Happy New Year To All Sparkles & Stretchmarks readers!
I can't thank you all enough for your support in 2013 and hope you'll continue to follow the blog and my journey into motherhood in 2014!
As always, I've made a few new years resolutions....I have to admit that I make them every year but they don't usually live to see February...fingers crossed I can stick with them a little longer this year!
My Resolutions
1) Eat Healthier & Broaden My Culinary Horizons - I am a very fussy eater and tend to stick to the same tried & tested meals all the time. I don't like trying new things because I rarely like them. But now that Tyne is eating with us, I want to try harder ... I don't want him to be fussy like me so I want to make sure we eat more of a variety of foods and more healthy ones too.
My goals include eating breakfast & lunch (I usually skip both), eating fish at least once a week (at the moment its more like once a month) and eating more vegetables.
2) Address my anxiety/panic attacks and take steps to resolve them - I will be talking more about this over the next week or so, but I do experience anxiety regularly and recently had one of the biggest panic attacks I've ever had which, frankly, was a terrifying experience. I've suffered in silence for too long now and it has to stop - I plan on seeking professional help in the form of hypnotherapy and/or cognitive behaviour therapy as these are things I have tried briefly in the past that seemed to help me.
3) Be more social with Tyne - I enjoy spending time at home or on family days out with Jon & Tyne, but now that he is getting older I think its important that Tyne mingles with other children more so I want to make an effort to take him along to playgroups and classes at least once a week.
My 2014 Bucket List
* Take Tyne on a cruise!
* Visit at least one country I've never visited before (Hopefully this can be done in combination with the above!)
* Visit at least one new COUNTY - I really want to see more of my home country!
* Take Tyne to visit Gateshead - I'd love him to visit his Dad's hometown and meet his Uncle for the first time!
* Take a course - I'm not sure what in, but I just want to learn something new
* Read one book per month - I'd love to sign up to the "Read 50 Books" thing that people do but its unrealistic for me - hopefully one a month should be manageable!
*Subscribe to some magazines - I LOVE reading magazines, especially Mother & Baby Magazine - but I never get the chance to pop to the shop to pick them up! A subscription would make life so much easier. I've recently discovered Unique Magazines which looks perfect!
*Subscribe to some magazines - I LOVE reading magazines, especially Mother & Baby Magazine - but I never get the chance to pop to the shop to pick them up! A subscription would make life so much easier. I've recently discovered Unique Magazines which looks perfect!
*Say "Yes" to more things - particularly blog events. I have yet to accept invitation, mostly due to nerves, this year I want to go to some!
*Take part in a brand ambassador programme - a big ambition, I can't be sure it's achievable for me yet but I can hope and try!
*Go to a concert (I haven't been to one in ages!)
What's on your 2014 bucket list?!
aw fab! i suffer from mild anxiety. i hope therapy works :) i could really do with being more social with Caleb too!
ReplyDeletemy only resolution this year is to comp less and blog more! although we do have some big changes happening this year such as moving house so i'll see how that goes! :)
Happy New Year. :-) they are excellent resolutions so I hope you are able to make some progress. I would love to read more and be a brand ambassador so perhaps we can swap tips. Hope that 2014 is a good one for you all. X
ReplyDeleteGreat list!!! hope you manage to tick them all off x
ReplyDeleteYes to more blogging events and maybe we can finally meet x
ReplyDeleteBeautyqueenuk xx
Let's go to see a1 in the Big Reunion Hayley! Maybe the others would like to come too? Make it a bloggers night out, hehe.
ReplyDeleteI think I really ought to do more with Oscar now he's getting older. I might sign up to some baby massage classes or something as I said that I was going to when he was born but then found out they have to be a certain age before they could take part.
Great post and happy new year to you :D
Louise x
Confessions of a Secret Shopper
Fab list you have here. Good luck! Happy New year xx
ReplyDeletegood luck with them xx
ReplyDeleteMy top new year's resolution is to tone up for our family holiday to Cyrpus and also a friend's wedding. Have bought a lovely new dress and want to look nice in it. Also to not eat as much chocolate
ReplyDelete(kim neville)
Good luck - I don't make new years resolutions as I have no will power!
ReplyDeleteMy resolution is to try to "go with the flow" and try not to get stressed over things I cannot control. :)
ReplyDeleteGood Luck! My resolution is to save to have my basement converted into a Reiki studio, mediation room and small adjoining office.
ReplyDeleteI'd really like to start blogging this year, I read everyone else's and really enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteI also suffer from anxiety, and on my list is to shift the last 2st! I've lost 6st so far, and my confidence is improving slightly. I need to get out more!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year I am sure this year will bring all the wonderful resolutions you desire to bear and beyond :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck. I'm trying to be healthier too.
ReplyDeletehappy new year!!! my target is to get into my fav jeans & pretty much all my wardrobe :(
ReplyDeleteHappy new year !!! This year i am going to loose weight , so determined , have been saying it for years but i really mean it this time xx
ReplyDeleteMine are gain £'s, lose lbs ;) I am going to invest in an exercise bike and/or cross trainer (maybe a 2in1) and get fit for 2014. Also need to pay off my credit card, so tightening the belt buckles and purse strings as they say! Feeling positive about it! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your list. It is a great idea. One of mine is to visit London, we are going next month. Can't wait. I guess I am learning that nothing is impossible, just need sometimes to have a push to do them.
ReplyDeleteLove your list. I will be looking out for some of your anxiety posts as this is something I have struggled with on and off since before the birth of my daughter 8 years ago. It came back with a vengeance in 2013 but thanks to the support of my husband and GP and some fab friends I am starting 2014 feeling very positive. I am studying with the Open University trying to pave my way to a career as a midwife so my resolution is to gain a distinction in my course in the summer and apply to University!
ReplyDeleteGreat List, I want to do a course to, I sent in a Uni Application already this year, fingers crossed! And good luck with your list x
ReplyDeleteMy New Year's resolution is to de-clutter; some items will be going to charity, others I will be selling ... and with the money we raise we want to experience things we've never done before, including travelling to a different country and trying parasailing.
ReplyDeleteTo learn to drive
ReplyDeleteTo push myself to do things that i always put off because im scared of doing them
To have more fun & not take everything so seriously :)
Getting help for anxiety is a great resolution, I got help over a year ago and my life has been so much better for it. Good luck with that & your other resolutions, they sound fun & achievable :) xx
ReplyDeleteGood for you, I suffer with panic attacks and they are not nice. Good Luck with your goals! Mine is to continue with my studies and blogging
ReplyDeleteI am going to start using the stairs instead of the lift...and hopefully overcome my massive fear of flying and see more of the world!
ReplyDeleteGreat list - it's inspired me to do my own :)
ReplyDeleteI would love to do a cruise but I do not think it will happen may be a cruise on the Thames also I love Live music so a trip in to London to Wembley stadium for a concert as I have never been and live life to the Full as life can be pretty Exiting
ReplyDeleteAww fantastic list! Really got me thinking about my own. I really want to visit a country I have not been to, I'm already looking at an evening class and being that bit more assertive sometimes, I hate saying no! I always want to add more colour to my wardrobe and experiment more with make up, try some new looks.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year - great idea with the bucket list!
ReplyDeleteAshleigh
I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, andnot yet had it diagnosed by a professional yet though, best of luck with your list.
ReplyDeleteI am in the middle of compiling mine as well. xx
great list! my main resolution is to try not to worry so much, so far failed miserably!
ReplyDeletemine is simple even if am very ill suffer extreme allergies i will still put on all my goth gear so look even more as an vampire out of buffy (kids description of me lol )
ReplyDeleteI don't make any resolutions but take the year as it comes.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, I hope you get through everything on there
ReplyDeletegreat list, id just love to reduce my creditcard bill (having a baby,getting married and honeymoon in vegas all in the same year takes its toll)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your resolutions! I'd like to lose weight and read more. xo
ReplyDeleteGood luck I hope you manage to get it all down - I say no to so much due to my anxiety maybe I should take a leaf out of your book x
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your resolutions!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with controlling your panic attacks. :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your resolutions xx
ReplyDeleteGood luck especially with sorting the panic/anxiety attacks. I suffer from them too and I know how horrendous they are so I really hope you can resolve it!
ReplyDeleteLaura x
My 2014 bucket list has 3 things on it… go for more long walks, swim at least 3 days a week & read at least one book a month!
ReplyDeleteOh wow - that's one big Bucket List lol - good luck with that - if there's only one thing on there that you tackle, go for the anxiety one as it will help you succeed in the others - maybe take a look at EFT xx
ReplyDeletei love your 'saying yes' addition to your 2014 list - that's definitely something that i need to keep in mind too :) with love, faye x
ReplyDeletegreat list! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteSnap on the anxiety front - thankfully I've never had a panic attack, although who I am now verses the confident woman I was 6 years ago is enough of a concern that I'm going for CBT this year, and considering going to meditation to learn mindfulness too. Good luck on your resolutions!
ReplyDeleteGreat list ... it has inspired me to write my own x
ReplyDeletehope your resolutions are going well so far! x
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year. My resolution is actually to stop getting so worked up about the smaller issues that I face in life, I am determined to feel less stressed in 2014 than I did last year!
ReplyDeleteYou have great plans, I like the food one particularly as I'm now eating so many things that I used to hate and actively enjoying them! I just kept on trying them and eating them even though I didn't like them, and eventually taste must adapt or something! This includes olives and mushrooms, and porridge which is a fab healthy breakfast!
ReplyDeleteMy big plan/hope for 2014 is to get hold of and learn to play saxophone which is something I've always wanted.
Good luck! I suffer with anxiety as well and I have decided I really need to seek help for this this year because it's really holding me back from so much. I'd like to embark on a new career really, so I need to boost my confidence, that's another hurdle to overcome. I'd also like to lose a bit of weight, start exercising and eat a little healthier -- also, I love cooking but would like to try out some new recipes more x
ReplyDeleteI definitely recommend the cruise i love them and they are so much fun for the little ones. I haven't made any resolutions this year as every year i make plans and they never work out so this year i think we will see where life takes me
ReplyDeleteHappy new year, I would like to be able to stop worrying about little things.x
ReplyDeleteTo have even more quality family time :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with all your goals!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's some list you've made there. Good luck with it all.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with addressing the anxiety too. I've found Kalms are really good, when taken regularly rather than just as and when.
great list im still putting mine together ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat list, hope you manage to do some of them
ReplyDeleteLove your resolutions - fingers crossed for you x
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
ReplyDeleteive started to compile a list - first was blogging which ive started so its a start i guess havent come up with much else to add to it tho!! ha! need to get thinking maybe a holiday to paris always wanted to go there :) x
ReplyDeleteIts inspired me to write my own
ReplyDeleteI want to learn to play the ukulele!
ReplyDeleteHazel Rea - @beachrambler
I have decided that I am going to visit one place I have never been every year - after all, life is for living!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the bucket list :) x
ReplyDeleteI wish you luck with your anxiety issue, I've always suffered with depression and anxiety and despite asking and asking, can't get any productive help.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on running a 10k event this year for charity :)
ReplyDeleteOh my god, you've signed yourself up to so many resolutions! There's no way I could do that - other than so that I could maybe achieve one or two but certainly not that many. I didn't even make any tbh, I should have made a resolution to start a blog but when you're as lacking intuition as I am I just didn't know what to write a blog about. Maybe I'll come up with something. Best of luck with all your resolutions though :)
ReplyDeleteI have also suffered for years with panic attacks and anxiety, it seems to be a thing that runs in our family as my mum suffers from them to, I still find it hard to talk about in person but find forums or blogs very helpful as you see lots of people in the same situation. I have gave up smoking as my resolution which doesn't help with the anxiety but I wish you all the best of luck with your New Year Resolutions x
ReplyDeleteOMG will you keep all your resolutions? Keeping one is hard enough. Happy New Year x
ReplyDeleteGood luck, I hope you achieve all of your bucket list. Mine is quite short, just want to exercise more & lose weight to fit into something nice for my brother's wedding :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of visiting new counties-I'm not much of a traveller so this is do-able for me too.
ReplyDeleteGreat Bucket List! It has inspired me to write my own!
ReplyDeleteI would love to spend more tie outdoors - we spend too much time in the office. Back to nature x
ReplyDeleteGood luck with these, I just want to loose some weight for my wedding in June and get fit so I can chase my twin boys around a bit more this summer.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Panic attacks can be very disabling and terrifying I found yoga and meditation very helpful in controlling my breathing. Wishing you a fab New Year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you too! you've made some good but tough resolutions, mine are to stop smoking and lose weight which are also going to be tough but I have no choice as i need to do them to have an operation, so here's hoping both of us can be strong xx
ReplyDeleteNatalie Gillham
Some great goals there. Good luck and I'm sure you will achieve them :) xo
ReplyDeleteJust an idea for you re the panic attacks, I work with parents and support parents with anxiety and depression, one thing particularly useful is mindfulness. Maybe look into it, it can have a huge impact on anxiety, there may well be a mindfulness centre where you live - good luck :)
ReplyDeletemine is to quit smoking. im trying to raise the money for my mums headstone finally after 2 years and the money i save with go towards it. good motivation to keep me going
ReplyDeleteI just wanna get slimmer and fitter to enjoy my son more
ReplyDeleteI like the visit a new county idea, not too expensive to achieve and there are some gorgeous parts of the country to visit. I really need to make a big effort for my fitness this year. I have ms, and I've maybe stopped using the exercise bike when I should have made myself use it every day. Urgh. But. Has to be done. So, I need to get back to using it regularly to avoid muscle loss.
ReplyDeleteI've crossed a few off my Bucket List;
ReplyDeleteNew York, Vienna, Lanzarote and now I'm off to Aussie Land this year!