happy new year!

hiking through the woods in hot springs village, arkansas while visiting family.

hiking through the woods in hot springs village, arkansas while visiting family.

hello, again!  and happy new year!  it seems like ages since i last posted.  after a fantastic christmas hiatus, jaunt is back!  warning: i am about to enter my busiest time of year at work and, therefore, the posts  may be fewer and far between.  as jaunt tends to help relax and motivate me, though, i may just find that i post more!

these past few weeks have left me a lot of time to think about new year’s resolutions (i know, i know), and i think there are a few worth mentioning:

more art from nasher sculpture center's dallas-wide exhibit - this time at fish trap lake, as seen while exploring dallas with family in town.

more art from nasher sculpture center’s dallas-wide exhibit – this time at fish trap lake, as seen while exploring dallas with family in town.

  • live healthier – this one is a no brainer for some, but actually very difficult for me.  if it was up to me, i’d read all day curled up on my couch while snacking on lemon bars and egg nog.  as it turns out, that dream of a life is not so healthy for me.  luckily for me, i do not have a trust fund to allow me to read all day (sad) and a generous neighbor gave me a free treadmill!  late-night walks: here i come!  walking in my guest room doesn’t seem to embody the adventurous spirit of jaunt, but my upcoming months will be spent working until late at night, and now we’re just talking about a safety issue.
  • live simpler – after our move from los angeles to dallas, we were able to upgrade the size of our home.  with it came oodles of free space – a blank canvas, but also an impossible feat to fill immediately.  remembering that i do not need things to define me is a good lesson, and also allows me to be more particular with what i fill my home.  which leads me to my next resolution..
part of the nasher sculpture exhibit, as seen at the dallas audubon center while exploring with family in town.

part of the nasher sculpture exhibit, as seen at the dallas audubon center while exploring with family in town.

  • travel more – it would seem that traveling more not be very simple.  however, i read a study once (i cut it out and put it in my travel journal) that proves that people that spend their money on memories (i.e. traveling together) are happier than people that spend their money on tangible goods (i.e. clothes, electronics, etc.).  of course.  traveling more could turn out to cost more money, but not if i take smaller, simpler trips.  my husband and i spent some time this past month driving through arkansas, oklahoma, and texas, and i am overwhelmed by all of the places i’ve added to my list!  these are easy trips that don’t take much time or money, bring me closer to my friends and family, and allow me to explore.  this goes hand in hand with my next resolution…
  • spend more time with great friends and family – social media has us keeping up with too many people in our lives, and not enough with those who are dear to us.  this year’s goal is to spend more time with my family (so lucky to be so close again), and my best of friends.  and since people are happiest making memories, i’ve decided to plan a few trips – a couple of family trips this summer, a trip with my bestie perhaps, a trip with friends and the husband…even if just a quick night trip to town nearby, memories will be made, and adventures will be had.

help me stay true to these, and fill me in on some of your new year’s resolutions!

buckstaff bath house in downtown hot springs, arkansas - as seen while visiting family over the holiday - must go back and explore!

buckstaff bath house in downtown hot springs, arkansas – as seen while visiting family over the holiday – must go back and explore!