2011: A new beginning

Lauren - This year is a completely new beginning for me. I'm not sure what it will hold, but I am prepared for whatever life throws at me. These past few months have been the hardest of my life but thankfully it is almost over. Drake and I have decided to combine our blogging and see how it goes. I currently don't have it in me to blog every day, neither does Drake, but together I think it will work out just fine. Tomorrow I will give an insight of our life blog, so be sure to check back tomorrow! Now, to the point of this post: New Years Resolution/Goals!

Drake - This is Drake and I'm so glad to be contributing to this blog with the love of my life Lauren Ashley. I truly hope that something you find here will continue to inspire you and keep encouraging you to move forward into this bright new year ahead. It's funny how we view the idea of time, as if today is just another new years day and the start of just another calender year. The fact is that today has never once existed before and this is a day that has been given to us. This is a new day. An exclusive chance and opportunity for us to be given yet another fresh start and new beginning. Whatever you're facing today and whatever dream is pushing you forward into this new year I hope that you will always remember that this is the start of something brand new in your life. You need it and you deserve the opportunities ahead of you. Never settle for normality when you have so much more to offer in the world. This is the time of the year when we make so many resolutions with ourselves. Lets stop making ourselves promises that we have no intention on actually keeping. Lets resolve to not make resolutions that aren't truly meaningful to us. For one, I resolve to no longer resolve. I refuse to move into this new year with more empty promises with myself which never seem to come to fruition. This new year let's take Lauren's advice and simply follow our hearts. I love you Lauren, thank you for the inspiration!

(Note: It won't always be written this way. Just kicking things off!)

• Stop living life for others. I need to face it, I can't make everyone happy at once. I need to stop busting my butt over it. All I have ever done is try to make everyone happy, even when (most of the time) I, myself, am not. That being said, I need to start living my life for me and do what makes "Lauren" happy as to "everyone" happy.
• Weightloss. Lets face it, it's on EVERYONE'S list. I need to do this for a different reason though. I have three. I am comfortable with myself and my body for the most part, so it's not for a confidence boost but if that happens along the way then I'll gladly welcome it. I have two diseases that I need to get under control and that I have definitely not been taking care of. With one of these diseases, I do not process foods the same as everyone else. Everything that I eat can add on pounds. I can gain 20 pounds in a week with not doing anything different, and then lose 35 by not doing anything different. It's been a struggle and very stressful. Drake and I plan on hiring a personal chef and going to a nutritionist starting February. The third reason being my disease also makes me infertile. The more weight I gain,the harder it is for me to get pregnant. The less weight I have on me, the easier it is for me to get pregnant and the healthier I and my baby are during the pregnancy. 
• Photography! This includes Project 365. Of course that would be on my goal list. I need to start stepping up everything that I do. Be prepared for big, big things this year. That's all I have to say on that subject.
• NO NEGATIVITY! You don't like me? You don't like the way I dress, the way I do my hair, the thoughts I have, the way I live my life?! So what?! It's not your life, it is mine. You have no right and no business trying to ruin mine and I won't let you or anyone else bring me down. 
• Travel. Traveling makes me feel free, stress-free, and alive. That being said, I'm jumping headfirst into this goal.

•  Write more.  I feel the need to focus more on my writing more. My first book is coming out in February and I haven't gotten started on the second yet and I need to!
• Do things my own way. I'm tired of being led by other peoples' opinions. I don't have to be who they want me to be. I can and will be myself, no limits and no regrets.
• Health. I resolve that should I die this year they will not have to bring in a crane and remove a wall to retrieve my body.... if that's not possible, I'm sure it'll be fine. Lauren's cats will just eat me.
• Pregnancy. I plan on getting Lauren pregnant. End of story.

Project 365 is where you take a picture a day for a year. You'll see this every day for the next year! I encourage you take up on this project, too!

 

Jan 1.

My mother got me a new necklace for Christmas. It's 14k whitegold with rare black mother of pearl attached to the backside. Why is this significant? Because it's one of my resolution, or "goals" for this year. I've been stressed out and one big mess my entire life, and I want to start working on finding peace with myself this year and help others along the way.

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Jan 1. My mother got me a new necklace for Christmas. It's 14k whitegold with rare black mother of pearl attached to the backside. Why is this significant? Because it's one of my resolution, or "goals" for this year. I've been stressed out and one big mess my entire life, and I want to start working on finding peace with myself this year and help others along the way.

Love, Lauren Ashley and Drake