The list I made last year, in review, was relatively well addressed for resolutions. There are some that I didn't make a jot of effort toward, some I struck off in grand style and many that I had every intention of doing but never quite 'got round to'.

I hate that term 'getting round to...' It essentially means that it's not getting prioritised and not likely to ever be either.

This year I have a very firm statement in mind. If I don't intend to finish, don't start. Little frustrates me more than wasting time researching something that never gets bought - either seal the deal or don't bother at all. What's the point of putting in time and effort to something when you will only have to cover the exact same ground again when you try picking it up again another time. For example, we finally got our potato storage 'unit' sorted, bought, put up and filled. Don't need to think about it again. Our mattress has almost expired altogether but has been a bane for at least a couple of years - memory foam was remembered our shapes and has unkindly left big ruts where we lie as well as being generally far too hot to be comfortable. Over the new year time off we underwent that ghastly trial of laying on all the beds and doing that thing where we take it in turns to roll over and rate how inconvenient each one was. I insisted we would have to get one bought - there was no way we'd spend another day starting the laying down games in each store again. So now it's the anxious wait to see if it's going to be comfortable for the next decade (no pressure!!!!).
Next up is the shoe rack. We currently have a small rack and a heap (despite my frequent efforts to keep things stacked neatly it becomes a mountain of lonely shoes).

It's less about what I want to address this year and more about if I want to do it then just bloody do it and don't stop 'til it's done.

On a separate note I've been meaning to write a fitness update piece which ought to have some specific goals on there, although I've never really made goals before as I don't go to a gym or use weights (or dare to dream of running like I used to) so they may take a little more consideration.

Take care,
Sophie

Blah blah, blah.
Yes, I know how dull it is to hear about peoples' unrealistic resolutions to get a beach body and become a super successful human being. I can't deny that my hopes and plans for the new year include some aspirations but hopefully I've kept mine within the realms of possibility and practicality.

Something which has become profoundly clear of late is the realisation that unless I get up and take steps to making something happen, it's just a wasted thought. Get off your backside and make it happen or pipe down; that's the truth. Words are easy, but action speaks for itself.

With that in mind I want to make some simple changes to enrich my life and how I reach out to others. Firstly, I wan to be more careful with my language. Often in real life I swear a lot and it's mostly uncalled for (swearing at the microwave for example). Words carry more weight when used infrequently. Eating meals at the table as opposed to on the sofa is an important one. Sitting up properly and enjoying food instead of absent-mindedly lifting my fork up and down ought to be standard anyway, I've been so slack on this over the last couple of years.

C and I are discussing holiday plans. There may be some changes on the horizon.

Naturally, the obvious 'adopt a healthier lifestyle through a good diet, exercise, sleep and balance' has to be an aim although I don't feel like now is the time to quantify any specifics. Our allotment produces so much each summer, and to a lesser extent over inter too. I want to use more creatively, waste less and get the balance right of what we grow. Wasting less in general needs to be prioritised. Before Christmas we tried to eat our way through the contents of the freezer and it's shocking how much just gets shoved in there only to be forgotten and abandoned. We still have a bag of frozen strawberries from 2015 that were going to be made into jam... More homemade food would be lovely, simpler food and comfort food. Less nonsensy food. Drinking more water and less alcohol.

We already make quite a few things from our own and foraged seasonal produce. I cannot imagine ever running out of jam; even giving some away still leaves plenty. As well as strawberry and raspberry jam we make gingery apple jam, pickled onions, cabbage and beetroot. Rosehip syrup, elderflower cordial. I make courgette pickle - which has been fantastic and courgette chutney which also was a treat. Onion chutney, redcurrant jelly (sadly the recipe we followed didn't perform!). I want to forage much more. Nettles, roses, edible flowers and leaves. Nuts. More, more, more.

I want to grow so many flowers. My plans for this are coming along nicely and I can't wait to get started. We also have lots of vegetable plans too.

Keeping things simple is so much easier said than done. I want to make more things, be creative, practice skills, learn new ones. Make cards. Wrap neatly. Put thought into things. Completing the tidying and furnishing of the craft room will get things more on track with this. Buying a unit for storage will be a good start.

Supporting local businesses is really important to me and I want to further this as well as lending my support to good causes. Being more open and giving with my heart. Expressing more gratitude and really relishing the little things.  I want to write when it feel right. Taking time for myself on creative things, relaxation or investigation is more than ok, it's a necessity. The more I indulge myself in what I want to do, the more it pays off in what I have to do.  So no more feeling guilty about drawing a line under chores to break off to read a book or write up a blog post.

This turned into a monster of a post but it's superseded any kind of winter wishlist (plan: make it to spring) and it feels good to sit here, airing my thoughts. Oh, and I want to give the blog interface a facelift but that's going to take a good lot of time so we shall see. Plenty to come this year, who knows what, but I am thrilled to have you along for the journey.

Take care,
love, Sophie

The start of every new year can be a little unsettled; what with getting over the last dregs of Christmas as well as the introduction of resolutions. I'm not entirely sure I like beginning anything new in the middle of winter - it's the worst time of year for inspiring any sort of enthusiasm. Surely spring would be the optimum point in the year for implementing positive changes? Certainly from my personal viewpoint it would make more sense. Nevertheless, in accordance with my resolutions for 2016 I have been making a few changes which I'll probably cover in greater depth over the next little while.

After the success of last years amaryllis, I'm already filling up with joy over since planting this little beauty (another present from my Nan) and this one is an unusual purple one so I'm excited to see what the flower will look like in a few weeks' time. The bulb from last year was kept around the house and after just sprouting greenery I lopped it all off and stuck it in a dark cupboard for a number of weeks. Last week I took it out, watered it and popped it out on the table, I'm not convinced it will spring back into life but who knows.

I don't want a new me in 2016, I want the old me back. The Sophie who enjoyed running, made goals, worked out several times a week and ate a balanced diet. I'd rather like to be able to wear everything in my wardrobe without having to avoid the ones with a tight waistband and I've had quite enough of deciding whether to sit my jeans above or below the rapidly inflating spare tyre.

2015 has been a mixed bag of a year but I've learnt a few lessons, broadened a few horizons and believe it or not I picked up a few ideas I'd like to further. What I'd really like from the new year is to enrich life, simplify life and to fill it with more love and positivity. My thinking is that by working on myself, it will filter out to all aspects of my life and others may benefit too.
So here goes

Read

I want to allow at least 20 minutes a week to sit down with a book. Uninterrupted reading. To those of you who regularly read it wont sound like long at all but if I start off small, I can add to it. For Christmas I asked for a few titles which came recommended and my idea is to only read books which have either been shortlisted for literary awards or which get good reviews.

Eat clean

Less waste

Recycle

Thinking time

Self care

Put care in and take joy out

Support local and independent businesses

Allotment goodness

Blog

Generally 

I'd like to start the year by having a little whoop in celebration of my blog's fourth birthday, hurrah. It's hard to see where the time has gone, but it's been time well spent; getting acquainted with my camera, getting out exploring the countryside and letting the words spill out in the evenings as I muse in my pyjamas.

I haven't felt like figuring out any firm resolutions yet this year and I certainly don't feel overwhelmed by positivity for new chances and starting afresh. Being a girl of summer means that the cold weather at the moment just leaves me feeling blue with precious little enthusiasm for setting goals or jumping for joy about the dawn of a new year. Some days I feel just dandy and others quite frankly I'd rather not surface from bed at all so I'm just taking each morning as it comes and staying busy.

After last year's decision not to set any hard and fast resolutions I anticipate following the same path of being kinder to myself, working on fitness and generally finding more happiness from simple things.

So there's no song and dance to be performed over the new year, it's just business as usual for me; the systematic capturing of what I see around me goes on.

Sophie

Happy new year! I wish you all things good for 2014.

Dress – Derhy via charity shop, shoes - ebay, clutch - gift from Char (thank you!), earrings and necklace - gift from Husband

This is what I would have worn last night had I been going out. This is actually what I wore on Christmas day minus the shoes and bag but I only got a blurry selfie on the day (although I rather like the flash effect)

Let's crack on with my resolutions. The past few years (2011, 2012, 2013) I've made quite a lot with varying degrees of success so this year I want to be a little more relaxed. I'm listing a few things I'd like to do instead.

• I’d love to have a injury free year of running, ideally with some 10k and 5k races. A new pb would be good, I'd be delirious with joy to run a sub 46 10k and sub 22 5k.
• I’d love to master the art of rustling up quick, healthy meals.
• Writing to my lovely penpals more often would be thoughtful of me and I'm sure they would like receiving correspondence more often too
• Learning to use my SLR would be very helpful
• Taking part in Alex’s Blogging Good Read  (this will be on her blog on 7th January I believe) has reminded me how much I used to enjoy reading. Perhaps making a few hours each week to get through a few books this year would be nice
• Sleep! For the past few months I have been lucky to get 6 hours sleep each night, purely as I've not headed to bed earlier and although I feel ok, it's probably only a matter of time before I screw myself up
• I'd love to improve my fitness in general with my focus being on improving my cardio capacity and to work on toning
• Find some positivity and joy in more things. Many other bloggers are always sharing things that make them happy and that's just not me at all, but I would like to feel better more often

I’m planning to write a separate post on last year as I think it may be a lengthy one. What do you think of my list? Are you making any resolutions yourself?

Sophie