It’s that time of year for reflection and refinement so I’ve been looking back at 2015 and making plans for the new year.
2015 has been an amazing year with the arrival of baby A and has literally flown by. I feel very settled now I have completed my family and I am excited about watching both my babies grow up.
It has also been great to see my blog grow and to achieve some collaborations with big brands including Holland & Barret, Which? and Hipp Organic. It has also given me the opportunity to advocate for allergies by working with Allergy UK and National Allergy Strategy Group.
So what’s next?
Get some sunshine
I feel like I haven’t seen the sunshine for years! I used to travel a lot and have been very lucky to see some amazing places and I really miss them. We went to Spain this year but managed to pick the one week without much warmth and our trip to Texas for Thanksgiving was drizzlier than the UK. So I need a holiday. A proper holiday with a beach, sea, sunshine and a sneaky cocktail or two.
Make the blog pay
I have been very lucky to earn money from my blog this year and receive some great products and perks. But I want more! Receiving positive feedback and meeting some inspirational bloggers has made me believe that I can grow this blog into a business and that is really exciting.
Sleep, sleep, sleep
Isn’t this every parent’s goal?! J has never been a good sleeper and baby A is still feeding multiple times a night so a full night’s sleep is a distant dream. My husband and I are planning a night away in a few months’ time and a nice long lie in.
Climb the milk ladder with J
At J’s last allergy tests his results for milk were very low so we have been given the go ahead to introduce it slowly using the milk ladder. So far he has been absolutely fine with baked milk and I hope by this time next year he will have had pizza, chocolate and possibly even fresh milk.
Save some money
In the last few years our outgoings have gone down and we can live comfortably but as I am freelance I only get statuatory maternity allowance which is not much. Once baby A is in childcare a few days a week I can get back to work properly and start saving for the house extension that I really want.
Write more articles
My background is as a freelance journalist but it has taken a back seat over over the last few years. Recently I read an article I wrote for The Guardian about Saying Goodbye to my family home and realised how much I miss writing things like that. So this year I would like to try and write at least 3 newspaper/magazine articles and hopefully more.
Advocate for allergies
It is shocking to realise how little understanding, training and funding there is for allergies in the NHS and it explains why so many people struggle to get the diagnosis and treatment they need. Now I am facing the challenges for a second time with baby A and still experiencing hurdles I am determined to use my voice to raise awareness and help advocate for my little people’s needs.
What are your goals for 2016? I’d love to know.
A great achievable set of goals you’ve made there and some are very similar to mine! Best of luck and here’s hoping 2016 is a productive and prosperous one for you x
Thanks! You too x
good luck with your goals. they all seem very achievable if you put your mind to it. Hope 2016 is good to you x
Yes, I think they are and definitely help me fous. Hope the year is good to you too x
I can relate to the allergy comment, Monkey has an egg and sesame allergy and we ended up going private in the end to get the tests done because he as so young when we found out and didn’t know if there was anything else. Sorry to hear you are having to go through the same thing again! Keep me posted on how you get on as I am expecting our second in May and suspect the same issues xx
Sesame was one of the first ones we discovered with J after giving him hummus through baby led weaning. I can’t believe how difficult it has been to get the referral I need with baby A and I have now started weaning her too. I can totally understand people going private but it’s so sad that has to happen. Fingers crossed for that baby 2 skips the allergies x
Good luck with you 2016 goals, I have set a few achievable ones and I hope to continue earning money from my blog this year too.
It’s a great way to earm money, good luck!
Oh what great goals – I too want my blog to pay! I had a great year last year with it, and know I can achieve more. Good luck to you! Kaz x
Thanks, I hope you achieve everything you are hoping for x
Sleep is one of my goals I need to stop working until the wee hours of the morning and get some rest. Great goals hope they go well?
I’ve usually hit a wall by 9.30 these days!! But then I know I will be up every few hours for the rest of the night so have to step away from the computer.
I love these goals. I have a plan to get more sunshine to help me absorb vitamin D more and sleep is always a good one. Angela
Fantastic set of goals – and they are measurable. I love the work you do with allergy uk and you’re right it’s so quickly glossed over when so many people struggle, early diagnosis would be able to help so many more. Good luck with the milk ladder as well x
Thanks, I am really happy I can use my blog to try and help others and hope this is the year J can kick milk’s butt!!