January. A month of new beginnings and renewal. Where we all make decisions to grow ourselves and reflect how far we’ve come. I realized I didn’t have any resolutions to declare when the ball dropped and I got a pang of worry that it was too late to make any. I quickly moved on because being late is what I’m good at. It got me thinking though.
Honestly, the year 2023 wasn’t bad, but also was nothing to write home about. It kinda felt like a blur since I worked a lot. As my W2 forms are coming in, seems like I’m correct. I want 2024 to be something special, but I have no idea on the how. I have started a few new endeavors, now that January is coming to an end. The little endeavors include improving physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
One of the changes I made that I’m most excited about was that I made history and got my hair done! I’ve been wanting to get my hair professionally done for awhile and my Christmas money was burning a hole in my bank account lol I’ve never loved my hair. I like my natural color, but it has always been thin. Too thin. I looked up a few places online and I went with the one that had the most modern website. I wanted something stylish so that’s how I picked. I also wanted extensions with highlights, with blunt ends and waves. I had a consultation and decided to go with 16in extension. Libby, my stylist, ordered a lighter blonde and a darker blond to make it look like highlights without actually being highlighted. Two weeks later, she installed them and I’m so happy with the results! I actually have hair I can curl and play with! It’s the best thing I’ve done all year! It’s made me feel pretty. I know that I am, but it was the icing on the cake that I needed to FEEL it.
Wanting to be healthier, I thought about getting a Planet Fitness membership, but didn’t know if I would really use it much. I’m already not home as much as I would like to be. I heard about AG1 and decided to try it out since I had a discount code. It is a green powder you simply mix with water and you get 72 vitamins in one drink. It came with a free green medal scooper and a matching canister to store the powder, which really sold me on the whole idea. I love cute accessories, I guess lol I’ve been really liking it. I feel like I have more energy and have been getting up earlier. I also kicked the dry cough I had for like 3 months after I started taking it, so I’m guessing it helped. So that is my health kick instead of going to the gym. It’s about all I want to do at this time. Working at the Costco bakery is all the working out I need lol
Another little improvement I’m trying make is to grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus. I have this goal every year. I never want to be at the same place in my walk with Jesus as I was the year before. I want to grow deeper. The “Sunday school answer” to how to grow deeper with Jesus is to pray and read your Bible. I wanted to get back into journaling my prayers so I was on a search for some motivation. Your girl loves an aesthetic journal and Bible so that was my motivation I needed! I found a brand called Hosanna Revival and I got their 5 year prayer journal. It’s a hard cover leather beauty where you can jot down a little prayer over a 5 year span. You can easily glance at the prayers you were praying about 5 years ago after you finish. I’m hoping to keep that journal going. I keep that prayer journal, my gratitude journal, Bible, and then my Jesus Calling devotional all on my table so they are the first thing I see in the morning. I make my coffee, play my “devotional chill” playlist and get started. It’s been an enriching morning tradition.
You might be thinking, how do you improve yourself emotionally. The answer is in the gratitude journal. It transforms your mind into thinking more positive. It definitely helps fight the “January blues”. Due to the week of the Arctic tundra, here in Michigan, with the negative temperatures, it was hard to do much. It kinda made everyone depressed. Cold. Ice. Snow.
My poor Toyota stayed strong through the January winter storms because I still had to work throughout the tundra. Costco never closes. After work, I noticed the zip tie broke that was holding up the side of my bumper. I tried to find one at Costco, but no luck. I walked over to the Dollar Tree next door in the fridged temperatures. The cashier said her and the customers saw me walking and hoped I didn’t have to walk too far in the cold. I bought two packs of zip ties there, but they were short lived because they all snapped on me while I was putting them on. Never buy zip ties at Dollar Tree. I ended up using some twine Costco uses to tie the carts up with and that held me until I drove to Menards down the road to get some wire. She is now attatched with wire until my brother has time to come up with a more permanent contraption to attach my bumper since it got cracked and loose from hitting a deer last winter. She is still running good though!
January is also the month I’ve been starting to like and include red into my style. It probably has a lot to do with Taylor Swift, who dresses in the cutest game day outfits. I love her vintage sweatshirts, tennis skirts, tights, and boots! I also love how she supports her man. They are so cute together! I’m not going to lie, Travis is the only guy she’s dated that I’ve actually liked. Over the years, I’ve always been confused about the guys she chose to be with. I always felt like non of them really fit her. Maybe this will be her year to have a good relationship with her boy. I’m hoping this could be my year too lol Anyway, I’ve been wearing a lot of skorts with tights and sweaters. It’s such a cozy option and looks so cute. It’s my go to look. I wore that look with a blazer to jury duty and got complements. I also curled my hair, which I was excited to do as well! I wasn’t chosen to be on the jury for the domestic violence case, but it was a long day because I then had to work my full Costco shift as well.
I really do like writing so I did think about making another goal to write a blog post of some sort once a month, just to update you all on pieces of my life. I don’t want it to turn into a burden though since it does take focus and time, so it’s not a strict goal, but I know I do want to update my blog here more. I think the main dilemma is trying to come up with something specific to write about. Maybe I’ll have to have you all come up with questions to help guide me into what you all want to read about. I haven’t been the most interesting person lately, but I have been keeping something from you all, I’m just not fully sharing that piece quite yet. I have hinted a little in my Instagram stories and I’ve told some of you who have messaged me. Maybe 2024 will be a good year 🙂
As always, feel free to chat with me! I am the most available on Instagram, if you follow me on there as well. My handle is @krystalsmindblog and I share regular life, outfits, links, videos, and more. I just posted a funny reel today that I’m proud of and filmed an outfit reel today including multiple Taylor Swift inspired outfit ideas to wear for the Super Bowl (if you are rooting for the Chiefs). We have fun on Instagram!
