My 5 Year Plan

Lately I've been thinking a lot about my future and how I want it to turn out. This year I'm turning 25 and I'm not gonna lie, it terrifies me. It makes me feel pressured to figure out how my life needs to be and how it needs to turn out. Obviously I can't control the future (although how cool would that be?), but I do have an idea of what I would like to happen.

It's weird to think that when they were this age, most of our parents were married, had kids and had their career ready. These days at this age, we're just starting our adult lives and still have to figure everything out. Thinking about the future is scary because there's so much that's unknown, but it's also exciting to think about all of the possibilities. 

I have no idea how life will turn out even if I have some sort of plan. All I can do is try my best to make sure I get what I want out of life.

Right now my main goal is to start my career. I had a great office job that I liked, however, I lost my job. The building closed and as I wasn't permanent (had to work 5 consecutive years) and since I could not re-locate, I was on my own to find a new job. I really want to find something that I enjoy and I can make a career out of. Who knows that it'll be, but that's my goal for this year.

I live at home (so does my BF) and we would really like to buy a home. We don't want to rent because we figured all of that money could be put to better use. A house is expensive though and saving that much money isn't easy. We're trying though and we're really hoping that withing the next 5 years we will be able to do so.

My boyfriend and I have been together for 3 years (tomorrow!) and have discussed getting married one day. I know that this is something that I cannot control and who knows if and when it'll happen, but I'm hoping that it will. I have to say, that him and I make a pretty good duo.

All of this is kind of a stepping stone for having a family one day. We've discussed it and we would like to have kids one day. I'm personally hoping that that will happen around the time that I'm 30. I can say that, but it really all depends on when we're ready for that to happen. It's a major step for anyone. I know that we're not ready yet- nowhere near. But sometimes when I see a family, I just think that I want that one day. I want to have a family and do family activities.

Over the next 5 years, I really want to get my life together and settle into being an "adult". I want to feel like I finally have my life together. To feel accomplished.

Like I said, I know that this is stuff that I don't have total control over. I'm going to try my best to make it happen - what I can. And hope that the rest will fall into place.
Those are big goals, but all in all, I just want to be happy and healthy. I want to find my place in this world and truly get my life going.
I want to have love, friendship, travel, good health, happiness and memories. And puppies.

 It's pretty easy to get hung up on the future and forget about the now. I need to remember that while I'm working towards my future goals, I need to live in the present because these are the moments that I'll look back on.

I realize that this isn't the normal "5 year plan" like some people have- where everything year is planned out. These are just my dreams.
Do you have a plan for your future? What do you see it looking like?
Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time,

2018 life changes/plans/resolutions

2018, man. What a year it’s going to be! I just recently got engaged, three weeks ago yesterday, so there will be plenty of wedding planning, along with finally moving in with my fiancée, hopefully getting into shape, and further exploring my passion for cooking and baking (you can find some of my previous culinary endevours at rinacooks on Instagram!).

Up until 5 years, I’d never even kissed anyone, let alone had a boyfriend, so I certainly never thought that marriage would be in the cards. I thought I would settle down in a cute little house with a cute little wiener dog, and the two of us would live happily ever after. Don’t get me wrong, I still plan on the cute little house and the wiener dog, but now I’m going to be making room for one more, with the addition of my fiancée, Poya. It’s taken some getting used to, but I couldn’t be happier.

Now that we’re engaged, moving in together is the next big step. That’s something that is most definitely going to take some getting used to. I haven’t shared a room with anyone since I shared bunk beds with my sister when I was 10. My space is my space, and I don’t like it being messed with. I want to be able to leave my makeup and hair styling tools out, and I don’t want my towels left on the floor. Again, I’ve had 17 years of having my own room. Now there’s going to be someone hogging the covers, and leaving beard hair in the bathroom sink. It’s going to be a huge adjustment.

There will be a lot of pluses to living with him. Waking up every morning with him there, someone to share my cooking with, and watch Netflix with. I’m also so excited to decorate the apartment. We’re planning on moving in May, and I cannot wait. I have so many house wares (I’ll be doing a house wares round up of everything I’ve gotten, on here at some point) and I can’t wait to decide where they’ll all go, and use my new tools. I’m most excited about blush pink dishes from Ikea, and a tabletop greenhouse. It’s all going to look so cute!

The third big change is going to be (hopefully) losing weight. I say this every single year, but this year is truly the year I’m going to make a change. I want to look good in my wedding dress, but I also just want to feel better about myself, inside and out. I’ve started by trying out some healthier lunches and breakfasts, and I’m going to start soon with adding some healthier dinners, and trips to the gym. Ottawa better be ready for me and my bike, because I plan on getting real fit, and there’s nothing like a long, intense bike ride for a spring and summer workout!

My last big thing for 2018 is that I really want to expand my cooking. My goal is to try a new food, or an old food in a new way, every month. For January, I think it’s going to be shrimp pasta of some sort, as I’ve never had unbreaded shrimp before, and for February, I want to make some sort of dish with shredded cabbage, potential something with chicken and a peanut sauce. I haven’t thought too much past that, but I really hope that this can be a year of fun culinary adventures, and a year full of adventures in general!

I cannot wait to get this year started! Let me know in the comments below what your big (and little) plans and goals are for the coming year!