Looking Ahead

With the start of a new year day comes new opportunities.  I am determined to make today, and the days ahead some of the best.  In order to do this, I have set goals for myself. 

ONE

Make trust and forgiveness my default mode.  

This is something I struggle with.   I have always been a person who will forgive (with time), but never completely trust again.  Once that trust is gone, I have no interest in allowing it to grow again.  I want to get to a place in life where trusting and forgiving come easier and more naturally to me. 

TWO

Adopt Makeout 2014

Christine from Pink So Foxy did an inventory of her make-up collection and discovered she had FAR more than needed.  As a result of this she made a contract for herself (Makeout 2013) allowing her to purchase 10 new "pieces" of make-up during the entire 2013 year.  Make-up is my weakness.  I love it.  I find a product I "just have to have" and buy it only to find a new product I "just have to have" not long after purchasing the previous product.  During 2014 I will be doing Makeout 2014 and allowing myself to purchase just 10 new "pieces" of make-up.  This includes foundations (after mine is gone) and brushes.  

THREE

Be more organized.

I am in the process of organizing my life... Starting with my bathroom vanity and linen closet.  I am getting rid of a lot of "stuff", so it's time to organize what's staying here.  

I recently bought these drawers (found here and here) for my bathroom to organize my make-up and assess what all I truly have (see also: Makeout 2014).

Other areas or organization include my bills (I bought all the components for Nina's Bill Book, but never put it together), clothes (so many things I don't wear, but can't seem to part with), closets in guest rooms, and garage.   Good thing I have a year.  

FOUR

Run the Fort For Fitness Half Marathon again... and PR.

So there they are... my big goals for the coming months. What goals do you have?

Merry Christmas

 As you spend time with your family and friends this Christmas, please take time to remember those who cannot be with their family.  Those defending our freedom don't get a Christmas vacation.  

Merry Christmas to you all... and THANK YOU to our troops.

My Friends Are Like Make-Up Brushes

I've never been the type of person who identifies with just one group of people.  Throughout life I have always  been friends with several different "groups".  I have always been the type of person with an awesome mixture of friends.  

Like my make-up brushes, each friend is unique in what they bring to my life.  No two people are exactly the same, and I love that.  Each one has a uniqueness about them that drew me to that person from the beginning.

Some of my friends, like my make-up brushes, I am in contact with on a daily basis while others I see just occasionally.  However, that doesn't mean I care less about those I don't see as often.  

I have some friends that have been with be for years, while others I have only had for a short while.  Regardless, like my make-up brushes, I have a hard time getting rid of friends.  I am the type of person that once I consider you a friend, I hold tight to our friendship.  Time may pass without seeing each other and being able to talk, but I will always be there for my friends. 

So, this is for all of you whom I have ever laughed with, cried with, ran with, reminisced with, hugged, or simply chatted with.  Thanks for being one of my make-up brushes.  Without all of my, my set wouldn't be complete.

Struggles

We all have them.

Whether they be body image, exercising, eating healthy, family, friends, yourself.... we all struggle with something or things.   The last few weeks have been difficult ones for me.  I have struggled with a lot of things.  Things that for a brief period of time, changed who I was, and I didn't like it.  Over the last couple weeks, I have been taking time to work on me.

I know I am not perfect.  I make mistakes.  But I am working to better myself.

I've had long talks with my best friend about everything.  She keeps me in check when I fall out of line.   She has seen me at my best and she has seen me at my worst. She has seen the good in me when I have struggled to see it in myself. I can honestly say she was put in my life to make me a better person.

R and I made this past weekend a date weekend.  Laundry and cleaning the house was put on hold for the weekend.  We spend Friday night at the hockey game in town and Saturday by a bonfire in our back yard.  Nothing extravagant, just the two of us spending quality time together. No friends, no outside distractions.   It was great.  Sometimes after 12 years together we tend to overlook the small things we love about each other.

All in all, things are looking up.  I can choose to be optimistic or pessimistic.

My glass is half full.

Five On Friday

Today I'm linking up with Darci for my Five on Friday.   

My five this week are things I am thankful for.

ONE: Prospective

No matter what I'm going though, things could always be worse.  I'm learning to focus on what I have and not what I don't have.


TWO:  My students

They make me smile even on those days when it seems like there isn't anything to smile about.


THREE:  Music

Music speaks when words cannot be found.  My days would be boring without music.


FOUR:  Family

Those God has blessed me with and those friends that have become my family - they are my constant number one fans.


FIVE:  Midwest Sunrises

They are breath taking this time of year.

 

Happy Friday, everyone!

10 Day Cleanse - Day 1 (Take 3)

Good morning!

Today started my third round of the AdvoCare 10 Day Cleanse.  I was actually really excited to start this round.  I love the way I feel after I'm done! 

R had already left for work when I got up this morning, so he wasn't there to take my "before" photo.   That's on the agenda for tonight after I survive a long night of parent, teacher conferences.  I can tell you when I stepped on the scale to get my starting weight, I wasn't mad about it.

The scale read 137 (I am 5'5").  Yesterday morning I was 135, but ate everything in sight since I knew the next 10 days wouldn't allow anything good fun. 

My morning started with my fiber drink and Omega Plex vitamin.

For breakfast I whipped up my very first green smoothie.  I was a little nervous, but it turned out DELICIOUS!  This will definitely be a breakfast staple during, and after, my cleanse.  It was so filling! 

Source

I didn't add the banana, mostly because we didn't have any and partly because I'm not a big fan of the texture of bananas when they are blended.  I did add some chia seeds for extra fiber (as if I need that right now, but I put then in/on just about everything).  The picture above makes it look more yellow than green, which wasn't the case at all.  

The rest of my menu at school this...

Like I said, we have parent-teacher conferences tonight so I packed a few extra snacks.  They feed us at school on these nights, but I don't know what they will be providing, so I was sure to pack enough to tide me over until I get home tonight.  

And finally, one last picture of my view this morning.

Nothing beats a midwest sunrise.

Cleanse day 1 - OUT!

Perfection, and a Reminder

At 7:33 yesterday morning my best friend delivered a 19 inch, 9 pound, baby boy.  He's 9 pounds of awesomeness.  This little guy has the best cheeks, the cutest little nose, and the most precious fingers and toes I've ever seen.  I can't wait to watch him grow into an incredible kid.  He has blessed so many lives already.


**Don't forget, some of us are starting the AdvoCare 10 Day Cleanse on Tuesday.  It is very gentle and will leave you feeling amazing when the 10 days are over.  You eat real food - but it must be clean (lean meats, veggies, etc).  If you want to order a cleanse you can do that HERE.  I am giving 100% of my profits from now until he comes home to Lora and Baby Harper.  So, not only will you be helping yourself feel better, but you'll be helping this little guy as well.  So far the total Baby Harper will be getting is $191!!  
THANK YOU!!  **