Emma: I decided to have two resolutions this year: one work related and one personal.
For my work related goal I've decided to cook my way through this book. Ideally I'd love to take a professional culinary course or even go to culinary school. And maybe I'll get the chance one day. But for now that just won't fit my busy schedule. But I always want to push myself to become better and better at cooking because it is my passion. So, I'm cooking my way through this book and hoping to pick up some new skills and terminology as I go.
My more personal goal is simple: work to remember birthdays. It's sad, but I only remember a few people's birthdays, mainly my husband and sister. Terrible, I know! I'm not on Facebook either, so I don't have an easy system for reminders. So I am going to get all my loved ones birthdays written down on a calendar (and I'll save a digital version as well), so I can remember to send text, mail cards and buy presents for their special day. It's simple, and it seems silly that I'm not in the habit of this yet. But, there's no time like now. 
Other times goals need to evolve. Last year I committed to a 365 project. I wanted to document 365 photos of my home and our daily life here. I guess the universe had other plans, through, because a month or so later our publisher confirmed that our next book (the one we spent last Spring and Summer creating) would be a home decor book. I had to change gears on my 365, because for the next six months my home was full of book projects that I didn't want to "spoil". I still had a really fun year sharing photos via Instagram, so that's just one example of how sometimes our goals need to evolve, change or be put on hold.
Ha! Sorry I didn't mean to be so long-winded. I'll get to my resolution now.
My goal for the year is to focus on home decor. As I mentioned above we spent a good part of last year creating a decor book (due out this coming August!). Because of that, most of our "decor energy" was going into secret projects for the book, and we were very limited on how much decor we could share here on the blog. This year I want to enjoy the fact that we can share ALL OF IT with you! Plus, I have three spaces to work on: our home of course, the new ABM workspace and a new music studio for my husband, as he will soon be moving! Decor is one of my biggest passions right now, and I'm looking forward to sharing more here on ABM.
What about you? Do you have a New Year's resolution? We'd love to hear. xo. Emma + Elsie
88 Comments
My goal is to write more and post on my blog (www.voilalovely.com) regularly. A Beautiful Mess is among the list of blogs I read every day, and I want to join in on the fun!
Your goals always inspire me. My #1 goal this year is to BE BRAVE. I’ll be pursuing some dreams I’ve not yet followed and be expanding on projects I’ve been afraid to finish. Thanks for your ever-inspiring blog (and books)! Happy New Year.
My husband comes from a large family and one year at Christmas I asked my mother-in-law for a calendar with everyone’s birthday written on it. This was 10 years ago and I still have that calendar. I break it out every new year and put all the birthdays on my new calendar.
every year I strive to truly enjoy a food I currently truly despise. 2013 was olives. I hated them to the point where I practically gagged when I smelled them or tried to eat one. I avoided them until about mid November, and caved. I pushed myself to eat them every chance I got (which is a LOT living in the NYC area!), and now I can say I truly enjoy (at least 1 kind of) olives!
I’ve overcome my hatred for yogurt, mushrooms, sushi, and several other in the recent years. 2014 will be the year of the beet for me. I want to like them so bad, but to me they really just taste the way that really organic soil smells.
by the time i’m 90 there will be no food I don’t enjoy…
(unapologetically inspired by my 87-year-old grandmother who hates garlic. GARLIC, people!)
cheers to a happy, successful, and inspiring 2014!
jenn
Just a tip, heres how I organize my yearly goals: I buy a little pocket calendar book, one that has a decent space for every day, not just weeks. I come up with as many as 6 goals and write them in the inside of the front cover, numbered. Then, at the end of each day I write all the numbers and just a word or two or three on how I did on my goal 1″ didn’t get chance” 2″great:-)” or 3″forgot:'( “. I’m extremely disorganized and yet this works splendidly for keeping me accountable every single day for the goals I have, without forgetting them, and being able to have more goals then I would if I weren’t organized. I think of it sometimes during the day even, when I’m tempted to be lazy, “I’d better ______ or I’ll have to write it later”
lovely resolutions – and best of luck in completing them!
My goal this year is just to take better care of me and what I have. I just started working for myself and I don’t think I am optimizing that flexibility. I want to grow my business and get out of debt and I think I have a great foundation for that going forward.
great goals to have! good luck to you!
http://chelsealeighbeauty.blogspot.com/
These are perfect goals. I haven’t made my new goals but I better get on it.. as NYE is tomorrow!!
xo, Juliette Laura
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
Those are really nice resolutions! Mine are so boring, comparatively (finances, diet, work on being kind). Good luck!
http://cuddlyasacactus.wordpress.com/
It’s great to read other peoples resolutions/takes on new years resolutions! Best of luck to you both! I’m just writing my new year post now, it’ll be up tomorrow – blogging is my resolution 🙂
Great resolutions! I wish to focus more on my artistic career and future. And my family of course!
ANDREA
I great way to remember birthdays every year is to write them on a perpetual calendar! You never have to transfer them to a new calendar and risk missing one, you just use the same one each year!
Great goal setting ladies 🙂
-Aims
http://lelanjolie.blogspot.com/
Just a comment for 2014. I would like to see more Fashion from ABM in 2014. I’ve been missing that recently from this site. I really enjoy seeing the outfits you two put together, that’s what got me hooked on checking out this website. As a recent wife & homeowner myself, I understand the cooking and home décor focus, But Please, Please I Love to see what you sisters are wearing, I love your style.
Awesome goals! I am with Elsie – I have way too many goals I want to set for myself so I’m trying to narrow down a couple I can really give my all to.
I’d really love to see you two bring back Everyday Elsie/Everyday Emma in the new year – I loved those personal blogs! 🙂
Health for happiness is my main goal. And I’m trying to keep in mind that health is way more than just diet and exercise, and that all of the aspects of it are important. I want a healthy, happy mind, body, spirit, soul and I’m gonna do my darndest to make that my priority this year.
My goal for the new year is to learn French. I’ve already started and love it so far!
xo
http://bluepoppyblog.com
These are great resolutions, for the past couple of years, my friend and I have set ourselves challenges for things we want to do over the next year, like swim in open water, visit a new country, see a play a month etc.
I’ve really liked this way of organising goals as they’re very achievable
I’m thinking about mine for 2014 now
http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/
I’m buckling down for my first 365 project. No theme. Just a photo each day. Can’t wait! Also looking forward to seeing more of your home/studios. So much inspiration!
I just followed your ig elsie 🙂 don’t have nyr yet, still thinking…you 2 have lovely nyr, I am sure you’ll make it!
http://www.comedomenica.blogspot.com
Let’s hear it for the decor lovers! Can’t wait for your book to come out. Now we know why you have been holding out on the home decor posts 😉
I came up with my strategic business goals for 2014, put them in a quarterly action plan, and created a pretty graphic of my strategic goals and saved it to my desktop. Now when my computer starts up, its the first thing I see and gets me into the mindset of focusing on the big picture things that are going to make 2014 AWESOME!
Thanks for sharing your resolutions with us.
Last year I had a decision to stop forgetting important things, and I did a great job with colorful planner and weekly goals.
This year I want to publish a paper, graduate, get a job, run a half marathon and do more little projects in our flat.You can say I’m a modest girl :p
My resolution is to post on my new blog everyday! Your blog and lives are such an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your lives with us!
Morgan
delightfullydistressed.blogger.com
I can’t wait to see the fun home decor you guys came up with! Also, Emma, I know you’ll share the best recipes and cannot handle the suspense. Happy New Years to you both!
xo Laur
laurynlasko.blogspot.com
In the new year I intend to be more organized with my (photography) business goals, to plan ahead and ask for help more often. Reaching out is challenging for me, but always worth it.
I want to say yes to new adventures, while working and saving towards buying a home.
I want to continue working at creating balance. I want to breathe deeper and have more patience.
I want to cook more and take more hikes.
I am not going to let myself be intimidated by unknowns. I am going to face things head on and learn from my experiences.
I want to have more conversations.
THRILLED to hear about the DECOR book 😀 pretty much my favorite aspect of your blog. (the fact that you share diy projects and inspiration from your home and others…)
as for resolutions for me? i think i come up with them all year long. about a month ago i decided fitness was going to get turned on its head for me. im off the road and in the gym now. so keeping with making health a choice everyday (jaime eason is my muse) i also aim to get a few really “big DIY projects done for my home early in the spring so i can enjoy them all year 🙂 a pallet ottoman (thanks pinterest) and painting a nightstand among a few others. and i have a bunch of small diys to do to get the feel in my apt id like. so much fun!
thank you so much for the daily inspiration! the mixes of color palettes and bold patterns and all sorts of things have kept me busy planning and shopping! (AND MINIMIZING! love shopping at and giving garage sales)
HAPPY NEW YEAR ABM! here is to MANY more. (ps ive followed you since about 2009. <3)
Emma – Can you share with us how you plan to attack the Martha Stewart cooking school book? I’ve attempted that in the past and couldn’t figure out how to approach it! I’d love to cook along with you.
To be very intentional about self care. Even it is simple as a hot bath once per week w lavendar oil. Left an abusive marriage, and he got the kids most of the time. Life can be excruciating as I seek to find my identity on Christ and work through the hurt and betrayal of him, friends, nasty court system. It is vital to care for me before I can care for others.
Can’t wait for the book! Have a happy new year!
My resolution is to stop unnecessary spending to save up for a house or a holiday 🙂
My goal is to actually spend more time in the kitchen. It’s not that I don’t like cooking…..I’m lazy and I live alone so……it’s not as exciting for me. But my doctor told me I have an iron deficiency because I don’t really prepare meat for myself which means that I don’t eat enough of it. So I have to change my habits and cook more often.
I have a few resolutions among them is creating more. I love to draw, sew and make things so I would love to do more of that and just be a better person.
well last year I decided to be a copy cat and do a 365 picture project! I ended up doing it on facebook, and created an album dedicated to that project, and to make it super fun i had a focus, my 5 year old daughter! so i took (as of today) 364 pictures of her and never missed a day! i am pretty surprised and since we just added a new addition in the form of a baby brother, i think i will start 365 project all over again and have little dude be my focus! I am so excited!!!
Like Elsie, New Years brings out the idealist in me and I make a list of new things I want to try. My passion is art and I work in many mediums. This year I want to add simple jewelry soldering and peyote stitched jewelry to my creative list. I also plan to draw and paint whimsical animals. I like how you both used the word PASSION. That seems better to say – My passion this year……” 🙂 I love your recipes and fashion and decor posts. I wish you both a successful and beautiful 2014.
Hi there! I live in Amsterdam, and here in the Netherlands nearly everyone has a birthday calendar hanging in their bathrooms (as in, where the toilet is). It’s one of the things expats find rather strange, but if you’d be up for it it’s a pretty great system! It’s not-done for people to write their own birthdays on others’ just randomly, because we keep them for yeeeears. Wedding anniversaries are sometimes on there as well, as well as year of birth (or a small cross when someone has passed away).
Happy new year! X
I love your guys’ resolutions. Decor is definitely one of my passions as well.
My goals for the year are to get my blog on (I bought my domain at the beginning of fall); and really, just be happy and simplify. =)
This is so awesome. I desperately need to do this but am too afraid to try things. You have inspired me.
awesome resolutions! I want to get more organized thats mine! xx. gigi. http://www.gigikkitchen.com
Good luck girls, blessings. Here are mine if you want to read it http://www.princess-corner.com/2013/12/goals-2014.html#.UsJBevTuLbA
xo Ruzu
Your food and decor posts are among my favorites so I’m psyched about your resolutions! My main goal for the year is to spend more of my time offline- crafting, running, and writing letters to far-away family. Cheers to a wonderful 2014!
Good luck with your resolutions girls!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
I am on the verge of launching a new business here in the UK (www.partyboxed.com), which I will run alongside my full-time job so my goal for 2014 is to really make a go of it and see what happens!
Good luck with your resolutions and Happy New Year to all at ABM x
Lovely goals! I’m going to try something similar this next year, a business and personal goal each month. Keeps me on task all year but also gives me a little reward through the demands of a small business. Main goal for the year tho: self publish my first children’s book!
These resolutions are good, I love cooing too but mostly I don’t get that much time to cook. Every year I set my new year resolutions but staying beside it is another story altogether. Anyway, Do have a look at this page of Top Ten resolutions for an interesting read 🙂
My resolutions (in a general sense): make my health a priority (mental and physical so that includes my writing…focus on the writing, Nina!)
First of all Elsie and Emma you two are just such authentic and inspiring ladies…Thanks for sharing life with us/me via your blog!
Ok to my resolution: I resolve to focus on building and enjoying community (personally and professionally) this year through parties, bible studies, coffee dates etc. I found that somehow in 2013 I neglected what I love so much which is interacting and enjoy the relationships I have with people in my life.
xx
P.S- I’m super excited for your decor book…woo hoo!
Beautiful photos!
You look really nice :))
http://mademoisellejuliet.blogspot.com/
I think it’s good to only have a few resolutions a year instead of a whole bunch of them. SO looking forward to seeing your new ‘office’ progress! Happy New Year!
Great goals!!! I wish you the best for the year 2014. We see you next year 🙂
http://tarragonain.blogspot.com.es
I love NY goals. I love that for women that have accomplished so much, you still have goals too 🙂
Mine are:
1. Spend more time with my family.
2. Say something I am grateful for every day.
3. Don’t sweat the small stuff.
4. Slow down a bit, ok – A.LOT.
5. Work on building my blog.
6. Continue learning French (practice more).
7. Run a half marathon. Try for a full, don’t beat yourself up for failing.
8. Get better at hair & make-up.
9. Do yoga, meditation (that will help with No. 4).
10. Try to improve the day of everyone you come across. Happiness spreads, yo.
http://www.creamstop.com
The 365 challenge sounds great!
http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/best-of-beauty-sales.html
Ihr zwei seht echt toll und sympatisch aus, die bilder sind wunderschön!
Frohes neues!
Happy New Year to all of you friends 🙂 What’s your plan…? How you want to celebrate this New Year Night….?
I want to share some fun with you. An app which I think very interesting for sharing New Year cards. I shared different kind of new cards through this app on my Facebook and G+ account. If you want to share free ecards through your android and iOS devices so you can download and share multiple colorful cards. You need to search “New Year Season Greetings 2014” from your android or iOS devices. Its free. Thanks 🙂 Happy new year again with lots of wishes 🙂
Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=suave.seasons.greetings
iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/seasons-greetings/id779396962?ls=1&mt=8
I have only one really big goal for 2014…my boyfriend has his 30th birthday and I want to throw the biggest party of his life! So lets do this 😉
Apfelblütchen
You::Me::Us::Forever
Hey! I have kind of been not reading many blogs I used to love lately, and I just came back to yours and it has been so refreshing to flick through all the posts I have missed! I have tons of goals for 2014, but one of my main ones is to be more motivated and live in an organised space that makes me happy!
Love, Ruby xx
my biggest goal: not buying clothes for me.
this past year i committed to not buying “new” clothes for me and even it was hard at first it got so much easier throughout the year. for this year i decided to take it to another level…
and of course i have some little things as well, mostly concerning my family and our daily life…
I have a lot of mini goals for this year but my main goal (as silly as this is going to sound) is to keep my clothes off my floor! It’s easy to just throw clothes on the floor after work when I rush to get into yoga pants but I really want to work hard at making sure everything has its place.
this is a GREAT IDEA!!!!!!
Oh my goodness, it’s been my resolution to cook my way through Martha Stewart’s book for years! I bought it when it came out and only ever made it through the stock section. Good luck! Maybe this will be my year to do it, too!
Really great resolutions and I wish you both an amazing year 2014 that the dream come true. xaxa
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
I hope you will both achieve your 2014 goals!!!
Happy Stylish New Year!
x
Nina
http://trendsurvivor.com
I’m turning eighteen in two weeks,graduating from high school in summer and going to university(for Journalism) in the fall. Even with those things in mind, i am starting a collaboration blog with a friend along with maintaining my motivation and happiness.
Love and happy New year’s to all.
Yours goals are great!! I would like have your books, kitchen and home decor ! Thank you sisters for all your inspirations!!
http://evaetsandra.com/
My goals next year are here!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! lots of LOVE!!!!
Very inspiring goals! Here’s my new years resolution: http://fashionably-lateblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-years-resolutions.html
xxo Stephanie
Great goals! Reachable also. I posted mine on my blog, and linked your blog under one of my resolutions, which is to complete my own project life. You lovely ladies are wonderful and I love seeing what you are up to through your blog!
The rest of mine are here:
http://delightfullydistressed.blogspot.com/2013/12/resolutions.html
Lovely resolutions – I agree that sometimes they need to evolve and grow with a person, otherwise they can be really hard or impossible to stick too!
I wrote about mine here: http://thefashionablefabulist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/cheers-to-new-beginnings.html
Thanks for a great post guys – Happy New Year.
Louise xx
http://www.thefashionablefabulist.blogspot.co.uk
Lovely resolutions – I agree that sometimes they need to evolve and grow with a person, otherwise they can be really hard or impossible to stick too!
I wrote about mine here: http://thefashionablefabulist.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/cheers-to-new-beginnings.html
Thanks for a great post guys – Happy New Year.
Louise xx
http://www.thefashionablefabulist.blogspot.co.uk
For remembering birthdays and anniversaries, I have used BirthdayAlarm.com for at least 5 years now. It’s fantastic — no spam, no pushy e-mails. Just enter the birthdays (or have the web site send e-mails to your friends to ask them to enter) and tell it how far in advance you want to be reminded.
I’m thrilled that you guys are making a decor book! You’re work is so inspiring, and now that I have my own place to decorate, I can’t wait to use your ideas as home inspiration! I love the new goals. I try to make simple ones that I can stick to and stay true to who I really am and what I love.
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
I just want to say thank you for putting out such amazing content and following your dreams–it is the number one reason ABM is such an amazing and inspiring blog and company. The ABM app has truly changed my life haha 🙂 Bravo on a fruitful year and I look forward to reading your blog in 2014. You girls are truly an inspiration. THANK YOU!
Maybe one of your resolutions can be to not post the same stupid pictures over and over again. Maybe another resolution can be to not link to the same posts over and over as a lazy way to make some money. Maybe a third resolution can be to volunteer at a soup kitchen and give some of your time to those less fortunate than you… oh wait that’s bad for your twee little “brand”? Sorry. Have a magical New Year!
You are cute 🙂 Both. Lovely photos ! Great post ℓα ℒιcσrηe – ℒa vie est ℓa petite ℓicorne.
I am focusing on my new blog and having a connection with different and many people. I’ve become just a hermit and really want to focus on growing personally and professionally.
Also- a tip for birthdays: a family friend would sit down and create a binder of birthday cards for the year. Every month she reviews it and sends out the cards. She has pockets and folders with the dates and names and which card is for who.
You’ve re-inspired me to cook through Martha Stewarts cook book! It’s been awhile since I’ve opened it up. I also can’t wait to add more homey touches to my rental!
Love home decor! I’m trying to do more DIY projects to add to my future apartment too! And though I have 10 resolution/goals total for 2014, I’d say my main goal is to better embrace my creative urges by painting or making or writing every day.
It’s fun to be rembember that quality is often better than quantity 🙂 Have a great 2014, mine will be really busy, looking foward to it !!
xx Kel
I didn´t make resolutions last year and I won´t make this year. But I have a special goal which I will/have to reach. Graduating from university with a Master of Arts that is. And after that, finding my first real job.
I know, already now, that this is going to be a tough phase for me, writing the thesis and so on. And then the interviews, etc. But I´ll try to stay of good cheer and be employed by the end of 2014 with my first grown-up job.
To accomplish my 365 and keep blogging (http://thatgirlblogs2014.blogspot.com. To migrate away from Facebook. Biggest goal is no drama(!!) in 2014.
Thanks for sharing your resolutions! They are inspiring, as I would love to commit to remembering birthdays more or making my house look even better, decor-wise. I know this year will be busy for me being in grad school, working 2 jobs, all while being a newlywed and some traveling commitments. Plus I’m working on my Etsy shop that I neglected last year due to our wedding and other events. I usually like my resolutions to be about learning something, as I think they’re more attainable that way (at least for me). Given the jam packed year ahead, I think I should focus on organizing more to make my life as simple as possible. Be it organize my closets, write everything in my calendar and most importantly, plan ahead. I should do even the smallest things in advance, so when a big event comes up, I’m not scrambling all over the place (I was SO unorganized this holiday). That being said, my New Year’s resolution is to learn how to be more organized! Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and for helping me think through my own resolution!
I forgot to mention that I’m super excited about you coming out with a decor book!! Can’t wait!
Malina, I’m currently in Grad school for Art Education! (And working 2 jobs). Grad school is so time consuming, it seems nearly impossible to make a new year’s resolution! I am keeping it simple and going to focus on learning how to be more organized. Congrats on working towards your Masters and good luck with your thesis! The job will come after all of your hard work, I’m sure. At least, I keep telling myself that, because I need to look for a job at the end of the year too! 😉
great goals! i am so excited for your decor book!!
xxoo,
nikki
http://www.dreaminneon.blogspot.com
Mine this year is to wash off my makeup EVERY night. No more falling asleep with makeup on; even after a hard night of partying LOL
-Gita
http://www.mimiandchichi.com
Great resolutions!
I just did mine..
http://tinytransformations.blogspot.in/2014/01/goals-for-2014.html
Emma, I’ve also struggled to remember birthdays. Last year I made sure to put all birthdays in my calendar. At the end of each month, I would review next month’s calendar and mail out birthday cards all at once to be sure I did not forget them in the general day-to-day chaos. This worked out really well for me – it helped me recognize loved ones on their special day and most received their cards early, which made them feel like they were celebrating their birthdays the entire month!
I keep all the important birthdays for family and friends in my google calendar. Three days (or a week for international friends) before a birthday I have a task to mail birthday card or gift so I don’t forget. I haven’t missed a birthday since starting that system.
Good luck! I don’t really have any except to just carry on the healthy eating and less yelling 🙂
Jenn,
I was just in New York for christmas… Le Pain Quotidien has an amazing smoked salmon salad with the most delicious beets I’ve ever tasted! They had almost none of the soil taste.
You should start there! 🙂
All the best!