Turning 25: Looking Back and Moving Forward

TODAY I turned 25. I went from being 24 to 25 at 5:30 a.m. (I think) My mom always tells me the story of the day I was born (not the gore guys--ew). She said she told my dad at around midnight that it was time to go to the hospital, and he said they had plenty of time and went back to bed! Four hours later they welcomed me into the world. Weird.

Unlike a lot of people I know (or at least read about on the internet) I am pretty excited for the occasion. Twenty-five isn't a quarter-life crisis for me. Instead it's cheers to another year of life, which has been pretty great lately--even if I've been MIA on here.

I wanted to look back because a year ago I made a 25 before 25 list. Let's recap and see what I did/didn't do.

1. Travel to the Pacific Coast
Check! Josh and I traveled to Newport Beach, CA in June. It was fantastic to dip my toes in the Pacific ocean and experience the West Coast!

2. See Ben Folds live
I didn't get to do that when I was 24, but I do get to see him live at 25. He's coming to play with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in June, and Josh and I are going as our anniversary present to each other. So. Excited.

3. Find my style
I think I will always be trying to find this. I'm not there yet, but I am definitely on my way.

4. Make a dress I love
Floral Laurel = check! And many more to come.

5. Adopt a dog/puppy
Still working on this. I would loooooove to adopt a dog that doesn't shed (Josh is allergic).

6. Celebrate Hubby's 25th in a big way
I surprised him with friends and family at a Pirates game. Check and win!

7. Reorganize everything
Well, we did just move, so I am in the process of organizing everything. I think that counts.

8. Write more
Another goal to work on in 2014!

9. Create my own tutorial(s)
Still working on this, too. Hopefully 2014 will bring some good ideas!

10. Visit Laura in NYC
Still need to head to the Big Apple.

11. Go to Mood in NYC
See #10.

12. Start and keep an inspiration journal
I've been keeping a notebook for ideas in my purse, and it's been really great to have!

13. Explore Pittsburgh
I can get to Squirrel Hill without using a GPS. Definitely working on this!

14. Blog every day
HA. Jokes. Too much.

15. Volunteer
I've been doing things here and there in our community, and I plan to continue that in 2014.

16. Learn my camera/Take more pictures
This will definitely be something high on my priority list in 2014. I did okay with this, but haven't been taking as many pictures as I've wanted!

17. Design a line of cards
I've made a lot of cards, but no design line yet.

18. Start a monthly boardgame night
We do play a lot of board games (see future pics of our living room builtin), but no monthly night yet.

19. Go on more dates
We went on a ton of dates in 2013. Excited for 2014!

20. Create monthly meal plans/budgets
Failed miserably at this. It's definitely something I hope to get better at--it's so difficult for me.

21. Read at least 10 new books
Failed at this too. Definitely want to read at least one book a month starting this month.

22. Send birthday cards this year
I did okay at this. I didn't get a card out to every single one of my friends, but I did do my best.

23. Make (sew) something completely different/out of my comfort zone!
I started an Archer button up (totally out of my norm), but its a WIP. Pants are definitely on my sewing goals list this year!

24. Run a 5k
Check! I ran my first 5k (non stop--no walking) in August and hope to run another this year.

25. Lose 25 lbs.
This didn't happen either, but my health is definitely a focus for me this year.

It's great to be able to look back and know that I did a lot in 2013. Now I'm looking forward to a new year with lots of exciting things in store. I mentioned that I've been reorganizing after a move, and that's because we bought a house! That means in addition to my usual sewing/life posts you'll be seeing a lot more DIY home action around here. Sewing/hobby room transformation anyone?

The process for moving in and organizing is definitely take a lot longer than I expected, but it is so wonderful to be able to come home to something that is [our] own. I can't wait to share more!

Happy 2014: Sewing Goals for the New Year

Happy 2014! I can't believe it is the new year already, and I've been blogging for over a year now. That's not to say that I have been blogging as much as I want to/should, but I'm excited for a new year full of new goals to start with. There have been a lot of super exciting things happening in my life lately, and there are definitely some exciting things to come within the next couple weeks. My husband and I have been so busy with MBA classes (we hope to be finished in JUNE!) that I haven't been able to sew as much as I want/need. Even still, I'd like to share a few of my sewing/blog goals for 2014!

1. Review my wardrobe, purge, take inventory and sew the staple pieces I need. I am hoping to start on this one as soon as possible. I'm like a lot of people who have a lot of clothes, but I only wear a few key pieces. It's time to really get rid of what I don't wear--no matter how much I tell myself I will wear it in the future.

2. Sew a pair of pants. Pants seem scary to me, but I'm up for the challenge. If anyone has any pattern recommendations I am all ears!

3. Make something for Josh. I've been sewing for over a year now, and I'm sad to say I haven't made anything for my dear husband! I'd like to make him something (anything) as I move forward in my skillset.

4. Sew a coat. I've been pining over all of the Minoru jackets out there, and I really want to challenge my skills in 2014.

5. Blog more! When I started this blog I think I said I wanted to blog daily. Looking back, I think that makes me sound pretty crazy! However, I do want to blog more. I want to blog more of my projects and I want to create a few tutorials. I want this blog to be great, and that means I need to commit to blogging much, much more than I did in 2013.

There are a few other goals that I have in my mind, but I think starting small is key. You'll [hopefully] start hearing much more from me. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and holiday. Cheers to the New Year!