On the Side: Some Resolutions

Image Credit: AGBeat

You've expressed disbelief that another year has passed. You've thoughtfully reflected (or openly vented) about the events that made 2011 what it was. And now that you have two feet firmly planted in 2012, it's time to focus on making the most of your fresh start.

2012 is going to be a milestone year for me. On August 18, I will be marrying my best friend and beginning a whole new chapter in my life. Although I still have quite a few wedding details to take care of, including finalizing the menu and choosing a cake, I'm determined to stay grounded and not let the stress consume me.

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Concentrating on my New Year's resolutions will help me stay balanced. In 2012, I will try not to sweat the small stuff as much. This is going to be tough, so I'd love any suggestions you may have on letting things go.

Classic Black and White by tasteasyougo

Another thing I want to focus on this year is developing my personal style. Inspiration is all around us, so it's important for me to keep my eyes open and make note of items or looks that appeal to me. Also, style is not defined by price. It's always possible to create "the look for less", so no more letting the numbers listed in price tags intimidate me!

I will continue paying attention to my favorite fashion websites, including Refinery29, ELLE Dispatch, and Who What Wear. I will continue constructing looks on Polyvore (my profile) and using Pinterest (my profile) as a means of sharing and discovery. If you're active on those sites, too, then let me know!

In the spirit of making the most of bad situation, I want to put the time I spend on my commute (approximately 5 hours per day on a bus) to better use. One could argue that sleeping on the bus would be a perfectly reasonable way to pass the time, but I've found that doing so throws off my regular sleep cycle.

When I'm not catching up on email or doing any number of blog-related tasks, I'm going to read. I've challenged myself on Goodreads to read 25 books in 2012 and have high hopes of achieving that goal. If you're an avid reader, then join me on Goodreads... I'd love to keep up with what you're all reading!

Mile 7 of the 2010 ING Hartford Marathon
After running the 2010 ING Hartford Marathon
For my own well-being and sanity, I need to find more time to run in 2012. With the exception of running a handful of shorter races, I all but dropped out of the running scene in 2011. After training for my first half marathon in 2009 and then my first marathon in 2010, not running felt foreign to me, and it didn't take long for me to miss lacing on my running shoes and logging some miles.

I'm not going to make the same mistake this year. I'm back on a training schedule and am gearing up to run the Superbowl 10K on February 5. This means motivating myself to get out of bed even earlier so I can squeeze in my training runs before work, but it will be worth it. It is my hope that this 10K will my first of many races in 2012.

Image Credit: Bon Appetit

Lastly, I want to continue bolstering my culinary knowledge. As a blogger, I often feel pressured to constantly push my own content. But sometimes, I don't have the motivation or energy to write. It's okay to slow down, and it's okay to take a break. Just because I'm not publishing new posts doesn't mean that I'm being a "bad blogger".

In my creative down time, I'm going to become a more active reader of other food blogs by leaving more comments and sharing what interests me on a more regular basis. I'm going to interact more with my fellow bloggers via Twitter and Facebook to keep the conversation going.

And, as a treat, I'm going to sign up for a subscription to Bon Appétit.

While it's still too early to tell what 2012 will bring, I'm taking the active approach in positioning myself to have a great year.

What are your New Year's resolutions for 2012?

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