Goals & plans for 2015

Oh hello, my long-neglected blog! Who knew adding a baby to the mix AND going back to work full-time was so time consuming? ;)

I love the beginning of the year for the fresh start it brings. Out with the old, in with the new. I typically make a huge list of very specific resolutions and get so overwhelmed with sticking to all of them that I fail miserably to stick with even one.

There are several things I want to accomplish this year, but I'm cutting myself some slack and picking more realistic goals so I don't set myself up for failure :) Ironically, one of my goals this year is to let go of the need for perfection, so this will be a good exercise for that.

Here's some things I'd like to see happen this year:

• Get Oliver (mostly) potty trained. We started the potty training process last June and he is 100% potty trained at home when he's naked. He runs right to the bathroom when he has to go and never has a problem. But apparently letting your kid run around in public naked is a no-no, so we still have some work to do :) 
• Set up a little photo studio in our house. Oregon is too cold and/or wet a good portion of the year to do outdoor photos, so we're finally bringing the photos indoors. We're drawing up plans right now and hope to have something set up later this month in time for Valentine's Day mini sessions :)
• Pay off my student loans this year. I think I have until the end of 2016 to pay them off, but I've been paying extra as often as possible and hope to be totally done by October of this year. 
• Explore Oregon more. We rarely leave the city (or even our house) anymore, but there is so much beauty to see in this state and I am eager to expose the kids to it. I'm aiming for 1 day-trip each month, even if it's super close (but it has to be a new-to-us place).
• Eat less sugar. I have a sweet tooth like none other and have noticed that Oliver asks for sugary stuff a lot more often now :( So it's time to cut back and lead by example with what I eat.
• Do one small house project a month. Our tentative plan is to put our house up for sale Spring 2016, so we need to start doing a little at a time so its ready by then. We need new carpet, new tile in the bathrooms, a new fence in the backyard, new grass/landscaping and minor repairs inside & outside. We also need to pare our belongings down as we go along, but I'm married to a hoarder (i.e.: I finally convinced him to get rid of his floppy disc collection just a few years back) so it will be tough. lol
• Be in more photos. I'm always the one behind the camera and it bums me out to look through my photos and only have a handful of shots with me & the kids in them :( So that is definitely something to work on for this year!

These are the main ones. Of course I am always looking to improve in all areas of my life (exercise more! watch less tv! read to the kids more! spend less!), but the items above are ones that I feel are not only very important, but also attainable. So wish me luck and hopefully I will have a chance to check back in in the next few months to share my progress :)

Best wishes for 2015 to you & yours :)

Motivation (or lack thereof)

Getting to stay home with my son these last 2 months has been great. I don't have to wake up before 6am anymore, I can stay in my pajamas and play with Oliver all day, I have unlimited snacks (this one is dangerous, just ask my scale!), I don't have to go out in the cold/rainy weather, etc.

BUT... I think it's starting to take it's toll on me. I thrive on structure and routine and there isn't much of that these days. My life revolves around Oliver and what he needs at any given time. Everyday is a little bit different, nap times are hit and miss these days, Oliver likes a food one day and hates it the next, Derek's work schedule is always changing. It's diving me a little crazy, to be honest. I kinda miss going to work at a set time, knowing my tasks for the day, taking a lunch break at the same time, chatting with real life adults and going home at a certain time. Don't get me wrong, being home with Oliver is absolutely the best thing for both of us right now, I just feel like I need to re-evaluate our daily routine and tweak some things. All my energy goes towards raising Oliver and keeping the house together that there's not much left at the end of the day. When Oliver goes to sleep at 7:30pm, I'm ready to crash too.

I don't like how lazy and unmotivated I've become. Eating candy all day and sitting around is fun for a few days, but it shouldn't be a long-term plan. lol! I need to start over and get things back on track or I will lose my mind. My eating habits are quite embarrassing right now and I can't remember the last time I exercised. I think this is a big part of why I'm exhausted and dragging most of the day. It's a good place to start and I'm hoping by making those little changes, I'll keep it going with everything else in my daily life (if I had a dollar for every time I said that...)

I'm still not sure when's the right time to go back to work (that's a whole other blog post), but I don't want to look back at this time and regret how I spent it. Oliver deserves more fun adventures around town and more play dates, not just staying at home with boring mom all day :) He'll never be this young again and I may never get the chance to stay home with him again, so I want to do as many fun things with him as possible.

Project Refresh: Month 2

So month 1 of my project is coming to an end and I'd give myself a 'C+' for accomplishing my goals. I am definitely taking more photos (at least one a day) so that was a success. Sticking to a schedule has been tough since every day is different, but I have been more productive whenever Oliver is sleeping, so that one's a mixed bag.

Clearing the clutter was the one I was most excited to dive into, but I just haven't had any time. We've been really busy with photo shoots, which means I spent most of my free time in September with my BFF Photoshop. Being a perfectionist means our clients get beautiful looking photos, but it also means I spend way too much time editing to make each photo amazing.

So onto October. I thought it would be better to break my goals into more specific tasks instead of all-encompassing objectives.

Project Refresh: Month 2

• Find the perfect gift for my sister's 18th birthday
• Book and shoot 2 senior sessions
• Lose 3 pounds (I hate random numbers like that, but I don't think anything above 3 is realistic. lol) by eating less carbs/more veggies & working out 3 times a week
• Get the guest bed cleared off by selling or donating everything on it (I cleared out our office closet and stuck all the random stuff on the bed to deal with later. It's been there over a month now)
• Pick out a cute Halloween costume for Oliver (bonus points if Derek & I dress up this year too!)
• Go through my bedroom closet & dresser to organize and purge clothes I don't wear or like
• Take Oliver to get his first haircut (I know, I love the curls too! But I think it's time to lighten the load on his head. haha)

I like that these goals are simplified and measurable, instead of a vague 'organize the house' which could take a year to complete and is never really done. So better luck for month 2, eh? :)

Project Refresh: Month 1

September 1st is a significant date for a few reasons. It signals the start of a brand new month. It means I become unemployed in 3 days. Also, it's the date that my husband and I started dating way back in 2002 :)

Much like New Years Day, I see today as a time to start over and start tackling all the projects I've put off & goals I've given up on. Working full-time while being a new mom is exhausting and doesn't leave time for much else. I'm feeling inspired & excited by all the extra time I will soon have and have been making lists of all the things I want to accomplish or work on these next few months at home.

I don't know how long I'll get to stay home with my son, or what distractions will come up, so I've prioritized my list and will start with the most important things first. I give you...

Project Refresh: Month 1

• Stick to a schedule: I work best when I have specific tasks to get done and makes lists of those items. If I go by memory, I'll only remember a few things and spend the rest of the day reading celebrity gossip. So planning out my day ahead of time is key to making sure I don't waste my time.
• Take more photos: I took many, many photos of Oliver his first year and have really been slacking on that since his birthday. So I'm starting up my 365 project again (starting today!) to make sure I capture not just Oliver as he grows, but our house, friends/family, events, trips we take, the beauty of Oregon, etc. I miss photography and am ready to get back into it!
• Clear the clutter: I am beyond ready to start organizing closets and getting our house cleared out. We keep adding more and more stuff and it's just become overwhelming. It's hard to find things and all the stuff everywhere just drives me crazy! So I'm going room by room and getting rid of as many things as I can, so we can appreciate (and find) the stuff we really like and use.

I have dozens of other tasks on my list, but will start with these ones for the month of September. I'll check back at the end of the month to give an update on how I did, but I'm motivated and ready to dive in!

xo

Baby steps

Any guesses on how many times I've worked out since my last blog post; the one where I swore I was going to get in to shape? That would be 1 time and it doesn't even really count since I didn't work up a sweat.

I tend to put so much pressure on myself before I even start that I convince myself that I'm heading for failure. So I never quite get off the ground and end up giving up a few days or weeks later.

I'm the type of person that needs to be pushed, be held accountable, have an attainable goal and action plan. I'm 0 for 4 on those things. I need to get back to basics and start from scratch on this one. Just saying I'm going to get into shape obviously isn't going to work.

So here's the plan: Every Sunday, I will (attempt to) post an entry about how often I worked out and for how long. Once a month, I'll post my newest stats and possibly a photo. I want to start taking walks again on my breaks at work, but with the cold/rainy weather, I don't know how likely I'd be to stick to that plan. So I'll start doing workouts on the xBox kinect for the time being to ease into this.

For every week that I exercise 5 days for 20 minutes or more, I'll take $20 out of the bank to spend on myself, on whatever I want (except for food/snacks). I'll continue to increase the amount of minutes per day once I get a routine set that I can stick with.

I'll be starting this February 1st and will have my 1st update next weekend. Feel free to send me lots of photos of in-shape ladies to prevent me from sitting around eating candy all day. lol. That sounds more likely than me working out, but I'm hoping by starting small that I'll get into a groove and keep going with it.

Post-baby body update

I've been putting this post off for months, but it's time to get motivated and get to work! I'm just about back down to my pre-pregnancy weight, which doesn't mean all that much since things have kinda shifted around. lol. Gaining 35+ pounds and having a baby messes with your body; who knew?! ;)

This is me, May 2011, a few months before getting pregnant.

Stats:
Weight - 113
Chest - 34"
Waist - 25.5"
Hips - 35.5"

This is me now, January 2013, 8 months after having a baby.

Stats:

Weight - 115

Chest - 35.5"

Waist - 27.5"

Hips - 35.5"

I don't look all that much different, but I'm still holding onto extra junk in the middle that is driving me crazy and causing a not-so-awesome muffin top. So my main focus is going to be working on my mid-section in hopes I don't have to buy all new loose-fitting shirts :)

I really don't have a plan of attack this time around. I KNOW what I need to do, it's just hard to get the energy and motivation to do it. Working full-time and being a mom to a very energetic little boy is exhausting. The last thing I want to do when I put Oliver down to bed is work out, but I know it has to be done. I also need to tweak my diet to include a lot more fruits/veggies and a lot less carbs/sugar, but just the thought of all that menu planning/grocery shopping/cooking makes me tired.

Exercising outside is pretty much out of the question since I hate the cold/wet weather and I will just find excuses to not do it. I'm thinking it's time to dust off the old xBox Kinect and at least get moving a little more each day. Once I get a routine going and start eating healthier, I'll check in again in a month or so and see if there's been any progress. Or to fess up if I quit after 2 days and went back to eating donuts. lol.

So there you have it. Embarrassing bikini photos AND a vow to put down the chocolate & get my body moving. How much worse can this day get?! :)

Wish me luck! 

Well then...

So the last blog post I had was all about getting in shape and working out all the time, etc. Which is hilarious now because I got pregnant unexpectedly a few weeks later and now all my priorities have changed :)

I think the desire to make positive changes in my life are now stronger than ever, but obviously have nothing to do with getting in shape and toning up. Now it's more about getting into a healthy routine that I can stick with even when the baby comes, getting the house in order, getting our finances straightened out, etc. My hope is that I will start updating more often, at the very least so I can look back post-baby and see what was going on in my life prior.

And of course, there will be lots of baby-related posts, since I have a feeling I will forget most of the details later on. So be ready for that :)

A clothing re-do

I mentioned in an earlier entry about my need to get rid of a good portion of my clothing and start over from scratch. I really dislike most of the clothes I own and need to build up a solid wardrobe that I will love and will last for a long time. I'll admit it, I love a good bargain and more often than not, I buy items strictly because they are cheap without really thinking what that article will pair with or how I will wear it.

But that's in the past :) I've made a list of the main things I need and will steadily chip away at it over the coming months and years. I'm sure I will also add to the list as well, but I think these cover the basics.

Tops

• 3 tank tops for layering (in neutral colors)
• 3 dressy tops for work/going out
• 3 plain lightweight t-shirts
• 1 white button down
• 2 blazers (1 black, the other a fun color)
• 2 cardigans (1 white, the other a fun color)
• 1 zip-up hoodie (no logo) for casual days at work
• 1 lightweight jacket

Bottoms

• Dark jean trousers
• Khakis
• Dark grey work slacks
• Black leggings (my husband has been begging me for months to get leggings, but I refused. I figure now is the time to try something new and see if I like them)
• Dressy capris for work
• Black skirt (work appropriate)

Misc.

• 2 summer dresses
• 1 dressy dress (for work/going out)
• New work shoes (probably comfortable black heels)
• Casual shoes (not running shoes) that I can wear with jeans at work and still look semi-professional
• A fun pair of wedge sandals
• Lingerie
• Accessories (necklaces, new glasses, fun headbands)

Am I missing anything? :) Now comes the fun part: browsing internet sites for the highest quality items at the best price and finally starting to make a dent in my shopping list. I'm not in a huge hurry, so I can take my time planning this out and getting stuff I really love and will be excited to wear. I hope to buy a few things this weekend, so stay tuned!

Welcome!

I'm never any good at describing myself or who I am, and since it's very likely only people I know will read this blog, it seems kind of pointless to introduce myself. But nonetheless, this is me in a nutshell:

28, married to the perfect guy in 2004, college graduate, home owner, banker, photography-obsessed, no kids (unless our adorable yellow lab Maggie counts!), small group of close friends, great family. I am such a lucky person to have the life I do and I absolutely am so grateful for everything I have!

So why this blog? I feel like I'm stuck in a rut and life is passing me by. I don't think I live life to the fullest and am wasting the many opportunities I've been given. I know I need to make changes, but I seem to be stuck from even taking that first step. My hope is that by putting my goals/dreams/etc out there in a public forum that it will be that initial push I need to get started.
My plan is to refresh/revamp every area of my life, little at a time. I'm not looking for massive and/or instant changes, but slower/long-term improvements that I can stick with. Some examples:

• Overhauling my "diet" by eating healthier, higher-quality foods and cooking more meals at home (goodbye junk food and eating out multiple times a week!) Not only is it better for the waistline, but it's better for our checking account too.
• Finding an exercise routine I enjoy and can do most days of the week, as I currently workout maybe once a month. I'm not overweight, but I'm not toned and I have zero energy most days.
• Taking more pride in my appearance by finding beauty products that flatter me, not just ones on sale that week that don't do me any favors (I'm a bit cheap, I'll admit that! lol). This would mean paring down my makeup/beauty items & replacing with new stuff. Also, learning how to properly put on makeup would be a big plus. haha
• Building up my wardrobe from scratch, focusing on quality and wearability. I have a closet full of clothes that I really hate (again, most were purchased because they were on sale, not because I loved them) & need to slowly fill it with pieces that I'm excited to wear and will stay in style a while.
• Our house. We've owned it almost 3.5 years and have yet to decorate most of it. It doesn't really feel like a cozy home to me, just a place we live. I am determined to change that, room by room.

There are more things that need improvement, but these are the main areas and a good starting-off point. Even if this blog is terrible and boring, at the very least, I'll have a record of this time in my life and what I was up to, right? :) But I'll try to liven it up with lots of photos and hopefully lots of successes along the way. I'm sure there will be some hilarious failures too, so stay tuned for those.

Since no post is complete without a photo, I'll leave you with a self-portrait of my husband and I on Easter :)