Wish List for 2014

We are just about a week into 2014! How's the new year treating you so far? Have you started working on those goals you made for the coming year? I need tohold myself accountable for mine. Writing them down for all of you to see seems like a pretty good way to do so. Now I'm putting it in your hands to make sure I achieve (or at least try my absolute hardest) each and every one of them. If I don't succeed, that's okay. I can always give it another go. I just have to make sure there is an attempt. There is nofailing, onlymore chances to try again.
1. I want to attend more food bloggerconferences. I went to my first one two years ago in Orlando and it was one of the most amazing experiences. I was very new to the blogging world, and The Food Blog Forum really opened my eyes and taught me a lot. I joined the Sunday Supper Movement  this year, and definitely plan on going to Orlando for their Food and Wine Conference  in July. I can't wait to meet my Sunday Supper friends! Another big time blogger event is happening inMay — BlogHerFood '14! Lucky for me, it's right here in Miami! It's kind of costly to attend these events, but I really believe they are worth every penny. So fingers crossed that some magical miracle comes my way and I can find a way to get to these two conferences!
2. I want to learn more about food photography, food styling, and really rack up a nice collection of fun food props and kitchen accessories! Here are a few things that have caught myeye... 

Stamped flatware (For Such A Time Designs)

Customizable sign (CountryFolksCreation) 

Chevron placements (Anthropologie)

Vintage canisters (Williams Sonoma)

3. There are a ton of things I want to tackle in thekitchen: RecipesI've pinned, ideas I've dreamed up, FoodNetwork-inspireddishes I want to try... ugh, there are just so many. Biscotti, rice pudding, gooey bars, desserts using avocado and zucchini, polenta, challah, galette,crock-potmac and cheese, curry, kimchi, pad Thai. The list could go on forever; let's hope I can get to most of them this year.

4. I already told you that I'm foraging my way into Pescatarianism now, so no more meat at all for me (with the exception of seafood, obviously, if you consider that "meat."). I don't have an exact reason forwhy I’ve decidedto make this change. I guess it just seemed logical. I'll choose seafood over chicken at any restaurant, and my cooking heavily leans toward a vegetarian-friendly diet. I mean, I ate a bowl full of Brussels sprouts for dinner once (or a few times), and will go back for seconds and thirds of the veggies at any potluck dinner. So yeah, it just seemed like the normal path to take.
5. Last, but not least, I want to travel. I don't know how much of this I will be able to do, since it depends on a lotof factors, but I want to take at least one fabulous trip somewhere. I have a list of cities that are foodie-havens, filled to the brim with must-visit restaurants  and well-known chefs. I've narrowed the list down to the two top spots I would like tovisit this year: New Orleans and San Francisco.
Now that all of you know my goals for 2014, keep me in check. If you have any recipes for the dishes I mentioned I want to make, send them my way! If you know about a blogger conference that I may not be familiar with, e-mail me the deets! If you want to buy me a present, you know what I want! :) And, if you have a private plane and want to fly me to New Orleans or San Fran, just tell me when and I'm all yours!