My 2018 Goals — THE ACCESSORIST

Hi! Happy 2018! I took a little hiatus for the holidays, but it feels good to be back! Chris and I spent time in central Minnesota with his family for Christmas (it was so fun to watch little kids tear into their presents and relive the excitement of Santa through their eyes), Rochester with mine (holiday trivia at a brewery was a highlight!) and we rang in the new year with a couple of friends, Cards Against Humanity, tacos and taquitos at our apartment.

Even though we're a week into 2018, I'm still trying to get a grip on goals (which doesn't bode well, but better late than never)—so hopefully you're not sick of these #newyearnewme posts! While resolutions get a bad rap, I've found that if I don't consciously reflect on the state of the state and acknowledge that I need to work on some things, I'll continue along at status quo. So here are a few things I'm intentionally making an effort to improve on this year. No hard and fast rules to stress about—just some personal direction for self-improvement!

1. Be more engaged and adventurous. I'm involved in a couple of social/volunteer and creative networking groups, but I've really been cruising by on the bare minimum. Even though I often don't know anyone at the events and it's awkward, I want to attend more of the workshops offered and fundraisers held—learn some more and and give some more.

2. Work out 3 times a week. I've really let my routine slip since I started dating Chris (I think there's maybe always a little more motivation when you're single!?), and I can definitely feel the difference. BBG was a little ambitious, but hitting the gym consistently three times a week is totally realistic—and something I'll be glad I did with a wedding on the horizon. (These leggings are the extra motivation I need—look for a roundup of my workout essentials later this month!)

3. Cook 4 healthy meals per week! (And add more veggies.) Chris and I are pretty good about cooking, but we easily give in to pizza on weekends. I think it's totally acceptable to indulge a little, but I want to be sure to balance out the pepperoni and extra parmesan with nutritious meals—we could definitely get more creative with our menu—and not let the frozen food aisle become too familiar. (We got an Instant Pot for Christmas and I'm excited to use it for fast, big batches of veggie stews!)

4. Read 6 books this year! OK, I do realize how sad this sounds. Six books in one year is not a lot. But I currently have a novel on my nightstand that I got LAST Christmas, and I think I only managed to finish one book in 2017. This makes me sad—I was such a voracious reader when I was younger—and it makes me anxious, because I feel like I'm losing brain cells every time I choose Netflix over words on paper. Plus, enjoying a good book before bed is a much more satisfying way to wind down than scrolling through Instagram while half-watching TV—on so many levels. This book caught my eye the last time I was at Barnes & Noble.

5. TRAVEL! Chris and I were intentionally on a vacation freeze last year as we close in on our mission to buy a house. But we're both ready to get away and earmarked some Christmas money for a trip or two. Nothing crazy or international, but even a few days out of state would be so refreshing! We're hoping to visit my older sister in Denver, possibly head south for my birthday—and I'd love to visit my high school BFF in Boise. I always make sure to pack this $7 facial spray when I fly!

6. BUDGETING! Cutting back on clothes shopping and frivolous spending is always a goal—and I haven't had the urge to shop at all since before Christmas (yay!). I feel like I have all the clothes I need for this season, and I'm not letting myself even look at my favorite websites. I'm also increasing the amount I put in my savings account every month—there's a big party (wedding) probably happening this year that will require a lot of purchases from the bouquet to bridesmaid gifts, and I don't want to go into debt to make it all happen. I haven't looked too much into wedding dresses since we don't have a date yet, but I'm obsessed with BHLDN and will probably try to get an appointment at the Chicago store.

7. CLEANING! Chris is 100% the cleaner in our relationship. He vacuums, takes out the garbage and dusts/de-germifies the bathroom regularly—while I get most of the credit for making the mess. I do make the bed every morning and wash & change our sheets, but I still need to be more of a team player and help out in the weekly deep cleaning sessions. I'm thinking we need to designate a time of the week to bust out the dusters, blast music and just make a dance party out of it.

8. Wear sunscreen every day. I'm obsessed with skin care, but somehow don't wear SPF daily. With so many formulas out there that are light and easy to layer under makeup, I'm not sure why! Supergoop's Unseen Suncreen is on my list—it's invisible, weightless and defends against UVA, UVB, plus infrared and blue light (a must for how much time I spend staring at my phone and computer).

9. Be more politically informed. I listen to NPR's The Daily podcast on my morning commutes (sometimes), which is a good start, but I'm still a pretty passive participant in politics. I want to make a greater effort to stay abreast of the issues enough to have opinions and a conversation about them, and actively support the politicians and causes I believe in (so, Oprah 2020?!).

10. Be present! Chris makes fun of me for always looking ahead to the next thing on our calendar—and while I couldn't live without it (planning is part of my DNA), I do want to focus on the present moment—that means doing something fun on a Tuesday rather than being a blob on the couch until Friday, and having a conversation with Chris instead of thinking about work while we're making dinner. There is so much to look forward to this year, but our engagement is also something to savor, and I don't want to look back and wonder where this time went.

My goal for The Accessorist is to keep it fun and stress-free—I don't want writing to become a burden or to worry about followers. I want to keep up with two posts per week (creating an editorial calendar is so important!), but not let it take over my personal life. I plan to be more proactive about collaborating with brands and keep pushing myself to get more personal with you guys. 2018 is going to be a big year, and I'm excited to share all the moments here. Thank you, as always, for following along!

SHOP THE LOOK: Coat | Gloves (J.Crew) | Satchel | Jeans | Boots (Ann Taylor)

photos by Jackie Saffert

Do you have any goals for the new year? I'd love to know what they are!

Happening lately...