QUALITY. That was my word for 2019. The previous year had completely drained me, and I knew I needed something to push me in creating a better 2019 for myself and those around me. I wanted to focus on the quality of my relationships with loved ones. I wanted to focus on the quality of my crafts and my business. I wanted to focus on the quality of my life as a whole. I wanted to be a better daughter, sister, lover, friend, employee and entrepreneur. I spent 2018 pouring myself into people and things without getting a drop of water back. Not to say that things have to be 50/50 all the time or at all but I was wearing myself thin. The only way to survive 2019 was to pull back and only feed energy into things that made me happy. 2019 was definitely my year to be selfish in the things that I wanted. Here's my year in review.

Things I’m Proud of from 2019:

 -  Saying goodbye to toxic friendships

 -  Mending a relationship I thought had no hope in being fixed

 -  Growing my craft business (adding balloon garlands to the service list)

 -  Saying no to projects that don’t feed my soul

 -  Starting this blog (hi, thanks again for being here, I love you, k, bye)

 -  Planning my own wedding

 -  Getting married (yes, those are two different things lol)

 -  Staying within the budget!!

 -  Making new friends

 -  Taking my walk with God more seriously

 -  Attended church (only twice, but we’re taking baby steps)

 -  Hosting a successful Christmas party

 -  Listening to my mind and body, resting when I need to

 -  Teaching Naia how to sit, lay down and stay (we still have a long way to go)

 -  Working my first wedding (thanks to my dear friend @laneydarling)

 -  Surviving the loss of my father (still a work in progress)

So, what’s my word for 2020? FOCUS. 2019 was such a year of growth for me in life, love and business. For 2020, I want to hone in and really focus on all the things that I put time and effort into last year to ensure that they continue to grow. Earlier this year, I told myself that I wanted to set up some type of fund to give back to children in need. I had this idea of saving a portion of all sales and using it to buy materials for arts and crafts for sick children in the hospital (specifically the cancer wing). Coming from a family who has dealt with it, I would never wish it upon anyone. The toll it takes emotionally, mentally and physically is difficult for everyone involved. A lot of children don’t have someone to be by their side all the time. Parents have to work, cousins and siblings have school and doctors and nurses can only do so much. I guess, I need to work on my crying too because I literally cry at everything. I know I have to be strong for these warriors. More than anything, I would just love to get their mind off of things for an hour or two. I’m still working out the logistics, but this is one of my biggest focuses for 2020.

Things to Focus On in 2020:

 -  Letting go (mostly of things, I have yet to meet a crafter who isn’t a hoarder... anybody? lol)

 -  Giving back: setting up a % per project fund to donate back to kids in need (please share any advice)

 -  Dealing with my anxiety

 -  Continuing my walk with God and attending church more frequently

 -  Strengthening my marriage and making new memories together

 -  Spending more QT with loved ones

 -  Cooking: learn 1 new recipe a month

 -  Organize the office / craft room closets

 -  Teaching Ares & Naia more tricks

 -  Health: get back into yoga and working out

 -  The positive things in life

Whether you have a resolution’s list or word of the year, I’d love to see it. Share with me in the comments below!

With love,

Linh