How to Make 2017 a Great Year!

Another year is ending. Are you ready for the new year?

Since this is the final post for 2016, I thought it would be fitting to post a recap with some of LadyBug Blog’s 2016 highlights and to share my personal dream chart for 2017. Look for a link at the end of this post so you can create your own dream chart.

LadyBug Blog’s 2016 Highlights:

• 34 total posts, including this one (Post #99)
• Guest Blogger for the first time in April 2016 on DLRPrepSchool
• Continued growth across social media

Instagram 2016 Analytics:

• First joined Instagram in August 2012
• Over 690 posts
• Over 720 followers
• Top 10 posts ever:
  

  Picture Credits: Krista | @cadisneykidd on Instagram |

• Let’s connect! Find me on Instagram = @cadisneykidd

Pinterest 2016 Analytics:

• First joined Pinterest in September 2011
• Over 14.3K pins
• Over 480 followers
• Typical pins are about Disney, travel, photo tips, recipes, crafts, DIY, and more!
• Let’s connect! Find me on Pinterest = cadisneykidd (“Krista’s LadyBug Blog”)

Twitter 2016 Analytics:

• First joined Twitter in 2014
• Over 1.7K tweets
• Over 2.4K followers
• Typical tweets are about Disney, travel, photography, project management, current events, “on this day” in history, etc.
• Let’s connect! Find me on Twitter = @kamescook

Facebook 2016 Analytics:

• First joined Facebook as “Ladybug Blog” in May 2015
• Over 140 likes (followers)
• Typical posts include links to blog posts, shared Instagram photos, shared FB posts that may be of interest to my followers (i.e. Disney, travel, photography, DIY crafts, etc.)
• Links to my blog posts and shared Instagram photos tend to be the most engaging with followers
• Let’s connect! Find me on Facebook = @ladybugblog

Thank you for following this blog! You may have noticed that the second half of 2016 had fewer blog posts than earlier in the year. In early summer 2016 I decided to make a career change and started taking classes at night school. For the rest of 2016, I have been juggling class and homework, along with my day job and my blog. However, I realized I miss writing and the other creative aspects having this blog provides. So, my plan is to write more blog posts in 2017. Your comments, likes, shares, pins, retweets, and all the other ways to connect via social media are much appreciated.

Personal Dream Chart for 2017:

Many people make New Year’s Resolutions, but this year I have decided to complete a New Year’s Dream Chart. I first saw this idea on a Disney Bloggers Facebook group I’m part of and the creator, Jessica McDonald of TheHealthyMouse.com, was gracious enough to allow me to share it with all of you. Be sure to click on the link – the graphic is beautiful and, of course, Disney inspired!

Here are the categories for the Dream Chart:

• Restaurants I want to go to…
• New skills I want to learn…
• Places I want to travel…
• Vices (or Habits) I want to give up…
• Career goals…
• Books I want to read…
• Ways I want to give back…
• Experiences I want to have…

It is said that accountability is the best way keep your dreams, or plans, on track. So here is my completed 2017 Dream Chart and I’ll keep you posted throughout 2017 with my progress.

Restaurants I want to go to:

• Steakhouse 55 at Disneyland
• Mister A’s for dessert in San Diego
• Breakfast Republic in San Diego

New skills I want to learn:

• Photoshop
• Microsoft Project
• One Note
• Making podcasts
• Creating webinars

Places I want to travel:

• Aulani Resort in Hawaii
• Kentucky (visit my husband’s family)
• Northern California (visit San Francisco, Walt Disney Family Museum, and family)

Vices (or Habits) I want to give up:

• Drinking soda
• Avoiding (or postponing) exercising
• Impulse shopping

Career goals:

• New position in the field of project management
• Continued growth and development with LadyBug Blog

Books I want to read:

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Silent Language of Leaders by Carol Kinsey Goman
• The Revenge of Analog by David Sax
• On Fire by John O’Leary

Ways I want to give back:

• Spend time with family & friends
• Pro bono project management work
• Practicing kindness, showing grace, & smiling more

Experiences I want to have:

• Watching the Parade of Lights up close in San Diego (Dec. 2017)
• Riding in a helicopter and/or hot air balloon
• Staycation at the Hotel Del Coronado
• Haunted Tour of San Diego, including Old Town
• Visit the Whaley House in Old Town San Diego

Looking forward to 2017:

You may have seen these quotes on Facebook in recent days. I have chosen these as my personal mantras for the new year:

“Be Kind. Work Hard. Stay Humble. Smile Often. Stay Loyal. Keep Honest. Travel When Possible. Never Stop Learning. Be Thankful Always. And Love.”

“Never regret a day in your life: good days give happiness, bad days give experience, worst days give lessons, and best days give memories.”

If you want 2017 to be your year: “Don’t sit on the couch and wait for it. Go out. Make a change. Smile more. Be excited. Do new things. Throw away what you’ve been cluttering. Unfollow negative people on social media. Go to bed early. Wake up early. Be fierce. Don’t gossip. Show more gratitude. Do things that challenge you. Be brave.”

2017 – “More happiness. More love. More laughter. More sleep. Less drama. Less Stress.” I’m ready!

These are a few ways outlining how I plan on making 2017 a great year. Be sure to download your New Year’s Dream Chart from TheHealthyMouse.com. Enjoy!

What are your dreams, plans, and/or resolutions for the new year? Looking forward to hearing from you!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”