Not a New Year’s Resolution 2014

After my success in completing my 2013 New Year’s Resolution in just 4 months, I was inspired to do another one this year. I was planning on doing a similar resolution in cooking 52 recipes out of my cook books. And then I decided not to. I mean really? I get so busy in life as is, why put another thing to think about on my plate? So I am going to push myself to cook out of the cookbooks more, but I am not going to make it a resolution.

Another resolution I had thought of, was to get my posts out within a month of traveling. Again, not going to make it a resolution, but definitely going to try and be intentional about doing things on time!

Since I already have a few resolutions from 2013 that are carrying over, I thought I would give you some updates.

In November I started 3 things. Be in the Word daily, take a picture daily, and complete Ann Voskamp’s 1000 gifts.

Well I have already failed. So in the spirit of the New Year and simplifying my life (as I did last year), I have decided to cut out the thankful part. Sounds funny, but although I love the idea, I realized as I did the exercise that it was just another thing to do. I wasn’t really thinking about my thankful's long and hard. So that is gone. I am starting to read the book this weekend, so maybe I will pick it back up when I am done, but for now I am done. We shall see.

As for the pictures, I took a million pictures when I was in London, Paris, and Germany (I will post those soon!), but I haven’t touched my camera in the week I have been home. So I need to pick that up again. Still want to accomplish that goal.

I have however continued to be in the Word! Love that. Want to dig deeper.

And my other resolution that I started in December, so far we are going strong. We made it through traveling in 3 foreign countries without buying anything for ourselves. It was definitely difficult at points and both Thomas and I had things in our hands that we debated long and hard about, but we succeeded! 1.5 months and we are still going strong! Still no new stuff for the house. Although I have wanted to buy stuff to organize our house. Still debating that. :)

I have realized something I love about the New Year. It isn’t the resolutions as much as it is a time to stop, look around you, and be intentional. So Thomas and I are being intentional about going through our house AGAIN. Room by room, going through and decluttering and simplifying. Again. After the craziness of the holidays, I love that we get to start clean. (And have another yard sale this spring!) It isn’t a time to beat myself up about the fact that I hadn’t worked out much in the last few months, or that it is cliché to start fresh each New Year, but it is just that… a time once a year where you get to start fresh.

So I am….

Continuing to not spend money on “things”.

Simplifying my home and decluttering again. Room by room.

Continue to be in the Word.

Start exercising more for no other reason than it is good for me (I already did yoga twice in the last week!)

Going through my list of crafting projects and getting them done. And not adding any more for goodness sake!

Continue to pick up my camera daily.

Be intentional about loving and really focusing on people.

So there you go. That is my non resolution, resolution. Things that I am already doing, but just being more intentional about doing them and slowing down in the middle of all of it.

A little joy to share with you. Love this big guy!

Buying Hiatus

This past year Thomas and I have spent lots of time minimizing the things in our home and just over all simplifying our life. The newest crazy idea we have come up with is a buying hiatus. 

NO SPENDING ON ANY "THINGS".

Essentially this spending hiatus is to simply stop bringing extras into our lives and our homes for the next year. Starting today. Thomas and I are not buy things to bring into our home.

Yes we can buy consumables such as food, toilet paper (your welcome), toiletries (your also welcome), and replacement items for things that break.

What we can't buy are things like clothing, decorations, and dishes (dang!).

So from now, December 1st, 2013 for 1 year until November 30th, 2014, Thomas and I (yes he has agreed with only a little arm twisting from me) are holding each other accountable to a buying hiatus. 

This has nothing to do with the amount of money spent (although I would wager to say we will save over the next year) and more to do with stuff we simply don't need. Because we will still spend money on going places and doing adventures.

So this year Christmas and birthdays are going to be different. We are going to Europe which means that we don't need to do presents for Christmas. And for birthday's... It's my 30th and I plan on jumping out of a plane. So that experience will be plenty for me. Not sure what Thomas wants to do considering he DEFINITELY will NOT jump out of a plane with me. Life will definitely be very intentional and different this year. 

And I love it.

And yes, of course I went through moments where I thought... I HAVE to get tall black boots before we start this! And I laughed at myself, because really Mica? That is not what this is about. It is about being content with the over abundance that we ALREADY own.

But really, all that aside.... It's the first day of advent. And I love this time of the year.

Thoughts? Are any of you crazy enough to ever do this? Excited to see how it changes us.

The Next Year of Thankfuls

Many of you  suffered Through an entire month of me posting my "thankfuls". First off, thanks for putting up with that. Second, no I am not going to do that to you again this year. Although Thomas does still have to do it with me every morning. Thanks for putting up with me Thomas!

Over the past year I have heard many good things about the book One Thousand Gifts. I know many people have read it and it is powerful. Although I have not read it yet (I am getting it on Sunday!), I have been reading the author's blog from her website A Holy Experience. I love her passion for gratitude. And I love the printable she made to help you to come up with your own 1000 gifts.

And most of all, I love the reminder to be full of gratitude year round. So this Thanksgiving, not only am I going to write my daily "thankful", I am now going to write 3 "thankfuls" a day and continue it on through the next year.

On top of that, another goal I have is to improve my photography. A friend of mine introduced me to the blog Click It Up A Notch where she is doing a 365 photo challenge. So although I am not doing it with all the gals online, I am doing it with just my friend Laura. Of course I am not going to put you through that either. You're welcome. The whole idea is that by picking up your camera every day, you will become a better photographer simply by focusing on it every day. Hope it works!

And I hope to incorporate the two. Take better pictures of the things I am thankful for... EVERY DAY. Oh man, that seems like a lot, but that is what commitment and improvement in life is all about. Spending time doing it.

Which brings me to my final 365 challenge to myself. Get in the Word. I can honestly say that in the past 29 years, I have never been in God's Word every day for a year. I want that to change. 

So here are the 3 things I hope to do every day between now and Nov 1st, 2014.

1. document my gratitude

2. take a picture

3. get in the Word

My Ultimate Goal: