New Years, New Me

Yes, I know.  It gets said every year. By almost every one. But this year, it's going to be true for me.
This year, I am determined to be a better me.  A better mommy.  A better girlfriend. A healthier me.
I'm starting the year with goals, but figuring out those goals is one of the hardest things I've done.  Do I set time lines with those goals, or just a general "by the end of the year"? What is considered a "Goal?" Is it worth it to put down?
Here are some of the things I would like to accomplish this next year: (in no specific order)

Be healthy:

I already quit smoking about 6 weeks ago, so I want to include continuing to be smoke free.
Reach a goal weight of 195 by my birthday, July 26. That's about 30 pounds in 7 months.
Reach a Goal weight of 175 by the end of the year.  That's 50! pounds in twelve months. A pound a week...
Meal Plan & Food Prep (because failure to plan, is a plan to fail)
Eat Clean 5 Times a week.  No everyday, but most.
Do Yoga 5 times a week.  I don't care what day it is, or how many times I do it a day, I just want to do it.

Improve my every day life:

Sit to eat my meals. Dinner at least. You seriously have no idea how much more relaxing it is to SIT while eating.
Write down my good things.  Things happen every day that you think you'll remember. I don't.  I have a terrible memory! I want to write them, so that I can reflect on them, when I need a reminder.
Send Birthday Cards.  I know that may sound petty, but I have a friend who ALWAYS sends me a card.  For Mothers day, for Christmas, for my Birthday. I never send cards, but know I should.
Count to 10... I have a TERRIBLE habit of flying off the handle.  Of not having patience. I need to learn patience, and counting to 10 will help.

Long Term Changes:

Pay off my credit cards... cause, uh, duh.
Read 12 books this year.  That's one a month, and I hate to read.  Surely, I can get 12 in this year. Right? Suggestions?
HUNT with my bow.  I always hunt, but I normally use a gun.  My honey bought me a bow last year and I haven't gotten to hunt with it yet. Let alone shoot it this year.  I WILL hunt with it next deer season.


I've currently signed up for the Resolution Revolution with Jess over here...

Hopefully she's got some good stuff worked out for us and we'll get our fitness on after the first! It looks like it's going to be full of advice, support and accountability.  Accountability is a big thing for me.  If I don't feel like someone is paying attention, neither am I! lol  I can't wait for this to get going and to get my member shirt in the mail! Thanks so much for the group Jess! I'm looking forward to starting my year off right.

I've also been checking out the post here with Holly. For the month of January, her friends Melanie, Jenn, Kimmy, and her are hosting a Jillian Michael's challenge for Instagram only. To help them kick off the new year and the beer-bloat, they are doing the "Jillian in January Challenge." All you have to do to join is pick your favorite Jillian DVD. She likes her DVD's because they are only about $9 a Target and they are short enough to do before/after work and actually provide results. You can check out her Shred results HERE.

Thinking about it, but it would mean that I would have to invest in a Jillian DVD, and I've heard she's pretty hard core... awe Hell... It's worth it.  Lets throw this in the mix for 30 days and see just how awesome that 30 day Shred really is.  Looks like Target has it on sale right now for $6.99! WHOOT! (I have Amazon Prime, so I ordered from there to save on shipping!)

What are your goals and how do you plan on achieving them? How do you set your goals?

Hope everyone has a safe and happy new year! I'll be taking my friend Suzan out for her birthday with a great group of ladies, then heading back home to ring in the new year with my Honey for the first time in 3 years.  I can't wait!

Christmas is DONE...

Kinda.  Not really.  We still have two more. :-/
However, what we've done so far has been wonderful. Tuesday after work I went back up to Granny Morgan's for a Mexican lunch since I got off early.  I went and got the boys and proceeded to attend Christmas at my step-dad's moms home.  We normally just do gifts, but this year we did dinner as well.
And apparently I didn't upload those photos yet... :-/ bummer.
Wednesday morning we woke up and opened Santa presents and our presents to each other.  The boys racked up, Ayden was thoughtful and got me and Darrell gifts, and Darrell was more than good to me. After hanging out a bit, we threw on our jackets over our PJ's and went to my Aunt Jamie's for Breakfast Burritos. One more Christmas tradition we like to have. My camera died, so I don't have photos of breakfast.
Or of the Jones Family Christmas Christmas evening. Oh well, I was there.... that's about as good as it's gonna get! I DO however have family photos that we took! and let me say... this photo that my google account made pretty much sums it up.  Out of 12 photos... I've got two that if I can mash them together, will work.

I swear, at one point in this photo, you can see me say "STOP!" lol And you can see the door beginning to open!

my pick for favorite

I got this awesome new shirt from my honey...

LOVE IT!

We've still got my step moms family Christmas this Saturday in Lincoln, Arkansas.  And on January 11th, we'll finally get to have our family Christmas with my Dad.  Now, we just have to figure out when we can make it towards Jonesboro to see Darrell's family.
How did your Christmas turn out?

Weigh In Wednesday ~ Day after Christmas Edition!

Here it is folks... I'm up 2.4 lbs for the holiday... Geeze. Thats perspective. Even my toes look fat!
Again, I haven't done much to try to remedy my situation, but I'm so looking forward to my new regiment starting on the first.  I've got a week to plan, prep, and prepare (myself and others) for my change in life.  And this time I'm going to do it! What are your suggestions to make this whole thing work?
Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Christmas follow up later today!

Weigh in Wednesday ~ Christmas Edition!

Happy Christmas Eve!!
I'm up and at em this morning since I've got to work today. Hoping it goes by quickly and that we get to leave a tad early.
Here's today's weight:

I said I'd weigh in today since tomorrow will be filled with wrapping paper and smiles. I'll try to weigh in again on Thursday to see just how much the holidays really effect the outcome.
Tonight we have presents to open at my Memaw Alice's home. Its tradition to do presents and snacks on Christmas Eve, then Christmas dinner on Christmas Day. Unfortunately, we won't be able to make it this year as another side of the family is having their dinner Christmas day.
I plan on letting the kids and Darrell open their pajamas tonight. I hope they like them. Everyone needs new pajamas for Christmas!
Christmas morning my mom and step dad and brother and sister will be joining us for the boys to open their presents, then we always go to my aunts house for breakfast burritos. We always wear our pajamas over there for that too!
I'm pretty excited for the boys to get their presents this year. And to get to spend the Holiday with Darrell for the first time. :)
Merry Christmas everyone!

Pre-Christmas Sentiments

Christmas is finally close enough to say it's here!
We started our holidays off on Saturday, with my dad's side of the family.  We always meet at my granny Morgans for food, presents for the kids, and a dirty Santa gift exchange for the adults.  Darrell and I didn't participate this year, as we have been financially strapped this month. Good thing it's not mandatory! lol The boys racked up on gifts...

I took some precious photos of my Nephew (little Bill) and his mommy and daddy for Christmas

And I enjoyed watching my 87 year old grandmother open her gifts.

Theres just something about that toothless smile that I love so much.  I spend a great amount of time with her as a child, and  everyone will tell you that I'm her favorite... She will too! lol 

I picked my little brother up after the Morgan Christmas and we went home to cook... and cook and cook.  

Sunday we had the annual cookie party that my Aunt Jamie throws.  I swear it gets bigger and bigger every year!

 Ayden (8)

 Remington (6)

 Little Bro Todd (16)

 My other very special Granny Rose. She's 80

 Cousin Madi and her bf Warren

 Madi and Desaree (15)

I worked last night trying to make sure we get paid before the holiday... now that I'm at work and still waiting on everyone else to do their part of payroll, I see that my efforts were not well spent.  It will now be Friday before I get paid.  A WHOLE DAY AFTER normal payday.  Things like this frustrate me. Not that I won't get paid till a day later than normal, but that no one else does their job in  a timely manner. :-/

Weigh in Wednesday happens tomorrow... I'll also note more stuff about the Resolution Revolution that I've signed up for with Jessi. I can't wait to get started! 

Weigh in Wednesday & Resolution Revolution!

It's Wednesday, once again.  And while I'm not really doing anything to help my current situation right now, I'm still trying to make sure I get a weigh in every Wednesday. So, here goes for today..

Next week I'll weight in on Tuesday as Wednesday will be full of my children and opening presents and running here and there... I'll probably post a weigh in again on Thursday, just to show how big of a difference a holiday can make!

I'm also looking into hooking up with Jessi over at The Girl Who Thought Too Much for a Resolution  Revolution!

For $30, she will send you a kick ass Tshirt, 2 Yummy fitness treats (some of her favorites), 2 packs of sports beans, a sample pack of Spark by Advocare. You will also receive weekly motivational emails throughout January that include, motivational quotes, tips, links to workouts, recipes, ect. Access to a Facebook Group where you can connect with her and the other wonderful woman on a path for resolutions!

Hell yeah! I'm in.  Maybe if I invest the $30.00 in myself, I'll actually hold myself accountable for it? We've got until tonight at 6pm (CST) to get in on this. I can't wait! Here's a  link to her post if anyone that reads this wants to hook up too. I'm willing to make the change for myself. Are you?

These are a few of my favorite things...

Or at least a few things at the top of my list that I would like to receive.

I know the holidays aren't about receiving, but occasionally people ask what I'd like.  Most of the time I ask for things that I actually need instead of want. But I usually WANT things that I need too... if that makes sense.

For instance... I need new tennis shoes. The pair I'm currently wearing I've had for 3+ years.  The pair before that? Close to 7 years.  I typically would wear these until there wasn't any tread left, but it seems I've rubbed a hole in the sides where I cross my feet at my desk...

 Oops!

 I currently wear New Balances... (size 8.5 please) I love the way they fit, my feet rarely hurt, and I always seem to go for a running shoe, even though I'm not a runner. (yet)

I need a shampooer... as often as I clean my carpets myself, I just need to invest in one.  My aunt let me borrow her work one around March. I borrowed one from my other aunt this past weekend and knocked them out before the holidays. I can't stand to be able to smell smells, and thanks to my dog, I could smell smells.  I have what I call "pregnant nose". It's when you can smell EVERYTHING while your pregnant.  However, I'm not pregnant, (THANK GOD) it just never went away after I had Remington. It's crazy. Anyway, needless to say, the dog is now an outside dog now, even though I feel terrible about it.


Which brings me to another need.  A dog house. Not that the damned thing would get used.  My dog isn't the brightest.  When I put him in the back yard, I have to put him on a runner because he digs out from under the fence. I made sure the runner is long enough that he can get under the porch awning comfortably, and that his bed is reachable.  The stupid thing won't even get in the bed unless I put him in it.  He sat out in the rain the other day... laid in the snow another day... doesn't even get under the awning. Stupid... Maybe, just MAYBE he'd use a dog house?

Doubt it... 

I recently purchased this hand little do-dad.

and I FREAKING love it! Pretty ingenious, and quite frankly, I'm a little upset that I didn't come up with it myself. It's a 20 oz Mini Crock Pot that you can use on the go to heat your soup or whatever you want.  Plug it in for a couple of hours, and lunch is ready when you are! It's got a top that "pops" when your food is warm and it really does heat it well. I got mine on Amazon.com here as a lightening deal and it was a darn good investment.   It has a removable container that you can store in the fridge and makes for easy cleanup.  Since I already have one, you're probably wondering why I've posted it on my want/need list.  Well, what I actually NEED is more removable bowls so I don't HAVE to clean this one each night. :)


A few other things that I think would be good gifts? See below:
- A gift certificate for a car detail (or two since I have two vehicles)
- Gift Certificates for a mani/pedi (from Le Nails in Van Buren, of course)
- Gift Certificate to get my hair done.  I'm in desperate need for a cut and color since it's been since April!
- Any kind of Mirror.  Big, small, I love them all!
- Wine.  And that's a NEED. In order for me to make it through the holidays, sometimes I need a little help.  Here's my favorite. (And just so you know, you can buy it by the case at my local liquor store, Sooner Liquor)

Primo Amore Moscato

Anyway, these are a few of my favorite things. I'll probably think of more here and there, and I'll update it along the way. Just don't let me forget!

I am Mommy... Hear me Roar

Sometimes that's what it feels like I'm doing.  All. The. Time.

I love my children, please don't get me wrong.  But sometimes, I just don't like them. Is that so wrong? I don't think so.

I HATE the way that boys smell.  Stinky, smelly, musty, boys.  I could have air fresheners attached tot he kids and they'd still stink.  Their bedrooms, their clothes, their BATHROOM! Oh my God, don't get me started on the bathroom!  And LAZY does not even begin to describe the way they act when they're supposed to do something or have been asked to do something.

(Ayden, My nephew ABJ, myself & Remington)

We have routine (mostly because I have CDO) but they STILL can't get it down.  Even though we've done it every day for God knows how long.  Mommy wakes you at 6:20 every morning.  We get dressed, brush our hair and teeth and if we have time, we pick up our bedrooms.  Put the dog out, get your coat AND backpack and get in the car.  That's the gist of it anyway. Half the time my kids don't realize that part of getting dressed also includes putting socks and shoes on.  And for goodness sake, pull your pants legs out of your socks!

They also don't seem to understand multi tasking.  And maybe I'm asking too much there... I try to talk myself into that answer anyway, but seriously.  I've told them and told them.  Spray your hair when you go into to the bathroom, brush your teeth, THEN bush your hair so that the water has time to soak in. It's not that hard.  Instead, 15mins into standing in the bathroom, and tantrum later, we're whining about our hair that won't stay down. UGH!

And all of this is *IF* they've even decided to brush their teeth at all and they weren't standing in there fighting the whole time. Or spraying each other with the water bottle. Or throwing Nerf bullets at each other. All mommy asks is that you get ready in the mornings.  Is that too much to ask?

And when was the last time a little boy actually HIT THE TOILET when peeing? HUH? Cause I can't stand that. AT ALL. What the hell? Are they just built without an aiming gene or something? It's not that hard really.  You've been peeing for 6-8 years now.  Potty trained for 4-6 years... C'mon guys.  Just pee IN the toilet. Mommy can't stand the smell of a boys bathroom.  And I clean the thing SOOOOO often.  Just because of the smell.

Is it wrong of me to feel the way I do? Am I being a bad mom for feeling that way? The constant fighting with my kids over stupid stuff has just gotten me down. This post wasn't meant to look like I hate my children.  I was to put out there what I think and feel about ME being a MOTHER.  And while I do know that I'm not alone in this today... sometimes I question whether or not I deserve my kids.

A Little Boy Mothers Prayer I read this morning:

God grant me the strength to make it through the hygiene battles of the Male tween/teen years. The patience to not shave my child's -continually unwashed despite being in the shower- hair and the wisdom to outsmart this little punk and get him to use soap to clean his body while in the shower.  Asking for him to towel off after or keep the shower curtain closed while he's in there too much, I know. -Amen

Five on Friday!

I'm digging the linkups that I've been seeing lately, so... I'm doing another. This one is with Darci over at The Good Life blog... Here's her linkup... Have a gander!

Today is a Five on Friday where you're supposed to talk about 5 good things that happened (are happening) this week... I'll see how many I can come up with!

1. It's Friday.  I woke up NEEDING Friday. So glad it's finally here, although, the weekends are never long enough.

2. I found these.

Thanks to Kiki La Rue and their Instagram post, I found out that these bad boys exist! That's 32oz if Rice Krispies, right there.  I will officially be the coolest mom on Christmas morning. EVER.

3. These. Oh. My. Gawd.

These moccasins from Old Navy are A-Freaking-Mazing! I have an online shopping problem, and Sunday morning I woke at 4am and placed another order.  Apparently I ordered these slippers too.  They have the softest inside, but a hard bottom so that you can wear them outside if you need to.  They came in, and I didn't think I'd like them... and that they were too small.  I put these things on without socks though, and they fit like a glove. I purchased 4 more pair today. WHAAAA???

4. It's my moms birthday. She turned 50 last year, so she doesn't get a big party or anything this year. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

and 5. My honey got a job! It's not much right now, but its a job.  And I'm so proud of him for not thinking anything is beneath him, even though he's WAY over qualified.  Hoping he gets in some good hours before January.  We have more bills due, and even though he won't get his first paycheck until the 31st of this month, we're grateful.

Have a great weekend everyone! 

Festive Favorites Linkup

This post is a linkup with Jennifer over at FatChick2FitChick check her out!

  

• Favorite Christmas song: "Oh Holy Night" (sang the correct way) and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee. 
• Christmas song you can’t stand: ... *crickets*
• Favorite holiday movie: Home Alone & Christmas Story
• Real or artificial tree?: Artificial
• White or colored lights?: White :) 
• All matching ornaments or more random personal ornaments?: Both... in moderation
• Favorite ornament: Anything that my two boys have made 
• Angel or star tree-topper?: Bow... but my son insisted that we have a Star... so we have both. 
• Does Santa wrap presents or leave them unwrapped?: Santa leaves presents unwrapped
• Favorite childhood memory: When I was little, I used to wait restlessly on Santa to come! One year, my sister and I woke around 3 in the morning, but knew better than to wake our parents.  We decided to play Nintendo until everyone got up... somewhere around 5, my dad comes trotting down the hallway, in his tighty-whiteys and yelled at my sister and I, "If I hear that thing go "whoop, whoop" one more time, I'm going to "whoop, whoop" all over your ass!"  Needless to say, we went back to bed and didn't wake again until around 10!
• Coffee, hot chocolate, or eggnog?: Yes!
• Christmas morning at home or do you travel?: YES! We've recently started to have Christmas at home because I purchased my first home last year.
  
   But, we still do LOTS of traveling. 
• Traditional holiday meal or something unconventional?: Traditional
• Personalized photo Christmas cards, store bought cards, e-cards, or “ain’t nobody got time for that”?: I used to do personalized Christmas Photo cards... now, I do good to write names on all of the gifts! 

Finish the Sentence... Christmas Edition!

This is officially my first link up... and I'm not real sure that I'm doing it right, or that I'm even allowed, but here it is! If anyone reads this and would like to do the same, click go on over to Holly's page and follow the instructions! 

1. My favorite Christmas was....

When I was little, I used to wait restlessly on Santa to come! One year, my sister and I woke around 3 in the morning, but knew better than to wake our parents.  We decided to play Nintendo until everyone got up... somewhere around 5, my dad comes trotting down the hallway, in his tighty-whiteys and yelled at my sister and I, "If I hear that thing go "whoop, whoop" one more time, I'm going to "whoop, whoop" all over your ass!"  Needless to say, we went back to bed and didn't wake again until around 10!

2. The worst Christmas I had...

I'm not sure I've ever had one.  Holidays were always hard for me because I had divorced parents that had remarried. There were always so many people to see, lots of people I didn't get to see, and lots of time spent making everyone else happy.

3. That one gift that made me scratch my head and say, "Hmmmm" was...

A bible from my grandmother, with my name spelt completely wrong.  And she thought it was right. 

4. One year I....

Received a fur (ish) vest from a grandmother... Absolutely hideous.  It had four or five kinds of fur, and it just wasn't me.  My mother re gifted it and it was done.
The very next year, I received the exact same vest from a "secret sister" at church... MIND. BLOWN.

5. I think the worst gift to give is....

Nothing. If I have nothing to purchase for a person, they at least get a card. Something homemade. Something. Anything.

6. At Christmastime I typically....

Freak out... I'm always worried about everyone but me. I've got to learn to loosen up.

7. Typically, family Christmas....

Is CRAZY.  So many people, so many families, so much running. 

8. If I could change one thing about the Holiday season....

It would last longer.  Each holiday should be at least two days long.  Some of us need more than a day to make it everywhere, others need the second day to recuperate from the one day!

9. It is so hard to buy for....

My honey.  Always. No matter who he is! (Luckily there has only been two)

10. My favorite Christmas tradition is...

Opening presents in my OWN home ON Christmas morning. I purchased my first home last year and it was SOOOO nice to wake up and let my kids open their presents in their very own house and then not have to load them up immediately to move to the next place. 

11. Santa, baby, bring me...

YOGA GEAR! I've became addicted to yoga this year. I need my very own mat and video, so that I can give my sisters back.   A subscription to Yogaglo.com would be handy too! :-)

Weigh in Wednesday

Because I keep forgetting to weigh, and even though I woke up saying "Don't forget to weigh!"... I still forgot. So, I'm at work, using a shipping scale and I'm fully dressed. Jeans, T-shirt, hat, and tennis shoes. This is my weight, and no... I haven't don't a damn thing about it.
Someone motivate me. Someone MAKE me get my ass out of bed. Someone make me realize that it really is more important than sleep or food or something else to do.
Hello?
Anyone...

Im a terrible blogger...

I'm apparently a terrible blogger. No post in two weeks? WTF? So here I am.
Its been a busy couple of weeks. Hunting, job hunting, holidays, kids out of school... You name it.
But..
Here's a super cute picture of my dog. :)