Looking back on 2018 + my goals for 2019
Hiiiii friends! I can’t believe we’re already closing out 2018. What are you doing to celebrate? I’m looking forward to eating Indian food at my mom’s house, watching the cousins play together, and playing the Netflix New year’s countdown at 9pm. #parentlife
I feel like 2018 was a good year for our family despite some transition and obstacles. We had a HUGE move across the country (which started out as temporary but we’re staying in Tucson. I finally wrote a post that explains everything about life and will have it up in the next couple of weeks), the girls started new schools, I started teaching at a local studio, and we’ve found our Tucson groove and tribe. It’s pretty incredible to set down roots a little and know they won’t be uprooted for a while now.
Professionally, I started the podcast which was a huge undertaking (it will be back January 9!), hit Director with Beautycounter, and relaunched the Fit Guides. Most of the time, I really felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants. I’m SO EXCITED to have more of a set schedule as we head into the New Year and the opportunity to create more content. I feel like I haven’t been able to create in so long since I’ve just been in survival mode. I have so many ideas for this space and for you guys, so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to execute them all.
In our personal life, we had so.much.fun. I enjoy the girls more and more every single day – there are so many points throughout the day when I look at their little faces and really know how fortunate I am to have them – and we’ve had a blast going to Disneyland, San Diego, Disney World, the beach, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Phoenix. Between the two of them they’re taking ballet, hip hop, gymnastics, tumbling, and swim, and it’s incredible to see them grow and learn, and be the cutest little sisters. Livi’s reading has really taken off since school started and watching them read together is probably one of my favorite things in the world.
Fitness-wise, I’ve changed things up a bit! We bought a Peloton bike and I’m IN LOVE WITH IT, and I also started taking classes at a more CrossFit-esque gym with an incredible community (TELOS). My weekly schedule is usually a mix of Orangetheory, Peloton, TELOS, strength training on my own, teaching barre, and yoga or barre3 if I can fit it in that week. I stick to a solid 5 days of workouts and am so thankful for the Peloton on the days I can’t get a workout in while the kiddos are at school. (They either play in the playroom or watch a show while I ride the bike.)
Health-wise, 2018 is the year I went back to tracking macros. I’m still enjoying it, especially since it encourages me to eat way more food and way more carbs. I was unintentionally under-eating and skipping meals, so it feels great to have some structure and encouragement to hit all of my nutrient goals for the day. I also got my hormone levels tested with Candace Burch and have made some adjustments in my supplement routine. I’ve noticed a huge increase in energy, my mood feels more stabile, and my anxiety levels are way way down. All good things. 🙂
Some of my favorite moments from 2018:
Liv’s birthday trip to Orlando
Some of my goals for 2019:
Professional:
– I’ll continue to hit the same income numbers and work to develop Beautycounter into its own full income. I feel like in the blog world, we aren’t very transparent about the business aspect of it all. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and if you guys are down, I’d like to share more of that. I used to love when Pinch of Yum did income statements because it inspired me to continue to work hard. When I first started to make an income from the blog, about 99% of it was from ad revenue. Now earnings are a mix of ad revenue, sponsored posts/brand partnerships, product sales, Beautycounter, affiliate income and freelance work. I like that the change in structure has encouraged me to diversify a bit, so that if something drops off (like if I don’t have any sponsored posts that month) something else fills in the gaps (like Beautycounter or Fit Guide sales).
– Create a Home Workout Warrior video series to share in the spring. This is something I’m going to be cranking out in the next couple of weeks! So pumped about this.
– Barre Bootcamp Round 2! The first barre bootcamp was a huge success and it was so much fun to see so many of you complete the plan, change up your workout routine, and see incredible results. I’ve been putting ideas for Round 2 together for a while now, it’s time to get the ball rolling.
– A prenatal workout series. I had big plans to film prenatal workouts while I was pregnant with P, and ended up only filming like 2 because I felt so uncomfortable. (It all made sense when she was born at 10 lbs 13 oz.) My good friend Katie is pregnant and she said she’s down to film some prenatal workouts for you guys, so I can’t wait to write the workouts and put everything together. (In the videos, I’ll likely perform 1st trimester versions of the exercises and she’ll do 2nd and 3rd trimester modifications.)
– Continue to build the podcast. The podcast is still a little baby in the grand scheme of my brand, but it’s something that I’ve really enjoyed this year! I mean, I get to wear pajamas and talk to interesting people, so I’m obviously a big fan.
– Continue to work with Beautycounter because I love the products and mission so much. It’s a small piece of my weekly work load, but I’m excited to continue to share these amazing products with those I love. (PS I need to do another giveaway because my stash here is getting intense.)
Personal:
– Continue to work on my patience and grace. I feel like this is always a work in progress, but anything I can do to make myself feel more calm and centered in the chaos is worth it to me. I’m going to dedicate more time to meditation – I’ve only been able to sneak in 5 minutes here and there lately – alone time (this is when I recharge! Even if it’s just 15-minute shower, without children drawing on the shower door with their fingers and commenting on my body lol, I feel like a new person), and letting things go that don’t matter. I’m kind of a freak about keeping the house clean and a couple of times recently I went to bed with dishes in the sink because I was so tired. It’s prioritizing the things that are worth it.
– Read more. Reading is one of my very favorite things and I feel like I made more time for it in 2018. I’m going to be reading something at all times, even if I only have 5 minutes each day to devote to it. My brain also feels like it works better when I’m reading something. 😉 (Thank you for all of the book suggestions in my last post! The Kindle is loaded.)
– Devote time to a hobby once a week. I’ll unearth my ukulele when it gets here from Georgia and take more flamenco classes, even though I’m riding the struggle bus with putting the arm work and footwork together.
– TRAVEL. I finally feel like we hit a sweet spot for traveling with the girls and I’m looking forward to some upcoming trips. We have a Disney cruise booked for early summer and the girls and I are taking a special trip to Orlando later this month. I’m already looking at Hawaii travel packages now that we’re back on this side of the world.
Health:
– I don’t have any huge health or fitness goals for the year besides my annual goal for consistency. I try to consistently work out, eat well, sleep (as much as possible!), hydrate, and take care of my mental health. Sometimes things fall off the radar or are off weeks and it’s NBD. I know I get back into it when I can.
– Try to eliminate toxins from our life where it makes sense and try to be more green wherever possible. We already pay attention to the ingredients in our food and personal/health products (yay Beautycounter), but I’ve transitioned our storage containers to glass and we recently got an Avocado mattress. (The company sent it to me but this post isn’t sponsored at all. I’ll write about it more in Friday Faves but we really like it so far.) I’m trying to use cloth more than paper towels and avoid food packaging when we can. (Recently I brought my own food containers to the prepared foods section at Whole Foods and they were totally cool about it.) I’d love any ideas you have for this! (Some ideas: these reusable straws and this on-the-go cutlery.)
Are you setting goals or resolutions for the New Year? I’d love to hear them! I’ll share some of my fave goal-setting tips this week, too.
Happy New Year’s Eve! Thanks for stopping by the blog and hope you have a wonderful night.
xoxo
Gina
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You are a rock star! Seriously!
I’d love to read a behind the scenes post about the blog, btw, and can’t wait for more podcasts
you are the sweetest <3
hope you have a happy new year!
I mean it! 😉 You, too!
You had a great and crazy year! I can’t wait to hear more about all those vacations 🙂
We are going to Japan for two weeks in the spring, I can’t wait.
it was great and crazy. not my fave year, but not the worst. excited for 2019
have an amazing time in japan!!
LOVE your blog and podcast!! Happy New Year from Finland!! 🙂
thank you so much! hope you have an incredible new year!
A couple months ago I finally bought reusable produce bags and sort of expected the cashiers to be annoyed, and seriously no one has even batted an eye at it (and this is a “regular” grocery store, not a Whole Foods or TJ’s or anything like that). It has inspired me to find more areas I can be more eco friendly!
love this idea! i’ll totally order some. thank you!
omg SAME!! I’ve recently started trying the same, zero packaging when possible, and I haven’t had a single issue. I’ve actually had some great conversations in the bulk section when people ask me how to navigate bringing your own containers, I love it lol.
please tell me what you do about the bulk section!
Bring a glass Mason jar, or a Tupperware, or ziplock bag that you’ve been reusing, whatever you have! I personally have a cabinet full of washed glass pickle jars, spaghetti sauce jars, etc lol. Places like Whole Foods and Sprouts will know exactly what you’re doing, but if you’re somewhere else just go to customer service and ask if they can subtract the “tare weight” aka the weight of the jar at the register if you use your own. Some systems actually can’t do it, so ask first! If they can, weigh the jar before you put anything in there and write down the weight in your phone or something (if there’s no scale in the bulk section, go to a register and ask them to weigh it for you. I have done both.). Then, get what you need. When you check out, they’ll weigh the jar and you can let them know you have a tare weight for it. They will subtract this from the total weight…then BAM. You just paid for food only and NOT for packaging. I’m very spoiled in Denver with more Whole Foods locations than any other store, but I know other stores will do this!
thank you so much for taking the time to type all of this out. i’m so excited to try this now!
I too just bought reusable produce bags and LOVE THEM!!!!
ok i need to get some of these!!
Ooh yay, can’t wait to read the post that explains everything about life!! I’ve been hoping that you could share some details soon. And I’m super excited to hear that you’re doing Barre Bootcamp Round 2 – that’s great news!! I loved the first one and will definitely be joining again. I just had my first baby 3 weeks ago so I’ll be looking to slowly start working out again in a little while. And I’m intrigued by the Home Workout Warrior video series.
I listen to Gretchen Rubin’s podcast and she and her sister did “18 for 2018” lists, and will be doing “19 for 2019” lists, too. I really like the idea because you can put whatever you want on there – fun things, things you do once and cross off, everyday goals, work goals, etc. I did an 18 for 2018 one and got some crossed off but not everything, but I’m just going to carry some over to a 19 for 2019 list and add new things!
Gina, I’m so impressed w/ all the different balls ur juggling so well! Ur truly an inspiration! I’m so excited for u guys to b able to stay in Tucson! Congrats! Looking forward to that blog post w/ the life updates. WIshing u only the best in 2019!
Yay for more podcasts and everything else you have planned for the blog! You’ve built quite a business, Gina!
Please let us know as you read your new kindle books… likes & dislikes. I’m always interested.
Looking forward to reading your “catch up on life” post!
Happy HAPPY 2019!! 🙂
I would love to read more behind-the-scenes blog stuff! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!! You accomplished so much this year. Looking forward to reading the blog in the new year and all that you have planned for it:)
This is embarrassing, but I live abroad and I stopped wearing a seat belt! So my resolution is to wear my damn seat belt!
Happy New Year! Loved reading all that you have going on. What a great business you’ve got going. Can’t wait for more workout videos. Also, looking forward to the post on what brought you back to AZ. Wishing you all good things in the new year.
I just wanted to say that I have always loved reading your blog, but I am finding that recently, I have been loving it so, so much! I feel like you have really found your voice and I can hear the authenticity and genuineness in your words and writing and it has been such a pleasure to watch you grow and learn and do this thing called life. I appreciate your willingness to be open and honest on your blog. I relate to you on so many levels (minus the whole having kiddos thing) and find myself wishing we lived closer so we could be real life friends haha. But anyway, just wanted to wish you and your family a happy new year and just say thank you for sharing bits of yourself with the online world.
I recently read an article that was all about how learning new health habits should be viewed as learning a new skill. It made a lot of sense because the example was “becoming vegetarian” and I am vegan, so all the steps were super relatable. And that really makes me rethink some of my goals, or at least rephrase them. lol
1) Learn to eat more in front of my son, and have it be healthful varied meals. I have gotten into a habit of putting my son down, and then rushing to eat since I don’t want to share my bagel or whatever with him. Which has caused me to over eat, and not eat very good food.
2) Learn to workout more with my son. I miss the consistency of working out, and something I just need to accept I will do less of- weight training and running very long distances. But working out more in FRONT of my son will at least teach him some patience, and to entertain himself while I do something for myself
And then as always I have goals like read 30 of books (I cheat, I include cookbook reviews and graphic novels from Goodreads lol) and try and finish up a bunch of cross stitch projects (mostly my son’s xmas stocking. He noticed one morning that there was no ‘baby’ stocking and got upset)
I am looking at planning a trip to Hawaii with my will be two-year-old. Any thoughts on tips and tricks for the airplane ride and once you get there would be supremely helpful! I have heard good things about Turtle Bay Resort as a family friendly option.
Happy New Year! Where are you teaching in Tucson?