Top 5 Wish List for 2015

I just don't want to wait around for something exciting to come along this year... I want to pursue it every day with the girls.  I feel like the majority of my life is waiting... waiting for Tony to get home, waiting for nap time or bedtime, etc.  When you're a stay-at-home-parent life can easily become monotonous... especially when you're somewhat of an introvert.  So this year, in all things, I would like to step outside my current comfort zones.  With that, I would like to introduce you to some of the things I plan to do this year.

• 01. GO TO DISNEY.  We plan to make a trip out to the west coast later this year (more than likely this Fall) to visit my brother-in-law, Sean.  While we're out there we will visit Disneyland and I am so pumped... none of us have been to that park, so it'll be fun for all 4 of us to experience a "first" together!  I just can't wait for Presley to get to see so many of the things she's wanted to see - the princesses, a castle, the rides, the food... I AM SO EXCITED.  It has been way too long since our last trip to Disney (Downtown Disney - July 2013) and even longer since we've visited the parks (WDW- May 2011) so this will be so magical.  Naturally, I just want to set a date so I can start planning!

• 02. LOSE 20 POUNDS.  Yep.  I said it.  And I sure do need to.  Ideally, I would like to find a gym around here to join - in the past, that is just what I've had the most success with.  If not, I will give running another try.  I can run with the girls in their double stroller or I could wait until Tony is home and run solo.  I would also like family walks to become a regular thing for this family.  I'd also like to cut Coke out of my life for a month and see how I feel about making it a more permanent thing.  (I know... so sad...)  Another thing on my list of goals for the year is to cook at home more often - I feel like this could help aid in losing weight as well.

• 03. DECORATE OUR HOUSE.  We have yet to fill some of our picture frames and the ones we have already filled we have yet to hang!  I've got so many gorgeous crosses I've been collecting for the cross wall I'm planning in our entryway.  And I want to hang everything for our gallery wall in the living room - among a bunch of other things to decorate around here.  

• 04. GET AWAY.  It's been a long time since I've visited a zoo I've never been to before and it's about time to change that.  It's also been a long time since we've just taken a quick weekend getaway.  And it's been an even longer time since I've visited a state I've never been to before.  So for this one, I am gonna hit several birds with one stone.  Whether it's a trip as a family, just me & the girls, a trip just Tony and I, or a trip by myself... I want to visit a state I haven't been to before & see the sights they have to offer - including their zoo.  I feel refreshed after taking trips like this.

It's clear what was on my mind while at the library today.

• 05. EXPLORE.  I look forward to lots of adventures in 2015 -- especially here in Memphis.  I want to take Presley to the Children's Museum of Memphis and to the zoo all the time.  I want to visit parks and take nature walks and go on some family bike rides.  Join mommy groups on outings.  We'll visit Mud Island, go to Redbirds games and explore as many of the museums in town as we can.  There is something gratifying about visiting the city you live in.

That's it for me.  And of course I plan to write posts as we mark these things of our to do list this year.  I'm excited to get started!  What is in the cards for you?  Let me know what you plan to do in 2015.  And for those of you who live in Memphis -- where are your favorite places to explore?

Weight Loss Journey.

So, let's talk about weight, shall we?

Directly preceding my pregnancy was our wedding.  And if you've been a bride before, you might have been like me and worried about looking okay in your "little white dress."  Though, at the time I was busy with school, work, life, and wedding planning -- I tried to make exercise a priority.  I enjoyed working out at the YMCA, walking, and especially Zumba.  I wasn't extremely faithful to a workout schedule, but I did okay.

For me, dieting is not something I do.  I just don't really restrict myself when it comes to food or drinks I enjoy... life is too short in my opinion.  But when it got down to the wire, wedding plans had me stressin' and the first thing that goes when I am truly anxious is my appetite.  (So much so that it took me a few days of being on my honeymoon to de-stress and gain my appetite back in full swing!)

So around the wedding time, I weighed about 150.  (And for me, that was doing pretty good for myself -- especially considering the "happy girlfriend" pounds I packed on after Tony and I moved to Illinois in 2008.)

And then I got pregnant.  And gained somewhere around 58 pounds.  I remember the last time I looked at the scale at the doctor's office I saw 208.

I know what you must be thinking, "Geez, isn't that a little excessive?"  And while I don't have a decent explanation for how exactly I gained that much weight, it is what it is, people.  Before actually becoming pregnant myself, I held two opinions when it came to weight gain and pregnancy.  

• The first being that you are only pregnant for a brief period of your life.  It is a time of great happiness and also a time where you deserve to be pampered for your ongoing creation of a little person.  It's a time in your life where it's okay to eat pickles and ice cream in the same sitting if you so choose!
• The second view I have is that while this is a time to take it easy, there is a difference between giving yourself a break and letting yourself go.

Throughout my pregnancy I worked at a gym in the children's area.  I got to know some wonderful moms and was lucky to gain a special perspective from their advice and experiences with pregnancy.  One mom's opinion really struck me.  She said throughout her entire pregnancy she was hell-bent on keeping up with her strict workout routine.  This didn't really make her happy but she felt like it was necessary at the time.  In hindsight, she wished she had allowed herself that time to just take it easy because the weight could always come off after the fact.

To me, that was comforting.  I was happy to hear that experience and while I stopped my exercise routine sometime throughout my pregnancy, walking was still important to me.  I had a happy pregnancy, albeit the frequent rude comments about my body or weight gain.  So after actually experiencing pregnancy firsthand, my view on pregnancy weight gain is do what fulfills you.  If that's having an extra doughnut, GO for it.  (Lord knows I did!)  And that may mean keeping up with a workout routine for others.  But don't let anyone make you feel ashamed for your decisions.

So, I gained some weight.  But more than that, I feel like I did let myself go.  I got very lazy and that is something I regret more than any weight gain.  Nevertheless, after birthing my almost 8 pound baby and through the miracle of breastfeeding as well as keeping up with my walking routine, I have said goodbye to 50 of those pounds.

And this is where I feel I have currently "hit a wall" as they say.  I have stayed within the 158-160 region for a little while now.  I would like to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 150 with an overall goal of losing an additional 10 pounds after that.  Without a doubt, I feel that this standstill has to do with my diet.  If I would make better decisions when it comes to what I put into my body, I know I wouldn't be so frustrated at the unmoving numbers on the scale.

However, what is most important to me is improving my body composition.  This is why I am giving running a try:  in hopes that it will help in toning my body as well as become an activity I enjoy.

So, in addition to my current goal of working towards running a 5k, I am also going to attempt to make better decisions when it comes to my daily food intake.  I would really like to speed this weight loss thing up so I can then focus on my fitness.  However, let's be honest, I am far from hardcore.  The plan is to just going and continue to set realistic goals for myself and strive to follow them as long as that is what makes me happy. 

Because ultimately, nothing tastes as good as healthy feels.