2012 Intentions

December 26, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
3 min read
8 Comments

As I head into 2012, this grand, glorious New Year, it’s important to me to draw myself a map. I need some signposts and markers on the road to steer me straight in the coming year. While I’ll be sure to look back on what worked and what didn’t from 2011, first I want to clear my mind and look forward. I know cynics can say January 1st is just an arbitrary date, but for me it feels like a fresh start, a clean slate. I love new beginnings!

I’d encourage you to open your mind and heart over the next few days and see what themes or quotes appeal to you. This is to find the major idea, or spirit of 2012, not necessarily any measurable goals. Those come later, once you’ve defined how you want to feel in the coming year!

For a couple of weeks, I’ve been ruminating on what kinds of habits and mindsets I want to foster in 2012, and I’ve come up with a list of phrases that sum up how I’d love to be and feel in this new year. Feel free to draw inspiration from these intentions, I’ve gotten them from many different sources myself!

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New Year, New Look

December 24, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
1 min read
2 Comments

Just a little head’s up: the site has recently undergone a subdued makeover! Heading into crisp, fresh 2012, I wanted to give the blog a clean, streamlined theme to match. It’s much less cluttered, much more elegant (in my opinion), and for me represents a clean slate for 2012.

I love this little space on the internet, and I want to make it as beautiful as possible. But another priority is to make it a place where I feel comfortable writing. And if right now, I need to clear out some of the clutter and pare down, maybe that’s just how the blog will look for a while. What you you think? Yay or nay?

Loving This Week…

January 14, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
2 min read
3 Comments

{a delicious caramelized red onion and mushroom grilled cheese sandwich}

This week has been full of simple, lovely things. I went back to my beloved yoga class, and my body informed me that it was about time, since I’ve been sore since Tuesday. I had my first column published in an online newspaper (take that, New Years Resolution #17!) and couldn’t stop beaming with pride! I had a much-needed girl’s dinner with a good friend: perogies (with sour cream & caramelized onions), salad (with tomatoes, walnuts, goat cheese and green onions) and delicious wine. We ended the night by making the easiest chocolate chip cookies on earth (and replaced chocolate chips with chopped up Toblerone). I heard my Dad get overjoyed about his Kindle (and got antsy for mine!*), watched more episodes of Modern Family than I care to admit, wished I could do Rihanna’s dance while I walked down the street listening to this song, got all my textbooks and felt alive and on fire in the best possible way. Here are some snapshots from the last week or so.

{two amazing Christmas presents that I am absolutely in love with!}

{my super convenient clip-on iPod that is perfect for mittened-hand control!}

{the first issue of my Vegetarian Time subscription!}

{just a few textbooks – I’m so excited about my subjects this semester!}

{I picked up some beautiful things from the Dollar Store – candles, a vase and two decorative bowls, perfect for entertaining!}

What’s floating your boat this week?

xoxo,

*Expect a Kindle review post as soon as I get my hot little hands on my belated Christmas present!

New Years Resolutions 2011

January 3, 2011
by Stephanie Pellett
3 min read
14 Comments

This post was updated January 1st, 2012!

Happy 2011!! Are you as excited as me about this brand new start, clean slate, chance for reflection and growth? Here’s how excited I am: me and one of my biffles, Isabelle, rang in the new year with champagne, a bonfire and stinky cheeses before reading ‘Oh! The Places You’ll Go‘ and brainstorming ideas and resolutions for 2011. We got out pens and paper and wrote down all the things we’d like to be better at, & all the things we’d like to accomplish before this time next year. No dream was too big, and there was absolutely no ‘reality’ check/negativity/cynicism, since dreams need encouragement in order to be achieved! We got all giddy and excited about the possibilities that the future holds, and now I am more jazzed up than ever! Bring it on 2011. :)

Looking back to my 2010 resolutions, I can see that I made a mistake. I was fairly vague in some of my resolutions: “take more chances” and “update my blog more” are not, in my opinion, very clear or easy to achieve. There’s no way of knowing if you’ve really succeeded! So even though I think I accomplished about 7/10 of my last year’s resolutions, it’s not concrete enough for me. I’d prefer goals that I can easily check off: done. That’s why this year, I’m only putting on specific, clear goals. Even though this type of resolutions are a bit scarier to put into words than the vague kind (ex. “be a better friend”), I think they’ll ultimately be more effective for me. They’ll kick my butt into high gear! So without further ado, my resolutions for 2011:

Personal Goals

By personal goals, I mean concrete, specific achievements I’d like to accomplish by 2012.

  • Post on my blog at least twice a week. Actual total: 78.
  • Read 100 books. Actual total: 50. 
  • Get a massage. Blissful, in Cancun!
  • Spend 1 month eating vegan. Not quite a month. About 2 weeks. 
  • Attend TEDxMcGill. Check!
  • Complete some kind of physical challenge. Did not accomplish this one.
  • Participate in NaNoWriMo. Check!
  • Watch the Top 250 movies on IMDB. Not even close. But this goal taught me something important: I’m not that crazy about watching movies!
  • Do one cultural activity per month
  • Save $1000.00 for travelling.
  • Get into the honours psychology program at my school. I applied, but didn’t make it.
  • Get a pet of some kind. Didn’t do this one! 
  • Host a dinner party.
  • Do some sort of detox.
  • Go on a retreat. I wish I had gotten my act together on this one, but I didn’t make the time. 
  • Attend a conference on something I find fascinating. Does TED count?!
  • Have photos and writing published.
  • Find my dream apartment. Maybe not my dream apartment forever, but definitely for now!

Focuses

By focuses, I mean non-specific, vague ways that I’d like to improve.

  • Bring joy to others
  • Live in the moment
  • Say yes, be open to new experiences
  • Health & nutrition
  • Unconventional moneymaking
  • Be calmer & more zen
  • Travel
  • Make a difference
  • Practice my French
  • Practice my photography
  • Be a better friend
  • Eat consciously
  • Cut down on Facebook and television

What are your goals and focuses for the coming year?

xoxo,