Hey everyone! Happy first evening of 2012! I hope everyone survived (driving, being with family, being out in the crowds, and, most importantly, their hangovers!) I can say with absolute certainly I did have a hang over this morning, and although I was at first ashamed, I went through the night before and determined I didn’t do anything too embarrassing or horrible, so then I felt much better. In other words, I don’t have to apologize to anyone and/or avoid anyone. Hooray! It helps to also be dating someone who doesn’t give me a hard time for being a drunk wench the night before, haha. Blake knows to burn any unflattering photos of me from last night! 
One photo that wasn’t unflattering of me and Blake:
Happy New Year!
Today, when we went hiking! Our New Year’s resolution (which actually isn’t new at all, but oh well) is to be healthier this year and to do fun, active, outdoorsy things with each other so, after my hangover wore off, we went for a hike to go to see sun set. Yes, a chorus of “awww precious” is perfectly appropriate
I would have another lovely photo of the actual NYE night last night, which I just uploaded to the computer, but for some reason WordPress isn’t recognizing the photo and won’t let me upload it. Next time!
One thing I wanted to mention: the category of this post is called “New Year, New Me” (or at least it should be… WordPress, stop messing around!) Anyway, I was reading the latest issue of the best magazine in the world, VegNews, and in the column “Plant-Based Dietitian”, Julieanna Hever recommends making SMART goals to help achieve your fitness and health goals. SMART stands for “Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.” What she mentions in her column is that instead of writing “get healthy”, it is better and easier to follow something more specific, like “eat one cup of veggies 3 times a day at least 5 days a week.” That’s specific, all right!
So here’s to my New Year’s Resolution (let’s see how smart I can get): I pledge to follow VegNews’ “31 Changes in 31 Days.” Unfortunately, I can’t link to the article because VegNews apparently doesn’t published anything online, but I will be telling you basically what the changes are every single day.
There are a couple reasons behind me doing this:
- I’ve wanted to try being vegan for a while now, and I feel like a month is an attainable goal to try it and see how feasible it is for me
- It will keep me accountable (which is huge!)
- It will keep me blogging (that goes along with the accountability issue, plus I want to blog every day anyway)
- It’s SMART
I mean, really. The whole plan is laid out for me and it’s only 31 days. It’s also, coincidentally, happens to be during the easiest 4 weeks of school, so I won’t even have stress as an excuse to fall off the wagon.
For those of you who are curious, I’m not completely a vegan. I am a vegetarian (as I note in the About section) and I mostly eat vegan while in school, but obviously since being back home and not in a familiar setting (plus being surrounded by mostly carnivores – friends and family), I’ve slipped out of veganism and into vegetarianism.
I’m not going to go too much more into why I’m trying veganism right now, nor will I argue the merits of going vegan (for now 
That’s another post! I just want to try and see if I can last a month.
Luckily, I got an awesome present from my Mom for Christmas!!
(source)
I’ve already dog eared three recipes: Berry Suisse Muesli, Cheesy No-cook Sauce, and (of course) Denver Quiche, since I live there Yum!
I’m starting this on January 3rd, since I’ll be traveling all day tomorrow and today I already ruined “being vegan” by eating those freaking delicious waffles for breakfast again… blame the hangover! But Jan. 3rd, expect cool stuff
As for my other’s New Year’s resolution: Work out 3 times a week, strength train 2 times a week, attend at least 1 work out class a week (work out class can count for either strength training or a “regular” workout depending on the class.) I’m super motivated, so I doubt I’ll be breaking this resolution.
And finally: Go out more with my friends! Not to get drunk, but to spend time with everyone before we graduate. It’s my last quarter!! Ahh!!
Until the 3rd, my friends! PS. What are your New Year’s Resolutions, if any? Are you doing resolutions this year?
