outfit details: Red Melange Peplum Top c/o Lookbook Store, American Eagle Tomgirl Jeans, PINKSTIX Structured Tote (ombre), Ella Shoes Floral Flats
In the days leading up to turning twenty-five I genuinely thought I would reach today to feel like I couldn’t breathe, because that’s kind of how I felt about it in the months prior. I had always thought I would’ve been further along by the time I was 25 years old. I know that’s silly, and 25 is still incredibly young, but I always thought that my determination and ambition would propel me further than I am currently.
But rather than feel stressed about my current status, today I am feeling really excited about the year ahead. I feel at peace with the idea that I’m still a work-in-progress, and that I am still figuring out what I want to do. Life is an adventure, and so far I’ve been having a lot of fun just “figuring” myself out. Today I am talking about 25 goals/ hopes/dreams that I have for the next year so click through to read more! (and let me know if you think of anything I should add to my list!)
1. Bon Voyage!
Yes, this year I’d like to travel more and see more this year. This doesn’t always mean packing up and catching the next flight outta town, instead I’d also like to enjoy more roadtrips and explore more of beautiful BC. I mean, why not pack up for a weekend and go out to Kelowna? Excitingly enough though, I am kicking off 25 by heading off to Puerto Vallarta this November which I am so excited about!
2. Read More.
Reading has always been such a important way for me to unwind after a busy day. It helps calm my insomnia and lull me to sleep. But this year, I’d like to make my favourite stories more than just a nightime read, I’d like to spend more time simply enjoying sitting down with a good book.
3. Up my Skincare
I’ve talked about this a lot lately! Skincare is something I had always thought you become a priority after 25. I think it’s because I’ve been told so many times that collagen doesn’t produce the same after 25. I plan this year to really investigate my skincare more and keep it up daily. I have also never had a facial before so maybe this will be the year for that too.
4. Socialize more.
During the cold months I am a bit of a recluse. I barely go out, and rather than see friends I just work, work, work – until I feel a bit batty! This year I’d like to force myself outside so that my dear friends don’t have to call me their in-hibernation friend.
5. Spend less, Save more.
I think it’s about time that my reign of spending comes to an end. While I love to shop and discover fabulous new pieces, I don’t need them and I have to remind myself of that. Plus, we have a wedding to plan – so save we must!
6. Save towards our Next Apartment.
We love our current apartment so much, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have goals for something a bit bigger! We are always home searching (especially Jer, it’s kind of an addiction for him) and we’d love to get something a bit larger in the next few years.
7. Keep in Touch Better
Considering I have a blog this is really ironic – I am terrible at keeping in touch with people when they are away. I forget to email, text, snapchat, and sometimes weeks can fly by without sending a single message. It’s really bad. It comes down to the fact that for me, my friends are my friends whether they are near or far and in my mind, we will just pick up where we left off once they are back home. But the reality is, not everyone feels like that and I need to put more effort in.
8. Be More Self Accepting
I can be pretty hard on myself at times. My anxiety mixed with my level of perfectionism can sometimes really drive me crazy, and this year I’d like to let that go a bit. While I never want to be someone who doesn’t care about the level of their work, I don’t want to stress myself out anymore when things don’t go exactly to plan.
9. Take my The UU Full-Time
Something I’ve been looking at doing lately is taking my blog on full-time. I love it, and I so enjoy all my blog-related projects, and lately it’s felt like it could be full-time work-wise anyways. I would really feel like I accomplished something if I were able to take The Urban Umbrella full-time because it’s truly something I look forward to working on everyday and it’s something I’ve really built from the ground up. I mean, if you love your job you’ve kind of made it, right?
10. Improve my Photography
While I take all my product shots here on the UU, typically I feel like I am just lucking into good shots. Jeremy is the photography wiz out of the two of us, and I really need him to teach me his ways! I’d love to take a course to learn how to better work my camera as well as a course on editing.
11. Work on my Flexibility
Ever since getting the Harrington Rod surgery, I’ve been told by doctors that I need to really continue to work on my flexibility – and I’ve been terrible at doing this. This year I’d like to commit myself to improving my flexibility and having stretching be a part of my daily workouts again.
12. Work on my “Core”
Just like flexibility, my doctors have always also made a point to let me know how important core strength is for my spinal health. I do work on my core daily but I have felt like I’ve gotten a bit lazy with it in the last month or two. Core workouts, here I come!
13. Improve my Cooking
While I’m not the worst cook in the world, I’m also certainly not the best. I tend to be the sort of cook who throws things together and just hopes for the best. I’d like to change that by taking a cooking class this year to better understand flavors and how to mix them together, It seems that all I know right now is how to make everything spicy.
14. Get into Podcasts
I keep hearing about these amazing podcasts and I haven’t taken the time to listen to any of them. I’d like to turn on a podcast during my commute to and from work to pass the time.
15. Ride a Bike… again.
Yeah, I can’t ride a bike. I know, it’s embarrassing to even write out – and more embarrassing to know you’re all reading this. I used to bike with my family, but after my surgery it felt really awkward on my spine and so I never picked up the activity again. Now I actually kind of fear biking cause I really don’t know if I can do it anymore! This year I’d like to try it out again though because it looks like so much fun.
16. Learn how to Roller Blade (maybe)
Jeremy has been on a roller blade kick for quite some time now, and he is always trying to convince me that it’s a activity we need to pick up. The last time I was on roller blades though I went flying down a hill at full speed and nearly shot myself into traffic, so we’ll see if I actually convince myself to try this out again. I’m a clumsy person, and rollerblading really may be tempting the fates. We’ll see.
17. Continue to Tackle my Anxiety
My battle with anxiety is going to probably be a life-long one, but I want to continue to find ways to better cope with it. I don’t want it to rule my life so I need to take the steps to learn how to work with it.
18. Become a More Peaceful Person
I’m pretty calm most of the time as it is, but I’d like to bring more peaceful practices to the forefront of my life. I’d like to meditate more. I’d like to go on a wellness retreat. I’d like to spend the next establishing peaceful routines so I can approach my life and anxiety in a more peaceful way.
19. Create my Own Cleaning Products
I’ve began mixing my own cleaning products lately, and it’s something I’d like to do more of. All the harsh chemicals in cleaners really freak me out and I’d like to have natural cleaning products on hand to use instead. I realized this after cleaning the bathroom with a particular product and finding that my breathing really was uncomfortable for the entire rest of the day. If a product can do that to my lungs in a matter of minutes than why am I using it in the place that I live? I want to use products that won’t damage me if I breathe them in or get them on my skin.
20. Master a Particular Recipe / Meal
You know how some people have that recipe that they can easily whip up and it’s always delicious? I want to discover mine. Something easy and delicious that I know how to make by heart.
21. Learn more on SEO
Sometimes learning about SEO can feel like you’re learning another language. It’s been one of the most confusing blogging avenues I have tip-toed into. This year I’d like to attend more classes and spend more time optimizing my SEO here on the UU.
22. Overcome a Fear
I feel like too many things make me nervous. I’ll try to knock off one fear this year – heck, that could be riding a bike!
23. Volunteer
I’ve always felt it was important to give back to the community and one of the best ways to do that is by actively taking part by volunteering locally. It’s something I really haven’t done enough of and this year I’d like to make it more of a point to do.
24. Start to Plan Our Wedding
I still cannot even believe I am engaged. What an incredible year its been for me & Jeremy – and I am so excited to dive into this coming year to plan out even more exciting things in our future. We are both so looking forward to planning our wedding – and we both have dreams for our big day. While the wedding isn’t until 2017, I am excited to plan what we can over the next months. The real crunch time will come after next summer though!
25. Enjoy the Now
I have a tendency to live in the future. I’ll be happy once I accomplish this, or once I achieve that – but then once I have reached that goal, I tend to just move the goal post out a little further. I have made the bad habit to never really celebrate the moment and to constantly be pushing for more. While it’s great to have goals and be driven, it’s also important to appreciate your achievements and not let the success of them be lost on you. I need to make a point this year to not let my moments of success pass me by.
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I remember feeling similar things when I turned 25. You are doing great and you look beautiful!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And I know what you mean, I always thought that when I turned 25 I would have done a lot more. I'm 27 now and still feel that way. BUT I am a lot further along than some other people I know, so that's good. And we all go at our own pace 🙂
And this list looks pretty similar to the kinds of things I need/want to do currently as well!
http://www.closet-fashionista.com/
These all sound like great goals! I need to make a similar list.
xoxoBella http://xoxoBella.com
These are wonderful goals! It's always great to establish what you want to do and then go out and do it. Even if you end up accomplishing only half the list, you'll still feel super rewarded and #boss for getting things done. Hope you have an awesome birthday 🙂
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I love your list Bree… they are great and we are all works in progress… you are doing amazing for turning 25 soon… keep up the wonderful work on yourself xox
What lovely goals 🙂 It's always good for the mind to set them out and reevaluate what's important to you. Loved reading this x
Amazing goals. I love your autumn look. Great blog you have, stay inspired!
xoxo,
http://www.fashionerza.com
I can rock any outfits, come follow my online diary
give me your tips for seo if you figure it out! it boggles my mind. congrats on turning 25!!