You can only become truly accomplished at something you love.
Don’t make money your goal.
Instead, pursue the things you love doing,
and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.
(Maya Angelou)

Happy February to you, my lovelies! I am so thrilled to begin a fresh month, especially since we get a bonus day on the 29th. How did your January shape up?

I completed the Whole Living Action Plan as I intended. Giving up processed foods, added sugar, dairy, gluten, caffeine, and alcohol for four weeks seemed daunting at first, but I’m so glad I went for it. I also finished reading Style Statement. I’ll share my reactions and reveal my statement soon!

REVIEW :: January Intentions.

• Drink 10 glasses of water daily. I got to 10 glasses daily by the 3rd week. One helpful trick—I keep a full glass on my nightstand & drink it up first thing in the morning.

• Get to bed by 10pm & wake up by 5am. Progress! I’ve started to wake up around 4:55 without an alarm. I love rising just before my phone starts buzzing.

• Eat clean, work out, smile. I took the first week easy to give my body time to acclimate to the cleanse, but I worked out 5 days each week for the rest of January!

• Blog to schedule – 12 posts. Nearly got it. I ended up reading Style Statement slower than planned, so I only posted 11 times. Keeping to my content map has helped immensely and I’m determined to hit my posting goal this month.

• Sign up for 1/2 marathon. I’m registered for the RunRaleigh Half Marathon on April 15. Total miles on my training schedule? 205. Time to make a new playlist!

SET :: February Intentions.

Thanks to those of you who shared your enthusiasm for the iPhone wallpaper I created with my January goals. I loved it so much that I plan to make a new one for each month. Check out my goals for February below.

CELEBRATE :: I’m Looking Forward to…

• #febphotoaday. I joined Fat Mum Slim’s #janphotoaday late in the game and never got into a good photo-taking rhythm. I’m looking forward to giving February a serious try. Come say “hi” on Instagram, I’m @kaileenelise.

• A date a week. Taking a social sabbatical in January was great, but I’m ready to see my friends again! I have something fun on the calendar for each week: a night at the theater, Valentine’s Day with my Mister, 1/2-off sushi dinner with my girlfriends … and I’m hosting Bunco Night for a group of my 12 closest Chapel Hill friends.

• Visiting Yoga G33k. When Courtney and I met last year, I knew we would see each other again soon. I’m thrilled to go see her for a weekend of fun, yoga, and girl talk.

• Getting crazy. Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Diet is next on my list of 12 Books for 2012.

What are your goals or intentions this month? My word for February is Heart (my originality is scary) so through the month, I’ll be striving to infuse love and heart in everything I do.

Image Credits:
15/365 – Hold My Heart via Helga Weber
Weekend Love via Always Bë Cool

Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.
(Rumi)

I recently attended a goal setting session at my local lululemon. I went with my friend and an open mind, hoping to learn something new. The event began with introductions, then a brief visualization of where we hope to find ourselves 10 years from now…

What would you dare to do if you knew you could not fail?
Describe what you see, hear, and feel in your ideal life.
Who is there? How do you spend your time?
Where do you spend your time?

My vision?

A chic and cozy apartment in a big city with my Mister and our two little ones. He’s off to work while I stay home to watch after the babies and manage my successful healthy & creative living empire. I write (articles, books, and my blog), teach yoga, eat all organic, and live my life with abundant love. I’m a leader within my community, make self-care a priority, and have plenty of time to enjoy my family.

I’m trying not to judge myself too harshly, but it kinda seems like I want it all.

After the visualization, the leaders provided instructions on creating S.M.A.R.T goals and gave us some time to brainstorm our visions, 10-year, 5-year and 1-year goals.

What are S.M.A.R.T. goals, you ask? There are variations, but this combo works for me:

Specific
Measurable
Affirmative
Realistic
Timely

Next, they opened the floor for participants to share. I immediately froze, looking intently at a spot on the wall, the back of my hand, and straight through the yoga mat under me. Anything to avoid getting called on! While I’m usually outgoing, I get shy about my goals.

My intentions and dreams have shifted a lot in the past few years. Time and experience will do that to a person. The good news is, our goals are in constant evolution — and it’s ok to change your mind.

I’ve been playing with this visioning concept since the event. Along with reading Style Statement, I find that I’m asking myself these questions:

Do I really want that? Why?
What would achieving that mean to me?
What would I do once I got there?

Dreaming big is scary — especially when we can’t see a path from where we are and where we hope to go. But that’s where the magic lies. In the shimmering possibility of dreams. There’s something delightful about not knowing.

For now, I’m focused on exploring my dreams and examining my hopes. I plan to use this worksheet to get specific about vision, 10-year, 5-year, and 1-year goals and will share more about the process when I do. Please share your thoughts on goal setting and dreaming big in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!

Image Credit: Ambassador Summit 2011 via lululemon athletica

If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while, waiting for you,
and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living.
When you can see that, you begin to meet people
who are in your field of bliss, and they open doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss and don’t be afraid, and
doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.
(Joseph Campbell)

This fall, I will be celebrating my blog’s 3-year anniversary. Three years of showing up, sharing inspiration and connecting with more creative souls than I ever imagined possible.

The keys to a happy blogger? Make a plan, set realistic expectations, write as often as you can, and believe in a little magic. Then wait to see what happens next.

My intentions for this year and KaileenElise.com are one in the same. I plan to focus my energy on living a healthy, active life. I want to blog regularly, but without the pressure and pace of posting daily. I have a content map, plus a long-term strategy and short-term goals. I’m giddy about what’s next—eager to curate links, quotes and images that will inspire you.

I’m quite fond of outlines, lists and game plans. Knowing this, I identified 12 intentions for 2012. Guideposts for this journey, touchstones threaded through each month. Overall, this year is about focus and heart…with a touch of sparkle!

Hat tip to Lifestylista Monica McCarthy for the wonderful idea of compiling a vision board of sorts for 2012 intentions. I love how mine turned out. It’s going straight to my desktop—and I plan to create mini versions for my iPhone each month.

Have you done something like this for your blog? I’ve never sat down and thought an entire year through like this, so I’d love to know more about your experience!

Image Credits: My Work Desk via DeaPeaJay
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

I believe that everything happens for a reason.
People change so that you can learn to let go,
things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right,
you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself,
and sometimes good things fall apart
so better things can fall together.
(Marilyn Monroe)

The last month of 2011 has arrived! Are you ready for it?

This is my favorite time of year. I am feeling giddy about twinkling lights, cozy sweaters, wrapping presents, Christmas music, holiday parties, visiting family, living in gratitude, reflecting on the past, ringing in the New Year, dancing, singing, and celebrating.

It’s hard to believe that Gwen, Cali and I were kicking off #reverb10 this time last year. Now the project has been turned over to the community. Yesterday I shared my plan for #reverb11 — with a loving invitation for you to join. During the week I will be writing to each prompt in my journal, then posting thoughts on Saturdays.

Life’s been busy, but so very good to me. I set my intentions for November in this post, and while I didn’t cross everything off my list, it was a great month.

The Highlights:

• Try 2 new recipes: Yes! Come back this Sunday for a new series I’m calling Good Eats & Gratitude.
• Workout 5 times each week: I didn’t reach this goal, but I did run 8 days in November, for a total of 20 miles. Better than nothing!
• Run 2 races – 5K on 11/3 & 8K on Thanksgiving: I’m proud to say I actually made this happen. The 5K was super tough, but the race last Thursday was wonderful.
• Finish reading A Place of Yes and Loving Frank: I got through Frank, even though it was a slow read. The ending was a real shock, so I’m glad I didn’t give up. A Place of Yes has been tough to get into, but I’m determined to finish soon.

December Intentions:

• Write, journal or blog daily.
• Contribute to the #reverb11 community.
• Mail Christmas cards by Dec 12.
• Enjoy festivities with family & friends.
• Take more pictures!
• Set intentions for 2012.

And how about you? Share your intentions and goals for December in the comments below!

Image Credit: Snow “Explore” via Luis Hernandez – D2k6.es

One more thing… Join me in celebrating a new season of sparkle! Sign up today to receive Inbox Inspiration and Muse Memos.

Hello friends. Thank you the sweet welcome yesterday. It feels good to be back!

Do you set goals for each new month?

It’s something I like to do — and it seems to be very popular across the blogosphere. However, my personal goals have been nothing more than good intentions recently.

My aim for November is to truly dedicate myself to the goals I’ve set. They are a bit ambitious, but I know I can achieve them with some extra focus and enthusiasm.

• Blog 5 times a week
• Try 2 new recipes
• Workout 5 times each week
• Run 2 races: 5K next weekend & 8K on Thanksgiving
• Finish reading A Place of Yes and Loving Frank
• Finish Christmas cards
• Plan gifts for family & friends

And you? I would love to know more about your goals for November, and if you have any tips for goal-setting success!

Image Credit: [101] there is a river made of light. via Stephen Brace

One more thing! Would you like to join me in celebrating a new season of inspiration?
Sign up today to receive Inbox Inspiration and/or Muse Memos.

No one would ever have crossed the ocean
if he or she could have gotten off the ship in a storm.
(Charles Kettering)

I’ve written a lot about being busy and prioritizing what’s important. I have a very aspirational nature that comes out in full force through my to-do lists, goals and intentions. Sharing the next plan I’ve crafted is fun. I enjoy envisioning the ideal end-point and then solving backward to each tiny detail.

It’s certainly part of who I am and how my brain works. At the same time, this nature often pushes me to the edge. I bite off more than I can chew. Overcommit. Sign up, volunteer, and say yes to things I probably don’t have time to do.

There are 145 emails sitting in my inbox. Over 800 unread items in my Google Reader. Just over 30 books that I haven’t cracked open sitting on my bookshelf at home. I bought a few workout DVDs over the weekend to help me cultivate a wellness routine, but I’ve yet to break a sweat. There are several September magazines collecting dust on our coffee table. I signed up for Hot Dates and Align Your Website, but have fallen far behind on both.

It actually helps to lay it all out there. See in type where I feel behind. I used to think that there was a finish line I was running towards. When I graduate from college. When I get my first real job. When I buy a new car. When I lose 10 pounds. When there’s more time. When we move in together.

The whens come and go, don’t they? We are always in it. Living, breathing, existing, stretching and pushing ahead.

For me, it really isn’t a matter of balance. (Even when I’m tempted to label it that.) I have always been someone with many areas of interest, but most of my satisfaction comes from doing a few things really well. I’m thinking about revisiting 168 Hours. I did the worksheet last year and took a few things from the experience, but I know there’s more to learn.

How about you, my lovely friends & highly intelligent advisors? What strategies, resources or tactics do you employ to get where you want to be? To be totally ok with standing exactly where you are?

Image Credit: Untitled [86] via Stephen Brace

We all live with the objective of being happy;
our lives are all different and yet the same.
(Anne Frank)

There’s something about September that brings me happiness.

It’s still very warm where I live, but there’s a hint of cooler times ahead. The seasons are starting to shift. This last 1/3 of the year always flies by. I think it might be my favorite.

I have a few goals for this month. Intentions that I hope will help set the stage for a fulfilling and joyful fall season.

Blog daily. Celebrate my 2 year blogiversary with inspiration, confetti, glitter & love. Then get focused on Hot Dates from Sarah J. Bray and Align Your Website from Gwen Bell.

Practice weekly. I miss my regular yoga practice. It’s time to start small and work my way into a routine.

Read. Books, blogs & magazines. Often.

Save money. I’ve had more than my fair share of reasons to go shopping this summer with moving and starting a new job. September is about saving.

What are you seeking this month? Do you have any mega goals or tiny to-do items?

Image Credit: Untitled via Luis Hernandez

There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things
we crave most in life — happiness, freedom, and peace of mind — are
always attained by giving them to someone else.
(Peyton Conway March)

I’m welcoming summer with open arms.

The first half of this year has been rocky, but I can feel change coming. The shifting seasons and passage of time bring a reminder that everything we experience is fleeting. Moments of joy, heartbreak, struggle, celebration—all temporary. It is both a gift and a curse. It is the magic of this experience we call life.

I’m welcoming summer with open arms.

The next few days I plan to cultivate my ideal outcome for the next 6 months. When the year comes to a close, how do I want to feel? Who do I want in my life? Where do I want to be? What do I want to have accomplished? How much money do I want in my bank account? What goals do I want within my reach?

I’m welcoming summer with open arms.

From the silly to the serious, I am ready. This is the season of fresh roots & uprooting. The season of trying new things and embracing old favorites. My mister and I will celebrate his 27th birthday and our 3rd year together. Family will visit. Our closest friends will become parents to a brand new baby boy. We will see summer blockbusters, sip wine, lay by the pool and enjoy the warmth of the sun.

How are you welcoming summer?

Image Credit: My Rainbow Has Fallen Down by Scarleth White

We do not have to become heroes overnight.
Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up,
seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared,
discovering we have the strength to stare it down.
(Eleanor Roosevelt)

I’ve been looking forward to the fresh start of a new month. June has arrived and for the first time in awhile, I am not interested in discussing what happened in March, April or May. It is time to look onward — and it’s time to return to my roots.

For the next few weeks I plan to focus on what brought me here. I wanted to invite creativity, joy and abundance into my life. I hoped to inspire others, to teach lessons on making each day an extraordinary adventure.

This has been a challenging year. I’ve tiptoed around the details because they’re more personal than I’m willing to share online. I’ve had my bouts with sadness and radio silence, balanced with momentary flourishes of blogging brilliance.

When I started this blog nearly 2 years ago, I wasn’t in the best place either. This blog led me to friendships and inspiration I never dreamt possible. It’s time to return to my roots. It’s time sprinkle confetti and crank up Florence + the Machine.

I have great intentions for June — interviews with inspiring individuals, a gift swap, goodie giveaways, notes on making every day an extraordinary adventure, tips on finding your inner spark, an updated blog roll, fresh playlists, revisions on your favorite archives, a juicy new project and lots more!

Image Credit: I Love You Blogs and Coffee Print (Kraft) via jenniferramos on Etsy

It is impossible to live without failing at something,
unless you live so cautiously
that you might as well not have lived at all.
(J. K. Rowling)

Hello friends! I’m feeling excited and energized after a fabulous blogcation. The time away gave me a chance to relax and reflect, all while showering my Mister with extra smooches.

It’s really nice to step back and breathe. I’ve taken pauses from blogging before, but this is the first time I didn’t feel guilty about it. Pre-planning definitely eased my discomfort, but your encouraging comments helped me stand firm. Even though I was tempted to tweet, I surprised myself by staying logged off Twitter for a few days too!

I recently mentioned that it seems like I’ve lost my way. This is something I know we all go through from time to time — and I also know that the best way for me to get out of a funk is to get moving.

Over the next few weeks I plan to revitalize my workout & healthy-living routine, reevaluate my spending habits, reboot my online presence (a return to frequent posts & a spring swap!?), and reconnect to the people/moments/things that make my heart sing.

It might sound like a lot to bite off at once, but I’m promising to be patient with myself and to release my all or nothing tendencies. A little yoga here and there, mixed with some reality TV and healthy home cooked meals — sounds like the adjustment I’ve been craving.

Hopefully you will enjoy seeing more of me ’round these parts. I am definitely looking forward to rebooting and reconnecting with you!

Image Credit: VI ÄR FÖR JÄVLA BRA! via we♥it