Conquering 2014

I feel like I'm in that camp where I have so many ideas/goals that I want to accomplish in the new year, but I end up falling short.

Not this year.

I want to push myself to get my goals done for the year. They may be life changing or not. But as long as I focus on them, my 2014 will be full of productivity and growth.

I also decided to keep my list to five goals that can be attainable as long as I don't turn into a lazy ass. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen.

* Blog More - Ever since my laptop broke a year and a half ago, I haven't been keeping up with blogging. I'll write a post here and there, but I would have months of radio silence here. This year I'm going to put myself on a blogging schedule and do three posts a week, most likely on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I'm also going to keep a notebook on hand to jot down post ideas. When it comes time to write my posts, most likely at the public library, I will keep myself distraction free as possible. Meaning, not opening extra tabs on the web browser. 

* Read More - Last year, I read a total of four books. WHOMP WHOMP. Yeah four books is better than nothing, but when you come home from the library with tons of new books to read while still having piles of books you bought that are also begging to be read, then it's time to get cracking. Not only have I joined two book clubs this year, but I'm also taking part of the Good Reads Book Challenge and giving myself 2014 to read 150 books. 

* Create More - I always have these spurts where I'll do a craft, such as cross-stitching or sewing, for weeks at a time and all of a sudden I just stop. I can place blame on work and other things, but in reality I probably spent 40% of my time in my bed watching tv or spending way too much time on my phone. Like blogging, I want to set up some time where I get my creative juices flowing. I'll also still binge watch my favorite shows, but I'll get my crafting done at the same time so at least I feel like I'm doing something. I also want to get my Etsy Shop up and running so I'll be able to post new items on a weekly basis. 

*Explore More - Ever the homebody, I prefer to stay at home on my days off. But this is the year where I want to venture outside my room more that doesn't involve conventions. I'm hoping to visit my sister and brother-in-law in NYC this spring, visit places in Califorina that I've been longing to see, and possibly visit a city I've never been to. 

* Be More Healthy - As much as I love embracing my 30s, I'm not getting any younger, so the days of scarfing down whatever I wanted is no longer an option. I have no plans of going on extreme diets, but I do plan on not eating so much (or not at all) of my favorites, such as sweets, fast food, and soda. This will be the year I will sign up for a 5K and will be on a regular exercise routine. 

What do you plan on conquering in 2014? 

Different But The Same

What I did on New Years Eve. Made a Ginger TARDIS, like a boss. :P

So I don't blog for a week and look what happens, my blog decides to regenerate! I kid, I kid. It 
just got a little face-lift thanks to Nikki of Design Coyote. The header drawing I had commissioned by Meg of Bow Ties are Cool last year. My blog looks so pretty now. I also thought that my side tabs needed a little nip-tuck too, so I changed them a little bit although I think I need to make them a little bit smaller. 


Anywhoo, I know every blog that I've been reading is writing about where their blogs were headed and I'm no different. I've spent some time thinking about what direction I wanted my blog to go. When I first started this blog it was basically something to post my fashion inspirations, but then I added outfit posts, shows I love, and personal antidotes here and there. I've tried having weekly features on my blog. But I have to say it's a lot of work coming up with content and having it ready each week and as much as I love doing my Monday Style Inspirations and Whovian Wednesdays posts, the only weekly feature I'll be keeping is Sunday Videos. 


I also always felt like my blog was a grab bag of whatever I wanted to post about and I wondered if I should buckle down to one topic. Personal style or pop culture? But honestly I don't think I can. These two things are such a part of who I am, that I couldn't pick one or the other. What I'm trying to say is that my blog content is going to be the same, but better. I want to post more of my pop culture ramblings, but I always felt like my writing wasn't effective enough. Seriously, I have an post on The I.T. Crowd sitting in my draft box for the last 6 months. But aren't we all our own worst critics? So I'm just going to ignore the critical voices in my head, and start writing. 


Which brings me to my goals for the new year. I know I have my 30 before 30, but I ended up taking it down because I know I'm not going to get everything done in five months. Eventually I'll be able to cross everything off that list. So for now, here are the six goals I have for this year:

1. Read two books a month.
2. Exercise at least three times a week.
3. Start sewing again and learn how to knit. 
4. Work on my Etsy store on regular basis. 
5. Don't be so tied down to technology. 
6. Stop hesitating and just do it. (Probably the most important one! I know this one seems to negate against the first four goals, but it's something I need to do in all aspects in my life. I spend so much time over thinking things. There times where I wanted to do something and I just did it. Yeah sometimes the results might not be to my liking, but I did learn from it. So need to think in this mindset from now on.)

I'm looking at 2012 with the glass half-full. I'm crossing my fingers that it stays that way or that it even overflows because then that would be great. 

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

These two need to do another movie together or even have him guest star on New Girl.

So Everybody Put Your Best Suit Or Dress On

Dress: Rodarte for Target

Slip: unknown

Blazer: Target

Belt: Gap

Sparkly Tights: NY and Company

Heels: Steve Madden

Bag: Old Navy

Ring: Forever 21

So how was every one's new year? Mine was a girls night out with some of my co-workers and we celebrated the new year over at Pechanga. First we had dinner at Blazing Noodles and I have to say the food was really, really good. Plus they had some pretty good Thai Iced Tea. I would definitely make a return trip and I want to go there on the weekends when they serve Dim Sum. Then we headed up to the Eagles Nest for the party. It was fun and interesting.

Some observations...

• There was a guy wearing a box made to look like a hunters hat.
• A guy was totally not dancing to the beat. I think him and his dance partner were trying to swing dance to this song. Fail, haha.
• When I was dancing with my co-workers, some guys were trying to hit on us. But we just ignored them and later on we saw them making out with some other girls. Crisis adverted.
• A little after midnight, they had to turn off the music for 20 minutes because the Casino EMTs where helping out a party goer that had too much to drink. Luckily the party goer was ok, but it was a buzz kill because they shut the music while we were about to dance to Flo-Rida's "Low" aka The Apple Bottom Jeans song. Such a guilty pleasure song!

Tweed Blaze, Jeans, and Scarf: Old Navy

Heeled Oxfords: Dollhouse

The next day I had some bonding time with my sister that is visiting from NYC. We had dinner at Sonic (yum!) then watched Black Swan. It was my second time watching it and it was the first time for my sister. She liked it but said it would give her mild nightmares. :P

It's one of my favorite movies this year. Along with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, and Inception.

A Little Left of Center

Jacket and Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Charlotte Russe

Tights: Vera Wang for Khols

Flats: BC Footwear

Necklaces: Avon and Charlotte Russe

How do you like the slanted first picture? I bought one of those camera stands where the legs are flexible and you can wrap it around trees and such. So I tried it out on one of the trees outside my house. It took a little finagiling, hence the wonky pictures, but it still worked out well. Something to use when I don't want to lug around the tripod.

I also really love this skirt. I got it at Charlotte Russe last week for $5. Steal! I love the floral print and I can wear it during the winter (with tights of course) and in the spring/summer. I also broke a little fashion rule and paired silver and gold with my necklaces and it doesn't look garish at all.

Serious face!

The past year has had high and low points. But I want to try to make 2011 full of high fives and awesomeness. Here are some of resolutions that will hopefully make it turn out that way.

More Adventurous - I'm going to be my own Huell Howser next year and explore more of what Southern California has to offer. There's so many sites to see, places to explore so that's what I'll be doing when I have free time. I'll be starting my adventures next weekend by visiting the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for the William Eggleston exhibit and the Riverside Metropolitan Musem for the Star Trek exhibit.

Good Eats - I consider myself a pretty decent baker. But when it comes to cooking, I only know how to make the basics, ie: spaghetti, baked chicken. But by the end of next year, I want to be able to cook the Filipino dishes my mom makes. Right now I only know how to make lumpia, so I still have a long way to go.

Work it Out - I'm going to start taking better care of myself. Not only will I curb my junk food/soda habit and get off my but and start exercising, but I will also remember that the doctor/dentist are not scary. I pay for my health insurance, I minus well use it.

Shopgirl - In July, I finally listed two items on my etsy store and haven't listed anything since. I just need to motivate myself to list every week or so.

Reading Rainbow- I have the bad habit of either checking out books from the library or buying them and letting them sit around collecting dust and/or fines. Next year I will try to read at least two books a month. I can only read so much from magazines before my brain needs to start fully functioning again.

Single Ladies - I will embrace being single next year and just have fun and not worry about guys. I might go back into the dating pool, my sister says I should try match.com, but it won't be my top priority. No crying over boys or getting my heart broken in 2011.

 

What are some of your new years resolutions?

This year...

Two weeks into the new year and it's been ok. Had it's ups and downs, but nothing that can't be worked on.

However I do have some things to look forward to this year...

Comic-Con July 22-25

I have never been a big comic book or sci-fi fan, but I was always fascinated about going to this. So when I found out tickets went on sale back in September, I jumped at the chance and bought my ticket. Well I should say passes because I ended up buying the 4 day pass including the preview day on the 21st. So it'll be five days of meeting interesting people from all walks of life from all over the world.

High School Reunion


It amazes me that it's been 10 years since I graduated high school. When I think of my high school self, I didn't want to draw too much attention to myself, but still participated in extracurriculars like newspaper and choir. I have kept in touch with some of my high school friends, but to see everyone else will be fun. To see who's changed and who has stayed the same.

NYC: Part 2
I'm hoping to make another return visit to NYC to visit my sister. The last time I went was in October of '08. This time around I would like to see New York in the springtime and visit museums I didn't have the chance to last time. Also, depending on when I go, I would like to make the trek down to D.C. so I can see the Cherry Blossoms in bloom.

I also decided that I do have some New Years resolutions, but I'm keeping those to myself.

Do you have any big trips/events planned for this year?