to let God have the steering wheel, I have found that I am more at peace after doing so. Relying on him has taken so much pressure off me, and I only expect even greater things to come from trusting in him.

2. Travel A LOT

I'm young, I have few responsibilities (aside from my dog and being a good wifey), and I live a very frugal lifestyle with my husband. We can afford to see the world, and now is the time to take the opportunity! Besides, if we have kids in a few years, we can kiss all the fun vacations good bye (for a while, at least). So far, we're planning to travel to Honduras, The Bahamas, Mexico, Las Vegas, Paris, and Rome. I'm definitely looking forward to putting even more places on that list as the year progresses!

3. Make Unapologetic Choices

Do you hear that? It's opinions, EVERYWHERE. Your family, friends, acquaintances - they all feel like they've earned the right to say whatever pops into their heads about your life. Though those opinions are usually valued, you cannot let them dictate how you live. Looking into the new year, my hope is that I make decisions based on the wants and needs of my own family. I'd hate to look back and realize I made major life choices based on what other people told me to do. Feeling guilty about living life our way ends now!

4. Get comfortable in my new town

I've been living outside of Atlanta for a little over a year now. Despite that, I still refer to Gastonia as "home." It's time to create a new home for myself, here in Georgia. This means getting out of my shell, making friends, and getting involved with organizations that inspire me. Of course I'll never take for granted where I came from and the friends I made while living in North Carolina, but it's time to make a new life in the here and now!

5. Make my home feel more like a home

 My husband and I built our own home about a year ago. It's a huge blessing and certainly something we're proud of, but right now, it still looks like a "cookie cutter" house. The walls are white, decorations are awkwardly hung (Lord knows I'm not an interior designer), and there's a pile of unused frames and portraits sitting in our "junk room" (yes, there's a whole room). This year, I want to make our home a reflection of our taste and personalities. If that means painting the dining room bright red and having a giant elephant statue sitting in the corner, so be it! It's our home and it will be beautiful.

What are your goals this year?
XOXO,

Give Thanks

So I know that November is the signature month to express your thankfulness, but as 2014 comes to a close, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with appreciation in the here and NOW!

Working with high school students (many who experience stuff that I couldn't even fathom), really teaches you to appreciate the life you've been given. When I think about my husband, my family, my best friends, and my life in general, my problems start to get smaller and smaller. You know what I mean?

Here are the things I am most thankful for this season:

My Husband (who has the patience of Gandhi - seriously).
Anyone who has spent more than twenty minutes in the same room with me can tell you that I am a handful. I'm moody, I have high expectations, and I feel the need to be treated like a princess at all times. Essentially, I'm a brat. Despite all of this, my husband chooses to love me unconditionally and treat me like I'm made of gold. He supports all my wild endeavors, hugs me tight on my bad days, and maintains patience when I spend hours in Ulta. Can you say dream guy?

Another Christmas with my Gran
My grandmother is the most independent woman I have ever met. She was widowed at a young age and never remarried, and I always admired her ability to take care of herself without any man present. As she grows older, unfortunately, Gran has developed dementia. She's losing that independent streak; really, she's losing herself. It's tough for anyone to watch, but I try to hold on to who she was before all this stuff started happening. In my mind, she's still this sassy, independent, outspoken, can't walk into a store without leaving with five new friends, type of woman who I am so blessed to have in my life for another Christmas.

My Best Friends
You know those people who say it's better to have a few great friends rather than a ton of acquaintances? I totally abide by that. My two best friends, Kerri & Hannah, have been in my life since middle school. We've gone through just about everything together - break ups, cheerleading, church, college, engagements, marriage, "big girl jobs," and more. And despite me moving to a completely different state, our periods are still in sync. SO BAM, BESTIES. (Yes, I just went there).

All the Old Ornaments on my Christmas Tree
Growing up, my mom insisted that I pick out an ornament for myself every Christmas. She took me to Hallmark, brought me to the ornament section, and instructed me to find the best one in the store. I never really understood her antics, to be honest. What was the deal with her obsession with ornaments? When it came time to move into my own house, she boxed up all the ornaments I had chosen over the years and gave them to me. Now, for my first Christmas as a full fledged adult, my Christmas tree is adorned with all these wonderful decorations - some that I chose when I was only five years old. Looking at those ornaments is my own way of looking back at the old Bailey - when I was five, thirteen, eighteen, etc. It's a beautiful tradition in my family and something I fully intend to do with my own children someday.

My Crazy-Wacky-Loving Family
I know a lot of people say this, but y'all, I really do have an awesome family. They are hilarious, loving, thoughtful, and just all around amazing people. Despite moving four hours away, my mom and dad make it a priority to keep up with my life, and it means a lot to have their support in everything I do. I always look forward to our Christmas traditions together, and even though they're being tweaked a little this year, I'm still so excited to spend time with everyone! This past year, I was fortunate enough to become a part of a second family - the Sansings. They accepted me and loved on me from the first moment I met them and have made me feel nothing but welcomed ever since. You always hear about horror stories where the husband's family doesn't get along with the wife, and I got the exact opposite. How awesome is that?!

What are you thankful for this season?

Peace, Love and Peppermint Mocha,