New Year, New Blog!

I'm sure you've noticed the design and name change. I just needed a clean slate - a blank canvas. I named the new blog Joy + Marie after my grandmothers (these are their middle names). I LOVE my grandmothers, and I feel like if I'm emulating either of them at any given time, I'm doing a good job. So, there you have it. I wanted to start out 2014 by posting some resolutions, to serve as a reminder to myself. None of these are too heavy, but I've always been a list person, and to me, you haven't really made a plan until you've made a list. Here goes...

1. Blog
I met so many fun people and had a great time writing this blog in the past, so I want to try to keep it up again. I think it's important to have an outlet to just free associate.

2. Learn How to Cook Cajun Food
I know - kind of random. I just love Louisiana and Cajun Food and I really want to learn how to cook a good gumbo, jambalaya, and batch of red beans and rice. So, I'm going to try to teach myself this year and maybe by Christmas I'll have it mastered enough to feed to other people.

3. Try Something New, Fitness-Wise
It's important to me to have fun while working out, so I want to expand my horizons a bit. I'll keep my Crossfit, but I want to add in some running and yoga, and I think mixing it up will be good for my body and mind. See also: burning off the red beans and rice.

4. Delete The Facebook App From My iPhone
This serves as a distraction from my family and friends, and honestly, I don't need to know what people from high school had for lunch or to be privy to arguments between disgruntled sports fans.I think it will be a better year without all of this superfluous information in my head. Don't ask me to give up my Instagram though - not happening. You an follow me at @alyssafromtexas.

5. Have More Fun with Clothes and Makeup
I know, I'm getting really deep here. Luckily I've said sayonara to stuffy, financial Corporate America in exchange for a *fabulous* new career with my best friend in the interior design business. In addition to enjoying my days, this also means I get to wear animal print fur and fun nail polish on the daily. I've also become completely obsessed with false eyelashes, which I'm sure I'll post about at a later date.

6. Book a Trip to NYC
I left my heart in New York - no, really though. If you read back in this blog, you would know that I have spent quite a bit of time there. I lived there for a few months, and after graduating college, I visited my best friend and MOH there almost quarterly. As time moved on and I got more serious about work and moved from a "me" to a "we", I just stopped going as much. I feel that a visit to my favorite place is very much in order.


Resolutions that I'm not even going to kid myself with this year...

1. Workout More
I'm good for 3-4 days a week - and that's okay.

2. Be More Social
I always tell myself I'm going to branch out and meet more people...maybe start a bunco group, and that is kind of a joke. I have a handful of great friends and a beautiful family, and that's enough for me. I don't think you have to be a social butterfly to have a completely enriched life.

3. Cut out Caffeine
Just no. I love coffee. I will always love coffee. Everything in moderation.


Honestly, 2013 was not my favorite. Those of you who know me know I live a charmed life. I never want to sound ungrateful, but a girl can only take so much. Here's to hoping 2014 is better!