Happy new year!

Hope everyone had a lovely New Year’s Eve ringing in the new year with your nearest and dearest. And I know it’s a few days into the new year so I hope 2017 has been treating you all good so far, and that it’s a great year for you all.

First of all, I just want to say a huge thank you for all of you that read and follow my blog and have shown my posts so much love. I did not expect this response when I started properly blogging again back in august, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it might not seem like a big deal to some of you reading this, but just the thought that anyone at all is interested in what I have to say is huge to me. I’ve met some pretty amazing people through blogging, I’m so glad I’ve got involved in the blogging community, most of you are so lovely. I’m so excited to see what 2017 will bring!

I’m not going to go into a full on recap of 2016, but I’m so happy to say that there’s been mainly happy points this year. I’m saying this because 2015, mainly towards the end of that year, was so hard for me and my family. So it was such a good feeling to have not as many low points in 2016. One of these high points being celebrating Karl’s 18th birthday with him, which in 2015, we honestly weren’t sure that we’d get the chance to, but the trooper proved us wrong and fought and stayed as healthy as he possibly could, so on a positive note, let’s hope this year is another happy, healthy year for him.

So this year, I want to stick with my plan of breaking down my goals into months. I feel like doing this works way better for me rather than making resolutions for the year, it’s keeping them realistic, smaller and more achievable for me. But I do have some goals, or things I want to have done or have achieved by the end of the year, so I’m going to share these with you, and it’ll be interesting to look back on at the end of the year, and see if I’ll be able to say that I’ve achieved them.

Personal Goals

I want to complete my theory test and have my provisional driving license and be on the road, if only as a learner, by the end of 2017.

I want to have some sort of plan for getting my own place. When I’m going to move out, have an idea of where we want to move, how I’m going to save money for it, etc.

I want to have more plans for travelling, to see more of the world and brand new experiences, by the end of 2017.

I want to become a good save of money, and way more wise on how I spend my money by the end of 2017. Meaning starting spending money only on things I need, and less of what I want. Gaaad damn it Laura stop buying so much make up and get yourself some decent savings behind you.

I want to learn how to love myself by the end of 2017. During 2016, I’ve learned to feel comfortable in my own skin, and I’ve learned to like what I see in the mirror. But I want 2017 to be the year where I start to radiate self love and body confidence.

I want to be the best version of myself by the end of 2017. Loving yourself included feeling happy inside, and out. So, inspired by my brother Karl, I also want to be the healthiest I can possibly, and make the most of being able to do that. I know everyone says this, but yes, I do mean becoming wiser with my eating, and pushing myself to excercise, whether that means joining a club or just going out for a walk, I struggle mentally with excercising in front of people, so I want to motivate myself to turn that state of mind around.

I want to be able to have the confidence to say no, and stand up for myself when I need to by the end of 2017. No more being too nice or a pushover, and no more letting people take advantage of me. This is a huge thing for me, so without changing myself, I really want to be able to achieve this.

Work Goals

Have a full time, well paid job, where I both love the job, but have decent hours and decent income at the same time. This has been a constant struggle, I feel like I’m stuck in a vicious circle, I either have a decent income, but end up hating the job, or I absolutely love the job, but the income leaves me so stressed out and struggling with money. So I want to be able to say I’m 100% happy in my job by the end of 2017.

Blog Goals

I want to continue blogging, 2-3 times a week, and have a plan/ schedule and content I, and my readers are happy with, and that I can say I’m proud of.

I want to have a proper camera, and have more professional looking photos by the end of 2017. This includes investing in props and backgrounds, so that I have photos that I can also feel proud of.

I want my blog to be self hosted by the end of 2017. This is hopefully happening in the next month or two so I’d really appreciate any tips or recommendations before I go through with it. Also to go along with this, I’m giving my blog a brand new look, eeek, exciting!

I would like to hopefully grow my audience, and reach 500 followers on the blog, by the end of 2017.

I want to get a lot more involved in social media, which the blogging community. Getting involved in more chats, collaborations, my first blogging event, and just be as active as I can on social media.  Basically, what I’m trying to say is, I want to be a way more active part of the blogging community, by the end of 2017.

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That’s the main goals that I’m going to mention for now, and I’m going to add more and break them down into simpler ones as the months go on, and I will share them on here every month, bar January, as I’m sharing this post. But exciting times ahead, I’m looking forward to working on achieving these, and I will keep you all updated on here and social media.

What’s your goals and resolutions for 2017? I’d love to hear them! And if you have any tips or how you’re planning on achieving them, or any content you’d like to see on here this year, please do let me know!

Hope you enjoyed reading, if you’ve done a similar post, please send me links!

It’s a new year, let’s do our best to make it an amazing one!

Laura x