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Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you’re reading this snuggled up somewhere cozy, enjoying some well-deserved post-holiday R&R!

Now that the holiday parties and New Year’s festivities are behind us, it’s all about the resolutions, right?

Hmmm…For me, that answer depends on a lot of things.

I do love the feeling of starting fresh in a new year. Whether it’s cleaning out my closet, organizing my kitchen or researching healthy meal options, it just comes a little easier when I know I have the whole year ahead of me.

But…it’s also a little too easy to get carried away and start piling up resolutions left and right. Before I know it, I’m facing at a huge list of well-intentioned but unrealistic resolutions. And there’s nothing more challenging than starting a new year feeling like you’re already overwhelmed.

So this year, I’m not thinking about resolutions, I’m thinking about balance. Here’s my plan for keeping my goals achievable in 2015!

1.  Make wellness a treat, not a chore. Yoga is a big part of my wellness routine. But just because I love it doesn’t mean it’s always easy to hop out of bed at the crack of dawn to do it. J This year, my goal is to take 5 minutes at the end of every session to appreciate where I am…wherever I am.

 These two pictures are from two of my favorite places on earth – my back yard and a beautiful retreat in the islands. When I look at them side by side, the similarities are striking…a great reminder you can find beauty and inner peace wherever you are. But you have to be quiet enough to appreciate it!  

2.  Music, music and more music. You know how Mary Poppins sings “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down?” Well, for me, music makes everything easier…running, cleaning, grocery shopping. Everything is better with a soundtrack, right? My favorite jam lately: “I Lived,” by One Republic. It’s amazing. Even if I don’t feel like running, just a few notes can completely turn my mood around.

3.  Make healthy choices, delicious choices. Healthy eating is always a goal for me. But that doesn't mean I have to sacrifice the flavors and foods I love best. Sometimes, it’s just about finding new and enticing ways to combine them. So instead of focusing on cutting back, I’m focusing on what yummy things I can add to my menu. Like this delicious – and gorgeous – salad from my new cookbook!

ORANGE POPPY SEED SALAD

8 cups torn romaine

1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained

3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

2/3 cup canola or olive oil

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

In a temp-tations 3.5 quart serving bowl, combine romaine, oranges and walnuts. Place oil, sugar, vinegar, poppy seeds, salt and mustard in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Pour desired amount over romaine mixture; toss to coat. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds. Refrigerate remaining dressing.

4. Buddy up. I find all goals are easier if you have a friend helping you along and keep you accountable. PLUS, extra time with friends…Who doesn’t need more of that? Looking back, my friends have helped me do so many things I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to facing on my own.  So watch out, friends!  Looks like I will be tagging you to help me achieve even more in 2015!

5. Be good to yourself. There’s so much focus on “New Year, New You” this time of year. But I always like to remember that there’s a lot of “old me” that is worth keeping around. I’ve worked hard to become the person I am. And instead of throwing everything out and starting over, I like to use this time of year to celebrate the person I’ve become…and keep that growth going!

Do you make resolutions for the new year? Any leftover resolutions from last year that you’re rethinking? Fill me in! I can’t wait to hear from you in the comments below.

Whatever your resolutions and goals are (or aren’t), I wish you and your family the best for a healthy, happy and delicious 2015!

XOXO

Tara