Looking Back at 2022 and Ahead to 2023
Since this will be the first blog of the year, we thought it'd only be fitting if we first took a recap of 2022! Looking back on the past year, we had the busiest year yet with the business, travel, and kids, so it's fun to look back and see where the year took us. Perhaps one of our favorite parts was how much; sometimes for business, sometimes for family events, and sometimes for fun!
The year began in January at Vista Lago, our Lake Havasu City property. We rang in the New Year there and had a wonderful time. We also spent some time in Cancun enjoying the sun and relaxation. Then, we went to Palm Springs for our daughter Avery's cheerleading competition, where she did great. Our next trip was to Atlanta before returning to Cancun at the end of February.
February was also when we discovered The Den, our newest rental property that we can't wait to share. We started the demo and other work on The Den in March and are still excited to have yet another project to work on. This extra property makes us feel like the "super hosts that Airbnb calls us!"
Next up, we traveled to Vegas, then afterward me (Lisa) and Avery went to Orlando with Avery's cheerleading team. They were invited to participate in the All-Star Cheer Summit, which was a big honor. And they ended up placing third in their division! Avery was really excited about how well their team did, and we are so proud of everything she is accomplishing in cheerleading! (As the new school year approached, we discovered that Avery made Varsity Cheer, and we couldn't be prouder. She started 10th grade this year.) Having never been to Disneyworld before, Avery and I made the most of our time in Orlando. We visited a bunch of parks, like Disneyworld, Epcot, and the Disney Animal Kingdom Theme Park - it was the trip of a lifetime and memories I won't ever forget that I got to spend with my daughter!
For Mother's Day, we invited both of our moms to Vista Lago and celebrated there. We always try to do something like this, celebrating with both of our moms at the same time in a relaxing place everyone can enjoy. Then at the end of May, Cole graduated from high school! In June, we went on a family trip to Punta Cana to enjoy the gorgeous weather and natural paradise of the Dominican Republic. Then you can't forget the incredible Fourth of July we also spent at Vista Lago! In August, we all went through the biggest life change together in Cole moving to college! He attends Grand Canyon University and is enjoying college life! We all took a trip together to Arizona to move him in!
Finally, we finished our work on The Den in September or October, that's also about when Matt and I completed 75 Hard. To put the cherry on top of it all, we officially launched our website (where you're reading this on now), and Matt and I celebrated 21 years of marriage together!
What We Learned in 2022
The biggest lesson in 2022 was to take on just one task at a time. Matt and I are go-getters, always have been. Matt being in high-level business and operating multiple vacation homes loves to take on new projects and make big moves. Then I am often busy taking care of our home and creating content on my social media platforms as well. On top of our regular activity, we are professionals at getting busy between trips and moving the kids around that it would be so easy to get overwhelmed; but focusing on just one project at a time made it easy to stay on track and organized!
I'm also a big list maker, which was incredibly helpful in 2022. I make lists all the time and like to physically write things down instead of just making a list on my phone. I always have a list of things to do, and 2022 had plenty of these lists. For anyone intimidated by a long mental list and unsure of when everything will get done, please take my advice and write it down! Once I could see everything that needed to be done, it felt utterly manageable. Plus, part of the joy of making a list is checking things off when I'm done, making me feel accomplished!
Our Goals for 2023
Looking ahead, we have a few business, family, and personal goals.
Personally, I want to step up my health and fitness to improve my consistency. Ideally, I'd like to go to the gym at least four or five times a week and supplement that with extra exercise like using my Peloton and walking. I got a lot of exercise when I did the 75 Hard alongside Matt, so I think the transition to only four or five days a week will be easy! Matt and I were so good at walking while doing 75 Hard, but then life got busy, and it got cold outside. (Is anyone else afraid of the cold?) So, we haven't been walking as much, but I'd love to get back into it for my personal health.
Our Business Goals
Matt and I hope to add another short-term rental to our list. We aren't quite sure where or what type of property yet, so we're keeping our eyes open. There are a lot of beautiful places around Chino, CA, so as we choose, we want to pick one that we would like to travel to ourselves! If anyone has any good ideas, feel free to drop them in our DMs on Instagram at @stay_vistalago!
My Business Goals
I also want to explore my home design business. I've been doing it more low-key, but I want to see if I can take it to the next level. I have a big passion for interior design for anyone who doesn't know. I've had lots of practice since decorating the inside of our house and three other vacation homes, so it would be a blast to be able to expand and start decorating other people's homes who need the help!
Family Goals
We want to be more intentional as a family in 2023. Given how busy everyone is and that Cole's in another state at college, we need to work to plan time ahead and be present during that time. I am sure there are so many other families in the same boat as we are, but once you enter the season, it becomes real in an entirely different way!
Tips to Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions
Matt and I have gotten pretty good at being disciplined. It doesn't have anything to do with how incredible we are as people, but we have had lots of opportunities to practice. So what better time to share some of our tips than the New Year, as we are certain there are a lot of resolutions that are becoming harder and harder to stick to. So without further ado, please enjoy these three keys you need to keep those 2023 goals!
- Be Realistic: When you set your resolution, be realistic about what you can achieve. Be mindful of how much time you have, especially if you have kids and work full-time. Don't expect to go from never working out to working out twice a day - instead, set an achievable goal, then build off of that.
- Plan Ahead: How many times have we had a great idea and gotten overly excited about it, only to realize that achieving it was more challenging than we had thought. Our advice: Write down your goals and plan them. As a list maker, this is a must for me.
- Stay Positive: No matter your goal, you need to have a positive mindset to achieve it. Staying positive will make achieving your New Year Resolutions easier and more enjoyable!