What's your New Year's resolution?

I'm nosey and genuinely want to know

At my New Year’s party last year I taped two pieces of green construction paper to my wall with the title “What’s your New Year’s resolution?” and insisted everyone write down at least one thing they wanted to accomplish in 2023. This year I didn’t host my own party, but I did walk around with the notes app pulled up on my phone illuminating my face shouting, “What’s your New Year’s resolution?”: buy a lotto ticket every week, order something new off the menu of my regular restaurants, buy more intentionally, go to Italy, stretch more, run a half marathon, get more d*ck.

If you recognize one of those goals as your own thank you for sharing it with me and without further ado here are some of my very own!

alright, let’s f*cking gab

Read 40 books — Before 2023 came to end I read 38 books which is more than I sought out to read and more books then I’ve read in my entire life up until that point. In 2024 I’m hoping I can keep up with that habit and perhaps improve on it by a book or two.

Reach 500 subscribers on Substack — Hi, yes, that’s where you come in so if you’re reading this and aren’t subscribed you should, like, maybe subscribe.

Only purchase one (1) clothing/accessory and one (1) makeup/hair/skincare product a month — In 2024 I’m hoping to shop more intentionally and move towards a closet full of things I love to wear. Through buying one thing a month I’ll be rewiring my brain and shopping in an entirely different way. I’ll spend more time searching, comparing and feeling each piece. I created this pinterest board with this new goal in mind and I’ve been adding all my wishlist items there. It’s really beneficial having all of that kind of stuff in one place so that I can see what I’m yearning for, what’s worth my money and what I’ve changed my mind about. I made this tiktok talking more about this particular goal. The rules are:

• Replacements do not contribute to the one thing a month.

• Thrifting/second hand does count.

With this practice I’m hoping I save money, but more so, I’m hoping I just make smarter financial decisions because at the end of the year I’ll have acquired just 12 pieces of clothing and just 12 beauty products that I absolutely love.

These are my January purchases: Baggu Puff Sleeve and Crown Affair's Finishing Gel. So far I’m happy with them! The gel is unlike any product I’ve used before and is helping with my frizzy curls. The Puff Sleeve is doing a very good job at protecting my glasses that have been sitting loose in my bag for months. I like this case because it’s not bulky and still protective. I’ve been wanting it for months, but never liked any of the color options until I found this pink in store!

For every book I read, I can buy one new one — In a very similar vain to the previous goal, but more than one since I finish about three to five books a month. With this goal I’m hoping to just be more mindful when spending money which is why I like setting these kinds of parameters for myself.

Try new recipes — I want to make a cheesecake from scratch, as well as bread. I want to cook a nice steak. I want to cook more Spanish/Mexican food. I want to try and make sticky toffee pudding because I had it at restaurant in DC and it was probably the best dessert I’ve ever had. I’m sure this list will expand, but that’s what it’s looking like right now.

Light more candles — This one is pretty self explanatory. I just want to set the mood more and not be afraid to burn my candles because that’s what they’re for.

Intentional screen time — Whats a resolutions list without the idea of spending less time on our phones. I love being connected and inspired by what I see online, but at a certain point we’re past it and it’s just a little numbing.

Those are my resolutions for now! I have that green construction paper somewhere in a bin in storage and I will keep that entry in my notes app even though some of the resolutions I recorded are illegible. I love you! Happy New Year (is it too late to day that?)!

Wanted to include this picture of what’s in my bag for a few reasons: 1) It has 35K views on TikTok which is crazy so if you’re here from that hello! 2) It includes my new journal which I’m loving and is where i wrote all of these goals for the year so it’s relevant 3) it’s a cute picture

Xx,

Gabbie