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Weekly Wishes #18 { Looking Back }

December 31, 2013August 25, 2015 Crystal // Dreams, etc. Post a comment
Weekly Wishes #18 { Looking Back }

We have reached the end of the year, you guys. Can you believe it? What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? I don’t have any plans yet and I want to keep it that way. Is that bad? Last week was filled with lots of good times and lots of time with other people and while I really enjoyed it I ended the week feeling pretty exhausted. I can’t think of anything better than a pamper night with the rest of the Christmas movies sitting on my DVR and snuggles with Little One to ring in the new year.

If you think that I took this picture just to showcase that adorable little spot on her nose… you’d be right. How many pictures do I have like this? Too many to count!

It’s time for Weekly Wishes and this week we were asked to look back at what we’ve accomplished by creating weekly goals. I’m not going to go into great detail about all the things that I feel I have accomplished in 2013, but here are a few things:

1. I edited my novel and brought it to a place that I am happy with and that I enjoy reading as I go through it one last time to make another round of edits.

2. I pressed send. I guess this only makes sense if you have been in on conversations that I have had with my dad, but I sent my novel into the world and submitted it to a contest. I didn’t make it very far in the contest, however I am still so incredibly happy about the supporting and encouraging feedback as well as the suggestions offered that brought on the round of edits that I am currently in.

2. I learned how to make reasonable to-do lists, although sometimes I do get off track and make massive, unrealistic lists. Still, to regularly make reasonable to-do lists is quite an accomplishment for me. It only took how many years?

3. I developed a workout schedule and stuck to it. I got a little off track with this in December, but once I made working out a priority I did quite well with maintaining a good workout schedule and I know that this week I will be able to stick to the workout schedule that I have created for myself because I have done it and enjoyed it before.

4. I made a commitment to this blog; to writing in it and connecting with all of you. This blog and the blogging community that I have encountered since deciding to make this a priority have brought me so much joy and I am looking forward to all the people I will meet in 2014.

5. Along with committing to the blog, I renamed it.

6. I redecorated my room and put a lot of thought into each piece and made into a place that truly reflects who I am.

7. I celebrated one year with my dog. Does this count as an accomplishment?

8. I read a lot of books.

The Nectar Collective

Speaking of reading books, I’m not going to make my goal of reading 80 books this year. I knew awhile ago that I wouldn’t, so it wasn’t stressing me out too much. (Which is good, I was stressed out enough about other things this month!)  Next year I decided to cut my goal back even more. Between writing, workout out and blogging–all things that I find incredibly fulfilling and important–I think 80 books is a bit of a stretch. Also, there are some longer books that I’d like to read that I’ve been putting off because of my book reading goals, so in 2014 I’m going to shoot for 50 books.

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

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hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

If only we always remembered to be in touch with o If only we always remembered to be in touch with our loved ones regularly; to tell them that we love them.

This thought has been on my mind the last few weeks as I’ve been in touch with one of my best friends almost daily. They’ve been navigating a scary situation.

But that’s what everyone says, isn’t it? Reach out to those you love. Tell them you love them. Don’t let a lot of time pass.

We all know that. We think about it sometimes. We hear about it when others are in crisis. We’re thankful that we aren’t the ones in crisis and we can remember this lesson through someone else.

But eventually we get caught up in life. Our daily “I love you’s” are reserved for those we live with and sometimes we forget to text someone back… or it takes a few days to do so.

This week as I wondered why we don’t remember this more often I realized it’s probably a good thing. It’s a good thing that we can live life without worrying that tragedy is right around the corner. That would be an exhausting way to live.

It’s also good that we can get little reminders, sometimes not from our own life. So from someone who spent one week numb, another week weepy, and this week sad, remember to send your friends a text. Tell them you love them.
I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. 💙
Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. “The water looks cold,” I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. 😂)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
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