Happy New Year!
Welcome 2024! This post is bit delayed as it's been a busy start to the year so far. I always like to start these posts off by looking back on my goals for the previous year, which were small, achievable goals as that's the kind of goals that I like to set year to year - rather than huge goals that are too much pressure.
My 2023 goals were to make our new house feel like a home, blog regularly again, find a groove with my content, and take the children on more road trips. I feel I was some-what successful, our new house definitely feels like home now. We started moving our things in at the end of July once Ru had finished school for the summer, and since then we have done loads, it's turning into the most lovely family home! I didn't get back into blogging very reguarly, but we had such a busy year moving house and trying to settle into a new life, so I'll let myself off for that one.
I do however, feel like I found more of a groove with my content like I wanted to, my content is mostly home-focused and that's where my heart lies. I love styling my home, filming little home vlogs, and sharing routines and all of the day to day bits. I plan on sharing much more home-focused and interior blog posts this year, so let me get planning and keep an eye out! As for road trips, we did the biggest road trip to the middle of the French countryside in October, it took us over ten hours to get there and the children did brilliantly and loved it. I hope to do a few more road trips this year, mostly sticking within this country so it's a bit more achievable.
Setting some goals for 2024...
FINISH RENOVATING THE BEDROOM
Jake and I are in the midst of renovating our bedroom, something I've been itching to do for a while. Last weekend we finally got it painted and at the minute it's just in need of a bit of styling, until we eventually take the plunge and knock one of the walls down to make space for our built-in wardrobes. It's on this years agenda, I'm just not sure when as it's not a very small project as you can imagine.
On the other side of the wall we're knocking down is the en-suite to the master bedroom that we gave to our two biggest boys. There's three toilets in this three bed house which we don't need, and as Jake and I sacrificed having a large bedroom, we need that extra space as we currently have no wardrobe. It makes sense and means that the large bedroom can be a big playroom for the three older children, with all their lego and other bits safely away from our toddler.
READ MORE BOOKS
I got back into reading last year and I remembered how much I love it. I'm actually a really fast reader, I just don't find enough time around being a mum to little ones to read. If I can remember correctly, I read around maybe 8 books, which I think is really good for someone who hadn't read books in years. I've still got a pile of books I got in a bundle from Vinted to get through, so those are next on my list! I'd love to read 20 books this year, I think that's achievable if I make more effort to get to bed a bit earlier to do some reading.
TRAVEL TO SOMEWHERE ON MY BUCKET LIST
This is a bit of a cheat goal, as we've already booked to go to the Amalfi Coast in Italy this year. Jake and I both turn 30 within a month of each other and we decided to celebrate by booking a little holiday child-free! The Amalfi Coast isn't very toddler friendly with the amount of steps there is, and we've booked accommodation right within the Amalfi town that's at the top of a massive range of steps. I think even my seven year old would struggle with them, plus walking up and down steps all day whilst exploring, so I think it's a really good destination to do for just the grown ups. It's been on my bucket list for years, so I'm really excited!
DECLUTTER MORE
We've done an insane amount of decluttering whilst moving house, as you can imagine. Home decor aside, I really don't know where it all comes from! I plan on still having a house full of pretty things, but my goal for this year is to make the effort to declutter more. I plan on listing clothes, home bits and unused toys on Vinted more often, making sure that everything we need and use has a home, and just generally making sure we don't have an abundance of things that never see the light of day.
One of the best things I did during my move, was get rid of a massive amount of beauty products that I've received from blogging over the years, some I gave to my sister and everything that was past it or partly used, I binned. I now only accept gifted items if it's something that's genuinely going to save me money and that I really need/will use. I had a bathroom filled with baskets of all sorts that I never touched.
I do still have a skincare cabinet full of much-loved products, but I'm happy knowing that it all gets used, and even shared with Jake!
GET INTO BETTER SHAPE
Last year I lost a fair bit of the weight I've been meaning to shift for a while. I tend to dip in and out of dieting but I find a calorie deficit works wonders for me, and I plan on doing a bit more of that this year, as well as trying to get more exercise into my week. Even if this is just ditching the car and walking when doing the school run more often, I always opt for driving as it's quicker and easier but I need to get out of that mindset! I really want to dedicate more time to looking after my body this year, so that's what I hope to do.
Do you have any small, achievable goals for the new year?
