New Year.

Anybody else feel like life has been moving super fast lately? I really can't believe 2019 is already here. There are lots of joyful things happening this year for us. Tony and I are going to see Justin Timberlake when he comes back to Memphis this month and later in the year Amanda and I are going to see the Backstreet Boys! Both concerts we'll be sitting nosebleeds but I'm honestly just so excited to be there that it doesn't even matter to me. In between those shows we'll be celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary and I'll be in my happy place all year while planning our first family vacation in FOREVER for Walt Disney World for this Fall!!!!

Every year at this time I love reflecting in attempt to learn something from the last year about myself and potentially how I can make healthier decisions in the coming year. I haven't done as much journaling and reflecting as I'd like to, but the little bit that I finished so far I wanted to share here on my blog. Here is the list of prompts I followed. I picked them up from my sister who got them from somewhere else on the interwebs so here is a recreated version of the original list and then my answers below that.

This year...

A bad habit I'm going to break:

Being so quick to lose my patience. I know I can try a lot harder in this arena. I'd also like to make it to mass this year. I was originally going to say "make it to mass more this year" but to be honest, if I went to mass two times in 2019 that'd technically be more than I did in 2018. So. Saying more wouldn't exactly be clear enough. I'd like to make it to mass as a family this year. I'm hoping to break the bad habit of being complacent in not going.

A new skill I'd like to learn:

To live minimally.

A person I hope to be more like:

The "Girl Wash Your Face" girl (Rachel Hollis) and Glennon Doyle. Rachel seems to have refocused her energies on the things (as a wife and mom) that really, actually matter. She seems to have switched from being unforgiving of herself to loving and being kind to herself. That's the biggest shift within myself I could make this new year. I always want to be a bit more like Glennon but especially getting up and doing good for other people is what I wish I did more of like she does.

A good deed I'm going to do:

Donate blood. No excuses.

A place I'd like to visit:

Dallas. I'm not sure it'll happen this year but it's always on my list of places to visit someday.

A book I'd like to read:

A ton of books. I want to read this year. Last year I kinda fell off the reading wagon and it's something I miss so much. But the first book that came to mind for this was "Girl Wash Your Face" since I was just thinking about Rachel Hollis.

A letter I'm going to write:

Goodbye letters to Gramma Myers and Granny. The things I would have liked to tell them or talk to them about before they passed.

A new food I'm going to try:

I really can't think of one! So I'm going to go with a turkey leg from Walt Disney World. And macaroons. I've never had them and would like to try them. AND. I'd like to try sake. I know that's a drink but it's something I've always wanted to try.

I'm going to do better at:

Homeschool stuff for BOTH girls. Getting out of the house a bit more. Cleaning out and organizing the house to potentially move. Drink more water. Be more physically active.

Which leads me to my word of the year... BREATHE. I'd like to take a deep breathe and clear my head more often before responding this year. If I allow myself a moment to breathe before doing or responding or reacting then I'm hoping it'll give me a moment to grasp onto my reserve of kindness and patience. To respond more often with love instead of bitterness or anger or cynicism. To wait a minute and hear someone out completely instead of assuming the worst and jumping right in. Breathe. This is the first time for me to choose a word to focus on for the year and I'm loving the idea and the motivation. I'm looking for the perfect accessory so I can carry the word with me throughout the year.

Let me know how you spend the new year this year - did you reflect or make resolutions or did you choose a word? If so, what were they? I'd love to know! I hope it's a year for growth and reaching our potential.

2016 Goals

I know, I know... it's so cliche to end the year/begin a new year by making lists and setting goals. But I can't help but get swept away in the nostalgia that the New Years holiday brings. So, here we go.

• Save. Is this not on anyone else's list for the upcoming year? Anybody have "spend" on their list instead? I guess since nearly ever other bullet point on my list will require spending money, maybe it's good to include saving in just one. 
• Eat out less. One, because it's healthier to eat from home. Two, because... saving money.
• Start and finish two major projects around the house. The ones I'm reaching for at the moment: adding shoe boards to most of the house and staining a whole lots of cabinets (two bathrooms worth and a whole lotta kitchen cabinets). I'd like to add more projects to get done, but realistically, I'm just gonna stick with these two and hope we can get them done!
• ZUMBA. I have to get back out there and be active this year... have. to. And I've been missing Zumba for years. So. It's time. I'm hoping to make it to classes twice every week.  I've got a membership through my insurance that includes all kinds of local gyms so now it's just a matter of making it to one. And if you live in town and happen to be looking for a casual workout buddy... I might be your person!
• Preschool for Presley. How do you even begin this one?! And how is it already time for this? Just accepting that as an impending reality kinda breaks my heart a bit. Sending her out into the real world!!! Okay, I don't want to think about this so moving on...
• Get rid of stuff. For starters the stuff we rarely use. And then move on to the stuff we just plain don't need. It always feels good to simplify.
• Get the Corolla fixed. It's currently sitting and doing nothing just waiting for us to give it some TLC. I don't remember what was the problem with it, but I think multiple things, and mostly we just need to have it towed and diagnosed and go from there. It'd be great if Tony could drive it most of the time because 1) his is a two door and not the most family friendly and the Corolla is a four door and much more family friendly and 2) Tony drives a manual - and I don't know how - so it's impossible for us to swap cars if needed at the moment. Plus, the Corolla is probably a little less safe for the kids to be in full time when compared to the Fit... so even though I would rather drive my Corolla, I think it'd be better to drive the Fit. I don't think the Corolla would require much to get it in good, running shape again, but it's just a matter of doing it and putting in the time and money.
• Get away. For just a weekend or a couple days. Give Tony and the girls some uninterrupted time together. ;) I'd say a sister trip but I'm not sure Amanda will be up for leaving her new babe anytime soon... so maybe a 2/3 sister trip. Or maybe just a solo trip! Who knows.
• I'd love to hear that prediabetes is no longer an issue for me. That'd have to be the biggest hope for 2016 for myself right now. I need to start taking it even more seriously than I have been. And I'm sure that diabetes will be a part of my life in some way, shape, or form from here on out. But that also means I need to get better about my diet.
• Give my family the best of me. Especially my baby girls. Stop wishing the days away! Enjoy the days and moments with them. Try to be happy... because it continues to go by faster and faster.

I feel like there are a million things that have been on my mind lately to keep up with or begin or let go of or change for 2016 but my mind tends to wander these days so this list will have to do for now. I'm sure I'll add things here and there as the year progresses. I'd love to hear what everybody has on their 2016 list. Here's to noticing the beauty this year... to actively stop to smell the roses!

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?