Happy 2013!

With the new year, I want to do things a little differently than I did in years past. Lots of simple little things like (re)starting a blog. I realized that I suck at keeping in touch with my friends, so I'm hoping that it will start a small chain reaction to get my blogging friends to update more often. In keeping with improving on the little things, here's a small list of what I want to accomplish this year:

1. Eat healthier. Not necessarily to lose weight, but to feel healthy. I really do feel a difference in my overall energy level when I eat a Sweetgreen salad for lunch instead of a bacon cheeseburger or a Chipotle burrito.

2. Cook more often. This is related to my goal of eating healthier, but I also enjoy cooking and want to add more recipes to my repertoire. Unfortunately, reading food blogs only makes me want to eat, not necessarily cook. I like instant gratification.

3. DIY & crafts. I recently moved into my new apartment and I've thought of some fun and easy projects to do on weekends. I'm actually working on something now and I can't wait to post pictures of the finished project!

4. Host small parties. Dinner parties, wine and cheese parties, etc. You know, parties where I can serve a whole roasted bird like this one that I made last month...

pick your mouth off the floor and stop drooling on your keyboard.

5. Downsize and declutter. During the few months during which I was between apartments, I realized that the less stuff I had, the better I felt. One of my bigger goals this year is to downsize my possessions or at least keep things from accumulating. I don't have an emotional attachment to anything besides a handful of clothing items (senior/dip ball/graduation dresses) and gifts from the boyfriend, so I'm willing to part with many of my things. Plus, my roommate has so much crap that it's a little infuriating. Must declutter, declutter, declutter.

6. Burn more candles. I was never big into candles, but that's because I never realized how soothing and relaxing  they are until recently.

7. Take more pictures. As in iPhone pictures so I can share them with you all =)