new year, new beginning

I happen to really love New Year's. My husband and I typically take it easy and watch the ball drop in our pajamas, cuddled on the couch! I appreciate ringing in the new year with that sense of calm and comfort, and I can't lie - I happen to love resolutions. The OCD organizer in me gets so excited to look over the past year and remember the things I did well, and the things I did...notsowell. Setting goals seems to be ingrained in my DNA, so resolutions are always a little fun for me! And honestly - nine times out of ten I actually keep the resolution and meet the goal. You know, not to brag. But yeah, I sprinkly hearts love resolutions.

As I look back over 2011, I'm a little stunned at how MUCH my family accomplished. 2011 was the year of my family for me. I spent most of my efforts and time helping our family adjusting to an entirely different state, culture, and climate. My husband and I have worked to make communication and quality time a priority, and we're both constantly seeking to sharpen our parenting skills. 2011 also brought a 60 lb. weight loss for me, so I'm sure you can imagine the time I took to work out, plan meals, track calories, and stay motivated.

Oh, and clothes shopping. Everyone knows the best part of losing weight is suddenly "needing" new clothes!

I worked hard with Serwa Chic in 2011 and kept up with the steady stream of orders coming through, but advertising, promoting, and growing the business just needed to take a back seat to my family this year.

Now that my life is more stable (and of course, now that both my boys will be in preschool starting in the fall), I'm ready to take a new look at Serwa Chic. I'll be spending some time praying and seeking God's thoughts on this business and my professional future, I'll be deciding some action steps, and I'll be working towards accomplishing the goals by the end of 2012.

Some of the idea swirling in my head are to register for and attend several craft fairs throughout the year (especially the summer), to aggressively pursue stocking my products locally, to advertise, and to re-calculate some of my prices.

So look out, 2012. Here comes Serwa Chic, armed with a battery of goals and action steps!

Whether your New Year's will be spent drinking cocktails with friends or snuggled on the couch in your pjs, I hope you get a chance to reflect over 2011. Remember that mistakes aren't failures, they're an opportunity to learn and adjust. Happy New Year!