Reflecting on My Aspirations for 2024

The year is almost over and one of the things I like the most is looking back at the goals or aspirations I set at the beginning of the year.  Goal setting works really well for my type of personality and I tend to keep my goals very manageable and often its just continuing to focus on the areas I've deemed most important to me.  I tend not to dwell or beat myself about the things I didn't achieve, but rather reflect on the why or if it's still important to me.  Thorough the year I tend to do CURRENTLY posts that touch on there things, but I also like to look at them all in one place.  So here we go!  

In the comments let me know how you set goals, or don't.  What your own reflection back on 2024 has been like, highlights, low moments and everything in between.

 

PERSONAL 

• MEET BUZZ.  This was not on any agenda or even a thought when we began 2024, but we added Buzzy, a wild, loving, tan with freckled, big pawed, full of love and affection, cocker spaniel pup at the end of July.  He has brought wild energy, endless joy, laughter, and love into our family.  We absolutely love being a two dog family.
• Host a murder mystery party with friends. - FAIL
• Family trip to Mexico. - LOVED our time at an all inclusive resort in Mexico last February.  We all had a fantastic time relaxing by the pool, playing in the waves, having someone cook our meals, cleaning up our dishes and coffee in the morning and wine in the evening.  What's not to love?  Highlight for all of us was definitely a private sunset horseback ride along the beach!
• Trip to BC to watch T.Swift with Anya in Dec. 2024.  BEST moment of 2024.  I have to do posts about this girls only trip and the phenomenal show.  Never in my life have I experienced anything this incredible.  Stay tuned for a dedicated SWIFT post.
• Logan and I want to try to do a date each month. - FAIL, but we did get out with friends for our anniversary for a play and dinner.  But we continue to make time to connect with our walks in the evenings.  
• Continue my reading streak.  - SUCCESS with 25 books in total (these are a combination of audiobooks and books read).  Follow me on Goodreads and read my Five Star Books of  2024 post here.

****Time with family and friends continues to be the best part of my life.  You never regret investing in relationships that nurture, support and encourage you.  I am lucky that the people that I keep close to me do all three of these things and love me unconditionally and in return I do the same.

T.SWIFT BEST NIGHT OF 2025!!!!

PHYSICAL

• Clock 1000 km of running. - HAVE NO IDEA, I stopped clocking it a few months into 2024 but I am pretty confident that I did not reach this goal.  That being said, I've been active between my 2-3/week runs, spinning classes, and daily walks.
• Improve my bike time in the Frank Dunn Triathlon with my team. - YIKES, I did the bike portion of the triathlon but did not make better time, LOL. That being said, I crossed the finish line with a huge smile on my face and hope to do it again in 2025.  
• I would like to jump back into the pool in the first quarter of the year to be able to do a mini-triathlon in May.  - SUCESS!  I did get into the pool more and I did do a Sprint triathlon in February of last year.  
• Continue to get regular dry needling once a month for maintenance, maybe also add a massage to the routine - YES to dry needling, no the the massage.
• Floss after supper on regular basis (5days/week). -   I give myself a 4/10.
• Stretch 5 days a week for a minimum of 5 minutes in the evenings. - I give myself a 7/10 for this.  

PROFFESSIONAL

• My photography business goals were a SUCCESS this year!  I continued to grow and I was even was asked to photograph a Fun Run event in September and they've already asked me to come back in 2025!!!  Please check out A&H Snapshots (FB) and @ahsnapshots (IG).
  
• I plan to stay in my current school and position for at least another school year.  I am learning so much and loving it! - LOVING IT STILL!

Candle Lake Fun Run!

FINANCES

• Mr. and I really need to sit down and take an inventory of our income and expenditures over a few months.  We also need to decide how to put some extra money aside for the long term now that we have a little lump sum for emergencies.  This is an area we struggle, as we do have retirement savings through work but we also need to be putting extras away as well.   CONTINUED GOAL!  HELP!  We did decided to put extra money on our mortgage payments on our lake house so we've knocked down several years as a result but that's kind of what we accomplished.  

For 2025, I am going to be structuring my goals a little differently.  I'll be focusing on seasonal goals/aspirations, which means I'll be doing it quarterly, rather than once a year.  Stayed tuned.

Ageless Style: Holiday Looks

Hi friends.  We are in the final stretch to Christmas and followed closely by New Years. Are you dressing up, staying cozy or casual? I've done it all over the years.  I always enjoy an excuse to dress up, but in reality I always wear more casual looks.  Today I am sharing my outfits of holidays past that I have been recreating this year already or plan to. Make sure to check out how the other ladies of Ageless Style are dressing for the season.

Tinsel, Shimmer & Shine

I wear this skirt all the time!  I recently wore it to dinner, with a white sweater and these fabulous sparkly boots.  

Velvet Jumpsuits 

I love this jumpsuit from Smash & Tess that I have it in both merlot and emerald green.  Its so comfortable and cozy, but the velvet elevates this outfit to appear fancy.  I always get a TON of complements when I wear it.  When I go out or wear it to work, I often pair it with heels and a blazer, but for around the house I embrace the cozy vibe of a the jumpsuit.

Lace & Metallics

This is a killer combination and seeing it again is making me thing that I might just wear it this year for Christmas Eve.  

Sequence are  Always in Style

We can all agree that dresses, skirts and pants with sequence are always in style during the holiday season.  

Holiday Sweaters 

I recently added this cute Santa Baby crew neck from a local boutique to my festive and casual collection.  The sweater is sold out but Luxquisite Clothing carries a number of other cute holiday options and ships to Canada and US.  Last year I got the Merry sweater. I wear these all December long to work, causally around the city while running errands or family/fiend casual gatherings.   How many festive sweaters are too many?  

What will you be wearing this holiday season?  

Are you going casual, dressed up or a bit of both like me?

Join us the 3rd Thursday of the month.  In January we will be styling or talking about  Winter Blues.  Feel free to join us following that prompt or link-up with your own favorite lifestyle posts.

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Jennifer - Overflowing with Thankfulness

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Joanna ~ My Slice of Life

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Five Start Books of 2024

Hello, this is two weeks in a row!  Next Monday, I may have to postpone my post to Tuesday because I am going to TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!  You heard that right! My girl and I are flying to Vancouver this Wednesday for the Friday night show and then spending a few days with my sister and family in Victoria, BC.  This trip has been just shy of one year in the making and we are soooooooo excited.  Follow along on IG.

Now one of my goals this year was to read/listen to 24 books.  I am currently sitting at 22 books and I don't know that I am going to meet that goal but I do read a lot between Xmas and NYE.  I am not the biggest fan of audiobooks and often I  find my mind wandering, but I did enjoy a few Emily Henry books while training on the bike this summer.  I am sharing my top 5  books that I feel are all five star worthy for different reasons.   I am always looking for titles to add to my list so please send them my way, especially if you've found really good audiobooks.   You can see all my books and how I rated them by following me on Goodreads.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I love this author and this has to be my favorite book of hers.  Absolutely phenomenal read and it reminds you that you really can't judge people from the outside.  As Evelyn goes through her journey and her love life, you learn so much about this time period, the expectations of women,  show business, love, politics, friendship, heartbreak and everything in between.  Its a book you won't be able to put down and you will not see the connection between the two main characters coming until it happens.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Measure by Nikki Erlick

This book was gifted to me by a co-worker and I really didn't know what to expect.  The premise of the book is that everyone in the world wakes up to find a box waiting for them with a string inside that they eventually learn reveals how long their life will be.  This book is fascinating and important and that's why I gave it five stars.  It wasn't like I was attached to the characters, but as I was grasping for understanding  and clarity I couldn't stop reading.  The author explores not only is it better to know or not to know, but the effects of social conduct, politics, policy, friendship, love, family, etc. This book had me thinking of all damage it could cause on so many different levels.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

The perfect beach read!  I am so sad Elin is done writing about Nantucket and where her last book, Swan Song, fell short for me, this one was perfection.

"Another absolutely lovely easy read by Elin Hildebrand. Love the idea of bringing four close friends together to celebrate your relationships over the years. Basically a girls weekend but with a twist. The main character invites a girlfriend from each phase of her life, childhood, college years, motherhood and middle age. They come together to help the main character get through a difficult point in her life and to remind her of how she came to be the woman that she is today. Highly recommend."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Women by Kristin Hannah

"Just like her other books you will learn through historical fiction and will feel deeply for the characters.  It's a long book and at one point I found it went a little long  but ultimately I feel that she does this to make you  realize that some things can't be overcome easily or ever, some things have a hold on you for life.  Highly recommend."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Forever Boy: A Mother's Memoria of Autism and Finding Joy by Kate Swenson

Another gift from a co-worker and I just finished it.  I rarely cry, but I found myself tearing up several times.  Honestly, this book came to me in a season that I needed to be reminded of how important having an  open heart is,  coming to a situation with learning rather than judgment, and how important it is to be an ally to families and children in uncertain and difficult times.  We've been struggling for adequate supports in our school system and are experiencing increasing needs with decreasing amount of qualified people in our system.  It was wearing on me and I was starting to feel defeated.  This book reminded me of how much I love all of my students and how important advocating for children to receive equitable therapies, classrooms, and places of joy.  We all need to have a more  empathetic outlook but also learn how to be allies and advocate for families and children in different situations than our own.  I am choosing this book for book club because I was just so moved by it.

To end this post, if you know a book lover, I believe this crew neck would be the perfect Xmas gift.