HAPPY NEW YEAR!
It’s crazy, isn’t it? 2017 is almost over. In less then 24 hours it will be a completely new year full of potential. Thousands of people will make resolutions to better themselves, and as the ball drops at midnight the race to complete those goals will begin. 365 days may seem like a long time but in realty it goes by in the blink of an eye.
Looking back 2017 was jam packed. I posted tons of recipes and updated you all on my life in my Saturday Stroll series. It was a roller coaster of ups and downs and I’m thankful for all of you who joined me on the crazy ride. No matter whether you’re a long time reader or you stumbled upon my blog through Finding Vegan or Pintrest or some other photo sharing website, I’m so grateful for each and everyone of you. The fact that in the past year I was able to triple my blog traffic is mind boggling. Even more shocking is that these views come from all over the world, not just the US. Papers and Pastels started out as a project that I did not think would ever go very far, but it’s safe to say that my little project has become something bigger then I ever thought it would.
So in honor of the new year that is just hours away I decided that I’m going to be completing 18 goals before 2018 is over. To inspire you all to create your own goals as well as to keep myself accountable I thought I would share my favorites of these resolutions accompanied by some of my favorite photos from 2017, so here we go:
1. Meal Prep
Everyone who knows me knows that I wake up at the crack of dawn, yet somehow cannot manage to leave my house on time. I don’t know why, but my time management skills have never been up to par. To try and aid this issue, this year I want to plan my meals in advance so I’m not scrambling to put together meals at the last minute.
2. Be able to do a pull-up
As simple as this seems, this one has been on my to do list for a long time. I’ve always wanted to be able to do a pull-up and have never been able to, but I have a strong feeling that 2018 will be my year for it.
3. Bullet Journal
I absolutely love how pretty bullet journals look and have been recently obsessed with reading bullet journal blogs. I began bullet journaling in June, but I have been slacking lately and would like to get back on track. It’s such a pretty way to relax and detox from the day. 
4. Run to Boston
This has also been something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. I don’t have any particular reason why I want to do this, but I think it would be a fun experience.
5. Read 12+ Books
I used to be a HUGE bookworm. I would plow through at least four books in a single week if not more. As my schedule got more and more packed I began to prioritize other things over reading. I feel like I’ve forgotten how nice it is to curl up in a cozy corner with a good book and just relax. That’s why I want to make it a priority to read at least one book of my choice per month.
6. Cook dinner once a week
As good as I am at baking, I’m an awful cook. Everyone who I talk to is shocked to learn this because I spend so much time in the kitchen, but it’s the truth. This year I want to fix this and teach myself how to cook by making dinner at least once a week.
I hope I inspired you to write your own goals, have a happy new year!
#18before2018
Papers & Pastels 