Howdy ho, Laughing Lemons!

If you’re a regular reader, you might have noticed that I took the last few weeks off and invited some amazing guest bloggers in to talk to you guys.

The reason for that is because I’ve been going through some very deep thinky thoughts about my life and the future and direction of Laughing Lemon Pie.

When I started this blog, I wanted to be a resource to people who wanted to live well (and eat organically) on a budget, and I think I’ve done that pretty well.  I’ve reached more than 1,600 of you who have signed up for my email newsletter, more than 500 who join me on Facebook, and plenty more who just click around here on the website.

I’m very proud of what I’ve built here, but I think I want more.

Living the good life isn’t just about food.

I’ve come to realize that—while food is still a huge part of my passion—living the good life isn’t all about eating like a foodie.  (That’s a BIG part of it for me, but not all of it.)

I’ve been working through Danielle LaPorte’s book, The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul, in which she coaches you to come up with three words that describe your core desired feelings.

In other words, instead of setting a resolution or a goal like, “I want to lose 10 pounds this year,” you might say, “I want to feel energetic.” (Because getting to “energetic” could look a lot different than “lose 10 pounds.”)

My core desired feelings for 2014 (at the time of this writing) are:

Elegance, Balance, Abundance

After a lot of thinking and working and journaling and reflecting, those are the three words I’ve come up with that really describe what I’m after, what I want to feel.

And the really cool thing is that they totally mesh with Laughing Lemon Pie.

For example, elegance, to me, is about a beautifully set table, a lovingly prepared meal, a leisurely dinner time, small portions, savoring every bite.

Balance means a lot of those things too—like small portions, exercise, and savoring every bite. It also means family time (and family meals), taking time away from work for the things that matter, and taking time for things I enjoy.

Abundance means buying the organic foods that make me feel elegant and balanced, shopping the farmer’s market, spending a little more for quality ingredients, and so on.

And I want Laughing Lemon Pie to reflect those feelings even more in the coming year, so stay tuned! They may be small changes, but they will have a big impact.

How I am planning 2014.

Of course, I’m not suggesting that those should be YOUR three words—you have to discover what your words are for yourself.  So, I thought I would share some of the tools and resources I’ve been using to plan 2014 in case you’re looking for some inspiration for your next amazing year as well.

First, as I mentioned, I’ve been reading The Desire Map, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I actually bought this book/program when it cost more than $100, and I think it was worth every penny then—but now, because of a cool deal Ms. LaPorte struck with a traditional publisher, you can get it for right around $20. (Kind of the steal of the century, am I right??)

Next, I also use Leonie Dawson’s Create Your Amazing Year planners.  There’s one for your business and one for your life—I do both of them, and I do believe they helped me double my business in 2013.  As part of the “closing ceremony” for 2013, I went back over last year’s goals, and I was astonished at how many I had achieved.

Here’s what some of the beautiful pages look like:

And here’s the cool thing: Leonie has redesigned some of the workbook, so it looks better than ever, AND it’s cheaper than ever!  Only $9.95!  You definitely want to invest in this one if you’re interested in setting some totally magical and achievable goals for 2014.

And finally, I just found out about Shrink Session from my guest poster, Maya Gaddie, when she wrote about techy tips and apps she used to lose almost 70 pounds.  But then, of course, I just kept seeing it here, there—everywhere!  So I finally signed up, and I’m so glad I did!

Shrink Session is unlike any workout program you have ever done. It will tone and tighten every muscle in your body, but it will also lift your spirit and transform your life in ways you don’t normally see from just a workout.

The program is brought to you digitally through a private Members Area where you are given 4 different Sessions. Each session includes a 45 minute full body workout, a guided meditation, and action sheets containing life coaching practices and tools to help you tap into your desires and create a plan of action for your dreams.

The workout itself is a combination of cardio-dance, kickboxing, yoga and inspiring affirmations. Expect to sweat—because this workout REALLY kicked my booty the first time I did it—but expect to feel better about yourself and your life when you’re done!

This one really fits in with my goals of balance and elegance—with an added dose of positivity to keep me moving when I don’t want to!

I’d love to hear what your goals, resolutions, or thoughts are for 2014.

Will you be setting traditional resolutions or focusing on one or more words for a brighter year? Will you be using one of these tools—or something I’ve never even heard of!—to help you set or achieve your goals? SPILL! We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Happy New Year!