2017 | Goals And That New Year Feeling

Happy New Year you lovely lot!

I know this is such a cliché thing to say but I cannot believe it is already 2017 - I am not ready for a new year yet, to be honest. That is not because I haven't achieved all of my 2016 GOALS but because there is a lot of pressure at this time year - especially online - to appear like you are turning over a new leaf and are feeling "super motivated" for the new year ahead. This is not exactly how I feel and I want you to know, if you are also feeling a little left behind with the whole new year hype, that it is ok to take a bit more time. Ultimately, today is just another day and just because it is a new year does not mean everything is going to miraculously change.

That said I do think it is a good time to set some goals to work towards during the coming year, whether they be goals that you start straight away or you wait for the right moment.

Last year I wrote a similar post but I am not going to obsessively go through the goals I set myself and analyse whether I achieved them or not because a) that could be extremely demotivating, which is not the attitude I want to have going into a new year and b) although they may have been my goals at the beginning of 2016, my mindset has changed a lot in a year and some of the goals have either changed slightly or become less important entirely - and that is also ok.

My first set of goals are to do with this blog. Similarly to my 2016 goal - I want to continue to work hard on my blog content and social media channels. I know that I need to adapt how I produce content, especially during the next few months because shooting outfit photos in Montreal's subzero snowy climate is not always a laugh and all you'll be seeing is different variations of jumpers, jeans and Dr Martens. I also want to up to Youtube game - starting a YouTube channel is one of the 2016 goals that I achieved and am most proud of so I am going to continue to work hard on that too. A second goal, that I want to work on as soon as possible, is updating my blog design and maybe switching to WordPress. I feel that in 2016 the blogging world took design a lot more seriously and as a result many blogs no longer have that "blog look" but are more like professional websites. I want to keep a simple design for Fashion Et Moi but I think we need a little makeover, don'tcha think?

My second lot of goals are career orientated. If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know that over the past few years I have lived in Paris, then Barcelona and now I am in Montreal. While travel is one of the things I enjoy most in life - and one of my 2016 goals was to move to a new city (done!) - living abroad can mean that your job prospects are limited. I am extremely grateful that I have been able to experience a winter without a coat in Barcelona and a white Christmas in Montreal and accepting jobs in retail or customer service have allowed me to do that. However, in 2017, I really want to get a job that I enjoy (and preferably pays well too). This is probably the most important goal for me and I feel that I am already on the right track - I am currently doing a part time digital marketing internship while working in a vintage shop where I run their newly established online shop. A lot can happen in a year so here's to finding my pathway in 2017.

Finally, I find that I am at my most productive and most motivated when I am happy so my last set of goals are about working on myself. I truly believe that nobody is perfect and while that is totally ok, if your imperfections are making you unhappy or hurting others - make a change. I have been able to recognise for a while now that I need to work on my outlook on life, anxiety and indecisiveness and will continue to do so in 2017. Due to my indecisiveness, I can leave a lot of things to the last minute - including writing blog posts late on a Sunday night - which results in higher stress levels. So getting shit done within good time is another big goal for me this year - it will not only improve my wellbeing but also how I work and what I produce. I also want to get back into yoga and mindfulness, which have been rather neglected of late.

So here's to 2017! Who knows what the new year holds for each of us but I hope that you achieve what you want to - whether you start working towards your goals right away or take your time, that is ok!

Izzie x
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Travel Bucket List 2016

So after all the reflections of 2015, the goals for 2016 and a new batch of holiday allowance issued, it is time to start planning and dreaming. Welcome to my Travel Bucket List 2016, which I hope inspires you and takes you to some amazing places. But please don't go to all of them before me, otherwise I will cry.

ICELAND
The absolute top of my Travel Bucket List for 2016 has to be Iceland. After glowing recommendations from my sister, mum and dad who all (separately) visited this enchanting country last year, I am dying to go. I want to see the pretty colourful houses of Reykjavik, bathe in the Blue Lagoon and try to catch the Northern Lights - which is an ultimate life goal of mine. Alas, Iceland might be just a pipe dream for now because it is so bladdy expensive to get there from Barcelona. Anyone want to pay for me?
Photo by Jessica Hardy 

MADRID
Before living in Barcelona, I really had no desire to visit Madrid - I just thought that Barcelona must be better. However, lots of Barca dwellers that I have spoken to rave about Madrid, seeing it as a much edgier, more London-like city in comparison. Well that sounds right up my street and seeing as I am living in Spain, I really must make time to visit the capital. Do not let the Catalans read this because their pride will be hurt and they will probably chop my fingers off!

JAPAN
I have never been to Asia but Japan is definitely top of my list. I want to be able to spend a decent amount of time there so that I can experience lots of Japanese culture and see different parts of the country. I have never really been anywhere before where you have to change the way you act to fit with (or not offend) the locals and I think I would find this so interesting. I am fascinated by the craziness of Tokyo - the neon lights look amazing - and how beautiful is the cherry blossom?!

COSTA BRAVA
The Costa Brava is the coastal strip stretching from Barcelona up north to the French border and it looks like the perfect break away from the city. What makes the Costa Brava special is its mix of both gorgeous sandy beaches and lush natural parks, which means there is something for everyone. Seeing as it is on my doorstep, I will definitely be heading up the coast when the warmer weather hits, in particular to Tossa de Mar, which has the gorgeous little cove in this left photo.

MOROCCO
I have wanted to go to Morocco, and more specifically Marrakesh, for soooo long. I mean just look at all those colours and pretty buildings! That is certainly not something that us British folk are used to! I know that it would be an experience like one I have never had before - different climates, foreign attitudes and intriguing cultures. And of course the most delicious FOOD! Let's be honest - the food alone is a pretty good reason to go to Morocco.

Which places are on your Travel Bucket List for 2016 and why?

Izzie x

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My 2015 Achievements & 2016 Goals

Happy New Year! Bonne Année! Feliz Año Nuevo!

I hope you had a fabulous New Year's Eve - whether it was a quiet night in, a wild night sending you to bed at the wee hours of this morning or a little bougie after a few too many glasses of Prosecco, it is all a good way to enter 2016. I had a lovely dinner at home with Lewis, joined some friends for drinks at their apartment, watched the fireworks at the beach and then was in bed by 2am after wandering through Barcelona's buzzing streets. Perfect.

I am not generally one for setting new year's resolutions but I have found it really useful to look back on the past year - which has had some extreme highs and extreme lows - and recognise my own achievements and set some realistic (and big dreamer) goals for 2016.


MY 2015 ACHIEVEMENTS

1. I changed my blog look and bought my own domain name.
This is something that I had wanted to do for a long time but, typical me, I put it off. Finally in September I got round to it and I feel that this has given my blog and I a new confidence boost!

2. I moved from Paris to Barcelona and started learning Spanish.
This was a pretty big deal for me. I had been putting off and putting off leaving Paris for over a year because it really is just my favourite place in the world. I am glad I made the change and I am proud of settling into a new city and picking up Spanish so quickly. My heart still does lie in Paris and with French though!

3. I worked with some amazing bloggers and brands.
The big one for me this year was continuing my relationship with Motel Rocks and being able to represent them at Paris Fashion Week twice this year.

4. I travelled a lot as well as spending the year living abroad.
After years of wanting to go, I finally went to Sweden this year and loved it! So my kind of place and gave me the Scandi-bug! I also explored France more including Brittany and Lyon, which was lovely.

5. My relationship is still going strong after nearly eight years together.
He is my rock and the one thing that makes me truly happy.

MY 2016 GOALS

1. Continue to work hard on my blog content and social media channels.
I want to improve my quality and quantity of content, including having some (but not exclusively) regular set times of posting so you guys know when to check back here for new posts. I hope to improve my photography to have cleaner and brighter imagery.

2. Increase my blog readership and work towards the goal of full time blogging.
I know that blogging is not all about numbers but when you are working so hard on content, you want it to get seen! Blogging full time is a BIG goal but a girl has got to dream eh?

3. Get a job in an industry I am passionate about.
I am done with working shitty customer service jobs and I want to find my calling this year. Wish me luck!

4. Get to a decent level in Spanish.
I love learning languages so I need to knuckle down and do some serious self-study. I am not being just another Brit living in Spain who cannot speak the language!

5. T R A V E L! And also move to Canada/Berlin/London/back to Bristol.
Travel is my big passion (other than fashion) and I want to see new places this year. I am actually going to do a 2016 Travel Bucketlist next week so look out for that. As for moving, Barcelona is great but we are not staying long. A couple of months ago we managed to get Canadian visas so moving to Canada is a real once-in-a-lifetime possibility! Otherwise I would love to live in Berlin or settle back in the UK in London and Bristol and finally get a cat. We will see!

6. Live more in the moment, stop worrying and take some god damn risks.
I have not spoken a lot about this but I am the world's biggest worrier and have the occasional severe anxiety episodes. I want to live for the now, not worry about the future and push myself in 2016.

7. Go on a yoga retreat.
I love yoga. It is my therapy from all my worries and I had already started working extremely hard on my practice towards the end of 2015. I want to keep learning and I would love to go on a yoga retreat away from technology and worries.

8. Start a YouTube channel?
Having dabbled in YouTube for my job in Paris, I think this year might be the year that I take the plunge and start my own channel. Hell, I may even shoot my first video today! I feel that YouTube is a lot more personal and I would like to connect more with you guys!

So there you have it! My 2015 achievements and 2016 goals! What do you think of them and are any of yours similar!

Izzie x

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