The Best of 2014!

Happy soon-to-be New Year! I really cannot believe how quickly 2014 has flown by, or the fact that we are in 2015?!?! These numbers are just crazy!

Last year, right around this time, I made a complete list of New Year's Resolutions. Not only did they help me stay focused throughout 2014, but they also seriously helped this past year be one of the most productive, happiest years I have ever had! To be honest though, I have not actually read my resolutions for quite a while- I just memorized the general idea of them. So, today we are going to take a walk down memory lane and see what got done!

Triple Blog Readership

This totally got done! Thank you so much to all those new readers who made this possible! We are still a small community, but I am so happy to say that P+K is now qualified as a business because of all your pins and re-pins!! Thank you so much and I am so excited to make pinning a bit easier for all of you!

It is also great to know that you guys enjoy those informative posts like Blue Apron vs. Hello Fresh, Six Ways to Use Push-Up Bars, The Pros and Cons of Orange Theory Fitness, and The Calories Burned at Disney World. Those were definitely the most popular posts this year and I will be sure to keep that stuff coming!

Personally Grow

I had a few ways to do this in 2014 that included more reading, listening to improvement CD's, noticing the incredible and doing something that scared me daily, and going on an adventure. Check to reading a lot more, the daily's may not have been daily, but they were pretty constant, and the adventure- we climbed a mountain, so I think that is a check!

We were also able to take my first trip to Greece and do some adventuring there! That was an incredible. life changing trip and I cannot wait to go back!

Get Better Time Management

This one was more internal than external, but I did manage my time much better in the past year. About three years ago we got rid of our cable; that was the beginning of getting better time management and something I totally recommend. It is amazing how much time the average person spends with the TV on. Take that out and times seems to overflow. With HBO, Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, and all those other streaming services, we are able to watch what we want to watch when we want to watch it without being tempted by everything else on TV.

This year I also started a daily checklist system that we will be talking about more in an upcoming post all about hacks for 2015. I also made a schedule for myself that can be seen here!

Learn Japanese

I started, but did not finish. This year will be different though!

Remove the Excess from Life

This one did not happen quite they way I wanted it to, but the hubs has cleaned out our garage (so much better!), our guest bedroom actually looks like a guest bedroom, and our hard to keep clean closets have all been cleared out. Now, they just need it all all over again. This year, I have the same goals for organization, plus a little extra. We will be getting a custom closet this year and be massively cleaning out what we do not use or do not need. It will be wonderful!!!

Oh, and the buying on a whim? It was going great until that new mall came in. I need to seriously get some self control with that thing there. Thankfully though, I have only been tempted a handful of times!

Save More

We did, we did, we did!! I am so happy about this one because we seriously needed to start increasing our savings. It was not a crazy amount more than usual, but things like using a financial planner, Acorns, and moderation really helped. This year we plan to save a lot more and really increase our investments for the future!

Finances were better tracked, but nowhere near what they should be. There were still times where I had no idea how we had spent such large sums of money so fast. It was like someone had stolen from us, but no such thing happen. This year, I plan on being much more strict with my budget and using Mint a whole. lot. more.

Become More Fit

Yes and no. The first half of the year was the healthiest time of my life. I ran a race (albeit short), did so much more yoga than ever, and tried many many new workouts. Unfortunately, something happened at the end of this year and I gained some serious weight and lost some serious stamina. I am still trying to figure out if this is a diet change, hormonal, or some other health thing.

I also had a goal of running in two races and getting my yoga instructor certification. Although one race was run, there has not been a second. I also had to put the instructor certification on the back burner for some new and exciting business goals. This year I plan to run a longer race and I am thinking that 2015/2016 will be a great time to become a yoga instructor!

Volunteer More

Wow did this happen and NOT in the way I saw it. I have been trying to volunteer at a local aquarium/rescue for all year long, but to no avail so far. Where I have stepped up the volunteering is with All Children's Hospital. I am now the president elect of our guild and the chair of a black tie event. Excuse me while I go vomit and curl up in the fetal position. That is a lot of responsibility.

This year I plan on becoming a Big Sister and getting my foot in the door at our local aquarium!

Get Better people/Social Skills

Well, my hope is that I am on a better path to being better with people and social skills. This is the type of goal that is never really finished, just continued. From my work as a volunteer, I am working more with people. I also kept up my meeting with one friend a week and talking to people I do not know [almost] daily. As for staying in the moment, way better! This goal has helped me see that relationships are the most important thing we can build in our lifetime. Making sure the people we care about know we love and care about them has become more important to me this year than it ever has before. My hope is to continually improve in this category and keep the yearly goals coming!

What about you, how was your 2014 and your yearly goals? I would absolutely love to hear some of this year's highlights for you!

A Few of My Favorite Christmas Things- Plus a Workout!

Merry Christmas Eve! And for some, merry it's so close to Christmas you can almost feel it!! So sorry for a lack of post yesterday, this was meant to be for the day before Christmas, but all well. Christmas day there will not be a post, but we will start back up on Friday! And next week, there will be lots of life hacks to make the New Year happier, healthier, more organized, and an all around kickin year. Of course, there will be plenty of pics on Instagram in the next day or two as well!

For now though, let's savor this Christmas goodness and talk about a few of our favorite things over the holidays. Lately, I have been overcome with feelings about how blessed we are. I can truly say that life is incredible right now, and that is something to be oh-so thankful for! My favorite thing over the holidays is spending time with friends and family and all the kindness we get to spread around. This year, it feels like everyone has gotten nicer for Christmas instead of more rushed, stressed, and just plain mean. The general goodwill towards our fellow inhabitants of this earth is definitely my favorite this time of year.

Of course, kindness is a bit trickier to take pictures of, so let's look at some favorite things around our place instead, shall we! Also, sorry for the lack of super wonderful make you cry at the beauty pictures, these were taken by me with my iPhone. I am not the photographer in the family.

1. Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String

Yes, this is the reason for the post's title. The hubs had a great idea to go super traditional with our wrapping this year and I am OBSESSED. When you put all the packages together it looks like Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel did all our wrapping for us. This paper is also the least I have ever spent on wrapping and the bows are hands down the easiest as well. No wonder Pottery Barn and the like use this as the wrapping of choice, it is wonderful!

We have also added white paper to the mix (swoon), but those will be in pictures later.

2. Cats That Love Trees

Our cats love to sleep under the tree, play around it, smell it (side note: Chuu smelt like a Christmas tree the other day, it may have been the happiest day of my life), and just look at it. The do not, however, enjoy climbing it. That is something I will never stop being happy about.

3. Christmas orchids

These orchids bloom every Christmas and every Christmas it makes my heart happy. This year, we have seven whole buds on the orchid and six of them have bloomed! Chances are pretty high that it will stay like this until my birthday. Just another one of my favorite bits, orchids that seem to have found the fountain of youth!

4. This Funny Stick Village

My Grandma got the whole village thing for us from Crate and Barrel and I am loving them. The fox is especially cute and greets everyone who comes into our house. Too bad I did not get a pic of him. Next time.

5. Live Sprigs

So, this is not the greatest picture ever, but the candle holder is brass, the ornaments are white and silver, and the tree sprigs are green. We also have automatic tea lights mixed in that give the prettiest glow ever to the centerpiece! The color combo, spell of fresh evergreen, the chic but natural look make this a favorite for me. Tree sprigs are also free and can be picked up at any Christmas tree lot. When you cut the stems, it smells like Christmas, winter, and everything happy in the world. Then, put them around your home and spin around in joy just like Maria does on that hill.

6. This Workout

This barre workout has to be on the list because it is just great over Christmas. We are busy and workouts can fall on the back burner list, but this workout can be done anywhere at anytime! It is wonderful and I am loving it this season.

Merry Christmas and I hope your days are sunny and bright and your Christmas is just splendid!

Love,

Jenni

Gifts for the Newbie Fit Friend

Do you have a friend who has recently gotten on the fitness band wagon? Sometimes, it can be hard to shop for these friends since you want to encourage their fitness habit, but not sure what they may already have or what they do not yet need. Personally, I find newbie fit friends to be some of the most fun to shop for! They are so excited about this new fitness world and everything in it can be their oyster. Here are a few of my absolute favorite purchases for that friend who has just gotten into fitness!

1. Foam Rollers ($63.54) These are like the Cadillac of foam rollers. They will last forever, has varying width and densities for a full massage feel, and has less foam than most other rollers. At $63.54, this is also something that most fit friends will not splurge on for themselves.

2. Foot Messager ($39.00) Anyone who has run in old shoes or farther than you planned that week probably knows the pain of sore feet and the dreaded plantar facialis where your arch feels sore and tight all the time. This massager will remove that foot pain and leave warm fuzzies in it's place!

3. Ohm Necklace ($46.00) When I started getting more into yoga the hubs got me a lotus bracelet. This little thing made me feel so special as a person and as a yoga enthusiast. The lotus bracelet is still one of my favorite pieces and the thought behind it inspires me to do my best whenever I see it. A little something that shows we notice hard work can mean a lot more than all the expensive things in the world.

4. Lululemon Beanie ($38.00) This beanie can be worn while exercising as a way to stay warm, or, as a needed accessories in these cold winter months. Don't you just love things with multiple purposes? I know I do! The whole super cute aspect does not hurt either ;)

5. Fitbit Flex ($95.00) If your friend/family member/ person you met that one time at the gym does not have this, it is your duty as a friend to get it for them (or tell them to get it) right away! Fitbits are the best things ever for people just starting their fitness trek. Not only do they measure steps, stairs, and calories, they inspire people to move and exercise far more than said people usually would. Don't believe me, read this.

6. Stronger Bracelet ($25.00) Just like the Ohm Necklace, this bracelet can give your friends warm fuzzies and inspire them to stick to their fitness goals. I also love the engraving, stronger than yesterday because really, isn't that what we all aim for in everything.

7. Blue Apron ($59.95/box) There are two reasons Blue Apron is on this list. The first being that most of the time, being fit goes hand-in-hand with eating healthy. A week or so of Blue Apron boxes will ensure healthy eating (for a few meals, anyway) and also give plenty of cooking ideas, tips, and tricks along the way. And, if you are a Blue Apron customer already, this could be the least expensive gift yet. Each BA member gets five free boxes to share with friends and family. Go on, spread the love!

8. Polar Heart Rate Monitor ($53.50) It is my honest belief that everyone  who works out should wear a heart rate monitor. These will take workouts from grasping at straws in the dark to a complete understanding of how one's body works best. The Polar HRM's are a great intro option since they are inexpensive and easy to set up. The FT4 was my first HRM and lasted me 18-months!

9. Polk Headphones ($53.49) Good headphones are a must when jogging or doing any other single person workout. These Polk inner ear headphones have a sweat-proof design,  interchangeable cords, and an Apple friendly remote option. Yes, I would say these are a pretty great gift!

10. Lululemon Reflective Head Band ($16.00) Nothing says you care more than giving someone something that will help keep them alive. This head band from Lululemon serves that purpose in two ways. One, it is harder to get hit, bumped into, or overlooked when you run with reflective gear. Two, headbands keep hair and sweat out of ones face thus making it harder to trip and fall. Yes, this is $16 of pure love and care.

Gifts for the Fit Friend Who Has Everything

We all know them, see them, and have them as friends and if you don't, chances are you're that friend. The girl (or guy) who is a super fit junkie but seems to have everything days, no, months before everyone else. These people are the hardest to find gifts for, but fear not, getting them the perfect gift is totally in your ability.

To start off this week's gift giving theme, we have gifts for that fit person who has it all. These gifts run the gambit of prices from $20 to $200 and more. The nice thing is, there is something on this list that will be a fit for that fitness junkie in your life.

Ballet Beautiful Classes- $35 each

Mary Helen Bowers is the founder of Ballet Beautiful and the [almost] official trainer for Victoria's Secret models everywhere. She is also the one who trained Natalie Portman for her role in Black Swan. Needless to say she has it going on. Her classes use her ballet background to form intense, lean muscle toning workouts that will give you the body of a prima ballerina.

Ballet Beautiful has a few studios in NYC but, she has online classes throughout the week that you can sign up for and take via the internet! These classes are not run-of-the mill streaming recordings of previous lessons, no, these are classes with MHB where you can see her and SHE CAN SEE YOU. What!?! Yes. Just yes. If you have yogi friends, Pure Barr fanatics, and previous dancers, let me introduce you to the best Christmas gift ever. This is something that almost any girl would flip for and can be added to a bundle with a few of her CD's to really get them prepped. Seriously, Christmas win.

Oh, and I am pretty sure this picture was taken like right after having her first child. Whhaatt?!?!?!

Fabletics $49.95 Monthly

Fabletics is a great clothing distribution site that Kate Hudson helped found. It is a bit like a cheese of the month club, but instead of cheese, you get credits towards fitness apparel and reduced prices to boot. I must admit that when I first started Fabletics, I thought it was awful. But, then I found my right size and, boy, has my tune changed.

This can be a wonderful gift for the fit friends who always looks great does not seem to need help in the wardrobe department. New clothes come out monthly and are chosen from a fit style test taken when your account is started.  This is the type of gift that will go well beyond the holiday season.

If a year membership is not something your wallet wants to give, you can always do a month or two, then let your friend decide if they want to keep it going. This just might be the gift of choice for a few people on my list!

Tory Burch for Fitbit $175-$195

Chances are pretty high that your fit friend also has a Fitbit attached to them almost everywhere they go. Give them the gift of healthy glam this holiday season with Tory Burch's line of Fitbit holding accessories. These beauties come in rose gold, gold, and silver and are made to hold the Fitbit Flex. Personally, I like the necklace ($175) a bit more than the bracelet ($195), but each are quite pretty!

This may not be the best gift for those friends who are biding their time until the Apple Watch comes out, but for all those other fitnessistas, it is perfect!

Sweaty Betty

It is like we went from one day of not hearing Sweaty Betty anywhere to it being all we talk about the next. If you have not heard about Sweaty Betty, they are a fitness line based out of the UK with ridiculously great workout clothes and Lululemon prices to go along with it. No, you may not be able to afford a complete workout ensemble, but a gift card to Sweaty Betty will go a long way in your fit friend's eyes!

Of course, if you know the activities said friend enjoys, their size, and style, you can always pick something out for them instead. It is hard not to love everything on the site so good luck just picking one item.

Here are a few great gifts under $50!