January

Merry Christmas!! I hope you are enjoying your holiday season as much as I am!

New Year's Day is only a week away, and I have been thinking all month long about what I'm going to do in January that I've never done before. I was all excited thinking I would take my kids down hill skiing, since I have never done that before, but I have to strengthen my knee first...dr's orders. Oh well, maybe February.  

For the month of January, I decided to take it easy due to financial and physical restrictions. I love to cook. I have three children who love food, and I have in the past found myself relying on the most common staples in our home. This week, I have decided to make one new dish I have never cooked before each week. It doesn't have to be fancy or even take all day. It only has to be new to us. Now, to look up some recipes on my favorite allrecipes.com and see what I can find! :)

New Year's Resolutions

Ok, so normally I'm not one for New Year's resolutions. If you're going to make a change, don't wait, start right now and get it going.  I know, I know...it's a whole new year, time to start something fresh, make some changes, etc. 

And why don't we have birthday resolutions? That's a whole new year and beginning as well. I know when I turned 30, I was so excited about the prospect of a new decade, a chance to make it really count. As of Nov. 15, I am 36, and though I have had some big accomplishments, I don't have many memories and stories to tell. Nor have I learned anything new or explored who I am. So this is what I have decided I am going to do starting New Year's Eve. Yes, I am actually going to have a resolution this year. 

Starting Jan. 1/2011, I am going to learn something new every month. It doesn't have to be a skill, it can also be informative or educational. I am going to take the next few weeks to think about what I want to learn or do in January, and I'm going to do it. It doesn't have to be extravagant, but it does have to be something I have never done before.

I will post what I'm going to do the week before the first of that month. It can be anything from sports, to craft, to research. Finishing these projects is also required if I choose a project or craft. It does not have to be completed by the end of the month, but no procrastination either. I have to work on it, and get it finished. Last, it does not have to take the whole month. It can be something that takes one day, even an hour. After the "project" for the month is done, I will post about it.  

The whole idea is to not be afraid to get out of my comfort zone and live outside the box a little. If something looks fun to do, I want to do it. I want to live and make some memories and have some fun making them.

Paying a tribute

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Eva Cassidy. I was listening to her again today, and each time I hear her beautiful voice singing her renditions of remakes and originals, I think of her life, and how it was cut so short. She was so earthy and real. So humble and in love with music it's astonishing.

She died in 1996 a victim of cancer as so many are, and at the young age of 33.  Now more than ever, even 14 years after she has gone, people adore her and her music. Her ability to put so much emotion and feeling into "Somewhere over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World" is...well...there really are no words I can come up with to describe it. All of her songs are that way. I have yet to hear a song of hers I don't like (unless I didn't like the song itself to begin with).

I hope that I remember to live my life with the same amount of passion she had for her family and music. I have so much that I want to do, and so much that I dream about, and I am not getting younger. I still have every intention of living my life and making my own dreams come true. Waiting for them to happen is not going to make them happen. I want my children to grab life by the horns and have the ride of their life. When it's their time to go, many, many years from now, I want them to go saying "that was AWESOME!" The only way to teach them that is to do it myself.

I dropped my baby's worth in weght!

My little man weighs 23lbs, and that is exactly what I have lost! I have never lost this much in my life, and it's the most wonderful feeling ever! 

I have worked hard to get here, and I have no intention of ever gaining it back again! I sweated, limped, moaned and groaned, ached, swore, and all the fun stuff that goes with it! It's awesome! 

Yes, I have lost 23lbs, but what's even better is I earned that loss, I worked hard to get here, and I'll continue to work hard to get to my next goal, and the one after that, and when I reach my goal, I will work hard to maintain it.

My to-do list

1. Make the most of each day: Get off rear and do something. Whether it's completing the to-do list or taking a road trip across the country, just don't sit there.
2. Don't belittle the little things: Sometimes just staying in and watching a movie, playing a game, baking, or whatever with your family is the best time you could have. Don't forget...these times will soon be behind you and you can never get them back. The little things are the ones that matter the most.
3. Make the special moments: Don't wait for the moment to happen, if you want to wear that dress on a special date, make it. It doesn't have to be romantic, sometimes a dress-up night with the girls can be even more fun!
4. Look fear in the eye: Don't turn away because your scared or unsure. Ask for help if you need to, but the only way to get through it and over the fear is to face it head on. Don't let the "worst that could happen" scare you from making it happen (Unless it's spiders, then you can run). : p
5. Live today like it's your last: We've all heard this, but make each day count the most you can. Whether it's calling an old friend, taking flying lessons, or even ride in a rowboat with a loved one. Take time from everything that HAS to be done to do even ONE thing you WANT to do. No matter how small it is. It's a wonderful break and makes the entire day so much better.
6. Don't listen to nay-sayers: There are always going to be those people who have to put in their two cents no matter how depressing it is. The best advice for that one is actually said in the kids' movie Madagascar by the penguins..."smile and wave boys." Let them think what they want. Their opinions aren't roadblocks unless you allow them to be.  
7. Stand up for yourself: Not to be confused with #6, if someone is insulting you, and needs to be called on it, don't be afraid to do it. You deserve respect. Don't worry about hurt feelings, they're obviously not worried about yours if they're hurting you.

I want to open a clothing store. I will offer maternity and clothes for women who are in the process of losing weight. The closest place to get good maternity clothes is over 1hr away, and plus size clothes here are less than unattractive. It's awful. 

For years I have told hubby  someone should do this, and one day I realized there's no reason it shouldn't be me. No, we don't have any money, and no I don't have experience managing a store. But I have retail experience, and hubby's been a store manager. Plus I like to think I have good taste in clothes, and I listen to the public. Since there are no maternity stores around here, I know for a fact there is definitely a demand for it. There's always space to rent/buy. I can do this. I also have friends who would be more than happy to help in the planning and conception process.

I have already begun the business plan for it, and until I have what I need, I will save up for it. I would like to be able to do this without getting a loan, and saving up for it will allow me time to study and do some research on owning and running a retail store. Not to mention looking up clothes and deciding exactly what products to offer and not to offer.

Imagine being pregnant and walking into a store where no one touches the belly unless you say! I have ideas for my store to be THE place to go to get your clothes, and I will make it happen because I can. 

I am having some challenges in coming up with an inventive name for the store. I would like it to be "tongue-in-cheek" and kind of fun, but not too long, and easy to remember. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them!

Where in the world?

If you could pick anywhere in the world, where would you go? I have been asked that question, and I don't have an answer for you. The only answer I could give you is I want to see all of it. I would LOVE to go to Alaska, I would love to see real live penguins in their habitat, and whales jumping in the ocean. 

I yearn to see the ruins of the Colosseum, and Greece as well. Seeing the Scandinavian lands of my ancestors would be awesome, and I will tour an maybe even stay in a castle! To party with the Irish would probably leave me recovering for days. New Zealand seems like Heaven on Earth, and I've been obsessing over Australia since I was a child. 

I plan to visit all of these places and more, and it will take many years. That's perfectly fine. I have a lifetime to fill with stories, and that's what I plan to do.  Some of these adventures will be for the whole family, some will be just me and hubby, or even just me. 

My first excursion next year will be to Jamaica to do the tropics as so many have done already. It will be a perfect starting point. The year after that...who knows? We could pick a location close to home, or we could choose to travel abroad. That's the beauty of the whole thing. There's no reason, no rhyme, just pick a destination and make it happen! :)

Books

I am writing two personalized childrens books for two of my nephews. I couldn't find one I liked on line, so I decided I was going to write my own. I have one story finished and am working on illustrating the second page. The second story is in the editing process (did I mention I was my own editor too?) and I'm making some changes to the whole story itself, but they're good changes. I'm really enjoying writing these stories, however, I don't know if I can have them done by Christmas. I am a slow artist and I have many pages to draw out and color. But I'm determined to finish this, and as long as I work hard on this it will happen. Even if the only people who read these stories are my nephews and sisters, that's enough for me.

Living In Spite of

"The Expendables,"...fantastic movie!! Definitely recommend it to all who love action, and it's funny too! 

I accepted a C25K (couch 2 5K in 9 weeks) challenge, and I'll tell you what, I haven't ran in 15 years. I always wanted to start jogging, you know runners always make it look easy, but I never really got around to it. I have now decided it's something to make an informed decision about. If I still want to run at the end of the challenge (provided I don't suffer or aggravate injury) I'll continue. If not, well, I can't say I never tried. Right now, on day 2, I don't think I'll continue. IT FLAT OUT SUCKED!!!!!!!!!! Course I'm out of shape and my cardio lacks too so that could be influencing my decision a little. :P

I have always believed you never know until you try, and I have forgotten that. At the top of my page is a quote I have chosen to live by. "...life is full of experiments, the more experiments you make the better." What a fantastic way to say live life and don't be afraid to try new things and make mistakes. 

Some of us believe we only get one chance on this Earth, and if we do, then why are we wasting it on our asses watching television, or whatever we do that prevents us from living?

I am writing this blog for two reasons, 
a.) because I am so excited I have chosen to take back my life in full force, and
b.) because on those days I forget, I can use this to remind me that it's not ok to watch life go by and not try because you're afraid, or you feel you don't deserve it. 

Fear is a debilitating disease, and it will consume you and your life if you allow it. We all experience fear of all different kinds. The trick is to learn not to master it and conquer it, though if it's possible that's good too, but to accept it, embrace it as part of who you are (that you have fears), and learn to live in spite of that fear. 



Goodnight! :)

Clarification

Let me clarify for you what I mean by taking my life back and renewing the passion I once had. I used to love to do things and figure things out. If I wanted to do it, I didn't tilt my head and say dreamily "oh that would be fun if I could do that..." NO! I said "That's going to be fun!" and I did it! So, I'm going to do fun things and go fun places, but I'm also going to do things that have to get done and take responsibility...for example, no one's going to straighten our finances but us. We aren't too far off the path, but a little correction and we'll be fine. I want to save money, I want to go on vacations, I want to buy new clothes for my new hot body when I've lost the weight I've already begun to drop! These can only be accomplished through money, and not by using our house payment! Next year is my 15 year anniversary and I've never been on a real vacation with my husband. We are going to an island, and I'm going to buy a beautiful wedding dress that makes me happy, and we are going to renew our vows. I will no longer be the person who talks about what has to be done, what I'd like to do, or where I'd like to go. I will be the person who talks about what I've accomplished, what I have done, and where I have been! The only person preventing this is me! He-man actually said it best..."I have the power!" (heh-heh, I love he-man, used to watch it all the time). Now that that's off my chest, it's time to pick up my babes. I have 3 fabulous children that make my life phenomenal, and I couldn't live without them. I've been cleaning all day, I feel fantastic and great about it, and today is my 14th anniversary so we're doing a movie tonight..."The Expendables," I heard it's great...only one way to find out! :)

BRING IT ON!

So I'm sitting there thinking back and I realize I have lost something along the way. I've lost my drive and my ambition. I've lost my passion for life. I'm 35, 85lbs overweight, and I don't do anything because we have no money. At least, that's my excuse. Who's fault is that? It was at that moment I decided I was taking back the passion I let others talk me out of. I'm taking my life back! When I am sitting on my front porch of my dream home with hubby and we look back, we're going to have some kick-ass memories to share! So let this be the starting point of my journey to a new me. First step: get healthy. I'm almost 20lbs down from original starting point, and I'm feeling fabulous about it! I have a house to make beautiful, a wardrobe to build, children to teach the beauty and wonder of life to, and a life to fill with memories and experiences...BRING IT ON! I'm more than ready!