I have been so negligent about blogging over the past few months. After moving to Chicago, starting a new career and attempting to decorate my apartment (which is still a work in progress…), I lost focus and dedication in blogging. I think about Little Wonders every day, though, so I haven’t completely fallen out of touch!

There are a few fantastic resources I have stumbled upon over the last few weeks that have given me a lot of insight into what I want to get out of 2012. I had such a rough start to 2011 and an emotional personal journey, I made the decision late in the year to make 2012 mine and truly work toward my happiness. Little Wonders is a huge part of that happiness and it is a huge part of who I am. Learning to embrace and appreciate all of the small things is what gets me through even the toughest days!

With that in mind, I have come up with a few goals that will (hopefully) keep me on track in my business and personal/blogging life

1. Diligence and Discipline 
   I absolutely refuse to sacrifice these values this year. Whether it be in the office, the gym, or just at home, it is so important to hold myself accountable for the goals that I want to achieve. In all of my experiences, these values have been reinforced over and over again: In martial arts, “Excuse is weakness!” In cheerleading, “To get what we’ve never had, we must do what we’ve never done.” In sorority life, “Together let us seek the heights.” So, why should I stop now? “The greatest oak was once a little nut who held its ground.” Time for me to hold my ground, grow my brand and share my experiences with the world.
2. The Chicago Marathon (pending!)
   I have been seriously considering signing up for the Chicago Marathon. I have never been a runner, but I think that’s why it appeals to me. I stopped working out after high school, but I want to get back into it and try something new. I’ve been reading up on the training and it claims that if you can run a mile, you can run a marathon. The reward of finishing something like that is enough to motivate me to at least attempt the challenge. Official registration begins February 1 and I’m going to sign up for a gym on Thursday! That’s one step in the right direction!
3. Genuineness
   With Little Wonders (and everything else), I strive to share only the things that I truly care about, that have actual value and that are in good nature. Along with that, I am looking to a close photog friend of mine for some help in shooting some new photos for the site, in addition to working on a new design for the blog and brand as a whole. One of my goals this year is to solidify  the LW brand and come up with some kind of official merchandise, whether it be a business card or a coffee mug, that I can have with me at all times to remind me of my purpose!

Although I have many more internal goals, these are the three that are most important to me. I really want to focus on being a better, more well-rounded person and I want to share that journey with all fans of Little Wonders. I promise I’ll get back to fashion and beauty news after this, but an official update was definitely in order!

xx

ak