2014 A new year with new beginnings

A new year always brings new ideas, changes and beginnings. There are new hopes and dreams.  As I get ready to move into a new year, an almost 30, newly established Mrs., I got to thinking about what I want out of the next 365 days. I decided to compile a list of my top 5 hopes for 2014.

5) Better Financial Choices. My man and myself can both benefit from this. Now is the time to start gearing up for our future. I haven't quite worked out all the details but I would like to put money in my savings account every month. (Something a mature 20-something with full time employment should have been doing all along.) Now I know realistically I can never 100% free myself of occassional inappropriate shopping, impromptu purchases here and there and a few trips we probably can't afford each year, but I vow to limit this string of poor choices for 2014. I will also pay all my bills, on time.

4) Live a more ''patchouli'' lifestyle. I don't literally mean dousing myself in patchouli oil and taking less showers but I do mean getting out there and experiencing nature. I want to spend more time outdoors this year. I'm going to start a small garden (if we don't get some sort of water ordinance due to the fact that we've had 2 drops of rain all winter). I want to go on hikes, walk the river trail (mace in hand just in case anybody tries to get fresh), read books in the park, have picnics, the whole 9 yards. I might get really adventurous this year and even try to go camping. (That last one was a bit of a stretch but the idea has crossed my mind). Nature is the best free entertainment out there. And I want more of it.

3) Turn down any ''guilt engagements''. I have a lot of ''guilters'' in my life. You know, the people who make you feel so low and bad about yourself until you finally concede to whatever obnoxious request they have made. I want to rid myself of these people completely. They are the absolute worst. But I have so damn many of them, the tasks is far too daunting to take on. So, in 2014, I will say no to their obligatory engagements. If I don't want to do it, I am going to say no. No excuses. The answer will be ''No''. Not, ''maybe, let me talk to Brendan''. The answer is going to simply be a direct, firm and final, ''No.''

2) communicate better with my man. Although my non verbal communication skills with him are impeccable, I would like to work on expressing myself in a less dramatic and more thought provoking manner, when it comes to my man. Rather than shooting him a death glare and then gritting my teeth to hiss ''last night when you blacked out and attempted to sit on the bed but missed and fell on the floor and then sat there slurring your words into oblivion, part of me was completely and utterly disgusted and the other part was wishing you did serious injury to yourself (for my pleasure and also for your pain). '' I'd like to come up with something a little more thought and conversation provoking. I'd like to get past the point of me venting and more towards resolution. How to do this? Clearly in the last 6 years of our relationship I haven't quite mastered the art of thought provoking, two sided conversation with resolution. 2014, here's hoping.

1) Fit and fine for summertime! Although this is a consistent goal in my life, I rarely find the motivation and self discipline to bring this to fruition. Number one road block, laziness. Ewww. As ugly of a word as that is, it is indeed the number one demon I have when trying to get my Victoria Secret body on. ''I would love to go to the gym but... Teen Mom2 just started and I'm pretty sure Janelle is getting arrested this week. I simply can't do it tonight.'' ''It was a long day today'', ''I can't go by myself'', ''Nobody wants to go with me'', ''Baby, it's cold outside''... my calculated list of excuses is endless but ultimately points to laziness. I really really want to end this cycle of backing out of working out and get into a routine of working out everyday. I need to do something athletic and fitness related at least 4 nights a week. It would be fabulous if I could convince friends, or my man to do it with me..but my track record of follow through is shit. I need to do it and be able to do it with or without a companion.

I feel more accomplished already now that I have thoughtfully penned my hopes/goals for 2014. And in the spirit of getting my shit together, and new beginnings, there is no better time than the present to put my new mindsets and goals into play. Today will be the first of my healthy, fit and fine for summertime lifestyle. Just let me finish my slice of peanut butter chocolate cake for breakfast and watch the Law and Order SVU marathon and I'll be headed out the door. Tennis shoes, iPod and a smile.