End = Beginning

The end of the year. The beginning of the year. The end = The beginning. Very cool that such opposites can occur at exactly the same time.

Reflections of the year past, with inspiration as to changes to be made for the upcoming year. That's what this time of year is all about, right? Definitely. I'd love to say that I sit with my family reminiscing of glorious vacations, sporting events, educational accolades, fun family times, but I don't. I think it'd be awesome to do! Growing up my Dad would do slide shows from his camera of places we had been, things we had done. Wouldn't that be cool with some popcorn, drinks, and your loved ones to do annually for the New Year?!?! I sure think so. Maybe I will try that for next year. Instead, my poor hubster has been in bed for about an hour with a sour belly (yeah, like 4 hours before the New Year hits!), poor guy. Kiddos are playing nicely. Did I just say that?! PLAYING. NICELY. Yep! I sure did. Super cool. I know it won't last, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts! Me. We'll I've been on facebook, Pinterest, checked my fave blogs {Sunny Side Up and IHeartOrganizing}, and now posting on my own blog, all while my apple streusel is baking in the oven. I have a sweet tooth and candy wasn't doing it for me. Being my husband's German ancestry seems fitting! I don't know any Danish recipes or I'd consider those, as well. Guess I better ask my Momma about that one of these days.

I already have a workout scheduled with friends. There is this place, a trampoline place. Fun place to take the kids to burn off some energy. Cool thing is that they do trampoline aerobics. My girlfriend has gone and said it's a blast, so as I was on facebook posting about the two new pair of sneakers I just bought for myself (Ryka's on www.qvc.com - the ONLY sneakers I wear and the ONLY place I buy them!), my friend, Jacque, invited me to join her this Thursday. Luckily it works with my schedule and I'll already be directly across the street for an end of season soccer party for my daughter. I'm so excited! I'm hoping it won't be painful on my knee, which can't take anything more than a walk without being incredibly painful. Although I still don't understand how I can sprint when playing softball or across the finish line when doing a 5k and that doesn't hurt it, but jogging or jumping does. Hmmm. Oh well. It is what it is. So. Trampoline aerobics it is! On my wall calendar, but not yet in my planner (but it will be tonight). My new sneakers won't be here in time, but I still have two pair - one of which is either going to become my grubby pair until the next one starts wearing out. Interestingly enough, I used to wear only really cheap shoes but now spend a lot more because I have realized the value in a good shoe. It only took me until after 40 years old to get there, but at least I finally did. I've been wearing my Ryka's for a few years; like 5 maybe. But just this past year invested in a daily/work shoe that has an original price tag over $100. I have one pair that I bought brand new and another that I bought second hand (looking to add another this week from a second hand source). I've spent well on my children, but not myself. I even just invested in a great pair for my hubster for Christmas (thanks to my Father-in-law getting a pair on their last trip to visit us), which was awesome to do for him since he wasn't expecting it (and surely thought I had forgotten about them!).

Streusel's done! Just pulled it out of the oven. Now to let it cool before we enjoy. Sure hope it turns out yummy. I've never made one before. It's just a box mix, but still. I prefer homemade (much better when trying to eat clean and not ingest ingredients that you can't pronounce!), but because it was unplanned and late I just raided the baking cabinet and came up with/had all of the ingredients for this recipe.

Wishing you the most wonderful of everything in 2014!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

359 days since my last post - oh my!

WOWZA!! Almost a year since I posted and the new year just around the corner ... oopsie! It's been an interesting year with the hubster retired; less free time to do everything that I want because my family is together. Well. Except for the son who is in the Air Force and stationed oh, just a few miles away (like over a thousand). It's been a year of ups and downs, lots of loop-de-loops, and a range of emotions. If you are a military family you can understand what it's like to be reunited and have to restructure routines, responsibilities, sharing (like your bed when you're used to having it all to yourself - or the remote!), chores, etc. It's quite the task to reacquaint yourself after even a nominal time apart, but years ... it doesn't happen in the blink of an eye. I still think that at a little over a year now we are still working on it. Maybe that's because life is ever changing, so is how each day works and who does what. Maybe I'm just weird. Could be either. ;)

So I want to make changes.

For myself, I joined a new (not yet opened gym) that I pass on my way to and from work. I figure it will help me to get out of work on time and not be out of the way, so seems very logical. I need to get in better physical condition. It's now or never, baby! My goal is to work out - even if only spending time on the treadmill - each weekday for a minimum of 30 minutes, but up to 60 minutes. I don't want to be completely selfish and take too long when my family is at home; I want and need to see my babies and help them with homework, play together, etc. I don't want to be THAT PARENT that doesn't see their child during waking hours on weekdays. No, sir. No, ma'am. I am also going to try to eat better. Not just me, but dragging the whole family with me on this journey. They don't know that I'm doing this, so it should be very easy! I'm not sure how the hubby will feel if I cut his portions too much, but I'm going to try. He and I both could stand to lose some weight. As is the case with a LOT of people in the world. I'm not going to be drastic about anything, but logical and with an attempt that will hopefully last. I'm trying to work my way to clean - nothing processed (ie if it has ingredients that you can't pronounce it's not for consumption!) and eating better choices for snacks (nuts, fruits, veggies, cheese, yogurt, etc). I'm most concerned with myself, so I will focus most on my lunches and snacks throughout the day and then see what I can do for at home with the family. I refuse to give up my daily coffee (which is so rich with sugar, creamer, and sometimes whipped cream in it that it's not healthy at all, but I like it and enjoy it, so refuse to give it up). BUT. What I will do is drink more water (with lemons, limes, cucumbers, etc that I saw on Pinterest to help detox the body) and hot tea, unsweetened or barely sweetened since I'm kind of a sugar-a-holic. Green tea is supposed to be really good and it doesn't taste bad. Also passion tea - LOVE this!! It's supposed to be helpful before you go to bed.

We'll have more fun each month, doing assorted things. Movies, ice skating, roller skating, shooting, painting, educational stuff, library, parks, Xbox Kinect, reading, bike riding, hunting, fishing, hiking, swimming, and whatever else we can come up with along the way. Of course these all can't be done in each season (although some can), I want to do something fun every single week with my family. I want my children to look back on their childhood and remember fun times. That doesn't mean spending money. My Mom wasn't able to spend money, but we had time and I enjoyed what I had. I didn't realize we were so tight that my Mom couldn't eat every single day. I had no clue until I was older and she shared that with me. I admire and respect her so much for that. Now I haven't been in that situation; I've been tight, but I've always eaten along with my children. Quality doesn't equal quantity (of dollars spent). Quality can equal quantity (of time spent). But sometimes all it takes is your undivided attention for 5 minutes to make your child's day. Such an investment in your kiddos. =)

There's more, but for now I will stop. I don't want to bore you. And I'll try to be better with blogging. I'd like to see what I can do to document this journey of my goals, as it may inspire others. I know that seeing for yourself how someone has done what you'd like to do (like losing weight, saving money, having more time with your family) can be inspirational. I've cried reading other people's stories before. I know I'm not the only one. So I will do what I can to share my path. My own yellow brick road to a great life in 2014 and beyond. Follow me if you'd like. I'm happy to be here to lead if this is what you need.

Enjoy these last couple days of 2013. Remember to make all of your last minute tax choices while you can - donations (get receipts!), spending from your health accounts, adding to an IRA/529, etc. You only have two more business days to do so IF the places are open on the 31st.

Until next time ... be happy, people. Live happily and enjoy. Find the positive in every single day. There is some even if you have to look really hard to find it. =)

{fave} blog for inspiration

Here is my {fave} blog that I try to look at every day (unless I'm too busy and then I make sure to look at it at least once a week and catch up). I will say that my {ABSOLUTE FAVE}, which is iheartorganizing ... I am in love, love, love with this blog!! Seriously! Do you have a fave site that you just "have" to check out every.single.day?!?! Well. For me that is iheartorganizing. She can also be found on facebook, so be sure to check it out! TONS of great tips and inspiration. Seriously. She's just {a*mazing} ... a*mazing!! I just happened upon the blog from googling organization blog. Lucky me! Thanks, Google! ;)  I have since found others that I like, and some days I can find so much amazing information that my head spins! I would LOVE to be as amazing as some of these ladies who have huge lists of followers and can blog each and every day, doing what they love. I'm working on that though. Organizing bits and pieces of my life, home, work, and family to where I feel that things function well for us all. That and maybe my husband will know where everything belongs! One of my goals for twenty.thirteen is to have my home completely organized. I'll do it. By golly. I will do it!! Even if it's inch by inch, item by item. I will organize my entire home by the end of this year!!!

What's your favorite go-to for inspiration?

What's your organizational goal for 2013?

Starting off on the {right foot}

Since I am by no means a party animal or anything remotely resembling a partier at all, I sat on my bed last night - New Year's Eve - with the television on and all of my bags to get organized for 1.1.13's arrival. I felt the need to start things off on the right foot. The one that is {organized} and ready for anything.

1. I went through all of my store coupons and got rid of everything expired, recycling or shredding as necessary.
2. I went through all of my grocery coupons to recycle everything expired. (I used to send to a friend overseas since military can use them 6 months past the expiration, but no longer do so since I hardly have any to send and have been HORRIBLE at doing this regularly.)
3. I recycled home party catalongs that I did not need any longer, especially if I had a newer one on hand. I do like to look at them and mark them up to know what I want, what I have, what would make a great gift, etc. I can mark up a mean catalog! =)
4. I put things back into one bag - from 3. It's zebra. I've been using it for football stuff for the last two years since I purchased it. The 31 bag is hung on the wall with my other bags, and the hot pink one was worn in the corners so had to be tossed into the garbage can. Although I loved it, there's no sense holding on to things that are breaking/broken. "Out with the old!"
5. I also organized my checkbooks. All purchases were logged into the registers and receipts shredded or filed to keep (possible returns and/or larger purchases). I even balanced them both via online/phone services. This is rewarding and frustrating all at the same time. Rewarding in that it's done, up-to-date, and accurate. Frustrating in that there's never as much once you've paid the bills and spent some of it. Funny how that works! ;)

When I woke up today, my husband had cleaned his dresser top! {Shut the front door!} Did he really?! Yes. He did indeed. Hope it lasts. But in case it doesn't, I'm TRYING to not let it get to me. I want our room to be a sanctuary, but he doesn't understand this and may not feel the same. I wish that if he felt the need to be messy it'd be on his side of the closet so I don't have to ever see it!!

 

So today I also decided that some exercise was in order. I took the family on a 2.5 mile walk (bike ride if so desired) through the trails. It was wonderful. A chilly 41* outside, so bundled up we went! A leisurely pace. Not my 5k race pace. A little over 1.25 miles each way. We got to the park and sat on a bench looking at the ducks and a turtle in the water, deciding that we should do a picnic soon and bring some bread for the ducks. Then the trek back. Nice. Sunshine. Exercise. Family. Fun. I like it!! Must do this more often. Seriously. I'd love to do the hike at least once a week, maybe doing the other version for some variety. Maybe lengthening as we get more into it. It'd be good for us. Health wise. Family togetherness wise. Losing weight wise. Maybe even something I'll do with friends sometimes for some "me" time ... friends that walk together can enjoy Starbucks together afterwards without the guilt!! {Hee Hee}

http://www.starbucks.com/menu/drinks

So what did you do last night and/or today to start the New Year off on the right foot?!