Monday, January 7, 2013

New Year's Resolutions

Do you set New Year's Resolutions? I have always been a big NYR'r. I've spent hours thinking about where I am in life and where I want to be. I write out detailed goals, including all the SMART elements. You know..... Specific, Measurable, Attainable, and Realistic. I even put pictures with each goal. Only problem, in retrospect, is that many of them weren't very SMART - especially in the "Realistic" category - and I typically didn't last through the year.

This year is different. NO NYR's. My #1 plan for this year is to be better to myself, and that includes not stressing myself out with a list of formal resolutions. Instead, there are 2 main things that I want in this year.

1) Take care of myself
2) Be more purposeful

So, what does that look like?

Take care of myself....
- Continue with Weight Watchers. I don't know what my final weight will be. That's not as important to me as being healthy and happy. I know I need to lose some weight and I will.

- Add more movement to my days. Maybe that will be on the track at work. Maybe it will be chasing our little preschoolers around the playground. Maybe it will bike riding with my hubby. Who knows??

- Sleep! I have to "get over" feeling guilty for sleeping. My health depends on getting plenty of real sleep. If the laundry doesn't get done tonight, it will be OK.

- Cut back on stress. My nature is to be a high-stress, Type A person. I had honestly gotten quite a bit better and really didn't let too many things get to me. For some reason, I've really struggled with this for the past 6 months or so. I am going to make a concerted effort to work on this.

- Spend more time doing things I enjoy: Enjoying life with my Hubbs, Gardening, Scrapbooking, Decorating, Tablescaping

- Buying a rolling cart so I don't have to carry my super heavy work bag every day.

Be more purposeful...
- Go back to tracking everything through WW. Now that I have an iphone, I can even track on my phone.

- Not spending mindless hours on the computer. Caveat -- reading blogs and spending time on pintrest is therapeutic for me, so I won't be giving it up entirely. I just want to cut back and do other things with my time, as well.

- Leave work at work -- as much as possible. Remember the "Realistic" problem from the past?? Well, I know myself and my responsibilities well enough to know that I can't completely eliminate working from home. It just comes with the territory. Still, I have the power to control it. I'm going to! I am not - and will not - be defined solely by my occupation.

- In my prayer-life and church-life

- With my family time and in my interactions with others

Those plans may be too "mushy" for the business-type folks out there, but for where I am right now, I think they suit me just fine! These are things that I KNOW I can do and I know they will make me a happier, healthier person and that's the only goal I need!

Here's to an awesome 2013!!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!! Today is January 1, 2013. I pray that you all had a loving and fulfilling Christmas season. Ours was good, although it won't go down in the record books as one of my favorites. Dave and I had a terrible time making it to Kentucky and while we were there, he had a terrible head cold and I got the stomach flu. Not fun!!! Still, it was wonderful to spend time with family.

Bear with me as I share the Christmas explosion that took over my house. The pictures aren't great, but you'll get a good idea of how everything looked. I love decorating. This year was a little more challenging for me, but it was still fun.

Ready? Here we go!

This is our "Main Tree" -- the fancy one. It sits right in front of the window that overlooks our front patio. It's all purple, silver, and clear. I love it.

Our dining room table - partially set. (Oh well....) I went very simple this year. Just a plain burlap runner with greenery and beads.

My peace candles dressed up with their purple and silver.

We recently purchased a coat rack of sorts. Those are openings for pictures. I simply put scrapbook paper, ribbons, and letters inside.

This is our "Family Tree". Dave and I collect ornaments from everywhere we go and they all find their home right here. It is in my scrapbook room. I love just looking at all of the different ornaments and remembering all of our special times.

The hall bath is filled with snowmen! My brother-in-love finds them a little creepy -- all of those eyes looking at you!! I find them charming and cute! (Even if all those eyes do seem to follow your every move!)
 
 
 

 
 Next up -- the Steelers Tree!! When all of the Christmas decorations went on their big sales last year, I bought the hubs a black tree and a black/gold skirt. Now, he has his very own tree in his office. He had fun putting it all together.

Our Dept. 56 Snow Village is in the family room. We have a few open spaces, but then we'll need to find a new place to display our pieces. I just love this collection.
 


The stockings were hung.... Mine on the left and Dave's on the right.
 

The Angel Tree is in the Guest Room. It's still small, but I know this collection will grow like all of the others!  


And now, for part of the Santas. (Yes, I meant only part. I wasn't able to take pictures of all of them!)

 
This little tree is in the kitchen. It's the Gingerbread Tree. Yummy, huh??


And of course, the Hot Chocolate bar!
 
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