High Waisted Skinny Jeans // Boots (love these from Comfortiva – they’re so comfortable and the perfect height!) // Purse // Sweater (Sold out – an oldie but a goodie from Nordstrom Rack)

Greetings from Chicago (and hello 2020!)

It’s been a little quiet around here the past month between the holidays and traveling with my family to Portugal the last few weeks of December last year. The trip was amazing in so many ways, but I also experienced some pretty tough struggles during the trip too. It’s been a little hard to talk about, and I’m not quite ready to, so for now I’m working on laying low and taking care of myself a little better than I have in the past. Good timing as we enter a new decade with new intentions and energy towards moving forward.

Every year, I used to set epically long lists of New Years resolutions, full of things I needed to do in order to a be more fulfilled, better, happier person. I’d quantify the amount of times I needed to work out, the amount of calories I should try to consume in a day, the things I would give up (food, alcohol, feeling anxious, etc.), all in a long, long list that was basically impossible to achieve. The moment I didn’t work out 4 days a week, my motivation for everything else would quickly crumble, and after 2 weeks I’d be back to the same routine I deemed as “bad behavior” from the year before. Woof – that’s a lot of pressure, eh? I’ve already put way too much of that on myself as it is.

So this year, I’m trying to do a better job of making myself healthy, and living more in moderation. I’m not giving up meat, white wine, chocolate cake, or anything that typically lands on anyone’s long list of resolutions – but instead I’m trying to make better choices more (and when it feels right), and live one day at a time. And if I fail one day, I fail – but every day is a chance to start fresh and try again (rather than totally give up on resolutions all together).

 So while I don’t really have resolutions, I have more of a smaller list of goals or things I want to work on to feel like a more whole, happy person in 2020. All my goals are more of things on a spectrum, and moving a little closer to feeling like I’m improving in some of these areas vs. hitting total, impossible imperfection. Even if I could make a little movement in the right direction, I think my life would dramatically change for the better – or enough to feel like I’ve made a little more progress.

• Focus: Finishing tasks when I start them, and not taking breaks for Instagram (guilty…). I’ve found that between social media and getting distracted I’ve lost the same amount of focus I had in my early 20’s. So I’m trying to remind myself (and literally saying “focus” out loud) when I find myself having a hard time staying on course.
• Taking care of myself: Finding a therapist, and going as often as I can, even when work gets crazy. Putting my health first, since you can’t put on anyone else’s air mask until you take care of yourself, right?
• More time with friends: Hang with my tribe, put more energy towards spending time with them, showing my gratitude and making sure I’m a good friend back. I’ve been so thankful that I’ve had friends come out of the woodwork to be supportive and check in on me lately,
• Read more: Less than a week in and I’ve already finished a book – which is 1/3 of the reading I did in 2019. So basically, it can only go up from here 😉
• Being more vulnerable: I so often get tripped up about being vulnerable and saying how I really feel, even with family and friends, so I’m trying to be more open and honest about how I’m feeling and doing – the good, the bad and the ugly. Whether it’s on the blog or in real life, I’m hoping that being more open will be a bit more freeing and good for the soul.

I hope your 2020 is amazing so far, and this year brings you what you need, whatever that is that you need. Sending you love, light and all the good vibes I have your way! xx